I hope all the mothers out there had a great Mother’s Day weekend! I spent part of mine on a night away with some old friends and I arrived to find two of them reading Circe! Needless to say, it sparked some discussion…
The summer weather has arrived in Virginia and it’s a welcome change from my old town, where it didn’t really feel like summer had truly arrived until mid June. And, with the summer weather comes my annual Summer Reading List…I’ll be posting it this Thursday, so y’all have plenty of time to peruse it before Memorial Day weekend! And, there are a couple new twists this year!
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Tools of Titans
I’m slowly working my way through Tools of Titans
On Busyness:
This is something I desperately need to take to heart…
“This frantic, self-congratulatory busyness is a distinctly upscale affliction. Notice it isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the ICU, taking care of their senescent parents, or holding down three minimum-wage jobs they have to commute to by bus who need to tell you how busy they are; what those people are is not busy but tired. Exhausted. Dead on their feet. It’s most often said by people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they’ve taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they’ve “encouraged” their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they are addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.”
– From Tim Kreider, Essayist and Cartoonist
Hosted by The Book Date.
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I finished reading…
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center (May 15, 2018)
This May Book of the Month selection was everything I normally hate in my fiction (romance, overly sappy, some unbelievable plot elements)…but it strangely worked for me in this case! Mini review coming tomorrow.
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Circe by Madeline Miller (April 10, 2018)
I’m firmly in the minority on this one. Did not like it one bit. I felt like it was a battle to get through. Full review to come.
I’m currently reading…
We Are Gathered by Jamie Weisman (June 5, 2018)
Rebecca Schinsky of Book Riot’s All the Books podcast recommended this debut novel about a wedding told from the perspectives of the various guests. I’m only 15% in and it’s definitely not what I was expecting so far. I’m not sure yet whether that’s a good or a bad thing. We’ll see how things pan out…
Upcoming reading plans…
The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll (May 15, 2018)
I originally thought I’d skip this novel about a reality show that seems very similar to Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise because I DNF’d Knoll’s debut, Luckiest Girl Alive. But, I am a total reality TV junkie and two bloggers I trust (Catherine at Gilmore Guide and Tina at TBR, etc. have said good things about Knoll’s latest).
I was reading…
One Year Ago: I was reading one of my favorite sports novels (P.S. it’s a fantastic summer read!)
Two Years Ago: I’d just finished a quiet novel that made me want to immediately read more of that author’s work.
How was your reading week?
I hope My Favorite Sister is better than Luckiest Girl Alive, which I also DNF’d.
Me too 🙂 But, the reality TV angle is a draw for me.
I plan on giving Circe a try — we’ll see which camp I’m in. 🙂
Your weekend sounds fun and you’re so lucky to be able to say summer has arrived. It feels like summer here right now, too, but the rain will return again I’m sure!
I think I’m going to listen to How to Walk Away for my next audio. It sounds like just the sort of fiction I like for an audiobook. I hadn’t even considered The Favorite Sister, but if you like it, too….maybe!
Curious to hear what you didn’t like about Circe. One just never knows. And glad you had a happy Mother’s Day!
Review is coming on Tuesday 🙂
I’m glad you had a good mother’s day! You’re the first person I’ve come across who didn’t like Circe. I’m on the fence about adding it to my TBR list.
Haha – I’m the first person I know who didn’t like Circe too!
I haven’t even started Luckiest Girl Alive, as I have a feeling I won’t like it. Probably because I haven’t heard anything to recommend it. So…probably not going to read The Favorite Sister.
I enjoyed How to Walk Away…and I’m looking forward to Educated.
Sounds like you had a great week. I like that quote on Busyness.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
All of your books are new to me but I have seen Circe all over the place lately. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I really liked Circe and I did not expect to AT ALL. Although I will say, about 2/3 in I was less invested than earlier. It felt a bit rushed in the end.
I am dying to read the new Jessica Knoll! But I LOVED The Luckiest Girl Alive. Can’t wait for your summer list.
I didn’t think I’d like Circe either, but the reviews were so good I thought it could be one of those books whose premise didn’t appeal to me, but that I loved anyway. It wasn’t to be…
Too bad about Circe! With all the raves, it was starting to sound like a can’t-miss–though I have my doubts, because I am not into mythology at all. Will be interested to see your full review.
Looking forward to your summer reading list!
Review coming on Tuesday! I think you need to have some interest in mythology to enjoy it, but others have said differently 🙂
I’m a reality tv junkie, too!
I think I need to read The Favorite Sister and We are Gathered (it looks similar to Grant Ginder’s The People we Hate at the Wedding).
I’m hoping that this next week is a much better reading week–I need to send some donated books to a group that will distribute them.
We are Gathered has surprised me so far…it’s much sadder and more serious than People We Hate…but, I DNFd People We Hate, so I guess that’s a good thing?!
I can’t wait for your summer reading guide!
Thanks 🙂
We Are Gathered sounds like an interesting premise. I’ll be curious to hear what you think. Sounds like you had a great Mother’s Day weekend!
Just about to finish How to Walk Away and I agree with your blurb…some of the side plots are a bit “too much” but I am still loving this book!
I read less in the summer with traveling and the kids on vacation. My weekly update
That quote about busy is a really, really good one. A couple years ago I found myself saying I was busy all the time, and realized how boring and, honestly, untrue it was. So I try not to use that phrase at all to be more honest about my life and what is going on.
You already know I loved Circe, but I DNF’d My Favorite Sister at 16%. I’m curious to hear what you think. And I agree 100% on How to Walk Away. It just worked and was a fun book!
I loved the quote on being busy! I have frequently said the same thing, just not so eloquently.
I’m a huge reality TV junkie, so I’m hoping that will help me with Favorite Sister 🙂
I’ll be on the lookout for your review. I’ve been known to get sucked into reality tv but I was having trouble following all the characters and what was happening. I’m super busy with a daughter’s wedding and an upcoming big trip so maybe it was just timing on my part. I was lacking patience.
I’m with you–I liked Circe, but I didn’t love it. I seem to remember loving Song of Achilles though. Maybe it’s time for a re-read to see if it holds up to time!
I haven’t read Achilles, but I can pretty much assure you I never will after how I felt about Circe.