Last week was my kids’ last week of school and it was a busy one! But, I did manage to get some reading done and recorded an awesome podcast episode that will air in July.
Podcast
There will NOT be a new podcast this week!
Episode 22, featuring Angie Kim (author of Miracle Creek), aired last week!
Episode 23, a special episode where Carla from Happiest When Reading and I discuss hyped book and underrated gems of 2019 so far, will air in two weeks (June 26)!
New on the Blog
- June 2019 Books to Read (and Skip)…the ups and downs of June releases!
- 2019 Rock Your Reading Tracker – I used my “Rock Your Reading Tracker” this year to track all my reading stats in real time and figure out who my best recommendation sources are…and, my reading QUALITY improved 42% from last year! The new and improved 2019 tracker is now available for $14.99…get more details here!
Hosted by The Book Date.
This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link
I finished reading…
The River
So…unpopular opinion, but this was just so-so for me (3 stars). Just too much camping and wilderness detail. And, didn’t feel like I got to know the characters. I kept mixing Jack and Wynn up in my head.
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I’m currently reading…
The Current
I DNF’d Johnston’s last novel (Descent), so I didn’t jump on The Current right away. But, I decided to try it after Susie at Novel Visits and Meredith from the Currently Reading podcast loved it. And, I’m about halfway through and really liking it so far! It’s not a thriller…more like a suspenseful small-town story.
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I tried, but wasn’t feeling…
Her Daughter’s Mother
DNF at 18%
This thriller just wasn’t grabbing me. I put it down early last week and I honestly can’t even remember why or what I wasn’t loving about it. I guess it was forgettable?
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Upcoming reading plans…
Unless a library hold comes in (I said this last week and a library hold DID come in, so trying again this week)…
We Went to the Woods by Caite Dolan-Leach (July 2, 2019)
I adored Dolan-Leach’s debut novel, Dead Letters (my review), even though it didn’t appeal to everyone (think dislikable characters and snarky writing), so I’ve been looking forward to her sophomore novel about a group of friends to go to live off the grid and things spiral. But, Catherine at Gilmore Guide didn’t love it, so I’m going in with caution now.
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How was your reading week?
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I got a copy of The River recently. Proof that a more negative review can make someone want to buy a book….I tend to like camping/wilderness details! Actually found one of his backlist books (Celine) through Libby so am reading that one first.
Good! Someone’s criticisms can definitely be a positive for others! I’m that way with dislikable characters…they’re a plus for me!
Hm, I don’t think I’d like the wildlife descriptions either so The River probably isn’t for me.
I think I mentioned on a previous comment, that I felt the same way, initially, about The River. I had to concentrate so hard and look up lots of terms, but eventually I got into the groove. I WAS able to keep up with Jack and Wynn, and I loved both of their characters. I sobbed at one point. If a book can take me from frustration to sobbing, and I love the characters, it’s a win for me.
I have a non-related question for you. When you DNF a book, do you count it in you total of books at the end of the year?
I do not count DNF’s in my total of books read at the end of the year.
Hi Sarah, I’m new to your blog and hate to ask what is probably an obvious answer: what is DNF?
Cynthia, I’ll answer this for Sarah since I’ve been reading her, and listening to the podcast since it began.
DNF simply means Did/do not finish. To DNF a book is to not completely read it—usually a few pages, some folks as many as 50, or for Sarah, often not much at all, into the book, you decide it’s not for you and stop reading it.
Hope that helps!
Your books are all new to me. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I ended up dnf on The River I tried but just couldn’t get into the story or the characters. I was disappointed since this came highly recommended by Modern Mrs. Darcy.
I did read The Current a couple of months ago and it was just OK for me. So far my summer reading books have been mixed some I really liked and some just OK, and some abandoned which is hard to do when the book is written by a trusted author.
Yes – it did! But, I’ve come to realize, as much as I love what MMD does and how she runs her blog and podcast, we often have very different taste in books!
I hear you on DNFing books by trusted authors…I usually give those more of a chance.
Ha, ha. It’s the wilderness details I LOVE about Heller. Oh well. I loved Johnston’s Descent (one of my fav books that year), but still haven’t gotten to Current. Soon!
I also found The River just okay. I got too bogged down in the descriptions for it to work for me as a thriller, but the thriller aspects worked against the buddies fighting to survive nature story. The set up was fantastic but the payoff disappointed.
Glad I wasn’t the only one!
I’m still getting caught up on your podcast episodes, which I am really enjoying.
I also added The Current to my wishlist after listening to Susie recommend it.
Have a great reading week
Thank you! And The Current is kind of unputdownable in the second half!
Coincidentally I have The Current and The River waiting for me at the library. Feels like you’re reading my mind or spying on my library hold list Thanks for the review!
I just finished The Gown and loved it!! I’m reading The Girl He Used to Know next.
I’m glad you decided to give The Current a try. It was a 5 star read for me, loved it!
I listened to The River and while I usually hate overly descriptive writing it didn’t bother me. But the plot/story was just meh.
I’ll look forward to your thoughts on new Dolan Leach book. You know I love unlikable characters and snark but I wasn’t a fan of Dead Letters. I’m always willing to give an author another chance though
Thanks for your thoughts on The River. I won’t plan to read it. I don’t like not finishing books but I do stop if the story or characters are not grabbing my interest. I usually give the book away or sell it used for a small return. The last book I did read but could have easily been a DNF was The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. This was good going at first but the scenarios the ensued were so implausible, so far out, so ludicrous. I won’t read another by Lapena.
Currently reading and loving, The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George.
…scenarios that ensued
I was one of the people who raved about The River, but I do love the outdoors, so the details worked for me. I’ll second Catherine in not loving We Went to the Woods.
Currently reading The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone. I had read his first book The Expats and really enjoyed it – especially the lead character Kate Moore. It was fast paced and yet I loved all the little historical info which was here and there. It made me want to visit Luxemburg.
This book takes place in one day and it REALLY moves along nicely. I enjoy the occasional cat and mouse games which spy/espionage / thrillers often provide . It is just one day but Pavone fills in some background history and you don’t feel short changed – except you want more Kate Moore.