Whew! What a week. I was only home for 2 nights of it, so it felt incredibly hectic, but I also did get lots of time to read since I spent part of the week taking my son to an out of town basketball camp (I got to read during the day while he was at camp).
Podcast
There WILL be a new podcast this 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 on Wednesday!
New on the Blog
- 2019 Reader Survey Results…find out about your fellow readers and podcast listeners!
- 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 Current
I really, really liked this one! It’s a literary mystery and I flew through the second half. Mini review coming.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
After the End
This novel from a British thriller author was a last minute add for me thanks to Susie at Novel Visits. Two parents with an ill child are forced to make a terrible decision about their son’s survival…and they don’t agree. I flew through it and it will make an awesome book club pick! Review coming.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Becoming
I preferred the middle half of this audiobook…from when Obama first started working in politics through the beginning of his Presidency when the focus was on how Michelle was adjusting to political life and her feelings about living under the limelight of the Presidency. Mini review coming in an audiobook round-up.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
I’m currently reading…
The Need
I just started this novel by the author of The Beautiful Bureaucrat (which I loved) that Mary Laura Philpott raved about in Episode 21 of the podcast. Author Rebecca Makkai (The Great Believers) said “maybe it doesn’t surprise me that the strangest book I’ve read about motherhood is also the best.”
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Upcoming reading plans…
I keep saying I’m going to try this book and hopefully I actually will 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?
Pin this post…
I need to bump The Current up on my list. I haven’t gotten to Becoming, but I know I should read it.
I loved Becoming so much on audio that after listening for free via my library’s Overdrive, I went and bought it so I could have it for my own!
I liked Becoming a lot. It made me reflect on how the Obamas came from a humble background.
I added The Current to my TBR list after hearing it spoken about on your podcast. I’m seeing The Need on a lot of blogs this week, I hope you enjoy it
Have a great reading week
Susie has “talked” me into the After The End as well and it is now on my TBR wish list. I always enjoy your podcast even though my reading taste is different whenever anyone talks books I love it.
I finished Becoming and saw her during her book tour as well. It was really just a fantastic experience. I came away inspired, but also depressed because they are both so great and I miss them.
Currently reading The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister. Something totally different from the norm which is always welcomed.I’m on page 110 and the story is still unfolding. I enjoyed her first book School for Essential Ingredients which was a delight – story wise and food wise.
I’m checking out Anthony Doerr’s short story collection from 2010. Besides loving All the Light You Cannot See I enjoyed his About Grace which I thought very unique but may not be for everyone. It took you all around the world and to this day I dream of going to a resort/ restaurant with a glass floor so you can view tropical fish swimming under you!
I started The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo yesterday, and decided to DNF it today. My first DNF ever because of you! I just couldn’t get into this book – the main characters were unlikeable and did not seem like real people. The 2nd person narration was annoying (mixed with 1st person), and is not a favorite style of mine at all. I stayed with it longer than I should have (40%), hoping that there would be some big hook, but I found (and verified through spoilers) that I had already predicted the end at that point.
Thanks for helping me learn to give myself permission to let go and not waste my time. It was really freeing – ha!
I haven’t read that one, but am so glad you felt comfortable putting it down if it wasn’t working for you! Just makes room for all the books that will work for you!