We were on vacation for part of last week and I think we’ve finally hit the point where our kids are old enough for vacations to actually be fun! For the past few years, they’ve felt like more work than fun and are definitely not relaxing for us parents. But, my kids are now 5 and 7 and they’re interested in doing some fun things that we’re also interested in (a new thing for us!).
My son is crazy about fishing. Luckily, my daughter wants to do what her brother is doing, so she’s taken up fishing too. And, we all love being on the boat. Highlight of the weekend was my son catching a small shark on his fishing rod!
And, I did manage to get some reading done, which always helps my vacation!
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I finished reading…
Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee (January 16, 2018)
I really liked this one, though it wasn’t a 5 star read for me. The dual perspectives of Lucia suffering from her mental illness (possibly schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) and her family responsible for caring for her was poignant. I felt terrible for all of them. The structure also kind of reminded me of the TV show The Affair…you’re seeing the same events from different characters’ perspectives. A good pick if you liked Dear Fang, With Love by Rufi Thorpe (my review).
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I’m currently reading…
The Wildlands by Abby Geni (September 4, 2018)
I’m over halfway through this novel about siblings who lost everything in a Category 5 tornado. It was described by the publisher as a literary thriller and I’m not sure that’s quite accurate, but I really like it anyway! I read the first half in two days, which is quick for me. And, it’s got little bits of a number of other books I liked (Before the Fall, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Animals, and This Dark Road to Mercy).
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Upcoming reading plans…
Foe by Iain Reid (September 4, 2018)
I didn’t read Reid’s best-seller, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, but Catherine at Gilmore Guide‘s book whisperer (Pam Cady, a Seattle bookseller), told her that Foe is a must-read. Since Catherine and I mostly agree on books, I’m taking Pam’s recommendation too!
I was reading…
One Year Ago: I was reading the YA hit of last year.
Two Years Ago: I was on vacation!
How was your reading week?
Your vacation sounds fun! My younger son loves fishing too. I have The Wildlands so I’m glad to hear it’s working for you, that was an impulse request by me:)
Sounds like a fun trip! I keep hearing great things about Where the Crawdads Sing.
I have high hopes for Foe. His other novel was creepy AF, and I loved every minute of it!
I’m so glad Everything Here is Beautiful worked for you. How did I miss that Iain Reid has a new book coming out? I did read I’m Thinking of Ending Things and really liked it. Looks like I have another September book I need to read! I also have The Wildlands coming up soon. (One of four 9/4 releases!)
So glad your vacation was a good one. Less work and more fun is a winning combination with kids.
Ah, I remember those fun vacations with kids that age, and even a little older. You have to catch them before they are teens, or they might hate just being there. LOL.
Everything Here Is Beautiful looks like one I might enjoy…if one can call reading about mental illness “enjoyable.” Thanks for sharing.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I’m glad you had a nice vacation. You have a nice variety of books here. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Nice that you two are now ready to have a vacation time and everything would be a delight in their eyes. Can imagine the excitement of that shark.
I’m glad you had a good vacation! I need that leopard-print book. It would match the Snuggie I wear while reading in winter :). Have a great week!
Foe is on my pre-order list. My weekly updates
I’m glad you liked Everything Is Beautiful. I thought it well done. The author has experience with mental illness in her family, which shows in her writing.
I’m adding The Foe and The Wildlands to my tbr!
Your kids are in the sweet spot of family vacations 🙂 I remember our kids catching (and releasing) small sharks at that age. So fun!
Oh interesting! I didn’t know that.
On Monday I was finishing Straight Man by Richard Russo for an upcoming reading group. It was just ok for me though I do like campus novels usually. Since then I have been in a reading slump, a reviewing slump and a blogging slump. Very disconcerting since that is my life. There seem to be a lot of books about mental illness lately. I wonder what that means.