The kids went back to school last week! Let me repeat, the kids went back to school last week! They were getting bored, restless, and less than well behaved the last few weeks of summer, so this has been a welcome change to our routine. My daughter started Kindergarten and boarded the bus without tears. And, my son started second grade and is thrilled to be back with his friends every day. And, I was more productive than I’ve been in a long, long time. My kids’ bus comes super early in the morning, so I have an extra hour and a half to get things done around the house or for the blog that I didn’t have last year.
On the reading front, I’m now able to return to my school year reading routine where I 100% know I’ll get in at least 45 minutes of reading every afternoon before the kids get home. I love knowing I’ll have this time. It also gets me in a relaxed headspace for the kids’ arrival home from school. And, I spent last week reading backlist and a library hold from earlier this year. Once I finish the library hold, I’ll start on October books…and, I’m glad I’m getting an early start because October has a jam-packed line-up!
Hosted by The Book Date.
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Favorite Instagram
Follow me at sarahsbookshelves
I asked my followers to guess which book in this picture fit the following categories…here are the answers!
1) My favorite: The Heart’s Invisible Furies
2) My least favorite: Circe
3) Most appearances as a celebrity book club pick (there are 2 for this category!): An American Marriage and Little Fires Everywhere
4) Most surprising: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
5) Most heart-breaking: The Girl Who Smiled Beads
6) The genre mash-up: After the Eclipse (memoir and true crime)
7) The prequel: The Rules of Magic
And, here is the follower who got all the answers right: @amysachs of Read a Latte (even pointed out to me that I’d forgotten to create a category for Startup!). PS – you should check out Amy’s blog, especially if you like thrillers!
I finished reading…
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (August 7, 2007)
Thank you, Annie Jones, for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to read this! It was fascinating, compelling, and had me Googling away (to look at architecture, no less!) after I finished. Mini review coming soon on Instagram and in a backlist round-up later this year.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
I’m currently reading…
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering (June 12, 2018)
Whew! I’m 30% into this story about a toxic relationship and boy is it ever toxic! I sense some sociopathy and reading this actually makes me uncomfortable, yet still riveted. This could end up being the kind of book every high school girl should read as a cautionary tale, but also it would completely destroy her capacity to trust.
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Upcoming reading plans…
Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller (October 9, 2018)
I loved Fuller’s previous two novels, Our Endless Numbered Days and Swimming Lessons
I was reading…
One Year Ago: I was reading quirky food fiction.
Two Years Ago: I was on vacation!
How was your reading week?
Tell Me Lies sounds like a page turner!
Bitter Orange is on my radar, but I’m not sure I have a copy … I guess I’d better remedy that! Yay for reading time and glad the kids go happily off to school.
Well, I tried it and it was super slow in the beginning. I’ve put it down for now and will wait for some other reports.
I remember those days when my kids were at school and i had the whole day. So nice! Tell Me Lies sounds really wild and it’s one I hadn’t seriously considered. I’ll wait to see what you think in the end and then might need to pick it up. Enjoy your week!
LOL was I really the only one! That’s when you know you follow too closely! I can’t wait for Bitter Orange though. I wasn’t a fan of her last book so I’m interested to see where I fall on this one!
I’m looking forward to Bitter Orange, too. Finally read Swimming Lessons last winter and it might end up on my favorites list at the end of the year. Our Endless Numbered Days is finally on my kindle (thanks to a daily deal) but I haven’t read it yet.
I am curious about Tell Me Lies…and also Bitter Orange, as I loved the author’s Swimming Lessons.
Thanks for sharing…and enjoy the school days! Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
It is nice to get back in a routine. Lack of routine is one of the only things I’ve missed since I retired. On the other hand, I can read whenever I want these days. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
All your books are new to me. My weekly updates
What a great interactive Instagram idea. I have yet to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – will be via audiobook when I do. Like that you found it surprising.
Yay school! 2nd grade seems way more serious- at least at our house. I swear she’s already bringing home way more work that was done during the week. Yay more reading time too! I’m jealous!
I’m adding Loving Frank to my tbr, I love to google after reading books that have some real life aspects. Tell Me Lies was a DNF for me so I can’t wait to hear your final thoughts!
I’ve had Loving Frank on my backlist for a couple of years now. But other things I want to read more keep popping up. One of these days!
However Claire Fuller doesn’t interest in the least. Swimming Lessons was a major zero for me.
I read another blogger’s review of the Lovering book and it sounded too strange and obsessive. I think I age out of that sort of nonsense a while ago.
Be forewarned, Architecture, especially the myriad of styles that someone like Wright that lived so long took on can grow on you. (She says as she looks at two full three shelf bookcases of books on architecture, one of them only on Wright.) Glad you enjoyed the book!
He designed some really cool looking houses!
By and large my Sept is starting off as a great reading month. The only exception is (gulp) one both you and Susie loved: The Distance Home. I basically DNFed it by skipping and skimming ot the end. I did not like her writing at all and I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters.
I just finished The Golden State and feel as if, even though it is slow with little action, you would love it. It fell firmly into Women Who Get Women territory. I really liked it.
I’m going to start James Frey’s Katerina tonight. I’m a little apprehensive.
Oh no! I’m sorry about The Distance Home.
And I tried Golden State – it wasn’t the little action that bothered me, I just couldn’t take the writing style.
You just have a way with words that just sucks you right in- and makes me want to buy a book! I do have one that I think YOU might really enjoy. The Selah Branch by Ted Neill. It was That good. It covers so many important issues while remaining an entertaining, science fiction/ time travel book. I would/will read it again, you can check out more about the author here, he is a rare gem of a human being. Someone who truly strives for good in the world. https://www.tenebraypress.com/