What I’m Reading Now (9/17/18)

We were bracing for big impacts from Hurricane Florence in Virginia this weekend, but thankfully we just ended up with some rain…not even any wind to speak of. I’m so glad we escaped most of the damage (less glad that the kids’ school was needlessly canceled on Friday), but feel horrible for those in North and South Carolina who didn’t. I have a particular soft spot in my heart for Wilmington, NC as I lived there for a summer during college, so I hate to see Wilmington residents going through all this.

On a happier note, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (author Q&A), which I know many of you read and loved, was selected at the 2018 One Book for Thomas County, GA (home of The Bookshelf in Thomasville and From the Front Porch podcast)!

Finally, I made my second guest appearance on a podcast last week…this time I joined Gayle Weiswasser and Nicole Bonia on The Readerly Report to break down Celebrity Book Clubs! Listen here (it’s the 9/14/18 episode).

Hosted by The Book Date.
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There’s something about the stage of life I’m in right now that really has me gravitating towards “women who get women.” _ I’m now experiencing marriage, motherhood, and a struggle to maintain my own identity through all of that. Seeing many things I’d been thinking and feeling put so eloquently on the page brought a tremendous sense of relief…and camaraderie that others struggle with the same things. This is one of my favorite joys of reading. _ All that being said, I don’t think these particular authors would have resonated with me before my thirties because I didn’t have the necessary experience under my belt to appreciate their wisdom. So, save these fantastic women authors for well after college… LINK IN PROFILE WITH FULL LIST _ What type of authors do you most identify with right now? What other “women who get women” authors do I need to read? * * * * * #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgram #amreading #bookworms #instabooks #instabook #booktalk #booklovers #booklover #bibliophile #biblio #bookaddict #bookaddiction #badassbookbabes @megwolitzer @camille_pagan @cherylstrayed @kellycorrigan @randomhouse @scribnerbooks @aaknopf @vintagebooks

A post shared by Sarah’s Book Shelves (@sarahsbookshelves) on Sep 11, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT

I finished reading…

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering (June 12, 2018)
Tell Me Lies explores sociopathic behavior and the girls that get mixed up in it from Lucy’s and Stephen’s alternating perspectives. It was a somewhat uncomfortable read, yet I was absolutely riveted. Part of me thinks this is the kind of book every high school girl should read as a cautionary tale, but it might also completely destroy her capacity to trust. And, I’m sure the many women who have experienced this type of relationship at some point in their lives will identify (but also be totally frustrated with) Lucy.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

I’m currently Reading…

November Road by Lou Berney (October 2, 2018)
I’m almost three quarters of the way through my September Book of the Month pick…a historical fiction thriller centered around a cat and mouse chase connected to the JFK assassination. And, it’s just so-so. I expected it to have more of a page turning vibe than it does and I don’t really care what happens to these characters.
Affiliate Link: Amazon

I tried, but wasn’t feeling…

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller (October 9, 2018)
DNF at 24%
Sigh…I loved Fuller’s previous two novels, Our Endless Numbered Days and Swimming Lessons, but this one was sloooow. The writing was too descriptive and focused too much on architecture. I also couldn’t get a good sense of Frances (the main character)…she felt vague and the whole story felt hazy. There was supposed to be simmering tension similar to Tangerine, but I felt absolutely zero tension.

Upcoming reading plans…

A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson (October 9, 2018)
This Midwestern family novel focusing on three generations of women came to me unsolicited from the publisher. It’s the kind of premise that I’ve absolutely loved before, but could also be the type of book where nothing ever happens. We’ll where it lands!

I was reading…

One Year Ago: I was embarking on a bit of a reading slump…similar to this year!

Two Years Ago: I was reading a massively popular book that I didn’t love…and my review of it is still one of my best performing reviews of all time.

How was your reading week?

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23 Comments

JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing wrote:

Oh, no! So disappointed about your reaction to Bitter Orange. Swimming Lessons was a favorite, but I’ve yet to read Our Endless Numbered Days.

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  Numbered Days was actually my favorite! I’ll be interested to hear what others think of Bitter Orange once it comes out.
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
Susie | Novel Visits wrote:

It’s a shame about Bitter Orange. I don’t even know if I want to try it now. November Road sounds similar to Transcription in that it’s a historical fiction where you just don’t care!

I’m going to listen to the podcast on my way to work this morning. You go girl!

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  It was definitely that! Thanks for taking Transcription off my list for me!
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
Beth F wrote:

Bummer on Bitter Orange … I’ll likely still give it go, but I won’t set my hopes high.

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  Would love to hear your thoughts!
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
bermudaonion (Kathy) wrote:

My heart is with those on the coast. We weathered Florence very well here with some rain and wind but it was nothing like they predicted for us. They never cancelled school here.

November Road got some good buzz at Book Expo.

I’m off to listen to the podcast.

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Laurel-Rain Snow wrote:

I do love books from “women who get women”…and have read a few on your stack: The Wife, I Am I Am I Am, and Anna Quindlen’s memoir Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake. I have a copy of Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties…resting comfortably on Paige, my Kindle.

I did enjoy November Road, but it wasn’t a favorite book. The nostalgia for the sixties kept me going.

Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  I love how you named your Kindle!
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
Aymee wrote:

I’m thankful you missed the worst of the storm! You have what looks to be quite a great list of books to read this week as well.

My list!

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Kathy Martin wrote:

I’m glad that the bad weather missed you. All of your books are new to me. I hope you enjoy this week’s choices. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Pussreboots wrote:

I think I’ll pass on all your books. Hopefully this week’s reading is more rewarding. My weekly updates

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
RK wrote:

Thanks for your thoughts on November Road and Bitter Orange, both of which are on my TBR. Can’t wait to check out your podcast appearance!

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Aj @ Read All The Things! wrote:

I love your Instagram photo, and I’m glad that the hurricane mostly stayed away from you. Have a great week!

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Jenny @ Reading the End wrote:

I’m so glad to hear that the storm hasn’t given you too much trouble. Hang in there. <3

Posted 9.17.18 Reply
Cheryl Sokoloff wrote:

Just finished We were the Lucky Ones. I really enjoyed it. On to The Great Believers now and enjoying it (meaning it’s keeping me interested but it is an emotionally difficult read).

Posted 9.18.18 Reply
Judy Krueger wrote:

I read The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson and liked it a great deal.

Posted 9.19.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  That’s her award-winner, right? I would like to read more by her..I really liked her writing in Cloud!
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) wrote:

That Instagram picture is so great! And good subject too, those are all excellent titles/authors to recommend.

Posted 9.19.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  Thanks much! I’m working on the Instagram photography, but it gets time consuming! I still don’t post nearly as much as I should.
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
Jan wrote:

Sarsh, sorry to hear November Road is just so-so. It was my BOTM pick. I love the time period.

The podcast episode you did was terrific!

And the From the Front Porch episode with the author of We Wete the Lucky Ones was excellent t too. Makes me want to read the book now. It’s been on my tbr too long.

I hope next week’s reads are better ones!

Posted 9.21.18 Reply
- Sarah Dickinson wrote:
  
  It was mine too 🙁
  
  And thank you so much! I listened to Georgia’s interview as well and it was great! I almost recommended WWTLO to you for your Patreon recommendation, but saw it was already on your GR TBR list! I think you’d love it!
  
  Posted 9.25.18 Reply
  - Jan wrote:
    
    Sorry for all the typos in my previous post!
    
    I think WWTLO would be a terrific book to follow Forty Autumns, which I’m enjoying a lot. Only one more hour to go!
    
    Posted 9.26.18 Reply

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