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Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Ugh! October just continues to drag on for me. My reading has been blah and my life chaotic. Not a winning combination. The escape from reality that I normally turn to books for just hasn’t been happening and the real world won’t be ignored. For the next month or two that’s probably not going to get much better for me, but I’m hopeful I’ll find the perfect books to help me dodge responsibilities for a few hours here and there. Sorry for the whining. I sincerely hope you’re having a lovely fall!
In case you missed it, I ran a Readers’ Preferences Survey last week, all about what readers like AND dislike when it comes to books and how they’re written. If you haven’t done so already, there’s still time to stop by and share your opinions. I’ll be closing the survey tomorrow and look forward to compiling everyone’s thoughts and reporting back to you soon.
Last Week’s Reads
Finally a two book week! There was much I liked about A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler, even though it didn’t quite live up to Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I’ll be doing a mini-review of this one later this week. Over the last couple of weeks I listened to the audio version of The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. Most readers have really taken to this book, and I agree that parts are fabulous. However, unlike some of those same readers, I thought it had serious flaws. I’ll share a full audiobook review of The Dream Daughter tomorrow.
Currently Reading
Last week I DNF’d three books. Yes, THREE:
- Family Trust by Kathy Wang – I only made it to 11% because I was just plain bored.
- The Library Book by Susan Orlean – After 20%, I no longer cared. For me this book suffered from too many tangents and personal antidotes. It might be one I’d like better on audio.
- Those Who Knew by Idra Novey – By the time I got to this one it was going to have to be great. Perhaps it would have got there eventually, but by 21% I was no longer willing to wade through it’s bizarre storyline.
From there, I had no place else to go, but to John Boyne, author of my favorite book from last year, The Heart’s Invisible Furies (my review). I’ve barely started A Ladder to the Sky, but am counting on Boyne to deliver me from this slump!
Likely to Read Next
Unless I add some new requests, My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite will be my last 2018 ARC. I’m really hoping this dark, funny story of a woman tasked with mopping up after her sister rashly kills more than one boyfriend shines for me. It’s another odd premise, so I feel like right now it’s a bit risky for me. After that, it’s onto nonfiction for November, books I missed this year as well as a few going even further back, AND I may even do a reread or two.
I hope you have a great week in books!
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I think Boyne can pull you out of your slump! And can’t wait for your thoughts on Sister is a Serial Killer…I loved that title, but decided not to request it based on the title alone!
Crazy title, crazy book?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Family Trust and The Library Book! I’m looking forward to Ladder to the Sky and My Sister. Hope things calm down a bit on your end!
I’m still second guessing myself on The Library Book, so may give it another go if others I trust love it.
WOW, what a tough run of books you had last week. Here’s to hoping A Ladder to the Sky comes through!
My roundup!
I loved The Dream Daughter…and just downloaded A Well-Behaved Woman. I have seen many reference Z for Zelda as being better.
I hope to at least enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing, and here are
MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I definitely enjoyed A Well-Behaved Woman and hope you do to. My take on The Dream Daughter will be a little different than most, so check out my review tomorrow.
I just put The Library Book on hold yesterday. It will be awhile before I get it; thank you for the thoughts. My Sunday paper gave it a rave review yesterday (I’m disappointed by their raves before).
I’m sure Boyne can pull you out of your slump! I went back and read History of Loneliness, The Absolutist and Next of Kin. All different and all very good. He’s my favorite author at the moment; I’m really looking forward to this new one.
I’m interested in your thoughts Sister Serial Killer. I tipped into the ‘no’ category. But I can change my mind!
Here’s to a better November!
I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the minority on The Library Book and could be persuaded to give it another try if others really love it. So far, the Boyne is good and it’s nice to be reading his clever writing again. Yay to that better November!
So excited to hear what you think of the John Boyne book. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. Hearts Invisible Furies is my fave read from this year too!
Ladder is VERY different, but does feature some of the same themes as THIF. I bet you’ll enjoy it, Sarah.
I think I still have 9 2018 review books on my stack. Every time I think I’m catching up something new arrives. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I never count ARC that I didn’t request as ones I have to read. I only bother with the ones that truly interest me. I do have one of those I had forgotten about, so I guess I have 2 2018’s left.
A ladder to the sky is one of my most expected reads ^^ For a moment i thought you had DNF’d it and I was panicking haha
If I’d DNF’d A ladder to the Sky, too I think I’d be hiding under a rock right about now!
My Sister the Serial Killer sounds interesting. My weekly updates
I’ll have to check out your review for Dream Daughter – after seeing so many great reviews and hearing the author speak, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sorry you had problems with it!
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on the things that bothered me about The Dream Daughter. I know the Goodreads rating is much higher than I gave it.
Wow that book cover of My Sister the Serial Killer is quite eye-catching. I hadn’t heard of it – but I hope you enjoy it. I think I’ll try The Library Book on audio whenever I get to it. Hope your November is better.
I hope the rest of your Oct improves Susie! I’m in the same place as you, life has gotten me off balance and that’s affected my reading. I hope to turn it around soon. I’m so happy to hear A Ladder to the Sky is good so far!