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And just like that September is gone! In my job I’m happy to see the month come to an end, but in life? Where does time go? I put out some fall decorations this weekend and that made it all very real. We’re entering that crazy, busy holidays time of the year. It might get a little more difficult to squeeze in books, but that’s okay. The great thing about books is that they’re always there waiting for you when you’re ready. Such understanding friends! Speaking of which, I’d somehow accumulated six books I’d yet to review, so tomorrow I’ll be doing mini-reviews of each in my Clearing the Shelves for September 2019 post. (To be honest, a couple date back to August.) Half are fiction and the other half nonfiction, so stop on by for a big variety of books.
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Read
- I only managed to finish one book last week, How to Be a Family by Dan Kois. I wanted to really love this memoir of a family’s year of traveling in search of a way to be closer, but I just didn’t. Parts were great, but too much dragged. This is one of the six books on tomorrow’s Clearing the Shelves for September 2019 (and the one I liked the least).
Book I Could NOT Finish
- I listened to over two hours of The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, but could not develop any real interest in the story. It wasn’t bad when it was about the main character, January, but then it started bringing in other stories and I was done! Narrator, January LaVoy was good.
Currently Reading
- I’m in the middle of listening to The Only Plane in the Sky complied by Garrett M. Graff and am mesmerized by it. No matter how much we might think we know about that day, there is so much more we don’t know. This oral history delivers so many personal accounts that it really takes you there. I’ve cried, and I’m sure I will again. It’s not an easy book, but I think it’s one every American needs to read. After listening for two hours, I ordered a print copy because I want to own this book and I rarely feel that way. My sons will be getting copies, too. (FYI – The book was on backorder on Amazon. I ordered it on the 25th and won’t get it until the 4th. That NEVER happens!)
- Older Brother by Mahir Guven is a book translated from French. It’s the story of two French-Syrian brothers, the younger of which left France to work for a humanitarian organization in Syria. Or did he? That’s about as far as I am right now, and am feeling both up and down with this book. Just as I start to get a little weary of it, the story takes a turn to renew my interest. I’ll reserve judgement for now!
Likely to Read Next
- I have a real dilemma facing me with my review copy of Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout. I actually DNF’d Olive Kitteridge, and was somehow thinking of My Name is Lucy Barton (which I really liked – my review) when I put in the request. It was only after I got it that I realized my mistake, I don’t really want to read Olive, Again, but feel like I need to at least give it a try. Have any of you read this one yet?
- I’ll probably avoid the Olive mess entirely for a little longer by reading Holding On to Nothing by Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne next. I AM looking forward to this debut about a young couple trying to make it as a family in rural Appalachia.
I hope you have a great week in books!
Disclaimer: There are Amazon Associate links contained in this post.
I’m like 33rd in line for The Only Plane in the Sky at the library, but I’m sure it will be worth the wait.
Hang on. It’s worth the wait!
I am so with you on needing a hard copy of The Only Plane in the Sky! I have it on audio too but I can’t listen- I want to underline and hold this book in my hands. It’s such a work of art (and I’m saying this only having read about 20%).
I have three hours to go, and have been riveted every minute.
I am curious about The Only Plane in the Sky. I am also intrigued by Olive, Again.
Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I’d like to hear someone else’s thoughts on Olive, Again before I start it.
Ten Thousand Door was one of my all-time favorite audiobooks. I couldn’t stop listening! And I loved the book itself too. So sorry it didn’t click with you. Holding on to Nothing looks good. I don’t know why, but I have no desire to read anything about 9/11. Maybe I just don’t want to relive it and all the emotions.
I actually picked up Ten Thousand Doors because of you, but just couldn’t sustain interest. We’re all so different.
I get the not wanting to read about 9/11. This is really my first big book on it and I’m wowed by it. Still, it is very emotional.
Nice variety of books. I’ve also requested a book when I didn’t like the first. Sometimes it works out but most of the time, for me, it is a writing style issue that causes the problem and the same style in book 2 puts me off. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Thanks for stopping by, Kathy.
I’m on the wait list for The Only Plane in the Sky … I was close to the Pentagon that day. I liked the original Olive book so I’m interested to read the Sequel. If you get rid of it — send it on this way. Ha.
I wish I could send Olive to you, but it’s just an eARC. I’d be interested to hear your 9/11 story sometime. Being on the west coast, we felt so removed from everything.
I have the print version of the Ten Thousand Doors of January on my TBR. Hopefully I will fair better with it.
I bet you will. Let me know what you think of January.
I loved Olive, Again so much! She’s a complicated lady, so multi-faceted. I don’t think many authors can write about the ordinary in such an extraordinary way the way Strout does. I finished it weeks ago and I’m still thinking about it. I want to talk about it with everyone.
I recently read Fall and Rise about 9/11 and would love to follow it up with The Only Plane in the Sky.
It took me over 100 pages to love the Ten thousand doors of January. But once I got past the beginning, I LOVED it! Maybe later you can pick it up again and give it a shot.