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Last Tuesday I had a very minor surgery on my left wrist and because of that took a few days off of work. I had imagined that I’d get so much extra reading and writing done over those days, but somehow it just didn’t happen. One reason was that I had some trouble staying focused, but the larger reason was the books. I seem to be in a bit of a slump. Ugh! Finding a book I really connect with just hasn’t been happening. Hopefully, this week I’ll find the perfect book to turn my slump around.
Last Week’s Reads
I first finished Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki. This was almost two different stories that Lepucki tied together. Parts I liked a lot, but others not as much. I’m not sure the two stories belonged together. My review for Woman No. 17 will be up later this week. I next tried Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, a book I’d very much looked forward to. Unfortunately, I just could not connect. It was too much of a history lesson for me, with too little to care about in the characters. I quit at about 20%. Needing a new audio book, I started listening to Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood. The author narrates and I’m always a little nervous with that. Turns out, I didn’t care for the narration OR the story. I quit after two hours. Feeling extremely dissatisfied, I jumped to an end of the month book, Once, in Lourdes by Sharon Solwitz. I finished this one, but at times it was a struggle. Once, in Lourdes held a lot of promise for me. It’s a coming-of-age story set in 1968, an era I tend to really enjoy. Taking place over two weeks in August, this is the story of four troubled teens who’ve made a suicide pact. I really liked the last third of the book, but getting there wasn’t easy!
Currently Reading
Look at this! I have TWO nonfiction books going right now. This is truly amazing. In Born a Crime, Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, tells about his childhood in South Africa. I love that his stories of growing up under the last years of apartheid are both educational and funny. Noah narrates and his delivery has me laughing out loud. I haven’t yet read much of Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich’s murder/memoir, The Fact of a Body, but already have high hopes for it. These two memoirs just might turn my slump around. Who’d have thought nonfiction could do such a thing?
Likely to Read Next
If I’m still longing for a book that wows me, I might jump into June books with Fly Me by Daniel Riley. This debut was on Publisher’s Weekly’s Best of Summer 2017 list. The story of a 1972 Vassar grad who decides to throw her degree away and become a flight attendant sounds right up my alley. Add to that a southern California beach town setting and I’m all in! Or, I may try another debut, The Reminders by Val Emmich. In this a man grieving the loss of his partner finds comfort in a 10-year old girl with perfect recall. We’ll see!
Have a Great Week of Reading!
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I hear you on Priestdaddy…I DNFd the audio. But, I feel like it would appeal to me more in print. I just was having trouble following it on audio. Good news is I did love Born a Crime on audio.
And will be super interested to hear your thoughts on Fact of a Body. It was a little tedious/clunky for me in the beginning, but things smoothed out the farther I read. Turned out to be more of a serious, emotional gut-wrencher than I’d thought (I was reading it to possibly include on my Summer Reading Guide…def not going on there!).
I’m liking Fact of A Body a lot. Crime stories usually aren’t my thing, but I like how this is tired to a more personal story and I’m finding both families really interesting.
I’m hoping to listen to Born a Crime soon – such great reviews. Too bad about Salt Houses, the cover is so pretty. Have a good week!
Thanks, JoAnn.
Ugh, I hate being in a reading slump! I was in a small one a couple weeks ago. I reread one of my favorite books, and that seemed to help! Hope the nonfiction helps you out!
I’m sorry that your book choices didn’t work out well for you. I hate it when that happens. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I feel like I’m in a bit of a slump too. I couldn’t finish anything! It finally occurred to me that both of my current reads need me to sit down and read for longer periods of time; it’s not working so well with five minutes here and a few pages there!
Born a Crime is so fun! I’m glad you are enjoying it.
Sometimes finding a chunk of time to really get into a book can be the hardest thing to do.
I have been downloading books from the library for when I walk – that way I get to “read” a book while doing something else. That helps with a slump too.
Too bad about Salt Houses….I would have thought it would have been a good read too.
Woman No. 17 looks good.
Try The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan for a WOW book
ENJOY your reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
I’ve been looking at The Baker’s Secret, but recently read The Women in the Castle and wanted to take a little break from WWII books. Hopefully this summer.
Sorry to hear about your slump….I can definitely relate! Hopefully “Born a Crime” is the thing that breaks you out of it–I listened to it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hope your wrist is on the mend and you’ve managed to come out of your reading slump x
Thanks, Jill. The wrist is doing well. (Though typing in a splint is annoying!)
I’m reading Fly Me soon. And I ALMOST requested both Lourdes and Salt Houses and now I don’t regret it, so thank you hahaha
I’m looking forward to seeing what some others think of Once, in Lourdes, since I was sort of all over the place with it.
sorry to hear that Salt Houses didn’t grab you. The cover is certainly beautiful!
Thanks fro stopping by, Kym.
Surgery is disruptive. Take care and don’t stress over your reading slump. It was another busy week but I did manage to finish some books. Come see what I’m reading.