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Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
This week marks the halfway point in my summer break and I have to admit that makes me a little sad. Of the five weeks I have left, I’m out of town two, and have my best friend coming for a visit another week. So, lots of fun coming up, but it will go by too fast. This past week I finished four books, however, it’s not quite the accomplishment it might seem. One book I was nearly done with when the week started, another I was halfway through, and a third was really short. Still, I’m happy with a four book week. Hope your reading is going well and that the summer is being very good to you!
Last Week’s Reads
I absolutely loved Gather the Daughters, a wonderfully original debut by Jennie Melamed. That’s all I’m going to say for now, but my review will be up tomorrow. American Fire by Monica Hesse started off a little slow, but once it grabbed me I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening. My review was last Friday. The Lauras by Sara Taylor came next. It also started off slow, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The book follows a mother and her child who are on the world’s longest road trip! The themes are serious, and the delivery intelligent. It was a really different book and one I’m glad I read. The same cannot be said for the next two books I turned to. Careers for Women by Joanna Scott I couldn’t finish and quit at 33%. (From what I’ve heard, I’m not the only one.) After that failure, I turned to a New People by Danzy Senna, a book that has had loads of buzz surrounding it. I finished it because it was very short, but almost wish I hadn’t. Do I need to like a character to enjoy a book? Not typically, but in this case I found my dislike of the main character impossible to move beyond.
Currently Reading
I’ve just begun Girl in Snow, Danya Kukafka’s debut, a thriller about a girl found murdered in a small Colorado town. Told from three perspectives: the boy who stalked her, a vengeful girl who wanted her life, and the detective investigating the case. It just felt like the right time for a little something different. I’m not far enough along to know if Girl in Snow will deliver, but fingers crossed!
Likely to Read Next
Up next I have two books that I’m already nervous about. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt is a modern day retelling of the Lizzie Borden story. I’ve looked forward to this one for a long time, but have heard some mixed comments about it. Nevertheless, I’m going to go at it with an open mind. Things That Happened Before the Earthquake by Italian author Chiara Barzini has a lot that I love: it takes place in LA, it’s a period novel (1992), and its heroine is a teenage girl trying to figure things out. This book sounds really different from most and that’s either going to be amazing or…?
I hope you have a great week of reading!
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All in all a pretty good reading week Susie! I’ve got New People but based on what you said I’m not too excited about it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Things that Happened Before the Earthquake. I loved the time period and premise of that as well. Happy Monday!
I just finished Girl In Snow and think I’ll start Earthquake next.
Good reading week! I do have to like a main character to finish a book. If I don’t, I find I really don’t care about the rest of the story. Girl in Snow sounds excellent. Come see my week here. Have a great week!
Thanks for stopping by. I found Girl in Snow to be only okay.
Gather the Daughters is so good! I still have 12% left, but I’ve been so captivated by the writing and the girls. I look forward to reading your thoughts on it!
Thank you!
I’m interested to hear your thoughts on Girl in Snow! I have a pre-release hold on it at the library! And interested to read your review of The Lauras…I could be convinced to pick it back up if it changes past the point I dropped it.
Finished Girl in Snow today. It was only okay.
I wrote my review of The Lauras today, but won’t post until next week. It was a little slow, but overall, I liked it.
I have The Lauras all ready to go on my Kindle when I go away in August. I heard about American Fire on a podcast and thought it sounded really interesting, so I’m glad to hear it was a great read for you!
I hope your upcoming reads are wonderful. 🙂
Thanks, Lindsey. My Lauras review will post on the 1st.
I read Girl in the Snow earlier this month and I’m not sure I liked it. I enjoyed the mystery, but I’m not sure I liked how the story was told. Happy Reading! Donna from Girl Who Reads
I’m with you, Donna. Girl in Snow was just okay for me. Nothing very exciting.
American Fire and Things That Happened before the Earthquake are both on my list.
Nice recap! I am adding Gather the daughters as it seems like there are some good comments out there on it! I am super impressed with your reading speed, but then I am super slow but I also read to enjoy and will drop a book if it’s terrible- glad I am not alone in that!
I so agree. There are so many good books out there that I can’t stay with a book I’m disliking.
I think this is the only week this year that I’ve managed four books and everything was just aligned perfectly. There are plenty of week swhen I only finish one book!
American Fire is on my wishlist. Stage one of the move is complete. We’re out of our house and now we’re trying to get it ready to put on the market. Come see what I’m reading.