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Can you say SLUMP? I can because that’s what the last couple of months have been for me. Sure, I’ve read a few great books in that time, but so many more have been disappointing. It’s supposed to be the other way around. I’m beginning to feel a little panicked over the whole thing. Is it me? I have so little reading time right now and then I spent an entire week on a book that just did nothing for me. Okay, enough ranting! Things have got to turn round soon, right?
Last Week’s Read:
This is the one. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan may be my biggest disappointment of the fall. I love historical fiction when it’s well done and I think Egan did that part of the book right. As you would expect, her writing was lovely, but the huge flaw was her character development. I just didn’t understand or care about any of the characters or what motivated them. There’s a huge amount of hype around this book, so obviously others love it, but I’ve also talked to some who didn’t. I look forward to hearing other’s thoughts and will try to put a full review together soon.
Currently Reading
I’m listening to Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder. In it, Bruder follows a new class of Americans: those living in and working from their vans, RV’s and trailers. These nomads are largely retirees who because of the recession of 2008 or inadequate retirement funds, have now taken to the road in search of seasonal work, bringing their homes along with them. It’s eye-opening and a little scary. Looking for an easy, fun book, I took Renee’s advice (@itsbooktalk) and picked up Dane Huckelbridge’s debut from last April, Castle of Water. The story of a French woman and an American man stranded on a completely deserted atoll in the middle of Polynesia has been the perfect light read. Thank you, Renee!
Likely to Read Next
So, the two I’m reading right now are making me happy and I’m very hopeful Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak will continue that trend. Her debut about a dysfunctional family quarantined together for a week over Christmas sounds like a perfect combination to me. Maybe things are looking up?
I hope you have a great week in books!
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Yay – glad you second’d Castle of Water! I have that on my list to try before the end of the year!
It was a fun light read. A little sappy, but that actually felt good after so many blah books.
Thank you for the shout out Susie, I’m so happy you’re enjoying Castle of Water, I just loved his writing! You’re not alone in your slump…I’m having an awful time with my Fall ARCS…I DNFed Manhattan Beach and completely agree that I also didn’t care or connect with the characters. I also tried and didn’t like Start Without Me, The Ice House, Second Acts, and just finished Anatomy of a Scandal which I basically skimmed and found highly predictable and overall disappointing. I’m feeling frustrated with my reading needless to say…let’s hope it turns around for both of us!!
Thanks for pointing me toward Castle of Water. It was just what I needed after Manhattan Beach. I’m sad to hear you didn’t like Start Without Me. I’ve looked forward to that one and will still give it a try. Things have to pick up soon, right?
Castle of Water looks good. Bummer on Manhattan Beach.
So disappointing!
Interesting variety of books. All of them are new to me. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I unfortunately DNFed Castle of Water – the writing style was just not for me! But I am looking forward to Seven Days of Us.
After several hard books to read, Castle of Water turned out to be the light read I needed! Hope we both enjoy Seven Days of Us.
I read so many great books before Christmas, but I haven’t read many good ones since. I’m writing down the books you are suggesting….Hopefully that will help me, too.
It’s been a tough couple of months. That’s for sure! Here’s to some great new books coming along soon!
Nomadland looks interesting. Hopefully you will have better reading fortune soon. I know how annoying it can be to carve out time for a book that ends up being a dud!
Thanks for stopping by, Allison. Really, it was my own fault. I normally won’t keep going with a book I’m not enjoying, but for some reason with Manhattan Beach I just kept at it.
When I feel a slump coming on I read picture books and comics. Nomadland looks good. Come see what I’m reading
Hmmm….not sure comic books would do it for me! May be binge watching something new would work.
I hate slumps.
I was in a slump a few weeks ago. I was in a reading frenzy reading so many books, and I guess I was burned out. Took me a few days, and then I was good. 🙂 Hope you bounce back.
SEVEN DAYS OF US is on my reading list too.
CASTLE OF WATER looks good.
ENJOY your week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
Is it possible that Manhattan Beach is a case of the emperor has no clothes? Because I haven’t seen a single good review. I’m with you- it was so splintered that I gave up.
I just finished my first 5 star, book love novel in a long time. Alice Hoffman’s The Rules of Magic. It was exactly what I needed in these days of darkness.
So sorry to hear about Manhattan Beach, UGH. I had that one on my list to read. Darn. So much hype about it too. I like the looks of Nomadland. I will look for it. thanks.
Sounds like an interesting week!
You’re right about that!