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Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
The end of November is upon us, so lets hope we’re ready! I hope the long Thanksgiving weekend was restful and productive for those of you lucky enough to have all four days free. (Really? Can we ever be free this time of year?) The long weekend was exactly what I needed to be ready to face the three weeks left before Winter Break. My Christmas shopping is 90% done and the part that was the most fun was choosing books for my 4 grandkids, all under 5. I’m so excited about my choices that I may feature them in an upcoming Top Ten Tuesday.
Last Week’s Reads
I finished both Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich and My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward by Mark Lukach early in the week. Future Home wasn’t as different as I had expected it to be and overall, I liked it. I thought the ending was abrupt, but loved the way Cedar told her own story of pregnancy in a wold where evolution has begun to run backwards. After several nonfiction books in a row, I felt a little burned out on the genre, but couldn’t stay away from My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. This harrowing memoir from a man trying to make a life around his wife’s psychosis really touched me. When I’m listening to a book while making copies or entering grades on the computer, you know it’s good! Narrator, Josh Bloomberg really delivered, too. (Look for my full review this Thursday.)
Currently Reading
Well, I’m doing it! I’m rereading Donna Tartt’s brilliant debut The Secret History. The rereading itself is an interesting investigation into my powers of recall. At roughly the 30% mark, parts I remember vividly, while others seem brand new. Knowing where it’s headed, but not remembering exactly how it will get there is making my rereading experience a delight. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of The Secret History’s publication, so it’s a perfect time to join me in revisiting the campus novel that all others aspire to be. I’ve barely begun listening to Forty Autumns by Nina Willner, but can already tell that I’ll be hooked on this nonfiction highly recommended by Sarah @sarahsbookshelves. Forty years with a family on both sides of the Berlin Wall is going to be fascinating.
Likely to Read Next
I really have no idea what I’ll be reading next, but have a feeling I’ll be diving into 2018 releases. After putting together my “Winter Preview 2018” list, I just don’t think I can wait any longer. I’ll be sharing some of the winter books I’m most excited about reading tomorrow, so please come back and visit!
I hope you have a great week in books!
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I’m still toying with Secret History and I don’t remember many plot details – haha!
Looking forward to your winter list! I’ve got mine coming later in December…and I’m using a different method of putting it together this year.
Hmmm…Now I’m really curious what your new method of selecting books is. Does it have to do with the editors?
I’m nearly halfway through The Secret History and am amazed how much I’ve forgotten!
I’m still looking at November books! I’ll get to 2018 one of these days. Ha!
We reviewed Forty Autumns! She said “It’ll be one that I place on my “tell everyone about it” bookshelf at home.” Interested to hear what you think! http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/08/forty-autumns/
I really like it so far, but have a long way to go yet. (Hannah just finally got out for good!)
I’m curious about Forty Autumns…and maybe My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for sharing. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Come on back on Thursday for my review of My Lovely Wife. So far, Fory Autumns is really good.
My Lovely Wife looks very interesting – I’m going to have check this one out. T hank you!
My Review of My Lovely Wife will be Thursday. Please, check it out.
I’m starting my 2018 review books soon too. I’m also trying to read books from my YA TBR mountain that are catching my attention. Come see my week here. Have a great week!
I rarely read YA, so at least don’t have to fit in that TBR list!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward. I purchased it as a #TBTBSanta gift.
Good choice!
I’ll be waiting for your review of My Lovely Wife, I hadn’t heard of it until you featured it. The 2018s have called to me too and so far I feel underwhelmed by first 2 reads, I hope you have better luck:)
Oh, no! I want to hear that 2018 reads have been great. Message me and let me know which books they were. (especially if any are on my winter preview!)
Can’t wait to hear more about My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward and I’m interested in Forty Autumns, too. Rereading The Secret History sounds like quite an experience… can’t believe it’s been around for 25 years!
Rereading has been a good experience. I’d forgotten so much and at 50% can’t remember exactly how it ends.
I have some of my 2018 reading for January planned — one new book each week. But beyond that I just have some wishlist books tagged at Goodreads. Come see what I’m reading this last week of November.
Thanks to a busy, but fun, weekend, it has been slow going with The Secret History but not for lack of interest! I’m so glad you posted that you’re rereading this so that I’d have an excuse to pick it up!
Oh I’ve read The Secret History twice too. Once when it came out in 1992 and then again in 2013 to refresh my memory. It’s a chilling page-turner — very well done — only few times did I want it to be edited a bit shorter. Still it’s a great read. That psych ward book looks quite good — I’ll check for it at the library, thanks.