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Hello everyone! I hope you and your family are safe and well and finding ways to make being quarantined at least a little bit of an adventure. My second week of delivering distance learning went more smoothy than the first, but it is still very difficult at this point. Never-the-less, I DO have a job when millions of other Americans have lost theirs, so I really I have nothing to complain about. Plus, this week I’m on the most bizarre spring break of my life. No school, but of course no travel. The good news is that I’m going to have a lot of time for reading this week and hope to get through several books. The weather is also looking cooperative, so if I can find a safe way to get some flowers, I plan on doing some work in my yard, and best of all, getting my front porch cleaned off, flower pots planted, and everything all in place, so I can begin reading in my very favorite spot!
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- I haven’t seen much buzz about A Tender Thing by Emily Neuberger, but I really enjoyed it. Taking place in 1958, it felt like sort of an old-fashioned story of a young women who heads to Broadway hoping to make it there. Fairly quickly she gets the lead role in a controversial new play. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but easily kept me engaged throughout. I’ll have a review on Thursday.
- I turned to American Royals by Katherine McGee because I was looking for something light and easy to listen to. I got that! While I enjoyed the book well enough, it also reminded me of why I don’t typically read YA books. I liked it, but lets just say it also brought on some eye-rolls. I’ll do a mini-review later this month.
- I was a little nervous about St. Ivo by Joanna Hershon mostly because I just hadn’t heard all that much about it. It definitely won’t be a book for everyone, but I really enjoyed this short novel. It’s hard to even describe. I guess I’d say it’s about a woman who long-ago lost her daughter, and a weekend spent with friends she hadn’t seen in years. I’ll have a mini-review later this month.
Currently Reading
- I first heard great things about Untamed by Glennon Doyle from Catherine at The Gilmore Guide to Books, but I quickly started seeing it everywhere. I’ve read almost no nonfiction this year, so was happy to find one so highly recommended. At several hours in, Doyle has lived up to the accolades.
- I’m at the 25% mark in Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould and so far, for me, it’s just okay. Since I’ve heard so many great things about this book, I’m expecting it to really take-off any minute. I’ll let you know next week.
Likely to Read Next
- Coming up I have a short and a long book. The short book is Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo. This slim 176 page book has been a big hit in Korea, telling the story of a young mother, who suddenly starts speaking in the voices of other women, both dead and alive. It sounds really interesting to me.
- The longer book is Pretty Things by Janelle Brown. I’ve looked forward to this one for a few different reasons. First, much of the story takes place in Lake Tahoe, CA, a place I’ve spent a lot of time throughout my life. Then there’s this, “…two brilliant, damaged women try to survive the greatest game of deceit and destruction they will ever play.”
Even though it would be fun to travel, that actually sounds like a pretty good spring break!
Yes, it has been nice so far and no packing to do!
Perfect Tunes isn’t a take off kind of novel…it’s more character-driven with spot-on observations about motherhood and goals. Just a warning!
I love character driven novels, but Laura just wasn’t a character I could believe in. I felt like she was a bit of a martyr and was never willing to look outside the box for solutions. I liked it well enough, but not as much as you. (I liked Casey so much more in W & L because she didn’t give up on herself even past the point when she maybe should have.)
Pretty Things looks good…I, too, have loved time in Lake Tahoe. This week I have also enjoyed a book set in the 1950s…which is another great way to take us out of our current situation.
Enjoy your week and stay safe and well. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
I don’t always like the 50’s era, but really enjoyed the era on Broadway.
I totally agree with you about American Royals. It was fine but some of it was cringe-y. I am also with you on Perfect Tunes- I was about 25% through when I put it down. It’s okay, but the writing wasn’t really doing much for me. I might finish later on, because I was getting through it quickly and I still am curious.
I finished Perfect Tunes in just a little over a day. It was an easy read, but I just never could believe in Laura. She gave up too easily and that really bothered me.
I guess we are all in the same boat as far as the social distancing goes. Just when I planned to read a lot my reading has slowed a bit. I’m listening to The Red Lotus; Bohjalian and just finished Sea Wife; Amity Gage – both are pretty good.
I think a lot of us are struggling a bit with reading right now, though I do feel like I’m starting to work my way out of that. I DNF’d Red Lotus. Is it good on audio?
I’m glad distance learning is getting easier. It still has to be a hard thing to do if you have to keep up with quite a few students. You have some nice looking books on your stack. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I’m keeping up with about 66 students and a lot of parents who need some support, too! Have a great week.
A Tender Thing sounds interesting, I’ll have to check my library’s Overdrive for my copy. Have a great and safe reading week.
https://wendimlee.blogspot.com/2020/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading.html
You’ve got several books here that I’ve just started to hear about and am curious to learn more. I finally read Nothing to See Here last week after avoiding it because of the ridiculous premise… loved it. Have recommended it to both my mother and sister. My sister is also teaching online now (second grade) and finding it a challenge. They were supposed to be on spring break, but had it taken away. Hope you are enjoying the unusual vacation!
I put off Nothing to See Here, too and for the exact same reason. Like you, I loved it.
Hmm. I didn’t realize Pretty Things is set in Lake Tahoe — that’s a big plus! I’m curious too about the Korean novel which apparently made big feminist waves over there …. so I’m glad if you will vet it for me. I’m thinking I might get it.
Of those, two I’d go for Kim Jiyoung!