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Here in Washington, they’re predicting off and on snow most of the week. Just the mention of snow seems to drive people here into a frenzy, and of course, the kids at school are always excited to get snow days. Personally, I’d prefer we don’t have any because we just have to make them up in June and I’ll take a longer summer over being stuck in the house every time. Despite that, I am feeling a little thrill at the prospect of getting extra time for books this week.
Speaking of this week, tomorrow I have a special fun post to share with all of you. That’s all I’m going to say for now, so please stop by again tomorrow!
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- I was very excited to read Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore and it was fine, just fine. The premise of a woman living her life out of order couldn’t have been more interesting, but for me it was overly sweet, and lacking much substance. I’ll have a mini-review in February.
- Thankfully, I had just the opposite reaction to If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais. I don’t know why I didn’t read this book last summer. At one point I even had a copy of it from the library. After seeing it on so many “best books” lists I decided to listen and am so glad I did. I always loved audiobooks with multiple narrators and this one had a different narrator for each of the three main characters, Zodwa, Delilah and Ruth. I loved If You Want to Make God Laugh and hope to get a full review in soon.
Currently Reading
- For the first quarter of Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough I was a little underwhelmed, but right there it took a turn that has me eager to read more. I’m only at 28% right now, so still am not sure where Pinborough might be headed, but I suspect there will be more turns involved!
Likely to Read Next
- I’ve been planning on making Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener my next audiobook, but now I’m a little unsure. In the last week I’ve seen some sort of “meh” comments about it and the early reviews on Goodreads are all over the place. I’ll probably give it an hour or two and then decide for myself.
- Sports books aren’t normally my thing, but as a backdrop for a great story, I enjoy them. This line in the publisher’s description of The Cactus League by Emily Nemens totally drew me in, “An explosive, character-driven odyssey through the world of baseball…” Plus a book set in the heat of Arizona sounds like nice reading for a snowy winter day.
- I think I’m one of the few people who didn’t care for Jenny Offill’s last book, Dept. of Speculation, but I respect her writing and wanted to give her another try with her February book, Weather. This one is about a librarian who takes on the task of answering lots of crazy mail for a left-wing podcast. Now that sounds interesting!
I always want just a little snow each winter. Just like one or two days off work, you know? Haha! Oona Out of Order looked so good, too bad it was just average.
I went to Denver for Christmas. I got snow there and that was enough for me.
I’ve seen that a lot of others really liked Oona, so it may have just been me.
I didn’t like Dept. of Speculation either! But, if you like Weather, I’ll give it a shot! And, I’m adding If you Want to Make God Laugh to my backlist TBR. I have a galley of it from last year that I still haven’t read.
So glad you loved Laugh!! And I feel the same way about Uncanny Valley- was excited to read it, but some of the meh reviews have me taking a pause. Looking forward to Dead to Her though- that one is coming up soon for me!
I’m so happy your best of the year list pushed me to try If You Want to Make God Laugh. I actually only felt so-so about Hum If You Don’t Know the Words which is why I was slow to pick up her second book. So glad I did!
I’ve enjoyed Sarah Pinborough’s books, so Dead To Her looks tempting. Enjoy your week.
I’m halfway through now and interested, but still not quite sure how I feel about ti overall.
I wasn’t a fan of Dept. of Speculation either, but I’ll be curious to hear what you think of Weather.
I’ll definitely let you know.
The Cactus League sounds like one I’d enjoy. I enjoy watching and reading about sports. Good luck with avoiding snow days. They were always such a pain to make up. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I’m definitely looking forward to The Cactus League. I’m hoping that the stars and library holds list align and I can read it during spring training!
That would be perfect. I hadn’t even thought of the book in conjunction with Spring Training which is crazy because that’s when the book takes place. What a dope!
Where I’m at in Michigan, the district plans for a few snow days, and plans tentative days to extend the school year. As a staff member, I’m always okay with an extra day to sleep in. LOL Sounds like some good books coming up. Enjoy!
My district has one snow day and then the rest get tacked onto the end of the year. Last year we had four and that felt so long in June. As it is the weather has changed and now it looks like at most we’ll get maybe one late start. It’s always fun to know so many book lovers work in schools.
I’m glad to see how much you liked the audio of If You Want to Make God Laugh. Sorry that Oona Out of Order was a disappointment. Both of these sounded good to me.
I’m always interested in anything Jenny Offill writes. Can’t wait to see what you think about Weather: A Novel.
We had a week off one year and two weeks another year for a hurricane. We ended up not having to make up the days.
Have a great week!
One year we had a couple day off because a huge wind storm caused power outages and we didn’t have to make those 2 up, but we always have to make up the snow days, which is why I dislike them so much.
Have a great week of reading.
Did you end up getting a snow day? We’ve been freezing up here lately. Your enthusiastic review of Bianca Marais’s book — made me look for the audio at my library …. but unfortunately they are only carrying her first novel Hum If You Know the Words, which I’m on the wait list for. Also I listened to the Deborah Levy book you spoke about & just reviewed it. It is quite unusual …. but I liked the GDR aspect of it.
All we ended up having was a 2-hour late start on Tuesday. That works for me since there’s nothing to make up. I’ll have to head over and check out your review of The Man Who Saw Everything. You’re so right that it was quite unusual.
Try to stay warm.
I had no idea you didn’t like Dept of Speculation either! Well, I’ll happily vet Weather for you and Sarah.
I look forward to your review of If You Want to Make God Laugh. It was one of my 2019 favorites. I loved all the stories in it and couldn’t put it down.