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Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Trick or treat? Halloween is so many kid’s favorite day of the year. I know my older grandkids have been eagerly awaiting Wednesday night, and for Charlotte, it’s also her 3rd birthday. I hope you and yours have a safe, fun Halloween. This time of year also marks the start of Nonfiction November which I’m very excited about this year. Hopefully, I’ll gather loads of nonfiction book ideas. Thank you to everyone who participated in my Readers’ Preferences Survey. Now I just need to find the time to analyze the results and write up a post. I’m hoping that will be done in the next couple of weeks. On to my week in books!
Last Week’s Read
Wow! Maurice Swift, the main character in John Boyne’s new novel, A Ladder to the Sky, could NOT be more different than Cyril Avery, the man we all grew to love in The Heart’s Invisible Furies. Obviously, the two books are very different and I definitely prefer The Heart’s Invisible Furies, but Boyne’s new novel still had me eager to get home from work and back to reading every day last week. I’ll have a full review closer to the November 13th (U.S.) publication date.
Currently Reading
I started listening to Busy Philipps’ memoir This Will Only Hurt a Little purely on impulse last week. I’m not a rabid fan, but I was desperate for something…anything to listen to. Good call, Susie! I’m loving the irreverent way Philipps tells of her childhood in Arizona, her first forays into acting, and the realities of life in Hollywood. (And, I adore her mother!) With only a couple hours left, I’m eager to know more, but will be sad to finish. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite also has me completely captivated. The title of this one does not lead you astray. It IS about a woman trying to clean up loose ends after her sister fatally stabs boyfriend number three. It’s funny, mysterious and a really quick read. I read half in one afternoon and plan to finish it later today.
Likely to Read Next
Catherine from The Gilmore Guide to Books wrote a wonderful review of Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver and has told me it’s definitely my sort of book. I’m not sure why I’ve resisted Unsheltered, but I have. The Poisonwood Bible and The Prodigal Summer are both books I loved, so it’s time to stop resisting and return to Barbara Kingsolver. I’ll also be keeping my eye out for wonderful nonfiction to add to my TBR list this week.
I hope you have a great week in books!
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Wait – Unsheltered isn’t nonfiction! Haha! I’m on the fence about the Kingsolver – it sounds like it might have some things that will annoy me, but a lot of people I trust are loving it. I’m on the library hold list, but I doubt I’ll get it in 2018.
OK – so I need to try My Sister the Serial Killer. Will add it to my “must try before the end of the year” TBR list…which amazingly isn’t all that long right now.
That’s why I need Nonfiction November to get going. I need to find some good nonfiction recs. I have really struggled with finding any nonfiction that interests me lately.
I really liked My Sister….It was a smart story.
I’m looking forward to Unsheltered, too, but may not get to it before the end of the year. Will be reading nonfiction for the next month or so, then I really need to finish Trollope’s Palliser series in December. Only one novel to go, but it’s so long. Enjoy Halloween and I hope your granddaughter has a very happy birthday!
thanks, JoAnn. I’m hping to pick up some good nonfiction recs this month.
So glad to hear you’re enjoying My Sister, I have that coming up and was a little worried I might’ve been too swayed by a cool title. I just finished A Ladder to the Sky yesterday and I’m disappointed. I actually found myself skimming in places so I could finish it sooner. I held out hope there might be a twist or surprise at the end but for me it was predictable. I’m pretty bummed about it!
I had already heard that Ladder was much different than THIF, so I went into it with that mindset. It was a solid B or B+ for me, but won’t be making my top ten this year.
I’ve never read Kingsolver but keep meaning to try one of her books. Since I don’t read nonfiction, November will be more of the same for me – a mix of review books and books from TBR mountain that appeal to me. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
You should definitely start with The Poisonwood Bible. It was Kingsolver at her very best.
I’m really looking forward to the Boyne and Braithwaite novels, so I’m glad to hear your positive comments on them!
Hope you enjoy them both, RK.
Unsheltered looks good. I hope you enjoy your month of nonfiction. See what I read this month at Girl Who Reads
Thanks for stopping by, Donna.
Unsheltered is on my TBR. My weekly update.
Good luck with Nonfiction November! I’m doing that, too. I have a big stack of nonfiction next to my bed already.
Wow! I’d love to see what’s in your nonfiction stack. Nothing has really been calling out to me lately.
I’ll be interested to hear more about the John Boyne book. Between THIF and this book, he’s getting a lot of attention recently!
I have a feeling I’ll need some lighter reading in December. I may have to get my hands on My Sister the Serial Killer (and it feels odd to call a serial killer book “light,” but it sounds like it might be!).
I think Boyne’s latest book has had a lot of attention BECAUSE of THIF. For me it was good, but not as good as Heart’s. My Sister was on the lighter side, but the killing did actually happen.