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How’s everyone doing? Are you adjusting to this new normal we’re living with? It’s been nice to see some success in flattening the curve, but it seems we still have a long way to go. Schools here will continue to be closed for the rest of the year, so today marks the start of ten more weeks of distance learning. Hopefully, that will get a little easier for all of us, parents, teachers, and students. Last week was my spring break and we had some gorgeous weather which I took advantage of. I cleaned off my front porch, found a safe way to get flowers, worked a little in my yard and planted flower pots. Then all my hard work paid off as I began enjoying my very favorite place to read, that front porch.
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- I had a bit of an up and down reading week starting with Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould. I’ve heard so many great things about this book, and I liked it well enough, but it definitely didn’t wow me. The main character was just too much of a martyr for me. I’ll have a mini-review at the end of the month.
- On the other hand, Untamed by Glennon Doyle totally and completely wowed me! This memoir/advice/essay collection really spoke to me. I listened to Doyle reading her own book and she is my new hero. Her words really resonated, and I’ll be sharing a full review on Thursday.
- Pretty Things by Janelle Brown could have been a great book if it had been about 100 pages shorter. The author told her story from two different points of view and there was too much overlap for my taste. I liked the premise of a grifter and the not so nice woman she works a scam on, but I had to do some skimming. Mini-review at the end of the month.
Currently Reading
- I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but I’m listening to an out and out romance story and I’m enjoying it! I don’t think I would liked The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez as much in print, but the audiobook has me won over. It’s a fun story of a woman who falls in love with a burgeoning musician. The characters are both likable, and narrators Erin Malton and Zachary Webber make listening a pleasure.
- I’m nearly finished with Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo, and it has been a very pleasant surprise. This story essentially documents the history of pervasive misogyny in Korea through the life of one woman. It was a huge success a couple years ago in Korea, sparking a new feminist movement there.
Likely to Read Next
- Like many of you, I’m doing more mood reading right now, so I may or may not get to these two books by authors I’ve enjoyed. Christina Dalcher, author of VOX (my review), has a new book coming out soon, Master Class. Like the earlier book, Master Class is a bit of a dystopian story, this one featuring a new world where students are educated based strictly on a series of “Q” tests.
- Emma Straub’s last book, Modern Lovers (my review), was a fun summer read a few years ago and I’m hoping for a similar experience with All Adults Here. This multi-generational family story is exactly the sort of book Straub does so well.
Ohh! I enjoyed Vox (though I thought it felt v similar to The Handmaid’s tale) but I am excited about Dalcher’s new book. I hadn’t noted it down in my list. Thank you
I just finished Master Class. I think I liked VOX better, but this one was good. Definitely, steeped in current U.S. politics.
Some beautiful book covers there! Kim Jiyoung is on my TBR list so I’m glad to hear it’s a pleasant surprise for you.
We currently have two weeks break before the kids return to online learning for term 2.
Enjoy your front porch!
Wishing you a great reading week and good health
We haven’t heard yet if school in person will resume this year. Right now, it is closed until May 4. However, our state hasn’t reached the corona virus peak yet which could change things. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I wish we’d go back to school. Teaching in person is so much easier!
Great post! Most of these are new to me and sound interesting. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 has popped over other blogs so I’ll have to see about getting a copy. Happy reading and enjoy your flowers!
Yay for spring weather! We’re doing distance learning here in NC too, but they haven’t called it for the year yet. Happy reading!
Thanks, Allison. You must be busy supervising school work from home. Stay safe.
The Happier Ever After Playlist sounds like just the thing for me right now!
I finished it and I’m missing that light, easy listening right now.
I’m curious about the Korean novel and about Emma Straub’s new one. It’s weird how spring break week came & went and no one went anywhere; it’s a bit mentally exhausting to stay in one place for months on end. But I’m glad you got to be on your fav reading spot — the front porch!
I really liked Kim Jiyoung. It was very original and gave you a good feel for recent Korean history and for sure attitudes towards the sexes there. Plus, it’s really short.