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Well the country is a hot mess, people are fighting about wearing masks, no one really knows what’s going to happen with schools, and week by week the COVID number are growing at an alarming rate. Amidst all that, I’m going to attempt Montana 2.0. I know traveling is not the best idea, but I’ve followed all social distancing protocols and my son and grandkids have mostly done the same. I’m literally going to just drive there and then park myself at their house for a week. From there, I hope to head to a family vacation home in Oregon that is also fairly isolated. Fingers crossed all will go well this time. I’ve been alone for far too long.
With the trip, I’m not going to be posting as much as usual here the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow, I have a post called An Education on Racism in America, where I share the books I’ve been reading to better educate myself. Next Tuesday, I’ll share my July Mini-Reviews, which will include six July releases. Beyond that, it all depends on time and my willingness to write while with family. I’ll still be posting regularly on Instagram, so if you’re not following me there you can find me @novelvisits. Now, on to books!
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- The Golden Cage by Camilla Läckberg turned out to be a perfect sort of breath-of-fresh-air read for me. It was a fun and easy thriller that kept me thoroughly engaged, even though some parts induced a little eye-rolling from me. Mini-review coming next week.
- I also finished listening to Deacon King Kong by James McBride this week. I really liked it, but wish I had read it rather than listened. There were a lot of characters and relationships to keep track of, and I found it challenging on audio. That’s unusual for me. I think I’ve had loved the book in print. I’m not sure when I’ll get this reviewed, but probably in my next set of audiobook reviews.
- The great surprise for me last week was how much I enjoyed Want by Lynn Steger Strong. This is one of those love or hate books and I definitely fell on the love side. It’s a character-driven story where not a lot happens as the reader gets to know a woman struggling through her own life. I like those angst filled stories! Mini-review next week.
Currently Reading
- I’m nearly finished with my current audiobook, I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown. It’s not that I’ve had a tremendous amount of listening time, but that this is a short book, with the audio being just under four hours. In it Brown shares her experiences with racism in America and explores how and why the racial divide is still so wide. It’s excellent!
- Just past the halfway point in You Again by Debra Jo Immergut, I’m curious to see how it’s going to wrap up. The story follows a 46-year old woman who keeps seeing her 22-year old self around NYC. There are also hints of some sort of psychological break, which all together makes for an intriguing package.
Likely to Read Next
- Florence Adler Swims Forever is one of the audiobooks I plan on listening to on my drive to Montana. It’s over 10 hours long, so depending on how much I listen to in the next few days, it could last me the whole trip! I’ve seen a lot of great reviews of this historical fiction set in 1930’s Atlantic City and the audiobook has a whole cast of narrators, which I always enjoy.
- In print, I’ll finally be turning to August books and I think The Boys’ Club by Erica Katz will be my first. This debut thriller set in the business world has already been optioned by Netflix.
Have a great time on your trip! I know you’re always good about staying safe.
Thanks, Angela. It’s been good so far.
Some good new books there I think I might enjoy as well. Safe journey enjoy the time with your family
Thank you!
Hmm.. Want might work for me! Those angst filled ones usually do.
Really hoping you have the best time on your trip! Enjoy your family.
Want is definitely not a happy story, but I liked it a lot.
I can totally relate to needing to do something different. I miss not hugging my kids and grandkids. Have fun.
Thanks, Diane. Seeing my grandkids shock when I drove up made the entire drive more than worth it!
Good luck with the trip. I’m currently trying to figure out how to visit my friends on the other side of the country, but I don’t know if it’s possible right now. Have a great week!
I’ve been lucky in that I can drive to my relatives, even if it is 9 or 10 hours on the road!
Want sounds like a good one! Good luck on your trip! We were going to try to do a road trip in mid-August and then my work announced if an employee goes anywhere outside of the New England/New York area we have to use two additional weeks of vacation to quarantine ourselves for 14 days upon our return before coming back to work. So to go away for a week, I would have to use three weeks of vacation time! So we’re not going anywhere, but two of our adult kids (New York and Maryland) are going to come for a Massachusetts visit that week instead, so I hope that will happen.
That’s really too bad about having to quarantine for 14 days. Sort of kills the vacation. Hope your kids make it there safely.
Good luck with your trip to Montana & Oregon. It sounds like you’ll stay safe in both places … as you’re being very careful etc. You won’t believe but I flew to LAX yesterday and it went better than I could ever imagined. The plane was pretty empty and all were wearing masks there & at airports. I’m at the OC quarantining a bit before visiting my parents in Redlands. Travel is complicated! but worth doing when necessary. Wish you well … and happy audios on the way.
I hope your trip has gong well. You’re right that traveling is a challenge these days, but sometimes for sanity sake it has to happen. I’ll be teaching online again in the fall, so that will be plenty of alone time.
Deacon King King is NOT a book for audio. I enjoyed it a lot in print but there are lot of characters and too many plot points for this to work in audio. My opinion anyway.
Most def. Agree……
You need to Read to Savor!!
Enthralling Read!
After listening to Deacon, I do wish I’d read it instead.