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I’m happy to report that Montana 2.0 was a big success. The drive was easy and since we hadn’t told my 2 grandkids I was coming, they were very surprised. I spent a wonderful week with them and then made the long drive from there to Sunriver, Oregon, listening to books all along the way. I’m now totally relaxing with my sister and her husband at their beautiful vacation home. This has been exactly what I need to sort of rejuvenate before the long haul of online teaching this fall. (We’re fully online until at least January.) While here I’m taking virtual classes and having lots of online meetings to prepare for the fall, so it’s definitely not pure vacation mode, but a good mix.
With everything going on right now, I’m not going to be posting as often as usual. I’ll post some mini-reviews later this month and will share my Fall Preview 2020 at the end of the month. In the meantime, I’m posting regularly on Instagram, so you can follow me there if you want to hear about the books I read more often. You can find me @novelvisits.
Hosted by Kathryn at Book Date
Last Week’s Reads
- It feels like a really long time ago, but it’s only been a couple weeks since I finished listening to I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown. I really appreciated hearing her take on being Black and living in a White dominated world. I also liked that her delivery was very blunt, clear and right to the point. This is a short listen, that I highly recommend. For more on I’m Still Here and other books on racism in America check here.
- You Again by Debra Jo Immergut probably won’t be a book for everyone, but I enjoyed this story of a woman who keeps seeing her younger self around NYC. You can already check out my review here.
- I like a good legal story every now and then and that’s exactly what I got in The Boys’ Club by debut author Erica Katz. Her book follows a young female attorney starting a career in Big Law in the ultra high-stress field of Mergers and Acquisitions. Hopefully, I’ll have a mini-review later this month.
- I listened to the entire audiobook of Smacked by Eilene Zimmerman on my drive from Montana to Oregon. Zimmerman’s memoir explores her ex-husband’s decent into big time drug use, which didn’t become clear to her until after she found him dead. Mini-review later this month.
- Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland held my interest while on both legs of my trip, but I can’t say I thought it was great. For me Beanland’s book was just an average sort of historical fiction. I did find it interesting in the author’s notes that the most important parts of the story were based on her own family’s past. Mini-review later this month.
Currently Reading
- John Boyne’s A Traveler At the Gates of Wisdom has definitely been one of my most anticipated books this year. At just over halfway through, I can’t say I’m completely loving his latest. It’s a VERY different type of story, a series of very short chapters, that are each a new iteration of the last with slight variations that move the overall story. I’m going to stay with it, but think many will DNF this one.
- On the other hand, I just started listening to The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi and it’s so far a pleasant surprise. Somehow this book wasn’t even on my radar until last week, but I’m glad to be listening to this beautifully told story of a Nigerian family who tragically loses one of their own.
Likely to Read Next
- I’ll be honest. I really have no idea what I’ll feel like reading next, but these are two possibilities. First, The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey is the story of three siblings who find a boy’s body and how it then affects each of them differently. I’ve read mixed reviews, but want to find out how it is for myself.
- The Dragons The Giant The Women is Wayetu Moore’s memoir of leaving her home in war-torn Liberia and immigrating with her family to the United States, ending up in Texas. That transition had to be a shock for her and I’m eager to find out more.
I’m so glad you were able to visit your grandkids!! Hope you get to enjoy the rest of your vacation without too many work interruptions!
Thanks! It’s been a strange vacation, but lots of good times in it.
Interesting assortment of books. I know a lot of people listen to audiobooks while on car trips but that doesn’t work out well for me. Too much car noise and need to concentrate on driving, I think. It was great for you to be able to surprise your grandchildren. It must be nice to know how you will be teaching this fall. I think teachers here are still wondering. Come see my week here, Happy reading!
It is nice to know what I’m teaching this fall and that it’s online, but there are still a lot of questions as to how it will all work. Hope all is well with you.
I’m glad you are enjoying your vacation, and have had so many good books to accompany you on those long drives.
Wishing you a great reading week
I am SO glad your trip worked out this time!
Bummer about Boyne’s latest! I am really excited for that one too. We’ll have to see. Good to hear that Vivek Oji is good on audio- I’ll definitely be getting to that soon!
Im happy you had (2) nice visits with family and, I hope your new school year, online, isn’t too stressful. I want to try the Florence Adler book as I have the eGalley. Have a good August.
You too, Diane. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Florence.
I’m glad your trips are going well! Enjoy some relaxation. The Nigerian and Liberian books look good and my cup of tea. Have a great time.
I just finished Vivek and definitely think you’d like it. I thought the audiobook version was great.
Oh, no! I love John Boyne and am sorry to hear this one might be a DNF. It does sound a bit ambitious and I’m not sure I’m up for something quite so heavy.
I’m envious that you get to be in Sunriver. We had planned to visit Sisters and Bend this past spring, but COVID messed with our plans. Now, it sounds like Bend is asking all visitors to stay away. I understand that. We live in Depoe Bay and have far too many tourists, which makes us all very nervous since we’re seeing a lot of folks without masks. Stay safe and enjoy your time in Sunriver. I’m sure it’s beautiful this time of year!
I finished the Boyne book and enjoyed many aspects of it, but I don’t think it will be a book for the masses like The Fates Invisible Furies was.
Sunriver has been great. Because of some family issues, I’m actually still here. It feels very safe and I’m mostly just staying put and enjoying all those long bike/walking paths. Depoe Bay is a beautiful place to live…lucky you!
I’ll definitely give Boyne’s latest a go but reading about it is giving me some doubts. Maybe I’ll opt for a blacklist of his I haven’t read yet.
I put The Dragons The Giant The Women on hold. Will be interested in your thoughts.
I recently finished The Golden Cage which you liked. Great read!
SF Public library will be starting sidewalk pick soon. And my branch is one the first on the list of those opening. (There are 28 branches in SF and many librarians have become contact tracers.) I can’t wait to read a “real” book!
I’m jealous you’ll be able to get library books soon. I keep hearing ours are working on it, but so far nothing definite.
I’m glad your vacation is going well!
I finished The Boys’ Club- what a wild ride that was. I really enjoyed it, even thought it veered close to over-the-top. She held it together.
I completely agree on The Boys’ Club. It was just the right amount of fun and tension.