Summer is winding down and school is starting up for my kids in a couple weeks. So, while we have some free time, I’ve been trying to knock out a bunch of un-fun errands. But, I actually got a lot done and hope to enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
After flailing around with various books last week, the book I’d been waiting for (Everything Here is Beautiful) finally came in from the library and I feel like I’m back on the reading horse!
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I finished reading…
Living Out Loud by Anna Quindlen (August 12, 1988)
Steadfastly top notch Anna Quindlen, a charter member of my “women who get women” club. Even though these columns (originally published in the New York Times) were published in the 1980’s, they are still incredibly relevant today.
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I’m currently reading…
Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee (January 16, 2018)
I’m about 25% through this debut novel about two sisters, one with a mental illness and am really liking it! It’s the first novel to truly grab my attention in the past 2 weeks and I’m so interested to see what happens with these two sisters.
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I tried, but wasn’t feeling…
Ohio by Stephen Markley (August 21, 2018)
DNF at 30%
I ended up picking this one back up last week after originally thinking I was done with it at 7%. There were long sections about the characters’ high school experience that sucked me in, but as soon as the story went somewhere else (these other places were generally pretty self-indulgent), I hated it again. After wrestling around with it for a few days, I finally decided that, if I’m going to invest my time into a 500 page novel, it shouldn’t be this hit and miss. One Goodreads reviewer said it perfectly: “This really needed to be tightened up. In places, it’s a total mess. In others, it’s brilliant.” I just thought the % mess vs. brilliant was too heavily weighted to the mess side. Ohio has gotten a lot of pre-publication buzz, but I think it’s one of those critical darlings that probably won’t resonate with many regular readers.
Upcoming reading plans…
The Wildlands by Abby Geni (September 4, 2018)
I saw this literary thriller set during a Category 5 tornado in The Millions Great Second Half Book Preview and, though it hasn’t been vetted by any of my trusted recommendation sources, I was intrigued!
I was reading…
One Year Ago: I read one of my very few 5 star thrillers!
Two Years Ago: I’d just finished a fun novel set in the political world.
How was your reading week?
I’m glad to hear I didn’t miss anything by not picking up Ohio again. It’s too bad an editor couldn’t have filtered out more of the mess. I also saw The Wildlands on The Millions list and requested a copy! I love the sound of it, although I was a little nervous because no one I know has read it…sometimes I like to take a chance on a really interesting premise:)
I’m so glad you’re enjoying Everything Here is Beautiful. It’s a great story! Too bad about Ohio, but you can truly say you gave it a real chance. A 500 page book should ALL be good.
I’m really glad to see your honest DNF reasoning behind Ohio. I’ve seen it pop up a lot recently and was thinking about reading it. But seeing what you’ve written and the comment right above, I think I’ll put it on hold for now. I hope you have a great week!
Yes, I will skip right on by Ohio. I was not sure about it anyway…so there it goes, off the list.
I must read Living Out Loud, though…I seldom miss out on an Anna Quindlen book, but somehow I did with this one. Luckily I can still grab it.
Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
It’s super old, so maybe that’s why? An easy book to read an essay here and there.
It is hard to believe that school is starting so soon. Summer has just zipped by. All of your books are new to me. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Everything is Beautiful Here Sounds so interesting! I had thought about picking up Ohio, but I don’t have a ton of patience for books that are brilliant to critics and don’t appeal to “regular” readers. I may be too normal 🙂
My post is here. Have a great week!
Ha – well then definitely don’t bother with Ohio. Reminded me of City on Fire in that way!
I did endeavour to listen to the podcast but I fell asleep before I think you even came on so I have to go back to it. The host spoke very quickly and a little indistinctly so I was concentrating on that and then wham I was out like a light. I listen at night and generally get through one podcast before I fall asleep and … the podcast goes on. Will go back to yours again tonight!
Yeah – I know – it was definitely a bit fast 🙂 Thanks for giving it a try and hope you make it through the whole thing if you go back to it!
Sarah I did go back to it and enjoyed it very much. You spoke beautifully.
Awh – thank you so much! And, thank you for taking the time to listen!
I’m about 20% into “All the Beautiful Strangers” which seemed daunting as it’s 440 pages, but those pages are flying by.
That’s the key to a good, long book for me…if I don’t feel its length!
Love this post so much, and I’ve missed visiting your blog! That’s so exciting that you were on a bookish podcast! I think I’ll listen on a fairly lengthy drive tonight. Nothing like books to keep me company!