Weekly Reading Thread Week of July 20

I read All the Light We Cannot See - which I loved.

I am now reading The Giver series. I have finished book 1 and about a quarter of book 2.

I finished Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't a typical King novel (are any of his lately?) but more a crime mystery novel.

I read The Beach House by Georgia Bocklove. I heard about it from this thread last week. It's set in Santa Cruz where I grew up. It's one of those books that try to cover everything in 300+ pages - Death, divorce, good kids, bad kids, sexual tension, etc. It wasn't bad, but not a must read.  And it was only $1.99 on Kindle.

On audio, I listened to The Vessel by Taylor Stevens. Its a novella (3 hours long) that finishes her last book The Doll. Now I'm all primed and ready to start The Catch that was released this week. Looking forward to my commute.

I just started Dark Witch by Nora Roberts. I'm 10% in and liking it.

I finished The Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes. It was a very good book and I recommend it highly. 4/5 Then I read All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner. It's about a mother who becomes addicted to pain meds. I like this author but this was not my favorite book by her. It was still good, just not as engrossing as some. 3/5

I just finished Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. It's the 2nd in the Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. Loved both of them!

I started Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and really liking it so far!


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If you enjoy those, be sure to read Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. 

I'm listening to Casebook by Mona Simpson, which is okay so far.

I just finished One Plus One by Jo Jo Moyes and that was very... Jo Jo Moyes. Light, easy read. Fun, but predictable.

I'm just starting Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.

I'm reading Alaska by James Michener. I'm actually rereading it, it's that good!

I just finished Rooms by James L. Rubart last night. It was SO good! Need to figure out what to read next.

I finished Sycamore Row by John Grisham. I really enjoyed it. This was the first book of his that I've read.

I'm starting The Last Letter From Your Lover by JoJo Moyes thanks to pea recommendations.

I had an excellent reading week because I was on vacation for a few days. 

First up, was an ARC copy called The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber. This was a fascinating premise. It was about a group of people travelling to another planet. The story focuses on one man, Peter, who travels to the new planet, and his wife, Bea, who stays behind in the U.K. Peter is a Christian and a missionary to the natives of the new planet. However,the book is not religious. At all. I felt that some of the behaviors of both Peter and Bea were not really true with what I would expect. But overall, I thought it was quite well done. Without giving away anything, I wasn't that thrilled with the ending. 3/5 stars. Really, 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Next up, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Wow. This was breathtakingly beautiful. Loved it. 5/5 stars. 

Third, I found a book by Greg Iles called Third Degree at the thrift store. The only book I have read of his was Natchez Burning. To say that he has drastically improved as a writer is a gross understatement. I almost didn't finish this but muddled through. Iles tries to portray the protagonists as heroes. In the end, the "villain" might be the only hero. 2/5 stars. I will keep reading Iles but will stick with his newer stuff. 

And finally, I found a beautiful gem by a new author, Laura McBride. I was absolutely mesmerized by the title, We Are Called to Rise. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. McBride tackles PTSD and divorce and the meaning of family and the child care system and even more against the backdrop of Las Vegas. Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of four people, and eventually, all of their lives intertwined. This was tragic but full of hope. 5/5 stars. I loved it and highly recommend it. 

Lisa

I didn't get to read much this week so I am still working on The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. Enjoying it, just not much time to read this week.

I'm reading, "Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. It's a collection of studies on decision making and why we think and do the things we do. I'm enjoying it and looking forward to his "David and Goliath" next.