It's Friday - What Are You Reading?

[ufcasey]

dorothyinAus - Where are you?! haha

Taking over for her since she is MIA and because I look forward to the weekly Friday post: what are you reading?

QOTW: What author do you consider an auto-buy? (aka you would automatically buy any new book they write because you love their writing that much).
Edited to add: Or auto-borrow from the library as the case may be (which is me too!)

[sassypants]

I'm a good bit of the way through The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. I'm really enjoying it. That family would have been so neat to know!

QOTW: I always snatch up Jen Lancaster's books, esp. her memoirs. Her fiction is so so but I love reading her quirky take on her own life. I used buy Anne Rice books religiously, but not so much anymore. I've been disappointed by her recent offerings. Oh, and the next time Deb Harkness has a book out I'll grab that up.

[susiebw]

sassypants , I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Wright Brothers. I've read a few books by McCullough now, and that one is on my list.


I'm reading Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell. It took me a bit to get into it because I wasn't comfortable with the tone, but now I'm really enjoying it. I read so much history anymore, and it's all so serious, it was an adjustment to the humor. Ha!  He was such an interesting dude, I sort of love reading the humorous take on his life.  America's favorite fighting Frenchman!

I'm listening to Madison's Gift by David Stewart.  More early American history.  It's good.


QOTW: Dennis Lehane is an auto-buy for me.  I love his style.

[ufcasey]

I'm half way through Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea which is seriously eye-opening. I had NO IDEA how absolutely crazy it is over there. I mean, I got from the news that Kim Jong-un is psycho and we don't want them to have nuclear weapons, but they take crazy to a whole new level. Very good book so far, it's very interesting and not dry at all since it's telling the stories of several real people who used to live in North Korea.

I also have barely started listening to Enclave by Ann Aguire (dystopian, YA), so no opinion on that yet.

QOTW: Ilona Andrews, which is really a husband/wife writing team, can do no wrong in my eyes; I would buy their shopping list haha! Sarah Maas is up there too (still on a reading high from her latest book, A Court of Mist and Fury). Oh and Patrick Rothfuss, though I haven't read his little halfsie book yet because I don't like offshoot novellas for a series and refuse to buy them generally, not even for you PR.

[revjen]

Still reading The Last Oracle by Ben Hale. I'm listening to The Master harper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. It's a relisten.

QOTW: Either Nora Roberts or JKR/Robert Galbraith.

[snshne322]

I'm reading Endure by Sara B. Larson. It's a quick read, but it's not living up to the standard that she set up with the first two books. At least, not yet.

I'm listening to Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. So far it's decent at 1/3 in.

QOTW: Patricia Briggs is auto buy for me as well as Maggie Stiefvater.

[willyh19]

I'm reading Addition by Toni Jordan and it's just OK.

I'm listening to All the Light We Cannot See and it's just not keeping my interest. I need to try again because I'm pretty sure it's due back at the library next week.

QOTW: I don't think I have any auto-buy authors.

[litskispeciality]

Hoping to make good progress on "The Cuckoo's Calling". I started it the other night, however the first 20 pages didn't really catch me. I'm next on the list for the audio version, hoping to do some immersion reading and really get into the book.

QOTW: I don't really buy new books because I hate over paying for things I'll only use once. When Jodi Picolt has a new book I do look into it right away. Gayle Forman hasn't let me down yet either (although I've only read 3 of her books.)

[charlatti]

I have two going. Fiction is Where Are the Children by Mary Higgins Clark, nonfiction is You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice by Tom Vanderbilt. Not very far in either but enjoying both.

QOTW: Louise Penny, Barbara Kingsolver (I don't adore everything of hers but I always try it), Jasper Fforde. (Full disclosure, I don't actually buy books generally; my library is awesome so I put myself on the reserve list as soon as it hits the catalog.)

[snshne322]

Jun 3, 2016 10:01:18 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

Hoping to make good progress on "The Cuckoo's Calling". I started it the other night, however the first 20 pages didn't really catch me. I'm next on the list for the audio version, hoping to do some immersion reading and really get into the book.

QOTW: I don't really buy new books because I hate over paying for things I'll only use once. When Jodi Picolt has a new book I do look into it right away. Gayle Forman hasn't let me down yet either (although I've only read 3 of her books.)

I think if I hadn't had the audio, I would have had a tough time getting into it.  The narrator is EXCELLENT.  I hope you enjoy it! I just finished the second one yesterday on audio and have the 3rd queued up.

[sassypants]

Jun 3, 2016 9:23:38 GMT -5 susiebw said:

sassypants , I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Wright Brothers. I've read a few books by McCullough now, and that one is on my list.


I'm reading Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell. It took me a bit to get into it because I wasn't comfortable with the tone, but now I'm really enjoying it. I read so much history anymore, and it's all so serious, it was an adjustment to the humor. Ha!  He was such an interesting dude, I sort of love reading the humorous take on his life.  America's favorite fighting Frenchman!

I'm listening to Madison's Gift by David Stewart.  More early American history.  It's good.


QOTW: Dennis Lehane is an auto-buy for me.  I love his style.

I LOVE Sarah Vowell. She's got a very dry and wonderful sense of humor. She's the most awkward human being on the planet, but I love that about her. I recommend any of her other books, but especially Assassination Vacation.

[MrsAxilla]

I'm trying A God in Ruins again and I'm glad I did because it's definitely picked up.

QOTD: Stephen King is the only author I have on auto buy.

[rainbowchip]

I'm reading Sinner (Wolves of Mercy Falls #4). I'm not that far into it but I'm enjoying it.

QOTW: Rainbow Rowell, Gayle Foreman (though I was disappointed by her last book), and J.R. Ward. Oh and probably Dan Brown too.

[CheeringCharm]

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

I just finished The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee and really liked it! It was much more serious than I thought given the jacket copy but I found her analysis of people in general and her characters in particular to be really interesting and spot on. Has anyone else read it? What did you think?

SPOILER: Click to show

I was a little surprised that we never find out what happened to G! Why do you think they only call him by his first initial instead of his name? Because he was kidnapped?


QOTW: Oh tons. Off the top of my head, for this summer I already ordered the new Elin Hilderbrand, Lauren Belfer, Julian Fellowes, Liane  Moriarty, and Ann Patchett. I have a lot of authors that I'll pre purchase in advance when they have something new coming out. 

[Nonny]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through The Nightingale, I'm enjoying it, but I'm feeling a little burned out on books set during WWII right now.  This is the 3rd book completely set during the thick of WWII that I've read in the past 9 months, and at least 3 others have been set kind of on the fringes of the war.  I feel the need to read something more contemporary.

QOTW:  I very rarely buy books any more because my library has such a good eBook selection.  It probably used to be Stephen King, but even now the last books of his I bought were 11/22/63 and Under the Dome, and that was over 3 years ago when I picked those up.

[aurora]

I'm still reading The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan and listening to The Fellowship of the Ring. Both are re-reads since I don't feel like I have much attention span at the moment.

QOTW: I will buy or borrow any book JK Rowling writes, though I won't necessarily do it immediately (I'm OK waiting for Very Good Lives to come up at my library, for example).

I will sometimes buy the next book in a high-profile series immediately when it comes out; for example, I'll probably pick up GRR Martin's Winds of Winter immediately if he ever writes it. But, I had previously bought A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and although it was a fine story I just ended up being annoyed that I had given him money to read something that wasn't a continuation of A Song of Ice and Fire. So I probably won't buy any other of his books.

[aurora]

Jun 3, 2016 10:26:46 GMT -5 sassypants said:

Jun 3, 2016 9:23:38 GMT -5 susiebw said:

sassypants , I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Wright Brothers. I've read a few books by McCullough now, and that one is on my list.


I'm reading Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell. It took me a bit to get into it because I wasn't comfortable with the tone, but now I'm really enjoying it. I read so much history anymore, and it's all so serious, it was an adjustment to the humor. Ha!  He was such an interesting dude, I sort of love reading the humorous take on his life.  America's favorite fighting Frenchman!

I'm listening to Madison's Gift by David Stewart.  More early American history.  It's good.


QOTW: Dennis Lehane is an auto-buy for me.  I love his style.

I LOVE Sarah Vowell. She's got a very dry and wonderful sense of humor. She's the most awkward human being on the planet, but I love that about her. I recommend any of her other books, but especially Assassination Vacation.

Is there a caption for this picture? In particular is this you meeting her?

[Wallflower]

I'm about 1/3 through the Dream Thieves (Maggie Stiefvater) and have notice from the library that The Summer Before the War (Helen Simonson) is ready for me to pick up, so I'll pick that up this weekend.

QOTW: Mysteries - Louise Penny, Donna Andrews (paperback only), GM Malliet (well, the Max Tudor series).

There are a number of romance writers that I like a lot, but that doesn't always translate into "automatically buy," unless I'm following a specific series (e.g., Christine Feehan's Sea Sisters series). For a while, Julie Garwood was at the top of the auto-buy list but I dropped her and I'm only just starting to get back into her.

And I'll almost always buy David McCullough, though sometimes the books wait a while until I read them - I haven't picked up The Wright Brothers, though, so it's good to hear that sassypants is enjoying it!

[monkeyfeet]

I'm reading both Mila 18, recommended highly one day when it was a kindle daily deal.  It's really good.  I didn't really know what to expect.  Picked it off my kindle because although I had downloaded The Royal We, I hadn't yet turned on my kindle prior to arriving at the gym.  I went ahead and started The Royal We since it is a library book, but I think I like Mila 18 better.

QOTW:  Funny, but the first few that popped in my head were YA even though I wouldn't consider that my favorite genre, but Gayle Forman and Stephanie Perkins were the first two I thought of.  I also really like Chris Bohjalian, although probably haven't read 1/2 his stuff.  Lisa Genova and Alice Hoffman are other ones I know I'll enjoy if I'm in a rut.  

[ally]

I am 3/4 of the way through The Nightingale.  I am enjoying it.  Sometimes books about WW II can be heavy, even knowing much of the history.  

QOTW: there used to be several authors I had on auto buy, but the list has dwindled.  I (or my mom) buy Mary Higgins Clark, Jan Karon, and Dan Brown pretty consistently.

[travella]

I am currently reading Letters to the Lost by Iona, Grey. I am about half way through the book. I am really enjoying it!

QOTW: Louise Penny and Fredrik Backman are the only ones that come to mind at the moment.

[booknerd]

I'm still reading The Wanderer by Robyn Carr. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow. I'm enjoying it.

QOTW: Nora Roberts. I always pre-order her books months out.

[AJL]

I started reading Travesty in Haiti by Timothy Schwartz. Schwartz is an anthropologist who started working in Haiti 20 years ago. The gist of the book chronicles his time there, the impact of NGOs and religious charitable organizations on the country (not necessarily for the better), the issues with Haitian and other governments fraud and the drug trade problem. 

It's very compelling!

QOTW: Ilona Andrews and Diana Gabaldon

[sassypants]

Jun 3, 2016 13:14:13 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jun 3, 2016 10:26:46 GMT -5 sassypants said:

I LOVE Sarah Vowell. She's got a very dry and wonderful sense of humor. She's the most awkward human being on the planet, but I love that about her. I recommend any of her other books, but especially Assassination Vacation.

Is there a caption for this picture? In particular is this you meeting her?

Yep, exactly. She came to a nearby university about 2 years ago and I went to hear her speak, and they had a meet and greet afterwards where she signed books and posed for photos. Sorry the image is ginormous!!

[sassypants]

AJL,your siggy is dreamy! I love Hiddles! And I second DG as an auto buy. I knew I was forgetting someone.

[bernsteincat]

Still reading I Captured the Castle, and loving it. And finally putting in work on Count of Monte Cristo, and am LOVING. IT.

[bernsteincat]

My auto-buy is Elizabeth Strout.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 3, 2016 9:01:53 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

dorothyinAus - Where are you?! haha

Taking over for her since she is MIA and because I look forward to the weekly Friday post: what are you reading?

QOTW: What author do you consider an auto-buy? (aka you would automatically buy any new book they write because you love their writing that much).
Edited to add: Or auto-borrow from the library as the case may be (which is me too!)

Sorry -- my internet was out due to a connection issue at the junction box or something like that -- our house phone was ringing on another line and a different line was ringing at my house, and since the line that was ringing at my house did not have data services, my internet was out until the phone company/ISP got everything sorted.

I spent a good deal of my no-internet time reading A Sprig of Blossomed Thorn, which is a good mystery so far, and I'm really interested in seeing how it ends.

QOTW:  It's not so much authors I will always buy, but specific series they author writes.  I'll preorder Mrs. Murphy mysteries, but not any of Rita Mae Brown's other work.  I will order Ashley Gardner's Captain Lacey mysteries as soon as I know they're coming out, but I do not read her other mysteries or her romance novels.  But other than that, the authors I pre-order have stopped writing the series I read.  There are a few series I'll definitely buy the books, but I'll either wait until I'm ready to read them, or get them when they come out in paperback because I'm in no real hurry or want the series to match.

[jillboston]

Jun 3, 2016 10:51:57 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I'm trying A God in Ruins again and I'm glad I did because it's definitely picked up.

QOTD: Stephen King is the only author I have on auto buy.

I loved a God in Ruins - I thought it was even better than Life after Life - (which I consider one of my favorite books). Kate Atkinson is amazing.

[jillboston]

Just finished Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman. Highly recommend it. I enjoy her Tess Monaghan series but her stand alones are even better. I'm also listening to Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo. A little tedious but good writing.