It's Friday - Reading Recap! (3/1)

[ufcasey]

What have you read this past week? What are you currently reading?

QOTW:
If you had to move permanently to another country, which country would you choose based only on the country itself? (so do NOT consider language barriers, distance from family, ability to get a well paying job there etc.)

[tacokick]

I finished Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken. Not my favorite of hers but I liked it.

Now reading: The Winter Sister by Megan Collins


QOTW: Portugal. We loved it there; the food the people, the weather.

[wildrice]

I finished "Where the Crawdads Sing". I liked it a lot and would recommend.

I am currently reading "A Spark of Light" by Jodi Piccoult. I don't like how it's being told in reverse chronological order - I don't understand why she chose that way to tell the story. But beyond that I am liking it ok. I had heard it was not good so my expectations were low, and so far that is probably helping me enjoy it more

QOTW: Maybe Italy? I likely would want to live in a smaller city or village there vs one of the big cities (too crowded). But the food, the culture, the weather, and the beauty of the countryside definitely sell me! Realistically I could also see us moving to somewhere like Berlin, but it's not as much of a "dream" destination as Italy.

I haven't been to Spain or Portugal but reading about them, I feel like those are good choices too. Basically anywhere pretty and affordable in Europe would be great IMO!

[meowmaps]

I read Little by Edward Carey. I loved it. It was a quirky but interesting depiction of Madame Tussaud and her environs before she became Madame Tussaud.

QOTW: Off the top of my head, Mexico. My H and I met on a study abroad to Cuernavaca. They were some of the happiest weeks of my life. The weather was magnificent, the food was amazing, so many awesome sites, and I felt very comfortable and safe and embraced by my host family and really, everyone I encountered.

[Vespasia]

ETA: Oops I initially thought this was the February thread!

I am currently reading the Dollhouse by Fiona Davis. I think it may end up a bit predictable but I am enjoying it. 


QOTW: This is really hard! There are a lot of places I would consider. I guess I would say France, so we could winter in Guadeloupe. 

[travella]

I finished The Beach by Alex Garland, 2*. The book was nothing like I expected. That was the last book that has been on my to read list for over a year, so I accomplished one of my reading goals for this year! I started The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware.

QOTW: Spain! I lived in Spain in college for a while. The country has a very special place in my heart.

[ufcasey]

Since last Friday I have read:
Devil's Daughter (The Ravenels #5) by Lisa Kleypas
3 stars/ historical romance
The hero was great, the heroine was absolutely boring

The Lost Man by Jane Harper
4.5 stars/mystery
This had more of a 'character study' feel to it and I really enjoyed it for that reason!

Total so far for the year: 26

Currently reading:
Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3) by Brandon Sanderson - fantasy; this is over a thousand pages so I'll be reading it forever

QOTW:
Probably Italy, but Switzerland would be a close second.

[doxies]

I'm currently reading The Lost Man. Glad to see the positive reviews of it here. Looking forward to making some progress on it this weekend.

QOTW: I think I would pick Germany or France.

[dontlook]

I finished The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris. It was pretty good but not as great as other books I’ve read this year. I need to start and have a few waiting for me.

QOTW: Some island. I’m jut sure which one. Somewhere warm and next to the ocean sounds great.

[wesleycrusher]

Read:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah- wish this has a stronger ending

Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything by Aly Raisman (audio)- the narrator was so happy, like she read almost the entire book with a smile. It annoyed me.


QOTW: Singapore

[litskispeciality]

Chipped away at The Husband's Secret and 50 Shades Freed.

QOTW: Spain or The Netherlands

[ssmjlm]

Trying to finish The Woman in Cabin 10. My lending period ends tomorrow. God is this book terrible. Girl on the Train, but on a boat.

QOTW: somewhere in the Caribbean. Probably one of the Virgin Islands. I cannot do cold anymore and want to always be close to the beach.

[litskispeciality]

Mar 1, 2019 13:53:55 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Trying to finish The Woman in Cabin 10. My lending period ends tomorrow. God is this book terrible. Girl on the Train, but on a boat.

QOTW: somewhere in the Caribbean. Probably one of the Virgin Islands. I cannot do cold anymore and want to always be close to the beach.

Yes, I had such a hard time with Cabin 10. If you haven't read Woman in the Window skip it, another girl on the train, just too long and not that well written.

[Gato]

I finished Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller. Boy, that was dark. A bit stagey, but I did like it overall.

Now I’m reading Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez.

ETA: Japan or France.  Also, I have been reading about Paraguay and it sounds really awesome there. It has one of the most progressive governments in the world.

[rainbowchip]

I'm still reading Midnight Texas. It started out sort of like we were already supposed to know that there are real supernatural beings. So it was slow going for me on the beginning because I was confused.

QOTW: After the 2016 election I started looking at Spain and really would love to live there.
Then H saw something about Portugal and he wants to move there.
I think my personality would fit in well in France.
But who am I kidding. I live in WI now so I would probably just drive up to Canada.

[estrellita]

Hi! I can't remember if I've ever posted over here but if so it's been years I'm sure!

I just finished Becoming last night and loved it, as well as finished up re"reading" the first Harry Potter book via audiobook.

I just joined the BOTM club late Feb so I just started A Woman is No Man. So far it's pretty good!

I think I'd live in Costa Rica if I could. I went there in high school and LOVED it. We were in pretty remote areas, the less touristy/resort like places. It was beautiful and the people were great!

[minzy]

I read Zero Home Waste - The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson. This is next level Marie Kondo and a philosophy about things beyond just your own personal joy. There is lots to think about and aspire towards in terms of your own carbon footprint, and I’d definitely recommend it.

I’m also working on The Grid - The Fraying Wires Between Americans And Our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke, Ph.D.

QOTW: I’m not sure where else I’d live, but somewhere where girls and women have rights, at a minimum.

[msmerymac]

I finished the Great Alone by Kristen Hannah, which I loved, although I agree that the ending was kind of weird - like she didn’t know how to wrap it up.

I’m now reading Notorious RBG.

QOTW: the places I have visited that I could see myself living are Scotland, Belgium, Berlin and Toronto.

[dorothyinAus]

I finished The Last Chance Olive Ranch (it was good, but the two stories felt disconnected), and began The Inheritance. We're also reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as our weekly story-time book -- neither my husband nor I have ever read the books or seen the movies, so it's fun experience to share.

QOTW: Well, I did move to Australia to be with my husband. But that aside, I would pick somewhere it's cold more often than it's hot and if the temperatures never got above 75, I'd be thrilled! I am SO TIRED of hot weather, dry winds, total fire bans, bush fires, and troll rain, 10-20 large drops from a pitch black sky and then nothing else for days.

[sassypants]

I'm just shy of halfway through Transcription by Kate Atkinson. It's ok, but there are a lot of parenthetical asides that make the narrative a bit messy.

QOTW: England. Definitely England. English history is my jam!

[abs]

My hold for Children of the Blood and Bone came in so I am about to start that.

[sarahswim]

This week I read Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. Hoot has been on my bookshelf in my classroom for years but I'd never read it. The Lying Game was pretty good but not great.

If I moved to another country, I'd probably choose Germany or Switzerland. I don't have a great reason but I loved visiting both of them.

[staceymcgill]

I’m currently reading Triptych by Karin Slaughter. Good so far!

Hmm not sure where I’d go. Australia maybe.

[MrsAxilla]

I’m reading Beartown. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it’s set in Sweden.

QOTD: Italy, for sure!

[mrspez07]

I started All we Ever Wanted and listening to Being Mortal.

I would pick Switzerland.

[krystee]

I finished The Residence, which is a nonfiction book from the perspective of the White House staff. It was interesting.

I am now on medical leave and have two weeks to read, which is nice. On my list is Where the Crawdads Sing, The Winter Sister, and The Heart’s Invisible Furies.

I really loved London, so I think I’d go there. But I haven’t really been enough places to say for sure

[bookchick]

I finished:

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, which was awesome. Psychologically thrilling. 
No Exit by Taylor Adams, this was very twisty and turny. I was left feeling like I had no idea what I had read. 

I am currently reading Verity by Colleen Hoover. It is starting off to be a wild read. HA!

I would move to Ireland. It is part of my heritage, so I want to learn more about it.