It's Friday! (6/8)

[ufcasey]

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

QOTW:
If you could go to college for free, what would you study? Pretend that your job prospects has no bearing on this decision, you don't have to get a degree or pass any classes, this is just going to college for your own interests.

[bex]

I finished Exit West by Mohsin Hamed. It was good. Not what I had expected, but very good.

I'm currently reading The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. So far its good; again not what I expected (I didn't have any idea what it was about, but not this, lol) but good.

QOTW: History. I don't even care which country or region, just history. I love learning more about history. I wanted to be a history major in college and I don't know why I wasn't.

[rainbowchip]

I'm still reading Little Fires Everywhere. I'm at 90% and it's killing me that I have to work and not finish it!

QOTW: Philosophy, history, and religion.

[spedrunner]

Read

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain
4/5 stars
Just love her style of writing and engaging stories

The Great Alone 
5/5 stars
Oh, how I loved this so, so so much.  What an amazing author, story, felt connected to the characters, I read many reviews where the ending felt a bit rushed. I agree a bit but I was ready for it

Currently Reading:

A Stranger in the House
So bummed I had to return to library and have about 1/4 left! The library needed it bc it is on hold, i want to finish it! Grrrrrr

Before We Were Yours
Already loving it


QOTW:

I think psychology human interactions, therapy, etc. I love all that sort of stuff

[abs]

I finally finished Beartown! It was great. It started a bit slow but I really enjoyed it after the first few chapters. I’m now reading A Man Called Ove.

QOTW: Psychology for sure! I find it fascinating.

[minzy]

I read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 4.5 stars. It’s about a Nigerian woman who comes to the U.S. for close to 15 years, then returns home, and her experiences and thoughts on race, class, friendship, education, and love in the meanwhile. I thought it was really good.

I also just finished An American Family - A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan, 4 stars. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and is a Pakistani born U.S. citizen whose middle son was killed in action. He is obviously bright, a hard worker, extremely patriotic, extraordinarily grateful for the freedoms and opportunities available here, and an optimist. I was in tears as he described the death of his son. My only critique would be that he’s almost too rosy about the state of America.

QOTW: I’d go to medical school if cost and time away from my family (and doing well in Ochem the first time around 😛) were no issue.

[Vespasia]

I am currently between books. I have something good lined up to read but haven't had a chance to start.

This past weekend I read Uprooted by Naomi Novik based on frog 's recommendation. Fantastic book, I seriously couldn't put it down!

QOTW: I am currently in a master's program so I don't want to even think about more schooling! I do regret no learning a foreign language though so I would considering doing a combination of a language and literature. 

[krystee]

I finished This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (at first, I found the writing style a little distracting, and then I really liked the book) and The Crooked Staircase by Dean Kontz (this series freaks me out! This is the third book and the fourth comes out in October).

I am now reading Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain.

ETA: Forgot the QOTW. I was an English major and LOVED going to school and discussing books and stories and poems...if I could do a master's program in that, but not worry about grades...just audit the class for enjoyment...I would LOVE that.

[sassypants]

I'm into the characters section of The World of All Souls, and since I'm already an avid fan of that series I'm enjoying the "behind the scenes" element of this companion book.

QOTW: Cultural Anthropology. I'd also have liked to have majored in theatre, too, and had a double in music and theatre. I often wish I'd done an MLIS degree with a focus on archives (vs. the MHP I have) because so many of the major archives jobs require an MLIS.

[frog]

I just finished reading The Summer that Melted Everything. It was pretty good.

QOTW: I’d like to pick up a few more languages. German probably first.

[travella]

I finished Rooster Bar, my least favorite of Grisham's books. I started Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins because I was hoping it would get me out of this reading funk, but I'm just not getting into this book either.

QOTW: No costs, so it doesn't matter how long it takes for me to master..... I'd learn languages. I'd love to be a linguist, but learning languages is so difficult. I volunteer at my children's elementary school and there are so many kids here who speak 3+ languages. I'm in awe.

[Nonny]

I was out of town last Friday, but I finished The Power (really good but hard read, and I noticed a trend on Goodreads that the people who tended to dislike it seemed were majority men... imagine, men not liking a book about women having the ability to kill them and get away with it... hmmm...).

Coming off of a dark and heavy read, I'm now reading the incredibly fluffy Eligible, which is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  I've never actually read P&P (not my style), but this is a book club pick and it's actually pretty funny and snarky, so I'm enjoying it significantly more than I thought I would.

QOTW:  I'd like to study a language, and maybe history.  Maybe the history of whatever place whose language I'm studying so that when I travel there I know the cool places to go.  But I draw the line at group projects.  I'm never ever doing those again.

[minzy]

Jun 8, 2018 15:51:31 GMT -5 frog said:

I just finished reading The Summer that Melted Everything. It was pretty good.

We discussed that one last year: pandce.proboards.com/thread/577996/summer-melted-book-club-discussion

[secretlyevil]

I finished Campaign Widows last night, it was such a fun read. I highly recommend it!

Started Made for Love by Alissa Nutting - the read for my June book club and so far it’s...uh...odd.

Listening to HP 5.

ETA: QOTW - history, women’s studies and something that lets me learn more about cultures across the globe.

[secretlyevil]

Jun 8, 2018 16:55:55 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I was out of town last Friday, but I finished The Power (really good but hard read, and I noticed a trend on Goodreads that the people who tended to dislike it seemed were majority men... imagine, men not liking a book about women having the ability to kill them and get away with it... hmmm...).

Coming off of a dark and heavy read, I'm now reading the incredibly fluffy Eligible, which is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  I've never actually read P&P (not my style), but this is a book club pick and it's actually pretty funny and snarky, so I'm enjoying it significantly more than I thought I would.

QOTW:  I'd like to study a language, and maybe history.  Maybe the history of whatever place whose language I'm studying so that when I travel there I know the cool places to go.  But I draw the line at group projects.  I'm never ever doing those again.

Who wrote Eligible? Trying to look it up.

ETA: NM just found it, sometimes Google is amazing. 😂

[mrspez07]

I was on vacation, so I read as much as possible. Our boys also burned through some audio books in the car rides, I highly recommend those!

I finished The Dry by Jane Harper and just finished, moments ago, Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley
I am also listening to Yes Please by Amy Poehler for my IRL book club.
About half way done with Sunburn, which I started before our vacation. Likely finish this weekend.

QOTW:
History or Library sciences. I love the small research part of my job and have enjoyed history and historic restoration stuff over the years.

[MrsAxilla]

I finished The Paris Wife (4 ⭐️) and then started The Sun Also Rises. I thought I could get into it this time, but not so much. I sort of went on a Hemingway spree so I may give something else a shot.

I’m reading The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor.  Predictable book is predictable, but I’m a sucker for a Rose and Jack reprise.  

QOTD: photography!

[dorothyinAus]

After spending all month May reading Caught in the Revolution (it was really good, but far more graphic than I had anticipated), I began Kilt at the Highland Games. I'm enjoying the lighter reading.

QOTW: European History, particularly from the Victorian Era through to 1939. I was actually a business major and was seriously considering a History Minor, but history is where my curious heart lies.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 8, 2018 22:30:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I finished The Paris Wife (4 ⭐️) and then started The Sun Also Rises. I thought I could get into it this time, but not so much. I sort of went on a Hemingway spree so I may give something else a shot.

I’m reading The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor.  Predictable book is predictable, but I’m a sucker for a Rose and Jack reprise.  

QOTD: photography!

Have you been to Maritime Museum in Halifax? There are some Titanic artifacts there, as well as a really good exhibit. Many of the victims are buried in Halifax as well, there are Titanic tours that are really very reverent.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 8, 2018 16:55:55 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I was out of town last Friday, but I finished The Power (really good but hard read, and I noticed a trend on Goodreads that the people who tended to dislike it seemed were majority men... imagine, men not liking a book about women having the ability to kill them and get away with it... hmmm...).

Coming off of a dark and heavy read, I'm now reading the incredibly fluffy Eligible, which is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  I've never actually read P&P (not my style), but this is a book club pick and it's actually pretty funny and snarky, so I'm enjoying it significantly more than I thought I would.

QOTW:  I'd like to study a language, and maybe history.  Maybe the history of whatever place whose language I'm studying so that when I travel there I know the cool places to go.  But I draw the line at group projects.  I'm never ever doing those again.

When I was in college I audited a few classes. It was the best thing! I got the knowledge but didn't have to take the tests if I didn't want to and did have to participate in the projects if I didn't want to. If I had a college close to me here that offered adult auditing, I would so do it!

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 8, 2018 12:03:20 GMT -5 minzy said:

QOTW: I’d go to medical school if cost and time away from my family (and doing well in Ochem the first time around 😛) were no issue.

When I was little, my mother was a note taker at the local medical school. She sat in on lectures and took notes for students who had to miss class for whatever reason. She really enjoyed it. With today's technology, I don't think that position exists anymore, but it might be fun.

[MrsAxilla]

Jun 8, 2018 23:18:47 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Jun 8, 2018 22:30:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I finished The Paris Wife (4 ⭐️) and then started The Sun Also Rises. I thought I could get into it this time, but not so much. I sort of went on a Hemingway spree so I may give something else a shot.

I’m reading The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor.  Predictable book is predictable, but I’m a sucker for a Rose and Jack reprise.  

QOTD: photography!

Have you been to Maritime Museum in Halifax? There are some Titanic artifacts there, as well as a really good exhibit. Many of the victims are buried in Halifax as well, there are Titanic tours that are really very reverent.

I haven’t but now it’s on my list!  Since I posted, predictable book has gotten too predictable- lol. Lots of good recs in this thread!  

[ally]

I finished The Fifth Season - I liked it and have book two on my library hold list.

I started The Silent Sister because of all the Diane Chamberlain love on the board!
I am also listening to The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, I will be driving for 90 minutes today and flying next week, so I have hope of making some progress.

QOTW: I would want to study wine or culinary, it would be great to have more knowledge on both. 

[Nonny]

Jun 8, 2018 23:20:54 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Jun 8, 2018 16:55:55 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I was out of town last Friday, but I finished The Power (really good but hard read, and I noticed a trend on Goodreads that the people who tended to dislike it seemed were majority men... imagine, men not liking a book about women having the ability to kill them and get away with it... hmmm...).

Coming off of a dark and heavy read, I'm now reading the incredibly fluffy Eligible, which is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  I've never actually read P&P (not my style), but this is a book club pick and it's actually pretty funny and snarky, so I'm enjoying it significantly more than I thought I would.

QOTW:  I'd like to study a language, and maybe history.  Maybe the history of whatever place whose language I'm studying so that when I travel there I know the cool places to go.  But I draw the line at group projects.  I'm never ever doing those again.

When I was in college I audited a few classes. It was the best thing! I got the knowledge but didn't have to take the tests if I didn't want to and did have to participate in the projects if I didn't want to. If I had a college close to me here that offered adult auditing, I would so do it!

My college didn't technically have an auditing program, but if you were friendly with the professor you could make it happen and no one would say anything.  This is how I came to audit a film history/appreciation course.  My H (boyfriend at the time) was taking it for an elective, and I already had enough electives that I couldn't justify paying for the course, but the professor was one of the librarians at the school and I knew him from my time spent at the library (both as a student, a student worker, and hanging out with my BFF who was a student worker there before I was).  

It was great, I got to watch the movies and enjoy the discussion, but didn't have to write any of the papers. 

[aurora]

I'm sort of reading My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsberg - I started it a while ago and keep putting it down for novels. It's interesting but quite dry.

I'm listening to The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien.

I'm more focused on what to be able to read while on vacation than on any current reading I'm doing at the moment.


QOTW: great question. Maybe literature? I of course love to read, but one of my favorite classes in high school was AP English.

[rootbeerfloat]

I just finished Less, which won the Pulitzer. It was cute, I guess, but I'm not sure why it won an award.

QOTW: I would study a language (Hawaiian, which I should've learned when I was younger, or Italian).