It's Friday! What Are You Reading? (8/24)

[dorothyinAus]

It's Friday again, what are you reading going into the weekend?

QOTW: What's been one good thing about your week?

[charlatti]

It’s still Thursday for me, but I’m posting since I actually have a minute to do it. I just finished Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day, which I didn’t love. I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did — such a cool setting (dark sky park in Michigan) that was totally underused. Now starting What We Were Promised by Lucy Tan.

Qotw: It has been quite a week because I am the crazy person who adopted a dog four days before starting a new job. But he’s fabulous and my job feels comfortable and not really new, which is lovely. I’m exhausted, but for good reasons.

[travella]

I finished Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben. 4*
I started I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. I'm not enjoying this book. I think the hype has little to do with the quality of the book and more to do with the author's husband and recent circumstances.

QOTW: My daughter and I had a fun mommy/daughter day. My son had day camp out of town so my daughter and I went sightseeing, shopping, and out for lunch. It was nice to have so much quality time with her.

[abs]

I'm reading When Life Gives You Lululemons. So far I am finding it enjoyable. Nothing terrific or anything but it's a fun summer read!

QOTW: It's been a strange week. It's the first time ever where DD has gone back to school and I feel out of sorts. We had a fun summer and I miss her! But it's been good to get back into a routine and see her handle some tough social situations.

[minzy]

This week I read Citizen Science - How Ordinary People Are Changing the Face of Discovery by Caren Cooper. It was dense, but I found it pretty interesting. I also read Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, about a teenage girl with anxiety who investigates a disappearance.

This weekend, I’m hoping to make more of a dent on the lengthy This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein. It’s my very last read in a summer 24 book bingo game, so that’s “exciting.” I feel somewhat defeated just picking it up, though it feels important to read. Hopefully, I’ll also crack open Before We Were Yours for book club.

QOTW: There were many nice things about this week with my daughters, but technically probably the best thing to happen was my husband’s business trip, which he couldn’t get out of, which prevented us from being in Hawaii right now during this hurricane. We had tickets booked and had to cancel. (It’s ironic almost, with reading This Changes Everything.) I hope everyone there is ok.

[Vespasia]

Read:
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire. Really enjoyed this but I am still thrown off how short the books are.

Currently reading:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I already took one break from this book and I'm considering another. It's objectively good but I just can't really get into it. I think there are three main reasons - I already know how the story goes for the most part, I generally prefer books with female narrators, and I've always sympathized with the Trojans in this conflict.


QOTW: This week has been absolutely ridiculous between work and school. The high point should be getting a new car tomorrow after wanting one for years.

[dorothyinAus]

I'm catching up on Carolyn Haines' Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries, reading Ham Bones. I think I am enjoying the series because I know people just like the characters and I know the places in the books. But they are fun reads no matter why.

QOTW: It's my birthday on Monday and I wanted to go to a cupcake bakery I particularly like. The bakery's website is down, so I contacted them on Facebook to ask if they were still in business and if they would be open on Sunday. The social media employee responded at 11:00 pm on a Wednesday night answering all my questions and then, when I explained I wanted to know because we're driving over an hour to get to the bakery, she offered me a huge discount on my anticipated purchase. It was such an unexpected bonus.

And I have a second best thing: my dance school committee took my suggestion of a major prize for the raffle at the end-of-year concert. I suggested that we raffle off a year's worth of dance class tuition (maximum value $480). They loved the idea! At $10 for 10 tickets, we only need 48 people to buy tickets to break even, and I think we'll get more than that. Most other raffles are for gift baskets from local merchants or things like handmade quilts or embellished towels, so this is a unique prize and I think it might go over well.

[tacokick]

I signed up for a library card at the more well-funded next county so I could get more ebooks. My city has a really limited selection. Anyway, this backfired on me this week because I have 12 ebooks out now (6 from each system), 8 physical books out and 9 to pick up by Monday. Some how all the books I’ve been waiting for in several cases literally months for all came in at once! Luckily I’ve started some and didn’t like them so they can go back but I’m drowning in books and most can’t be renewed. I guess a lot of books come out in June/July/August and the city is finally processing them and sending them out?


Reading now: All the Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth. I don’t feel like it was supposed to be YA but a lot of it is from the teenage daughter of a missing woman’s POV. I feel like it could easily be a new Netflix series. It has a missing woman, a boarding school, teenagers, a secret society, rich people, mysterious pasts, secrets etc

QOTW:

Last weekend we went away and Sunday was my birthday! It was the most relaxing trip ever.

[snshne322]

I'm relistening to Magic Bites. I love Kate Daniels. I want to skip ahead to book 3/4, but so far I'm holding out for the hole experience.

I'm reading The Crow's Murder. I flew through the first 4 in the Kate Davenport series and I think I burned out. It's still enjoyable, but I want to be done. There's only one more after this so I don't know if I should just commit. I'm not sure when/if I'll wander back to it.

QOTW: It's been a pretty average week beyond the crazy political news. However, the weather has been absolutely lovely.

[CrazyLucky]

I just finished Little Fires Everywhere. I know! I'm way behind you all. I loved this book. Sometimes you'll be like, "I wish I could give this book 0 stars." In this case, I wish I could give the book 6 stars. I put her first book on hold and it came in yesterday, so I'll start reading it soon.
I'm reading Stray: Memoir of a Runaway. I'm reading the whole thing, but I'm not that into it. Her experience is just so different from mine that I have trouble relating.

QOTW: Back to school night was last night. Both kids got the teachers they wanted. Last night I packed the last lunches for a while because they eat the school provided lunch at school. Hooray!!!

[rainbowchip]

I finished Before We Were Yours late last night. I will be starting The Drawing of The Three today.

QOTW: We went to family night at my kids' day camp on Wednesday. The kids had a blast showing us their camp. And I didn't have to cook dinner!

[msmerymac]

I finished Crown of Midnight last night and I'm still working on We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

QOTW: I went to trivia on Wednesday? Lol, I don't know. It's been a normal week.

[doxies]

I finished The Child Finder this week. It was good and a very quick read.

I have 2 library ebooks that are available, but I'm not sure if I want to read them right now. One is Tower of Dawn, which I think people here were lukewarm about and the other is The Female Persuasion. Maybe I will start them next week. Instead, I picked up PS I Still Love You - the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I wanted to see what happens next. If you haven't watched the Netflix movie, you should find time in your weekend for that.

[abs]

Aug 24, 2018 9:36:27 GMT -5 doxies said:

I finished The Child Finder this week. It was good and a very quick read.

I have 2 library ebooks that are available, but I'm not sure if I want to read them right now. One is Tower of Dawn, which I think people here were lukewarm about and the other is The Female Persuasion. Maybe I will start them next week. Instead, I picked up PS I Still Love You - the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I wanted to see what happens next. If you haven't watched the Netflix movie, you should find time in your weekend for that.

I really liked Tower of Dawn but I know I was in the minority on that one.

[pisces]

Aug 24, 2018 10:01:52 GMT -5 abs said:

Aug 24, 2018 9:36:27 GMT -5 doxies said:

I finished The Child Finder this week. It was good and a very quick read.

I have 2 library ebooks that are available, but I'm not sure if I want to read them right now. One is Tower of Dawn, which I think people here were lukewarm about and the other is The Female Persuasion. Maybe I will start them next week. Instead, I picked up PS I Still Love You - the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I wanted to see what happens next. If you haven't watched the Netflix movie, you should find time in your weekend for that.

I really liked Tower of Dawn but I know I was in the minority on that one.

I also like Tower of Dawn. I felt like it was really informative and I liked the new characters that were introduced.

[ally]

I never responded last week.  It has been a busy time at work, in two weeks I have read: 
Caught in Time, Julie McElwain (#3 in a series) 4* - I enjoy these books - time travel, mystery
The Broken Rules of Ten, Gay Hendricks (novella in a series) 4* - I have read the other books and it was a stressful week, so I needed a comfortable, easy read.

Currently reading:
The Obelisk Gate, NK Jemisin (#2 in a series) - I really liked the first one, but I just could not get into it last weekend, I will try again this weekend.

QOTW: We paid off the mortgage on our house!  Tonight we celebrate with a fancy champagne! 

[ally]

Aug 24, 2018 6:43:41 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I signed up for a library card at the more well-funded next county so I could get more ebooks. My city has a really limited selection. Anyway, this backfired on me this week because I have 12 ebooks out now (6 from each system), 8 physical books out and 9 to pick up by Monday. Some how all the books I’ve been waiting for in several cases literally months for all came in at once! Luckily I’ve started some and didn’t like them so they can go back but I’m drowning in books and most can’t be renewed. I guess a lot of books come out in June/July/August and the city is finally processing them and sending them out?

I try to keep up on suspending my library holds, otherwise I find myself with more books than I can get read before they have to go back.  And then I am back to the end of the wait list.  

[ktbug73]

This week I listened to The Wife, The Maid, and The Mistress (4*) and read One Perfect Lie (3*).

I'm listening to You Are One of Them now, as well as reading The Stolen Marriage. Both are pretty good so far.

QOTW: This week was super busy at work, so my good thing is that I didn't get the cold my husband and co workers had.

[tacokick]

Aug 24, 2018 11:05:19 GMT -5 ally said:

Aug 24, 2018 6:43:41 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I signed up for a library card at the more well-funded next county so I could get more ebooks. My city has a really limited selection. Anyway, this backfired on me this week because I have 12 ebooks out now (6 from each system), 8 physical books out and 9 to pick up by Monday. Some how all the books I’ve been waiting for in several cases literally months for all came in at once! Luckily I’ve started some and didn’t like them so they can go back but I’m drowning in books and most can’t be renewed. I guess a lot of books come out in June/July/August and the city is finally processing them and sending them out?

I try to keep up on suspending my library holds, otherwise I find myself with more books than I can get read before they have to go back.  And then I am back to the end of the wait list.  

I should have suspended some of the physical books when I ended up with all these ebooks but I only had 14 book requests in and all but 4 were “on order” a week ago when I last checked.

I thought they’d come in slowly but I must have been first in line for a bunch and they must have ordered/processed/released into circulation a ton all at once.

I know this is a constant theme but I can never figure out how my library system does things and when I ask questions, the librarian looks at me like I’m insane and has zero answers.

[ufcasey]

Read:
Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley
3 stars/historical fiction with a bit of romance
This was a book I enjoyed reading the whole way through, and then when the book ended I realized not much happened. She's that good of a writer. But this book did need more of a plot.

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
3.5 stars/historical romance
Good chemistry between the characters, but a little repetitive at times

Bury Your Dead (#6 in series) by Louise Penny
4 stars/mystery
This one is a bit different from the five previous books, but I liked it!

Total so far for the year: 95

Currently Reading:
Nothing! I haven't picked up anything new yet.

QOTW:
It's Friday, one of my best friends had her baby this week, and the political news for once has been good. But nothing particularly good for me personally, though nothing bad happened either which is a win.

[ufcasey]

minzy - close call! I have a highschool acquaintance who is vacationing there this week. He's from Florida like me, so he's experienced hurricanes before but not on an island. Hopefully everyone is ok.

dorothyinAus/tacokick - Happy early/late birthday!

ally - Congrats!! I dream of the day that will happen! Which will not be anytime soon, short of winning the lottery, seeing as we just moved into this house last year haha

CrazyLucky - I love that book and would give it 6 stars too if I could

snshne322 - hmmm maybe I will do a re-read of a KD book. Is it Tuesday yet?!

[rainbowchip]

Aug 24, 2018 10:01:52 GMT -5 abs said:

Aug 24, 2018 9:36:27 GMT -5 doxies said:

I finished The Child Finder this week. It was good and a very quick read.

I have 2 library ebooks that are available, but I'm not sure if I want to read them right now. One is Tower of Dawn, which I think people here were lukewarm about and the other is The Female Persuasion. Maybe I will start them next week. Instead, I picked up PS I Still Love You - the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before. I wanted to see what happens next. If you haven't watched the Netflix movie, you should find time in your weekend for that.

I really liked Tower of Dawn but I know I was in the minority on that one.

I liked it too but I wasn't a huge fan of the other books. I kept reading hoping they would get better and TOD was the only one that didn't seem like a struggle through most of it.

[doxies]

OK - Thanks abs, pisces, and rainbowchip - I'm going to start that one once I'm done with my current book. I always like her books, so I'm sure I will like this one too (although I may have to look up what happened in this series because I can never remember what is going on!)

[litskispeciality]

I read "Talking As Fast as I Can" by Lauren Graham and started "The Start of You and Me".

QOTW: We were away on a mini-vacation for a couple of days. We actually had good weather and I had time to read. Right now that's exactly what I need.

[sassypants]

I'm almost done with Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks. I lost my hold on it but the other library system nearby has a copy and I was able to get it back sooner than expected. After that I'll start The Immortalists.

The best thing about this week has been rehearsals. This group is SO GOOD and it's been such a joy to work with such top notch talent. Oh, and one of the part owners of the local minor league hockey team told me to reach out to him during the season and he'd get me some tickets.

[dorothyinAus]

Aug 24, 2018 13:02:58 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

dorothyinAus /tacokick - Happy early/late birthday!

Thanks. I just booked a table for myself and my book for a birthday luncheon at my favorite local cafe. It's the celebration I wanted. DH is taking me out for cupcakes & dinner on Sunday because he has to work a split shift on Monday.

[tacokick]

Aug 24, 2018 13:02:58 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

dorothyinAus/tacokick - Happy early/late birthday!

Thank you!

[monkeyfeet]

I’m halfway finished with China Rich Girlfriend. It is keeping my attention despite me having a hard time remembering who everyone is from book 1!

QOTW: kids and I just returned home from spending 2 weeks with my parents. It was a great trip, but I love home too!!

[MrsAxilla]

I just finished Crazy Rich Asians and now I definitely want t see the movie! When I put it in goodreads I discovered the last book I finished was mid July! Then I remembered I’ve spent weeks reading Hawaii before I took a break for my vacation.

QOTD: honestly I’ve been in a funk all week. My long awaited phish festie was canceled at the last minute and I can’t really point to something good this week. Sorry to be a downer.

BUT ask me next week when I have three nights of phish dicks! (They’re playing at dicks sporting goods arena, but phish dicks just never gets old - lol)

[Nonny]

I finished a bunch this week: The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4); Educated: A Memoir; and Preludes & Nocturnes (The Sandman, #1).  I've since started A Gentleman in Moscow (which just got picked for my book club for next January, so I'm going to be a bit ahead on my reading), and The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House.

QOTW:  I've also had a bit of a shitty week.  The smoke here in the PNW is brutal, so I've had a sore/scratchy throat all week and my sinuses are jacked up.  But the worse thing is that my mom went back into the hospital on Thursday; she had a heart attack a little over a month ago, and was back in the hospital last week with chest pains again and I thought they released her too soon, and then lo and behold she ends up back in again less than a week later.

I did make myself a kombucha float with coconut lime kombucha and vanilla ice cream though, and that was a nice use of a not-so-great kombucha flavor on my scratchy throat.