It's Friday! (9/13) Reading Recap!

[ufcasey]

What have you been reading lately?

QOTW: Name one book that you think should be required reading (doesn't have to be of literary value, could be just a book you really enjoyed that you think more people should read)

[wildrice]

I've been reading more quickly lately, which is nice. I feel like I went through a big slump earlier in the year.

I finished Maid, by Stephanie Land, last Friday. It was a really quick read and probably should fall on the required reading list.

Then I read The Lady in the Lake, by Laura Lippman. It takes place in Baltimore, where I live, which was fun (I even drove down the street where the main character rented an apartment yesterday and looked at the apartments there!). The book itself was ok. I enjoyed it but I think there were some plot holes.

I have started American Spy but I'm not very far into it yet. So far it seems good.

I also finished listening to Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes (it was ok) and I'm listening to Hunger by Roxane Gay right now.

QOTW: I think Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson should be required reading. I wouldn't call it enjoyable at all, but it's eye opening. Same with Evicted by Matthew Desmond. Both impacted my view of the topics they addressed.

[meowmaps]

This week I read The Storyteller's Secret and Normal People. The Storyteller's Secret is definitely one of my favorites of the year. Normal People was...something. Engrossing anyway.

QOTW: For some reason I think back to books that made an impact on me when I was younger. The Awakening really opened my eyes to a woman's plight. One summer during college I read Middlesex and despite being fiction, it really helped me to think outside myself and have compassion for people who may not fit neatly into society's standardized molds. It really encouraged me to continue seeking books that would help me walk in someone else's shoes.

[travella]

I finished:

Freefall by Jessica Barry, 2.5*. While I liked the story there were a lot of problems which I think were linked to her inexperience. I think she has potential to become a good writer.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, 2* from both my daughter and I. It got rave reviews, but I don't know why.

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts, 4.5*. This book was a good surprise! I almost removed it from my TBR pile because I didn't think I would like it. I'm not a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz, but I really enjoyed this book.

QOTW: While there are many books that I have loved that have resonated with me, I cannot think of any off the top of my head that I think everyone needs to read.

[litskispeciality]

I finished Bad Men and Wicked Women. I picked up A Ladder to the Stars, which I hope to dive into this weekend.

QOTW: Hmm, I guess for adults I could see an arguement for "Little Fires Everywhere" to bring more attention to class, race issues and adoption and the struggles to have a family etc. For a long time I was really pushing Anthony Kedis "Scar Tissue" to anyone who would listen because I loved it and got a lot out of it, but given the nature wouldn't recommend until at least 18, probably older.

[dontlook]

The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli: 4 stars
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: 3 stars

I’m currently reading Harry Potter #3

QOTW: The Giver comes to mind. A Place For Us for no other reason than I loved it and want everyone to read it. Final answer is Born A Crime. Such a great book.

[ssmjlm]

I finished Educated. It was really hard for me to read and the end didn't wrap things up like I thought. I'm still marinating on my rating/review. I think I have a hard time with books where all of the people are totally unlikeable.

QOTW: I'm not sure I have any to recommend, but I can't believe the books that are still being read now are the same crap I had to read in school. I can't imagine we haven't had anything better in the cough19yearscough since I graduated from high school?

[rainbowchip]

I finished my reread of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I also finished Evvie Drake Starts Over. It was only OK. I felt like something was missing.

I'm currently reading The Testaments and Mockingjay.

QOTW: I don't think everyone needs to read this but I try to get anyone I can to read it, especially the "white privilege isn't a thing" people. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. It really illustrates the side effects (those are not the right words) of slavery that last generations.

[ally]

It has been too long since I have participated.  This week I finished A Gathering of Shadows, VE Schwab.  I gave it 4* and I moved some stuff around with my library holds (darn limits) to get book 3 of the series on the list.  I am currently 9 week out.

I am currently reading Muse of Nightmares, Laini Taylor, 2nd in the series.  

QOTW:  There are so many books that I love, but for required reading I would suggest: 
The Book Thief - so sad, but such a great book.
Missoula - a hard read that it is relevant to my work, but to change rape culture we have to start looking more carefully and critically at this issue.

[Vespasia]

Sept 13, 2019 14:49:03 GMT -5 ally said:

It has been too long since I have participated.  This week I finished A Gathering of Shadows, VE Schwab.  I gave it 4* and I moved some stuff around with my library holds (darn limits) to get book 3 of the series on the list.  I am currently 9 week out.

I usually like a break between books in a series but I was seriously kicking myself for not lining up the last book! It's so good and I had to wait about that long.

[tacokick]

Just three mysteries this week! Finally finished all of the Jackson Brodies.

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson


Iced in Paradise: A Leilani Santiago Hawai'i Mystery by Naomi Hirahara (this was very cute but the mystery seemed like an afterthought. I wish it was just a straight novel)

Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day

QOTW: I really hate required reading so
I can’t ask it of others!

[AJL]

I've been reading a lot of Jamie Bennett books. They're on Kindle Unlimited and pretty good contemporary romance novels. The female characters are strong and interesting. The male characters are not brutes or chauvinists. They're fun.

Books finished this week:

Love in Many Languages by Jamie Bennett - 4/5*
Lost to Light by Jamie Bennett - 4/5*
Lovely You by Jamie Bennett - 4/5*

Currently Reading:
Morning Star (Red Rising #3) by Pierce Brown
Where the Light Enters (The Gilded Hour series #2) by Sara Donati

QOTW:  I would recommend The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. It's just a spectacular book!

[mrspez07]

Reading The Mothers by Brit Bennett

Recently I’d say I recommend to read all or key parts to Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, especially if you have parents that are still around and will be part of their care.

[sassypants]

Still on the GRRM. *sigh*

QOTW: This only directly applies to Americans but I'd say the two James Loewen books: Lies My Teacher Told Me and Lies Across America. We're fed so much mythology of the history of the US and these books teach people to be more critical and thoughtful about history.

[charlatti]

I finished The Warehouse by Rob Hart, which is about what will happen when Amazon finishes taking over the world — it was disturbingly believable. Now re-reading Harry Potter #6.

QOTW: I can’t think of a book everyone should read. I wish everyone would read a wider variety of news sources, rather than getting TV news or sticking with echo-chamber sources. (Valid, reputable news sources, that is.)

[Nonny]

I'm still working on Surprise, Kill, Vanish and also Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (which I forgot to add to my Goodreads when I started reading it, so now I just haven't bothered).  Both of them are interesting and I want to finish, but it's taking awhile because they both make me *very* sleep at bedtime.

QOTW:  The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King.  No literary value, it's just a damn good story (and fantasy, not horror, although horrible things happen).  Plus it ties into the larger overall King universe, so if you've read The Stand or The Dark Tower and not this, I feel like you are missing out on a piece of the puzzle.

[aurora]

I finished my Handmaid's Tale re-read and started The Testaments. Enjoying it so far. I always like multiple perspective books.

I'm also listening to HP and the Deathly Hallows.

QOTW. I'm not sure where to start - this is a very hard question! It really depends on who the "everybody" is.

[aurora]

Sept 13, 2019 22:38:10 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

Reading The Mothers by Brit Bennett

Recently I’d say I recommend to read all or key parts to Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, especially if you have parents that are still around and will be part of their care.

Oh, this is a good "everybody" choice. We are certainly all mortal and it was very good at making me think more deeply about end-of-life choices!

[Gato]

I just finished The Lager Queen of Minnesota. It was great! So sweet and heartwarming, although it took me a few dozen pages to get into it.

Now I’m reading Working by Robert Caro.

QOTW: I don’t know; there are so many! My first thought was Heavy by Kiese Laymon, although I’ve already talked that up a ton here. It’s just such an honest look at race, class, addiction, and family ties. I’m still a little in awe of it.