11/29 Friday reading thread

[charlatti]

Is everyone out shopping? It doesn’t feel like Friday at all. Anyway, what have you been reading this week?



QOTW: Have you ever waited in line for a retail store to open? Was it worth it? 

[minzy]

We opted outside today instead of hitting the stores.

I read The Library Book by Susan Orlean this week and really enjoyed it. It’s an accounting of the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library fire, but really it’s a love letter to libraries and books, with lots of interesting info. It’s a great pick for anyone who considers herself a reader (i.e., all of us).

QOTW: I can’t recall ever waiting for a store to open but I did wait in line for concert tickets once, and yes, that was worth it. 😊

[tacokick]

I read:

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House by Alyssa Mastromonaco and Lauren Oyler (it was fine but a little clunky)

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (okay, didn’t realize it was a romance?)

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins (enjoyable!)

Unfollow: A Memoir Of Loving And Leaving The Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper (I didn’t really buy her story)

Acid for the Children: A Memoir by Flea (oddly sweet)

Biloxi: A Novel by Mary Miller (super bad)

Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost and Found by Bill Keaggy (oddly mean?? It was literally a book about grocery lists)




Reading: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

QOTW:

No I haven’t! I ordered a pair of socks today (from an indie shop!) so I’m a Black Friday Failure. I waited like 10 minutes for a Ticketmaster to open in the ‘90s if that counts.

[sassypants]

I'm halfway through Mrs. Everything. It's an easy read but the narrative seems a little stalled.

QOTW: Nah, that's not my scene. I prefer sleep.

[travella]

I'm reading Nine Perfect Strangers for next month's discussion. I should be done tonight or tomorrow.

QOTW: I have waited in line for stores to open, but it was years ago. I used to go Black Friday Shopping with my mom when I was younger. I don't remember what we waited for, but I always enjoyed Black Friday shopping with her. I still go Black Friday shopping with my daughter, but we don't go out until later (after the stores have been open for a couple hours).

[charlatti]

I’m rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, finishing up my series reread. Slow reading week for me with holiday prep and travel.

Qotw: definitely not. I don’t do crowds and generally am happy to pay a bit more to avoid them. (No shopping for me yesterday!)

[meowmaps]

I read The Dutch House which was surprisingly wonderful. I say surprisingly because I haven’t been a fan of Patchett’s work in the past.

I’m reading The Need now. It’s weird and interesting so far.

QOTW: I can’t recall ever standing in line for a store to open but if it happened it would’ve been when I was much younger and Black Friday shopping with my mom. I hate shopping in general and mostly do it online. The only purchase I made yesterday was my holiday card through Shutterfly and then I ordered holiday-themed postage stamps to go with them.

[abs]

I'm currently reading The Nanny. So far it seems good but I am not very far into it. I've been on a thriller kick this month.

QOTW: I don't recall waiting for a store to open (other then when I worked retail) but I have stood in line for concert tickets (worth it!) and for a book. When Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix was released my mom and I were already flying into Florida to see family late so we just stopped by Barnes and Noble to pick up the book. That was also worth it. Fun experience to see all the kids dressed up and so much excitement over a book!

[rainbowchip]

I finished Red White & Royal Blue. I really loved this book! Perfect amount of politics and royalty mixed in with romance.

I listened to My Story by Elizabeth Smart. There were some things I hadn't known about her story. Some times she was incredibly naive (which I don't blame her for because she was 14) and sometimes she was wise beyond her years. I also couldn't help sobbing when she was finally rescued and she was reunited with her parents. I cannot even imagine!

I'm currently reading After by Anna Todd. It's got a very Twilight vibe.

QOTW: I've never waited in line for a store to open. I went black friday shopping exactly once and I actually enjoyed it. But my husband works in retail so he's working every BF so I stay home with the kids.

[krystee]

I read Someday Is Not a Day in the Week (a motivational book about pursuing things that make you happy). It was good, but books like this are starting to stress me out because I feel like I must be so...boring...because I feel perfectly content and don’t have a really clear passion and dream. I wanted to write for a living (I manage a communications team and get to write as part of that), I wanted to be a mom (check), and I wanted to travel (check). That’s it, and I feel like it is not enough when I read these books, so I think I’ll take a hiatus from self-help for awhile.

QOTW: I have waited in line to get in twice, but I was under 30 with no kids so I could recover. With all the online sales now, I have absolutely no idea why anyone does this!

[Nonny]

I've been reading Moloka'i, and I realized that I have book club on the 4th for A Man Called Ove, and I haven't even started the audiobook. I'm not sure I'm going to be making it. 

QOTW: I'm sure my mom dragged me along to sit in a freezing parking lot to wait for a store opening some black Friday when I was kid, but I certainly haven't done it willingly as an adult.   

[dontlook]

I read Reflections by Nora Roberts: 1 star. Terrible book. It’s dated and didn’t age well at all.

The Fairest of All: A Take of The Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino: 2 stars. Interesting back story of a tale we all know but it was long and dry in parts.

Currently reading Year One by Nora Roberts. So far, so good.

QOTW: I have never stood outside for a deal. I live in a cold climate and am not willing to freeze for a deal.

[Gato]

I finished The Fifth Risk, which was great, 5*. Unlike the book I read about climate change, which was a barrage of facts, Michael Lewis weaves a story, with heroes in civil service to counterbalance all the terrible stuff about Trump. A really informative, but quick and pleasurable read.

I’m now finally finishing Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli, which I bought back in February but never quite could get into.

QOTW: not really a big box shopper, and I like shopping experiences that don’t involve rushing, so I’ve never done this.

[minzy]

Dec 2, 2019 10:12:38 GMT -5 Gato said:

I finished The Fifth Risk, which was great, 5*. Unlike the book I read about climate change, which was a barrage of facts, Michael Lewis weaves a story, with heroes in civil service to counterbalance all the terrible stuff about Trump. A really informative, but quick and pleasurable read.

I agree re. The Fifth Risk; that was a good read. I’m glad you liked it, too.

[wildrice]

It's Monday now, but anyway. I finished reading The Testaments last week. I thought it was good. I'm glad to have some resolution on a lot of the Handmaid's Tale stuff and I'm curious to see if the show will follow the book.

My audiobook loan expired for The President is Missing and I still had like 3 hours left. I'm not sure I'm going to download it again. It was kind of long and I was finding it hard to pay attention. I think part of the issue may have been the narration.

I also started reading Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow but decided not to read it. I didn't know what it was about and just checked it out because it seemed popular here and I like to read books that others like (lol). But I'm really burned out on current events/Trump/everything is horrible in the world. The news is enough for me right now. So I switched over the The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. So far it is good but I'm not very far into it.

QOTW: Once probably 10-11 years ago I stood in line at Target to get my XH a Garmin GPS system. It was a deep discount and I did get it, so I guess it was worth it. It was a madhouse though and I haven't bought a high priced electronic item as a gift since, so I have never done it again. I don't really envision there ever being a circumstance where I will do that again to be honest.

This was also back when the store opened at like 5-6am instead of some of this middle of the night/Thanksgiving evening nonsense.