Friday! 3/26

[ufcasey]

What have you been reading this week? Any ratings/recommendations?


QOTW:
When going on a trip/vacation - do you prefer to bring a physical book, an ebook, and/or an audiobook?

[Vespasia]

I finished Something in the Water. I had some seriously mixed feelings on this one. It was your typical bad thriller with annoying/terrible characters making stupid decisions throughout. However, it kept my attention the whole time and I had a hard time putting it down. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Now I am reading American Spy by Lauren Wilkerson. This one has been on my to read list for ages but I kept putting it off. It's really fantastic and now I am kicking my past self. 

QOTW: Definitely ebooks. I like to bring a big variety of options in case I don't love my first choice or am just not in the mood for it. Plus not bringing physical books leaves more room in the suitcase to bring back booze!

[travella]

I'm almost finished with The Exiles. Compared to my last book this is a very fast read.

QOTW: I bring my waterproof kindle. It's easy to pack, I can bring multiple books, and I don't have to worry about sitting by the pool with it.

[litskispeciality]

I have had a hard time focusing on reading lately. Slowly chipping away at "Before She Was Helen". Finally starting to pick up.

QOTW: I bring physical books because I like to unplug, but usually bring two or three in case I finish one or don't like it.

[meowmaps]

It’s been slow-going here. I started The Space Between Worlds on Wednesday or Thursday. I like it but I’m not sleeping well so having a hard time focusing.

QOTW: I always bring my kindle on trips. My biggest fear is leaving it somewhere but so far (*knocks on wood*) I haven’t.

[litskispeciality]

I didn't know there was such a thing as a waterproof Kindle. I go back and forth on buying another one as my old one still works (although doesn't support any streaming services minus Prime). A waterproof one would be a game changer as I love to read in the tub and worry about dropping my phone or Kindle.

[minzy]

I read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. I thought it was decent. It’s about a family’s attempt at a survival during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

QOTW: I’d bring an actual book (or books) with me. I never read on a Kindle.

[estrellita]

I just finished Uprooted and I loved it! Haven't decided on my next book yet. Still working on All the Ugly and Wonderful Things (audio book, was listening in the car but haven't been driving much this week).

I generally prefer physical books. On vacation I'll usually just bring one for the car or plane. I usually don't have much down time otherwise, I prefer doing lots of sight seeing on vacation!

[tacokick]

The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks

Shipped by Angie Hockman

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous (I really liked the the first half then it went off the rails)

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella (somehow in 2021 she and her editor and publisher thought it was a good idea to have a chapter where she basically lists all the Jewish people she likes including Harry from When Harry Met Sally and children. It was wild.)

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (loved this)

QOTW: The kindle! Prekindle I would have to buy and pack like 10-12 books and then I would leave them at my destination. It was a pain and often I’d still have to buy books there. Now I can read my library books anywhere!

[tacokick]

Mar 26, 2021 13:00:25 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I didn't know there was such a thing as a waterproof Kindle. I go back and forth on buying another one as my old one still works (although doesn't support any streaming services minus Prime). A waterproof one would be a game changer as I love to read in the tub and worry about dropping my phone or Kindle.

For awhile the Oasis was the only waterproof one but now there are waterproof Paperwhites too!

[dontlook]

I read:

The Wrong Family: 2/3 stars
A Very Punchable Face (audiobook): 5 stars hilarious and light which I need since I’m struggling to concentrate.

QOTW: I load up on ebooks from my library on my phone. I don’t want to bring extra stuff with me.

[aurora]

I'm re-reading Drums of Autumn. Having a hard time thinking about anything but comfort books right now.

QOTW: definitely Kindle. In normal life I am maybe 50/50 because I do like paper books, but it's such a space saver for travel.

[rootbeerfloat]

I finished The Vanishing Half, which was very good.

QOTW: Kindle

[Nonny]

I finished Alien Secrets, it was so stupid, and I'm finishing up Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I don't think I've made any progress on Stamped from the Beginning. I need to start a new fiction novel, and I'm thinking The Echo Wife.

QOTW: Kindle + ebooks for sure. It's so much lighter and smaller. I love that I can have a ton of options. But I also usually bring a Reader's Digest (ETA: the magazine, not a condensed book) too to tide me over in case my Kindle were to die, until I could buy a paperback.

[charlatti]

I finished Spellmaker, which was not as good as the first in the duology (Spellbreaker). Too much romance, not enough magic. Just started Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas, in her Lady Sherlock series. It’s been an exhausting week, so characters I already know seemed useful.

QOTW: I only do physical books. We rarely if ever travel by anything other than car and we’re a small family, so we have space for plenty of books.

[Deleted]

I finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and loved it. Love!

Currently reading The Girl with a Louding Voice and liking it so far.

QOTW: I prefer to travel with a Kindle due to size, portability, and the easy access to otg3er other books. I hate being stuck without something to read!

[rainbowchip]

Educated by Tara Westover - I never know how to rate books like this because I don't like the abuse or untreated mental illness, but it was her story and she told it well.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets read this with my kids for the first time.

An Offer From A Gentleman by Julia Quinn - working my way through this series.

QOTW: I pretty much exclusively read on Kindle anyway and it's no different on vacation. Though, I don't read very much when I travel. If I want a relaxing vacation, I do a stay cation. When I travel somewhere I like to see and do all the times and there isn't much time for reading.

[tacokick]

I’m curious about people who say they have less time for reading on vacation. We generally have very busy, full vacation days with no time for reading but I mainly read at at bedtime (at home and away) and I spend a lot more time on public transit/trains/planes on vacation than in my regular life which is a lot of dead time to fill.


Are you mainly reading during the day when not vacationing? Too tired to read on vacation before bed? Always walking or driving so you can’t read on the way?

[aurora]

Mar 27, 2021 7:44:31 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m curious about people who say they have less time for reading on vacation. We generally have very busy, full vacation days with no time for reading but I mainly read at at bedtime (at home and away) and I spend a lot more time on public transit/trains/planes on vacation than in my regular life which is a lot of dead time to fill.


Are you mainly reading during the day when not vacationing? Too tired to read on vacation before bed? Always walking or driving so you can’t read on the way?

This surprised me, too! On a normal week it's my job that gets in the way of my reading, so even with sightseeing and other fun activities I usually read more on vacation.

[aurora]

Vespasia, I also really liked American Spy.

[aurora]

Finally I don't feel like making a new thread but for any other Outlander fans here Diana Gabaldon just announced that she has finished the 9th book in the series (Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone). No publication date announced yet.

[estrellita]

Mar 27, 2021 7:44:31 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I’m curious about people who say they have less time for reading on vacation. We generally have very busy, full vacation days with no time for reading but I mainly read at at bedtime (at home and away) and I spend a lot more time on public transit/trains/planes on vacation than in my regular life which is a lot of dead time to fill.


Are you mainly reading during the day when not vacationing? Too tired to read on vacation before bed? Always walking or driving so you can’t read on the way?

On vacation, we're usually going all day, haha. If we go to Disney or something, we're gone all day and exhausted by the time we get back. I'll usually read on the plane, or in the car if it's a road trip.

At home, I normally read at night @ after the kids are in bed. But I definitely don't read quite a much as others here!

[abs]

I'm currently reading The Midnight Library. Before this I've been doing a lot of re-reads. I have been in a pretty big reading rut this year where I am just not enjoying much. Hard to concentrate.

QOTW: Kindle always. I love loading it up for a vacation! Can't wait to do that again soon. I read slightly more on vacation because of the travel.

[mx27]

Mar 26, 2021 13:12:43 GMT -5 minzy said:

I read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. I thought it was decent. It’s about a family’s attempt at a survival during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

QOTW: I’d bring an actual book (or books) with me. I never read on a Kindle.

I’m reading the four winds book right now. I’m about 30% through and am meh about it so far. Not bad, just not really good. Hoping it picks up!

[minzy]

Mar 27, 2021 16:18:41 GMT -5 mx27 said:

Mar 26, 2021 13:12:43 GMT -5 minzy said:

I read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. I thought it was decent. It’s about a family’s attempt at a survival during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

QOTW: I’d bring an actual book (or books) with me. I never read on a Kindle.

I’m reading the four winds book right now. I’m about 30% through and am meh about it so far. Not bad, just not really good. Hoping it picks up!

It gets more interesting, but she’s written more compelling books.

[ssmjlm]

Finished the second (and my final) Bridgerton book. It was basically the same plot as book 1. I hope Netflix does a better job, although the show and book 1 had little in common.

QOTW: I always bring my paper white. I love having a ton of books available

[estrellita]

Mar 27, 2021 17:29:29 GMT -5 minzy said:

Mar 27, 2021 16:18:41 GMT -5 mx27 said:

I’m reading the four winds book right now. I’m about 30% through and am meh about it so far. Not bad, just not really good. Hoping it picks up!

It gets more interesting, but she’s written more compelling books.

This! It definitely gets better. I loved it, but I've pretty much loved all her books. Although I will say I didn't love it quite as much as The Nightingale or The Great Alone!

[just]

Vespasia , I LOVED American Spy. I'm holding out hope that she makes it a series - fun spy thrillers with a female BIPOC lead set not in Europe or the US - I'd eat those up.

minzy , mx27 , I finished Four Winds last night and didn't love it. I'm not a huge fan of hers but it was so unrelentingly depressing

SPOILER: Click to show

I had an internal bet going on who was going die.

I did find the historical perspective of the dustbowl and the california cotton strikes interesting.

This week I finished ...
Homeland Elegies by Ahad Akhtar - 4 stars
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler - 1 star (I've never given 1 star to a book before. I usually quit reading them but I kept reading for a plot resolution and hated every minute)
The Survivors by Jane Harper - 4 stars
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - 3 stars
Cleanness by Garth Greenwall - 2 stars

[Vespasia]

just have you watched Queen Sono on Netflix? It's basically what you described. Not sure if there will be a second season because of COVID.

[just]

Mar 31, 2021 16:34:25 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

just have you watched Queen Sono on Netflix? It's basically what you described. Not sure if there will be a second season because of COVID.

I just watched episode one and it IS exactly what I described. Thanks.