Friday reading 8/9

[charlatti]

What have you been reading this week?

QOTW: When you were a student, how did you feel about summer ending and going back to school? If there are kids in your life, how do they feel about it?

[Vespasia]

I'm about halfway through The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and can't quite decide what I think of it. The premise is interesting and there are parts of the story I enjoy but it also feels very slow. I also find the fact that the narrator has no name and that the time travelers are referred to by either their names, the year they came from, or just the last 2 digits of the year they came from both confusing and distracting. I've been tempted to put it down in favor of several new books that I got this week but figure something must happen eventually! 


QOTW: I always had mixed feelings about going back to school. I was an only child and we moved a lot so summers could be boring as I rarely had local friends. I didn't particularly care for school though so once the excitement of new clothes and school supplies wore off I was usually ready for it to be over for the year again. 

[dearprudence]

Finished Before I Do and liked the way it ended.

Still reading A Wedding in Cornwall. It's fine, but I feel like nothing much is happening.

Started listening to The Wedding People and I'm really enjoying it. I thought it might be too depressing, because it's about a woman who goes to a hotel to kill herself and ends up being taken in by the wedding party that's also at the hotel. It's just so warm and loving and the main character is such a "reader's character" (she turns around all the books in the hotel lobby that are pages out because books are for reading, not aesthetics).


QOTW: When you were a student, how did you feel about summer ending and going back to school? If there are kids in your life, how do they feel about it? I think I liked it because it meant new clothes and seeing my friends all day. I think my kids are ambivalent.

[charlatti]

I read Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour, which was a wild ride of a book. For the vast majority I was just thinking how terrible the world is (it’s satirical, so it’s funny terrible but also just terrible) but it also has this underlying note of hopefulness. Would make for a great book club discussion, I’d think.

Just started Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair — should be much lighter.

QOTW: I was always excited to go back — felt like the year was full of possibilities (though yes, that feeling wore off quickly!). My teen is definitely not viewing it that way and has been enjoying the lazy days.

[mrspez07]

I’m kind of in between audio and visual books. Plan to start The Underground library tomorrow (visual).

I alway looked forward to school, the new classes, seeing friends, new supplies, etc. I loved school.
I have 2 boys. I think the older one is ready to get back into things in HS. He’s a good student and seems to thrive on the busy schedule with sports and school. Hopefully his schedule is a good level of work for him this year.
The younger is in MS and says it’s boring and not fun. He likes seeing his friends the most. He is a good student, not bored per se, but maybe. Also a bit lazy. He likes his loose summer schedule.

[krystee]

I just finished Berlin Letters and really liked it! Reading Midnight Feast now and Wedding People next.

I always felt sad summer went so fast, but also happy to be at school. My younger one is thrilled for school to start. My older one was more hesitant, but he just learned he has all his best friends in his class, so now he’s excited.

[travella]

I'm currently reading Some Murders in Berlin by Karen Robards.

Qotw: I liked it because I got to see my friends. My kids are in high school and middle school and we have moved every couple years up to now. My daughter seems to enjoy going back to school even when it's a new school. She is extroverted and loves making friends. My son likes learning but is more introverted and less attached to friends. He would go to remote school in a heartbeat if allowed. During lockdown he would get up at 5 do all his school work for the day before we even woke up and spend the rest of it playing. He loved it.