It's Monday 5/30! What Are You Reading?

Book By Book

Aauggh! How is it possibly Memorial Day, with June 2 days away, already? Last week, it was raining and cold – I wore a sweater out to dinner with friends. This weekend, it was 90 and humid, and I wore shorts out to dinner (with the same friends!). The weather craziness made the onset of summer seem even more abrupt. We spent much of the weekend preparing for next weekend’s big event: my son’s high school graduation. We planned a small party that is now up to about 40 people! Eeek!

More importantly, this weekend was the official kick-off for my annual Big Book Summer Challenge! Click on the link to read the rules (super easy for summer!) – you only need to read at least 1 book of 400 pages or more to participate. Join the fun!

Here’s what we’ve been reading this week:

• I am still reading A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, which I had to temporarily set aside to get my review book read on time. I am loving it so far – an intricate, interwoven story about a Japanese teenager and a woman writer in British Columbia (I love stories about connections). I have become very attached to the two main characters! It’s a long book, but I am almost finished and still enjoying it.
• I rarely read two books at once, but I make an exception for graphic novels. My requested Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi came in at the library. I was inspired to read this wonderful memoir sequel by two things: my son’s World Lit class just read Persepolis (which I read and loved last year), and I joined Emma Watson’s feminist book group on Goodreads, Our Shared Shelf (oh, yeah, Emma and I are best buds now), and her choice for June is Persepolis, so I wanted to read the second volume. Just as good – and fascinating – as the first so far.
• I have been listening to The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos on audio, a teen/YA novel with a unique plot. The 17-year old main character is looking for her mother, who left her and her father when she was very young, and her father, who just recently disappeared. Her dad writes medical mystery novels, so she is using what she’s learned from his novels to track down these two very personal mysteries of her own.
• My husband, Ken, is still reading The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, which I gave him for Christmas. We have enjoyed the first few episodes of the TV adaptation on Amazon Prime, so I thought he’d like the novel. He says it’s completely different from the TV show. It’s good that he’s reading his Christmas gifts because it’s almost Father’s Day, and I’ve already chosen his new books!
• Jamie, 21, finished re-reading the first two books in the A Pattern of Shadow and Light trilogy by Melissa McPhail: Cephrael’s Hand and The Dagger of Adendigaeth. Now, he’s started book 3, Paths of Air. With finals the past two weeks, he hasn’t had much reading time. He finishes exams tomorrow, and then he can relax and read nonstop!

Last week’s blog posts – there won’t be much time for blogging this week or next!

TV Tuesday: The Night Manager, a British import, a spy thriller starring Hugh Laurie

Middle-Grade Review: Upside-Down Magic, a fun magic novel that tackles some important real-life issues

Middle-Grade Review: The Big Dark by Rodman Philbrick, a compelling sci fi novel

2016 Big Book Summer Challenge – join the fun!

My Big Book Summer – Check out the Big Books I plan to read this summer

What are you and your family reading this week?    

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

Join the Big Book Summer Reading Challenge! Just click the link to read the rules – super-easy for summer! You only need to read one “big book” (400 pages or more) to participate. Join the fun & sign up today!