March 2026 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

I just finished Theo of Golden, which I have mixed feelings about. The writing was beautiful and it was a worthy story, but I didn't like finding out about the main character's history the way we did. It would have been better woven through the bloated middle of the book.

Now I'm reading Open, Heaven by Séan Hewitt and am enjoying it so far. He's a poet and this is his debut novel and has also published a memoir. I'm not much for poetry but will probably read his memoir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Picked up a couple of Sue Monk Kidd's books from my shelves

Read The Book of Longings first. Fiction told from the perspective of Jesus's wife. Found it quite enjoyable, well paced, and just plain interesting. Deals with women wanting to have a voice, issues of writings told only from make perspective, women being shunned because a man raped them, betrothals, class, etc. Would recommend a read, not sure if I'll keep it or pass along.

Then read The Secret Life of Bees. About a young teen whose mother dies when she is young. She grows up in an abusive home where her dad is extreme with his punishments and completely devoid of love for her. Eventually she runs away with her housemaid and finds herself and her housemaid taken in by 3 sisters who keep bees. Won't spoil anything for those who haven't read it, I enjoyed it and finished it, but at one point, the girl is told that her dad wasn't always like that and that at one point he loved her mom very dearly which is just messed up nonsense, and I hate when people say stuff like that about abusers. It's just plain not true nor psychologically possible. So for that reason, not going to keep it, and it struck me morally, but all in all, it was still a good book.

ooo you haven't even read her best book, The Invention of Wings

Yay, glad to hear it's good - I put that one on hold at the library yesterday!

[Anonymous]

It's a masterpiece in many ways.

That said, I didn't love it. I've read everything he's written, and I'm not sure why, tbh, lol, because I'm often left cold by his books. But you are going to love the end -- kind of a twist.

I agree that it is a masterpiece in many ways and that I didn’t end up loving the book. I wanted more of the climate piece — which I thought ended up being just a way to move 100 years into the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Picked up a couple of Sue Monk Kidd's books from my shelves

Read The Book of Longings first. Fiction told from the perspective of Jesus's wife. Found it quite enjoyable, well paced, and just plain interesting. Deals with women wanting to have a voice, issues of writings told only from make perspective, women being shunned because a man raped them, betrothals, class, etc. Would recommend a read, not sure if I'll keep it or pass along.

Then read The Secret Life of Bees. About a young teen whose mother dies when she is young. She grows up in an abusive home where her dad is extreme with his punishments and completely devoid of love for her. Eventually she runs away with her housemaid and finds herself and her housemaid taken in by 3 sisters who keep bees. Won't spoil anything for those who haven't read it, I enjoyed it and finished it, but at one point, the girl is told that her dad wasn't always like that and that at one point he loved her mom very dearly which is just messed up nonsense, and I hate when people say stuff like that about abusers. It's just plain not true nor psychologically possible. So for that reason, not going to keep it, and it struck me morally, but all in all, it was still a good book.

ooo you haven't even read her best book, The Invention of Wings

I loved Invention of Wings too, first and only book I've read from Monk Kidd.

So (first) PP, you may have inspired me to pick up Book of Longings as well this year.

[Anonymous]

We're going to Greece for Spring Break, so I'm reading The Odyssey twice, the Lattimore translation for myself and the more accessible Wilson translation with my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Greece for Spring Break, so I'm reading The Odyssey twice, the Lattimore translation for myself and the more accessible Wilson translation with my kid.

How’s it going? I also have Lattimore-Wilson side-by-side reading of the Odyssey on my reading list this year (likely a summer project for me)! I also want to track down the Pope version…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're going to Greece for Spring Break, so I'm reading The Odyssey twice, the Lattimore translation for myself and the more accessible Wilson translation with my kid.

How’s it going? I also have Lattimore-Wilson side-by-side reading of the Odyssey on my reading list this year (likely a summer project for me)! I also want to track down the Pope version…

If you haven’t read Circe, that would be a good one to tuck into your carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just today finished Audition by Katie Katamura. It was strange but interesting in a mundane way.

Also just finished Heart The Lover by Lily King. I loved Writers and Lovers so I devoured this one. I just love the protagonist and her journey so much.

Next up is Long Bright River by the same author who wrote God of The Woods, Liz Moore. Ready for a good thriller.

That was turned into a show with Amanda Seyfried. I love her and will watch her in anything and I thought she was the best part about it and is worth watching it for. It was no Mare of Easttown but she was great and the story was good enough. If you like the book I’d recommend checking out the show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Picked up a couple of Sue Monk Kidd's books from my shelves

Read The Book of Longings first. Fiction told from the perspective of Jesus's wife. Found it quite enjoyable, well paced, and just plain interesting. Deals with women wanting to have a voice, issues of writings told only from make perspective, women being shunned because a man raped them, betrothals, class, etc. Would recommend a read, not sure if I'll keep it or pass along.

Then read The Secret Life of Bees. About a young teen whose mother dies when she is young. She grows up in an abusive home where her dad is extreme with his punishments and completely devoid of love for her. Eventually she runs away with her housemaid and finds herself and her housemaid taken in by 3 sisters who keep bees. Won't spoil anything for those who haven't read it, I enjoyed it and finished it, but at one point, the girl is told that her dad wasn't always like that and that at one point he loved her mom very dearly which is just messed up nonsense, and I hate when people say stuff like that about abusers. It's just plain not true nor psychologically possible. So for that reason, not going to keep it, and it struck me morally, but all in all, it was still a good book.

I’ll add The Invention of Wings to your list when you’re done. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking book.

[Anonymous]

I just finished The Seven Moons of Maali Alemeida and don’t quite know what to think. It was gross and depressing and pretty confusing, but also interesting and unusual and well done. I need to read more about the Sri Lankan civil war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Picked up a couple of Sue Monk Kidd's books from my shelves

Read The Book of Longings first. Fiction told from the perspective of Jesus's wife. Found it quite enjoyable, well paced, and just plain interesting. Deals with women wanting to have a voice, issues of writings told only from make perspective, women being shunned because a man raped them, betrothals, class, etc. Would recommend a read, not sure if I'll keep it or pass along.

Then read The Secret Life of Bees. About a young teen whose mother dies when she is young. She grows up in an abusive home where her dad is extreme with his punishments and completely devoid of love for her. Eventually she runs away with her housemaid and finds herself and her housemaid taken in by 3 sisters who keep bees. Won't spoil anything for those who haven't read it, I enjoyed it and finished it, but at one point, the girl is told that her dad wasn't always like that and that at one point he loved her mom very dearly which is just messed up nonsense, and I hate when people say stuff like that about abusers. It's just plain not true nor psychologically possible. So for that reason, not going to keep it, and it struck me morally, but all in all, it was still a good book.

I’ll add The Invention of Wings to your list when you’re done. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking book.

Done thank you 😊

[Anonymous]

About 1/3 of the way into Isola by Allegra Goodman. Liking it, but usually I get really into historical fiction reads, and this books is very good, but I have no problem setting it down for the day. Maybe because the pace is a bit slow, or possibly because I'm not feeling immersed in a history that I know little about - learning being what I enjoy most about this genre.

[Anonymous]

I’m reading Linda Holmes new book Back After This. Having listened to her on Pop Culture Happy Hour for years, I knew I’d like her writing. I really enjoyed her first two books, too. They aren’t life-altering literary achievements but they are fun reads with great characters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

Am listening to the audiobook of this and the reader is excellent!

[Anonymous]

Just finished The Three Lives of Cate Kay, by Kate Fagan.

Light but not vapid, which was perfect for me this past week.

Next up is The Rest of Our Lives, by Ben Markovitz, which just came off the waitlist. It’s been awhile since I read a novel that centered a middle aged man … I’m curious if or how it’ll hold my interest.