It’s August, what are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Whispers by Ashley Audrain-
Recommend

I liked this one as well! I didn't like The Push as much, just FYI. It was fine but definitely weird and I'd never read it again or recommend it although I didn't hate it, just didn't like it much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last month I listened to "Dear Mrs. Bird" by A.J. Pearce. I thought the book was awesome so I looked up the author to see what else she has written. Turns out she wrote 2 sequels to Dear Mrs. Bird, so I downloaded both sequels from overdrive and am currently listening to them.

They are all set in London during WW II. In book one, a young woman sees an ad for someone to work at a women's magazine. She thought she would be a war correspondent but instead the job is to sort through mail for an advice columnist. The columnist is an older woman who refuses to address anything "unpleasant". The letters from people with real problems are supposed to go in the trash. Our protagonist feels sorry for the letter writers and sometimes writes them back personally, signing the letters as though they were from the advice columnist.

In book two, the former advice columnist has transferred to a magazine for livestock owners and our protagonist has taken over the advice column. She also starts writing a series of articles about women doing war work.

I have just started book three. So far what has happened is that the former owner of the magazine, which has been in publication for 48 years, has died and left it to his niece. The niece thinks the articles in the magazine are depressing (hello - there is a war going on) and she wants to make changes.

The author is writing a 4th book in the series, to be published next year.

These sounds great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anne of Green Gables - we were just in PEI and I'd wanted to finish it before we were there but even though it's a delightful book I am finding it a slog!

Then going to be reading a friend's new book (I am interviewing her on stage for an event) and not sure after that. Something weird, well written, and short, hopefully, if anyone has a suggestion.

I love weird books! I'm a huge Stephen King fan (although I would not say I generally like the horror genre). He has some amazing short stories (some are in collections, some are stand alone). He also generally has really good narrators if you like audiobooks. Some I would recommend are:

Skeleton Crew
If It Bleeds
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
You Like It Darker
Different Seasons (these are the basis for the movies Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, and Stand By Me)
Four Past Midnight

There are others as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko about his and his buddy's effort to hike the length of the Grand Canyon. HIGHLY recommend.

If you liked this try A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson! Same idea but with the Appalachian Trail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anne of Green Gables - we were just in PEI and I'd wanted to finish it before we were there but even though it's a delightful book I am finding it a slog!

Then going to be reading a friend's new book (I am interviewing her on stage for an event) and not sure after that. Something weird, well written, and short, hopefully, if anyone has a suggestion.

That’s cool. What’s your friend’s book?

I’m only reading/listening to fun books for the remainder of the summer. Enjoying listening to Bride by Ali Hazelwood.

Have you read Annie Bot? That could fit your description.

DP but I just finished Annie Bot. I would give it a 3/5. I wanted to like it more than I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

Regardless of whether you like the book, I HIGHLY recommend the TV show

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

Regardless of whether you like the book, I HIGHLY recommend the TV show

PP here. Just finished it, didn’t much care for it— but I thought, I bet this could’ve been a great series. So I think I will watch it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

I have the same reaction to Ishiguro. Except for Remains of the Day which was beautiful. I also met him in the early 2000s at a literary event in London and he was charming.

I won't read Sally Rooney. Who needs to read sex books dressed up as lit? No one.

Raises hand. I need a sex book dressed up as lit.

I was surprised by how spicy some of the books from Emily Henry and Elle Kennedy were. I think Emily Henry's books are better, but they're both kind of light fluffy easy reads with romance. Abby Jimenez books are similar. Hers are pretty well written although I'm not sure I'd call any of these literature, but they're definitely lit (beach lit/chick lit, etc.). Easy to read and enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

Regardless of whether you like the book, I HIGHLY recommend the TV show

PP here. Just finished it, didn’t much care for it— but I thought, I bet this could’ve been a great series. So I think I will watch it!

I never read the book but watched the show and my friends and I all loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

I have the same reaction to Ishiguro. Except for Remains of the Day which was beautiful. I also met him in the early 2000s at a literary event in London and he was charming.

I won't read Sally Rooney. Who needs to read sex books dressed up as lit? No one.

Raises hand. I need a sex book dressed up as lit.

I was surprised by how spicy some of the books from Emily Henry and Elle Kennedy were. I think Emily Henry's books are better, but they're both kind of light fluffy easy reads with romance. Abby Jimenez books are similar. Hers are pretty well written although I'm not sure I'd call any of these literature, but they're definitely lit (beach lit/chick lit, etc.). Easy to read and enjoyable.

PP- Based on your list, I think you would also enjoy the author, Emily Giffib.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished “The Buried Giant.” A big “meh” from me. I’ve read 3 Ishiguro books, and in every one I appreciate the construction/writing, but I just cannot connect with them. This might’ve been the biggest miss for me.

Reading “Normal People” now. I’ve never read Sally Rooney, and she has been very hyped up, so I’m going in cautiously optimistic.

I have the same reaction to Ishiguro. Except for Remains of the Day which was beautiful. I also met him in the early 2000s at a literary event in London and he was charming.

I won't read Sally Rooney. Who needs to read sex books dressed up as lit? No one.

Raises hand. I need a sex book dressed up as lit.

I was surprised by how spicy some of the books from Emily Henry and Elle Kennedy were. I think Emily Henry's books are better, but they're both kind of light fluffy easy reads with romance. Abby Jimenez books are similar. Hers are pretty well written although I'm not sure I'd call any of these literature, but they're definitely lit (beach lit/chick lit, etc.). Easy to read and enjoyable.

PP- Based on your list, I think you would also enjoy the author, Emily Giffib.

Correction: Emily Giffin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Whispers by Ashley Audrain-
Recommend

I liked this one as well! I didn't like The Push as much, just FYI. It was fine but definitely weird and I'd never read it again or recommend it although I didn't hate it, just didn't like it much.

Seems like we have similar taste in books--- do you have other recommendations? You may also like the Paper Palace!

[Anonymous]

"I Must Betray You," by Ruta Setetys. Takes place in Romania during the 1989 Revolution. I'm just back from Eastern Europe, so it's a travel-themed book for me. Good, seems geared to older teens/YA. Quick read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko about his and his buddy's effort to hike the length of the Grand Canyon. HIGHLY recommend.

If you liked this try A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson! Same idea but with the Appalachian Trail.

PP here - I read A Walk in the Woods years ago - and loved it. This book, however, is better imho. The hike here was on another level as far as danger was concerned, and he spends alot more time discussing the natural and cultural history. Don't get me wrong - it is uproariously funny in parts, but it is not a humor travelogue. He knows he walks in the footsteps of giants (even gives a shout-out early on to Bryson), but, in the end, it's a much more serious book than AWITW.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. Hated it! Irredeemable characters.