Monday, January 21, 2013

It's Monday 1/21! What Are You Reading?


It doesn't feel like a Monday with my sons home from school - I'm getting a late start here!

We had a really great reading week last week - lots of outstanding books and we continued our sequel mania:
  • I finished The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman for my neighborhood book group and absolutely loved it, as did most of the others in the group. It was my first-ever e-book, and I enjoyed the experience - especially being able to highlight quotes and look up words in the dictionary with just a touch of a finger. Read my review here.
  • As soon as I finished that book, I went back to Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede, but I had been squeezing in a page or two here and there, so I was almost done by then and finished quickly! It was just as good as the first book in the series, The Thirteenth Child, and now I am ready to read book #3!
  • I am now reading Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver, another highly anticipated book. I read the first book, The Bean Trees, over New Year's and couldn't wait to get into the sequel. It is excellent so far - a compelling story but it almost doesn't matter because Kingsolver's writing is so vibrant, clever, and witty and her characters so real and likable.
  • My husband, Ken, finished Meg Gardiner's Ransom River and enjoyed it very much. He said he would definitely read more of her novels.
  • Then, Ken returned to Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy and quickly read book #3, Monsters of Men. He loved the entire trilogy, as did our son - now I need to read it!
  • Ken is now reading Tana French's The Likeness - he very much enjoyed In the Woods a few months ago. He says the premise of this one seems a little unbelievable to him so far, but she's a good writer.
  • Jamie, 18, has been reading like crazy this week, enjoying the extra free time during Winter Session (he's just taking one class and living at home). He blew through re-reading the entire Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima, finishing book 2, The Exiled Queen, re-reading book 3, The Gray Wolf Throne, and reading the latest #4, The Crimson Crown. Jamie says this is one of his favorite series, and he just got a friend at college into it, too!
  • Now, Jamie is reading a new book he bought with a Christmas gift card, Shaman's Crossing, Book 1 of The Soldier Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb. This is one is grown-up fantasy rather than YA - he's at that age where he still enjoys teen and YA books but is starting to cross over into adult fiction. We started him a few years ago on authors like King, Crichton, Ludlum, and Heinlein. He is also having fun with his new Kindle Fire - he "bought" 11 new e-books yesterday, 10 of which were free! He does love a bargain.
  • It was mid-term week for Craig, 15, so he did no reading other than studying for exams.
I wrote one review last week, of The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. I also wrote my weekly Weekend Cooking post. I am determined to finally commit to some 2013 reading challenges this coming week!

What are you and your family reading this week?

(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, with a kid/teen version hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.) 

5 comments:

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

Kids in my library are really "into" the Cinda Chima series.

As I said last week I have a special place in my heart for Pigs in Heaven. I read the two books out of order and it was my first Kingsolver book.

I am going to look into The Light Between Oceans. Good discussion books are vital for book clubs.

Have a good Inauguration day!

Anne

Sue Jackson said...

Anne -

Yes, I am loving the Kingsolver books - I don't know why I waited so long to read them. My best friend has been telling me they are her favorite books for years...and I Loved The POisonwood Bible!

Light Between Oceans is excellent for book groups - lots of moral dilemmas to discuss!

Sue

Anonymous said...

I really loved Kingsolver's early works. Animal Dreams was my favorite. I also really like Tana French. Her most recent two have been my favorites. I hope your husband keeps going with her!

Anonymous said...

I read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral ages ago, but I have not picked up a Kingsolver novel! I think I'd really enjoy The Bean Tree. Tell Craig good luck on mid-terms. Poor thing!

Pamela said...

Oooooh...Now I am going to have to read The Bean Trees! :) I just finished The Lacuna by Kingsolver and it was awesome.