Monday, February 4, 2013

It's Monday 2/4! What Are You Reading?


A new week, a new month, and a new start for me. College-age son moved back into the dorms yesterday. High school-age son is off today (and we have a hectic day filled with doctor's appointments), but hopefully, he will be back in school tomorrow after being out sick all last week. And then, I will be...alone!  Woohoo! Maybe I can finally get some work done this week...though we will miss having our older son at home.

Last week, we read:
  • I finished I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg in plenty of time for my book group. Everyone enjoyed it for its sense of humor and irony, though it was a bit light compared to what we usually read. Not great literature - just a bit of fun!
  • Next, I blew through Trapped by Michael Northrop in just two days. This teen/YA novel about seven teens stuck in their high school without power for days during a record blizzard was fast-paced and full of suspense - perfect for a cold winter week!
  • Now, I am reading In Other Worlds, a book of essays by Margaret Atwood about science fiction. This is the current selection for book discussion on the Bookrageous podcast, so I decided to try it. I'm enjoying it very much - I worried it might be dry, but Atwood's writing is lively and full of wit. I've been laughing out loud a lot!
  • And I am trying to finish a very long audio book, Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, a middle-grade fantasy adventure. It's been very good. Maybe with both kids out of the house this week, I can finally finish it!
  • My husband, Ken, finished The Likeness by Tana French; he's enjoying this series very much.
  • Now, Ken is reading Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card, a fabulous teen/YA novel that my son and I both loved.
  • Jamie, 18, is still reading Shaman's Crossing, Book 1 of the Soldier's Son trilogy by Robin Hobb. It's not his favorite kind of fantasy, but he said he wants to finish it. His reading slowed way down this week with exams at school. Now that he's back in the dorms for spring semester, he probably won't have much fun reading time!
  • Craig, 15, was home sick all last week, but he doesn't really enjoy reading. He did read more of his freshman lit novel, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, but he doesn't like that it is not a straight-forward chronological story.
I finally found time to write a couple of reviews last week - I was getting behind!  I reviewed Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver and Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede, a teen novel - both were excellent and highly recommended! And I wrote a Weekend Cooking post yesterday.

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:

Hannahlily said...

I adored Trapped. Big fan of Northrup. Loved his novel Gentlemen too. My library has the audio of Wildwood and I've been meaning to get to it. Sounds really interesting (although LONG!) I really want to read the Tana French books as well.

Heidi’sbooks said...

I wasn't thrilled with The Lacuna by Kingsolver. These two choices sound like they may be better.

Lady In Read said...

Across the Great Barrier looks and sounds great (and lots of reading at )your place!)
My posts are up as well on my blog:

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

The House on Mango Street should be outlawed as required reading for teens. I think it falls into the category of a book that make non-readers more determined not to read. Fortunately it is short.

Sue Jackson said...

ha ha - yes, I agree, Anne! Craig already says he hates to read (I would think our baby got switched in the hospital except that he looks so much like me!). This is the first novel they've read in freshman lit - mostly grammar and short stories so far - and now he isn't enjoying it which just reinforces his feeling about reading.

Sue