Monday, March 12, 2012

It's Monday 3/12! What Are You Reading?


Happy Monday!  We had a more relaxing weekend than usual, with some of the deadlines (and pressure) for financial aid for college behind us.  Not that there isn't more we have to do, but the big-pressure items are taken care of.  And this weather is fabulous!!  Supposed to be in the mid-70's most of the week here.  It's very early for such warm temperatures, but I'm not complaining!

We all enjoyed lots of good reading this week:
  • I finished a teen/YA novel, Irises by Francisco X. Stork (author of Marcelo in the Real World) last week - it was very good, though not quite as exemplary as Marcelo.
  • I am now reading a novel that's been on my TBR list for a while, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  Our local library's lunchtime book group is discussing it this week - a perfect excuse for me to read a book I've heard so many good things about.  I'm enjoying it very much (might finish it today), though it is a bit different than I expected.  I'm very interested to see how it ends.
  • My husband, Ken, finished Divergent by Veronica Roth, a teen dystopian novel that my son and I both enjoyed.  He enjoyed the story but thought that aspects of the society described were unrealistic (I agree).
  • Next, Ken decided to read the book I just finished, Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian, before we have to return it to the library.  I loved the novel set at the end of World War II.  This is Ken's first Bohjalian.
  • Thankfully, Jamie, 17, got his requested book from the library very quickly last week!  Within a couple of days, he had finished the 517-page The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima (A Seven Realms novel).  He says this is a great series.  He is tortured by the fact that the next book is not due out until October!
  • Next, Jamie decided to reread a favorite of mine and his, Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card.  As with the first reading, he says it is extremely thought-provoking and wonderfully complex.  We are both anxiously awaiting book two (another one not due to be released until October!).
  • Craig, 14, was having trouble getting into the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan, so he switched books and is now reading Book 3 in The Last Apprentice series, Night of the Soul Stealer, by Joseph Delaney. He enjoyed Books One and Two recently.
I posted two new reviews last week: Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian and a middle-grade sci fi sequel, The Whisper by Emma Clayton.


What are you and your family reading this week?


(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  A kids/teen version is hosted by Teach Mentor Text.)

4 comments:

Jen Vincent said...

It can be really frustrating to have to wait for book in a series to come out! And then I usually read them so fast that I find myself waiting again. Recently, I have read two series that I haven't had to wait for and it's almost an overload because I've been reading them so close together. It's a catch 22, either way, I'm not happy. No, I am happy. I'm happy for books whether I have to wait or not!

Kellee said...

First, I want to tell you how much I love seeing what your whole family reads. It is so great that you have a family of readers!!!

Second, I completely understand your sons frustrations- I almost wish that I waited to read some books until the whole series is out so I don't have to wait.

Happy reading this week :)

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog and so commenting on Retrospective Wednesday. Join in some time. You read such a variety of books it would be fun to see what you choose to highlight. I have wanted to read the Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake when it was chosen as an Alex Award book last year but it languishes on the shelf. I'll look for your review.

May I make a suggestion? I got rid of the to type in the words to prove I am not a robot since I look at all comments before I publish them. Since you look at your comments before publishing, why not get rid of the extra step? Blogspot has changed the font on their robot-proof words and they are very hard to decipher sometimes. Just a thought...

Sue Jackson said...

Hi, Anne -

Ah, that explains why I can now leave comments on your blog again! Yesterday was the first time it worked properly. That's why I am using the pop-up box, even though I prefer the set-up where the comments are just below the post - I noticed it wasn't just your blog but any set up that way where I couldn't click on "comments".

As for me, when I don't have word verification, I get swamped with spam - mostly in Chinese characters!! I agree that this new word verification is much more difficult - that is something i consider very seriously for my chronic illness blog, where many of the commenters have cognitive difficulties.

I guess I could try going without it again to see what happens. Food for thought...

Thanks for your input!

Sue