What Are You Reading: August 2016

[Sacramento Public Library]

The summer is almost over! Have you done all of your reading or are there still a few more books you want/need to read? If you've read something good this month, please share and help someone find their next great summer read!

[Brendle]

I'm kicking off August with A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman. I'm about halfway through now and have enjoyed the irascible main character, Ove. What I'm not so sure about is how I'm going to feel at the end. The destination is fairly obvious to me and I'm worried that it will spoil my enjoyment. People speak of the book very fondly and other book group members have already told me how much they like it so I guess I will have faith my feelings will remain the same!

After Ove I'm planning on starting A Thousand Naked Strangers the memoir of paramedic Kevin Hazzard.

[Katie]

Listening to Bone Gap through OverDrive and reading All American Boys for my summer school class.

Then it's on to Food: A Love Story for the Alt Library book club. It's a popular month for reading!!

[David]

I'm still listening to The Well of Ascension as an audio book, I have to say the narrator is doing a fantastic job. I love how he voice acts each character so convincingly and my god he has a huge vocal range.

I'm reading The White Rose as well this month, and although it's a lot darker in storyline I actually find it to be a much lighter read. The world building isn't as heavy as the books I've been reading lately so it's easier to just get lost in the story rather then everything else that's going on at that moment (Game of Thrones anyone?).

[Menish]

Finished up Ender's Shadow this month. I read Ender's Game about two years ago and multiple people recommended Ender's Shadow as a follow up.

I thought Bean's character was a little more colorful and rich compared to Ender's. In addition, I found this book a little more gore-y (relatively when compared to Ender's Shadow). Great story line and interesting parallels between Ender's Shadow.

[Susan]

Brendle wrote: "I'm kicking off August with A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman. I'm about halfway through now and have enjoyed the irascible main character, Ove. What I'm not so sure about is how I'm going to fe..."

I have heard good things about that book as well! I need to win the lottery so I can have more time to read. I am slowly reading Modern Lovers. I am really enjoying it but this week has not been conducive to reading. At least I am really enjoying the characters!

[Teresa]

I've just started The House by the Lake, a story of five generations of a German Jewish family and love it. The writing is contemporary and timeless so I'm reading from the author's perspective but going back nearly 100 years in time as well.

[Teresa]

Just finished The year of living biblically; [one man's humble quest to follow the Bible as literally as possible] / by A. J. Jacobs. What a fun book! Jacobs contorts himself to fit his 21st century perspective into a two thousand year old lifestyle and his contortions are well lubricated by his wit. He didn't mean to only write a humerous book though. He discussed his quest to find meaning through his actions and the outcome of his search.

[Julie]

I have been slowly reading the Raven King. I'm sad to see this series end and Maggie has always been a fave author of mine.

[Cathy]

After a very hectic few months I needed to have something relatively mindless but fun. On my July road trip we listened to Harlan Coben's Six Years and loved all the twist and turns. So I decided to go with what I know and picked up his latest Fool Me Once. So far, so good! A great way to end my day with a bit of espionage and intrigue. I'm also listening to The Boys in the Boat. I'm hooked!! I'm a bit more than half way through and can't wait for Monday's commute so I can continue with the story. If you haven't read it or listened to it, put it on your list now!!

[Teresa]

Cathy wrote: "After a very hectic few months I needed to have something relatively mindless but fun. On my July road trip we listened to Harlan Coben's Six Years and loved all the twist and turns. So I decided t..."
Our book group at South Natomas library is reading Boys in the Boat soon. I'm looking forward to it. What a timely topic - the 1936 Olympics!

[Brendle]

I have heard good things about that book as well!..."

Well, I'm happy to report that I enjoyed it as did all the book group. The consensus was it was funny with surprising depth and a well written + well structured story. We're all very curious about his newest book My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry which apparently features some of the same characters.

[Susan]

Boys in the Boat was an awesome book! I think I ended up buying it for my dad for Christmas! I loved that it was about more than just the rowers.

I am on to Missing, Presumed. Not sure what to make of it yet. There are so many narrators that I don't feel like I am getting to know any of them.

[Teresa]

It's funny how I've been reading lately. I was out sick for several months and read very little and now that I'm back at work, I'm reading in all of my spare time. I have seven books on my dresser. I've got The porcupine of truth / Bill Konigsberg, The measure of a man / Martin Luther King, Jr., Happy endings are all alike / Sandra Scoppettone, and a few others. I just finished The house by the lake which I liked. I also keep books on audio for when I'm crocheting. Being around books at work activates my need for reading, I simply can't get enough of it.

[Susan]

Teresa wrote: "It's funny how I've been reading lately. I was out sick for several months and read very little and now that I'm back at work, I'm reading in all of my spare time. I have seven books on my dresser...."

Being sick and laying there not being able to do all the things you suddenly have time to do is the worst! And you know it is bad when you can't even read! Glad to hear you are better!

[Julie]

I've been reading Kelley Armstrong Betrayals . So far its been pretty good and its from my local library :) I have been reading a little here and there with school and kids now back in school.

[Robin]

Well I'm finishing up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because it's someone else's turn now. I also have Inspector Specter by E. J. Cooperman as my bus book. This weekend I have to finish up American Gods by Gaiman because it's due soon.

[Susan]

Robin wrote: "Well I'm finishing up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because it's someone else's turn now. I also have Inspector Specter by E. J. Cooperman as my bus book. This weekend I have to finish up Ameri..."

I just finished up the first 3 books in the Asperger's series that E.J. Cooperman coauthors! What a coincidence!

Now starting on Dear M. M by Herman Koch. I expect it to be devious and keep me up reading tonight! Looking forward to it!

[Cathy]

I'm rounding out the month with a new author, Christine Carbo, and her second book, Mortal Fall. I'm a fan of the Northwestern region and National Parks so this is perfect for me. An unexplainable fall in Glacier National Park allows our protagonist to hone his recently acquired detective skills while grappling with an uncomfortable family history. I'm now not worried if Nevada Barr runs out of National Parks for her novels. Carbo will carry me along!

And in anticipation of the upcoming voting season and Sac Library's program "Let's Talk About Voting" at the end of September, I'm going to start listening to one of the recommendations, Give Us the Ballot by Ari Berman.

[Susan]

Finished Dear Mr. M. I need someone else to read it so I can ask them a question!

Starting in on Lady Cop Makes Trouble. Should be fun!!

[Laura]

In the 10 days between the Summer Reading Program and the start of Fall semester, I managed to read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and 5 romance novels by Jill Shalvis! I also listened to the audiobook version of The Misfits by James Howe. All highly recommended!

[Julie]

I've been reading when the moon was ours and love it :) I'm not too sure how much time I will have to read once school starts for me. But I will be getting my degree soon at BYU Idaho :)