Week 24: What are you reading?

[Liz]

We are nearly halfway through the year; I can't believe how quickly it's gone by!

Has everyone picked their adventure book, action novel or thriller yet? I'm still trying to decide. My first through was a Crichton title since I've enjoyed most of the books I've read by him. Then I thought about it a little more, and I think I want to pick something I wouldn't normally go for. So I'm still mulling that over.

In the meantime, I'm reading Dreams of Gods and Monsters and For the Win. I think I've gushed about The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series enough, so I'll leave it at that. However, I'm really excited for For the Win. It's another Cory Doctorow book and my audiobook choice of the week. It has a pretty specific appeal - MMORPGs, or massively multi-player online role-playing games. Since I've got a lot of experience in that department, I'm very excited to see how this book turns out!

What are you reading this week?

[Jodie]

I started Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes over the weekend and like it so far. I am listening to the audiobook Newtown : an American tragedy by Matthew Lysiak. I just finished Columbine by David Cullen on audiobook. I know, somewhat bleak reading, but both books are extremely well-written and describe what happened and the people involved with taste and sensitivity. I find I like to listen to non-fiction best on audiobooks.

[Kelsey]

Jodie: I agree about non-fiction on audiobooks! I never used to read much non-fiction but I love listening to it. Your picks sound very interesting! I'm looking for more audiobooks to add to my queue; do you (or anyone) have other recommendations?

This week I'm planning to finish The Martian (Andy Weir) and it has me far more intrigued than I expected! I highly recommend it as an action book for June, though I know, Liz, you're going for something further outside your normal picks!

I think I'll start American Psychosis (E. Fuller Torrey) next. It's about the transition of mental health institutions from state to federal responsibility. My hometown housed one of Massachusetts' mental institutions many years ago, and the effects of the transition were still very visible, decades later. I'm interested to learn more.

[Ann]

I read The Selection by Kiera Cass Friday. Sunday I went to B&N and bought a copy of The Elite (book 2) and am almost finished with it. Friday, I'll be going back to B&N to pick up my copy of The One. I hope it lives up to the first two books.

[Rekesha]

I'm looking for more audiobooks to add to my queue; do you (or anyone) have other recommendations?"

I'd like recommend The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann as a great audio book to listen to in the car. It's a great story and it would fit in well with adventure/action/thriller theme for this month.

[Rekesha]

I think I may read the Friday Society by Andrienne Kress for my adventure/action/thriller book.

From Amzon.com:
Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

I also plan to read Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett. I love my cozy mysteries!

[Liz]

I also listened to Columbine by Dave Cullen and thought it was really well done. He clearly spent a lot of time researching the topic and created a very well-written account.

[Julie]

I finished One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul Saturday night.

My husband handed me Sahara as his suggestion for my adventure book. I've never read Clive Cussler before so I'm trying something different.

I'm also still occasionally reading A Dance with Dragons (looks like the next book is still a bit out so I'm stalling), and I started listening to A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

[Ingrid]

Ann wrote: "I read The Selection by Kiera Cass Friday. Sunday I went to B&N and bought a copy of The Elite (book 2) and am almost finished with it. Friday, I'll be going back to B&N to pick up my copy of The..."

I just finished The One & thought the author did a good job of it. The big action scenes only took up a few pages, which seemed kind of quick, but it's more about the relationships than the action.

[Ingrid]

Julie wrote: "I finished One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul Saturday night.

My husband handed me Sahara as his suggestion for my adventure book. I've never read Clive Cussler before so I'm trying something dif..."

I like Clive Cussler. One of his series, the main character is named after his son I believe.

[Ingrid]

For the challenge, I am reading Shutter Island. Loving it so far. I read The One over the weekend & thought it wrapped up nicely.

[Julie]

My husband likes Clive Cussler and has been trying to get me to read one of his books. He let me know that Sahara was part of a series, but he said that they were pretty much stand alone books, so I wasn't really missing anything.

I'm only about 35 pages into it, but so far so good.