What Are You Reading: April 2015

[Sacramento Public Library]

The weather is warming up and the books of spring are calling! What are you reading this month?

[Carolyn F.]

I'm reading Rock Chick Rescue

[Chip]

I just started The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.



It caught my eye on the "Lucky Day" shelf at Fair Oaks. Oddly enough, my wife just finished All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and it sounds like these two may have a lot in common, at least on the surface.

[David]

I'm reading Coyote Dreams, this series has kept me interested since the first book and it's something nice to read while I wait for my hold of Vision in Silver to come in!

[Teresa]

Just finished Lila, the National Book finalist. What a wonderful read! Marilyne Robinson created a masterpiece with her spare prose and uncompromising view of this young girl. There aren't very many novels that give me a glimpse of the human condition but this one did it.

[Katie]

Currently, Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality for the alt+library book club. Then next up will be As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride that I found on Lucky Day at CHS :)

[Brendle]

I just finished up All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr for the library book group and can absolutely see why this book has been all over best seller lists for the past year as well as on many a Best Books of the Year list. It is not an easy read, but it is beautiful. I had to sit and think about it for a while after I closed the cover.

[Carolyn F.]

David wrote: "I'm reading Coyote Dreams, this series has kept me interested since the first book and it's something nice to read while I wait for my hold of Vision in Silver to come in!"

I love Coyote Dreams too David. I have Vision in Silver in my TBR library stack.

[Carolyn F.]

I just finished The Beautiful Mystery , oh my gosh was a sad, sad ending.

[Susan]

After zooming through The Shadows (JR Ward), I am reading Canary. Quirky look at a confidential informant.

[Francie]

I just finished Lisa See's "China Dolls." It was well-researched and provided an interesting look into the challenges of being Asian-American during WWII and beyond, but it wasn't as compelling a read as I'd expected. I'm currently reading "The Luminous Heart of Jonah S" by Gina Nahai. I've only read the first chapter and a half, but the opening pages about the murder of an Iranian Jewish American in Los Angeles make me eager to read more.

Brendle, I, too, loved "All the Light We Cannot See," and found Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale" a wonderful companion story.

[Jenna]

I have just started the second book in the Beautiful Disaster series called Walking Disaster. The book is highly entertaining so far. Do not read the series out of order the 1st book Beautiful Disasteris the love story between Pigeon(Abby)and Travis from Abby's point of view. The 2nd book is their love story from Travis's point of view. It quit entertaining to hear what both of them were thinking and it changes the story completely. I will keep you guys posted once I fish but so far the 2nd book is awesome :D

[Cindy]

Just finished Sold and All the Bright Places. Both from teen fiction. Loved them both for various reasons.
Currently reading At the Waters Edge... Liking it so far!

[Julie]

I am reading right now : The devil you know by Trish Dollar and I finished The last good day of the year-- that was pretty good too.

[Susie]

This month I'm diving into Lord of the Rings. I tried to get through it a couple of times when I was maybe 11 or 12, but I think I was just too young to appreciate Tolkien's goodness. So far I'm really enjoying it.

[Carolyn F.]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "I did recently finish Prudence by Gail Carriger and it was so much fun, adult steampunk Victorian urban fantasy. I definitely recommend it! "

I have that checked out Tabitha - I'm glad you're recommending it :)

[Carolyn F.]

I'm reading Magic Breaks

[Carolyn F.]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm reading Magic Breaks"

I have been wanting to give that series a try for the longest time. I recently picked up the first one on audio. Hopefully I'll get to ..."

The first book it took me 3 times before I finally got into it and now it's one my favorite series. I listened to a bit of the audiobook and I like this narrator. She also did On the Edge series and was good.

[Brendle]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm reading Magic Breaks"

I have been wanting to give that series a try for the longest time. I recently picked up the first one on audio. Hopefully I'll get to ..."

Just had to chime in here because I am absolutely crazy for the Kate Daniels series! If you read UF it is a must.

I just finished The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski and loved the ultra-thrill ride of it. He is one of the best in the business at this sort of writing. Most of his books are crazy Crazy CRAZY pulp thrillers and unputdownable. Don't worry about plot, just go with it and have all sorts of fun as you read!

[David]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm reading Magic Breaks"

I have been wanting to give that series a try for the longest time. I recently picked up the first one on audio. Hopefully I'll get to ..."

I got about halfway through the series and never finished. I needed a break from UF for a while but now that I've gotten back into it I need to get back into this series, def worth the read!

[Carolyn F.]

Hope this time it'll hook you David.

[Susan]

I am still reading Station Eleven. I haven't figured out why everyone speaks so well of this book. I have found it dragging. I perk up a bit when there is finally a connection made between different characters but at this point I am focused on the light at the end of the tunnel!

[Francie]

I read but was disappointed in I'll Take You by Eliza Kennedy. I found the characters flat and unlikable. I'm on page 65 of If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie, a novel about an agoraphobic mother and her young son who is struggling to gain independence. So far it's very good, and the author's writing is beautiful.

[Chip]

Well, I finished The Miniaturist, and to be honest, I was a little disappointed in the ending. I'm trying to avoid a "spoiler," so I'll just say I was hoping for more information about the miniaturist. Otherwise, an engaging story with good characters, and very well-written. Mixed feelings about this one.

Next, I'm reading Vurt by Jeff Noon. This was prominently featured on a bookshelf behind Ben Stiller in the movie "While We're Young" and when I checked it out, it sounded like a worthy successor to cyberpunk classics like Neuromancer and Snow Crash. So far, I'm really liking it!

[John]

I've been off the list for a while. I retired from SPL in February and haven't updated what I'm current reading and listening to.

Since February, I've read:

The Three-Body Problem, by Cixin Liu: A bestselling science fiction novel by a Chinese author, newly translated for English-speaking audiences. It's a first-contact story that begins during the Cultural Revolution and jumps forward to the present day, written from a different cultural viewpoint than what one usually finds in contemporary science fiction. Highly recommended.

The Wolfman, by Nicholas Pekearo: A gritty werewolf tale by a promising author who never lived to see its publication (he was an auxiliary NYPD officer killed in the line of duty). It's grim in places, yet hopeful--the title character is a drifter and werewolf who finds redemption in the pursuit of a cross-country serial killer.

Now reading: Old Man's War, by John Scalzi. This is for our book club at McKinley Library.

I've also completed several audiobooks;
The Devotion of Suspect X, by Keigo Higashino: The is an intricate psychological police procedural with a surprising twist. Excellent!

High Moor, by Graeme Reynolds: A good old-fashioned werewolf yarn where the bad guys aren't all werewolves and the good guys aren't all human. I took a gamble on this through Audible and was rewarded by a suspenseful, entertaining tale. It's a rather obscure title which deserves a wider audience. The sequel is on my to-listen list.

Malice, by Keigo Higashino: I liked "Devotion" enough to try another of Higashino's novels. This is more of a whydunit, than a whodunit, as the solution occurs halfway through the book. The investigating police detective can't close the case without a full understanding of the motive, and finds that the roots of the crime are deeply buried in the past. Very good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as "Devotion of Suspect X."

Werewolf Cop, by Andrew Klavan: A super criminal is suspected to be the instigator of a plague of violent civil unrest in Europe, and has now moved to the US. A Federal officer discovers that there is a supernatural link to the criminal's activity, and becomes the latest incarnation of a centuries-old power which might be the only way to stop the tide of lawlessness overtaking Europe.

[Brendle]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "@John...I also recently saw the audio for Werewolf Cop and thought about grabbing it but it didn't s..."

@Tabitha I also read Werewolf Cop recently (who wouldn't with that title!) and found it to be more of a study of the struggle of good vs evil--heavy on the evil--than an urban fantasy. It's not surprising given the author, Andrew Klavan, who usually writes dark mysteries and thrillers.

[Carolyn F.]

I'm reading The Perfect Bride and love it so far.

[Glee]

The Martian is fabulous. Do NOT have liquids in your mouth while you are reading....

[Teresa]

Just finished That's not English : Britishisms, Americanisms, and what our English says about us / Erin Moore. Moore writes quite like Lynn Truss and that is a compliment. It's a funny book about the different meanings and social customs of our shared language. There were a few areas that might have been more developed but the book kept to a short, breezy, and funny group of interesting words and surprising attitudes.

[Susan]

Teresa wrote: "Just finished That's not English : Britishisms, Americanisms, and what our English says about us / Erin Moore...."

Thanks for mentioning that book! I am not on the wait list for it. I love word play!

[Chip]

Speaking of English...

I finished Vurt (liked it very much, despite being pretty confused most of the time) and have just started on Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland by Oxford geneticist Bryan Sykes. Being about 1/4 Cornish (and wondering about all the legends about the Cornish being Celts blended with ancient Phoenicians), I am very interested in the subject, and I am delighted to find that Sykes is a very engaging writer. I just hope I can get it finished before it's due back!

[Angie]

I'm reading stuff I should have read when it came out. I finished In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and now I'm working on Snow.

[Teresa]

Just finished At the water's edge: a novel / Sara Gruen. An interesting read about a wife that had no idea she was mistreated or in a relationship (spoiler alert) with a homosexual. Actually it wasn't much of a spoiler as it was clear from the start. A good summer read.

[Susan]

@Teresa: I read that a couple weeks ago. I thought it was really interesting how Gruen introduced so many different issues into the same story! The sense of entitlement and class structure on the part of the men made me grind my teeth!!

[Teresa]

You're right, I didn't even mention entitlement. I found myself cheering everyone who ignored those two men who expected it. And I was interested in the way the main character was able to throw off her background and be of assistance to everyone.

[Susan]

@Teresa: I think that is because she wasn't as entrenched in her "station." With her mother's death and her father's indifference, she wasn't coddled and spoiled the way the men were. In addition, boredom and betrayal can be pretty motivating!

[John]

Brendle wrote: "Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "@John...I also recently saw the audio for Werewolf Cop and thought about grabbing it but it didn't s..."

@Tabitha I also read Werewolf Cop recently (who wouldn't with th..."

I concur with both you and Brendle--"Werewolf Cop" doesn't fit the Urban Fantasy genre. I'd call it paranormal suspense, along the lines of Benjamin Percy's "Red Moon." "Werewolf Cop" has a heavy dose of the supernatural, aside from the werewolf--the main bad guy's power seems to stem from an enchanted dagger that was the legacy of a real 16th century murderer, Peter Stumpf. Nevertheless, the book definitely can't be placed in the same genre as, say, Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series.

[John]

I've finished up "Old Man's War," by John Scalzi. Highly recommended! Not only a great science fiction and adventure tale, it's also a meditation on aging and the sunset of life. Next up is the alternative history, "Hitler's War," by Harry Turtledove.

In audio, I've begun "The Babes in the Wood," and Inspector Wexford novel by Ruth Rendell. This isn't my first time listening to it, so I already know the plot and who did the crime. I've checked out a few other Rendell titles, and this is my favorite--an excellent narrator, fascinating and damaged characters, and an intriguing psychological investigation all make this compulsively listenable.

[Julie]

I finished up the scared lies of minnow bly and right now I am reading Uprooted -- which is living up to the hype.

[Susan]

@Julie: Only 3 stars for Minnow Bly??? That doesn't bode well for me enjoying it!

[David]

Tabitha (Pabkins) wrote: "I just finished reading The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott. I didn't realize it was going to be a romance when I was expecting fantasy. Don't get me wrong there is a fantasy element ..."

Oh how I want to read this, right now the library doesn't have it in our system but I very well may add this one to my personal collection. Anything that throws Kevin Hearne's name into the mix grabs my attention! Thanks for pointing this one out.

[Brendle]

I had the pleasure of reading The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey this past week. It's inspired by Jane Eyre, set in 1960's Scotland. It's the kind of book that I wish there were more of, but I'm hard pressed to explain why. It's not perfect (Mr Sinclair is no Mr Rochester), but it is a lovely read with a memorable heroine, gothic undertones, lots of Scottish toughness and Scottish kindness, and much more.

Next up is the latest Guido Brunetti mystery from Donna Leon, Falling in Love.

[Teresa]

John wrote: "I've finished up "Old Man's War," by John Scalzi. Highly recommended! Not only a great science fiction and adventure tale, it's also a meditation on aging and the sunset of life. Next up is the alt..."

I've been wanting to read Hitler's War but it's about 20 in my books list. Let me know how it is.

[Christina]

I have The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane