6/13 What are you reading this week?

[Stacey]

What has your attention?

[Theresa]

I am still making my way through West of Here. It is okay, but not as riveting as I'd hoped. I am having the same reaction to A Discovery of Witches.

[Stacey]

I've just started Every Last One. It's off to a slow start, but I have high hopes for a satisfying read.

[Mary]

Slow? Really, Stacey?? I didn't feel that way at all. I was there immediately, entering the day-to-day existence of that family. It felt comfortable and reassuring. Considering that we almost always respond to books pretty much the same way, I'll be shocked if you continue to feel it's slow and are frustrated by it. I still think about that book and know it'll always be in the top 5% of my favorite books ever!

I'm nearly halfway through The First Husband by Laura Dave. Very readable, though basically light. She writes in an engaging way, and it's perfect for me right now.

[Stacey]

haha, Mary...I don't have any doubt that I'll love it. I haven't had time to sit down and read a big chunk yet(in a few minutes I will) + I just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire which was intense and fast paced. I'll get back to you on this :) Everytime I see it on my shelf I think of you!

[Melki]

A really fun mystery called "Bad Things Happen" by Harry Dolan. AND I'm still slowly chipping my way through "Someone Will Be With You Shortly" by Lisa Kogan. It's just not grabbin' me.

[Mary]

Aaaahhhh -- breathe -- whew! Now I feel much better, Stacey. DO get back to me after you're entrenched! ;-)

[Gretchen]

I'm listening to the The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. Nice easy listen.

Just started A Visit from the Goon Squad and Revenge of the Spellmans. Liking them both a lot.

[Leslie]

Gretchen-I liked the Peach Keeper. Sarah Addison Allen soothes me and makes me hungry usually too! ;)

I finished "The 13th Tale" last week (had it on my shelves for years and decided to read finally-glad I did although ending was iffy for me)

Now I'm reading another long tbr read from my stack, "The Gargoyle." so far so good...

my reading has slowed down at new job-kind of a bummer but I'm less motivated to read after staring at a screen all day. I have been listening to audio ones though a bit-still listening to Tina Fey.

Leslie

[Kate]

just finished "Unbroken" wonderful story of incredible fortitude.

[Kate]

Stacey, I also felt.as though I was part of that family.
Love Anna Quindlan.

[Mary]

Kate, Q JUST started (last night) Unbroken. He's really looking forward to it! And ... if Stacey doesn't love that family like we did, we'll ... we'll ... we'll eat our hats!! ;-)

(Missing you. We've simply gotta' get back on track!)

[Elise]

Just finished Still Missing. At first I thought it was going to be some cheesy thriller, but I really enjoyed it. Great beach read, I couldn't put it down! (Too bad I wasn't at the beach.) :)

Now I don't know what to pick up. I have a Lisa Gardner, but it's too soon to read another of that type. Guess I'll try Edgar Mint. I got that as an ARC many years ago, and on y'all's recommendation, I think I'll finally read it!

[Heather]

I am still working my way through the Little House on the Prairie series. Such a different experience as an adult!

[Caroline]

I'm reading For the Love of a Child, which is the follow-up book to Not Without My Daughter, by Betty Mahmoody. I can't put it down!

[Stacey]

I'm also reading The Time In Between. Years ago we chose to read this book on FL(Canadian award winners) and I'm now getting to it. It's good so far. Which has me thinking about picking up The Lotus Eaters.

[Mary]

I would've had an extra hard time reading anything else along with The Lotus Eaters. It took my whole attention to stay with the chain of events, especially in that particular book. But I never read two books at a time, anyway, so nothing unusual there. I know you read multiples routinely, Stacey, but that just doesn't work for me. It's too distracting and, for me, dilutes the impact of the book(s). I can't blame it on my aging brain because I felt the same way when I was young and had a billion more brain cells up there!

[Stacey]

Mary wrote: "I would've had an extra hard time reading anything else along with The Lotus Eaters. It took my whole attention to stay with the chain of events, especially in that particular book. But I never r..."

I don't know why I do that! One always outweighs the other. I will pick up The Lotus Eaters when I'm in that 'mood'. Besides soon Every Last One will be passed on so I need something on my shelf that makes me think of you :)

[Mary]

What a sweet thing to say, Stacey! Guess I'd better latch onto another A+++ that I can rave on and on about and drive everybody crazy in the process the way I probably did with Every Last One! (Maybe you ought to hang onto Every Last One and stick it in a permanent spot at the very end of one of your shelves. It could be a while before I find another one I love that much!)

[Theresa]

Mary wrote: "I would've had an extra hard time reading anything else along with The Lotus Eaters. It took my whole attention to stay with the chain of events, especially in that particular book. But I never r..."
I think I might like more books if I didn't have 2 going at a time. I get distracted easily and abandon books, maybe unfairly. Something has to really grab me from the beginning to keep me reading to the end! I can't break the multi-book habit.

[Melki]

Heather,
I read the "Little House" books for the first time in my 30s. "Long Winter" and "Farmer Boy" were my favorites. I know - everybody hates "Farmer Boy" 'cos Laura isn't in it...but I loved when they sat down to a meal - the massive quantities of food they ate to have energy to work all day in the field! It was hysterical! Felt sorry for the womenfolk who had to do all that cooking - 3 times a day!

[Liz]

I loved The Peach Keeper too. Her books are just so lovely. I'm currently reading The Library of Shadows. I'm not very far into it, so haven't quite made up my mind about it yet.

[Heather]

Melki wrote: "Heather,
I read the "Little House" books for the first time in my 30s. "Long Winter" and "Farmer Boy" were my favorites. I know - everybody hates "Farmer Boy" 'cos Laura isn't in it...but I love..."

I am on book four (On the Banks of Plum Creek). I have no recollection of reading Farmer Boy as a kid but absolutely loved it now. It was such a charming story. And, I completely agree with you about the amount of food consumed. I got a stomach ache just reading it ;)

[Melissa]

Heather wrote: "I am still working my way through the Little House on the Prairie series. Such a different experience as an adult!"

I've been meaning to do this too. I collected the whole series as a kid, bit haven't read them since.

[Melissa]

I'm reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and loving it!

[Theresa]

Melissa wrote: "I'm reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and loving it!"

I have that on hold at the library and am very much looking forward to it. It's good to hear that you like it.

[Stacey]

Melissa wrote: "I'm reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and loving it!"

I've heard a lot of great reviews so far! I'm going to read it next.

[Theresa]

Stacey wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I'm reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and loving it!"

I've heard a lot of great reviews so far! I'm going to read it next."

I was so tempted to buy this yesterday at B&N, but I reminded myself that I'd already violated my "don't buy the book unless you already know you love it so much you can't live without it" rule this year, a violation that reminded me why I made the rule in the first place.

[Melissa]

Theresa wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I'm reading State of Wonder by Ann Patchett and loving it!"

I've heard a lot of great reviews so far! I'm going to read it next."

I..."

I know what you mean. I took a chance and bought it. I'm not disappointed that I did!

[Stacey]

Mary wrote: "Aaaahhhh -- breathe -- whew! Now I feel much better, Stacey. DO get back to me after you're entrenched! ;-)"

Progress report, Mary....wow. I'm over 1/2 thru and wonder if I'll get anything done today. I only want to finish this book! I love her writing.

[Mary]

Good progress report, Stacey! Huge relief that you're now fully engulfed (and would've been shocked if you weren't). Hope you can just bag all but the necessities of the day and live in the perfection of her words 'til you're done. :)

[Beth]

I loved Bad Things Happen and Unbroken. Reading Still Missing and just finished Solomons Oak which I also enjoyed

[Laurel]

I'm reading

Garden Spells and Chinaman's Chance. I have a gift card on Amazon and plan to download State of Wonder on my Kindle and order a copy of Good to the Grain: Baking with Whole-Grain Flours. Last day of work at Augsburg is Friday, June 24. Move to Cleveland is June 27. Not posting it on Facebook due to some privacy concerns. I hope to do a lot of cooking, baking and reading in Cleveland while I look for something to do and regroup for awhile.

[Theresa]

I just gave up on A Discovery of Witches. I made a special effort with this book because I like inventive vampire stories. But I kept looking and looking for something intriguing about this story and couldn't find it.

[Theresa]

Laurel wrote: "I'm reading

Garden Spells and Chinaman's Chance. I have a gift card on Amazon and plan to download State of Wonder on my Kindle and order a copy of ..."

I hope the move goes smoothly, Laurel. My husband is on the same timetable!

[Laurel]

Wishing him well, too, Theresa. Actually, the both of you. Hopefully, we'll all be settled and able to enjoy some of the summer.

[Tina]

I just finished Every Last One, loved it. Still thinking about it.

[Stacey]

I finished last night, Tina. Loved it. My favorite character was Mary Beth's mom. If I was hormonal, I would have to carry a box of tissue with me. Fortunately, I am not!

Possible Spoiler....






I could barely keep it together when they were both in therapy and when Mary Beth's mom was holding her hand in the hospital.

[Stacey]

I clicked flag thinking it would alert of a spoiler. It's to report abuse! I hope I didn't just turn myself in, lol.