January! What are you reading?

[Rowan]

I started Jennifer Weiner's latest. I forget the name. I finished City of Bones by Michael Connelly last night and liked it! I will definitely look into more from him. Not sure if I'll be able to read them in the order as my library doesn't have everything.

[Sílvia]

I'm reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. I'm 70% done and so far it's 3 stars. Trying too hard to be cutesy.

[mellenhead]

Every book counts!

I finish Bird Box. Different but good.

I'm a few chapters into The Paying Guests. Not sure how much I like it yet.

[Rowan]

I finished the Jennifer Weiner which I didn't hate. I was happy she didn't focus on a poor unhappy overweight woman again as she always does.

I'm reading The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty which I'm really liking. Hope I have some time at hockey to read some!

[Sílvia]

Glad to know about Jennifer Weiner, Ro. I think I stopped reading her books because I was tired of her ever-present overweight female character. I wish she'd write about a thin male, for a change. Also, The Hypnotist's... wasn't my favorite of Liane's books, but the stalker in it was definitely one of my favorite characters.

I finished A.J. Fikry. Didn't love it. It was entertaining enough, but she was trying way too hard to be cute and funny and to please bookish people. I'm too old and cynical for that. Plus there was a precocious (sp?) 6-year-old kid who was kind of annoying. I happen to have a very smart 6-year-old at home. He wouldn't turn to a writer and say "your books seem good, but I suppose I'm not your target audience." Haha.

Now I'm reading Little Face by Sophie Hannah. The premise is interesting: a new mom says her 2-week-old baby has been swapped for another baby. The dad says the woman's crazy and the baby's their daughter. I wonder how the author will get herself out of that mess. I hope the resolution won't make me throw the kindle at a wall.

[Rowan]

Syl, several people here didn't like the new Jennifer Weiner so proceed with caution.

Didn't get to read much at hockey. Why am I so popular?

[Bugsy]

I'm about 1/3 through "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay. So far it's pretty fantastic, and I'm also learning of other books that sound interesting. Win-win!

[mellenhead]

Finished The Paying Guest by Sarah Waters. Loved it. Definitely a slow burn but it's worth it.

[mellenhead]

Read a Map of Betrayal - it's about a man who almost accidentally becomes a Chinese spy and ends up living in America and starting another family. Story was good but the writing was so clunky at times.

Just started Golden Son by Pierce Brown today. It's the 2nd book in the Red Rising Trilogy.

[Bugsy]

Mellenhead, Jason read the first of that trilogy and just started the second. He's telling me that I'd enjoy the series; what do you think of it?

[mellenhead]

It's good! I think Red Rising (the first one) was definitely one if those good fly under radar books when it came out. Didn't get the attention it deserved.

You liked Wool, right? I think you would like it!

[Rowan]

I'm reading Station Eleven right now. It took a bit to get into but I'm liking it. Almost done.

[Bugsy]

Thanks, Mellenhead. I did like Wool quite a lot, but in general I'm growing weary of futuristic/dystopian themes too. Maybe I'll give it a try sometime this year.

[mellenhead]

Thanks, Mellenhead. I did like Wool quite a lot, but in general I'm growing weary of futuristic/dystopian themes too. Maybe I'll give it a try sometime this year.

I agree. I am as well - and there have been soooo many bad ones. You've got to be in the mood to read those types of books anymore, I think.

[Rowan]

in general I'm growing weary of futuristic/dystopian themes too

Me three! This used to be my favorite and they are just overdone and too much crap. I hesitated with Station Eleven but all the reviews said "it was worth it" and "it was different than the others". I also think mellen liked it so really that's enough for me.

[Sílvia]

Finished Little Face. I was right, the ending sucked. Too bad, I couldn't put it down for a while there.

Then I started All The Light We Cannot See. I'm sorry to say it's not working for me. Weird structure, time changes from 1944 to 1934, then 1940, then 1944 again... it's annoying. Super short chapters. Verrrry slow pace. But I've already read 180 pages, and someone on goodreads said it picks up after page 300, so I'll persevere.

[Spudd]

OMG, when a book "picks up after page 300" that's pretty depressing. I usually like my books to end after page 300.

[Sílvia]

Me too, Spudd, me too. But I'd *just* read the sample of The Goldfinch and didn't like it (didn't even finish the sample) and I hate the idea that I'd dislike not one, but TWO recent huge hits. I just refuse to give up on a book that has 4.23 stars on goodreads.

[Rowan]

Long weekend = lots of reading

I read The Art of Forgetting and Tempting Fate. Both were fine. Not sure what's next on the pile.

[Spudd]

Last night I finished "The Confession" by John Grisham. At the beginning, when I told Kenneth what it was about, he said "oh, and this plot twist will happen, right?". I was sure he was right, but nope. No twists. I wouldn't really recommend it. It was entertaining enough, and slightly unpredictable, but it came across as more of a moralizing piece in the end.

Then I started "The Hundred-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared". So far it's pretty good, although the translation leaves something to be desired. I find whenever I read Swedish books that have been translated I notice the Swedish quirks in the English, and it distracts me from the story.