Juin! What are you reading?

[Rowan]

I'm reading Redemption Road by John Hart. I usually love his stuff but this one is taking me a bit to get through.

I also have The Fireman by Joe Hill that I'll be bringing to Montreal. I think I need to hit the library for a few more.

[mellenhead]

I think I am finally getting out of my months long reading slump.

I'm just about done with All The Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. It's really good.

[Sílvia]

Just finished The Book of Unknown Americans. LOVED it. Reminded me of why I read. More like this, please!

[Spudd]

Sil, thanks for the recommendation! I was able to borrow it from the library with no hold wait.

[Sílvia]

I hope you like it, Spudd! I did, but opinions are like asses and all that...

Speaking of which, I read the sample of All My Puny Sorrows and was unimpressed. In my experience, the kindle sample is more than enough to know if I'll like a book or not. Then I saw Mellen gave it 5 stars and was even more convinced

Then I started Cutting for Stone. I like the sample so far, but I don't know. It's so long. Long books these days tend to bore me. I can't believe I'm saying this. I loved long books when I was younger. Old age, I guess.

[Rowan]

I finished Redemption Road. What a slog but I had made it through that point of no return so I couldn't stop it.

I read the Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore which was good not great but a fast read.

I started Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline last night. I like the premise, I hope I like the writing. A woman is pregnant with donor sperm and finds out her donor is a serial killer.

[mellenhead]

Then I saw Mellen gave it 5 stars and was even more convinced

Finished up All The Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders and really loved it. It was this weird mash up of sci/fi, fantasy, dystopian....but it worked.

Next up is The Romanovs 1613-1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore.

[Bugsy]

I finished the audiobook of "The Burgess Boys," by Elizabeth Strout. It was very good--sort of a family saga, intense at times, but complex and very well-written. I also liked "Olive Kitteridge" by the same author, which was amazing because I normally dislike short stories. Just added a few more of her books to my Goodreads list!

The next one will be "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr. It's the next book club books and looks like it might be a tough one. Silvia, you only gave it 2 stars? Eek.

[Sílvia]

Elizabeth Strout is the author of My Name is Lucy Barton? I need to try some of her stuff. Yes, I gave All the Light... 2 stars, but don't mind me. Everyone else and their mother seems to have loved it. I tend to dislike more high-brow, award-winning literature. I find most of it boring. I usually go for the popular stuff.

[Rowan]

NOT liking the writing in the Lisa Scottoline. The dialog is terrible which is what I felt the last one of hers I read.

I'm paraphrasing here:

Woman knocks on door.

Knocker: Hi. I'm working for a lawyer in town. Can I ask you some questions?
Knockee: Hi. My name is Carolyn Jones. I am a waitress. I can answer your questions.

I've read her female law firm series and the dialog wasn't like this.

But I will finish it because I'm interested but that is it for me with this author.

[Spudd]

Rowan, that sounds truly horrendous. I wouldn't be able to handle it.

[Sílvia]

Finished The Headmaster's Wife by Thomas Christopher Green. It was interesting enough. At first it seems to be the story of a creepy love affair between a 57-year-old man and an 18-year-old girl (Ew. And headmaster and student, no less) but then about halfway through there's a twist that I didn't see coming. Only 3 stars though because I didn't like the main character.

Not sure what's next. I sort of want to read something by Diane Chamberlain. She seems to be sort of like Jodi Picoult, in that her books can be really, really gripping, but certain things make you roll your eyes. Not that I've read many, just one. But from the blurbs that's the impression I get.

[Sílvia]

Ugh. I made the mistake of buying We Were Liars by E. Lockhart yesterday. I HATED it. I had such a strong negative reaction to it that I feel it's my duty to spread my review on goodreads: "Ugh. This was painful to read. Extremely boring and pretentious. Choppy sentences and structure. Nouns used as adjectives. The plot didn't seem to be going anywhere, but I kept reading because I paid for it, it was short, and I was promised this HUGE twist at the end. Hm. If you're older than, say, 30-35, you've seen this trick before. More than once. Be warned." What utter crap. Next!

[mellenhead]

Finished 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad. It was really good, I could relate to good chunks of the story.

Just started The Romanovs 1613-1918 last night.

[Sílvia]

I read The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. Meh. 2.5 stars. SO. MUCH. DRAMA. Very soap-opera-ish and not in a good way. But yeah, I had to find out how all that mess would end. I'll probably read more by her since I liked her other novel I read (The Silent Sister) and she's written more than 20 books.

Then I started All Stories are Love Stories on Blush's recommendation I'm only on page 30, but so far I like it!

[Rowan]

I finished Find Her by Lisa Gardner which was ok.

I finished The Poison Artist last night. It was a solid 3 until the last 30 pages and then went to a 2 star. Hate that!

I have the latest Laura Lippman stand along Wilde Lake. I usually love her stand alones.

[Bugsy]

Finished "All the Light We Cannot See" last night. Really liked the story, and since the chapters were short it didn't feel as long as it is. I found the writing to be just beautiful and also really cared about the main characters.

Not sure yet what's next. Gotta choose soon, though; I'm about 1 book behind where I should be with my challenge.

[Sílvia]

Finished "All the Light We Cannot See" last night. Really liked the story, and since the chapters were short it didn't feel as long as it is. I found the writing to be just beautiful and also really cared about the main characters.

I told you not to mind me

[Rowan]

Finished Wilde Lake last night. It was solid although I didn't find any of the characters likable. I guess that's the new thing. Not sure what's next but I did bring a stack of books home on Saturday!

[Rowan]

I read The Assistants on Monday. It was fine.

Halfway through the Jennifer Haigh - Heat and Light about fracking. So far so good.