Talk Healthy

Yay, it's March...hopefully will mean Spring for those in NA.

I switched from Burn Palace to Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner. I haven't abandoned Burn Palace....I just needed something simple for my trip this weekend. I'm liking it a lot. I've read a few from the author but very sporadic. She has 2 different series and a series of stand alones; this is a stand alone. I need to search her out a bit more actively.

I'm still in the middle of "19 Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. It's okay, but nothing's really happening.

I just saw on the library website that "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" is on its way to me. Looking forward to getting it!

Yay...you'll like Bernadette!

I didn't mind 19 minutes but I've since stopped reading Picoult. I went through many years of loving her stuff but then the last book (something about wolves) just really annoyed me. I keep seeing that her new one is out, but I'm determined not to read it. And don't even get Syl started....

I can't read Jodi Piccoult anymore either. My Sisters Keeper was the one that did her in for me.

I gave up on Truth in Advertising. His writing and constant celebrity and product name drops annoyed me.

Up next is either Schroder or With or Without You.

Blush, that's too funny!

I finished Touch and Go last night. I really enjoyed it and will actively seek out more Lisa Gardner.

Next up is Shadow Creek by Joy Fielding.

at Blush!

I'm simultaneously reading: Boys Adrift (good) and Let's Not Go to the Dogs Tonight (very good, very depressing).

I read such uplifting stuff!!

I'm still in the midst of "19 Minutes", but Bernadette came in for me at the library! I'm torn about whether I should try to slam through the rest of 19 Minutes or put it aside. And then another book came in too (but non-fiction, so if I don't get to read it in time, no big deal - hopefully it will be renewable).

Finished up two books:

Schroder (can't remember the author's name) - About a guy that comes to the US from Germany as a young boy but never becomes a citizen, and how he takes on a new persona, gets married, has kids etc and never tells anyone. Of course it all comes crashing down. The book was ok, nothing I'd really recommend but it had it moments.

Pigeon in a Crosswalk - Tales of Anxiety and Accidental Glamour by Jack Gray - This is a memior by the guy the produces Anderson Cooper 360. It has it's very funny and relatable moments but just tries too hard to be funny in others. It's a good quick read.

Next up is With or Without You (again). I keep putting it off because I just haven't been in the mood for something depressing.

I finished "Let's Not Go to the Dogs Tonight" (thank God, I'm tired of typing that out). Next up is Dear Sugar. Also, still finishing up Boys Adrift.

edit: it's "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight".

edit II: The new book is called "Tiny Beautiful Things" by Cheryl Strayed.

Stupid pregnancy hormones.

I ditched Shadow Creek pretty quickly. I'm solidly into Objects of my Affection. I was wary as the main character annoyed Blush but I'm ok with her. It may be that I have this fascination with hoarding. Dunno.

I think I need to get to the library tomorrow....

I finished With or Without you by Domenica Rutta. Meh. It's a memior about her growing up with a crazy mother and was somewhat interesting but it jumped around WAAAY to much.

Next up is The Dinner by Herman Koch.

Finished Objects of My Affection. It was fine.

Not sure what's next on my list. The automated library system is down so I can't check when my books are due, place holds, etc. Since I use that system to track when things go back (they no longer stamp books), I don't know when anything is due. I decided to bring back everything I have that I got before this past Saturday's trip. It's been down for a week and certainly a bummer.

Started The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner last night. It's good. Dr appt this afternoon and hockey tonight so I'm sure I'll get some good reading in.

Yesterday I came down with a wicked bad cold, which sucked. But on the bright side, I got a lot of reading done. I finished "19 Minutes" and was left kinda meh by the ending. The whole book was kinda meh, really.

Started "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" and loving it. I'm about half-way through.

Glad you're liking Bernadette!

Bernadette seems to be an all-around hit! Yay!

I'm just about finished with "Tiny Beautiful Things". Oh my goodness you guys. I HIGHLY recommend it. My capacity for empathy is already pretty high but I've found that it's caused me to be more empathetic to *myself*, something I didn't realize I was lacking in.

Rowan, you should put this book HIGH on your list for reading ASAP. You need it. You too, Mellen.

Annie, I'll check it out some reviews. I have to admit those types of books aren't really my thing. I think I'm too cynical.

I'm loving The Dinner. It's a bit of Gone Girl with a dash of Stewart O'Nan type writing. Hopefully the ending isn't a let down. I'm saving it for tonight!

Just finished "Bernadette" but two things.

1. The library book was missing the 2 pages right before the last page! It had everything up to there, and then instead of 324 and 325, it had 224 and 225! What a nightmare. Luckily Kenneth has ways of getting things online so he grabbed the digital version for me so I could read it. I will have to tell them when I return it. Imagine if you couldn't get the digital version!
2. I felt like the ending didn't make very much sense. Will start another thread maybe to discuss.

I finished The Dinner and totally enjoyed it. Would recommend it if you liked Gone Girl. I might have to seek out some of the author's other books.

Now onto the The Painted Girls - historial fiction set in Paris, 1878.

Edited to Add:

Finished The Painted Girls. So so good. It's based on the true story of the van Goethem sisters, the artist Degas and the supposed glamour of the Parisian Ballet.

Next up: The Autobiography of Us

After a series of bad books, I think I'm finally on to something now: Wild Swans - Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. It was released about 20 years ago and apparently there was a lot of hype about it at the time. It's the story of the author's grandmother, her mother and herself with a historical/political background. It moves fast and is very interesting, if you're into that kind of reading. I've had to google stuff a couple of times already because I know nothing about their history, but if you like family sagas, don't be lazy. It's worth it.