Talk Healthy

Last night I finished a memoir by a Brazilian that hasn't been translated into English (yet?). It was released 2-3 weeks ago. He's the son of a former congressman who had his mandate revoked by the military dictatorship in 1964 and was later (1971) tortured and killed by the same dictatorship. I already knew his story because it's pretty famous (and he was not the only victim of the dictatorship, unfortunately), but it was interesting to read all the details. The book talks about their family life in general, before and after that tragedy. This guy wrote another sort of memoir in the 80s that talked a little about this, but mostly about the accident that left him quadriplegic in 1979 (I think he can move his upper body now.) I read that book when I was 16 and loved it. It's not as melodramatic as you might imagine. On the contrary. It was a huge success back then. It's called Happy Old Year and the author's name's Marcelo Rubens Paiva.

Not sure what's next.

Started reading Day Four by Sarah Lotz. It's a horror book about a cruise ship that suddenly loses power in the middle of the ocean. So far it's really good.

Finally finished my sci fi "The Mandel Files" today. It was 2 novels in one, so it was super long. It was pretty good but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the 2 novels back to back.

I'm debating what to read next; torn between the next Wool book (which I think is Shift?) or something mindless like teen apocalypse fiction.

I read The Bones of You by Debbie Howells (is that it?). Supposedly a psychological thriller. I missed the thrilling part and was unimpressed.

I'm reading the sample for A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. You know, about the little girl in Chechnya. For a while last year it seemed like everyone was reading that book here.

Finished Day Four by Sarah Lotz - it was quite good! The ending pulled everything together quite nicely and left room open for the next book without being annoying.

I'm about halfway through Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford. I read a review that described it as "Prep meets Devil Wears Prada". It's decent so far.

I have the new Jonathan Franzen waiting on the hold shelf at the library so that will be next.

I loved The Mountain Story. Have you read The Girls by the same author. One of my favorite books, ever.

I waited FOREVER for Down the Rabbit Hole the Holly Madison Story and it was Awful. Awful. Ugh. It's the second time that has happened to me where I wait and wait and wait and then....suckage.

I'm reading The House We Grew Up In which is a bit hoardery. It's slow so we'll see.

That Mountain Story book is SO on my list.

Ro, what do you mean "hoardery"? I can't figure out if that's a typo or a made up word or what.

Could NOT get into A Constellation blah-blah-blah. Thank God for long kindle samples.

Started Secrets of a Charmed Life. Hope it's at least entertaining enough.

Sorry, Sil, it's about a hoarder. I made up a word but then used it wrong.

Well, duh, I do know the word "hoarder". ("duh" directed at myself, not at you ). I just didn't see how a book could be "hoardery". OK, *about* a hoarder. Please excuse stupidity.

No, it's totally on me. I made up a word but then didn't even use it properly.

No updates on me (still reading stuff to prep for my exam), but I thought Silvia would be pleased to hear that I convinced Jason to read "Pillars of the Earth." He started it yesterday, and it sucked him right in.

Great! I hope he enjoys it

I'm loving Secrets of a Charmed Life. I also started Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella. From the public library! In English!

Our next book club book came in off my holds list, so I'm about 1/3 into "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins. So far it's pretty gripping.

And Jason is loving "Pillars of the Earth" so far. I knew he'd like it!

Finished Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford. Meh. Not sure why it was on all the "summer must read lists".

I'm about halfway through The Prize - Who's in Charge of America's Schools. It's about when Mark Zuckerberg pledged $100 million to Newark schools and no one could really figure out what to do with it. It's really good, but also sad.

I have the new Franzen at home too and I don't know if I'm going to read it. It's sounds incredibly bizarre.

I forgot to mention, I read the Hyperbole and a Half book in like 2 hours one day. I quite enjoyed it. I have read a couple of her blog posts but I wasn't a regular reader - so I have no idea how much of it was original content and how much was reposts from the blog.

My current read is Shift (the sequel to Wool) by Hugh Howey. I'm absolutely loving it.

So...about Wool. It is something like 5 stories combined into one continuous story? Because I read the complete set (I think) in one sitting; it was packaged as "Wool Omnibus" or something like that. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything of the story!

Finished the Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?) Loved it! Chick lit at its funniest. The only other book by her I'd read was the first Shopaholic and I hated it. That was 10 years ago, maybe? This book made me question my judgement back then Totally made me want to read her other books.

Still reading Secrets of a Charmed Life. I like it, but I got derailed by the other book. And this is why I don't usually read 2 novels at the same time.

Bugsy, yeah. The Wool Omnibus was the "full" Wool book - the author originally released it as 5 individual e-books. Then there is Shift and Dust, books #2 and #3 in the "Silo Series". They are both really good. If you liked Wool, read those! I think Spudd is reading Shift now.

Ahh, so there are different books as well. I thought Shift and Dust were part of Wool, so yep those need to be added to my to-be-read list. Thanks for clarifying!

Silvia, I hated that Shopaholic book too. I also read "Shopaholic and Sister" and it was equally awful.