July!

[Rowan]

I read the new Riley Sager - The Middle of the Night in one sitting last weekend. 5 stars - wow it was really good.

I'm reading Peter Swanson's latest, A Talent for Murder right now and I'm really enjoying it.

I'm doing Stephen King Summer book club which is virtual. It is my second year. We did Salem's Lot in June which I hadn't read since I was a teenager. Next week we discuss 2 of his short stories from You Like It Darker (so I have to read those) and then we do 2 meetings for 11.22.63 since it's giant. I've also read 11.22.63 but I'd been meaning to reread so this is a great reason why. It's fun! The leader (who was a blogger and now podcaster) is a huge SK evangelist so has been doing this for 5 or so years.

[Sílvia]

That sounds like fun, Rowan!

I might give that Riley Sager a try. I read one by him and didn't like it (Home Before Dark, maybe?), but I always give an author at least 2 tries unless it's REALLY not my thing, which was not the case.

I read Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner. Loved it. It's historical fiction about the eugenics program in the US and under Hitler during the war. Horrifying subject, but the book wasn't terribly graphic (not to me, anyway.) Although of course devastating things happen. The ending is very neat and convenient, though.

Then I started The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore. I'm on page 84 and finding it a bit of a slow starter, but am enjoying the writing. We'll see.

[Spudd]

I finished "Who is Maud Dixon" and loved it. Very entertaining.

Now I have started "The Dark Forest" which is the sequel to the Three-Body Problem. So far I'm really into it, and I'm only like one chapter in. Hopefully it can keep the momentum going.

[Rowan]

Wow - I loved You Like it Darker. I'm really shocked because I typically don't like short stories but I felt like I was reading OLD King from when I was a teen in the 80s.

MARIE: You need to read this one!!

[Sílvia]

I finished The Admissions. I thought it dragged and was ready to give up, but then it got interesting and I finished it. Ended up giving it 3 stars. I enjoyed her Two Truths and a Lie much more.

Now I'm reading The Dutch House and so far enjoying it.

[Blush]

Red Team Blues by Cory Doctorow was ok.

Then I read Hello Stranger by Katherine Center; pretty cute.

Next was Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. Not my favourite of hers but ok.

Now I have Part of Your World by Abby Jiminez.

[Sílvia]

Sorry you didn't love the new Sally Hepworth, Blush. She hasnt disappointed me yet, and I have that one on my near future list.

Omg, The Dutch House was SO BORING!! It started out well and reached its climax on page 100. Then it went downhill, but by then I'd invested too much time to give it up. Ugh, I hate when that happens. It's so much easier when boring books are boring from the start! I totally skimmed the last 100 pages and missed NOTHING from what I read on goodreads.

Then I started The Frozen River on Rowan's recommendation. So far I'm hooked! I've only read 16 pages, but it seems right up my alley!

[Rowan]

Yay! I'm glad you're liking The Frozen River so far Silvia. I can't quite figure out your reading tastes...you're a true enigma. LOL

I haven't read anything in a few days since I've been in NJ. I'm signed up to see J Courtney Sullivan next week speak on her latest book and I have an ARC of it on my phone so that was/is next but I haven't started it. I'm too lazy to look up the title right now. I always love her books so I really would like to go see her but I won't go without reading the book or at least half of it so we will see.

Then I need to get started on my reread of 11.22.63 for SKS book club later this month.

The life of a book nerd is hard yo. Not a typo. hahahaha

[Sílvia]

I can't quite figure out your reading tastes...you're a true enigma. LOL

Neither can I, I've been so bored with most choices lately Seriously though, I feel like everything's been done and anything I pick up at this point will be more of the same...as I'm sure I've mentioned 57 times lately. But historical fiction is the one genre that I enjoy more consistently. I think 80% of my favorite books in life were historical fiction. I loved 11.22.63 (read it twice even!) Happy rereading!

[Rowan]

Neither can I, I've been so bored with most choices lately

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't figure out your reading tastes.

I am LOVING The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan - hope I have to time to finish it today!

I'm going to confess something here....I want to do something on the side having to do with reading/books/etc. I don't know what it could be. I love helping people find books. My favorite things are buying used books for friends that I think they would like. I want to talk about books all the time and I don't have any real life friends to do that with. I looked into independent bookstores near me to see if I could work or volunteer at one and there really aren't any that are my vibe. Sigh. It doesn't even have to be money making...but on the other hand, I have barely enough time for me with this job.

[Spudd]

You must be getting close to being able to retire, what if you semi retired and did something book related part time? If not now, at least something to look forward to in a few years?

[Sílvia]

Rowan, how about hosting a book club at your local library or something like that? I also miss talking about books in my 3D life, as broken as I seem to be as a reader lately. Speaking of which, I gave up on Frozen River Sorry!

Then I read Ten Arguments to Delete your Social Media Accounts Right Now (or something like that), which was released in 2018 and everyone knows what those arguments are by now, but it was still interesting.

I also read Aurora by David Koepp, which is sci-fi/apocalyptic about a sun storm that knocks out the world's electricity. Cool premise, execution entertaining enough, but not great.

I'm also reading Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind, at least ten years after the rest of humankind read it (no pun intended) and I'm loving it. It's absolutely fascinating. I don't know why it took me so long to pick it up. Maybe I am really broken for fiction and need to branch out into more nonfiction (not my usual diet.) Huh.

[Blush]

Part of Your World was cute.

Then I read An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E Olsen, pretty good, not outstanding.

Then I had a YA by Becky Albertalli called Kate in Waiting. Also cute.

Now I have the new rom com by the writing duo Christina Lauren: The Paradise Problem. I usually like their stuff.

[Rowan]

Thank you Spudd and Silvia for the thoughts. I'm about 10 years from retirement - that is definitely something I want to do when I retire to surround myself by books. I kinda forgot I put this out here...but appreciate the input.

I read 11/22/63 by Stephen King and Rom-Commers by Katherine Center while away. This was a reread of 11/22/63 and boy was it good. It is so long that it's daunting for a reread but I'm so glad I did it. Anyone that is interested in King but worried about the horror aspect should really pick this up. It's amazing. I liked the Katherine Center book even tho I HATE the title. I started/finished it on the plane ride home and kept me entertained.

[Blush]

The Paradise Problem was pretty good, then I read Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood. 4.5 *

Now I have The Rom-commers by Katherine Center.

I guess I am on a romance streak.