 I, somehow, got out of the habit of sharing what I am reading. So, here's my current read and a list of what I missed posting.
Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone Diana Gabaldon This is the ninth book in the Outlander series and it's a doorstopper. At 928 pages, I am sure that it could keep an airplane hanger door open. The size is intimidating, but I know from past reading experience that it never feels long. Gabaldon does do extensive backstory, character development, and scene setting but none of it feels like fluff to me. I'm already 100 pages in and, just like her other novels, it feels like being welcomed by family I have not seen in a very long time. It's been seven years since the last novel in this series came out, so my memory of plot points is a bit fuzzy. I'm fairly able to keep up, but I do think I should have reread book eight. Since I last posted, I also read:
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 Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam
Mark Bowden My reading pace with non-fiction is a glacial crawl. I try so hard to read every detail and remember every fact that my pace is about 15 pages an hour. Luckily, Mark Bowden has a way with writing non-fiction like it's cinematic fiction so my page per hour count jumps up a little bit. Bowden is my favorite non-fiction writer and I’m (slowly) working on his entire bibliography. A book about the Vietnam War is not exactly light reading, but fall feels like a good time to finally start this 600 plus page doorstopper which has been sitting on my bookcase for several years. Also, complete forgot to post that I started (and finished reading) Well Played by Jen DeLuca last week. It was a delightful rompy romance.  I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year
Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker I started reading this book last week. WaPo excerpted several chunks of the text and I devoured them all. Figured it was worth reading the rest. For non-fiction, it’s a quick and easy read. That could be partly because I am hate reading this. It’s reminding me of just how angry I was for the four years of his presidency. The first chapters almost read like a thriller. The virus is emerging and you know what's coming, but watching the train wreck of government in-action ratchets up the tension.  Well Met
Jean DeLuca I enjoy renaissance festivals. I enjoy romance novels. This is a romance set around a renn faire. I'm in! I'm so in that I actually binge read most of the book last night. I finally had to tell myself to go to bed at 2am. This is a steamy one!   The Sunfire King
Sylvia Mercedes This is the sequel to The Moonfire Bride. I am pleased that I decided to purchase both titles at once because the first book ended on a cliffhanger and I didn’t have to wait. These are delightful, high fantasy YA novels. Perfect for summer reading. A Thief Among the Trees Sabaa Tahir This title is a standalone graphic novel based in the world of Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series. The art is beautiful - rich in color and dynamic action. The story only makes sense if you’ve read at least the first book in the series. Definitely recommend the series if you like YA and fantasy.  The Moonfire Bride Syliva Mercedes I put this book on my TBR board only a few weeks ago. It was not available through an of my local libraries so I went ahead and bought it... and the sequel. I was in such a mood to read this story that I started it the day I arrived. So far, it has lived up to my reading mood. I find myself excited to sneak in a few pages throughout the day and dive in deeply each night. Oh Crap! Potty Training Jamie Glowacki My side read is in preparation for this upcoming parenting milestone. I am terrified. I am reading this book to help me be less terrified. I'm not sure if it's helping. Also, reading about potty training causes me to have to go to the bathroom all the time. Glowacki is sassy which helps but her tips are straightforward. It's a good combination and makes for a surprisingly enjoyable read.   I Came as a Shadow
John Thompson I started reading this for work about a week ago. It’s the common read title for the upcoming academic year. The library provides a support guide to help faculty with assignments and to direct students to research. So, I read the books to enable me to put that together. I’m learning a lot about basketball - but that’s actually the least interesting stuff in the book. The writing style is more interview transcript than narrative which is not to my taste, but the substance makes up for that. Would recommend.  Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Anthony Bourdain Bourdain was a divisive personality in the culinary world. Many found him brash, pompous, arrogant, and entitled. I don't think they're wrong. He was also, however, a gifted chef and writer. I am not going to forgive his shortcomings but I am still intrigued by his life and work. Many of his books have been on my TBR list for years. I was able to grab this book off our building's community bookcase. I came to know Bourdain's work through his television show, No Reservations. I was always impressed by his narration and lyrical writing. So far, his seminal work shows that he had those skills from the start. I'm several chapters in and, while I can't say that I like Bourdain as a person, his writing still impresses and his stories are enthralling.  Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life
Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein This title is my current side read. I was a fan of Kondo's first books so I picked this one up at the start of the pandemic thinking, "Sure, why not?" I expect it to be pretty much a copy of her other titles but focused on work. So far, it's exactly that. I love all things organizing and minimizing which makes this is a straight up comfort read for me.  The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being
Simone Davies Our kiddo is in full toddlerhood now. That means I need more patience and to understand how her brain works. This book, so far, has done a great job of sharing why toddlers act the way they do and how to capture their innate curiosity and desire to help. It's also just a really pretty book. Lots of white space, beautiful illustrations, and lovely layout. It's designed more like a handbook that you can pick and choose to read as you wish. |
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