“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what you’ve read the past week and planning to read next.
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I read 5 books in the last week (and one other I didn’t finish)
As I’m doing a reading competition on Shelfari, where we read random books from our shelves and wishlists, I have been reading more than normal. I pretend I’m not taking extra time reading, but I’m competitive, so I do! Oh well, as soon as someone wins, the game is over… so I better read some more and make sure it’s me. 
11/22/64 by Stephen King. A man goes back in time to try and prevent the Kennedy assassination. I’m reading this as a judge for the Indie Lit Awards
Life’s a Beach by Claire Cook. A fun, easy read about a woman who is at a cross-roads in her life. 3.5 stars
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen. This turned out to be historical fiction combined with some modern fiction. Enjoyable. 4 stars.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. A janitor with a good taste in books and music pretends to be a working class woman with no such interests. But two of the people in her apartment building befriend her, and discover the real her. 3.5 stars
Away By Amy Bloom. 1924, a Russian Jewish woman loses all her family in a terrible killing. She moves to America where she hopes to have a better future. Then she hears her daughter is still alive in Russia and wants to go back to find her. An adventurous book. 4.5 stars
Vals licht by Joost Zwagerman (DNF). A Dutch book that I just didn’t enjoy enough to finish. In fact, I read it for this competition that I told you about (above), so it actually set me back, as I had read 130 pages of this book, then decided I’d take a different book altogether. I could not face reading any more.
Currently Reading
Other news
Click on the orange links to go to the blog post.
Have you been waiting for it? It’s time for another Literary Giveaway Blog Hop! It will run from February 18-22. Do you want to give away a book to your readers? Join up so you are linked to all the other blogs that are participating.
New Arrivals! Check out what books entered my house.
Reviews:
First You Try Everything by Jane McCafferty. The account of a divorce. The woman can’t accept it and takes dramatic measures. 4 stars
The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark. A fun mystery about a luxury spa where a murder takes place. 4 stars
The Trout Opera by Matthew Condon. A 100-year old man is asked to open the Olympic games in Australia. He’s kidnapped by the Olympic committee to make sure he’ll attend. 4 stars
Room by Emma Donoghue. A boy and his Mum have been held captive in a room for more than 5 years. The boy tells about his daily life. 5 stars
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That’s it! What are YOU reading this week?
londonchoirgirl
January 23, 2012 at 11:36
Great going – I thought I was being ambitious trying to read 196 books in a year, but you’re on track to cover far more than that! Keep up the good work.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:02
Londonchoirgirl, I read 175 books last year. Normally, I read about 3-4 books a week. Lately, it’s been more. Hope you’ll manage your goal!
parrish
January 23, 2012 at 11:55
As usual a great collection, at the mo I’m reading The last will & testament of Lemuel Higgins.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:03
Gary, hope you’re enjoying the book – I checked up on it, sounds heavy but also interesting.
Marleen Kennedy
January 23, 2012 at 11:59
Right now I’m reading Vanish by Liza Marklund for a review. And after that I’ll probably pick up The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. My daughter received and read the book last week and is completely in love with it. It has also been getting great reviews and went straight to #1 in the New York Times YA listings!
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:03
Marleen, I keep hearing about this John Green book! It must be very great.
Marleen Kennedy
January 23, 2012 at 17:31
According to my daughter (any any review I’ve read so far) it’s John Green’s best book so far. I should have a review up for it in the not too distant future, although I’m working a lot of extra hours in the library this week so I’m not sure how much reading time I will have.
Did you read any of John Green’s books?
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 21:04
Marleen, no, I haven’t read anything by John Green. I start to think I should!
Marleen Kennedy
January 23, 2012 at 22:19
Okay, I asked my daughter (18) and according to her you should start with either The Fault In Our Stars or Looking for Alaska. But she adds, any book by John Green would a good place to start provided you don’t start with Will Grayson Will Grayson which he co-wrote with someone who’s name I can’t remember right now.
I read Looking for Alaska and my thoughts can be found here: http://meen-readingjournal.blogspot.com/2010/09/looking-for-alaska.html
I hope to start The Fault… Wednesday and my review of that book should be up shortly afterwards.
Leeswammes
January 24, 2012 at 12:04
Thanks, Marleen. I’ll put The Fault in Our Stars on my wishlist. Thanks for the link. I thought that book would be about the place Alaska, but no, it seems to be a more standard a boy meet girl story – I’m not so sure I’d like that quite so much.
Marleen Kennedy
January 24, 2012 at 12:58
It is a “boy meets girl” story, but I’m not sure I would call it standard. John Green has a rather unique way of giving voice to his characters.
Kristi
January 23, 2012 at 12:04
I’m still plugging away at 11/22/63. It looks as if you are too. I’m now 300 pages in and it’s picking up so I’m more into it. I’m surprised though at how gruesome it is at parts, but I guess that’s to be expected being a book by Stephen King.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:04
Kristi, I’ve finished the King book. It certainly has its gruesome moments. Hope you don’t find it hard going. It’s a long book.
readerbuzz
January 23, 2012 at 13:00
I’m happy you are continuing the Literary Blog Hop Giveaway. Sometimes I think the vampires and werewolves are taking over my Book World.
Here is my It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? I hope you will stop by!
Suzanne
January 23, 2012 at 14:45
Wow, what a productive week!
I’m looking forward to your review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I really enjoyed it, but I know a lot of people strongly disliked it.
Have a great week.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:10
Suzanne, I thought *Hedgehog* was in the middle, didn’t love it, didn’t (quite) hate it. But if it wasn’t for the competition I’m doing, I’d never read the second half. Which turned out to be the more interesting part.
Cindy
January 23, 2012 at 15:09
I’m reading ‘Digital Photography for Dummies’
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 15:12
That’s great, Cindy! I’m expecting even more great pictures on your blog.
laurelrainsnow
January 23, 2012 at 15:43
I’ve been meaning to read ROOM…and I have 11/22/63 just waiting for me on my table….
I want to start reading Tess Gerritsen, as I love the Rizzoli & Isles TV show. I also enjoy Claire Cook’s books, including Life’s a Beach.
Have a great week! Here’s MY MONDAY MEMES POST – and here’s
MY WEBSITE
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 16:15
Sounds like we got a lot of books in common at the moment, Laurel-Rain.
The Book Whisperer
January 23, 2012 at 17:01
You’re reading Fowles??? Yay!!! The Collector was my first and I loved it.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 21:03
Boof, yes! I’m enjoying The Collector a lot. This guy is so friendly, it can’t go on like that. I bet he’s going to do something *awful*….
mari (Bookworm with a View)
January 23, 2012 at 18:59
Did I miss your review for Away? What an odd book, well written but a little strange. Can’t wait to read your thoughts.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 21:05
Mari, no, I haven’t done my review for *Away* yet. It was a little strange indeed. I’m not actually sure what I’m going to write about it..
Andi (Estella's Revenge)
January 23, 2012 at 19:30
Ok, pardon the impending outburst but HOLY CRAP! That’s a lot of reading in a week and I am uber-jealous. In the sweetest, most supportive way!
I’m moving through Madame Bovary at a pretty good clip and should finish it up this week along with La Perdida by Jessica Abel.
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 21:06
Andi, most of the books I’ve been reading recently are quite easy reads, and/or not very big books. I’m sure Madame Bovary isn’t the sort of book you finish in a few days so you can’t compare, really. Enjoy your books this week.
Dollycas
January 23, 2012 at 19:44
WOW!! Great week!! i have a lot of Claire Cook on my wish list!
Hope you have an awesome week!!
Leeswammes
January 23, 2012 at 21:07
This was my first Claire Cook, Dollycas. I liked it but I wasn’t taken away by it.
Lenasledgeblog.com
January 24, 2012 at 00:18
I really enjoyed Away by Amy Bloom. You got a lot of reading accomplished in one week. My goodness, I wish I had the time like I use to.
But I enjoy reading your reviews about them. 
Leeswammes
January 24, 2012 at 12:04
Thanks, Lena. Away was a very good story. I need to write the review still. I’m a bit lucky with time for reading at the moment. It won’t last!
shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
January 24, 2012 at 05:27
All are great titles, though I haven’t read any of them a few are on my tbr pie. Have a great reading week!
Shelleyrae
Leeswammes
January 24, 2012 at 12:05
Thanks, Shelleyrae.
Aths
January 24, 2012 at 17:28
Nothing better than a competition to read more! I hope you get to read loads of books that way. The ones you read look good too! I want to read the Stephen King one especially.