It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
July 9, 2012 30 Comments
“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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Books I finished this week: 4
Beloved by Toni Morrison. The ghost of a girl who dies as a toddler, and then haunts the house where her mother, a former slave, and younger sister live. 3.5 stars
One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf. A man with a gun occupies a school. We follow some of the people involved. 3.5 stars
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. A woman suffers from Obsessive-Compulse Disorder after her scary boyfriend attacked her a few years ago. Now he’s released from prison. 4.5 stars
Taal is zeg maar echt mijn ding [English translation: discussed HERE] by Paulien Cornelisse. A fun book with clever observations about the Dutch language. 4 stars
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Books I’m reading
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Reviews
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. Two criminal brothers travel in the American Wild West in order to capture and kill a man. They have a lot of adventures on the way and second thoughts about their mission. 4.5 stars
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. A girl who is terminally ill with cancer meets a boy who has recently recovered from the illness. Together they plan to travel to Amsterdam to meet the author of a book they both love. 4 stars
The Turnaround by George Pelecanos. Some white boys travel into a black neighbourhood and one of them gets killed. Years later, the people involved contact each other. 3.5 stars
Blindgangers [Unexploded shells/Blinded people] by Joke Hermsen [Dutch]. A group of 40-somethings meet for a nice weekend away but all kind of issues surface during the stay. 5 stars
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Other news:
- Check out my New Arrivals. Seriously, these are ALL good!
That’s it!
What are you reading this week?
I think I only awarded Beloved 3.5 stars after finishing it, but it has grown on me a lot since then. I think I’ve just forgotten the dull, complicated bits that I didn’t quite understand and only remember the powerful scenes. SPOILER That scene with the woman beheading her child haunts me. I think it is the most powerful scene I’ve ever read.
Jackie, there were indeed a number of scenes that I didn’t understand at all. The beheading didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. In fact, I can’t picture it completely now. Funny, how we can read and remember things so differently.
I have just about decided that I will never finish Beloved. I should read it, but I never seem to get around to it.
Here’s my
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? I hope you will stop by!
Deb, if Beloved is such a struggle, I’d just give up. I found the story interesting but some of the book was really hard to read, and I didn’t enjoy all of it.
Nice reading week, again, Judith. You sure know how to pick your books!
Thanks, Nadine. I become more and more picky when choosing books.
The invisible Ones looks good. I hope to get in some reading time this week – its going to be a hit and a miss for time to do so
I”m really enjoying The Invisible Ones, Sheila. I hope you’ll find some reading time1
I am flying to Paris tomorrow, so for me, it’s all Paris related: “The last time I saw Paris”, which is getting quite interesting!
Wonderful, Ally. I hope you have a great time in Paris. Have a macaroon (always wanted to try those).
I like the sound of Beloved. It’s one I’ve always meant to pick up at the book shop but something else has caught my eye. I liked Into the Darkest Corner too. Was a little disappointed with her second book I also liked The Sisters Brothers.
Karen, I found *Beloved * rather difficult to read at places, but it is a fascinating story. *Into the Darkest Corner *was good. I haven’t read the second book (didn’t know there was one!).
A nice set of reads here. Enjoy the week.
Thanks!
I can’t wait to read The Fault In Our Stars, glad you enjoyed it and I like the sound of Into The Darkest Corner. I liked One Breath Away but it wasn’t my favourite of Heather Gudenkauf’s.
Have a great week and happy reading
Teddyree, *The Fault in Ours Stars* is a good read but not as good as I had hoped. *One Breath Away* was a little disappointing, I thought.
I have One Breath Away and can’t wait to read it. I’ve had The Turnaround for quite awhile…maybe I need to get to it. Enjoy your week.
Here’s MY MONDAY MEMES POST
Laurel, *The Turnaround* is not a thriller, which I expected and it disappointed me a bit. But really it’s a good book.
I have Stef Penney’s first book on my tbr shelf. How’s The Invisible Ones so far?
Vasilly, you *must* read *The Tenderness of Wolves*. It’s very, very good.
That’s good to hear! I’ll add it to my summer reading list.
So many great reads, have a great week Lee. Going to read your Heather G review now.
I tried to read Beloved but just couldn’t get into it – Interested to hear your thoughts.
Happy reading this week
The Brunette Librarian Blog
Brunette, I found *Beloved* difficult in places, too. I read it for a challenge. I may have given up half-way otherwise. Still, I was glad I read the whole book.
A shame you didn’t enjoy One Breath Away quite as much as I did! In the Darkest Corner looks good, I look forward to your review!
Have a great week!
Shelleyrae, yes, I remember you really loved the book. I found it too slow, but still a nice read.
Still want to read The Sisters Brothers. The cover alone is good for 5 stars.
I read the graphic novel Ayako by Osamu Tezuka, a masterpiece. Also read Gelukkig getrouwd by Erlend Loe, it’s like a bad marriage: you’ll be happy when it’s finished.
Now reading: Tom-all Alone’s (or The Solitary House, depending if you read the English or the American version, in Dutch it’s called Kerkhof in Londen) by Lynn Shepherd. A murder mystery inspired by Charles Dickens Bleak House. I never did read anything by Dickens but Lynn shepherd makes me curious.
Woordenaar, definitely, the cover is SO attractive!
I’ve heard of the Erlend Loe book. You’re saying it’s *not * good? Hmm, that’s a pity.
I have wanted to read Bleak House. Maybe I will and then read this thriller. Or maybe I’ll just read the thriller!
Beloved is one of those books that I always see recommended and haven’t gotten around to reading. The Sisters Brothers sounds better than I expected so I’m adding that to my ever expanding list.
Leslie, I found *Beloved* rather difficult. It’s one of those books that I’m happy I know about now but it wasn’t a fantastic reading experience.