I've been under the weather with the asshole common cold and what feels like the longest winter ever so no nice nice intro, just all about the books I've been reading.
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2. Visit other blogs who've linked up and talk books as booknerds are wont to do
Engrossing Reads
The Wife by Alafair Burke - I like setting a book down when I've finished it thinking well, that's not at all how I thought that would go. This fit that bill. Philly library hardback
The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis - Sometimes you just need a creepy James Patterson paperback to get lost in. I quite like a lot of the books he's co-written with others and this was no exception. Paperback, own
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Library at the Edge of the World (Finfarran #1) by Felicity Hayes-McCoy - I read this when I was sick and my brain couldn't handle a lot. I think I liked it more than I would have normally because of that. Philly library paperback
Night Moves (Alex Delaware #33) by Jonathan Kellerman - I've read all 33 of the Alex Delaware books. Every time a new one comes out, I feel like I'm spending the weekend with an old friend. Formulaic as hell but I'm okay with it at this point. Philly library hardback
Love and Ruin by Paula McLain - My least favorite of the three McLain books I've read. I wonder why she went back to Hemingway, who is unlikable as fuck. This didn't roll for me like The Paris Wife or Circling the Sun, it was missing the magic I found in those pages, but still a three star because I like Gellhorn. Free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book is available May 1
A Piece of the World by Christina Kline Baker - My grandmom had the painting this novel is based on. What a depressing tale, and one that lacked a lot of movement in the plot in the present at least, but even given both of those factors I liked it. Philly library hardback
Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda - This is the third Megan Miranda I've read and it was definitely not my favorite. There was a lot of repetition and it was the most YA-ish of them all. Lots of weighted drama that didn't need to be there. Philly library hardback
The Future's Not Ours to See by Jean Grainger - So full disclosure, I had no recollection of what this was about until I went back and read the goodreads synopsis - and I finished it within the last month. I read a lot of stuff, so that's not unusual, but still...zero recollection. Anyway this was one of those where the beginnings of everything were terrible but everything turned out inexplicably grand even though in real life it probably wouldn't have. Amazon kindle e-book
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover - Man. What some people do to their children is a fucking crime. This counts as one of those. Ignorance and fear are curses. It feels weird to say a book was good when it's about how their parents made their life freaking hard and awful for them most of the time. Philly library hardback
Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh - I was iffy on this from the start, there's a goddamn chapter from a ghost POV and I'm not really into that then I had to go back and read that because was it a ghost? I think she threw every twist in the book into this one and it was sort of a mess but a quick read so if you're into that, have at it. Philly library hardback
Not Worth It
Our House by Louise Candlish - I was very into this at first but man did it drag and drag and drag. Free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book is available August 7.
Did Not Finish
This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The next linkup is May 8, 2018
Please:
1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & mePlease:
2. Display the button and/or link back to us on your blog post
2. Visit other blogs who've linked up and talk books as booknerds are wont to do
Here's what I've been reading since the last linkup.
Engrossing Reads
The Wife by Alafair Burke - I like setting a book down when I've finished it thinking well, that's not at all how I thought that would go. This fit that bill. Philly library hardback
The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis - Sometimes you just need a creepy James Patterson paperback to get lost in. I quite like a lot of the books he's co-written with others and this was no exception. Paperback, own
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Library at the Edge of the World (Finfarran #1) by Felicity Hayes-McCoy - I read this when I was sick and my brain couldn't handle a lot. I think I liked it more than I would have normally because of that. Philly library paperback
Night Moves (Alex Delaware #33) by Jonathan Kellerman - I've read all 33 of the Alex Delaware books. Every time a new one comes out, I feel like I'm spending the weekend with an old friend. Formulaic as hell but I'm okay with it at this point. Philly library hardback
Love and Ruin by Paula McLain - My least favorite of the three McLain books I've read. I wonder why she went back to Hemingway, who is unlikable as fuck. This didn't roll for me like The Paris Wife or Circling the Sun, it was missing the magic I found in those pages, but still a three star because I like Gellhorn. Free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book is available May 1
A Piece of the World by Christina Kline Baker - My grandmom had the painting this novel is based on. What a depressing tale, and one that lacked a lot of movement in the plot in the present at least, but even given both of those factors I liked it. Philly library hardback
Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda - This is the third Megan Miranda I've read and it was definitely not my favorite. There was a lot of repetition and it was the most YA-ish of them all. Lots of weighted drama that didn't need to be there. Philly library hardback
The Future's Not Ours to See by Jean Grainger - So full disclosure, I had no recollection of what this was about until I went back and read the goodreads synopsis - and I finished it within the last month. I read a lot of stuff, so that's not unusual, but still...zero recollection. Anyway this was one of those where the beginnings of everything were terrible but everything turned out inexplicably grand even though in real life it probably wouldn't have. Amazon kindle e-book
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover - Man. What some people do to their children is a fucking crime. This counts as one of those. Ignorance and fear are curses. It feels weird to say a book was good when it's about how their parents made their life freaking hard and awful for them most of the time. Philly library hardback
Not Worth It
Our House by Louise Candlish - I was very into this at first but man did it drag and drag and drag. Free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book is available August 7.
Did Not Finish
What have you been reading?
Bummer about the Megan Miranda book. I liked her other two! I liked The Paris Wife but not Circling the Sun, so I'm curious to see what I think of Love and Ruin.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind ghosts telling the story if the whole thing is there story, but one random chapter from a ghost's point of view seems a little odd.
ReplyDeleteMy mum loves Jonathan Kellerman (and also Faye Kellerman). I think I've read one of his books... it was set in Jerusalem and that's about all I remember.
I am putting the book by Alafair Burke on my list! I have read a few books that she wrote with Mary Higgins Clark but have never read anything she has written herself. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteJames Patterson AND David Ellis?? Sign me up!! I’ve been on the waiting list for Educated for awhile, but I’m sure it’ll piss me off just like you.
ReplyDeleteA ghost chapter, yeah that's not really my thing, hah! The Wife and The Library at the End of the World sound good. Glad you didn't have any DNF this time, that's always a good thing in my book.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that The Wife was good - that is in my stack to read. Not sure if I have read a James Patterson book before - going to request that now!
ReplyDeleteOhhh I am intrigued now by that Clare MacKintosh book. I used to love James Patterson's books but I haven't picked one up in awhile. I like how you know what you're getting with him and I like that he has co-authors these days. The Library at the End of the World is on my list. Agree with your thoughts on Educated - it's hard to like a book that is about such difficult subject matter. I was blown away when I read a few of the Amazon reviews that were 1 star and posted from her family members and neighbours of the family...I linked to it in my post but it really made me think. It was an intriguing read for me though! Happy SUYB day :)
ReplyDeleteWow! You had a great reading month!! So many books!
ReplyDeleteI literally LOL'ed at the idea there's a chapter from a ghost point of view comment :) haha
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to get my hands on Educated. I keep hearing amazing things about that
The Wife sounds really good! I've seen Educated on the top of all of the best seller lists recently. Sounds intriguing but what a bummer that you had to read about such lousy parents.
ReplyDeleteDid you hear Patterson is writing a book with Bill Clinton?! Kind of interested on that one...
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to say that I enjoyed seeing all the puppies in the background!
ReplyDeleteI have never read anything by James Patterson, I just have never been interested in this stuff... I know it's weird.
I'm going to look up The Wife.
Ha! There are usually dogs in all of my photos.
DeleteNot weird at all!
Added "The Wife" and "The Murder House" to my TBR! Can't wait to give them a read!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you need simpler books when you're sick or in a funk. I read them a lot because they help with my anxiety. Glad you had some good reads this month, I don't understand everyone's fascination with Hemingway either. *shrugs* XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I need to read 20 books from 10 different genres outside my comfort zone for my 101 list, but all I really want to do is read Patterson...
ReplyDeletehmm i really didn't like the paris wife, so i'll skip that one about hemingway, but maybe i should try circling the sun. curious about a piece of the world, i quite liked the orphan train when i read it a couple years ago. ghost POV? interesting.... adding the wife and maybe checking out that library one. hope you're feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteMegan Miranda books can be so hit or miss. The Wife and the library one sound interesting enough - hope you feel better!
ReplyDeleteI’m definitely adding The Wife to my list! It sounds interesting. And sometimes you really just need a James Patterson book! I haven’t read one in a while but I always love the Women’s Murder Club series.
ReplyDeleteI love a book that surprises me, so I may have to check out The Wife. I do have Educated on my TBR (me and everyone else, right?) and A Piece of the World, which I always confuse with News of the World, which I also want to read. I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteThe Wife synopsis hooked me.. and I love surprises! Adding it to my list. I haven't read a James Patterson book in forever, but sometimes it's exactly what I need. Never read an Alex Delaware book, but I'm from Delaware, so obviously I should. I've already got Educated on my list. Love books that are opening and also remind me that a lot of us are pretty fortunate not to have to grow up in terrible circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all of your reviews! Let Me Lie sounds all sorts of fascinating. And I've been hearing mostly good things about Educated - I can't even imagine that life!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I've read a few books before that did not happen how I thought it would. Sometimes I can't decide if I love that or not?
ReplyDeleteEducated made me so, so angry. Even when I wanted to be happy for her I was pissed off.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to read the A Piece of the World because I loved Kline's Orphan Train, though I'm bummed that you found it lacking.
ReplyDeleteI read McLain's Circling the Sun and felt ok-ish about it. I think I need to try one more of her books before I make up my mind. Maybe Love and Ruin.
Educated keeps popping up in blogland and I feel like I need to add it to the TBR list.
The Wife definitely sounds like a good read! :)
ReplyDeleteSo many good reads this month! I always hesitate to come by because my TBR list always grows and Im just not reading quickly these days!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for books about bookstores/librarians, but sometimes they can lead to disappointment from being too fluffy... just saw that one at the library the other day, but it's helpful to know that you probably would have liked it less if you weren't sick when reading it! I think I would rather pass the time with Let Me Lie - I do like a quick read.
ReplyDeleteI will be scooping up The Wife for my trip next weekend, sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad about the Claire Mackintosh one. It's on my short list.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like The Paris Wife enough to try Circling the Sun. Hemingway was sucky...it reminds me of the Fitzgeralds and their craziness.
I thought The Wife was already on my list, but it wasn't. (I was confusing it with another book by the same author.) I definitely love it when books don't turn out the way I expected!
ReplyDeleteI'm on the waiting list at the library for Let Me Lie. I'm not sure about the weird ghost POV and throwing in every twist imaginable (that really irritates me because it's rarely done well), but I'll probably still give it a shot.
I think I also have Our House on hold (well, it's on order so I'd basically get it whenever the library receives it), so it's a bummer to see that you didn't enjoy it. I'll probably still read this one as well. Who knows ... I may actually like it.
I hope you're feeling better!
I just added The Wife to my to-read list. Totally sounds like my kind of book. I love a good James Patterson book every now and then. They're such quick, suspenseful reads.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't manage to finish my book before today's linkup, boo! checking out the wife, and LOLing about the ghost POV. not for me :)
ReplyDeleteI seem to be rarely surprised by books anymore lately (don't know whether that's just how they're going or because I read too much of the same genre) but I need to add The Wife to my to-read list, to see if I'm left guessing.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely adding The Wife and The Murder House to my list. And The Library At The Edge Of The World, since I love books about librarians (like the Aurora Teagarden series). Thanks for sharing your reads! I'm so impressed that you read so many books in a month lol. And I enjoyed seeing your dogs!
ReplyDeleteAdding The Wife and Educated to my list.
ReplyDeleteJames Patterson books were one of the first adult books I got into after I moved on from reading YA when I was younger and I keep meaning to pick up something of his again. I hadn't heard of A Piece of the World but I just added it after reading the synopsis-- it sounds like something I would like!
ReplyDeleteThe Wife looks interesting!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely adding The Wife to my TBR. I read one book by Clare Mackintosh (I let you go) and wasn't impressed..after your review of Let Me Lie I think I'm writing her off completely.
ReplyDeleteThe Wife sounds like one I would love!
ReplyDeleteI always hate when I go to review books and have no recollection. Then I wonder I spent time reading said book.
ReplyDeleteAdding The Wife, and I have to finish Sheryl Sandburg's Option B tonight because it goes back to the library tomorrow. Life zooms by when you measure it out in 3-week library loans!
ReplyDeleteI just read a Jonathan Kellerman book last month (When The Bough Breaks) and it wasn't too bad. He's very descriptive about everything though which kind of drove me crazy sometimes! Educated sounds really interesting too! Definitely adding it to my list. And I love all of your photo bombers!
ReplyDeleteFinally getting my act together to get a post linked just under the wire, ha. I've started "Let Me Lie" but it hasn't pulled me in yet to actually finish it - I was much more drawn into her first, "I Let You Go."
ReplyDelete