I’ve hit a run of not-great books lately. Nothing horrible, just books that I wanted more from. I’m sure that streak is about to end, but for now, getting through them (in the hope I’m about to be proven wrong) is such a slog. It actually saps some mental energy
This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:
What are you currently reading?
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| Beast of the North Woods by Annelise Ryan |
Good Material by Dolly Alderton, read by Arthur Darvill & Vanessa Kirby |
Ryan’s latest adventure is both more-of-the-same (but it’s still fresh enough to keep working) and I-can’t-believe-she’s-doing-this. In short, I’m enjoying this–it’s possible I’ll have just finished this about the time this posts–I imagine I’ll be pretty satisfied about now.
I don’t know why I’m still listening to Good Material, I have to say. Andy is very likely the least likable protagonist I’ve come across in months. And I’ve read/listened to books with murderers and assassins as the main characters. Andy is just a whiny man-child whose stand-up had better be a lot funnier than his narration. I’ve yet to see any reason for this story to be told–or what the story is, really. Maybe it’s the narration by Arthur Darville, and my subconscious recognized him and kicked in the loyalty he’s earned from screen roles (the rest of my brain caught up as I was putting this post together). Also, I’m at 56% and have yet to run into Kirby (and was surprised to learn I’m supposed to).
What did you recently finish reading?
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| Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson |
Passageways by Rebecca Carey Lyles, Editor |
Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade, read by John Pirhalla |
I’m so glad that I finally finished Snow Crash (although you could argue that Stephenson didn’t actually finish it, he just stopped writing). A lot of it fell flat, but when it worked? It was so money, baby…
Similarly, there were some really good starts to short stories in Passageways, but few of them delivered on the end (or middle, too often).
I’m not sure that I’m going to muster up the energy required to say much about Johnny Careless, it’s a thing I listened to. I wouldn’t rail against it, but I’m sure not going to encourage anyone to give it a shot.
What do you think you’ll read next?
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| Where the Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski |
Dead Money by Jakob Kerr, read by Rachel Music |
For years, all I’ve needed on a cover is “Nick Kolakowski” to want to read it. But I know that most of you need more than that to get convinced–okay, this is a modern PI noir set in the seedy side of Hollywood–where so much of the best PI noir from the last 100 years comes from. I expect this to be fast, furious, and a little unnerving.
Yeah, Dead Money was in this spot last week, too. But I decided I wanted a genre break, so I put it off. This debut thriller still looks pretty good to me.
Is February ending on a high note for you?
Carol
I’ve experienced those meh months. Happy March reading!
allysonyj
Been awhile since I posted, as I had the Cold That’s Going Around, was out of town, etc. Let’s see. I started Michael Chabon’s “Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” and was enjoying it, then went out of town and on return find I have forgotten what was going on – will have to skim the first 50 pages again. Also working on an anthology “Writers on World War II” which is fascinating and gives the reader snippets of great writers – Sartre, Camus, Auden, Churchill… and I’m only as far as 1940.
While I was out of town I picked up a Nevil Shute I hadn’t read in a while – “Kindling”- but I’m at the sad part now and not sure I’ll get to the end. Also a trashy Regency romance called “Regency Miss” by Alex Melbourne, recommended by my sister, a big Regency fan. I was enjoying it as a guilty pleasure but the heroine has just done a couple of REALLY STUPID things and I’m not sure I can stick with her.
When I was ill I reread comfort books – “the Hobbit” and “Fellowship of the Ring” – no comment needed – and Dorothy Gilman’s “Kaleidoscope”, a sequel to her “Clairvoyant Countess” and I believe her last novel. Not quite at her best, but still a comfort – all three of these books feature ordinary people rising to stressful and dangerous occasions and exceeding everyone’s expectations – nice when you are feeling crummy. I also read a friend’s memoir “My Marriage Sabbatical” by Leah Fisher – about how she refreshed her life and love by taking a year off from her marriage – very interesting – I recommend for anyone who has been married a long time and losing the glow. And I read “That Librarian” for my book group (which I did not attend due to the CTGA) which is a very scary memoir about how a small-town librarian was trolled online for defending inclusion of books with LGBTA and BIPOC main characters on the Jr. High shelf.
My next book club selection is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “An Unfinished Love Story”, a memoir about her husband’s 50-year career in public service. Other than that – no plans.
wittysarcasticbookclub
I hope your March reads are more satisfactory!