I haven't finished anything in July yet because I am reading Under the Dome along with Laura Tremaine for Stephen King Summer. It's the book King himself nominated for the NYT best books of the 21st century (lol). At over 1000 pages long, I'm at 65%, and I'm not sure it holds a candle to 11/22/63, but I'm interested to see where it goes.
I lead a classic novel book club and also just read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Book club reviews were mixed but I enjoyed it. If Emily Henry’s age gets you, how about that Carson was 23. We are reading All the Kings men for August. Would recommend!
I LOVED Shark Heart - my biggest struggle has been convincing other people to read it! Just the portrayal of their marriage was so beautiful and heartbreaking.
I’m currently really enjoying The Road to Tender Hearts. Otherwise probably my favorite for July is The Doorman (a bit of a changeup from Pavone’s more spy-type novels, but also loved the setting since it’s hyperlocal to me).
This month was audio heavy for me. I devoured “Meet Me At The Lake” and “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune. I couldn’t get enough of the story and loved them so much.
I also read “The Hawthorne Legacy” the second in the Inheritance Games series. It’s YA but addicting and I can read them so quickly.
I also read the 4th in the Three Pines series and it was a struggle for me. I’m not really sure why. I think it was life situations at the time and for that reason have shifted to some lighter reading.
Currently reading and loving “Wives Like Us” by Plum Sykes and it’s delightful.
I feel you about the fourth Louise Penny. I think, for me, it was because Peter’s family is so unlikable in general and because the majority of the book takes place outside Three Pines, and any mention of Three Pines made me wish we were in Three Pines!
Listened to my second Audible book ever and it was Emily Henry’s Big Beautiful Life. I enjoyed this book immensely and was surprised that the changing stories constantly did not confuse me or tangle me up. Agreed she is a fun writer and a wonderful palate cleanser in the midst of my other reads.
Our book club is tackling a Super Summer Sidequest and re-reading the SJM Throne of Glass Series. Currently I am just finishing up on book 5 the Queen of Shadows. Sarah was 16 yrs old when she started writing this series. As each book is uncovered you can feel the growth and depth of her world building changing.
I didn't read much this month because travel kept me busy. I read Babel (as someone who loves etymology and looks up word origins daily, I can't believe it took me so long to get to this book.) I also finished The Peacock and the Sparrow, suggested by this group. It took me beyond my normal genre, so I enjoyed it.
I read Shark Heart last month. I couldn’t put it down and yet I didn’t love it. I think my heart was not ready for the level of grief I would feel at a story about a man turning into a shark.
I also read Great Big Beautiful Life and had very similar thoughts about what Emily Henry would be writing 5-10 years from now. It made me want to talk to my mom about whether she felt like Danielle Steele or Mary Higgins Clark “grew up” with her.
I loved Shark Heart. I think I originally heard about it on Laura Tremaine’s podcast. I thought it was so creative and the transformation seems so similar to what families navigating terminal illness walk through.
I was also initially skeptical about Shark Heart but I loved it! Recently I tried reading Sky Daddy, which also has a preposterous premise, but this one wasn't so successful and I put it down after 40 pages or so. This hasn't been a fantastic reading month for me (am I picking the wrong books? is it me? who knows) but I did really enjoy Isola by Allegra Goodman.
The only 5 star book I finished in July was Bring Up the Bodies. I loved how much more propulsive it felt than Wolf Hall - that sense of the inevitable pull of gravity to the executions was so compelling.
The best beach-read of the summer for me so far has been Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. It's everything I want in a summer read -- long & exciting, with a great hook and a surprising depth that make it more substantive than you might expect from the genre. Like the best of Stephen King, with it's own flavor.
I am inching through "The Storm Before the Calm" by George Friedman... I keep telling people that it's a really helpful perspective on current events because of repeating historical patterns... they look at me with horror.
Also I'm re reading "World War Z" by Max Brooks, because things can always get worse and that comforts me.
Also I just finished "Uprooted" by Naomi Novick in 24 hours because summer.
I haven't finished anything in July yet because I am reading Under the Dome along with Laura Tremaine for Stephen King Summer. It's the book King himself nominated for the NYT best books of the 21st century (lol). At over 1000 pages long, I'm at 65%, and I'm not sure it holds a candle to 11/22/63, but I'm interested to see where it goes.
I lead a classic novel book club and also just read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Book club reviews were mixed but I enjoyed it. If Emily Henry’s age gets you, how about that Carson was 23. We are reading All the Kings men for August. Would recommend!
CARSON WAS 23????!?!?
I LOVED Shark Heart - my biggest struggle has been convincing other people to read it! Just the portrayal of their marriage was so beautiful and heartbreaking.
I’m currently really enjoying The Road to Tender Hearts. Otherwise probably my favorite for July is The Doorman (a bit of a changeup from Pavone’s more spy-type novels, but also loved the setting since it’s hyperlocal to me).
This month was audio heavy for me. I devoured “Meet Me At The Lake” and “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune. I couldn’t get enough of the story and loved them so much.
I also read “The Hawthorne Legacy” the second in the Inheritance Games series. It’s YA but addicting and I can read them so quickly.
I also read the 4th in the Three Pines series and it was a struggle for me. I’m not really sure why. I think it was life situations at the time and for that reason have shifted to some lighter reading.
Currently reading and loving “Wives Like Us” by Plum Sykes and it’s delightful.
I feel you about the fourth Louise Penny. I think, for me, it was because Peter’s family is so unlikable in general and because the majority of the book takes place outside Three Pines, and any mention of Three Pines made me wish we were in Three Pines!
If you enjoyed Summer After, then do pick up One Golden Summer to continue reading about Charlie Florek. I liked it even more than Every Summer After!
The exact same day that I added it to my holds list on Libby, someone gifted it to my mom! So it’s waiting for me!
I’m just about to start Three Pines 4, but I really struggled with book 3 and I’m really not sure why. However, I love Three Pines and want to visit!
Listened to my second Audible book ever and it was Emily Henry’s Big Beautiful Life. I enjoyed this book immensely and was surprised that the changing stories constantly did not confuse me or tangle me up. Agreed she is a fun writer and a wonderful palate cleanser in the midst of my other reads.
Our book club is tackling a Super Summer Sidequest and re-reading the SJM Throne of Glass Series. Currently I am just finishing up on book 5 the Queen of Shadows. Sarah was 16 yrs old when she started writing this series. As each book is uncovered you can feel the growth and depth of her world building changing.
Is the Throne of Glass Series appropriate for a young teen? Thanks!
I DNFed God of the Woods. Everyone loves it but I just not compelled. Maybe it was the audiobook? Do I need to give this book another shot?
I didn't read much this month because travel kept me busy. I read Babel (as someone who loves etymology and looks up word origins daily, I can't believe it took me so long to get to this book.) I also finished The Peacock and the Sparrow, suggested by this group. It took me beyond my normal genre, so I enjoyed it.
Are you going to join our chat on September 11th!?!
I wish- I love a good book talk, but I'm in Europe now. Whenever I'm back stateside!
I read “A Good Man…” last year and also had not been ready for that. 😬 A different time, and yikes!
I read Shark Heart last month. I couldn’t put it down and yet I didn’t love it. I think my heart was not ready for the level of grief I would feel at a story about a man turning into a shark.
I also read Great Big Beautiful Life and had very similar thoughts about what Emily Henry would be writing 5-10 years from now. It made me want to talk to my mom about whether she felt like Danielle Steele or Mary Higgins Clark “grew up” with her.
I loved Shark Heart. I think I originally heard about it on Laura Tremaine’s podcast. I thought it was so creative and the transformation seems so similar to what families navigating terminal illness walk through.
I was also initially skeptical about Shark Heart but I loved it! Recently I tried reading Sky Daddy, which also has a preposterous premise, but this one wasn't so successful and I put it down after 40 pages or so. This hasn't been a fantastic reading month for me (am I picking the wrong books? is it me? who knows) but I did really enjoy Isola by Allegra Goodman.
The only 5 star book I finished in July was Bring Up the Bodies. I loved how much more propulsive it felt than Wolf Hall - that sense of the inevitable pull of gravity to the executions was so compelling.
The best beach-read of the summer for me so far has been Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. It's everything I want in a summer read -- long & exciting, with a great hook and a surprising depth that make it more substantive than you might expect from the genre. Like the best of Stephen King, with it's own flavor.
I am inching through "The Storm Before the Calm" by George Friedman... I keep telling people that it's a really helpful perspective on current events because of repeating historical patterns... they look at me with horror.
Also I'm re reading "World War Z" by Max Brooks, because things can always get worse and that comforts me.
Also I just finished "Uprooted" by Naomi Novick in 24 hours because summer.