Week 5: Readers' Square

I'm still reading The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. I love reading about something so familiar to me and my daily life: lap swimming.

I hope to finish the book this week. Anyone else enjoys reading stories related to their real life activities?

Not having read this since grade 13 French at Frontenac Secondary in the ‘70’s, I challenged myself. Took me longer than it may have to read the English translation - The Tin Flute… but so worth it. Even having to look up several words/expressions, the language flows. She paints a picture with her words. I feel I know these people, and the times, and the streets of Montreal. 

I had surgery this week so I needed a book that was  easy to follow and  exciting enough to keep my attention. I decided to check out the latest thriller by Gilly MacMillan. I had read some of her previous books and they usually have a good twist or two. So far, the action and mystery have kept me reading and made my recovery time pass by! It’s a typical thriller bestseller, nothing 5 star, but probably a great vacation read (unless you are staying at an old farmhouse in England...)

Just finished reading The Ex Talk (Rachel Lynn Solomon). It's a romance built around a podcast, with some enemies-to-lovers trope in there. Steamy sex scenes, but some stilted dialogue and a jerk sexist boss who unfortunately did not get his comeuppance. 

Similar to Beach Read or Shipped.

Je viens juste de terminer ce livre: Sorcière, Le livre des ombres par Cate Tiernan. Tome 1 d'une série de 15. Un livre destiné pour des adolescents mais tout de même bon pour les adultes. Un livre facile à lire avec peu de description, donc l'histoire avance vite. Je le recommande, car j'ai accrochée et je veux savoir la suite. 

I am reading  Journey to The Center of the Earth. I have watched the movie, but this time I am reading Jules Vern's science-fiction novel.

This is a fascinating book, and I wonder  how Jules Vern can imagine things before scientists investigate them.

This week, I reread The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy before watching the new TV show.  I first read this series around 5 years ago and while I remember enjoying it, I definitely found it a little young and lacking depth when retreading it and actually found that I liked the TV series more than the books (something I don’t know if I have ever said before!).  

This past weekend, I read Book Lovers and got 25% through the House Across the Lake. Book Lovers was like a Hallmark movie of a book in the very best way, and House Across the Lake has been great and starts off with an instant suck you in moment. 

I love an unreliable narrator. 

As you guys know, I am currently reading Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel which so far best summer read ever! I am on page 55 of 336 so still a long way to go but so far really enjoying. The tone of the books is so calm and intriguing so I like reading it at night time. 

I highly recommend this book so far a 8/10 for me but it will definitely go higher. 

I just recently discovered that 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak was made into a movie. I read 'The Book Thief' back when I was in elementary school but I wanted to reread the novel before watching the movie. I finished the book this past weekend but have yet to watch the film. I am intrigued to compare the film with the novel. 

I highly recommend 'The Book Thief', it is an easier read but a great one!

I finished a couple books this week! First I finished Boy Parts by Eliza Clark. I really enjoyed it and I'd recommend it if you're interested in reading about an unhinged women and you're comfortable with some brutality. And the second book I finished was a thriller named Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. It's the story of a woman who was abducted and held in a remote cabin for over a year by a stranger. The story was engaging. The writing was a little weak at times, but it's Steven's first novel so I'd give her another shot. I recommend it too!

I'm looking for my next read now. 

I'm reading Irvin Yalom's book, Becoming Myself - A Psychiatrist's Memoir. I've been a big fan of Yalom's books as they sit at the intersection of psychology/psychiatry and philosophy. I'm a little surprised that I don't enjoy this book as much, though. Probably because it is neither a novel nor a compilation of interesting patient stories, so the "plot" is not as "exciting." I'd say if you are interested in Yalom's life story, go for it. If not, I'd recommend his other books!

I'm about halfway through Casserole diplomacy and other stories :an On spec 25th anniversary retrospective. I've mostly been enjoying it. There are some really interesting, creative concepts. Really hated one story in the centre of the book, though. Gory, unpleasant, and also didn't seem to contain any speculative elements? Not sure why it was chosen. So far it's been mostly hits, though, and the titular story was very cute. 

Is this book good? No. Worth reading? Not really but I am a sucker for cheesy enemies to lovers. I am about halfway through and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes me 

My week 5 update, July 17, 2022

Thankfully when I got more in-depth into pages 250/525, the Children of Blood and Bone novel picked up the pace and it was so much better. Now that I had a better understanding of the base of the characters and plot it was easier to follow. The main character's name is Zélie Adebola who is trying to restore magic to her world. 

The second book I have picked up is called The Darkest Mind, so far no pages were read but it was placed on reserve.