Sunday, April 7, 2013

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (141)



It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

I am so happy that April is here! Hopefully winter is behind us. Today it was sunny and in the 60s and a really beautiful day. It finally felt like spring!

I was able to get caught up on some reviews this past week and weekend and I am working my way through my review TBR pile. I also made a (very small) dent in housework that I've neglected. It feels good to get caught up after the craziness of last month.



Books read:


Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

This book was a big disappointment for me and the members of my book group felt the same way. While we admired the author for wanting to make a difference in the lives of the Afghan women, we also had issues with the way the book was written, it's truthfulness, and the content she chose to include that could endanger the subjects.


The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

I thought this was a pretty good YA suspense novel though I sometimes thought the protagonist made dumb decisions. It was interesting reading about someone in witness protection and trying to solve the mystery.


Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

While it could have used some editing, I thought this novel was fantastic and loved the story of Jean Valjean. I think reading this book really enriched my understanding of the characters and made me like the movie even more.


His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal

This was more of a spy novel than a mystery but there was quite a bit of suspense as Maggie is undercover in Nazi Germany. I found it to be a page turner and a book I devoured in a day.

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

Ally Carter's books are always fun and this proved to be a quick and entertaining read. I liked getting a look at Hale's family and seeing his relationship with Kat develop further. 


A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn

This book was not quite what I was expecting. I loved the setting but didn't care that much for the protagonist. We would not have been friends :)


Books reviewed:

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt


Currently reading:


The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

This book is also (partially) set in Kenya in the 1920s as well as England in the early 1900s and modern day New York. So far I like it a lot more than A Spear of Summer Grass as far as the characters go anyway.


What I plan to read next:


Golden by Jessi Kirby

I've read some positive early reviews of this and I enjoyed the author's debut, Moonglass. I am hopeful that I will like this too. It will be good to read a YA contemporary after all the historical fiction!


Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

This is one of my book group books for April. I am looking forward to it. I've heard it is an emotional story.


11 comments:

  1. Hope your book group likes Tell The Wolves I'm Home as much as I did. Looking forward to the Raybourn and Willig books. Have a great week.

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  2. Congrats on finishing Les Mis-what an accomplishment! Really looking forward to reading His Majesty's Hope-crossing my fingers that I'll have time to read it this weekend.

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  3. Aren't book group books the best? It definitely gets me out of my reading "box" if you know what I mean. Hope you like Tell the wolves!!

    Happy reading this week :)
    What are you reading this week @ the Brunette Librarian’s Blog and feel free to enter to win a gift card at A Guest Post by Samantha Hunter

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  4. I've got a Spear of Summer Grass coming up soon, the Australian cover is gorgeous. Golden sounds good, I love reading YA in between or in the midst of heavier historical fiction.

    Enjoy your spring weather, have a great week and happy reading :)

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  5. Tell The Wolves I'm Home sounds great


    Have a fab reading week!
    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  6. The Raybourn and the Ashford books are the two I'd love to get my hands on. Enjoy the week.

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  7. Glad you liked Perfect Scoundrels. I haven't read it yet, but the author visited our school district back in February and I always have a special place in my heart for authors I've met.

    Here's my It's Monday! What Are You Reading?.

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  8. I haven't read Ally Carter yet and I really want to. I don't know anyone who has read her books and not liked them. I hope you have a great reading week:)

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  9. I can't wait to read you review of His Majesty's Hope as well as Ashford Affair---definitely excited for that one. I'm glad you finished Les Mis and thought it was worth it. I am currently reading Golden and really liking it so far. Happy Reading!

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  10. Doesn't the spring weather make you feel all sorts of productive? We pulled out the deck furniture and cleaned the bathrooms and did all sorts of good things today.
    Have an awesome week and enjoy your books! :)

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  11. Haven't read any of these books.

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