Sunday, June 22, 2014

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (182)



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.

My week has had its ups and downs (Surprise root canals! Oh wait, I only need 1 root canal and one is just a bad cavity. Yippee!) but I did get to read some really good books during my down time (and it was a good excuse to eat Jello pudding, a favorite childhood snack, and watch movies all weekend). I also had a productive morning and wrote several book reviews and hopefully I can keep that momentum going because I have a tremendous backlog of unwritten reviews :)


Books read:


Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

This was our June book discussion selection for my evening book group. I really liked it and I am looking forward to hearing what the others in my book group thought. The story is about a forbidden interracial relationship in the segregated South and the way things have changed or not changed enough since.


The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (reread)

This is the second book I've listened to that is narrated by Jesse Bernstein and while I still don't like his narration, I was able to get lost in the story so it didn't bother me as much. Or maybe it is just growing on me. I did like the voice he used for the gruff bully Clarice.



This was a fascinating story and a heartbreaking one. I think fans of A Thousand Splendid Suns would love it. I hadn't heard of bacha posh before (the practice in Afghanistan of a little girl living as a son until puberty in families without sons) but now there are three books being published this year about it (this novel, a memoir, and a nonfiction book).


Currently reading:


Love by the Morning Star by Laura L. Sullivan

I am finding this book to be really charming so far. I'd heard of comparisons to Eva Ibbotson and I definitely agree. I also think it is similar to The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons. Hannah Morganstern is a Jewish distant relation of an English aristocratic family who is sent to them for safety. Unfortunately when she arrives she is thought to be the new maid and the "maid" Anna who is really a Nazi spy of sorts (she is really more concerned with landing a rich husband) is thought to be the long lost cousin.


What I plan to read next:


The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (reread)

15 comments:

  1. I like the sound of the Hashimi book!

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  2. OK the root canal doesn't sound good, but the watching movies all weekend kinda does. :) I hate going to the dentist so much LOL. Anyway at least you got to read. The Sea of Monsters looks good, I need to read that series yet...

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  3. Lovely reads, I'm adding The Pearl that Broke Its Shell to my wishlist and I love the sound of Calling Me Home and Love by the Morning Star. I'm shuddering just reading about root canals, I've had a fear of dental work since having my wisdom teeth removed and spending a week in hospital with complications. You definitely deserve down time and good books. Good luck with the review backlog :)

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  4. Okay a dentist visit is not fun, although if it all gets mended well then I guess its necessary for comfort. Hope its all good. I think I would like Love by the Morning Star as I like what I have read by Eva Ibbotson. Have a great week - reading and er.... writing reviews!

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  5. "Calling me home" is on top of my TBR-list, and I can't wait to read it :)

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  6. I was disappointed in the movie adaption of Sea of Monsters especially since Lightning Thief was really well done.

    Keep calm and read!

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  7. Happy it turned out to be only one root canal! And Rick Riordan seems to help recovery from dental surgery, I think.

    Here's my It's Monday!

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  8. I really loved the audio version of Calling Me Home - the dual narrators added so much. Hope you've recovered from the root canal and filling. I hate going to the dentist!

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  9. Ugh. I had root canal a few years ago from an accident with my tooth (good times) and it wasn't to bad, but not something I'd want again. I hope you are feeling better! It sounds like you enjoyed your weekend! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Love by the Morning Star…sounds like my kind of read!

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  10. Yuck! Root canal! I hope you are feeling better. I am a big fan of Jello pudding as well. :)

    You have so many books that sound rich in different cultures on here today. They all sound amazing, especially The Pearl that Broke Its Shell. I have heard of that practice before, and I would be interested to read more in depth about it.

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  11. Calling Me Home looks great! I'm happy to hear that you loved it, so on my wishlist it goes :).

    Jessica @ Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

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  12. Oh no! Root canals are never fun, but surprise root canals must be even worse. I hope you are feeling better soon!

    I really loved The House at Tyneford so I should look up Love by the Morning Star. Happy reading!

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  13. My son and I enjoyed the Percy Jackson series. Imaginative and hilarious.

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  14. This reminds me that I have to finish the Percy Jackson series, I read the first one and loved it :)
    Enjoy your reads!
    My It's Monday Post
    -Kimberly @ Turning the Pages

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  15. Sorry about the root canal! Glad you are feeling better. Happy reading.

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