Yes, it's Spring Break, which means we're sporting footy pajamas and carrying fuzzy blankets around the house until we head South. We're looking forward to a long weekend visiting family and friends, attending a wedding and celebrating Easter and even squeezing in a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Until I need to go start packing for our mini-vacay, I'm enjoying reading a book from the comfort of my couch, with the company of my almost-too-big-for-my-lap dog, Hunter & his sister, Bella.
Up until recently, all my reading selections were based on word of mouth recommendations, on my to-read list on Goodreads and if the cover made me want to read the inside flap, while perusing a book shelf. Not gonna lie, I do judge some books by their covers. However, I now belong to a newly formed bookclub in our neighborhood and our first selection was voted on by our group. The first meeting is to take place a week after our vacation. Knowing that I had precious time to read it and sort out my feelings on a book I'd never heard of, I bought the book and patiently waited for it's delivery, all the while trying to finish a 1000 page beast on my nightstand. More on it in a bit.
~ Bookclub pick for April ~
"My Sunshine Away" by M.O. Walsh was not my typical read, but I devoured this book in 24 hours. Here's my Goodreads review:
"This is our newly formed bookclub's pick for the month of April. It at first reminded me of how dark of a novel "The Lovely Bones" was with the creepy neighbor, but turned out to be much more than that. The story's narrator guides us through his life and the summer that changed him forever. We're given brief glimpses of the past, as well as the future. You don't receive all the pieces to the puzzle, until the end and that's what I liked best. I enjoyed how the author spent so much time, carefully painting a picture of life in the Baton Rouge in the late 80's. I had no idea how the story would end, but it came full circle and I saw the big picture. You as the reader get closure with the narrator and feel like the burden he's carried for so long is finally lifted."
I could go on about the novel, but that would spoil it for those of you who have yet to read it. So, I'm leaving it there.
And to top it off, I'm once again doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge. In 2013, I set a goal of 25 books and read 29. In 2014, I read 21 books with the same goal. This year I've kept the same goal, but I'm currently 7 books ahead of schedule. I think it's time to change my goal.
So, here I am in the middle of my next read, patiently waiting for the snow to melt and drag the rocking chairs out on the porch. You know that 1000 page beast I referred to way up there ^. This lovely book is the second in a series, which is well-written and holds my attention, but it's so LONG. I'm slowly working my way through George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice saga. I read the first book "Game of Thrones" last year and I'm almost 300 pages into "A Clash of Kings". I've renewed the book from the library once already and I have 13 days to finish it before it's due back. Wish me luck!
~ Bookclub pick for April ~ "My Sunshine Away" by M.O. Walsh was not my typical read, but I devoured this book in 24 hours. Here's my Goodreads review:
"This is our newly formed bookclub's pick for the month of April. It at first reminded me of how dark of a novel "The Lovely Bones" was with the creepy neighbor, but turned out to be much more than that. The story's narrator guides us through his life and the summer that changed him forever. We're given brief glimpses of the past, as well as the future. You don't receive all the pieces to the puzzle, until the end and that's what I liked best. I enjoyed how the author spent so much time, carefully painting a picture of life in the Baton Rouge in the late 80's. I had no idea how the story would end, but it came full circle and I saw the big picture. You as the reader get closure with the narrator and feel like the burden he's carried for so long is finally lifted."
I could go on about the novel, but that would spoil it for those of you who have yet to read it. So, I'm leaving it there.
I also recently participated in our post library's winter reading challenge of 8 or more books checked out from the library itself or off their Overdrive account. I won some nifty prizes and completed the challenge. The staff had made some selections of their own and turned me on to a cute little series by Jenn McKinlay, about a librarian who solved the mysteries to murders in her small town. Another new favorite read was a YA book series. The Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore was delightful. I read the books slightly out of order, book 1, 3 then 2, which didn't effect the final outcome of the series. I also checked out a book that had been lurking on my to-read list forever and finally checked out a copy. "California" by Edan Lupucki was terrific read for those of us who enjoy a post-apocalyptic novel. The author made the possibility of this world so realistic and had me making contingency plans for living off the grid.
And to top it off, I'm once again doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge. In 2013, I set a goal of 25 books and read 29. In 2014, I read 21 books with the same goal. This year I've kept the same goal, but I'm currently 7 books ahead of schedule. I think it's time to change my goal. So, here I am in the middle of my next read, patiently waiting for the snow to melt and drag the rocking chairs out on the porch. You know that 1000 page beast I referred to way up there ^. This lovely book is the second in a series, which is well-written and holds my attention, but it's so LONG. I'm slowly working my way through George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice saga. I read the first book "Game of Thrones" last year and I'm almost 300 pages into "A Clash of Kings". I've renewed the book from the library once already and I have 13 days to finish it before it's due back. Wish me luck!
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