It's Monday 8/12! What Are You Reading?

Book By Book

Hosted by The Book Date

Life

Well, I think I finally “turned the corner” on my COVID recovery last week, my fourth since getting infected. Much to my surprise, I saw significant improvements last week and was able to resume an almost-normal routine. I’m now sitting up in the recliner (my usual spot) during the day, instead of lying on the couch. I restarted longer (15-25 minutes) walks and was even able to restart some light strengthening work. Those new treatments my doctor ordered arrived and I started them last week (after I was already feeling better). I was even able to help my husband with some cleaning on Saturday, though I probably overdid it and was a little worn out on Sunday. On the downside, I haven’t seen anyone but my husband and son in a month! I’m missing my friends, but no one was available this weekend (last-minute). The highlight of my week was a walk at our local nature center–the change of scenery was wonderful! I also enjoyed short walks in my neighborhood. Best of all, after a month of heat and humidity and four dark days of heavy storms last week, the weather was beautiful this weekend–low 80′s and low humidity–ahhh! It is lovely to have the windows open again.

Butterfly at the nature center

Walking at the nature center – so good to be out!

I love the view down the stream, in all seasons!

My neighbor’s brown-eyed-Susans, my namesake

Wet weekend – raindrops on our pine tree

Open windows – yay!!

__________

I was able to get back to my normal video routine, too!

The Booktuber Name Tag – this one included some fun questions, based on the creative names of Booktube channels. I mostly answered with little-known books that I loved but rarely hear about.

Friday Reads 8-9-24 – my brief weekly update of what I am currently reading and listening to, as I continue #BigBookSummer.

__________

And I finally got back to writing reviews!

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley – I loved this intense, immersive YA mystery/thriller that is also emotionally complex and set against a fascinating historical and cultural backdrop.

__________

I finished a #BigBookSummer pick that’s been in my summer stacks for several years: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. I’d heard this novel is similar to Cloud Atlas, which I loved, and I can see why the comparison was made. This book, like that one, includes multiple narrative threads, from different places and times, from 1450 Constantinople to Idaho in 2020 to a future where Earth has been destroyed and a group of families are traveling on a space ship to a far distant planet to begin again. There are multiple perspectives in the 1450′s and modern-day narratives, which makes it even more interesting, plus a suspenseful and dangerous situation in the 2020 story, right from the first pages. The thread that pulls all of these stories together is an ancient Greek story (made up by Doerr) by a real-life author, Antonius Diogenes, that is gradually told throughout the novel, as various characters discover it. I enjoyed the entire engrossing novel, but I absolutely loved the way the disparate threads came together in the end and the theme of connections, how one person can touch the lives of others centuries away. 

Big Book Summer will be wrapping up in a few weeks, so I hope to squeeze in two more Big Books! I chose to read The Ferryman by Justin Cronin next. It’s a bit longer than some others on my stack (and I would like to fit in one more), but it’s a hardcover with large print that’s not very dense–and my husband said it’s a suspenseful, “can’t-put-it-down” read. We are both big fans of Cronin and loved his The Passage trilogy. I also enjoyed his very different novel, The Summer Guest, and my husband enjoyed The Ferryman last summer. I’m about 100 pages in so far. It’s a unique sci fi story about a “perfect world” created on an isolated island that has been cut-off from the rest of the world. There, on Prospera, no one dies. Mental, physical, and emotional health is constantly monitored, and when someone’s rating starts to rapidly decline (and definitely before they hit 10%), they “retire,” boarding a ferry to a neighboring island, where they will be sort of recycled, with a new 16-year-old iteration eventually taking a ferry back to Prospera (with no memory of his/her past life) to start fresh. The main character, Proctor, works as a ferryman, and begins to suspect that maybe their perfect world has some flaws. It’s great so far, though I’m exhausted today from staying up too late last night reading!

I also finished listening to The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune on audio (also a Big Book). Yes, I somehow missed this very popular novel for years, though I enjoyed Under the Whispering Door. What finally pushed me to read it is that the publisher (Macmillan) reached out to ask if I wanted an early audio review copy of the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I can see why the first book was such a big hit! It’s a beautiful, uplifting story of hope and love, about a quiet man named Linus Baker who is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He is assigned to visit and assess a top secret facility (the title house). Though Linus is a by-the-books man who can quote the department’s Rules and Regulations (and often does), what he finds in this home surprises him, opens his heart, and changes his life. I really enjoyed this delightful novel full of joy and can’t wait to read the sequel. In fact, I just noticed it’s also a Big Book, so I think I will start that today.

NOTE: Goodreads has a giveaway (25 copies) of the new sequel, ending at midnight tonight!

My husband, Ken, is down to the last 40 pages of Lonesome Dove (my review at the link). No big surprising plot twists for him because he’d seen the TV mini-series years ago and remembered the major plot points, but he’s been enjoying the book very much.

Our older son, who turns 30 this weekend (!), is still reading book 2 of the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington, An Echo of Things to Come. He started a new job last month and hasn’t had any reading time! He’s loving his new job so far, but it’s keeping him busy. We’re going up to Long Island for the first time next weekend to visit him and his girlfriend and meet her family. Very much looking forward to it!

 __________