Thursday, January 23, 2014

On My Reading List

It's been a while since I've posted an update on my current readings. The books have changed, but the chaos remains--I'm still reading a bunch at once. Is it bad that I also have about ten sitting in an Amazon wishlist? Oh well. No apologies. Here's what you'll find me reading through lately:



1. East of the Mountains by David Guterson. I haven't gotten very far into this yet, but I loved Snow Falling on Cedars and The Other (which remains one of my favorite novels of all time). His descriptions of the Northwest are beautiful, and I can already tell that this book--about a man diagnosed with terminal cancer who goes off into the forest to end his life--is going to wreck me.

2.  These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf. Gudenkauf's first book, The Weight of Silence is always on my list of books to give people looking for reading recommendations. I love books that keep me guessing, trying to predict the ending, and this is definitely one of those.  Don't worry, though, I won't give away any possible spoilers by divulging my guesses. 

3. Foxfire #1 by Eliot Wigginton. My mom got me the first two books in this series (which I've been coveting for awhile now) for Christmas. These are my go-to for a quick read; if you aren't familiar with them, the Foxfire books are a series of articles about rural Appalachia. They were produced in the 70s by Eliot Wigginton, who was an English teacher; the articles were written by his class as part of a project and include interviews with locals about daily life, history, folklore, and instructions on everything from blacksmithing to natural medicine. They're incredibly interesting. 

4. Plantagenet England by Michael Prestwich. This really doesn't need an explanation.  Right now I'm reading about the weather in the 1200s and loving every second. (And yes, the book is so comprehensive it addresses the weather.)

5.  The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). As much as I love crime dramas on television, I really don't like reading them much (with the notable exception of my John Grisham phase in high school). This just might be the one that changes my mind, though. I also got this one for Christmas, so I'm not too far in, but I'm definitely hooked. If I had to guess, I would say this will be the book I finish first. Unless, that is, you count.....

6. Locke & Key #5: Clockworks by Joe Hill. I know this is going to come out eventually, so I'll just cop to it now: Tyler has managed to get me interested in graphic novels. Before you go all Judgey McJudgerson like I did, just know that (1) there are no superheros involved and (2) this is written by Stephen King's son. Yes, it's a little bit out there (you caught the part where it was written by Stephen King's son, right?), but it's good, you guys. Stop looking at me like that. 

I think The Fault in Our Stars by John Green will be joining this list next. I'm open to suggestions, too. What are you reading now? 


9 comments :

  1. I'm reading Hollow City the second novel of Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children, and then i have a huge list of book i want to read.

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    1. I'm so glad you left this comment, because I didn't realize that was out yet, and I ordered it immediately after seeing this! :)

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  2. I added The Other and These Things Hidden to my goodreads list 'to read'! Thank you so much for the suggestions! I'm currently reading The Explanation for Everything by Lauren Grodstein (still on the fence about it!), but I just read Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan and LOVED it. I also read The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Shneider and really enjoyed it in the same way one might enjoy John Green's books.

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    1. I've heard such great things about Brain on Fire! I'll have to add that one to the list too!

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  3. I've been looking for new books to read... thanks for the suggestions!

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  4. I loved Cuckoo's Calling. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was so happy with it. As to John Green, I really loved Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherine's, but sadly I wasn't thrilled with TFIOS. Maybe because there is so much hype around it now?

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    1. I AM a little bit worried about it being hyped so much. I've tried to avoid reading much about it because sometimes that really ruins books for me. :-/

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  5. You only have about 10 sitting in your wishlist? My wishlist is two pages! And Cuckoo's Calling is on that list. I can't wait to read it.

    Right now I'm reading: I Am Malala, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, Believing God, and probably some others I can't remember. Also, I see A Thousand Splendid Suns on the bookshelf in the back. That is also on my reading list. :)
    I have lots.

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    1. Well, I only have about 10 in my wishlist, because I'm a compulsive book-buyer. Eeek! I tend to justify that habit by saying, "Well, I know I'll read it eventually, so I might as well buy it now...." which means I also have almost one hundred (literally) books in my 600+ collection that I haven't read yet! So my to-read list is much much much longer! Haha. I Am Malala is actually one I haven't bought yet but would love to read. I've seen interviews with her, and she is just such an amazing, inspiring girl.

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