All posts in category W… W… W… Wednesdays

W…W…W…Wednesday

After the long weekend, Wednesday has come earlier than usual. But here I am ready to talk books.

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I welcome you to play along. Just answer the following questions:

  • What are you reading?
  • What did you just finish?
  • What do you plan to read next?

What are you reading? I am just about finished with Vampires in the Lemon Grove  by Karen Russell. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like these stories. I thought I should, but they didn’t really click for me until about a third of the way through. Then they just kept getting better. I like her odd sense of the world and the strength of her female characters. On audio, I’m listening to The Secret Keeper, my first Kate Morton. I’m a little intimidated by its length, but it’s off to a great start.

What did you just finish? Finished The Family Fang for the second time. I could rhapsodize about how much I love this quirky look at modern family and the true meaning of art, but I like to keep this Wednesday post rolling along. (You can check out more of my Fang fandom on Goodreads.) On audio, I finished The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg. Listening to her was like having a good friend in the car telling me entertaining stories. I wasn’t blown away, but it was a very pleasant way to pass the commute.

What will you read next? I’m not sure, but I would really like to be blown away by a book. It hasn’t happened to me yet in 2013. The top two books on my To-Read list are Mudbound and Me Before You, which have both received stellar reviews and high recommendations from readers I trust.

How about you?

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by alenaslife on February 20, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on February 20, 2013

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/w-w-w-wednesday-12/

W…W…W…Wednesday

I’ll tell you mine and you tell me yours.

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I’d love to know what everyone is reading. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? In paperback I am rereading one of my favorite books, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson. It topped my 2011 books and I’m happy to report that it’s just as good the second time around. On audio I’m listening to Elizabeth Berg‘s The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted — a short story collection. It started off really strong, but 5 of 7 discs in, I’m getting a little tired of her voice.

What did you recently finish reading? Finally got around to reading The Catcher in the Rye, which I didn’t love. Also finished Junot Diaz, This is How You Lose Her, which I liked despite not liking the primary narrator.

What do you think you’ll read next? I have no idea what I’ll read next, which is sort of refreshing. I’ll hit the library later today and see what strikes my fancy. It’s not like I don’t have options with 300+ titles on my Goodreads To-Read shelf.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on February 13, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on February 13, 2013

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/w-w-w-wednesday-11/

W…W…W…Wednesday

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Where do the weeks go? It’s Wednesday again Feel free to play along. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? The Casual Vacancy, which received a lot of flak for its bevy of unlikable characters, but I’m liking them so far. Not sure what it says about me, but I love the small-town politics and intrigue. Listening to the 3rd installment of the Flavia de Luce series, A Red Herring Without Mustard, and enjoying it immensely. Flavia always brings a smile to my face. Also from J.K. Rowling, my sons and I are on the last disc of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. We are definitely on the edge of our seats at the moment. These books are a real thrill.

What did you recently finish reading? Finished an advanced copy of a disturbing new memoir, With or Without You, by Dominca Ruta. Sometimes reading about another person’s crazy scary childhood makes me feel like my life has pretty much been a cakewalk. Also read The Newlyweds, which was a very interesting novel about a Bengali bride trying to make a marriage and life in America work, all the while missing her family in Bangladesh. (That is a really simple sentence about a really complex book.)

What do you think you’ll read next? Eager to start This is How You Lose Her on audio and The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving in hardback. I’ve been wanting to read both for a long time.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on January 16, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on January 16, 2013

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/w-w-w-wednesday-10/

W…W…W…Wednesday

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Another Wednesday has arrived. (Does this week seem endless to anyone else?) At least it’s an excuse to talk books (as if I need one). Feel free to play along. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Learning a lot about Bangladesh and the immigrant experience in The Newlyweds, a good suggestion from a good friend. Just started to listen to A Red Herring without Mustard, #3 in the Flavia de Luce series. I adore Flavia and the audio version is perfect for the car – I only wish I had a longer commute.

What did you recently finish reading? Finally finished the audio version of The Chaperone. There is so much to like about this book, but ultimately it was too much for me. I wanted a more narrow focus and more about Cora & Louise instead of mentioning every historical touchstone in the 20th Century. Loved The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. Just a beautiful, thoughtful book. It too spans much of the century, but to much greater effect.

What do you think you’ll read next? Just received noticed that The Casual Vacancy has finally arrived for me at the library. That will have to be next. My friends and critics I trust are evenly divided on this novel so I look forward to adding my two cents.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on January 9, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on January 9, 2013

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W…W…W…Wednesday

It’s the first Wednesday of 2013. You know what that means? (Really, it means back to work and the end of vacation for me, but it’s also a great day for a book post). Feel free to play along. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? I’m half-way through The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis. The book was a Christmas gift, well-chosen and very engaging. Still trying to finish the audio version of Laura Moriarty‘s The Chaperone. This is a LONG book — really good, but I’m ready for it to be over.

What did you recently finish reading? Finished Michael Chabon‘s Telegraph Avenue, which I wanted to love, but didn’t. Despite his often brilliant prose, I found the details and cultural references bogged the narrative down and prevented me from really engaging with the characters. On the other hand, I kicked off 2013 with a graphic-style memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. I love a good memoir and Alison Bechdel‘s coming-out story fit the bill, although I’m not sure about the comic-strip approach.

What do you think you’ll read next? I’m determined to read Kate Morton soon. I also have an ARC of With or Without You. being released on February 26, that I should read and review. It’s so great to feel like 2013 is wide open with book possibilities.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on January 2, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on January 2, 2013

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/w-w-w-wednesday-9/

W…W…W…Wednesday

Wednesday is back again. Gee it feels like just a week ago when I was working on this particular Q & A. Feel free to play along. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? I just started Molly Ringwald‘s short story collection, When It Happens to You. It was a very impulsive choice when I saw it on the shelf at the library. I’ve only read the first story, but it’s pretty good so far. For my audio choice I needed an author whose name starts with “M” for a book group challenge. I was hoping for Kate Morton but couldn’t find anything, so I settled on Laura Moriarty‘s The Chaperone. It’s gotten mixed reviews, but I’m pleased to listen to Elizabeth Montgomery reading the novel.

What did you recently finish reading? Over the weekend I finished Sebastian Barry‘s On Canaan’s Side, which is just a terrific novel. Thoughtful, intelligent and evocative.  Also finished Dennis Lehane‘s Live by Night on audio. Great escape into Prohibition era gangster-controlled Tampa.

What do you think you’ll read next? Now that I’ve met my 90-book goal for 2012, I feel like the pressure is off my reading choices. I haven’t put anything on hold, but I may try Telegraph Avenue next. I also want to read Stone Diaries since Carol Shields made my Best of 2012 reading list.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on December 12, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on December 12, 2012

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/w-w-w-wedesday/

W…W…W…Wednesday

When in blogging doubt, just play a game. It’s Wednesday everyone and since I’m trying to get back in the writing groove, I thought I’d bring back a favorite Q & A. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Reading Sebastian Barry’s On Canaan’s Side, which may be contributing to my sluggish reading pace. It’s dense and wordy and thoughtful without much action — but it’s so, so good. I was a big fan of another of his novel’s The Secret Scripture and I think he’s just going to be one of those authors I can count on when I’m in the mood. Listening to another wordy writer, Dennis Lehane, on audio. Live by Night is a sort of continuation of The Given Day — mob meets immigration meets human rights meets film noir.

What did you recently finish reading? Last week I read Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, which was pretty great. I also finished my Ann Patchett Project, reading the only one left on my personal list, Taft. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Glad I completed the project but I’m Patchetted out.

What do you think you’ll read next? I’m going to listen to something by Kate Morton next, to fulfill a challenge I’m attempting with my Goodreads book group. I’m open to suggestions, but may just choose from what’s available on the library shelf.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on December 5, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on December 5, 2012

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/w-w-w-wednesday-8/

W…W…W…Wednesday

It’s W…W…W…Wednesday. For me, it’s also the start of a 5-day weekend. Looking forward to tucking into some good books. What about you? To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Reading the final pages of Taft by Ann Patchett. Earlier this year I endeavored to read all of her books by December. This is the last novel on my list. In typical Patchett fashion, I’m caught up in the people and the place. Not her best piece of work, but a good read. Listening to Dennis Lehane‘s Live by Night. This is a follow-up (sort of) to his novel The Given Day in that some of the same characters show up. This story is more Boardwalk Empire than historical fiction, but I’m loving it nonetheless.

What did you recently finish reading? I absolutely fell in love with Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt. (See my previous post for my rave review and then, please, read it yourself.) On the other hand, I had to give up on the audio version of All the Pretty Horses. Cormack McCarthy remains one of those great authors I’ve never read.

What do you think you’ll read next? Next up, one of my favorite authors. I just got Barbara Kingsolver‘s new novel, Flight Behavior. I also have a new short story collection by Alice Munro.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on November 21, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on November 21, 2012

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/w-w-w-wednesday-7/

W…W…W…Wednesday

I’m back with a new W…W…W…Wednesday. Sorry that last Wednesday just got away from me. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Almost finished with The Perks of Being a Wallflower which I am loving. There’s something so comforting about YA, where all the emotions are broiling right there on the surface. It’s both easy and satisfying. My audio choice, on the other hand, is the dense and mysterious All the Pretty Horses. I’m not sure I’ll make it through 10 discs, but I feel a responsibility to read Cormac McCarthy.

What did you recently finish reading? Took me a while to finish Chris Cleave‘s Gold, but I really enjoyed it. Aso finished the audio version of Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen. She’s simply a terrific essayist.

What do you think you’ll read next? Next in hardcover, the completion of my Ann Patchett Project. I finally have a copy of Taft. But Tell the Wolves I’m Home is calling my name too.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

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by alenaslife on November 14, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by alenaslife on November 14, 2012

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/w-w-w-wednesday-6/

W…W…W…Wednesday

It’s Wednesday. Some say Hump Day. Some say Halloween. I say it’s time to play a little book game. Just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Just started Chris Cleave‘s Gold, which has been on my list for some time. Listening to the last disc of Fool by Christopher Moore. It’s his raunchy retelling of King Lear. So funny, so clever, plus the bonus of narration of Euan Morton. A true delight.

What did you recently finish reading? Finally finished The Forgetting Tree by Tatjana Soli. I loved her book The Lotus Eaters but couldn’t quite get in the groove of this one. Some excellent writing, but I never connected to the two main characters. Took me a full week to read. That could have been because I paused to read the excellent short story collection, Astray, by Emma Donoghue. She took tidbits from historical documents about immigrants and castaways and created moving and interesting stories about them. I highly recommend for short story or historical fiction lovers.

What do you think you’ll read next? I’m planning to start the audio version of Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen. I own the book version but never got to it so I’m hoping the audio will be a good one. Next in hardcover, the completion of my Ann Patchett Project. I finally have a copy of Taft.

What are your W…W…W… titles?

5 Comments
by alenaslife on October 31, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Ann Patchett Project, Reading, W... W... W... Wednesdays
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Posted by alenaslife on October 31, 2012

http://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/w-w-w-wednesday-5/

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