I offer a heartfelt thank you to the members of the blogging community who offered words of encouragement and support last week when I was feeling stuck in the reading mud. You inspired me to push through (and made it OK if I had decided to give up.) I did finish Americanah, and I’m glad I didn’t give up. Now on to more books, more plans and more reviews.
Thanks to Miz B at Should Be Reading for hosting. I have discovered so many other wonderful blogs through this book-loving meme.
I’d love to know what everyone is reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…(or post a link to your blog.)
• 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 Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for a couple of years. I finally chose it because one of my Goodreads reading groups is doing a Diane Chamberlain author challenge. Right away I know that it’s not a typical Alena read, but it feels good to read something easier to digest after some of the heavy reads lately. I’m not sure I’m buying the premise behind this story, but I’m curious to see where it goes.
What did you recently finish reading? I read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (another title that had been languishing on my TBR) for my in-person Book Club and I’m so glad I did. Dan Brown meets Harry Potter meets book nerds all set against a computer geek backdrop. A really enjoyable read. I also finished the above-mentioned Americanah, The Invention of Wings (reviewed yesterday) and the audio version of The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress, which moved a little slowly for my taste.
What do you think you’ll read next? I’m beyond excited to dive into Close Your Eyes Hold Hands, Chris Bohjalian’s first foray into YA fiction, which is getting incredible reviews. I’ve been slowly making my way through this author’s enormous body of work while still keeping up with his new releases. He’s a solid writer who tells really interesting stories. Hope to start that this weekend. Also beginning a new audio today. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches is the 6th installment in the Flavia de Luce mysteries, which have charmed me each time. Outstanding narration of really great books. Looking forward to getting in the car each day.
All in all, I got a lot of reading done this week.
How about you?
What are your W…W…W… titles?
alenaslife 
You got tons of reading done! Good for you!!! I’ve heard good things about Mr. Penumbra and I think I will have to put in on my TBR list!! Here’s my Wednesday offering http://hollykerr.ca/www-wednesday-whats-im-reading-writing/
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Great to hear Holly. I was surprised at how much I liked it. It feels both fresh and familiar at the same time.
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Everyone who’s read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore’s raved about it! Time to officially add it to my TBR pile. 🙂
The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress sounds a little pedantic… was the ending worth the slow pace the story moved at?
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Thanks for the comments. Hooray on Penumbra.
I liked the atmosphere and the real life mystery behind The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress — I just don’t think the author did a great job of building suspense. Maybe it’s the fault of the audio and my short car rides. I think if I had sat with the printed version for longer stretches of time, the pacing might have felt better.
Both suffer from too-tidy endings, but if I had to pick, I say Penumbra for sure.
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Close Your Eyes Hold Hands sounds intriguing.
My WWW is here:
http://newhorizonreviews.blogspot.com/2014/07/wwwwednesdays-1.html
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Thanks for sharing your link Michelle.
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I’ve been considering adding ’24 Hour Bookstore’ to my list for a while and you’ve finally pushed me over the edge! I’m a budding Bohjalian fan as well. I saw him speak a few months ago and he mentioned ‘Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands’ a few times. I hope to read it eventually, but I still have ‘Midwives’ on my shelf.
Here’s my WWW: http://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/www-wednesday-9-july-2014-2/
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Oh I loved Midwives! I was hoping to attend Bohjalian’s Chicago book tour stop, but it turns out I’ll be on vacation. Kind of bummed about that.
I hope you enjoy Penumbra.
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Dan Brown meets Harry Potter meets book nerds. I must read this. 🙂
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I’m glad that description worked for you. I didn’t know how else to describe it.
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I liked both Mr. Penumbra and the new Bohjalian book! I’ve had the CeeCee Wilkes on my shelf for a while, so I will interested to hear what you think of it. I’ve read several books by Chris Bohjalian, and this new one is one of my favourites! Happy Reading!
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I can’t believe I haven’t read Mr. Penumbra yet. It sounds so good! I just finished reading High as the Horses’ Bridles by Scott Cheshire, and I really enjoyed it. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to read next! I’m thinking maybe In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides.
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I just discovered this meme when I found your blog a few weeks ago, and it I absolutely love it! I just finished Trouble (Non Pratt), I’m currently reading Me Before You (JoJo Moyes), and I’m planning on reading All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr) next!
Like you, I’m in a bit of reading mud with I Know this Much is True (Wally Lamb) and City of Thieves (David Benioff). Before I get started on Doerr’s new book, I think I’m going to have to push through and finish these two guys once and for all.
Have a great Wednesday!
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I LOVED Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore. Such an original book! Sooo delightful!
I just finished Jennifer, Gwyneth and Me which was actually super insightful and excellent. I’m currently reading The Girls From Corona del Mar. I started it this morning and I’m totally hooked. And next….I think I’ll crack The Humans for my book club.
I’m glad you stuck with Americanah and that you were happy to have followed through! We’ve all gotta have a couple of those books every year.
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Glad to hear that your slump is over! 🙂
Mr Penumbra has been on my TBR list forever. I’m also looking forward to Americanah, but I’m just not sure when I’m going to get to either of these. So many books. . .
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Oh So many books. Penumbra is a much easier read than Americanah, but still meaty enough to be satisfying.
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Looks like you’ve had some really good reading time! I really enjoy Diane Chamberlain’s writing, so I hope you’re enjoying her book!
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I am looking forward to getting back into it tonight. I like her writing style.
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I am definitely going to check out Close your Eyes and Hold Hands just as soon as I finish We Were Liars and Winter’s Tale. But, before I can tackle those, I have to finish grading exams. I can only do a few at a time after working all day at my other job so I’ve got a day or two left on that! I read CeeCee Wilkes and a couple other Chamberlaine novels. I liked them just fine but just for a quick read. There was one I liked better than the others but the name escapes me at the moment. I’m sure it will come to me at a super inconvenient time, like 3am when I’m trying to sleep or something! Love your WWW lists, I’m always interested in what other people are reading!
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Thanks for the comments Hollie. Sounds like you have a ton on your plate. I agree (so far) about Chamberlain, but I think that’s why the timing is good for me. I need a little intensity break in my book choices.
Necessary Lies is the other Chamberlain book that seems to have a lot of buzz around it. Was that what you were thinking of?
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I read fluff books in between more serious ones all the time. It was Secret Lives. She isn’t going to win a Pulitzer for it by any means, but it had interesting characters. I read it before The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes so that may have been part of why I preferred it… by the time I got to CeeCee I was over Chamberlain.
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You’re a trooper getting through that reading mud! I have been stuck for some time but still trying as I can to get free. : ) I so want to read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore for all the reasons you mentioned. And I didn’t realize Bohjalian’s was YA! Though I wasn’t particularly fond of his Secrets of Eden, I’m definitely game for checking out something else! : )
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I didn’t read Secrets of Eden so that’s good to know. He’s written so much. I’ve only read 3 or 4.
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Ummm Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore sounds awesome! I’d heard the name before but didn’t know what it was about. Just added it to my Goodreads to-read shelf 🙂 Here’s my WWW, happy Wednesday! http://heartofsultana.com/2014/07/09/www-wednesday-7-9-14/
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I have been wanting to read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore for a long time. It just sounds so good. You will have to tell me how you like it!
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I really, really liked it but it’s hard to pinpoint why. It’s unusual, crazy, bookish old-fashioned and modern. As you can tell I haven’t been able to compose a cohesive review.
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So good to hear you are back in the reading saddle. I read the Diane Chamberlain which I enjoyed although it isn’t a typical reading choice for me. Thanks for visiting my WWW http://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/www-wednesday-july-9/
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Yes, Chamberlain feels more Lifetime movie than my typical read, but I am engrossed in the story, which is all that matters right now. I admit I’m more excited by my next book, the new Chris Bohjalian.
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