This best describes my reading pace lately. It’s not that I’m not reading; I read every single day. I’m just reading painfully slow. I don’t know if it’s the books or me or a combination but it’s starting annoy me. I know it’s not a race. But still. You guys understand.
As always, make sure to visit my co-host, Steph, and some of the other bloggers joining in. Maybe visit someone you haven’t before. Nonbloggers, let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading. And mark your calendars for 3/13 for the next one.
Now, the paltry sum of 7 books I’ve read since the last time we all met.
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens. I liked this book. A LOT. It was everything I enjoy. Good writing, interesting and compelling story, great characters, mystery, conflict…all of it. Then the last 100 pages happened and it went off the rails into superfluous nonsense and too much story and trying way too hard to be action packed and just way too hard in general. It did cal itself down for the last 10 pages or so, which was nice. I still wound up liking but didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. This is a mystery that’s less about being a mystery and a thriller and more about being a commentary on family, secrets, racism, choices, and how they all intersect. It’s not an easy book to read, and there’s a ton going on (sometimes too much and it’s hard to keep track) but it’s engaging and interesting and well written. I didn’t love the ending, it seemed a little too neat within the context of the rest of the plot, but also open ended enough for another book. Which I’d happily read.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone. This is a Very Good Book about Very Important Things and I’m glad she wrote it and did so specifically for teenagers, It talks to them about issues in a way that they’ll understand and makes sense in their world. Doesn’t mean adults can’t read it but unlike The Hate U Give, which this book is often compared to, adults might not appreciate it as much. It feels juvenile. Which it should. YA books sometimes need to be written for that particular audience. They need to see themselves in literature. And in the book, the kids’ frustrations and anger are palpable and it’s maddening that this is the world we live in.
The Road Out of Hell by Anthony Flacco. I saw this on BuzzFeed(?) as described as the most disturbing book you’ll ever read. Awesome! Sign me up! And it was disturbing. Gross, horrifying, and also true. And I love some true crime. But something about this book was lacking. I think it was the writing. It just didn’t connect for me. I’m not sure if it’s his style or the way he dragged out certain parts, especially the end, or what but while the story is fascinating, it deserved a better telling. Oh, and Brother by Ania Ahlborn is WAY MORE disturbing.
The Dry by Jane Harper. I’m totally late to the party on this one but I liked every single thing about it. The plot, the writing, the characters, the setting. All of it. It’s such a well-done book, and exactly what a thriller should be. There’s really nothing left to say except I can’t wait until the library forks over the next one.
The Blinds by Adam Sternbergh. You know how when you watch a puppy it’s like the cutest most awesome thing but it’s also a disaster? That’s this book. The premise is fantastic but it’s all over the place. The writing felt like three different people wrote it, the plot was more consistent than the writing but there were too many damn people and I hated the character names. It read like LOST meets Welcome to Night Vale meets The Pines which is cool but also a hot mess. But also great.
The Comedown by Rebekah Frumkin. ARC from NetGalley. I don’t know what I think. I loved the main plot and how it read like Did You Ever Have a Family or the movie Crash, exploring the way different lives are interconnected by one single event or person and the ramifications of those and how even people that seem insignificant actually are. Her writing is excellent and I loved her respect and honoring of Judaism (like taking out the “o” when writing G-d. If you want an explanation as to why we do this, I’m happy to explain). But the extended backstories of each character was tedious and annoying. I think it’s a definite add to the TBR but also take your time.
TL;DR: Add The Dry if you haven’t read it, Bluebird, Bluebird, and The Blinds. The rest are good but not must-adds.
Currently reading The Breakdown with 13 Minutes, Providence, and a couple of others TBD on deck. P.S. Providence is the new Caroline Kepnes book. There’s no Joe but I’m excited to read it anyway.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and show us your books!
Loading InLinkz ...
Comments
Trackbacks
-
[…] great books, so of course, I’ll be participating in the Show Us Your Books Link-Up hosted by Jana and Steph. I can’t wait to see what great books everyone has read this past month. And okay, […]
-
[…] my opinions? Or just tell me something good you’ve read recently. And of course check out the link up to see what everyone else has been […]
I really liked The Life We Bury because I loved Jeremy and Joe and it took place in Austin and Minneapolis, MN and I’ve lived in both cities. I unfairly give extra points to books that take place in Minnesota. 😀 But I do have vague memories of it getting a little crazy towards the end. You’ve got me very curious about the Road Out of Hell, so adding it to my TBR. The Dry is already on my TBR but from your review, it sounds like I need to get on that soon!
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…January Bookshelf: The Murder, Mayhem and Mischief-Making Month
I loved The Dry and have already been hearing good things about the second. Her writing is so good. Dear Martin is going on my list after you and Steph both mentioned it. I’m okay with the YAness.
Heather recently posted…Short Book Reviews – Show us Your Books link up!
I do plan to read Dear Martin soon – I get what you mean about it being FOR the young adult audience though. Some YA books don’t cross-over well, but that’s okay!
I actually reviewed The Breakdown for my Show Us Your Books post.
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books: February 2018
I can relate to reading slow sometimes and finding it so frustrating. I haven’t read any of these books, but The Dry sounds familiar so I’ll have to check it out.
Carly recently posted…Carly Reads Here | Winter 2018
Glad you liked The Life We Bury! I enjoyed that one a lot but I do also agree it went a bit off the rails then redeemed itself. The good outweighed the bad heavily enough for me though. Amazon keeps recommending The Dry to me…guess I’ll add it to my TBR!
Gina || On the Daily Express
Your definition of The Blinds is hilarious 🙂
Did we read the same book list on Buzzfeed? I found a very disturbing book in one of their list took, I haven’t finished it, but my god, it has been one of the most disturbing books I have read ! It’s called Identical..
I still haven’t read The Dry, but it’s on my ever growing list, and eventually I’ll get around to it! I know how you feel about reading slowly! I feel like that’s been a problem for me lately too!
Ashley The Wandering Weekenders recently posted…Show Us Your Books- What I Read In January
Dear martin seems to be making the rounds this month I see.
I just said I dont know how some people do it – I see lists of like 10 books on each month. I feel like a ROCK STAR if I get 3 books in a month – if I get 4 in, stand back – I’m strutting like the queen. Or more like Queen. Freddy did have some moves.
Rebecca Jo recently posted…Show Us Your Books – February 2018
I had similar feelings about The Blinds. Such a great premise! But… it was kind of a train wreck for me. I also agree about The Dry. I never used to be into the mystery/thriller genre but there have been some good ones like this one, and pretty much everything by Tana French, that make me a lot more on board. I’m intrigued by Bluebird, Bluebird too.
Shea recently posted…Valentine’s Day Mommy and Me Style
i felt the exact same way about the life we bury. i was super into it and then towards the end i was like wtf am i reading? when did this become an action book?
OK so you and Steph both said the same things about Dear Martin so I will hold off on it for a bit because The Hate U Give is too fresh in my memory and I don’t want to compare too much. There were parts of THUG that I felt went over my head as an ‘adult’, like the slang and stuff.
The Dry is on my TBR so glad you liked it!
I do like thrillers, I’ll have to add The Dry to my list
I loved The Dry, there’s another one in that series. I requested it from the library. Or put it on an Amazon wish list late at night. I can’t remember and I should investigate where it is or it will never come from the library. LOL.
I shiver over mere mention of The Brother.
Felt the same about Martin and that’s a good description for The Blinds.
SMD recently posted…Book Love is True Love: Show Us Your Books February 2018
Loving all of your comparisons to other things here. Already had windows open for Bluebird, Bluebird and The Dry before I got to the end of the post. PS, as you already know, seven books does not sound glacial to anyone else! I think I read seven this month and was like WHOA how did I do that? But one was like 20 pages soooo…
Lauren recently posted…books lately: 2018 so far
I tried reading The Dry but I couldn’t get into it. Maybe I’ll give it another shot!
I’m adding The Life We Bury and Bluebird, Bluebird! I almost requested The Comedown from NetGalley. I think I’ll go back and do it.
I feel the same about reading super slow lately! My mind just can’t focus. Adding The Dry to my list.
Somehow I managed to not have The Dry on my TBR?? So totally adding that right now! I hate when I get really pumped as I am reading a book and then it falls flat. You still knocked out a lot of books this month even if it was slow reading.
Nadine recently posted…Books
I have The Dry on my bookshelf ready to be read when I’m in the mood to read a book that’s part of a series.
Olya @ The Siberian American recently posted…Seven Books I Read in January
I keep forgetting to add The Life We Bury to my TBR list. Arghhhh…. Adding it right now!
Mackenzie recently posted…As The Page Turns: 2018 Reads So Far…
I was so excited to add The Dry to my TBR list, until I saw that it was already there. Thank you Goodreads for being the brain that I obviously don’t have right now!
So pretty much I’ve been reading slowly too and I’m so annoyed! I know it’s not a race. I tell myself that every day but still! Haha
I feel like I’ve been reading at a glacial pace the last couple of weeks as well. I’ve been tracking my page numbers this year (more out of curiosity than anything), and last week I read 29 pages on Monday and 16 pages on Tuesday. I guess I’m still reading, but that’s kind of ridiculous.
I’ve had The Dry on my list for a while. I may have to bump it up. I also have The Life We Bury and Dear Martin, though as I mentioned in my comment to Steph, I’m a little bummed that Dear Martin is on the younger side of YA. I mean, obviously the intended audience for YA novels is young adults … But I typically don’t enjoy the younger YA books as much.
I think I added everything else you listed here. Haha. I like true crime sometimes, and even if it’s not the best book, I’d be interested in checking it out. I know nothing about that particular story. I have to also admit that I first read that title as The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson, and I was like, “Oh, what did you think of it?” I read that back in high school (I think), and I still have my copy. It was … Weird. And funny. And sometimes awful. Basically everything you’d expect an autobiography written by Marilyn Manson to be.
Kristen recently posted…10 Things I Like to See in Fictional Love Stories
Bummer that The Road Out of Hell was a miss because I love true crime too. I’ll have to see if the library has Dry.
The Dry is good, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series 🙂
The Dry was a DNF for me, but it was during a rough time, so I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it again. I think the next one is out this spring?
You’re late to The Dry but I hadn’t even heard of it until now! Just added it to my to-read list. Dear Martin made my best of 2017 list but I agree it’s definitely more YA than The Hate U Give.
Nancy @ NY Foodie Family recently posted…January 2018 Reads
Thanks for the great suggestions, Jana! I’ll be sure to add a couple of them to my list. I too have been reading slowly. Much slower than you in fact. Seven books in one month is impressive to me! I absolutely loved The Dry as well. I actually had no idea it was going to be a part of a series til now. I’m excited : )
I watched Crash once and was so confused! Ha. Maybe I will read The Comedown anyway.
My post won’t be up until tomorrow. Work got in the way yesterday and today there was something else I wanted to post. *Sigh*.
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…35 before 35: Progress report #8
I bought The Dry a few months ago but I haven’t had time to crack it open yet. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, though. Seven books is still far and beyond what I accomplish 😉
Audrey recently posted…What I Read…
Adding The Dry to the list! Bluebird, Bluebird also sounds interesting – so I’m going to add that one too!
Clearly Buzzfeed underestimated what it takes fir us to consider something unusually disturbing in 2018!
I had a couple of weeks in January where I felt like I was reading really slowly and I was getting worried because I’m trying to do a reading challenge where I read 100,000 pages in one year. I have to keep up a pretty quick reading pace to be able to get to my page goal each day. But it turned out to be the books I was reading. I’ve been able to read much faster this week.
I had the same feelings about my reading lately too. I’ll look at a book and be like, “that’s all I’ve read?!” Here is to hoping for a better month!
Alison Puppies and Pretties recently posted…Red, Plaid and Navy
I need to read the Dry!!! Interesting to know about the Blinds. Maybe I’ll skip it. Pam 🙂
Pam recently posted…Show Us Your Books (SUYB) January 2018
I’m in the minority on this one.. .but I was bored with The Dry. I wanted to love it.. so so much. I’m not sure if it is because it’s A LOT like In Cold Blood and I was reading it right before that? I still need to finish that. But the plot is so similar. Rural agricultural town? Check. Senseless murder of whole family? Check. By Shotgun? Check. Yeah it felt similar. I also figured out who did it which didn’t help. Oh well. Everyone else loved it, so that’s good. 😛 I may check out the next one, because I want to read more mysteries, and love that they are set in Australia. I want to read Dear Martin soon! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things