What I've read lately
I went on a big reading kick this last month or so. Sure, it meant the laundry didn't get done quite on time, and I had to sacrifice some sleep but...totally worth it!
I'm not sure anyone much cares what I've been reading, but I love looking back at what I've read and using that as a way to find new authors/more books in series I haven't read yet, so I like writing them.
If you are a super-nerd like me, and aren't on Goodreads yet -- umm, get on that! It's a social media for book reading and book lovers, and it's a fantastic way to track what you've read and get others' recommendations. I'm right here if you want to be friends!
Book links are Amazon affiliate - if you purchase from Amazon after clicking through, I get a small percentage back. Thanks for supporting my Prime book addiction!
To the books!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
by George R. R. Martin
You know how last year I spent the last two months binge-reading Game of Thrones way too quickly and ignored all my other responsibilities? Well, this is a different set of stories set 100 years before the stuff in GoT but the same world and the same basic ideas. It's about a knight and his squire, and split into 3 short stories, and it was a great short read -- if you like GoT, that is.
The Cuckoo's Calling
by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
I honestly don't know why it took me so long to finally pick this one up - being two of my favorite things together, anything J.K. Rowling writes + the mystery genre, but I think I was worried I would be disappointed. I WAS NOT. This was clever, and intriguing, and captivating, and so much better than I expected. And Cormoran Strike, the detective, is someone you just want to get to know better. (If you got turned off of J.K.'s other endeavors by her political book, The Casual Vacancy, still give this one a try. Totally amazing.) Highly recommend to all mystery fans and to all J.K. Rowling fans as well. I picked up the next two from the library and I can't wait to crack them open.
The One & Only
by Emily Giffin
I started reading Emily Giffin's fluffy rom-com novels on a whim during the summer of my freshman year of college. They're nothing too special, but somehow manage to capture your imagination and bring real characters to life. This latest one of hers was no exception - centered around a small Texas town obsessed with football, this had Midwest NE football-loving me written (pun intended) all over it. Solid quick read, entertaining, and a sweet ending.
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
I honestly thought I was the only person who hadn't read this one yet - until I saw Britt say the same thing and felt a little better about myself. If you haven't read it yet, it's an indescribable book - something about it sticks with you in a way too deep for words. I wouldn't say it necessarily lived up to *all* the hype I heard, but this book is a serious good read. Prepare to be immersed for a few weeks in a world you can't escape from - I won't say any more to keep the spoilers away.
The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
Not a book for the faint of heart, but another one of those books that sticks with you in a funny way after you're done reading. But this one is more on the thriller/mystery side, something I (obviously) enjoy. Also it looks like it's going to be a movie sometime next year, so that's fascinating!
Agatha Raisin & the Quiche of Death
by M. C. Beaton
On a whim browsing through the mystery section at our library, I came across this series and decided I'd try the first one to see if I liked it. Aaaand since then I've read the first 5 and can't wait to get my hands on more. They're little mysteries set in the style of the Agatha Christie, but updated to the 90s and with quite a different character as the lead (even though her name is also Agatha). Highly recommend if you like quick mysteries set in the English countryside.
Well, that's all I have time to type up right now but there have been, and will be, more where that came from - I got my hands on the next two Cormoran Strike mysteries for vacation next week, as well as some others I've been meaning to try.
What else should I be reading next? Hit me up with your suggestions!
HG
I'm not sure anyone much cares what I've been reading, but I love looking back at what I've read and using that as a way to find new authors/more books in series I haven't read yet, so I like writing them.
If you are a super-nerd like me, and aren't on Goodreads yet -- umm, get on that! It's a social media for book reading and book lovers, and it's a fantastic way to track what you've read and get others' recommendations. I'm right here if you want to be friends!
Book links are Amazon affiliate - if you purchase from Amazon after clicking through, I get a small percentage back. Thanks for supporting my Prime book addiction!
To the books!
by George R. R. Martin
You know how last year I spent the last two months binge-reading Game of Thrones way too quickly and ignored all my other responsibilities? Well, this is a different set of stories set 100 years before the stuff in GoT but the same world and the same basic ideas. It's about a knight and his squire, and split into 3 short stories, and it was a great short read -- if you like GoT, that is.
by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
I honestly don't know why it took me so long to finally pick this one up - being two of my favorite things together, anything J.K. Rowling writes + the mystery genre, but I think I was worried I would be disappointed. I WAS NOT. This was clever, and intriguing, and captivating, and so much better than I expected. And Cormoran Strike, the detective, is someone you just want to get to know better. (If you got turned off of J.K.'s other endeavors by her political book, The Casual Vacancy, still give this one a try. Totally amazing.) Highly recommend to all mystery fans and to all J.K. Rowling fans as well. I picked up the next two from the library and I can't wait to crack them open.
by Emily Giffin
I started reading Emily Giffin's fluffy rom-com novels on a whim during the summer of my freshman year of college. They're nothing too special, but somehow manage to capture your imagination and bring real characters to life. This latest one of hers was no exception - centered around a small Texas town obsessed with football, this had Midwest NE football-loving me written (pun intended) all over it. Solid quick read, entertaining, and a sweet ending.
by Anthony Doerr
I honestly thought I was the only person who hadn't read this one yet - until I saw Britt say the same thing and felt a little better about myself. If you haven't read it yet, it's an indescribable book - something about it sticks with you in a way too deep for words. I wouldn't say it necessarily lived up to *all* the hype I heard, but this book is a serious good read. Prepare to be immersed for a few weeks in a world you can't escape from - I won't say any more to keep the spoilers away.
by Paula Hawkins
Not a book for the faint of heart, but another one of those books that sticks with you in a funny way after you're done reading. But this one is more on the thriller/mystery side, something I (obviously) enjoy. Also it looks like it's going to be a movie sometime next year, so that's fascinating!
by M. C. Beaton
On a whim browsing through the mystery section at our library, I came across this series and decided I'd try the first one to see if I liked it. Aaaand since then I've read the first 5 and can't wait to get my hands on more. They're little mysteries set in the style of the Agatha Christie, but updated to the 90s and with quite a different character as the lead (even though her name is also Agatha). Highly recommend if you like quick mysteries set in the English countryside.
Well, that's all I have time to type up right now but there have been, and will be, more where that came from - I got my hands on the next two Cormoran Strike mysteries for vacation next week, as well as some others I've been meaning to try.
What else should I be reading next? Hit me up with your suggestions!
HG
Yay! Glad you enjoyed Girl on the Train and All the Light We Cannot See. I may give that Rowling one a try... I really hated A Casual Vacancy and couldn't get past pg. 40, so maybe this one will be better :)
ReplyDeleteIt's SO different and SO much better, it's hard to even compare them. I felt like A Casual Vacancy was just her trying too hard to distance herself from HP by being very different and it kind of failed, and then she found a great voice again in the Cormoran Strike novels. Highly highly recommend. :)
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ReplyDeleteOoh, be my friend, be my friend (friend request sent)! I love hearing what other people are reading. Just added a couple of these to my library wish list, so thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love these posts! I seriously fell off the reading for pleasure bandwagon in March and have yet to get back on. I had "All the Light We Cannot See" checked out for weeks from the library...and have to bring it back within the next few days and know I won't be able to get through it so I haven't even started. Whenever I get my act together and start reading more often, I'll have to join Goodreads for sure!
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