What I'm Reading

Here's What I've Been Reading Lately......

What's on your nightstand?

"One Woman Farm," by Jenna Woginrich......

"Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend," by Matthew Dicks......

"Brain on Fire-My Month of Madness," by Susannah Cahalan.  This is the autobiographical story of Susannah Cahalan, a twenty-four-year-old journalist, who while living in New York and writing for the New York Post, suddenly, starts acting and behaving very unlike herself.  Her friends and co-workers begin to question her state of mind and after several seizures her family admits her to the hospital.  She remains hospitalized for a month while doctors struggle to diagnose her.  

This story is insightful, sad, and at times humorous.  But, mostly, it's a testament to her family's fight for her survival.  Her mother simply would not give up.  Nor would the doctor who finally diagnosed her, and ultimately, saved her life.  It's also a strong reminder to cherish everyday.  Because you just never know...

"Shadow of Night," by Deborah Harkness.  This is second book in the all souls trilogy and I have to say it's taking me much longer to read than the first one.   I devoured "A Discovery of Witches" (book one) by planting myself on the couch for an entire day, and reading late into the night for a few nights.  And while, yes, it was about vampires (a subject I vowed never to read about again after reading the Twilight Series with Anna) it also contained witches, daemons, and good old humans.  And a lot of history as the author is, herself, a historian.  It also asked these questions:  IF there are others among us, how do they really live?  What do they do during the day/nights, centuries to keep themselves busy?  I mean haunting and sucking the blood from humans can only be entertaining for so long.  So, of course, they study, they find work. They form relationships.  And, yes, they even fall in love.  (a little too quickly, in my opinion, but maybe that's just how it goes when one falls in love with a vampire)

Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern is what I'm currently reading. And it's so lovely. So magical, so enchanting from the costumes, the drama, to the circus itself. I'm eager to see how this love story unfolds and hopeful the love is in fact real and not just another illusion....

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It took me two tries to get into this book. I don't know why. I just didn't have the mind-set the first time, I guess. When I finally connected, though, I LOVED it. The suffering this man (and so many others) endured during WWII is unimaginable. Even that doesn't seem the right word to describe his experiences. While luck definitely played a role in his survival, his unbreakable spirit is what really saved him. Read it. You won't regret it.

The Nesbo phase is done. I will miss Harry. :(

Any, and all things Jo Nesbo-still!

The Snowman: done.. and wonderfully dark

The Leopard: done...OMG the Leopold Apple? Yikes! Read it!

The Phantom: just begun, but hopeful Rakel will return, for good, to Harry's life

Oh and FYI: I learned Harry's last name is pronounced Hool.  Think I like Hole better....seems to fit him better :)

Okay I finished The Redbreast and I am in LOVE with these books. Harry Hole (ugh...still hate his name) is one tough, do it his way or the highway, kind of Norwegian Cop. And he gets things done. Immediately after finishing this book, I visited my library and picked up the only other Nesbo book, The Devil's Star. And it was great! I thought it was the second Hole novel, because it went on to clear up a murder from Redbreast, but it was actually the third. So NOW I'm reading Nemesis, the second Hole novel. And, hey, if you're into Author Readings, I hear Nesbo is going to be in Poulsbo on Nov. 2nd at 6:30. In case you're feeling like you need a little lefse or something. Happy Reading!

I have become hooked on mysteries lately. So if you're looking for a good whodunnit, try: 

Tana French's Broken Harbor or 

Bill Loehfelm's novels: Fresh Kills, and The Devil She knows.

The Redbreast, by Jo Nesbo. Although I read all three ofThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, I wasn't a HUGE fan. (the dark, sexual elements were just TOO much for me). But I am going to give this book a try based on the recommendation from the bookseller at Liberty Bay Books (In Poulsbo, WA...My hometown). She said that ALL Scandinavian crime dramas are very dark, but that Nesbo's books don't have the added brutal sexual elements. So I'm going to give it a shot...Now if I can just get past the main character's name: Harry Hole...Really!

Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See.

I love everything this woman writes. At present, Peony Girl, is waiting on my nightstand.

The Help..... so good!

Loved this book so much I even saw the movie! I am expecting Oscar nominations for a few of these women.

Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok

This was such a feel-good, I shall overcome book and I loved it.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

The two women in this story showed me what having sisters is meant to be like.