Hey There, Bookworms!
It’s Wednesday and my head is full of thoughts. Some bookish, some not so bookish. I have been reading a lot and was planning to discuss a number of books in mini reviews. Since all my good intentions are for naught and I haven’t been blogging a ton lately, I figured I’d just smush a bunch of stuff into a single post. Got to strike while the writing iron is hot, right?
ONE: The Namesake
by Jhumpa Lahiri is a good read if you dig literary fiction. It may also cause you to think waaaaaay too hard about your own name and its implications on your life. Also, I’m now two for two on Jhumpa Lahiri books that feature female characters pulling some traditionally male douchey life decisions. I can’t discuss it without getting super spoiler-y, but Lahiri fans, have you noticed this too? Fascinating stuff.
TWO: Don’t You Cry
by Mary Kubica is decent if you’re into mysteries and thrillers. I’m not a huge thriller reader, so my standards are impossibly high regarding plot twists. If I can predict what’s going on too early, I’m always a little disappointed. But only when it comes to mysteries. Because I just finished a historical fiction book in which I knew what was happening super early on and I have warm feelings toward it regardless. I got this book at BEA and had it signed, and even though it wasn’t a huge winner for me, I will probably read Mary Kubica again. I like her voice even if I figured things out too quickly- I imagine one of her other books would surprise me more effectively.
THREE: Underground Airlines
by Ben H Winters was fine, but I won’t blame anyone for avoiding it based on the Twitter firestorm and tone deaf response of the author and publisher. I got the book at BEA only recognizing the author’s name because of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
(review) which I adored. I was halfway through reading it when the things got heated on the bookternet, and being oblivious, I hadn’t seen some of the articles and marketing surrounding the novel’s release. Since publishing has some pretty glaring problems with diverse representation, it bugged a lot of people to see a book about a world in which slavery was never abolished written by a white dude lauded as brave and fearless. (Look at that run on sentence. Man. I am awesome.) Apologies have been made, and I personally think Winters had his heart in the right place (because I am an optimist that way.) However, if you still feel squidgy about the whole thing, you’re not missing the greatest book ever written or anything. If you’d rather read a sci/fi slavery story by a marginalized author, check out Kindred
by Octavia Butler (review).
FOUR: STRANGER THINGS!!! Hubs and I binge watched the Netflix original show. Actually, we got Netflix specifically so we could watch this show. It did not disappoint. Imagine if the The X-Files
and a Stephen King novel had a baby and named it Jennifer because that is what you name babies in the 80s. Well, except for the ones name Katie. I digress, but it’s a really great show. Totally addictive.
FIVE: I’ve been planning a bridal shower and bachelorette bash for one of the best gals I’ve ever known. The party is this weekend. I am not good at planning things without irrationally stressing myself out, so as you can imagine, the old brain has been pretty occupied the past few weeks. Anxious is my default setting.
Alright Bookworms, I am out of words. How has YOUR summer reading been?
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Sarah Says Read
Yeah, I’m gonna avoid the Winters book. (And yay, Kindred is SO GOOD!)
I was mentioning Stranger Things to the honeyman last night as a thing we should maybe check out because everybody on the internet loves it and they’re usually right when it comes to Netflix shows. And it’s only 8 episodes, I feel like I can handle that.
Words For Worms
I fully support your avoidance of that book. BUT STRANGER THINGS! YES! It is only 8 episodes which is part of why I think it’s so good. The story moves along at a good clip, not a whole lot of filler for the sake of stretching it into additional episodes. Plus I am completely enamored of the young actors in the series. I want to hug them all. I sincerely hope they play D&D IRL too.
KatieMcD
Laughed about your Katie, Jennifer line… being a Katie myself. Yes, there are enough Katies from the 80s to take over the world.
Words For Worms
Katies from the 80s?! WE SHOULD START A BAND!
Jenny @ Reading the End
Oh man, party planning pings so many of my insecurities. Whiskey Jenny, my podcast partner and former roommate, is a great one for planning parties, but when we were living together I was always like “mmmmmmmmmlet’s not plan any parties cause what if nobody came, that would be awful, help.” GOOD ON YOU for doing that for your friend.
My summer has been busy as hell, but this weekend’s a nice quiet one. I plan to read read read all weekend.
Words For Worms
I survived! But yeah. I’m fairly certain this will be my last stint as a bridesmaid, and after 6 go-rounds, I’m ready to retire.
mwgerard
STRANGER THINGS!
Words For Worms
YAAAAS!
Unruly Reader
Namesake — adding it to the TBR. (Dang, your power! You did that in one mere sentence!)
Kindred — I so much love that book.
Words For Worms
You can blame Janani (the Shrinkette) for The Namesake- she’s the one who put that on my radar!
Rory
So, this is a tad embarrassing…
But I watched the first episode of Stranger Things and it made me jump a few times. I haven’t continued to watch because I don’t like to be scared in a visual format. BUT! If you can do it, I can do it, Right?!
Words For Worms
Um, yes. You can do this, Rory. There aren’t all that many jump scares and it’s totally worth it!
Kristen M.
Yeah, Stranger Things was the best, especially because those kids were supposed to be only about a year or two older than I was in 1983. I was pointing out the most ridiculous things to my hubby and then he was doing the same — “look at that Tupperware pitcher with the stupid round lid and the button on the top!” “oh my god, my friend totally had that wallpaper in his bedroom!” “I think my bestie had that coffee table in their front room!” It was non-stop and totally funny. The show was awesome too. 😉
Oh, also, Ben H. Winters’ Last Policeman series is totally awesome and makes me believe that he is thoughtful and well-intentioned and so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Words For Worms
I was born in 83 and I still geeked out over all the 80s nostalgia! I was all “awwwwww look! He’s dialing 911 on a rotary phone!”
Akilah
Look at that run on sentence — The English professor in me feels compelled to tell you that it was not a run-on sentence. So, yes, you are awesome.
Words For Worms
LOL, maybe not technically a run on, but certainly clunky and too long.
ThatAshGirl
I binge watched Stranger Things as well. So good. The kids were all amazing but I want to just squish Dustin.
Words For Worms
OMIGOSH DUSTIN! That kid! I love him so much. Squish squish squish!