So what did you read this summer?
I started with “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. I’ve started this book probably 20 times and never finished it. Mostly because I read when I travel and this is one giant book to drag onto an airplane. So I downloaded it to my iPad. (I really hate reading books on electronic media) Actually finished about 1/3 of the novel when Alan and Lauri decided to send me books for Mother’s Day. The “50 shades” of bad writing trilogy. Really? But they were a gift and I had to read them.
So then I went on my 4,400 mile drive to North Dakota and back. Fortunately I don’t get car sick and can read for hours. (The only scenery I saw was when I was taking my turn behind the wheel, kind of defeats my purpose of “seeing the country!”) The first book on that trip was one that Michelle lent me. “Let’s Pretend this Never Happened” by the bloggess, Jenny Lawson. Funny stuff.
Then Lauri loaned me “Bloom” by Kelli Hampton for the drive back. Another blogger. Very sad, heartwarming. Made me cry a lot. And appreciate again how my children, step-children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. are all perfect.
Followed up heartwarming with depressing. “Swamplandia” by Karen Russell. I had been wanting to read this since last year when I read numerous good reviews on it. While the prose was beautiful, I found it very disturbing–and I like disturbing books. Would not recommend. I feel sad whenever I think of it.
Then I ended the summer with “Gone Girl”. Zowie. What a great book. It was fun to read trying to figure out where the book was going. Definitely recommend.
So what did you read this summer? Anything to suggest for my autumn reading list? One more trip to North Dakota (on a plane) coming up. Don’t make me start “Atlas Shrugged” again!
Great reviews. I was looking at Gone Girl, now I’ll definitely put it on my list. It’s odd that someone (me) who doesn’t like puzzles, loves reading a book that’s just a 300 page puzzle! You know I’m into crime novels, so after the Millennium Trilogy (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), I started on the Jo Nesbo series. Pretty good reads, but read them in order. I’ve just finished ‘The Keeper of Lost Causes’, and now onto ‘The Absent One’ and I’m enjoying it too. If you want weird, earlier this year I read ‘The Windup Bird Chronicles’. One review called it ‘dream-like’ and they were right. Very well written… like the longest Haiku ever. I liked it. Something else I read this summer was ‘Divergent’ and ‘Insurgent’ from the teen selection. After The Hunger Games, I’ve decided to pre-read some of Williams books! These two were good as well, and just enough violence to keep Will reading. (…men!)