My Week in Books {10/2/19}

October 1st arrived and finally brought some fall weather with it! I’m not sure it got over 50 degrees yesterday and it was fantastic! Perfect reading weather!

Also with the beginning of October, I’m starting to feel the pressure of all the books that have come out this year that sound wonderful that I haven’t found the time to read yet. It feels like if I don’t get to them this year, I probably won’t get to them at all. Does anyone else feel that way?

Because of that self-imposed pressure, I feel a lot of DNFs coming on. If a book isn’t jiving with me, I’m moving on! #sorrynotsorry

What have you been reading (and loving) this week?

Last Week’s Reads:

The Most Fun We Ever Had by: Claire Lombardo (Doubleday) – Pub Date: June 25, 2019

I saw this one all over #bookstagram and I was hesitant to give into the hype…but man, I wish I had sooner because THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING! With a full cast of characters, there’s a ton of dysfunction and complicated relationships, but ultimately, I loved each and every one of them (albeit differently). Sometimes the snark and dysfunction was a little over the top; however, one thing I learned from the Sorensons is that we all carry pain differently. It’s easy to look in from the outside and judge another person’s story, but until you’ve walked the same path, you truly don’t know how you would react or behave. I also realized that compassion and forgiveness are key components of a healthy relationship. There is no doubt in my mind that this one will make my Top 10 for 2019!

*** The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by: Garrett M. Graff (Avid Reader Press) – Pub Date: September 10, 2019

Kind of like WWII fiction, I will read anything that has to do with 9/11. I knew instantly that this was a book I wanted to read and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to absorb the survivors’ and heroes’ stories from this day through yet another oral history book. Much like Fall and Rise (which I read and LOVED earlier this year; review here), Graff compiled tons of interviews, audio clips, and personal accounts. What’s slightly different about this book is that there was additions from more political people – specifically, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, among others – which added a whole new perspective to that day. I highly encourage you to pick this one up and continue to honor the heroes of that day and #neverforget.

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by: Jim DeFede (William Morrow) – Pub Date: September 3, 2002

(I’m on a 9/11 kick, if you can’t tell.) I was so curious about this town in Newfoundland that found their town suddenly hosting passengers from America-bound flights that couldn’t land due to the flight restrictions placed shortly after the events of 9/11 started. They graciously hosted almost 7,000 people by opening up their homes, their stores, and their restaurants. They refused to accept any money from the stranded passengers – their only goal was to make them feel safe and as comfortable as they could. I was inspired by their hospitality and it gave me hope that this world isn’t as dark as it can sometimes seem.

How To Make Friends with the Dark by: Kathleen Glasgow (Delacorte Press) – Pub Date: April 9, 2019)

My hopes and expectations were especially high for this one because it deals with grief after losing a mother. Also for that reason, it took me awhile to pick this one up (I bought the book in April). Sadly, this one was a miss for me. I very much preferred Glasgow’s previous book, Girl in Pieces, and that may have interfered with my overall feelings of this one. It just never reached its stride for me. It was enjoyable enough, just not something that will stand out for me in the long run.

Currently Reading:

The Turn of the Key by: Ruth Ware (Simon & Schuster) – Pub Date: August 6, 2019

I started this one last night and have barely got thirty pages in, but so far, I’m definitely intrigued. I’ve read a few books by Ware (In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10) and they very much fell in the meh category for me. However, so far, this one feels different and I’m excited to keep reading!

DNF (aka: Not For Me):

*** On Swift Horses by: Shannon Pufahl (Riverhead) – Pub Date: November 5, 2019

This book has hope and promise and I may revisit in hard copy someday. But as for now, I couldn’t get into it at all. Just because I love the cover and the premise so much, I forced myself to keep trying, but I’m finally throwing in the towel at 22%.

*** 🎧 Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by: Casey Cep (Knopf) Pub Date: May 7, 2019

This is a case of me and NOT the book. I’m just having a hard time concentrating on audiobooks (even podcasts, for that matter) at this point in time. I got through Part One which was fascinating and addictive. I will more than likely revisit this one in the future when my attention span is a little bit better!

(#partner #freebooks: All books noted by asterisks (***) indicate I received the book for free from the publisher, the author, or another promotional company to review. All opinions are my own.)