Currently Reading
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
At just over 1000 pages, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett is on my Big Book Summer challenge list. It may take me all summer to finish, but after only three chapters, the book has drawn me in already!
Recently Read
French Braid by Anne Tyler
Love Anne Tyler and loved her latest novel, French Braid! (It was too short to be a Big Book Summer book, which have to be 400+ pages to count.)
The Maid by Nina Prose
I finally borrowed The Maid by Nina Prose from the library after waiting a long time for it and postponing delivery of it several times, worried that I wouldn’t finish it within two weeks. But I ended up reading it in two days — mostly in one night, when our window air-conditioning unit wasn’t keeping up with the heat outside and I was too sluggish to do anything but sit on the couch and read.
I agree with all the rave reviews calling The Maid a page-turner, but I disagree with the genre labeling (by the publisher and some reviewers) I’ve seen, including “cozy mystery” and “locked-room mystery.” Just my cranky opinion, but The Maid, narrated by hotel maid, Molly Gray, is only a mystery in the sense that The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency or Gone Girl was. There’s a murder, a police investigation, and a possibly unreliable narrator, but that doesn’t make Molly a “sleuth” or The Maid a mystery.
Currently Listening To
The Swallows by Lisa Lutz
Lisa Lutz is an under appreciated author! If reading about scandalous student and faculty secrets in a boarding school setting with multiple unreliable narrators appeals to you, look for this book immediately! The audiobook narration is excellent, too.
Recently Listened To
The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams
Not exactly the charming book about books that I was expecting when I started listening, The Reading List delves into some heavy mental health topics, such as grief and loss, so be prepared!
This post is linked to “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Check out the link-up party there for more book lists!
Thanks for the warning about The Reading List which is sitting on my shelf waiting! Ouch when the window air- conditioning unit isn’t working so well. I guess the heat has something to do with it. A 1000 page book is big!!
just finished reading The space between the stars by indira naidoo – a memoir about her sister who committed suicide. And now reading Bone memories by sally piper, a novel about a family, the murder of the mother and how that affects everyone. Have read pillars of the earth years ago. ‘Twas good!
We went years without any A/C at home, so I’m glad we have at least a few window units, even if the downstairs one doesn’t work that well!
Reading those books can be read, but good. Sometimes I feel as a reader, that I’m helping the author bear witness to a life or find a larger meaning in a personal tragedy. Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz, which I listened to on audio recently, started out as a memoir about the death of her father, but ranged widely over so many other aspects of his life, her life, and life in general!
Thanks for commenting!
Glad you’re enjoying Pillars of the Earth! My first-ever Big Book Summer read 🙂 It’s very compelling. And I love, love, love Anne Tyler! Must read this one. Have been hearing good things about The Maid and The Reading List. And I enjoyed Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files (only just last year though it;s an older book) but haven’t read any of her others yet.
I’m late with my visits, so I hope you’ve had another great reading week!
Sue
2022 Big Book Summer Challenge
How I love your header! Perhaps I’ve mentioned that before, but it bears repeating! The Pillars sounds like a whole world to dive into! French Braid is now on my TBR! Thank you for sharing!
Yes, I agree with you! The Reading List was not a lite book about books, but I really enjoyed it.
I lost a batch of Gmails somehow….sigh so I couldn’t respond to your comment via email. I tried the audio of The Golden Compass alas to no avail. Thank you for you sweet comments about my quilts. I certainly enjoy stitching them!
Happy reading!