Hello Readers! It's book day. I've got a super short list to share. I went into ultra slow reading mode in the month of May. All the warm weather had me spending a lot of time outside. Now I'm covered in bug bites and itchy as you-know-what. So, I'm back inside reading for a few weeks while I recover :) and forget summer in North Carolina means mosquito land. And I can start the cycle all over again.
Here is a fun fact for you ;) I only finished two books in May. One adult book and one kid lit book. What happened?!? You know the easy answer is life but there's more. I was super indecisive and I was super distracted (by outside activities). It took me forever to decide on my adult book and then I felt guilty reading it (more on that in a minute). After I finished The Arrangement, I couldn't decide which book to read next. Bottom line: I wasted a lot of time deciding. Oh well.
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn was my first book this month. It's a fiction book about a couple who decides to have an open marriage for 6 months. Stop in your tracks! I know! I had trouble committing to this book because 1.) I'm not a supporter of open marriage or 2.) books presumably about sexual encounters. But the inside cover promised to be funny and I was a little intrigued on where the author would take this. I'm so glad I read it! This book seems to start in the predicted way of an author supporting open marriage. The couple agrees to this arrangement and seem a little too excited about it. In the first several chapters, I wanted to put it down because I felt I was being persuaded to feel that way too. Lo and behold, the author doesn't go in the predicted way; instead, Sarah Dunn uses the arrangement to address very real feelings about marriage discontent. In the end, I was impressed with the author's story telling. I would recommend this to the open minded reader. You have to be open to the tough messages that are being told and can't react negatively to every thing you don't agree with. I'm still thinking about this book :)
Number The Stars by Lois Lowry was my kid lit pick. This is one of those books you find on every 'Must Read' list on the internet. I came across Number The Stars as a freebie and decided it could tie me over while I searched for my next book. The story is set in Denmark during World War 2. The character is a small girl who flees with her family to the countryside to smuggle Jewish friends to Switzerland by way of boat. It's a very short book packed with great information. I would recommend it to kids and adults.
I also started My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman and New Teenager By Friday by Dr. Kevin Lehman in May. I'm still not done with these big books so I will wrap them up next month.
Was your reading more eventful this month than mine? Did you read anything you would recommend?
Follow Along:
I read Number the Stars to my class every year. I've never had a group not like it (and that's saying something :).
ReplyDeleteNumber the Stars is going on my list for sure!
ReplyDeleteAww Number the Stars is such a classic! My students and I started a history book club a few years back, so if you're into kid lit, my kids and I would totally recommend A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and then a book called Iqbal. They are so enthralling and promoted a lot of discussion, and I think even adults would enjoy the stories.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had to read Number the Stars in school this year and I'm so glad she did. It's an important book that addresses the Holocaust in a way kids can comprehend.
ReplyDeleteI think The Arrangement is a pass for me for reasons that have nothing to do with open or closed mindedness.
I loved Number the Stars last year...can't wait until my daughter is old enough to read it :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked The Arrangement! I wasn't expecting it to be so realistic. I'm adding Number the Stars to my list!
ReplyDeleteI read Number the Stars for school in elementary school and remember liking it. I think I'll pick up The Arrangement!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll check out The Arrangement.
ReplyDeleteI read Number the Stars ages ago and really liked it. The Arrangement has been on my to read list. Glad to hear that it was surprisingly good!
ReplyDeleteI'm anxious to hear your thoughts on MGAMTTYSS. I loved A Man Called Ove, but didn't care for MGAM... nearly as much. I'm getting ready to dive into Beartown soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to The Arrangemet on audio and enjoying it so far!
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