STACKED

books

What I’m Reading Now: Twitter-Style

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Summer hasn’t been my best reading time this year, it seems, but I have been enjoying a lot of different kinds of books. Here’s a peek at my small stack of current reads, Twitter style! If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear what you think.


Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson: This fairy tale retelling set in India is one of the two books in my bracket for nerds heart ya judging. Slow and a bit overwritten for me.

American Wasteland by Jonathan Bloom: Adult non-fiction to satisfy my obsession with eating healthy and well. I love these sorts of books, but I fear they make me more obsessed.

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley: This contemporary debut ya came out earlier this spring and slipped my radar. Set in the south, this coming-of-age tale sounds up my alley.

Hooked by Catherine Greenman: I haven’t read a story about a pregnant teen in a while. This debut looks good. Preg stories are becoming popular again. Hate the cover.

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart: One of my teens recommended I read this one, and since I send her home with piles, I can at least read one of her choices.

Can I See Your ID? True Stories of False Identities by Chris Barton: False identities fascinate me. This teen non-fiction is a new release and one I hope to book talk this fall. Lots of built in appeal.

What I’m Reading Now

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I haven’t done an honest Twitter-style “What I’m Reading Now” lately, but now is the perfect time for it since I’ve been such a reading machine these past couple of weeks.  Here’s what’s been on my bedside table lately, in 140 characters or fewer. I’ll review a few of these in more depth a bit later.

Shelter by Harlan Coben
Another adult author tackles YA – but succeeds! Tight plotting, suspense, a wry male voice & interesting (albeit cliched) supporting chars.

The Lost Heiress by Catherine Fisher
Sequel to The Dark City. The writing is merely serviceable and the plot ho-hum, but it’s just barely interesting enough to keep me reading.

Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
Cute story with Yang’s signature “nothing is what it seems” twist at the end. Good choice for the 20-something set who grew up with (S)NES.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Interesting time-travel premise but frustrating due to it only being half a story – clearly written for sequels and not executed well.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Plot hole-ridden but enjoyable debut about a girl who can’t remember her past but can see her future. Cute romance & a suspenseful mystery.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)
In his own voice, Gladwell relates what makes people successful – turns out we don’t have a lot of control over it. Discouraging? A little.

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin
In a future where chocolate is illegal, the daughter of a dead chocolate mobster must protect her family (& fall in love). Good, not great.

What I’m Reading Now

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In 140 characters or less, what’s on my bedside table, in my car stereo, and blaring from my boom box:

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by Stieg Larsson
Third in the famous Millennium trilogy, and so far the weakest. Seems like there’s no mystery left, but Larsson keeps writing anyway.

The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex
I thought Rex showed promise with Fat Vampire, so decided to try his middle grade book about aliens. So far it’s amusing and more cohesive.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann, by Karen Cushman (audio)
Excellent narration and Cushman’s trademark amusing curses – Ye toads and vipers! – bring the streets of 16th century London to life.

Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff
Fascinating biography of a woman about whom we actually know very little. Includes info about the honored royal practice of murdering one’s family.

First Light, by Rebecca Stead
I enjoyed Stead’s Newbery winner, and I hope this one, about the far North and a community of people beneath the ice, will be just as wonderfully odd.

What I’m Reading, Twitter Style

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With Book Expo America only a few days away, I’m trying to work through a ton of titles before picking up a year’s worth of titles at the convention. So, here’s what I’m reading, Twitter-style.


Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush: LB was a librarian before first wife. A bit repetitive and lengthy, but readable and fascinating. Sittenfeld’s book was dead on accurate.

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly: Debut title about a girl with autism & her obsession with music. Fluid, fascinating, & very authentic to the teenage voice. My 20th debut!

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce: Werewolves are my vampires. Interesting premise with a spin off of Little Red Riding Hood. I’m hot-cold on fairy tales, so here’s hoping.


A Thousand Sisters by Lisa Shannon: Non-fiction exploration of the most dangerous & most unfriendly places to be a woman. Not a memoir fan, but premise was too good to skip.


Goldengrove by Francine Prose: Listening to in the car – an adult fiction story about adolescence and growing up from an author who generally writes YA fic.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa: This title has exploded in the blogosphere and has piqued my interest, despite being a non-fantasy reader. Kagawa is a debut author.


Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker: Fascinating premise of small-town life & being an outsider within ones community. A bit of magical realism thrown in for this book club fav.

So what are YOU reading?

What I’m Reading, Twitter Style

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Gimme Shelter by Mary Elizabeth Williams: Non-Fiction story of finding the perfect house to buy, things never work out right & places are never what they seem. Totally up my alley.

Blankets by Craig Thompson: Another one of those books I’ve never read & KNOW I should. A “classic” to the graphic novel world that, too, has seen its share of critics.

Scars by C. A. Rainfield: Colleague told me to buy and read ASAP as our holds lists for this title have been growing steadily. Realistic fiction about sexual abuse.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen: A Dessen not read yet, but falls on an awards list. As the title suggested, I’m listening to the audio of this one & hope stronger than AFtR.


Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: Debut title follows Amy & her mother’s friend’s son Roger (her age) as they hit the road. Told in more than traditional narrative, looks fun.