Reading Week | 9.23.19
Fall just got here and already my schedule for the rest of the year is filling up. This week, The Institute left me with the biggest book hangover. I started and abandoned about 4 books, until finally a pick from my creepy October list caught my interest.
Linking up with Kathryn at The Book Date- the host of “It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?”
Blog Posts
Massive List of Creepy Books to Read This October!
From Instagram
Lots of love for book mountain this week on Instagram! Lots of opinions, too ;)
I Finished Reading
American Royals | Katharine McGee | After giving this a mediocre initial review last week, I was happy to find that this picked up for me in the second half. My problem with the beginning was that the drama was quite a bit more immature than I was expecting- but given that the four central characters are 21 or younger, I guess this makes sense. Other than the royal connection, this wasn't at all like Red, White, and Royal Blue or The Royal We, two books I keep seeing in the same sentence as this one. American Royals was pettier, more drama filled, and frothier than either of those, and it also focuses on more characters. The ending is smart, if frustrating- either way, it will definitely bring readers back for book 2.
The Institute | Stephen King | I liked a lot about this one. King’s ability to create memorable characters that you come to care about is second to none. Those characters jumped off the page and I kept wanting to fast forward to see how things would turn out for them. The story was more unsettling that outright scary- but it was thought-provoking. I liked that the story was rooted pretty firmly in reality and that the bad guys were human. This had a lot of elements that reminded me of some of his older works- and loved the nod to The Shining- but his addition of topical events makes it current. I had no real issues with the ending, but do wonder if the last 20 or so pages really benefitted the story. I guess we’ll see!
Currently Reading
The Troop | Nick Cutter | This pick from my spooky October reading list definitely delivers. A group of five young boys and their Scoutmaster are on their yearly camping trip to a remote location off of Prince Edward’s Island, when a man that’s…off… comes looking for them. I’m only about 30% through, but this is definitely going on my short list of books that genuinely scared me.
Upcoming Reading Plans
The Secrets We Kept | Lara Prescott | I decided to put The Testaments on hold after you guys told me it was a better reading experience after watching the Hulu show. I’ve got a couple of long car rides coping up this week so I’m thinking I’ll start listening to The Secrets We Kept. I keep hearing good things and it’s a Reese Book Club pick. Her picks are always hit and miss to me, but I like the sound of historical fiction with themes of spies, love, and sacrifice that’s based on real events.
Book Mail
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11th, 2001 | Garrett Graff | Out Now | Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster Partner
The Giver of Stars | Jojo Moyes | Release Date 10.8.19 | Penguin Random House Partner
Crossings | Alex Landragin | Release Date: 7.28.20 | St. Martin’s Press Partner
What are you reading?
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