Off-Topic Summer Reading

[ncl]

Originally Posted by lreidgreen

ncl,
I have been wanting to read those two Elizabeth Strout novels. I really liked Olive Kitterdge. Is the Dreamland Burning about the Dreamland fire in Oney Island in 1911?

Dreamland Burning is a YA book set in 1921 in Tulsa, OK during the race riots. Actually, there are 2 narrators, both teenagers, one from 1921 and one from more present day, both of whom live in Tulsa and are linked by the history. Very good book!

I think I will probably read everything by Elizabeth Strout and Olive Kitteridge may be next. I am excited to find a new author I really like.

[BunnyHop]

Originally Posted by ncl

...I think I will probably read everything by Elizabeth Strout and Olive Kitteridge may be next. I am excited to find a new author I really like.

I'm feeling the same way. I did like Olive Kitteridge, too.

With her work, I get the feeling that I don't always understand everything she's trying to say, but that doesn't make me feel stupid, just intrigued.

I need to reread the ones our library has.

[antbuko]

Originally Posted by rheash92

Thank you! I'll start with the Happiness Project. I'm looking for something to help me manage my stress better and try to develop a positive attitude in life so I can be happy. My life is really good but i fee like I find a problem with everything and most times I'm miserable. So looking for some self help books. Tanks!

Gretchen also has a Podcast that you could try - Happier with Gretchen Rubin.

[LynnO]

If you want something more than a read - try Thoughts and Feelings by McKay.... It is a workbook on Cognitive Behavior Therapy- it wouldn't work for audio. If you do this on your own, I did it in a group, it is important to know that it is actually hard work to change some of our thought patterns and behavior and can take a lot longer than we'd like. But, it can work. Everyone is different but for me - I regress badly right before each breakthrough and it's exhausting. But my life has improved tremendously- some because of CBT and some because I don't live with people who treat me like crap anymore. My DD struggles mightily with no longer being able to use me as the trash bin for bad emotions and the ex is thankfully long gone- but he isn't changing and it is almost amusing to watch him blame his bad behavior on me and try to manipulate me.

I also really like AllCEUs Counseling Education on Youtube. She does webinars for therapists, but it breaks down therapy concepts as sometimes I don't really understand how to apply some concepts.

[LynnO]

I like Strout too.

Just finished On the Road by Kerouac, ok as far as these men on road trips behaving badly books go. Not my genre, but I like to read "classics" and this can be crossed off.

I also read Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett. It was light and entertaining. It was a bit dated though.

[antbuko]

I am now reading Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris. It's really, really good! It's about the author's journey of faith. It's inspirational and humble.

[ebianco]

I recently finished The Vegetarian, a book recently translated in English and was originally written in South Korea. It was a very unusual and perplexing book about mental health and family dynamics, I guess It was a confusing book but still very interesting. They came out with a movie (subtitled in English) which I plan to watch soon.

I'll be the naysayer on Paper Magician, I thought the book was interesting and followed it up with the second and third of the trilogy, which declined with the plot but they were still okay. I thought the premise that you were stuck with just one kind of magic was unusual. I wasn't completely wowed but I was glad I had read it. I read a lot of fantasy/SF in the YA (and adult) so I've had to become pretty patient with poor formatting and writing style sometimes to enjoy a new or unique premise.

I was also underwhelmed with the Gifts of Imperfection, but I really enjoyed the Happiness Project.

[donnamp]

ebianco - thanks for sharing about the Paper Magician. It is one I have been curious about.

I'm also curious about this one:

The Invisible Library

https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Lib...isible+library

I put it on hold for myself at the library, I will report back once it comes in and i have had a chance to read it.

I mostly read general fiction, certain mystery series, "women's" fiction, historical fiction, etc. but I do like to venture into fantasy/sci fi sometimes.

Donna

[difit]

Here are a few new release's for August. Happy Reading!

1st
On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service (Royal Spyness, book 11) - Rhys Bowen
Gone Gull (Meg Langslow, book 21) - Donna Andrews
Crime Scene (Clay Edison, book 1) - Jesse Kellerman and Jonathan Kellerman
Cat About Town (Cat Cafe, book 1) - Cate Conte
The Dolls (BookShots) - Kecia Bal and James Patterson
Dressed to Confess (Costume Shop Mystery, book 3) - Diane Vallere
The Medical Examiner (BookShots) Novella - Maxine Paetro and James Patterson
The Blessing - (Amish Cooking Class, book 2) - Wanda E. Brunstetter

8th
Any Dream Will Do (New Beginnings, book 4) - Debbie Macomber
The Good Daughter - Karin Slaughter
Dead and Breakfast (Merry Ghost Inn Mystery, book 1) - Kate Kingsbury
Elementary, She Read (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, book 1) - Vicki Delany
Cat Got Your Cash (Kitty Couture Mystery, book 2) - Julie Chase
Beachbound (Pineapple Cay, book 2) - Junie Coffey

15th
Exposed (Rosato & DiNunzio, book 5) - Lisa Scottoline
Seeing Red - Sandra Brown
I Know A Secret (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles, book 12) - Tess Gerritsen
Swept Into Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders, book 5) - Melissa Foster
Rituals (Omens and Shadows / Cainsville, book 5) – Kelly Armstrong
How to Change a Life – Stacey Ballis
A Stranger in the House - Shari Lapena
Sleeping the Ground (Inspector Banks, book 24) Peter Robinson

22nd
You Say It First (Happily Inc, book 1) - Susan Mallery
Map of the Heart - Susan Wiggs
Shattered (Max Revere, book 4) - Allison Brennan
Y is for Yesterday (Kinsey Millhone, book 25) - Sue Grafton
Good Friday (Tennison, book 3) - Lynda La Plante
The Silent Shield (Kingfountain. Book 5) – Jeff Wheeler

29th
The Right Time -Danielle Steel
Glass Houses (Chief Inspector Gamache, book 13) - Louise Penny
A Knit before Dying (Tangled Web, book 2) - Sadie Hartwell
A Catered Tea Party (Mystery with Recipes, book 12) - Isis Crawford
Monster In The Closet (Baltimore, book 5) - Karen Rose
Assaulted Caramel (Amish Candy Shop Mystery, book 1) - Amanda Flower
Oh, Fudge! (Candy-Coated Mystery, book 6) - Nancy Coco
The Champagne Conspiracy (Wine Country Mystery, book 7) - Ellen Crosby
The Coldest Fear (Shades of Death, book 3) – Debra Webb
Here Comes the Bride (Chapel of Love, book 3) - Hope Ramsay
The Chesapeake Bride (Chesapeake Diaries, book 11) - Mariah Stewart
Escape to You (Montana Heat, book 2) - Jennifer Ryan
Pretty, Nasty, Lovely - Rosalind Noonan
Golden Age and Other Stories - Naomi Novik

[Laura S.]

Thanks for the list! There are several books on my wish list coming out this month!

I finished Once We Were Brothers. I enjoyed it. It was a well-written mystery. Now, I'm reading Driving Home for Christmas by Emma Harrigan (which is not her best, but pretty good) and Café by the Sea by Jenny Colgan (which I am really enjoying).