Welcome to my weekly Saturday feature here at Erin Reads, where I highlight new books that have entered my life, what I’ve been reading, and what’s happened on Erin Reads over the past week.
New Acquisitions
Just two books to share this week, but I vlogged them anyway, so that I don’t get out of the habit!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2UcWIpYqIQ
From LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program, I received Made for You and Me by Caitlin Shetterley, about a young couple’s trip across America from east to west and back. From the library, for my book group’s April meeting, I got Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, about a woman who finds out she’s the executor of her late boyfriend’s will.
TBR Additions
None this week. I’ve not been able to get any blog reading done! In fact, the thought of opening my reader at this point just scares me, so as much as I hate to do it, I’m going to let myself mark all as read. If you have an interesting discussion going on a post, or if you’ve reviewed something you loved, or if there’s something on another blog you’ve read that should not be missed, I would love it if you would share a link in the comments. It’ll help me feel less bad about giving myself a break!
Read This Week
It’s been a satisfying reading week! I finished both Madre: Perilous Journeys with a Spanish Noun by Liza Bakewell and The Appointment by Herta Müller. I also started and finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, then started The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read, and I look forward to discussing them here, but it’s also nice to have a relatively blank reading slate. (Of course, there are ARCs and group reads waiting to jump in, as always…)
On audio, I got to the halfway point in Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, then switched to the second half of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, which I’m reading together with Christina from the Ardent Reader. I finished Fast Food Nation yesterday, so it’s back to Shantaram for another 17 discs!
Erin Reads Recap
- On Tuesday I talked about The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer, a forthcoming title about which I’m really excited.
- In Wednesday’s Classics Reclamation Project post, I reviewed my project so far and considered whether it’s been worthwhile.
- Thursday I shared my thoughts on the first part of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
- Finally, yesterday, I posted the Reading Buddies discussion for Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Your Turn!
How was your reading week? Do tell!
I finished Fast Food Nation and started The Appointment last night. Hopefully I finish the later book and have thoughts written up by the end of the Week for Reading Buddies. Madre looks interesting (love the subtitle) so I’m anxiously awaiting your thoughts before adding it to the TBR list.
I really enjoyed Madre! I’m holding off reviewing it because there’s more than just my review in the works 🙂
EWWWW I hated the crying of lot 49. maybe I was way too young when I read it though so I will definitely be curious what you think.
that’s a very productive week reading wise, I need one of those this week! I finished two books yesterday so my weekend is off to a good start 🙂
Uh oh…I’ve been warned! I never really enjoy reading books I hate, though knowing I get to discuss them with other people (like a book group) certainly helps. And I think I’d prefer this Pynchon to one of his heftier works!
oh also here’s my favourite book I’ve reviewed in the last two weeks:
http://inthenextroom.blogspot.com/2011/03/house-on-salt-hay-road-by-carin.html
I completely recommend it if you get a chance and think it sounds interesting!
Thanks, I’ll check it out!
I can not wait to have a blank reading slate, but I have a feeling that won’t happen for quite sometime.
I had a really hard time with The Crying of Lot 49, but that was many years ago, and I think I would do better with it now. I will be very interested in hearing what you think of it.
I don’t think I’d pick up anything by Pynchon on my own, but knowing I’ll be able to discuss it with my book group makes me less scared! At least it’s short 🙂