Jana & Steph are bringing us book lovin' bloggers our favorite day of the month again - Show Us Your Books day!
What I've read since our last link-up:
2. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt - The pace of this book is so smooth even with multiple murders, disease, animal deaths, and loneliness. I'm finding it difficult to articulate why I enjoyed the story so much, but I did. 4/5
5. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai - The story of a Vietnamese refugee family that moves to Alabama during the Vietnam war told through the eyes of a 10 year old girl. Poignant and emotional, this was a Newberry Award for children's literature, deservedly so. 4.5/5
6. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - Heartbreak, art, family, love, tragedy, self-discovery, and a little whimsy too. Some parts of the story, I predicted; others, I didn't...but I enjoyed the ride. I had high expectations, and this book exceeded them. 5/5
7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - I'm just not meant to read "classics". The end. P.S. Children's literature is the exception.
Currently reading: In the Woods by Tana French
Reminder: Link-up this Thursday to let us know how you did with the Read My Books challenge. Feel free to link up if you succeeded, rocked the challenge, failed miserably, intended to read a book from home but didn't. Just as long as the post has something to do with your reading habits. There are TWO chances to win $50 Amazon gift cards, so stop by Thursday, and take your chance for a win.
Thoughts on any of these books?
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I so enjoyed I'll Give You the Sun. It was one of my favorites from last year. I have Still Missing on my TBR. Glad to know that you thought it was worthwhile b/c our mystery tastes seem similar. The cover for the Running with Scissors book is creepy. Did you use it for the unappealing cover category for SCSBC16?
ReplyDeleteMost of these are either on my "To Read" list or are personal favorites, so I'm glad you (mostly) enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about Running with Scissors. I don't mind spoilers for this one because I don't know that I'll read it (or read it any time soon, anyway). I saw the film version years ago, but I really don't remember much about it other than the fact that Evan Rachel Wood was in it.
I'm sorry you didn't like The Picture of Dorian Gray. :-( Classics are tough, though ... I feel like they either work for you or they don't. I definitely haven't loved every one I've ever read. (And maybe that's why I chose one I knew I loved to satisfy that category in your challenge.)
I'll Give You the Sun, Still Missing and Inside Out and Back Again are already on my TBR. The Sisters Brothers look really good and I love the cover. I'm adding it to my TBR. I wholeheartedly agree and hate it when people use religion to brainwash or to justify bad behavior.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my all-time favorite covers and I LOVE, LOVE the book.
DeleteOh I really want to read Inside Out and Back Again! I am working my way through a lot of Newbery winners because I want to have some recommendations for my kids in a few years :) I'll Give You the Sun sounds so good too. I'll be back to link up on Thurs!!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I LOVE The Sisters Brothers. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too.
ReplyDeleteI read Running with Scissors years ago and remember liking it. Not enough to read more of his memoirs but enough that it was a pleasant, good, fun read.
I'm wondering if I don't know enough about Running with Scissors now. I own it and have been wondering when I'd get to it, but maybe it's not quite right for me...
ReplyDeleteDorian Gray came up in conversation recently (my guy was confused about it vs. 50 Shades, hah!) and I haven't read it yet, though I'd like to, but in some cases I'm right there with you...classics and me don't always mix well!
I'm not a fan of classics either. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI have Inside Out and Back Again on my shelf at school, and was so excited to read it last year, but then I saw it was written in stanzas and that drives me nuts. Maybe I'll attempt it again...
How did I'll Give You the Sun not come up in my twins search... Boo, internet fail.
ReplyDeleteI tried years and years ago, when I enjoyed a depraved story way more than I do now, to read Running with Scissors after I found it at B&N on clearance. Nope, nope, nope. I don't even think I got 30 pages in. I thought it would be funny. I was not amused.
Still Missing just made the to read list, I read the Goodreads summary and it sounds like something I wouldn't want to put down.
ReplyDeleteI totally failed the Read My Books challenge, but I do have a paragraph on it ready to go for Thursday Thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI'll Give You the Sun is on my list and has been for what feels like forever.
I read Running with Scissors and another one of his books. I don't have a taste for them.
i am with you on classics, i have no desire to read that one. 2, 3, 4 and 6 added to my list, i think. ha. i actually did read my books in june, high five!
ReplyDeleteI want to get I'll Give you the Sun... & that book about the sisters? Yeah - that is something I want to read & knowing its going to infuriate me.
ReplyDeleteI already have "I'll Give You the Sun" on my TBR list and can't WAIT to read it!
ReplyDeleteI loved Still Missing and am a Chevy Stevens fan. I read Inside Out and Back Again after my daughter read it for a school book project and recommended it! I think I own Running with Scissors and don't think I'll like it and have been avoiding it!
ReplyDeleteStill Missing was one of the saddest books I have ever read. It's been a few years and I still think about it...
ReplyDeleteI almost read Still Missing for the Read My Books challenge. It's been on my Kindle forever! I need to put it up higher on my list.
ReplyDeleteI have The Picture of Dorian Gray some where from when I tried to read it in high school for a book report and couldn't do it. So I get what you are saying! I'll Give You the Sun, Still Missing and Not Without My Sister all sound like interesting reads.
ReplyDeleteThe film version of The Picture of Dorian Gray was really good; it came out in the 1940's, I think? But I've never read the book. I agree with you, classics aren't for me either :)
ReplyDeletei also hated running with scissors. it was so lame i couldn't even get through the first 3 chapters.
ReplyDeleteHa - I feel the same way when I read the classics...not that I've read that many, but when I do, I always say "i'm just not smart enough for them". I read Still Missing years ago, but really enjoyed it (which is always weird to say for such a f'd up book), but I did! Total page turner. I have one or two of her other's on my shelf that I haven't read it, but need to. And The Sisters Brothers - totally agree! So good, but I can't put into words why.
ReplyDeleteI read Running with Scissors years and years ago and apparently gave it a good rating, so I wonder if I would still like it now. I don't really remember much.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Still Missing but was less keen on That Night by the same author. I will probably still read some of her other books at some point though.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED I'll Give You The Sun! Michael is OBSESSED with Dorian Gray. Book, movie, whatever. He bought the movie and we watched it and I was like...what? He has a tattoo devoted to it. Yeah, your guess is as good as mine. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these. Looking into The Sisters Brothers now. Classics can be tough. I sometimes have to start and then stop and read a few contemporary things quickly and then go back to finish. XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I also chose Dorian Grey for my 100+ year old book. I'm not sure how I'll do with it, but I also don't want to switch it. I had a hard enough time deciding on that one! I added Still Missing and I'll Give You the Sun.
ReplyDeleteStill Missing and Not without my sister going on the list!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome... A few more books to add to my to-read list... ;-) And I agree about Running with Scissors. I don't often stop reading a book in the middle but I did it with that one.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely added I'll Give You the Sun to my to-read list. I'm glad you liked Inside Out and Back Again - it was an interesting way of telling a story, but I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Still Missing but I've never read anything else by that author, I should totally change that!
ReplyDeleteSo you have to tell me why you didn't like Running with Scissors!? It's my favorite Burrough's book. I remember listening to it and he was the narrator. Love the cover of Sisters Brothers and your review makes me want to read it.
ReplyDeleteI'll Give You has been on my list so looking forward to reading that sometime.
The Sisters Brothers sounds very interesting! I tend to like books based on messed up subject matters, and this sounds like it has a lot of them. Somebody else recommended Still Missing this month, and it sounds like a book that I'd like as well! I definitely need to pick it up soon!
ReplyDeleteYou always read such heavy books... hahaha! Thrillers and what not! That said, I do think The Sisters Brothers sounds good. I went to add it to my to-read on GoodReads and found it was already there! Haha!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading "I'll Give you the Sun" right now for your challenge! "Not Without My Sister" is now a TBR. F-ed up religious memoirs are right up my alley. I've read a couple of Chevy Stevens' books. Super easy reads that are always suspenseful/interesting!
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