Tuesday, May 9, 2017

I show you my books, you show me yours... vol.28


It's Show Us Your Books Day!  The day hosted by Jana & Steph, the day that makes my goodreads "to read" list grow, and the day I interact with a blogging community of readers.  I love this day (or week because it sometimes takes me a week to read all the links) of the month.

What I've read since last link-up:

1.  Bird Box by Josh Malerman - What did I just read? I have no idea, nor do I know how I feel about it. Did I like it? Did it annoy me? Do I feel like I have more questions than answers? This was a step out of my usual reading comfort zone, and I'm glad I read it, but I don't know if I liked it. 3/5

2.  The History of Love by Nicole Krauss - I really, really wanted to love this book, but I spent too much time confused by the connections of some of the characters to say I loved the overall reading experience. When the connections were all revealed, I still felt confused about a couple of things. The premise was lovely, as were Alma and Leo. I could've done without a couple of the support cast. 3/5

3.  We Ate the Road Like Vultures by Lynnette Lounsbury - Such a ridiculous and glorious book.  I gobbled it up.  This book is an example why I enjoy participating in the Aussie Author Challenge year after year.  I find little gems like this one that I might not have discovered otherwise. 4.5/5

4.  Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf - I hate to use Girl on the Train as an example (the go-to book that other thrillers are compared to) but you know how some readers didn't like that book because they didn't like the lead character?  Well, that's how I felt about this book.  I was annoyed with Sarah and rolled my eyes at her more times than I could count.  But, the mystery plus small town-setting, family-secret dynamics was enjoyable enough to keep me reading. 3/5

5.  We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo - What a debut from a talented young author! This spirited book is full of darkness and light, pain and humor. It examines personal identities and cultural clashes through the experiences of a young narrator. Thought-provoking about the challenges of immigrants plus gains and losses of leaving home and the expectations of opportunity. 4/5

6.  Ghost Girls by Cath Ferla - I attended school for a few years that is aimed at international students and located in the Haymarket/Sussex Street/Chinatown area of Sydney. So, many of the locations described in this book and the requirements of student visa holders were known to me. Even the cover photo, I know that exact street.  I thought the author did an excellent job painting the picture of this area and these students. And, sadly, it seems very real to me that students could go missing the way the plot plays out. 4/5

7.  The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel - Not exactly sure what this says about me, but I enjoy reading books about dysfunction, and this book is filled to the brim with it.  I felt the author did an admirable job writing a riveting book that included some severe, dark, and extremely unhealthy relationships.  4.5/5

Currently reading:  Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich (and, it's fantastic, so far)
I've shown you mine...now, you show me yours...


27 comments:

  1. The Bird Box sounds bizarre, but I am intrigued!

    I have enjoyed other books by Heather Gudenkauf so I will probably end up reading Missing Pieces at some point. Also, is it just me or does that sound like a Jodi Picoult title?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would agree that The Roanoke Girls was riveting - such dysfunction but I couldn't stop reading. I feel like I have the same problem as you did with Missing Pieces with many books lately - I want the main character to stop being annoying. I am going to read Bird Box soon maybe. Hopefully it won't give me nightmares.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Seeing as I'm in to all things expat at the moment, We Need New Names sounds like it should go on my list. Totally different to my experience to mine of course but it's good to see things from many perspectives.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I started The Roanoke Girls this past month and just couldn't do it - but maybe someday. Sometimes I go for dysfunction and sometimes I just want everyday happy characters. haha. I couldn't finish The History of Love, but I'm glad to hear it made a bit more sense as it went on. Bull Mountain sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've got the Roanoke Girls on hold at the library. I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into with that one, but I really want to read it lol

    Sarah
    Midwest Darling

    ReplyDelete
  6. I felt similarly about Bird Box but I knew for sure I liked it. Same for the Roanoke Girls!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We Need New Names sounds really good and I'm intrigued by Missing Pieces too- sometimes I really love a small town setting. I love how often you share less talked about (to me) books that always sound really good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I keep hearing that about Roanake Girls... I think its tapping into everyone's dysfunctional side.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bird Box has been on my TBR for awhile. It sounds like something I'd really enjoy. I need to give it a higher priority. I loved Roanoke Girls. It was so messed up but good. I actually started the book late at night, put it aside to go to bed and then got back up to finish the book because I was too caught up in it to sleep. :D Adding We Need New Names to my TBR.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I got The Roanoke Girls sitting here and I need to get to it!! I really hate when a book has a good premise but has confusing characters or ties or whatever. It takes away from the experience, right?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so glad you like The Roanoke Girls. Although, it's definitely your kind of book so it's not surprising at all.

    Bird Box has been on my TBR forever. One of these days I will actually get to it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You always bring a fun mix of books to this day :) I like that! (Also... I 100% can't wait until June 1st!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I actually really loved The Bird Box, but it's definitely a different one! haha It's not for everyone, that's for sure.

    -Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have Roanoke Girls on my list, mainly because I love reading about dysfunction too! I don't know what it is, but maybe it's why I love watching Real Housewives, because I feel slightly more normal that I don't have as much drama as them. You read some great books this month, and I'm adding Missing Pieces and Ghost Girls to my list! Both sound a little creepy and right up my alley!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love your description of Bird Box.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I basically said the same thing about Roanoke Girls. Bummer you had so many so-so books this month!

    ReplyDelete
  17. hmm Ghost Girls sounds terrifying. i loved bird box, bummer you didn't. so many unanswered questions though. the Roanoke Girls is on my kindle. one day!

    ReplyDelete
  18. i'm TOTALLY gonna do this because i actually read SO many books. and every time you'd posted this in the past, i was like... i read one. or... i haven't read squat. but i've read all. the. books. so i'm going to. tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. okay. i posted it. and then i found a hundred best books thing, so it's already shifted down the line a bit, because i had to blog about that.

      the history of love... does that strike you as a book i might like?

      Delete
  19. I love to hear about new books that people have read...I haven't heard of any of these, but some of them sound like good reads.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love love love these book roundups!! The Roanoke Girls sounds really interesting and I totally felt the same way with the main character in Girl on the Train. There are a lot of books here that I'd love to pick up--I'm attracted to mystery and dysfunction myself :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would rather read about dysfunction than live in it! ;-) Adding Roanoke Girls to my to read list!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Missing Pieces and The Roanoke Girls has been on my to read list. I am adding We Need New Names to my list!

    ReplyDelete
  23. i really enjoyed bird box! it was different and weird and creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ghost Girls sounds fascinating. Adding it to my TBR. I've heard mixed things about Bird Box and Roanoke Girls, but those are both on my list too. XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

    ReplyDelete
  25. I totally forgot about We Need New Names! I remember hearing about it when it first came out. I may have to read that one! I just reviewed The Roanoke Girls too. It was tough, but kept me reading!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bird Box was totally strange but I still find myself thinking about it!

    I will have to add the Roanoke Girls to my list!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, and I enjoy our interactions. I respond via email, but if you're a "no reply blogger", I can't. Don't think I'm ignoring you!