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What I’m Reading Now

April 25, 2013 Leave a Comment
Glow by Jessica Maria Tuccelli

Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs

I broke my no books from the library rule last week and borrowed a book for me. The kids had their piles of picture books (which can get heavy!). On my way to the checkout station, I spotted Laura Childs’ latest Tea Shop Mystery: Sweet Tea Revenge. Her Tea Shop Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series. “m sure our amateur detective Theodosia Browning will be up to her shenanigans in order to solve the murder. I’m looking forward to diving in!

Glow by Jessica Maria Tuccelli

Last night I read the first 5 pages of Glow a novel by Jessica Maria Tuccelli. If the first 5 pages is any indication of how good a book it, I knew I was in for a sleepless night of frantic reading. So I forced myself to put it down. Also, the book cover is gorgeous? Yes, I do sometimes judge books by their cover.

Here’s the publisher’s description of Glow:

In the autumn of 1941, Amelia J. McGee, a young woman of Cherokee and Scotch-Irish descent, and an outspoken pamphleteer for the NAACP, hastily sends her daughter, Ella, alone on a bus home to Georgia in the middle of the night—a desperate measure that proves calamitous when the child encounters two drifters and is left for dead on the side of the road.

Ella awakens in the homestead of Willie Mae Cotton, a wise root doctor and former slave, and her partner, Mary-Mary Freeborn, tucked deep in the Takatoka Forest. As Ella heals, the secrets of her lineage are revealed.

Shot through with Cherokee lore and hoodoo conjuring, Glow transports us from Washington, D.C., on the brink of World War II to the Blue Ridge frontier of 1836, from the parlors of antebellum manses to the plantation kitchens where girls are raised by women who stand in as mothers. As the land with all its promise and turmoil passes from one generation to the next, Ella’s ancestral home turns from safe haven to mayhem and back again.

As a mother of biracial children, this portrayal of race relations in this period of American history intrigues me. Perhaps we have not come s far along in that department?

Stay tuned for a review and giveaway of Glow!

What’s on your list this week?

 

Filed Under: Mystery, Novels, Reading List, Thien-Kim Tagged With: , , ,

Spring Break Reading

March 27, 2013 Leave a Comment
Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon

Licorice Bookmark

I’ve been a bad book blogger lately. Total slacker. Sorry I haven’t been around, but last week was super busy. I wanted to blog here, but I opted to get some sleep, albeit not as much as I should have gotten. So I’m back. Sort of.

This week is my daughter’s spring break so I have both kids to entertain 24/7. Luckily my daughter has become an avid reader and would always has her nose stuck in a book. I saw her laid out with a book in my favorite reading chair today. I’m sure my heart grew three times its size, metaphorically of course. It was adorable!

I’ve been attempting to discover what genres she prefers so I can find new books for her. She’s in first grade but reading close to a third grade level. She keeps re-reading the same Pokemon graphic novels because she loves them so much. Still, I want her to branch out. Luckily, our local library has not just one, but two amazing children librarian. That’s how she discovered Catwings by Ursula Le Guin. It turns out my lovely daughter takes after me more than I thought. I see her leaning towards fantasy and action/adventure type stories. Of course she enjoys Captain Underpants too. What 7 year old doesn’t like a good poop joke every now and then?

Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon

As for me, my work load hasn’t allowed me as much time to read as I wanted. Earlier this week I begin reading Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon. It’s set in the UK and follows Donald, archaeologist who wants to dispel the myth of King Arthur. When his rival finds a burial site that is linked to the legendary King and an old friend introduces him to an old Welsh poem, Donald is compelled to solve the mystery.

I’m a third of the way through the book. While I am enjoying the historical and mythical mystery, there’s a lot of references to Welsh history and language that goes over my head. It’s hard to keep track of all the different poets and writers that Donald and his friend Julia introduces me to. It’s definitely not something to read when I’m tired or sleepy.

I thought about listing another book that I want to read this week, but who am I kidding? I’ll be lucky if I finish Finding Camlann this week.

What’s on your list for this week?

 

Filed Under: Novels, Reading Habits, Thien-Kim Tagged With: ,

In a Reading Rut

March 18, 2013 2 Comments
Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

I’m in a reading rut. I’m sure it was bound to happen after my hectic week of deadlines and really late nights. I started two different books and have only read past 50 pages in one of them. That’s slow for me. It’s not the books, they’re actually great so far. My brain is just too tired to read, especially when I collapse in my bed at 3AM.

Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

The first book I’m working on (I’m a promiscuous reader) is Ronlyn Domingue’s debut novel, The Mercy of Thin Air. I actually broke my self-imposed library ban to borrow the book. So I guess I’m reading on a deadline. I think I only have another 10 days before it has to go back! I was blown away after reading The Mapmaker’s War, so it seemed natural to pick up Domingue’s first novel. The Mercy of Thin Air is written from the point of view of ghost. I’m only about 20 pages. So far, I like the ghost, but haven’t read enough to give you more of an opinion about the book.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

My other book another novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. It won’t be released until May (I’m reading a galley). I can tell that this novel is going to touch my heart in an unexpected way. Let’s hope no tissues will be harmed in the reading of this book. It’s not sappy at all, but the characters are carving out a life in a war ravaged land. Need I say more? Read the book blurb.

This week should be much better, as I’ll be riding the Metro one day this week for a work thing. You know what that means. About 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading time. Hopefully, I’ll catch up on sleep too so my brain can function normally. Or normally enough to digest some literary fiction.

What’s on your nightstand this week?

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2012: Books in Review–Share Your List!

December 28, 2012 4 Comments
2012 Sparkler by Creativity103

2012 Sparkler by Creativity103

With only a few days left of 2012, I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on the books I’ve read this year.  There’s a linky at the of the post, so if you’ve written about your favorite books of 2012 or most hated, etc, please add it to the list!

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m on track to finish the year at 80 books.  Did you know that, according to Gawker, the average reader only read 15 books this year?  (Thanks for the link Taylor!) I’m way ahead of the average, but that makes me sad too. My number would be a lot higher if I counted all the books I’ve read to my kids, but for my goal, I wanted to include books I’m reading for myself.

My favorite books I read in 2o12 were (in no particular order):

I think I recommended Gone Girl to everyone I spoke with. I just loved its twists and turns.  The other books on the list just touched me in an unforgettable way. I’m actually glad that I have two non-fiction books listed because I tend to shy away from non-fiction because I read them so slowly.
Now it’s your turn! Share with me your best and worst of 2012. Did a particular book stand out for you, whether positive or not. Leave a comment or if you wrote about it on your blog, add it to the link form below.
Photo by Creativity103 via Creative Commons

 

Filed Under: Reading Habits, Reading List, Thien-Kim Tagged With: , ,

2012 Reading Goal: 26 More Days

December 5, 2012 5 Comments
2012 Reading Challenge Stats

2012 Reading Challenge Stats

I’m really behind on my goal of reading 100 books for this year. I’m 22 books behind. That means I need to read about a book a day to catch up. That’s a screenshot of what GoodReads tells me.

I’m not panicking or stressing out about it. I set the goal to have fun and stretch myself a bit. Plus, it’s my first year tracking the books I’ve read. It’s fun to look at my stats on GoodReads to see how many pages I’ve read, how I’ve rated them, etc.

I’m going on a long trip soon. I’m loading up my tablet with ebooks and lugging a few print books with me. I’m not sure I can read a book a day. I’m a fast reader but I’m going on a cruise. I plan on doing other things besides reading by the pool or beach. Though that sounds pretty divine right? I should really pay attention to my family during our family trip.

I think if I finish off 2012 around 80-90 books, I’ll be happy.

How are you doing with your reading goals?

Filed Under: Reading List, Thien-Kim Tagged With: , ,

Weekend Reads Before Frankenstorm Hits

October 26, 2012 2 Comments
Geek Mom Book Cover

Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie

If you’re living any where near the East coast of the United States, you’ve probably heard of Frankenstorm by now. Everyone is preparing for the combination of Hurricane Sandy, a nor’easter, and a blizzard to hit somewhere between Virginia Beach and New York City. All the meteorologists are freaking out. I feel like I’m in a SyFy disaster movie.

I’m prepared. I picked up some water and tequila. Plus I have a stack of books to read while we’re stuck inside. If you’re looking for some weekend reads, check out some of my book reviews from other sites I contribute to:

Over at I’m Not the Nanny, I reviewed a must have book for all moms everywhere:

Thanks to the new book Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families, I can share my geeky passions with my kids. The book is co-written by the bloggers of Wired Magazine’s Geek Mom Blog: Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Carrina Lawson, and Jenny Williams. Reading these talented women’s bios made me feel proud to be a mom. They show that you can be a mom and still pursue your passions. Maybe you don’t consider yourself a geek. As you read this book, you’ll learn that you’re geekier than you ever thought. Even me.

Read the rest of the review and enter the giveaway for your own copy of Geek Mom.

If you’re looking for a great escape read, try the newest book by Catherine McKenzie:

I’m not living the life I imagined back in my college days. I never dreamed about working from home and raising two young kids in my early 30s. Heck, I originally didn’t even plan on getting married until I turned 30. While I wouldn’t change chasing my toddler at the park or typing at my desk into the wee hours of the night, I wonder what I might be doing today if I had gone into technology instead of the arts. Luckily, I can makeover my life vicariously through the new novel Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie who also wrote Arranged and Spin.

Read more over at Parents.com Mom Must Read Blog

What are you reading this weekend? If you’re in Frankenstorm’s path, please stay safe.

 

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