This weekend was another busy one around these parts, as we did a day trip on Saturday to visit the in-laws, and then yesterday was full of errands...although I did get to use a little tax return money to start my summer vacation shopping. YES! T-minus 3 months until a fantastical week of beach time. Must load up the Kindle too...
In other news, Small Fry has started to refer to our cars as the "beep-beeps". WHICH IS SO ADORABLE. Love that kid. He does something new every day.
Anyway, what am I reading?
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.
What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice? (Goodreads link)
The newest Picoult release that I picked up at her kickoff event last month. I AM HOOKED. The story is complex and mysterious and dramatic and full of awesome. I'll admit, when I saw she was tackling the Holocaust, I was a little skeptical...there are SO many fiction novels that take on that topic, I wasn't sure how she was going to approach it from an original angle. But those concerns quickly went out the window. I hope the ending gives a big pay-off to match the rest of the novel. Review coming later this week!
How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
As I mentioned last week, I decided to use this as my book for Wales in the Around The World In 12 Books Challenge. I just started it this weekend...not bad so far. A slower pace than the Picoult book for sure, but I'm impressed with the breadth of characters and how quickly I'm coming to be attached to Huw. This is a long one though, so we'll see how I fare!
Also, I'm still listening to the audiobook of The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht. It continues to be fantastic. Can't wait to review soon!
What's on tap next?
Probably At the Mercy of the Mountains by Peter Bronski (for this month's Keyword Challenge), and/or Evil Water by Inger Wolf--I have a review copy and it sounds pretty thrilling. Have you read either of these two? Any recommendations?
Have a great reading week!
Beep beeps, awwww :) Adorable! I don't think I've heard of How Green Was my Valley but it sounds like one of those sweeping, epic type reads that I dig. I'll look forward to your review.
ReplyHave a great week!
It does seem to be an "epic" for sure. I'll keep you posted :)
ReplyI have not read the Storyteller yet, but its on my to read pile in awhile. http://ruthsrunningstitch.blogspot.ie/
ReplyI hope you are able to get to it soon! So far, I can totally vouch for it :)
I love How Green Was My Valley! It is one of my favorite books. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great week!
ReplyRebecca @ The Key to the Gate
Love to hear that feedback! I am always a little unsure with more epic novels, if they will be good or not. Happy to hear it's a must. :)
Both of your books sound interesting and it seems we have similar tastes in reading challenges. I'm doing an Around the World in 80 books challenge to complete in 5 years and the monthly keyword challenge too. I look forward to seeing your review of How Green Was my Valley and maybe I can use it for my Wales book as well. Happy reading!
ReplyI saw that ATW in 80 challenge a while ago, maybe I'll give that a try soon as well!
I can't wait to see what you think of The Storyteller. It is the best book I have read so far this year.
ReplyI have about 100 pages to go and I want to just DEVOUR IT. So amazing.