My reading year has started off slower than I would have liked. I mean, I have been reading and enjoying it, but I’m behind on my numbers if I want to hit my goal of 75 books for the year. Not to worry- on this episode of SHU’s podcast she gives a February pep talk about not getting discouraged if the year is off to a slow start. Phew.
First, I read this:
I read Lily King’s Writers and Lovers years ago, and really liked it. I liked this one as well- my only complaint was that I wished there were more to it. Don’t get me wrong- the book is really well-written, I just wanted more of the story. I also felt like the main character was vaguely familiar, and I put that down to a similar writing style to Writers and Lovers.
But then, guess what! Julie texted me that the two books are companions! The story line of Writers and Lovers takes place in between parts 1 and 2 of Heart the Lover. It’s the same character, which I didn’t realize. I LOVE THIS! I love that I didn’t realize it was the same main character, and that I had to fit it together afterwards like pieces of a puzzle.
Next up… I’ve been wanting to read this for a while, and was excited to get it from the library:
I forgot two things: 1) I don’t like political thrillers, and 2) Louise Penny’s writing style can annoy me. Let’s look at an example:
“Instead of diminishing with time, that sense had grown, the chasm widening. She increasingly felt the need to do more. To help more. To not report on the pain but do something to ease it. To give back…”
All those fragmented sentences! And she’s just saying the same thing over and over again with different words! She does this constantly, and it distracts me from the story.
Another thing I didn’t like was the fast pace. I like a book where I get to see what the characters do in their spare time, what they eat for breakfast, and what their houses look like. We don’t get that here, because the story takes place in less than 48 hours.
If I am going to read a book with such a short timeline, I would like it to be shorter so I can read the entire thing in one or two sittings. This book was almost 500 pages, which was too long (for me, for this style of storytelling). However, in spite of all my complaining, I’m glad I finally read this book written by two great women. If you like political thrillers and Louise Penny’s writing, you will love this.
And now…
In spite of the fact that Birchie highly recommended this, I was hesitant to pick it up because of the extremely weird premise- a woman believes it’s her destiny to “marry” an airplane, i.e. die in a plane crash. WHAT. But here’s the thing- it actually works. Somehow you accept that premise and are rooting for this odd person. I’m only about 1/3 of the way through… I’ll report back when I’ve finished.
Have you read any of these?
What are you reading now?
Top photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash
23 Responses
I haven’t read these books and probably won’t. Not my cup of tea. I am doing some comfort rereads( David Rosenfelt and T Kingfisher), Age of Innocence ( finished to get it done with lots of notes so I can complain in CBBC), a mystery called No One Abord, about a boat that is found abandoned and the people who were on it. It has flash backs and different points of view, which can be annoying, but this author did a really good job- I read the whole thing in a day. Other books I don’t remember titles- so nothing impactful.
Ooh, that mystery sounds good. And I hope you’re liking The Age of Innocence! This is a reread for me, and I loved it the first time through. i know a lot of people aren’t liking it- it’s definitely different from most books we read nowadays.
Aw yiss SKY DADDY!!!!!!!! I can’t explain why this book is so good and why it works, it just does. I might pick up the audio book for a road trip.
Exactly what you said about Heart the Lover – it was a good ride, but I wanted more out of it. But there was something about it that made me want to jump to Writers and Lovers right afterwards, so I’m not mad about it. I wonder what the author’s deal is with love triangles? Says me who is raving about the “plane bride” book.
My current reading routine is one chapter of Age of Innocence followed by a couple of chapters of Nicole’s book! I’m taking Age slow so that I only read the assigned reading each week, and I’m taking Inhale, Exhale slow because it’s good and I want it to last.
I know- it’s hard to explain to people why Sky Daddy isn’t completely insane, and actually really good. When I finish it I’ll try to put it into words!
I’m bummed because I ordered Nicole’s book but it won’t be here till the end of the month!!! Everyone else is reading it and I feel left out.
Sky Daddy!!! This is a book that I feel like I *should* read, since Birchie and Nicole enjoyed it so much. And yet… it is so far out of my usual kind of read! So I will be eager to know how you like it, since I think you and I have similar reading tastes. To that end, I think I am going to skip the Penny. Political thrillers are NOT my jam.
Skip the Penny! I’ll give a full report on Sky Daddy soon and you can decide if it’s something you’d like.
I LOVED SKY DADDY. Love love loved it. I loved it so much I have the paperback edition on preorder, because I want to be able to revisit it.
I loved Writers and Lovers and am excited to read Heart the Lover!
I know… how is it possible that Sky Daddy is so good??? And, you will like Heart the Lover.
I have read the first 2. I liked State of Terror but didn’t love it. I have come to like Penny’s books lately, though. The plot lines feel really confusing. Her 3 pines books used to be more cozy and now her recent ones don’t take place in 3 pines. I didn’t care for her last one so I think I am done with her books which makes me sad. But I loved about 18 of them which is a good run!
I’m reading ‘Lion Women of Tehran’ which is great so far!
Yes, I liked her earlier books better. I think I’m about ten books into the series, and I’ll probably continue to read them because every time I think I’m done with her, someone talks about a three pines book and I feel left out. I did hear (from Meredith on Currently Reading) and Grey Wolf was NOT good, so I definitely won’t read that one.
I’m definitely intrigued by “Sky Daddy,” but I don’t know if it would be for me. Right now I’m reading “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” which is a fun, quick read so far. I also liked “Heart the Lover,” and wanted more of it. I read it on Kindle, and was sort of surprised by how short it was! I didn’t realize it was the same character as “Writers & Lovers” either–now I’m curious to revisit that since I read it years ago.
Yes! It’s the same character, so there’s the “more” we were looking for. I’ve never read Vera Wong but have heard about it a lot- one of these days I’ll pick it up.
I don’t mind a super fast-paced thriller IF it is short. Like 300 pages. Don’t give me 500 pages of *nonstop action and fast paced thrills* because I will absolutely get over it, lol
I’ve heard mixed reactions to Sky Daddy – it is SUCH a strange premise! – so I’m looking forward to your thoughts 🙂
I’ll probably read it pretty quickly, so my thoughts will be coming soon! And yes- 500 pages is too much for non-stop action.
I loved both Lily Kings (I love almost all of her work). I have zero desire to read the Clinton book.
Even apart from the premise, the title _Sky Daddy_ is making me giggle.
I’m glad you’re having fun reading, Jenny!
Thanks Maya! And yes- the title kind of says it all.
Jenny, our reading tastes have clearly diverged at this point! I hope these books bring you joy, but I’ll seat Sky Daddy out!
Are you sure???? I actually think you might like it… we’ll see what you think when I finish it and give my thoughts.
I’ve not read any of these books. The political thriller doesn’t appeal to me. Airplane Daddy – I’ve not heard of it, and it sounds like it might be too out there for me. I’m reading The School of Essential Ingredients. I’m not loving it. I’m listening to The Age of Innocence.
OK, I’m putting Sky Daddy on my TBR. What’s the worst thing that can happen? I can hate it? I would get over that pretty quickly. If I enjoy it, then YAY.
State of Terror holds zero interest for me, so I’ll skip that.
Because I enjoyed Heart the Lover and Writers and Lovers so much, I’m listening to another Lily King book, Tuesdays in Winter, which is short stories. So far it is reminding me of what I often don’t like about short stories. They feel like a really good chapter or two, and then they end. I want more.
I read heart the lovers, I enjoyed it but already the plot is fainting in my memory.
I’m reading the lonely sunny and Sonia, it’s over 600 pages long but I enjoy it, love the feeling of immersing into one book for a long time.
I also recommended Sky Daddy–I loved it in all its weirdness. And yes, it worked! I did not know that Writers and Lovers and Heart the Lover go together. I have not read Writers and Lovers, but it’s in my Kindle. Thanks for that heads up!
I will cosign all of your thoughts on Heart the Lover and State of Terror! I would have loved more from HtL and less from SoT, ha. One author knows how to create a tight narrative and the other(s) make it way too long. I did find some of the writing a little elementary in SoT, too. I do all of my Louise Penny books on audio so I don’t think I realized that some of the writing isn’t… great, lol.