What’s the opposite of a reading slump? A reading “boom”? That’s what I’m having right now. Ever since my mini-reading retreat, I’ve just been whipping through good books. I recently returned from the library with these:
… and then I listened to an episode of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live and put two more on my TBR. I’m waiting on three library holds, and oh I also have the second Anne book. I just want to read all the time!
Convenience Store Woman is for Engie’s book club, and- I finished the entire thing. I read 20 pages the day I got it, and the next day I sat down and read the rest. I REALLY liked it, and I can’t wait to discuss!
Here’s another book I read recently:
“The Ship of Death” is a tabletop roleplaying game… gone horribly wrong. This book was funny, super interesting, weird, and dark. I loved it.
My daughter has jubilantly driven off to Orlando with friends, where she is spending two days and going to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal (what? Yes, I have basically given up on parenting at this point). Maybe this means I can have another mini-reading retreat this weekend! I do have work (sigh) but I’ll fit in as much reading as I can.
What are you reading now?
Do you like horror? – I usually don’t but decided to try it out for Spooky Season, and I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read so far (Comfort Me With Apples and Ship of Death)
Top photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash
27 Responses
I started Convenience Store Woman, didnt like it, read the end, and tried again. I have strong feelings about it. The CBBC discussions will be lit!
The Nightingales is waiting for me at the library. After Engie’s recommendation, and the author showing up in the comments and sounded so nice, I had to get it.
Just finished a Lisa Jackson mystery. And Naked Imperfections, recommended ( sort of) by Elisabeth. Men. Anne Cleeland latest Doyle &Acton mystery too.
I don’t like horror, but there are some slightly horror books I have enjoyed. Probably because a blogger recommended them. Prefer mysteries though- a puzzle, a resolution, and an end. Very mathematical of me!
Well, hopefully Angie is safe and happy this weekend. Enjoy your books!
Ooh, strong feelings! I think this will be a good book club book. Especially since it’s very short- even if people don’t like it, it wouldn’t be hard to finish, and then they can join the discussion to voice their displeasure!
Mystery really is my favorite genre- I always come back to it.
Yipes, I need to start Convenience Store Woman. I’m still reading Fellowship Point, which I like and it’s giving “there’s no need to hurry to finish it” vibes.
I like a bit of spookiness and suspense.
Enjoy your kid free weekend! It’s good for both parents and kids to have a bit of “off leash” time.
Just so you know, you can easily read CSW in one day. And we only need to read the first half for Monday, so you’ll have no problem.
Here’s a funny story about Convenience Store Woman: I won’t be around for the discussion, but I borrowed the book and sat down to read it last week. Well, the moment I read the first paragraph, I thought “Wait. I’ve read this before!” And so I looked at my spreadsheet and I had read it in Feb 2023 and totally forgot. I really liked it and rated it a 4.5. I just finished Vladimir – which I LOVED OMG I LOVED IT – but I don’t recommend it for you! I also read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, which came before Textbook, and I liked Textbook much better. I have a ton of books downloaded on my Kobos for my trip, next up is Main Characters.
NO! I hate horror!
That is funny! Well- I’m glad you liked it, although it obviously didn’t really stay with you (I have books like that).
I started Textbook and like it so far!
I hope you enjoy Textbook. It’s such a quick read, but especially poignant because the author was dying of cancer.
I am about 1/4 of the way through Convenience Store Woman and really liking it so far. I’m hoping to binge read to the end this evening, though I have some late-evening driving to accommodate my daughter’s social plans.
I am NOT a horror fan in books or movies.
I’m glad you enjoyed the first Anne book enough to move on to the second. I think the first three books are all delightful and heartwarming.
You can easily binge to the end of CSW. That’s what I did, and I was only planning on reading a “little bit.”
I’m glad you reminded me about the author of Textbook- I know I read that but forgot it, and I’m sure it will color my reading experience!
This post reminds me that I need to download Convenience Store Woman! I haven’t had great luck with CBBC books lately, so I’m hoping this one will turn things around.
I just started The Lion Women of Tehran last night, and I’m about to download Whistler on audio!
Convenience Store Woman is very short and readable- so even if you don’t love it, it will be easy to read. I really liked it though!
I am LOVING my reread of Convenience Store Woman. I honestly have laughed at so many lines. I didn’t remember Keiko being quite as funny as I found her this time around. I am hoping that it being short will motivate more people to join and discuss!
Also, I think The Nightingales is even shorter than CSW! You will fly right through it. But maybe cry.
I know- the book is funny! I think a lot of people will read it even if they don’t love it (but I hope most people love it).
I ended up ordering Convenience Store and just got it yesterday. I read a bit of it while Rae and I were at the DMV. I will be recovering from the DMV disaster for the rest of the day.
I hope to read move of CSW in the car on the way to the wedding but aside from that I’m reading Calamity Club. So far I really like it- so much so that I bought a copy online also arrived yesterday, so Mini can read it as a buddy read. She reads faster than I do, so no doubt she’ll catch up.
I’ve heard mixed things about Calamity Club, but it seems like most people love it. And, I hope your experience at the DMV doesn’t prejudice you against CSW!
I have quite a few on my hold list at the library.
I just finished Judge Stone… I enjoyed it.
I haven’t heard of that one! Oh, I just looked it up- it sounds good.
I love a reading boom! I’m currently deeply enmeshed in the the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and I can’t stop. I’m on the third book. Hilariously, I had one of the books out when I was in the airport, and a man started talking to me about it (while he was holding HIS copy of the book), and then three women in front of me started asking about it and if it would be good for their book club, and how happy they were to see “young” people with physical copies of the book.
Reading brings us all together!
I have not read those books, but I know people love them! That is a funny story from the airport- and yes, sadly it is odd to see a “young” person holding a physical book nowadays.
OMG Jenny, I am so glad you mentioned CSW because somehow I forgot about it?! I put it on hold and apparently also put it out of my mind! What are the chances that it comes in over the weekend? Hmmmmm.
YES, I like horror! Not all of it, but there are some really good ones. The best one I’ve read recently was Incidents Around the House. Creepy!
I would say- if your copy doesn’t come in over the weekend, just buy it. It’s a short, fun read, and I want to hear your opinions at book club!
I am very very very much NOT a horror book (or movie) person. People who can read it impress me. Do you get scared at all reading it?
I’m also in a reading boom right now and it’s great, especially after coming off a really long slump.
Have a great kid free weekend!
No, I never get scared by books! Or movies, for that matter. Actually I kind of wish I did, because then I could appreciate horror even more. Now I just read it and am like “oh, this is kind of creepy…” It would be more fun to be truly scared.
I do not read horror. I can’t handle it. I have read a few Stephen King novels but I try to only read his non-horror ones because horror is just not my thing!
Paul and I started The Undead Fox book which we are both enjoying! On my own, I’m reading ‘The Shampoo Effect’. It’s a very fast read so I am enjoying it! I exclusively read Libby books on my kindle so I only check out 3-4 at a time so I know I can finish them before they are due. I like that I can refer a hold if it becomes available!
Ooh, I’m glad you’re liking The Undead Fox!!! It’s a good book for fall. And- I have the opposite problem of most people. I don’t like a lot of horror because it just doesn’t scare me. And if you’re not scared, then it seems kind of silly. So I need my horror to be really weird, mysterious, and unusual to be able to enjoy it.
I am ready for a reading boom. I’ve been in a slump.
How does Engie’s book club work? (I poker around her blog but couldn’t figure it out).
She gives a schedule of what chapters (or pages) we read by what date- it’s every Monday once it starts, and then she does a post where she talks about that portion of the book and asks some questions, and people discuss in the comments. I’m going to send you the link!
I picked up Convenience Store Woman one lunchtime and ended up standing in the kitchen reading and reading and reading until it was done! I’ve not fancied her more recent books, however.