A Bibliophile’s Pile (16): Reading Slump Over

Read

 
Sharks and Other Predators by Mary Pope Osborne (physical / library / with kids)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Plenty of interesting info, although explaining to my 11 year old that marriage is a human concept, and that animals who do not mate for life aren’t immoral, was a bit of an unexpected conversation. 😆 He doesn’t struggle with understanding that predators aren’t murderers, so I’m not sure where the disconnect came from . . .

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference! by Lynne Truss (physical / library / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My daughter complains when I correct her grammar, so I got this book for us to read together. Our favorite page was “Eat here, and get gas.” vs. “Eat here and get gas.” Grammar is important.

Changing Planes by Ursula K. Le Guin (audiobook / library)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The stories in the book are ALL about world building. Since I find world building fascinating, I thoroughly enjoyed them! This was a rare short story collection in which every story was equally good, with no particular standouts, and no duds.

The Door by the Staircase by Katherine Marsh (audiobook / library / with kids)
My rating: 3. 5 of 5 stars

The kids and I didn’t love this story as much as other, similar stories we’ve read in recent years. It was interesting, and full of twists, but somehow, it just never grabbed us.

Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd (physical / own)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like the first book, this one took awhile to get going, but was satisfying in the end. The strength here, like most Cozies, is the characters. The change of scene, from the village to London, brought out the Regency setting to better effect.

Klickitat by Peter Rock (eBook / library)
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

What did I just read? Is it paranormal? Is it simply about a teen with mental illness? Some combo of the two? I originally noticed this book because of the title – it made me think of Beverly Cleary (who is mentioned repeatedly in the book). I chose the book for the wilderness category of the Popsugar challenges, but it doesn’t really fit. Ursula le Guin has a blurb on the back of the book, so I’ll use it for the author recommendation category. I’d much rather have read Cleary or le Guin. This was just weird.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (physical / library)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why have I never read this before?! It’s laugh out loud funny, sweet, and real. I must get my own copy!

Challenges

GOODREADS

110 of 260

AGATHA CHRISTIE READ ALONGS

None

#shakeit2017

None

CLASSICS CHALLENGE

None

BACKLIST READER CHALLENGE 2017

Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd

CRUISIN’ THRU THE COZIES 2017

Historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present) – Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2017

A book of letters – 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

A book recommended by an author you love – Klickitat by Peter Rock