Lake Reads: BC Day 2018

We have a long weekend coming up in Canada (hooray for BC Day and whatever you call it in your province!) and even though schedules and weekends no longer actually mean anything in this household (my husband works shifts that jump week to week), we’re still heading out of town for it.

It’ll be the first time we take our small lady on the road and I have no idea how much time I will actually have for reading but I can’t go unprepared. I’m hoping that the addition of some extra grandparent hands will mean I have the chance to sneak off and get some reading done.

Even though I hate packing (you should see the lists for this trip), I loooooooooove packing books. There’s no flight involved so there’s no weight restriction. If I bring it and it doesn’t get read? Oh well.

So, here are the books I’m planning on bringing with me!

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. I’ve been meaning to read this book about generations of a Korean family for AGES. Ever since Roxane Gay said it was her favourite book of 2017. But it’s an intimidating size and I think I need TIME to spend with it. So here’s hoping that the lake provides the perfect setting to finally get into this one.

When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger.  I hated the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada so I don’t have terribly high expectations for this third book. But it’s a quintessential summer book, I’ve seen people I trust read it and enjoy it and honestly, aside from that one book, Lauren Weisberger hasn’t let me down yet. 

Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson. I haven’t read a book written by a man in something like 20 books. I think Larson, one of my absolute favourite non-fiction writers, is one of the only men that could induce me to break this streak right now. His book about the deadliest hurricane in history has been hard to find (I’ve read everything else he’s written). When i came across a copy recently, I didn’t even hesitate in buying it. I’m hoping to get it read while I’m up there and leave it behind for my father-in-law.

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. Ah, another book by a man. OK this is maybe becoming a Thing. When you’ve read a lot of crime fiction, it becomes difficult to find books that are original. Horowitz putting himself into this book makes it stand out and it feels like the kind of book that I always crave when I’m at the lake.

Educated by Tara Westover. Everything I’ve heard about this book makes me think it could be kind of a heavy read. So it feels like a good idea to bring it to a place that makes my heart happy. A memoir about growing up thinking the End of Days was coming, cut off from the world with a father who was growing increasingly violent? That sounds like the kind of book that needs to be read in the sun.

I think I’ll probably cap it at five books this time. A year ago, this list would have been a good start, now it’s definitely aspirational. But we wouldn’t be bookworms if we didn’t spend our time thinking about all the books we’d like to read.

Happy long weekend, friends!

Lake Reads: Summer 2017

It is the point in this dumpster fire of a year, personally and globally, when I take a time out and go to my in-laws for some outdoor reading, wine drinking, ice cream tripping and lake dipping.

And as ever, in the service of creating more bookish lists, here’s what’s coming with me.

I have been thinking about what’s coming with me for WEEKS. It is has been a hellfire of a couple of weeks, and focusing on what books I could bring is an exercise in joy.

I’m looking at two long car rides and FIVE days of glorious freedom spent with my (sunscreened) nose in a book.

Not too long ago, I went on a bookstore binge. Somehow I have managed to keep Megan Abbott’s You Will Know Me, Taylor Jenkin Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network for lake reading. I can just feel that these books will be HEAVEN.

I also managed to keep my impatient hands off of Roxane Gay’s Hunger. Roxane is coming with me to the lake!

Matt Haig’s How To Stop Time. So I had written down this book’s July release date, ready to march to the bookstore and pick up a copy on the day. Turns out, that was the U.K release date and I’d have to wait until FEBRUARY to get mine. NOPE. I ordered it from book depository.com – it arrived last week and I’ve been counting the days until I can read it outside in the garden. This one is the story of a man who ages more slowly than the rest of us – as in, he was born in the 1500s and is still kicking. The one rule: don’t fall in love. You know I loved The Humans, and The Radleys and I’ve only heard the most wonderful things about How to Stop Time.

The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante. Well, guys. This will be it. The fourth and final book in the Neapolitan Novels series.  I’ve been undecided if I want to read this ASAP or wait to find out what happens to Lila and Elena. The draw of reading the finale in the sunshine proved to be too much. Plus, it was at the library when I went – a sign. I’m going to have to go back and buy all these books at some point. The thought of not owning these is kind of a heartbreaker.

Sleep Baby Sleep by David Hewson. Would a trip to the lake be complete without some kind of crime fiction? No, it would not. I’ve fallen in love with the Pieter Vos books, set in Amsterdam with the kind of hardboiled, crusty detective we’ve all come to expect in this type of book. Turns out Amsterdam is a perfect, sinister setting for some seriously f*cked up crime. A girl who works at the famous flower market disappears. When she turns up, she’s barely alive, tied to a stone angel inside a ring of fire. Her body contains traces of a drug that connects her to a series of murders called The Sleeping Beauty Murders. Vos is on the trail of a serial killer. Yesssssssssssssssssssssss.

And because I’ve been deep diving into the non-fiction this year…

First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies by Kate Anderson Brower. This book has been on my list for forever. This book, that looks at the most underestimated positions in the world, covers the women who held the position from 1960 to the present day. I’m looking forward to spending time with Jackie, Lady Bird, Pat, Rosalyn, Hillary and of course, Michelle. It also includes a cheeky afterword regarding the expectations of Melania in the role…

A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Remarkable Story of an Italian Mother, Her Sons, and their Fight Against Fascism by Caroline Moorehead. It’s taken me a LONG time to recover enough from A Train in Winter to even THINK about reading another of Moorehead’s books. I am confident that, dealing as it does with an Italian mother, this one will have more blatant ass-kicking and less heartbreak. It’s the true story of the Rosselli family, a part of the cultural elite in Florence, who were vocal anti-fascists. The price they paid for their activism is documented in this book, which also looks at the rise and fall of Mussolini and his black shirted thugs, and what it meant for Italy as a whole. You know, just some light summer reading.

So that’s probably enough, but just in case I will also bring War and Peace with me to fill in any reading lulls. Will I read all of the books? Definitely not. But I will always have something to suit my mood and that’s how I roll.

Lake Reads: Easter 2017

It’s been pretty quiet around here eh?

I’m going through another reading rough patch – I’m having a lot of trouble concentrating on reading! It’s been really busy at work and we’re still house hunting (which is the most intense experience out here) so I don’t have much left for this space.

BUT.

That’s about to change because it’s Easter and you know what that means? I’m headed to my in-laws’ house and all that’s expected of me in the next few days is to read and have some drinks. Maybe also run to town for ice cream.

I have been looking forward to this weekend for weeks and weeks, thinking about what books will come with me. I’ve changed my mind many times but in the end, these are the books that I’m taking with.

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante. You may recall that I wasn’t a massive fan of My Brilliant Friend. It took me more than a year to take a chance on the second book in the series, The Story of a New Name. Well, that one converted me. I fell for that book hard and I think it’s safe to say that I’m obsessed by the friendship between Lila and Elena. I can’t wait to get into the third book.

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin. This account of a white journalist going undercover as a black man in the Deep South in 1959 is more serious lake reading but it feels important and timely.

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter. What can I say? I’ve been in a murder state of mind. I’ve been listening to as many episodes of the My Favorite Murder podcast as time will allow. Given my non-focus abilities recently, I need something to grip me. I was haunted by Slaughter’s Pretty Girls. I look forward to her scaring the crap out of me again. This book needs to be back at the library on Tuesday – someone is waiting for it!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. When I saw this post from Amy @ Read a Latte I was intrigued. I mean, it’s serious if you read a book twice in a week. When I was next at the library, I saw this book sitting out and felt like it was meant to be. I like the idea of an office duel between competing assistants who hate each other right about now.

The Secrets You Keep by Kate White. I don’t want to brag but I know the guy who took the picture that they used for this cover. When he told me about it I looked the book up and it sounded interesting: what would you do if your new husband is keeping secrets from you, ones that are potentially dangerous? I pre-ordered it (something I NEVER do) and now I’m taking it to the lake.

The Edge of the Fall by Kate Williams. I read the first book in this promised trilogy (The Storms of War) quite a while ago. It was the story of a German-English family navigating society into the First World War and what it meant for their place in it. Kate Williams is an incredible biographer and she has taken equal care in crafting some solid historical fiction.

And that’s “it.” Three full days, 10 hours worth of car rides – I can do some serious reading damage this weekend. Promise that when I get back, I will actually post about some of it.

Happy Easter, friends!

Lake Reads – Weak Sauce edition

You know what that means! Time for another edition of “here are the books I’m dragging with me to the lake!”

I suspect that this time will be different – we’re only going up for a few days, and more people are coming with, including 2 little boys.

Regardless of how much time I will have to actually read, I would never want to be in a situation where I had nothing to read. I’m still bringing options! Whether I will get through any of these is anyone’s guess, but these are the books that will be making the trip this time:

Cecilia by Frances Burney – I’ve been limping along recently, trying to keep up with the Summer of Cecilia hosted by Laura @ Reading in Bed. I’m more than halfway though so if I just make some kind of effort, I should be able to get back on track!

All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani. If I do get some time to sit and read in the sun, I feel like a book about Golden Age movie stars will be perfect.

Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty by Ramona Ausubel. I read the first few pages of this book about privileged white people who lose all their money – it took place at their summer home. I’ve also heard that the characters in this one are fun to hate. Reading about despicable people in a beautiful place? One of my favourite things.

The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger. I just re-watched The Devil Wears Prada. It’s been too long since I read something by Lauren Weisberger (we probably should just forget Revenge Wears Prada ever happened, ok?). I was dragged to Costco with the promise of a book, this was the one I picked (also, I had already read most of the books on offer. Get your sh*t together, Costco!)

Feels like a weak list doesn’t it? I’ll probably sneak something else in last minute but I really don’t think it’ll be reading productive time this trip.

Enjoy the last days of summer, friends! See you on the other (scheduled, September) side!

Lake Reads: BC Day Edition

 

Look at what I did! Learning and growing, guys.

As my shiny new graphic may have indicated, I’m off for another long weekend at the lake. This time around is a little different – my sister, Audrey of Aud Thoughts, is coming with! I’m sure for a lot of people, the addition of an extra person would mean that less reading would occur. But Audrey and I are the kind of sisters that will just read together. I suspect Holly and Amanda at Gun in Act One are similar.

But you didn’t come here to hear about sister reading (did you?). You want to know what I’ve brought with me to the lake, right? I have some good ones coming with me! Right now, I’m reading one of these.

The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight. You may recall that I LOVED Reconstructing Amelia. Her second book, Where They Found Her, was just OK for me. The Outliers is our book club book – apparently this is the first in a trilogy. Wylie gets a text from her best friend Cassie, ‘Please Wylie, I need your help.’ This is the first Wylie has heard from Cassie in over a week so of course she’s going to do what she needs to to help her friend.

Sarong Party Girls by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan. This one is described as Emma set in Modern Asia so that’s really all I need. Amanda read it recently and said it was more serious than she expected it to be but I guess now I’m prepared for that!

Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin. First of all, this woman’s name is Wednesday and I can totally get behind that. This book, an anthropological look at the insanity that is the Upper East Side, sounds gossipy and snotty and great. I’d been meaning to read this one for a while and when I walked into Chapters the other day, the paperback was on for $15. Yes, please.

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. Guys, this is the last of Moriarty’s books that I have to read! Once I read this, I will have read ALL of her books and have to wait for her to write something new. (I read Truly Madly Guilty and it was amazing. Totally maintaining the Moriarty Standard of Excellence). Sophie’s perfect boyfriend is going to propose but on the day he’s going to do it, she ends the relationship and breaks his heart. A year later, he’s  married to someone else and Sophie wonders if he’s the one that got away. Listen – it might not sound like your cup of tea but when Liane Moriarty is at the helm, a straight forward story becomes so much more.

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes. Anyone else feeling like they need a hit of Downton? This book from the show’s creator is set in the 1840s but begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It all starts at the Duchess of Richmond’s infamous ball and I am here for it.

The Fire Witness by Lars Kepler. Guys, I can’t get enough of this series. Kepler has become one of my favourite Scandinavian crime writers. After this one, I still have Stalker to go. This one tells the tale of a gruesome and strange murder in a home for teenaged girls. Joona Linna returns to find out what happened. Lake rule: you must always bring crime fiction.

The Hopefuls is also coming up with us because Audrey has requested it. And! For the first time ever, my husband wants to read a book that I recommended. I’m not supposed to make a big deal out of it or he won’t read it… (The book is Dark Matter)

Hope you have some good reads on deck this weekend!