What I'm Reading This Week

I’m joining the “It’s Monday: What Are You Reading” project (hosted by Book Journey) for the first time today. I’m trying to keep my momentum up, because I know that things will fall to pieces once the holiday season begins.

This past weekend I finished Veronika Decides To Die, which is my book club’s pick for this month. I’ll write up a review after our conversation – assuming there’s going to be a conversation. Ladies, who’s coming this month? It’ll be a good time -- Ethiopian food and suicide! 

I’m also reading The Restless Sleep: Inside New York City’s Cold Case Squad as part of the Nonfiction November read-along. I’m about half way through, and the discussion starts on Wednesday. So far…eh. I’m a little bit bored, and a little bit horrified. I’m still waiting to get sucked into it. 

The stack below holds other things I hope to get to soon – though not necessarily all of them this week.  

1) I received Lila for my birthday (thank you, Saskia!). I’m thinking that I have to re-read or at least skim Gilead and Home before I tackle it, though. I tend to forget details from previous books, and that drives me crazy.

From Goodreads:

Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church—the only available shelter from the rain—and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. She becomes the wife of a minister, John Ames, and begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the days of suffering that preceded her newfound security.

Neglected as a toddler, Lila was rescued by Doll, a canny young drifter, and brought up by her in a hardscrabble childhood. Together they crafted a life on the run, living hand-to-mouth with nothing but their sisterly bond and a ragged blade to protect them. But despite bouts of petty violence and moments of desperation, their shared life is laced with moments of joy and love. When Lila arrives in Gilead, she struggles to harmonize the life of her makeshift family and their days of hardship with the gentle Christian worldview of her husband that paradoxically judges those she loves.

2) Radical Equations: Math Literacy and Civil Rights is the last book I promised to read for Nonfiction November. If I accomplish that, I will have read 4 nonfiction books for pleasure in a single month. That might be a record.

From Goodreads:

At a time when popular solutions to the educational plight of poor children of color are imposed from the outside-national standards, high-stakes tests, charismatic individual saviors-the acclaimed Algebra Project and its founder, Robert Moses, offer a vision of school reform based in the power of communities. Begun in 1982, the Algebra Project is transforming math education in twenty-five cities. Founded on the belief that math-science literacy is a prerequisite for full citizenship in society, the Project works with entire communities-parents, teachers, and especially students-to create a culture of literacy around algebra, a crucial stepping-stone to college math and opportunity.

3) Us just came in from my library hold list! Woo! I enjoyed Nicholls’ One Day, so I’m hopeful that this one will be a relaxing treat (It looks like One Day is on sale at Powells for $1.50, if you don't mind the annoying movie cover!).

From Goodreads:

Douglas Petersen understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home. He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together.

So when Connie announces that she will be leaving, too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer, and win the respect of his son. One that will make Connie fall in love with him all over again.

The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed. What could possibly go wrong?

4) Finally, This One Summer is a YA (or middle grade? I can't tell) graphic novel. I have yet to read any graphic novels and am not sure how much I’ll enjoy this format. But I’ve heard good things about this one, and it doesn’t involve superheroes or dragons -- so it seems like a good one to try.

From Goodreads:

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age—a story of renewal and revelation.

That's all for now. Please let me know what you’re reading, too. Hint: Leave a comment.