What I'm Reading, Midterm Edition

It’s midterm time in my world. For all you students out there, please know that the only thing worse than writing midterm papers is having to read them. Just kidding. You all are brilliant, and your writing amazes me. *Cough*

The one bloggy thing I achieved this week was the creation of The Leaning Stack of Books Diversity Challenge Bingo Game.  My intent is to read more broadly in 2015, and this game is my way of cultivating this goal without turning it into a grim responsibility. Please check it out, and join me if you’re interested.

I did finish two books. The first was 100 Essays I Don't Have Time To Write by Sarah Ruhl, which, as I mentioned last week, is very different than I expected. I’ve decided to re-read this short book with a different eye and a different set of expectations. I’ll wait to write a review until I’ve tried again.

The other book I finished was The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob, and holy wow! I loved it all the way through. This book is over 500 pages long, so it took me the better part of the week to finish (and even then, I didn’t want it to end). I’ll get a review up soon.

I also just started Cold Killing by Luke Delaney. I’m at the part where there’s blood all over the place. 

In addition to reading student papers, my intent is to read two books this week. 

The first is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. This is one of those books that I see people reading everywhere I go, which, of course, makes me wonder what the fuss is all about.

Goodreads calls it “a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.”

I also plan to read Boy in the Twilight: Stories of the Hidden China by Yu Hua. My book club is reading this one for this month’s discussion. I’m not much of a short story reader, so I’m eager to see how I like this collection.  I’m also interested to see how we structure a discussion about multiple stories.

Here’s the description from Goodreads:

With sharp language and a keen eye, Yu Hua explores the line between cruelty and warmth on which modern China is—precariously, joyfully—balanced. Taken together, these stories form a timely snapshot of a nation lit with the deep feeling and ready humor that characterize its people.

Next Monday is a holiday, so someone will need to remind me that it's actually Monday. Until then, happy reading!

(It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey)