What Are You Reading? June 2013

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun June 2nd, 2013, 9:13 pm

It's June 2 and today I read nearly 60 research paper rough drafts about North American endangered animals, then I traveled to Africa for a safari in Far in the Wilds by Deanna Raybourn, a novella prequel to her new novel which is A Spear of Summer Grass and what I will be reading next. I guess it was sort of an animal day.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun June 2nd, 2013, 9:46 pm

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. This debut literary novel is exceptional and immediately goes on my Best of 2013 list. Kent takes the true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last person to be be executed in Iceland, and weaves a multi-layered and moving tale around her last months of life. Although we know how it must end, as we get to know Agnes we desperately wish we could stop the steady, inexorable ticking of the clock and give her a second chance. Highly recommended.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 12:12 am

Just started The Heiress of Winterwood. Christian historical, regency setting. Actually quite not, thankfully not too preachy.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 8:31 am

I've just started "The Kashmir Shawl" by Rosie Thomas, and "Twelve Sharp" by Janet Evanovich.

emr · Post by **emr** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 8:32 am

Finished Benjamin Franklin's Bastard by Sally Cabot, very good imo although I keep thinking the title gives you a false impression on the book since the first 70% is about Franklin's women mostly being William a baby-boy-annoying teen but very in the background. Then for the rest of the book William moves to be one of the main characters but I don't feel that the book was specially about him. Recommended.

Discovering lately audiobooks. Interesting to discover that I can't sit with one staring at the wall, I either fall asleep or my mind wanders off. But it's great while doing mindless chores. Listening to The Lost Army Of Cambyses by Paul Sussman and liking it a lot.

Started reading People of the Wolf by W. Michael Gear as well but the intro is too close to The Lost Army with archeologists and such so I think I prefer to start something else more different.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 8:34 am

emr, I agree entirely about audio books - if I do listen to one, or morel likely, a radio play - I have to be doing something, usually ironing! I can't just sit and listen.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 12:14 pm

Thanks for starting the thread, Susan! I was away and the month slipped up on me!

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 3:29 pm

Still wading through Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris--great, but dense. Also reading contemporary fiction Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver--missed my stops TWICE while reading on the subway. 'nough said.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 3:56 pm

I've been slogging my way through Jeffrey Lent's In the Fall. I picked this up because I really liked Lost Nation, but the author's writing style that worked so well in LN is an uneven mess in this one. In the Fall covers three generations, Civil War through 1930s. It took me forever to get through the middle section that dealt with the 2nd generation. I'm in the homestretch now, and it's more interesting than the middle section (thank goodness, I didn't want to give up but was seriously considering it for a while).

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon June 3rd, 2013, 5:48 pm

Posted by emr

Listening to The Lost Army Of Cambyses by Paul Sussman and liking it a lot.

I read that one years ago and enjoyed it. Don't know why I didn't follow up other of his novels. One of the better in the Dan Brown-inspired "ancient artefact" mystery/thriller genre.

Currently reading The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by Julian Rubinstein (NF), a wild, hilarious romp around Eastern Europe as Communism crumbles. A case of truth being stranger than fiction