Comments on: Books read in May

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 01:32:40 +0000

I’m glad to see Lewis Carroll’s classics on your list, but I think you may have missed some real gems. The original was my absolute favorite as a child (my great aunt read it to us-I’m sure that helped!). I read it again in my 30’s. I saw very different things: a mockery of the British educational system, mostly, which was focused on rote learning. It’s a rare author who can capture the imagination of a 5 year old AND adults. The fantasy aspects were what I loved so as a child. I still loved those same aspects as an adult. By contrast, I also loved Nancy Drew as a young adult. As an adult, I still enjoy the stories on occasion, but find them far less interesting. They’re not nearly as well written.
As to the rest of your list, I see a couple I’d like to read, especially the Ben Franklin autobiography. I do love a good autobiog/biog. I’m currently reading a biography of Oswald Chambers. Thanks for your information!

By: ARC

ARC — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 04:30:18 +0000

In reply to lauravanderkam. +100 to Kindle time on the phone instead of checking email or social media. I have read SO MUCH MORE this way. Also reading my book instead of crappy magazines at the doctor's office, hair salon, etc.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:42:04 +0000

Just yesterday I started listening to the audiobook version of Hourglass (read by Shapiro herself) and am loving it!

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:17:27 +0000

In reply to Kathy. @kathy- thanks for the tip! I just ordered it.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:13:55 +0000

In reply to Deb.

@Deb – oh dear. I’m not sure I’ve written a specific article on this, though I feel like I have addressed the mommy martyrdom complex… Where to start? If they have time to talk to you about their lack of time, they probably have time to read! It may not be as much as they like, but it’s still some. Listening to audio books in the car is a good way to start. Or putting the Kindle app on the phone, because then you can turn any phone scrolling time into reading time. It’s also a habit. Consciously reading for 20 minutes after the kids go to bed, instead of zoning out on social media or TV, can up the total pretty quickly. After 20 minutes you can start something else (including chores, or whatever) but if it’s a good book, it’s easy to keep going!

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:08:45 +0000

In reply to Courtney Westlake.

@Courtney – I’d say that The Sun Also Rises is a good story, highly readable, and reads like…Hemingway (in the style people know him for). The Old Man and the Sea is short, and is Hemingway at the complete opposite end of his life. So that might be a good one to do too.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:41:04 +0000

I love seeing what other people are reading. You’ve got quite a nice variety here. A suggestion: If you like Bill Bryson, my favorite of his books is I’m a Stranger Here Myself. I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny.

By: Courtney Westlake

Courtney Westlake — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:40:16 +0000

I’d like to add Hemingway to my to-read list…any suggestions on a good one to start with?

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:17:52 +0000

Also: I have so many friends who are moms (I’m not) who tell me they don’t have time to read, because kids. If you haven’t written an article rebutting this, please do. If you have, point me to it.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:16:28 +0000

Marilynne Robinson is an amazing writer. You will love the next two books. So beautiful! I just heard Dani Shapiro speak and I’m anxious to read Hourglass as well. And yours is the third mention of A Walk in the Woods, which means I’m being called to read it. Adding that to the TBR pile.