Started:

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty

One Day We'll All Be Dead and None Of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul

Finished:

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - absolutely wonderful novel. One of my favorite modern writers.

Firestarter, by Stephen King

This is my audiobook. It's really good so far and it's my first Stephen King! Popping that King Cherry (lolwut)

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng and Circe, by Madeline Miller

These came off hold at the library at the same time so I'm trying to read them before they're due! I'll probably just pay the overdue fees for Circe bc I'm reading Little Fires Everywhere first.

The Pisces, by Rachel Broder

The protagonist meets a merman after a break up and then things get weird. This was the OTHER hold that came through at the library. I usually only have 2 books going on at the same time so I'm a wee bit overwhelmed.

Normal People, by Sally Rooney I loved this novel! It's the tale of the relationship between two troubled kids through high school and college. The writing is excellent, and a lot of it resonates as real.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng Another excellent novel! It is full of symbolism and the themes are always popping up. It makes for a fun, thought-provoking read. Also, the characters and writing and plot are all compelling.

The Economist's Tale: A Consultant Encounters Hunger and the World Bank, by Peter Griffiths Excellent story! I'm a bit of an economics nerd, and it was great to follow Griffiths's economist's eyes through late 1980s Sierra Leone. Lots of good anecdotes.

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond Sociology and economics. Desmond follows both tenants and landlords. Some fascinating portraits. He also proposes solutions to the housing crisis; although those specific arguments aren't as compelling, something must be done.

Napoleon: A Life, by Andrew Roberts I read Roberts's Churchill biography earlier this year. This was okay, I learned a fair bit. But it wasn't nearly as interesting as Churchill; in comparison, Napoleon comes off as a bland character.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro Rather bland. The whole thing was predictable, and I guess that's the point, but it makes for a smaller book.

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe I'm not super interested in the Troubles and read this book to get myself interested. I did learn a lot, but can't say my overall position changed.

Moriarty, by Anthony Horowitz Fun mystery. Not as good as Horowitz's first Sherlock Holmes novel.

Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis, by Robert F. Kennedy Very short, a little self serving. Not as dramatic as the movie.

How to Hide an Empire, by Daniel Immerwahr I knew a lot already in the first half, all about the guano islands, for example. I learned some about the Philippines, though. Unfortunately, it really bogged down and went off topic in the second half.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng - finished it this week, great story that ties everything together nicely. Really enjoyed her recap of 90s suburban life.

Sing Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward - Started it this week, enjoying it so far, I can see where it's going, but am excited to get there.

Beloved, by Toni Morrison - Started a few weeks ago, enjoying it, just kind of taking it slow.

I am about midway through Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. The setting and the characters are so carefully crafted, it's easily one of the most believable novels I've read in a long time. Really impressed thus far!

Last week I finished:

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

I loved this one — the plot, the characters, the study of rich people and poor people, ethical decisions, etc. I didn’t want to put it down, and I read the last almost-half in one sitting.

The King Must Die by Mary Renault

Theseus and the Minotaur without most of the supernatural stuff, written in the 1950s. I got a touch bored with this one near the halfway point, but overall it was enjoyable, and I liked the attempt to make it more realistic. There’s a particular bit at the end that makes more sense to someone who’s had some high school science than it does to Theseus, and I liked that she stuck that in there. It felt a bit like an inside joke.

Short things:

• “Bohemians” by George Saunders (In Persuasion Nation)
• “Wild Berry Blue” by Rivka Galchen (American Innovations) (this was outstanding)
• “CommComm” by George Saunders (In Persuasion Nation)
• “Brutto” by Helen Dewitt (Some Trick)
• “Question 62” by TC Boyle (Wild Child)

Working on:

• White Teeth by Zadie Smith
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (P&V translation for /r/bookclub)
• Elmet by Fiona Mozley

Finished: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

I really enjoyed this book. Especially loved the ending!

Started: 11/22/63, by Stephen King

This is going to be my third Stephen King novel after The Outsider and The Stand. I held off reading this book because I was a little disappointed by The Stand but I've heard amazing things about this book.

Started and finished reading:

The Vegetarian, by Han Kang

I found it deeply disturbing and difficult to bear. Not a good book for me.

Finished listening:

Educated, by Tara Westover

This was very good. Gave me a glimpse into a fundamentalist/survivalist culture and lifestyle that are so foreign to me. It also provides a good example of the difficulties of succeeding despite PTSD, and the important distinctions between forgiveness and reconciliation

Started reading:

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Not far into it, but good so far.

Started listening:

The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough

Typical McCullough. He's so good at turning what could be a dry biography into an interesting story.

Continued reading:

Annals of the Former World, by John McPhee

Very good but slow going. I have to pause to look up geological terms (there's no glossary) and consult a table of geological periods (is the Devonian before or after the Silurian?) fairly often. Despite that, his prose is crisp and vivid, and it's worth the effort. It's going to take me a long time.

I finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. I had first heard of it at a literary festival and have been interested in reading more work by immigrant authors for the subtext of being a minority in their work (I too am a migrant/minority). I meant to read a short section, but ended up getting engrossed by the story and completely wrapped up by it. The section of the Asian baby being forcefully adopted felt unnecessary and didn't really work in any sense, but the family and the community was done brilliantly. In fact the revelations didn't quite live up to the build up but still a fantastic read.

I've just started A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole and 2 pages in I can feel that I'm in for a rollicking good time.

Finished reading The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North. What a drag! An interesting concept but the narrator was so bland, it just went on and on with exposition and pointless philosophising.

Now reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and loving it so far.

Finished: The Beautiful and Damned, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. His writing is beautiful and while the characters are tough to empathize with, he writes love in a way that keeps you reading.

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Started: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. I've heard mixed reviews but trying not to let that sway me. So far it seems like it'll have an interesting plot, but the writing hasn't impressed me as of yet.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

This book was wonderful. This is not the type of book that I typically read, but I blew through this one and could not put it down. Something about it was so engaging and thought provoking; I recommend it.

Edit: Formatting

I just finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. Overall I enjoyed it, mostly the character development. I thought some of the second half seemed especially unrealistic, but still made for a page turner to me.

I'm not totally sure how to describe it, but I really enjoy novels with sibling relationships. Another recent one I read as an example is the immortalists. If anyone can recommend others, I'd appreciate it!

Little Fires Everywhere, by Ng Celeste

So I abandoned The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss for now because I feel like I'm having epic fantasy fatigue. Chose Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen for commute reading (This is the very first time I'm reading btw) and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng for bedtime reading.

Edit: And Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis for my daughter's bedtime story.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee Just finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng which I, unlike many others, thought was just okay.

Finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and started Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

The Nightingale, by Kristen Hannah

I have heard I will need tissues for this one. I loved Hannah's Great Alone, so I have high expectations with this one.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Started: The Beautiful and Damned, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I've tried to read this book a few times, picking it up and then getting bored after a few pages, however right now I'm loving it. There's barely a plot, but the writing is so lyrical - I'm flying through it.

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Starting soon: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. Joined a book club and will be started this one soon; I know nothing about it but I'm excited!

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Just finished last night. I enjoyed the story.

I finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng and Gather the Daughters, by Jennie Melamed.

Looking for something new to start!

I am LOVING Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng - I want to read it all the time instead of going to work. Just got up to the bit with Izzy & Mia.

Just finished (read in two days): Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng - Fantastic read. I really enjoyed her first novel, as well. Looking forward to my book club’s discussion on it later this month.

Started last night: The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard - Only 25 pages in and off to a great start already.

Finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. So many questions at the end of this guy. When I turned the acknowledgements I was in disbelief. How can people love a book with sooo many cliffhangers when there is no sequel?! I'm not saying I want everything tied up in a little bow, but the fact that a one-off character (the lady at the abortion clinic) has more of a conclusion than any of the other characters really bothered me. I watched Lady Bird after this for the first time, and that helped fill the hole this book left. This was a slow burn, and didn't really pick up for me until about 60% at which point I flew through it. I'm interested in seeing if Hulu will give the story more of a conclusion.

Started Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. About 30% through and already laughing my ass off. Very happy the library has this one and the third one on Overdrive. They don't have the fourth, unfortunately. Hoping Tor publishes a compendium or omnibus of the novellas before the full-length novel comes out last year, and I'll buy that. Charging $9.99 to $13.99 for each of these little bites feels like robbery.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Oh god, this book is so good.

Finished:

• The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt as a library audiobook.

Reading this week:

• The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth von Arnim as a library eBook
• My Own Words, by Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a library audiobook
• Litte Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng as an owned physical book

Thoughts:

In the end, I liked The Goldfinch. I resisted for so long because of the mixed reviews and it being so long. It’s not my favorite book. But, the length really paid off in the end because I felt like I knew the grand history of these characters’ lives and knew this rich backstory. It got a bit “the moral of the story is...” at the end. Anyway, still glad it’s over.

Been another slow reading week because of life. I’d love to finish The Enchanted April in the next day or so. I’ve checked out a couple books from the library so something’s gotta give.

My Own Words is nothing what I expected. There’s so many audioclips from speeches, etc. Very interesting and educational!

Finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste NG. I understand the hype, it was a really beautiful book and a great novel to end 2018 with.

Finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng and Zahra's Paradise, by Amir

Started The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reed

Finally done with The Stand (Unabridged version), by Stephen King and now I'm halfway through Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng.

Finished:

The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind, by Barbara Lipska Fascinating account from the perspective of someone with anosognosia, but I find her emphasis on her expertise and (stigmatizing) language to describe mental illness off-putting.

Started: The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap, by Stephanie Coontz Pretty interesting so far, especially between comparing the 2016 introduction to today's sociopolitical climate.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng I love this book even more than Everything I Never Told You. Ng describes the Cleveland setting so well that someone familiar with the area will be completely immersed.

Finished The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee and I LOVED it. Such a fun YA historical fiction m/m romance. All the fun, and good writing to boot.

Started and finished How to Be Lost, by Amanda Eyre Ward I didn't like this one. Bad writing, terrible ending, tropes galore.

Currently reading Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng early in, but I think I'm really going to like this one.

Just finished Fear: Trump in The White House, by Bob Woodward and was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining a read it was. It was definitely interesting to see the daily news compiled into a comprehensive volume and where one was given an insiders' view of things. I have to say it was also great to read something that followed the rules of journalism where the author did not editorialize what he was writing, but let the facts speak for themselves. It was also reassuring to find that there were over 50 pages of source citations at the back of the book to further validate what one was reading had been thoroughly vetted. Probably something you definitely want to do when writing about a sitting president and one known for being overly litigious.

Next read: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Finished: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. There were so many aspects of the characters and the story's arc that I found identifiable from my own personal history. I think I will definitely read Ng's debut novel after having read this novel.

Started The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson

I wanted to get to know more about the Great Migration and this is really interesting. I love the way she weaves the personal stories in.

Finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Was late to the party on that one but it was a good read.

Finished: Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. To be honest I really thought this was one of the worst books I've ever read. I don't want to trash it because a lot of people like this book and that opinion is just as valid as mine, but the writing to me was really cheesy and cliche, the plot was poor, and she did a terrible job of showing and not telling. She told us everything. Also finished The Stranger, by Albert Camus. I found it really incredible. Writing style was unique but the existential nature of it toward the end was really thought provoking.

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Started: A Manual for Cleaning Women, by Lucia Berlin. I'm liking it so far! She writes with a lot of description and the way she jumps in time has been cool so far too.

Finished:

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado

If We Were Villains, by M.L. Rio

We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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It's been a big couple reading weeks for me, apparently! I made a trip to the library today so I'll be giving these a shot soon:

The first 4 volumes of Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan

Beartown, by Frederik Backman

and The Editor, by Steven Rowley.

Finished:

Blackfish City, by Sam J Miller

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Started:

Invisible Monsters, by Chuck Palahniuk

This week I finished Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng. It was a bit of a slow burn, but I was very invested about 100 pages in. I loved this book.

Currently reading Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign, by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes So far so good.

I finished Forgive me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

I started Many Little Fires by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Have been making slow progress so I haven't finished anything in the past week, but I'm reading

Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson

It is my first Sanderson book. I am about 80% into it and absolutely loving it. Part II has been impossible to put down! I was warned by some that this isn't the best Sanderson book and man, if this isn't the best, I am about to be blown away by Mistborn.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

I've only read 4 chapters so far because I am focusing on Elantris at the moment and I don't have a proper opinion on this yet.

Finished:

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

I wasn't sure about this one at first, but I ended up loving it. The ending was so unexpected.

Reading:

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Enjoying this one so far, although it's a little slow

Finished:

The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

Started:

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami