I think I’ve finally admitted to myself that reading physical books just takes me longer than I would like for them to. Not that I will ever stop or stop adding to my physical TBR, but I just don’t whip through them like I used to (in my youth).
Alas, each book takes me about a month to get through, so that’s what I’m going to aim for going forward instead of thinking I should be working through them faster.
That being said, I do tend to listen to audio books in tandem with my physical books, which brings my Read Count up much quicker. I’ve found that, as long as each storyline is very different form the other, I don’t confuse characters/timelines/etc.
So, with this newfound acceptance, and in celebration of Pride Month (Happy Pride to all who celebrate/observe/rage against the machine!), I’ve chosen Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo to kick off my Summer reading.
Book Beginnings quote:
“That woman is so glamorous, ” Shirley said, nudging Lily to look.
Friday56 quote:
The water dripped again. A question hovered in the back of her throat, tangled up with a paralyzing sensation of being on the cusp of connection. She couldn’t put it into words.
Thanks to Deb at Reader Buzz, I’ve also just learned about the Big Book Summer Reading Challenge, hosted by Sue at Book by Book and am going to add Last Night at the Telegraph Club as my personal challenge. At 394 pages + the author’s notes about historically accurate language, places, and culture (+ so much more), I’m counting it as it’s full 407 pages because I will read every single page.
I’ve also just begun Stephen King’s Never Flinch on audio. It is a 448 page physical book that will log 14 hours and 42 minutes of listening time, so I’ll count that one in, too.
Goodness, I am psyched for these stories! But first, I have a little bit left to read in my current physical book, Greenteeth.
What are you reading now? Do you have any summer reading plans or goals?
Linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings as well as with Head Full of Books for The Friday 56.
Onward,
Melissa
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In between books right now but will be starting a new book this afternoon—probably Mariana, by Monica Dickens, great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens.
Your new reading plan sounds exactly right.
Happy pride month to you and yours! Here in Maine I am with you all the way as I rage against the machine.
Hi Laurie! Mariana sounds so interesting, thank you for the intro!
Thank you for the Pride vibes! Wild times we’re in (still? again?) so it’s good to know where our allies are!
Hope your June and garden are progressing beautifully!
My June gardens are thriving.
Mariana turned out to have two ugly antisemitic slurs in the narrative. (As opposed to characters being antisemitic.) Unfortunately, this is all too common for British books published in the 1930s and 40s. The death camps didn’t happen in isolation. Antisemitic sentiment was widespread. Won’t be reading anymore of her work.
How do you handle such things?
Hi Laurie! I have no doubt that your garden is phenomenally gorgeous! Enjoy every second of it!
This is a hard one. I appreciate the heads up and, like you, I probably wouldn’t read anymore of her work. That being said, I also believe that books written in the past are important to read/use as education/perspective points. It’s like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books that I loved so much as a kid that, once grown, hit so very differently. Context is important and also, we cannot excuse behavior based on time frames. We always have a choice about which side history we stand on.
Wise words! Yes, those novels from the past tell us a lot about what people thought. And let’s just say that from the early 1900s through the 1930s was a horrible time for racial and cultural prejudice. The Holocaust didn’t come out of nowhere.
Indeed, it did not. Nor have our current challenges. Gotta keep our eyes open and our heads up, there’s work to be done!
I’ve heard so many great things about this book. I need to add it to my list. Thanks for reminding me about it.
You’re very welcome, Deb.
I started this book several years ago, reading a library version of e-audiobook, and I never finished it since I ran out of time and it swooshed away. I kept telling myself to go back and check it out again. But sadly that hasn’t happened. Books keep pushing me forward. Now I have this reminder to do better and finally finish this one. Thank you. And welcome to Friday56! I hope you find it to be a welcoming community…small but welcoming.
Hi Anne! Thank you for popping over and for hosting your sweet community! I am so glad to remind you of this book and hope you’ll find an opportunity to finish it 🙂 I hope your weekend ahead is a wonderful one!
So everytime I try to make a comment I get a message that says the comment is a duplicate (which it isn’t). I hope this is a glitch you can fix or have your provider help you fix.
Hi Anne! I’m so sorry this is happening to you! I am getting your comments but I’ll poke around and see what I can find out. Thank you for being persistent!
Welcome to Friday56!
I started the Telegraph Hill book several years ago but never finished. Now, with this reminder I will go back and try again.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club was amazing. Happy weekend!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve only heard wonderful things about it 🙂
I read this a couple of years ago (it was one of the finalists for the Cybils Awards YA Fiction)… and loved it.. I saw the Big Books challenge too and will keep it in mind unofficially 🙂
my post is here – https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/bookish-road-trip-picks-five-and-six-make-it-quick/
I’ve heard only good things about it and am finally cracking it open tonight! Had to finish my other two books first 😉 Hope your week is a good one!
I tend to have a physical book, an ebook and an audiobook on the go at the same time but they all do need to be different genres or settings!
See, you get it! Yay!