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Sararl77

Sararl77

Joined May 2016

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Sararl77
Priestdaddy: A Memoir | Patricia Lockwood
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I am shaking with laughter. Loving this book.

7 likes1 stack add
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Sararl77
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More a collection of linked stories than a novel but full of Ruff's trademark weirdness. Recommended.

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Sararl77
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Pickpick

For my #2017readharder challenge I reread to say nothing of the dog. For my money one of the best #timetravel stories and it's got a screwball romance. Love love love. This book takes me to a happy place.

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Sararl77
The Dove Flyer | Eli Amir
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When you're a kid of immigrants you're always trying to understand your parents. Literature from the homeland helps. Literature by people with similar experiences helps the most. So for all you Iraqi Jews out there--this is a nostalgic but clear eyed look at one Baghdad. #firstgenkids

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Sararl77
The Burning Page | Genevieve Cogman
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Pickpick

Still loving the adventures of librarian Irene, dragon prince Kai, and Vale, who represents a certain Great Detective. I had somehow decided this was a trilogy but (spoiler) doesn't look like it. So now the eternal series reader issue: finished the book waiting for the sequel

Libby1 Where is this? 7y
Sararl77 New York City with snow coming down 🌨❄️ 7y
12 likes2 comments
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Sararl77
Moonglow | Michael Chabon
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My first #fivestarread of 2017. There's something so warm hearted and generous about this story that really spoke to me.

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Sararl77
The Burning Page | Genevieve Cogman
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On a cold snowy day my books were delivered! Mug of tea and steampunk trilogy ended=bliss #snowday

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Excellent history and memoir of activism to fights AIDS, homophobia and indifference. I watched the documentary after finishing the book--powerful and moving!!!

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Sararl77
Magic Bleeds | Ilona Andrews
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So in between reading depressingly depressing books about Hitler and achingly beautiful novels about being (Gilead, Home, Bring Up the Bodies) I am re-reading Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels books. I am liking them better than I did on first reading (unlike another tough woman who kills vampires--looking at you Anita Blake--Kate grows in ways that work for me) and recommend for anyone looking for kick ass heroines for winter reading.

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Sararl77
Gilead | Marilynne Robinson
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A spare and lovely account of facing death and reckoning with life. Beautiful and evocative.

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Sararl77
Home: A Novel | Marilynne Robinson
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Pickpick

Wow. This book is still resonating with me days later. Haunting powerful sad lovely--all adjectives that apply for me but don't encompass the novel. An awesome (in the old school usage) depiction of how we fail each other and keep loving and hoping despite it. One of 2016's best reads for me.

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Sararl77
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Pickpick

What a fascinating book! I haven't read any philosophy since college but found this an excellent and fun reintroduction to some of the 20th centuries great thinkers. I recommend reading with the cocktail of your choosing.

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Sararl77
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Pickpick

Fascinating to think about how big data is coming for us all--and loved listening to math babe Cathy O'Neil read it! If you are looking for more her blog math babe and the slate money podcast are excellent as well. And I love the cover!

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Sararl77
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Stayed up too late to finish this book...it's a sliding doors vision of New York City and love and second chances. Also immigration and being first generation kids #botm #weneeddiversereads

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Sararl77
Bring Up the Bodies | Hilary Mantel
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I was up too late focused on this book-and I know how the story ends!!!! So good and such amazing language. Beautiful and tragic.

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Sararl77
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I liked the three body problem and enjoyed grace of kings but I LOVED ❤❤❤ the paper menagerie. And I say that as someone who generally does not enjoy short story collections. I definitely would highlight the Literomancer, the simulacrum, the waves and the man who ended history. But there isn't a bad story here!

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Sararl77
Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939 | Volker Ullrich
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Well that was terrifyingly depressingly powerful. Read but know what you're in for. Going after to read some kids books now.

TrishB I have this on my list for new year purchase 😀 7y
8 likes1 comment
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Sararl77
Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939 | Volker Ullrich
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Libby1 😢 7y
Sararl77 I'm reading this book very slowly because it's terrifying. 7y
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Sararl77
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Immigration policy made real--Diane Guerrero is only 14 when both her parents are deported. What she does to raise herself and find her path to adulthood in America is riveting.

heyitsMacall Oooooh 😍😍😍 7y
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Sararl77
Yiddish for Pirates | Gary Barwin
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What a title!!!

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Hag-Seed | Margaret Atwood
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Loving this book and loving this reading!!!! #seasonsreading

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A Promise of Fire | Amanda Bouchet
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Mehso-so

So here's the thing about this book. It starts with the hero kid napping the heroine and tying her to him so she can't escape. And there's a lot about how he's noble and also gods but essentially he takes her and ignores her requests to go. There's like a feeling of if she'd just chill and realize the nobility and also great sex. And I like the book and I liked Cat (heroine/narrator) but the kidnap thing. Stayed up to finish it but be aware.

raelaschoenherr I agree! I just posted about this one. 7y
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Sararl77
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Depressingly familiar #trumpedupreadinglist

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Sararl77
The Blazing World | Siri Hustvedt
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Harry and her children and collaborators lovers and friends come together to tell the story of her lives her art and her death. This is a howl and a yarn and a good wake up. I need to read more Siri Hustvedt.

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Sararl77
Cloudsplitter | Russell Banks
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I loved this book enough to buy it digitally and in paper, and to listen to the audio. Beautiful language for complicated characters--particularly Owen brown, son of John Brown, last of the terrorist abolitionists, in this telling, to survive the raid on Harper's Ferry that leads to America's civil war. It's not an easy read but well worth it

Suet624 Such a good book. 7y
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Sararl77
Europe in Autumn | Dave Hutchinson
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When fiction hits too close to home..#seasonsreading2016

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Love this book--needed a dose of hope. #seasonsreading2016 thanks for the loan @rach_simone and the rec #brlive

rach_simone Anytime! I'm glad you enjoyed it!! 7y
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Sararl77
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Beautiful quote in a moving and ultimately hopeful book.

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Judas | Amos Oz
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This was a novel with lots of words and some amazing quotes strung out between them.

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Pickpick

It's possible that we are all not as accomplished as Jazz Jennings is at 15. Her poise and confidence in sharing her story are pretty cool--and I want one of the mermaid tails she makes!

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Sararl77
Heat and Light: A Novel | Jennifer Haigh
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The election is and was much on my mind. I read hillbilly elegy and started white trash. Nonfiction is powerful of course. But this quote and this book are reminding me that fiction is transformative #botm

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Sararl77
Closed and Common Orbit | Becky Chambers
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Pickpick

Read this book!!! I was recently on a 8 hour plan ride (which should have been a 6 hour trip) and my kindle froze right before take off. Total panic until the forced reboot took me back to Becky Chambers. Owl Pepper Blue Tak and Sidra are real and make the most of their chosen family. I personally responded more to the Jane story. The Sidra lines were good but Owl and Jane were the absolute best #seasonsreadings2016

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Sararl77
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Pickpick

What a lovely and beautiful story. Perfect for times when you want to think about the power of community and the many types of family. Can't recommend highly enough.

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Sararl77
A Study in Scarlet | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Love this cover!!!! Think I need to reread the classic after I finish the homage #decembertbr

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Study in Scarlet Women | Sherry Thomas
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Respect for a romance novel that compares love to meat. #romantsy

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Sararl77
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I love this series. It's got a swashbuckling librarian a seductive dragon and a Sherlock Holmes homage. Irene, our fearless heroine, needs to rescue her apprentice Kai who does a male damsel in distress (male version of damsel? Gentleman doesn't really work). I stayed up late to finish and encourage anyone to check these out.

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Sararl77
Before We Visit the Goddess: A Novel | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Mothers and daughters. Also thieving. "I guess I didn't know then that mothers can't save their children even when they wanted to."

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Sararl77
The Fate of the Tearling | Erika Johansen
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kelsea glynn makes hard choices in this novel. The last 20 pages or so shake everything up--so don't expect a neat and tidy resolution.

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Sararl77
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Another necessary book. There audio is read by the author and I think adds to the experience. Thanks #brlive for another author discovery.

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Sararl77
Someday, Someday, Maybe | Lauren Graham
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This audiobook is perfectly suitable for my take a break from serious things...but incarceration nation is calling!!!

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Sararl77
Pickpick

Great read for insight on American origins. But now I am really truly absolutely taking a break from serious reading.

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Pickpick

You should definitely read this book. It's horrifyingly depressing. And infuriating. But necessary. Read this book. But maybe afterwards read something fun. Any suggestions?

RiaWritten Maybe try some Terry Pratchett? If you like craziness and pastiche here's another book I love. 7y
Sararl77 Thanks for the recommendation! I'll check out famous novelist. And maybe some Douglas Adams !!! 7y
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Pickpick

So we know how this ends from this end. But reading this trilogy I'm reminded of how much the people fighting didn't know but could only hope. And how much they risked. Incredibly powerful.

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Sararl77
Vicious Deep | Zoraida Cordova
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In between being depressed/inspired/pensive about civil rights I'm reading about evil mermaids. Because sometimes you really need heroic sharks and merman bros in your life.

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Sararl77
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MLK is a modern saint but the stories we tell tend to be simple narratives--Jim Crow needed to end, some courageous people marched and we figured it all out. The end. Reading the Taylor Branch books is a fantastic reminder of how much of the state marshaled resources opposed to civil rights (the FBI definitely terrifies), how brave activists really had to be, and how many people just watched and waited to see what would happen. Read it.

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Sararl77
Pickpick

Well they was heart breaking but oh so necessary. Every American should read this book.

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Sararl77
Barkskins: A Novel | Annie Proulx
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Two Frenchman are lost in a forest that goes on forever. Both see the woods as a source of wealth that goes on forever. One capitalizes on that, traveling throughout the 17th century world to build his fortune. The other remains in New France and learns some respect for native ways. Their descendants tell an American story. This is book on environmental impacts is well worth reading (maybe ignore some of the Indian dialect).

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Sararl77
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For when you can't read anymore about politics or history or sociology--a gentle vampire novel! With a unique magic system and gentle nods to Russian culture and the city of Toronto.

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Sararl77
Yes, Chef: A Memoir | Marcus Samuelsson
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Another great read and a love letter to New York City and its diversity. Marcus Samuelsson's journey is an immigrant story and also a story about being a little bit of a jerk in service of ambition and growing up enough to change that in your life. Very enjoyable. And now I want to eat at Red Rooster.

ultrabookgeek Let's go as a post holiday hang out! 7y
Sararl77 We totally should---thanks for the book recommendation! It was on sale at amazon yesterday so had to get it :) 7y
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