Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits

ABC Along Adventures of Dale and Carole Arthritis Ask Me Anything Birthdays Bloggers Books Buy More Yarn Charity Knitting Circular Sock Machine Contests Crochet Dyeing Epic Sock Blanket Eye Candy Friday Feeling Crafty Fiber Festivals Food Good, Bad, Ugly Hmmm Joyful Wednesday Knitting Knitting Olympics Macro Monday March Money Madness Memes Mittens Monday On My Mind Movies Museum of Me Mutterings My Backyard NaBloPoMo One Little Word Patterns Photography Project Spectrum Quilting Random Ravelry Read With Us Reenacting Run For Your Life Saturday Posts Selfies Sewing Show & Tell Sock Knitting Spinning Sunday Funnies Swaps Ten on the Tenth Ten on Tuesday Thankfulness That's Life Think Write Thursday Three Things Throwback Thursday Thursday Things Uncategorized Vacations Wordless Words in the Wild

  • Home
  • Carole Julius Photography
You are here: Home / Books / Reading Update: April 2018 (more or less)

Reading Update: April 2018 (more or less)

May 8, 2018 By Carole

I read some books in April. Want to hear about them?



A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
4 stars
I loved the premise of this book and the back and forth between Nao in Japan and Ruth in Canada. The writing is excellent and the philosophy is sound. Highly recommended.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
3 stars
The plot is compelling and the writing is good although I do take some exception to the main character’s maturity – it just seems like she would have taken her responsibility over her rather childish ambition. Still, that decision was necessary for the plot and I was able to overlook it since the descriptions of the Blitz and the terror that went along with it were very good. I appreciate that it’s told from the perspective of a young girl and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in WWII historical fiction.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
5 stars
An amazing book about the impact of tragedy on a young marriage, I couldn’t put it down. Contemporary, relevant, heartbreaking and hopeful, I highly recommend this one.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
3 stars
A fast paced thriller, sure to be liked by fans of Gillian Flynn, this is certainly not literary fiction but still very entertaining.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan
4 stars
Delightful and fun with a touch of magic, a perfect light read for time on an airplane!

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
3 stars
A wonderful story about living a long long time but finally recognizing that there is only one thing that really matters (the present) and only one thing that really makes life worthwhile (love). Some of the writing is quite brilliant and beautiful but I never completely connected with the main character and that’s what kept me from giving this a higher rating. Still, a pleasant read and I’d recommend it.

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race edited by Jesmyn Ward
4 stars
Powerful and timely, I’d recommend this to anyone interested in race relations in the USA.

Winter by Ali Smith
5 stars
Ali Smith is just brilliant. The things she doesn’t tell us, the words she leaves out, are just as profound as the things she includes. I loved this even more than Autumn.

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
4 stars
The reviews on this are pretty mixed but I truly enjoyed it. So many good thoughts and ideas on feminism are in here and the author’s style, at times almost stream of consciousness, is great. It’s long and the ending is a little too neat for my taste but I’d recommend it to anyone with an interest in women and their place in America.

One of the best things about not campaigning (aside from winning, that is) is having time to read again. Hurrah for the magic of reading!

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailReading Update Default ThumbnailReading Update: September through Mid October Default ThumbnailReading Update: January through Mid February 2018 Default ThumbnailReading Update: December 2017 – Early January 2018
« Weekending
One Word Wednesday »

Filed Under: Books

Comments

  1. Robby says

    May 8, 2018 at 6:47 am

    Just in time to entertain me on a whirlwind trip of travel & waiting around. Thanks!

  2. Kym says

    May 8, 2018 at 7:16 am

    I LOVED Winter and A Tale for the Time Being, and I also really enjoyed Sourdough. But I think I’ll skip on the Meg Wolitzer — I usually end up disappointed when I read her books. 😉 I’m so glad you have more time in your life now for reading again, Selectman Julius! XOXO

  3. AsKatKnits says

    May 8, 2018 at 7:22 am

    I too LOVED Winter! And, I am on the wait list for a couple of others on your list! So.much.good.reading! I am also glad that campaigning is successfully over! XOXO

  4. Vera says

    May 8, 2018 at 8:58 am

    Always enjoy your reviews and you’ve reminded me of some that I intended to put on my list and forgot. They are now ON my list. Thanks! Glad you have the time to read and enjoy now.

  5. Bonny says

    May 8, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Your reviews make me want to drop everything and read An American Marriage and Ali Smith’s Winter (and Fall)! I’m on hold for Fall and Winter, but now I’m not sure I can wait and might have to just buy them. Thanks for your reviews and recommendations!

  6. kim in oregon says

    May 8, 2018 at 12:11 pm

    I’ve also read four of these and tried to finish “The Female Persuasion” but just couldn’t get to the end. I’m glad you liked it. I did love “An American Marriage” and “Sourdough” and “A Tale for the Time Being” and I enjoyed “How to Stop Time” much more than you did! Off to get your other recommendations!

  7. Kwizgiver says

    May 8, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    I must read Winter! And several others on your list are already on my TBR! So many books!

  8. margene says

    May 8, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    I also enjoyed Winter (one of my faves this year) and A Tale for the Time Being. As Kym said, Meg usually disappoints me so I’ll skip it. I would like to read Fire This Time and, also, Zora Neale Hurston’s newly published book. Thanks for the reading updates!

  9. Becky says

    May 8, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    Yes, yes, you know I always want to hear about the books you have read! Thank you for the reviews, Carole. I haven’t found a lot of good books lately, but that may be me and my frame of mind. Hope to pick up some of these. Thanks again.

  10. Mary says

    May 8, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    What a great month of reading! I’m glad you have time to read again because Summer Bingo starts in less than three weeks!!

  11. Lydia S says

    May 9, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    We just picked our next 9 books for book club-some I’m not too thrilled about so I may be grabbing some of your suggestions.

Archives

carole AT caroleknits DOT net
my read shelf:
Carole's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Carole has read 15 books toward her goal of 75 books.
hide
15 of 75 (20%)
view books

carolejuliusphoto

Now blooming in the dahlia patch, Hamilton Lillian Now blooming in the dahlia patch, Hamilton Lillian! #dahliaseason #dahlialove #hamiltonlilliandahlia #igrewitmyself #flowerfarmer #crookedbarnflowerfarm #flowersaremagical
So. We did a thing. After two years of hemming and So. We did a thing. After two years of hemming and hawing, looking at new and used campers and being very intentional with what we knew wanted, we bought ourselves a brand new 25’ camper. Let the camping adventures begin again! #campinglife #weboughtacamper #adventuresofdaleandcarole #newadventures #camperlife
Now blooming in my garden, dahlia variety number t Now blooming in my garden, dahlia variety number two, Hamilton Lillian. I’m equally obsessed! #dahliaseason #dahliaobsession #igrewitmyself #flowersaremagical #hamiltonlilliandahlia
Officially obsessed with my first dahlia! #dahlias Officially obsessed with my first dahlia! #dahlias #dahliaseason #igrewitmyself #flowerfarmer #flowersaremagical
My first ever dahlia grown from a tuber is almost My first ever dahlia grown from a tuber is almost in bloom! #dahlias #dahliabud #dahliaseason #growingdahlias #flowerfarmer #igrewitmyself #flowersaremagical
It’s the last night of vacation, I go back to wo It’s the last night of vacation, I go back to work tomorrow. It’s been fab, I must say. One week in Maine and one week at home is perfect. I read 7 books and had, well, more cocktails than that. 🤣 We’re having our usual snacks on the deck, that sterling silver canoe that I bought in Camden, ME is the star of the tray. Okay, maybe the cheese from @thelostkitchen, too, because it’s perfectly stinky and utterly delicious. Cheers to a vacation well spent! #vacationisover #cocktailhourathome #martinitime #cheeseandcrackers #silvercanoe #cheesetray
Pizza Fridays have returned now that we’re home. Pizza Fridays have returned now that we’re home. My fav is margherita. I make the sauce and dough myself, the mozzarella is local and I grew the basil.  @ooni.it #margheritapizza #homemadepizza #pizzafriday #happyfriyay #imadeitmyself #localfood
It’s wonderful to be home, reunited with the cat It’s wonderful to be home, reunited with the cats and all of our own stuff, but I miss this morning wake up call from the sun. #baysidemaine #sunrise #coastofmaine #mainesunrise #sunriseovertheocean #thewaylifeshouldbe #morningview
It’s been another exceptional week on the coast It’s been another exceptional week on the coast of Maine. I feel more myself here than anywhere, listening to the sound of the ocean, inhaling the salt air, and feeling the gentle sea breezes. This week means everything to me and I’m so grateful for the privilege of spending time here. #baysidemaine #fridaynightsnacks #cheeseandcrackers #rechargebytheocean #coastofmaine #thewaylifeshouldbe
Watching Gaslit with a view. It’s another beauti Watching Gaslit with a view. It’s another beautiful night in Bayside. #baysidemaine #gaslitstarz #alaptopwithaview #porchsitting #coastofmaine
A donut the size of my hand! This one is called Th A donut the size of my hand! This one is called The Homer 🤣 @theonlydoughnut.belfast #theonlydoughnut #belfastmaine #thewaylifeshouldbe #donutsforbreakfast
I can’t get enough of this view. #baysidemaine # I can’t get enough of this view. #baysidemaine #thewaylifeshouldbe #maine #theviewfromhere
Friday night snacks look better from here. And als Friday night snacks look better from here. And also, I’m not oblivious to today’s news, I’m devastated. I’m also extra grateful to (a) live in Massachusetts and (b) be privileged enough to ignore it for right now while on vacation. #fridaynightsnacks #martinitime #baysidemaine #cheeseandcrackers #myhappyplace
Pizza night. What can I say? Wednesday is the new Pizza night. What can I say? Wednesday is the new Friday. #oonipizzaoven @ooni.it #pizzanight #outdoorliving #margaritapizza #imadeitmyself #homemadeisbest
Happy FriYay, friends! #fridaynightsnacks #friyayn Happy FriYay, friends! #fridaynightsnacks #friyaynight #helloweekend #martinitime #cheeseandcrackers #charcuterie #outdoorliving
Happy Sunday from Fred and George! #sundaymorningv Happy Sunday from Fred and George! #sundaymorningvibes #siamesecatsofinstagram #siamesecats #fredandgeorge
Friday night is pizza night these days. And those Friday night is pizza night these days. And those napkins? They sum up the secret to our 25 (next Tuesday!) year marriage! #oonipizzaoven #fridaynightsnacks #peaceloveandcocktails
It’s a perfect June morning for Sunday brunch un It’s a perfect June morning for Sunday brunch under the pergola. #sundaybrunch #brunchalfresco #pergolaliving #outdoorliving #inmybackyard #juneismyfavoritemonth
My patriotism is sorely lacking at the moment. Sti My patriotism is sorely lacking at the moment. Still, I’m grateful to head into Memorial Day weekend focusing on the good, remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country, seeking common ground and (always) looking for hope. If all that fails, at least I’ve got a martini. And snacks. #fridaynightsnacks #memorialdayweekend2022 #cheeseandcrackers #martinitime
I love a hotel conference room with a view! #massl I love a hotel conference room with a view! #masslib2022 #libraryconference #aroomwithaview
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

ABC Along Adventures of Dale and Carole Birthdays Bloggers Books Charity Knitting Contests Eye Candy Friday Feeling Crafty Fiber Festivals Food Good, Bad, Ugly Hmmm Knitting Knitting Olympics Macro Monday Memes Monday On My Mind Movies One Little Word Photography Project Spectrum Quilting Random Read With Us Reenacting Run For Your Life Saturday Posts Selfies Show & Tell Sock Knitting Spinning Sunday Funnies Swaps Ten on Tuesday Thankfulness That's Life Think Write Thursday Three Things Throwback Thursday Thursday Things Uncategorized Vacations Wordless Words in the Wild

Copyright 2014 Carole Knits · Log in