Where is Your Bookmark? (Pandemic Romance / What I Was Reading Five Years Ago / New To Me Authors I Want to Read Again)

I thought I would share some teasers from the short story anthology I am reading right now. Many of us were wondering what pandemic stories would look like coming out of our current situation, and it looks like the authors who contributed to this collection of contemporary YA love stories are not making us wait long.

I am still working my way through Together, Apart, but the stories I have read so far have all been good. There's a definite sense of melancholy given the situation, but there's also a sense of hope in the connections the characters are able to make even despite the circumstances. 

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

 

"This is it!" Mom said brightly, opening the door to my new room with a grand, ceremonial swing. [Opening of "Love, Delivered" by Erin A. Craig in Together, Apart]

My initial thoughts: She is quite an enthusiastic mom, isn't she? I have a feeling her daughter isn't so thrilled. It just so happens in this story the family has had to move to another part of the country during the pandemic. You can imagine that situation brings its own obstacles on top of everything else going on.

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A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"Well, unfortunately, the path to love will be quite bumpy . . . "

Mom makes a satisfied sound beside me. Auntie Xin clears her throat.

"But if your companion is a rabbit, horse, or pig, you will reach your destination together."

"Oh no, that won't work. A rabbit would be too old, and a pig too young," Mom immediately jumps into say.

"Horse it is then," Auntie Xin replies winking at me. "But be careful. One born in the winter is cold. He'll break your heart. Choose one born in the spring or summer. Now time to go." excerpt from 56% from From "Love with a Side of Fortune" by Jennifer Yan in Apart, Together]

My thoughts: I have not reached this story yet, but I am looking forward to it from this snippet. I sense a bit of humor here along with a close knit family. 


Have you read Together, Apart? If so, what did you think? Does it sound like something you would enjoy?

A weekly meme in which readers look at what they were reading 

last year at this time and compare it to what they are reading now.  

Hosted by the great Maria from ReadingMaria.

Evidently I did not finish anything around this time last year. Or the year before that even. I was probably busy reading or it was just a busy week that kept me doing other things. Since I have been including a glimpse at what I was reading five years ago along with my year ago read, I am going to just highlight that book instead. 

At the moment, I am reading a fantasy novel called Leads and Lynxes (Terra Haven Chronicles, #1) by Rebecca Chastain for an upcoming book tour in addition to the short story anthology, Together, Apart, which I featured above. Both are quite different from what I was reading this time five years ago: The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan. 

While normally this time of year I like to dive into holiday-themed books, I was not quite ready to do so at that time. So I picked this one up instead and am glad I did. I thought that Denise Kiernan did a good job describing life in Oak Ridge, both the good and the ugly. It is such an interesting time in history, and I am always happy to see (and read) books highlighting lesser known parts of history, especially when the focus is on the role women played. 

Perhaps the commonality in what I was reading five years ago compared to now is that I strayed from my usual holiday-themed reading this time of year. Obviously the books are all very different otherwise. 

What were you reading at this time five years ago? Or even just a year ago? How does it compare to what you are reading now? 

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, read or unread, or 

bookish things, that share a common theme. Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

Last week, our wonderful host, Kathryn featured books she's read in the past few months by new to her authors that she would like to read more from. I liked that idea so much, I thought I would follow suit. I have read a number of books by new to me authors I look forward to reading more by, especially in the way of series books. Today I am featuring five books by new to me authors I have read this year that I would like to read more of--that aren't a part of a series. 

[The covers are linked to Goodreads if you want to read the books' summaries]

For a moment, the falling feels like something else entirely--like a brief, wild glimpse of freedom. [Opening of The Deep]

The Deep by Alma Katsu ~ I was captivated with Alma Katsu's writing in this atmospheric novel, a mix of historical fiction, mystery and thriller. I couldn't resist the Titanic and Britannic setting. Add in a possible ghost and dual time line stories, and it was a given I would read this one. I remember hearing the author's name before and her book The Hunger in particular, but had not really pursued reading it. I would definitely like to now! Have you read anything by Alma Katsu before? If so, what of hers do you recommend? 

The parties at the Tunons' house always ended unquestionably late, and since the hosts enjoyed  costume parties in particular, it was not unusual to see Chinas Poblanas with their folklore skirts and ribbons in their hair arrive in the company of a harlequin or a cowboy.  [Opening of Mexican Gothic]

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia ~ This is another atmospheric historical novel with mystery and horror mixed in that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It has a definite Gothic feel to it and is set in a remote part of Mexico during the 1950's, both aspects I loved. I actually have had a copy of another Silvia Moreno-Garcia book, Gods of Jade and Shadow, since it first came out, but haven't managed to get to it yet. After reading Mexican Gothic, I am even more eager to read the other now. Have you read anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia? If so, what of hers do you recommend? 

Twenty-five. That's the number I count to every morning before I even open my eyes. [Opening of In Five Years]

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle ~ What would you do if you got a glimpse into the future which painted an entirely different picture than the one you expected--and were planning for? This turned out to be more of a tearjerker  than I thought it would, and while predictable at times, I did enjoy it, especially the ending, which really made the book for me. Rebecca Serle's The Dinner List has been on my radar since it first came out, and I look forward to reading it one of these days. Especially now since I have gotten a taste of Serle's work.  Have you read anything by Rebecca Serle? If so, what of hers do you recommend? 

I was ready; so ready for him to ask me.  [Opening of Dear Emmie Blue]

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis ~ I am way behind in posting my review for this gem of a novel, which I plan to post later this month. It's written. I just haven't posted it. Dear Emmie Blue was a delightful read. I adored Emmie Blue--I cried and laughed with her. I loved the premise--the balloon with the note attached, the friendship that came from that, and everything that follows. I didn't want this book to end. I actually had not heard of Lia Louis before this book, but I can honestly say it will not be my last by her. Have you read anything by Lia Louis? If so, what of hers do you recommend?  

My father was a king and the son of kings. [Opening of The Song of Achilles]

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller ~ I actually picked this up after first hearing about another book by the author, Circe. I ended up reading The Song of Achilles  instead because it was the book I could first get my hands on. I grew up on stories of the Greek and Roman gods thanks to my dad. I ended up loving The Song of Achilles, from Madeline Miller's writing to her interpretation and crafting of the characters to the story itself. I will definitely be reading Circe, which I do have a copy of (finally) and exploring more by the author in the future. Have you read anything by Madeline Miller? If so, what of hers do you recommend?  

What new to you authors have you read this year that you would like to read more by? Maybe next week I will list my top five new to me authors of series I began this year that I plan to continue. I have a feeling it will be hard to narrow the list down! 

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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