May was a great reading month for me... I think I used reading as a de-stresser between grad party preparations and I also listened to several books during my hourly walks. As you can see I'm still ahead of my goal for my 2014 Goodreads Reading Challenge.
I'm starting to see a little more space on my bookshelves as well. I was able to visit IKEA during our Easter family reunion and settled on the white boxes to use for storing miscellaneous items - right now they hold papers to be sorted and filed and later I will be using them for project supplies.
The white IKEA magazine holders are lined up on my desk ready for action too. This used to be my sewing corner when I started my blog in September 2012. Now it is my hub for decluttering/sorting and later I will use it for paper and beading projects. I've decided that our guestrooms should have a purpose besides waiting for guests!
I've been on a Vince Flynn kick and have finished the 5th book in the 14 book Mitch Rapp series. Series books are a real treat in audio format - you already know the main characters so they are easy to get into. I found that our library has many of Flynn's books on CD and figured out that I can copy them to my iTunes library and then sync them onto my iPhone just like a music CD. When I'm done I just delete them and make room for the next book. Using Interlibrary Loan I have access to hundreds of books on CD so I am psyched over this.
A good friend sent me her Vince Flynn collection after visiting me in 2009 while I was living on our family room futon after breaking my leg. Unfortunately I was unable to concentrate enough to do much reading then so it's about time I visit her and return these.
I have a 5 star read to recommend - Benediction by Kent Haruf. Oh how I loved this book! I've read Haruf's Plainsong and am currently reading it's sequel Eventide which are both 4 stars for me, but Benediction pushed all of my buttons and made me cry. Haruf creates wonderful real life characters set in a small Colorado town and his writing style is very simple but so effective. I would describe his books as quiet stories about small town life. If you've never read him you are missing out.
My 4 star reads in May:
- Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
- This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash
- Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo
- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (TBR shelf)
- Field of Prey by John Sandford
Field of Prey is Sandford's newest Lucas Davenport book and it is one of my favorites with a compelling outstate Minnesota serial murder case, an interesting new local investigator and all the familiar characters I've grown to love. I started it on audio but had to finish it one late night via ebook. I am so spoiled by being a fast reader!
I must have been under a piece of glass or did not see the post of the 'gems'. What a great idea!
ReplyDelete(I must say I will not be using the ones I have at work, only something like 700 pieces...)
D.G. L
I had just finished the 4th Vince Flynn book a couple of summers ago when I had surgery and - like you - couldn't focus long enough to read. So I set them aside, but my husband was also reading them, so the paperbacks are waiting on the shelf for me. And I'm currently reading Silken Prey on my Kindle and have Fields of Prey downloaded and ready for my vacation reading next week while I'm in Florida. I've really enjoyed the whole Prey series.
ReplyDeletethanks for the recommendations... and i am a jo nesbo fan too!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas there for sorting a organising. Love IKEA!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great have access to so much reading material.
Thanks for the books to try. The only author I've read before on your list is Jo Nesbo. Being Australian I guess we haven't been exposed to as many of your authors. That was terrible English!
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