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Some exciting books on my radar | Notes from my Reading

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It's been a long time since I've talked about actually reading something. It's a little bit of a hit or miss right now, so I try to soak it up when I'm in the mood for it.
Currently Reading...I've spent the better part of last two weeks reading The Underground Girls of Kabul, and nothing else. It's a well-written book, mind you, but also littered with generalizations and a tone of something I can't put a word to yet. It's not condescension exactly (the author's tone is way too neutral for that) but there is a sense that the women in the West are better than Afghan women (better, not just better off). I'll need to think through that more. I know for sure that if I were Afghan and reading it, I would be .. maybe annoyed? frustrated? But how much of it is because of that sense of being looked down upon versus the subject of the book, is not clear yet. Hopefully after a few days of absent pondering, I'll have gotten to my point.

Just before I star…
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Yet another Monday! (Sep 19, 2011)

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It's Monday! What are you reading this week?

Sheila @ One Persons Journey through a world of Books wants to know what we're reading. I'm only too happy to oblige!

It's been a while since I did this, mostly because I've had something or the other come up on the past few weekends. Not that I managed to read very many books, but at least I've been reading a bit.

Books finished since the last update
-  Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
-  Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
-  The Giver by Lois Lowry (WOW!)

News from over my blog

Reviews up!
-  Irma Voth by Miriam Toews
-  Yo! by Julia Alvarez
-  In the Sea There are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda

BBAW posts
-  A toast to some favorite bloggers
-  The reader in my blog
-  The fun techie side of the blog
-  Grace of Books like Breathing won my giveaway

Other posts
-  With Indie Lit Awards just around the corner, I've posted some of my favorite books this year from the Fiction and other categories
-  The August Reading
-  New Reading Project: Blogger Recommends
-  Geeking out over a sci-fi list

Books on my nightstand
Since it's been a while after my last Monday post, the books on my nightstand have changed drastically. The ones that have been languishing there for a while have been shelved and I have some different ones holding my interest right now. I'm in the middle of two fabulous books and hoping to start a third one soon this week.

Kafka on the ShoreKafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami: This is my first read (Ti's recommendation) for my Blogger Recommends feature. There is enough fantasy in this one that it's not my usual fare, but there's enough intrigue that I just. cannot. put. it. down.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianThe Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: I chose this as one of my reads in celebration of this year's Banned Books Week. I was quite surprised by how easily it pulled me in and I can already see why many others loved this book. As always, I can't get why this book is even in a banned books list!
Brave New WorldBrave New World by Aldous Huxley: This is the other book I chose to read for this year's Banned Books Week. I read a couple of pages of this book and found it incredibly hard to get in. I'm definitely disappointed by that, but I'm hoping that was just because I was distracted. Have you read this one? If so, what did you think of it?

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Comments

Marce said…
The Giver, hmmm, most read your review. Need to look at your new project again. Have a great week dear.
September 18, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Evangeline Han said…
I read Brave New World for my Lit class. The story is pretty interesting. I did not quite like the ending because it was pretty depressing... but then again, this is a dystopian fiction. :)
September 18, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Rachel said…
I'd love to read both Kafka on the Shore and Brave New World. Have a great week!
September 18, 2011 at 11:07 PM
Sheila (Book Journey) said…
I love Shawn Tan!  I need to read that one!
September 18, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Erin said…
I really need to read some Murakami. I still haven't! I LOVED Absolutely True Diary, which I listened to a while back. So wonderful. I read Brave New World in high school, when I disliked everything I read just because I was being forced to read it. I wonder how I'd feel about it if I tried it now.
September 18, 2011 at 11:31 PM
Leeswammes (Judith) said…
Good to hear you're enjoying Kafka on the Shore. I love Murakami's books. I've read most of them. They are always a bit odd, but never too strange, I think.
September 19, 2011 at 1:41 AM
Shelleyrae @ Bookd Out said…
Hi
Stopping by via Its Monday! What are you Reading? Looks like some great titles, I must choose something to read for Banned Books Week

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
September 19, 2011 at 3:46 AM
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.... said…
I reallllllllllly want to read Diary of a Part Time Indian and Brave New World. But I've yet to try either.
September 19, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Lisa@ButteryBooks said…
I have been wanting to go back and read those books I had to read in high school.  Brave New World is one of those..but not so good, huh?
September 19, 2011 at 8:00 AM
Mrs. Q: Book Addict said…
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is amazing! I loved it, and highly recommend it.
September 19, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Laurel-Rain Snow said…
Ooh, Brave New World!  I read that one a long time ago, but would love to do a reread...of course, if I did reread all the fabulous books, there would be no time for new ones...sigh.

Enjoy!

Here's

http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/monday-memes-mailbox-what-are-you-reading-sept-19/
 


 


                                                                           


 
September 19, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Laurel-Rain Snow said…
Okay...my comment disappeared!  Here goes another try!

I loved Brave New World...hope you enjoy all of your books.

Here's

http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/monday-memes-mailbox-what-are-you-reading-sept-19/
                                                                           


 
September 19, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Giving Reading said…
I really thought about buying that Sherman Alexie book, but then I did not! Let me know how it was, and I will go and get it for me :)
September 19, 2011 at 9:50 AM
Pussreboots said…
I agree with the "Wow!" for The Giver. I'm reading three picture books a night with my children. That's making my list seem really long. I also got some longer books finished too. Please come see what I've read.
September 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Helen Murdoch said…
The Giver really is amazing, isn't it? So glad you liked it. And you've got Sherman Alexie's book coming up; I really liked that one. It's a great combination of funny and poignant
September 19, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Lena said…
You sure have fierce reading schedule. I wish I could as many books as you do.
September 19, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Amusingmother said…
Great selection this week!  Check out mine!
September 19, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Lindsey Stefan said…
I just picked up Brave New World because it's the September book over on my book club group on Goodreads. We will have to see how it goes...
literarylindsey.blogspot.com 
September 19, 2011 at 8:42 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Thanks Marce! You should read The Giver! It is fabulous! My review will come on Wednesday.
September 19, 2011 at 9:22 PM
Athira / Aths said…
You should! It was a beautiful book!
September 19, 2011 at 9:40 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm almost done with True Diary and I love this book so much! It is wonderful! I hope I will be able to get into Brave New World - I really want to read and "enjoy" it!
September 19, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm so glad that you like Murakami! This is my first book by him and love it so far! 
September 19, 2011 at 9:44 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you get to read Part Time Indian - it is absolutely fabulous! I love it!
September 19, 2011 at 9:46 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I still have 30 pages to go into the Sherman book, but I feel it safe to strongly recommend it. This book is fabulous! 
September 19, 2011 at 9:47 PM
Athira / Aths said…
The Giver was amazing! To think that I was so reluctant to read that book initially. It just blew me away. And the Sherman book is fabulous as well. I still have 30 pages to go, but I feel like it's going to be a favorite for sure. 
September 19, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Athira / Aths said…
LOL! I wish I had that all the time. Right now, I'm on a reading spree after being in a rut for a long time! 
September 19, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you get to read them. Have a great week!
September 19, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Athira / Aths said…
If you'll be reading for Banned Books Week, I can't wait to see your choices! 
September 19, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I know it should be fabulous, I'm just finding the language a little hard to get through - it's probably just starting block. 
September 19, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I still have 30 pages to go in that book, but so far I love it and I can see that it's going to be a favorite! 
September 19, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I am so glad to hear that you loved Brave New World! That makes me more eager to read it.
September 19, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Hmm, seems Disqus marked your comment as spam, which is weird! But I have fixed it up now, so your future comments shouldn't face a problem here. So sorry!!
September 19, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you have a good week!
September 19, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Glad to hear that you are also reading it the same time as me! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it! 
September 19, 2011 at 10:18 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I can't wait to revisit it - I just found it hard in the initial pages.
September 19, 2011 at 10:18 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) said…
Hi Aths,
I finished Brave New World not too long ago and I'm working on a review now. It is a difficult book to get into but there are a few characters worth following - if you decide to keep reading you're in for a few surprises.
September 21, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Athira / Aths said…
Hey Delia, I'm so glad that you liked this book! It makes me feel better about starting it this weekend!
September 23, 2011 at 10:24 PM
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