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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! (Feb 6, 2012)

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

Sheila @ Book Journey wants to know what we're reading. I'm only too happy to oblige!

American Dervish
We're one month already into 2012 - looks like Doomsday will be here soon! Yesterday, I started reading American Dervish, by Ayad Akhtar. This is a book I had been waiting to read since the ARC first strolled into my hands - a few months ago. Something about that awesome cover and the fact that the characters are of Pakistani-origin (I have never before read a book set in Pakistan) made me want to get to it right away. When I finally read a few pages, however, I was disappointed. The writing isn't that impressive and the plot isn't holding my interest too much. I'm only 50 pages in though, and there is a lot of ground to cover, so I'm hoping something changes soon!

Which pages were turned...
-  I finished reading Tayari Jones' Silver Sparrow, my second of the Indie Lit Awards reads. I am looking forward to talking about it, once the awards are announced.
-  I'm also halfway through Lynn Sheene's The Last Time I Saw Paris and Mary Ann Shaffer's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Right - that makes it three books going at a time - book polygamy's in full swing. The Guernsey Literary, which I'm reading at work is pretty entertaining, making me wonder why it took me so long to pick it.
-  As part of my current goal to read more short stories, I read another one recently - A Moment of Wrong Thinking by Lawrence Block.

...And other news
-  Review: Hell-Heaven by Jhumpa Lahiri (Short story)
-  Review: The Silent Land by Graham Joyce
-  Review: The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
-  Oh, and for Hunger Games' fans: My brother (and fellow fan) just shared with me this awesome map of the Panem courtesy io9 - looks like a good chunk of North America is in the water or bombed off - my town just about made it into District 12, barely.


Happy reading!

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Chocolateandcroissants said…
I am getting American Dervish any day in the mail.  Loved Loved Loved The Guernsey Literary Society and I read The Last Time I saw Paris over Christmas.  How funny that we have some of the same books.
February 5, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Martha Eskuchen said…
I plan to read Guernsey this year. Oh - I am sure Florida is under water. LOL
Enjoy your week!
February 5, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Helen Murdoch said…
Ok, my town is off the map of Panem! I am sad to hear you aren't liking American Dervish because it sounds like such a good one
February 5, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Sheila (Book Journey) said…
Oh love the Hunger Games map! 
February 5, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Pussreboots said…
Interesting but odd map. Like Helen, my town's not on it.

My daughter's homework requires reading out loud to me. Come see what she and I read together. I also got some other great books finished on my own time.
February 6, 2012 at 12:03 AM
Crystal @ I Totally Paused said…
This one sounds good, hope you enjoy it!
February 6, 2012 at 12:18 AM
Shelleyrae @ Bookd Out said…
I've been eager to get my hands on American Dervish as it sounds so intriguing, it's shame you aren't enjoying it though.
Wishing you a great reading week

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
February 6, 2012 at 1:49 AM
Karen Sime said…
That's a shame about American Dervish. I hate it when a book has so much promise until you open it up. Hope it picks up soon.
February 6, 2012 at 3:19 AM
Kell said…
I'll have to check those out! :)
My Monday Memes post
February 6, 2012 at 6:23 AM
Melissa Caldwell said…
I feel you on the book letdown. I try to give the book 100pages first. I hope you have much better luck with the rest of your list! :) Happy Reading!

http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-are-you-reading-monday-5.html
February 6, 2012 at 8:00 AM
bermudaonion (Kathy) said…
I've heard mixed things about American Dervish so I'm disappointed to see you're not loving it.  Burnt Shadows is set in Pakistan and India - I loved it but most of my book club did not. 
February 6, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Lori said…
I need to The Guernsey read soon!
Have a wonderful week!
February 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Vasilly said…
Too bad about American Dervish. I have it on hold at the library. Have a great week!
February 6, 2012 at 12:06 PM
BuriedInPrint BuriedInPrint said…
I've got to try again with the Guernsey; something about narrator's voice on the audiobook was so soothing that I kept falling asleep (surely not the intended response), so perhaps I should just try the old-fashioned on-the-page option instead! 
February 6, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Trillian711 said…
Have a fab week! See what I'm reading here. 
Tasha @ A Trillian Books xxx
February 6, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said…
O that is a cool map :)
February 6, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said…
Interesting that I would be district 11.
February 6, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Vidya Tiru said…
Love the list you have.. I am finally going to get around to reading the Hunger Games (!!) and that is on my next to read list... (among the many that are there..)
February 6, 2012 at 7:02 PM
Athira / Aths said…
It's slowly picking the pace now, but I still don't know where it is going, nor am I pleased with the purpose of the novel. Still, I'll definitely finish it and share my thoughts.
February 6, 2012 at 10:19 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to look it up and if I like the premise, I will definitely wishlist it.
February 6, 2012 at 10:19 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Isn't it? I like it too.
February 6, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Athira / Aths said…
That's nice! At least not one of the mean districts. :)
February 6, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm saddened too by that. Still, I'm halfway into the book and do plan to finish it.
February 6, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you enjoy the book better than I am doing! I will definitely be looking for your thoughts.
February 6, 2012 at 10:24 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm hoping that the story picks up soon. It is a fast read though. 
February 6, 2012 at 10:28 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm hoping the story picks up soon. It is sad that the book is not as I hoped it would be.
February 6, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I can't wait to read the rest of Guernsey! It is so entertaining! I will be looking forward to your thoughts on American Dervish! 
February 6, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I will be looking forward to your thoughts on Guernsey! I'm enjoying it!
February 6, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I'm almost halfway into it and will definitely finish it. I'm just disappointed that it isn't what I hoped it to be.
February 6, 2012 at 10:38 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you enjoy Guernsey!
February 6, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Athira / Aths said…
Haha! That's funny! I hope you give it a try again - it's really light, funny and lovely! But not fluffy-light.
February 6, 2012 at 10:42 PM
Athira / Aths said…
I hope you will love Hunger Games! I hope I can reread that sometime. 
February 6, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Athira / Aths said…
It is definitely an odd map! It was fun though. 
February 6, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Mystica said…
Another angle on American Dervish which is interesting.
February 7, 2012 at 5:31 AM
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