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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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Comments

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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