What I'm Reading (March 2016)

Before my last post, it had been a long time since I blogged, so I figured I would write up a post about what I'm currently reading. I always have more than one book going at once.

Current Reads:

Right now, I'm reading Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, for the first time. I really can't say too much about the book, since I'm only about fifty pages in, but it's good so far. There are definitely some laugh-out-loud moments. It's hard to explain the plot, but I'll say this: Holden is a pretty screwed up kid. He needs help.

Another book I'm reading is 'Salem's Lot, by Stephen King. Now, I don't usually read horror. I like my sleep too much. But there's something about Stephen King I keep going back to. I'm about two hundred pages into this vampire novel, I like it so far. I'm curious to see exactly what goes down in the little town of Jerusalem's Lot.

At night, I'm rereading (for about the thousandth time) To Kill a Mockingbird. I started my reread on the day Harper Lee died. I read this book for the first time when I was around 13-14, and I absolutely loved it. It was assigned reading, and Mom told me to start with the first couple of chapters. I devoured the whole thing in two days. I think I love it more every time I reread it.

For school, I'm reading The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Oh, my word, this book deserves its own post. Though I'm reading it for school, it is a book I've been wanting to read for a long time. It's a beautifully written book about a boy, Amir, growing up in Afghanistan, and the things that shape him. The writing is so accessible, and it's not difficult to understand at all. But that doesn't mean it's an easy read. The pivotal point in the book, the event that changes Amir's life forever, comes in chapter 7, and it's positively horrific. I felt like I physically could not read the actual scene. But after putting the book down for a few days and giving myself time to process, I came back to it and found myself getting sucked back in again. I can't wholeheartedly recommend it, because of how horrifying it is, but it's truly an amazing read.

The final book I'm currently reading is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This book is funny and quirky, and the first chapter had me laughing out loud. The book is about a woman named Precious, who opens a detective agency in Africa. I started reading it because I needed something not depressing to read. I'm not too far into it, but it's adorable.


Recently Read:


Recently I read Ruta Sepetys' new book, Salt to the Sea. I think I read this book in about six hours. It was amazing. I'm formulating a review in my head, so stay tuned for that. For now, I'll just say this: Ruta Sepetys writes historical fiction (especially WWII) better than so many other writers now. She has the power to make me weep for characters I've only been with for six hours.


I also recently read Wuthering Heights, which was an absolute delight. I love a good gothic novel. I tried to read it once before, but never finished it for some reason. I laughed out loud at it sometimes, because the idea that anyone could find Heathcliff (or Cathy, for that matter) even remotely appealing was ridiculous. I once took a quiz along the lines of "Who is Your Classic Novel Boyfriend?" and I was horrified when I got Heathcliff. But I didn't know how the novel ended, so reading it was great because everything was a surprise.


To Be Read:


Currently on my TBR pile is Pure, by Julianna Baggott, and All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. I may be changing this around to get some happier books in there. We'll just have to see.