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Welcome to the Twitterature link-up! For the lowdown, head over here, or try this Cliff Notes version: this is the place to share short, casual reviews of books you’ve been reading.

Here’s what I’ve been reading:

Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

I’ve been meaning to read this classic for a decade or two, and am glad to finally cross it off the list–which isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it. But oh my, that Heathcliff–I had no idea he was such a monster! I feel enlightened. #melodrama

Delancey: a Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage, Molly Wizenburg

I’ve been dying to read Molly Wizenburg’s newest (due out May 6) and was over-the-moon when a reader sent me her ARC. Loved the story, if a bit puzzled by the recipe selection. #readit

Parnassus on Wheels, Christopher Morley

This completely-and-utterly charming novella will appeal to book nerds everywhere–and Miss Pettigrew fans. I loved my pretty orange edition from Quarterly’s second Book Riot box. #fastandfun

The Vacationers: a Novel, Emma Straub

This was fine. Good characterization (and I loved the slow unfolding of secrets), but not particularly compelling. I would have happily axed some racy details that gave the book an ick factor I could have done without. (Wondering if this is an HSP thing?)

Possession, A. S. Byatt

A re-read. Dismayed to say I didn’t like this one as much the second time through. Not sure what that means. Still think it’s worth reading at least once, and would love to follow it with more from the author.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story, Liane Moriarty

An enjoyable yarn from Liane Moriarty, but I haven’t loved any of her books as much as her first, What Alice Forgot. #prioritizeaccordingly

Extraordinary Jane, Hannah Harrison

I’ve been in touch with the author/illustrator of this charming preschool-aged circus story, which means my kids and I got to enjoy it on two levels: the story, and the story-behind-the-story: what it takes to conceive of, create, design, and illustrate a real book. We enjoyed it on both levels. #adorable 

What have you been reading lately?

twitterature monthly reading linkup short reviews

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40 comments

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  1. Stacey says:

    What a fun list. I loved What Alice Forgot and haven’t read The Hypnotist’s Love Story. Wonder now if I will 🙂 Also, thank you for mentioning the Book Riot boxes. I keep meaning to look more in to this- I love the concept- but keep forgetting! Now maybe I will remember!

    • Anne says:

      It’s not bad, by any means. (Actually, it would make for a good airplane read!) But What Alice Forgot has a depth that her other works lack, and it’s impossible to not compare her subsequent books against her first.

  2. I always want to watch/read Bronte stuff this time of year. I think because with my windy prairie and gray skies, I can easily pretend I’m living on the moors of England :).

    But I’m with you on Wuthering Heights. Not my fav. Jane Eyre, on the other hand, totally is.

    • Anne says:

      I’ve never listened to the Book Riot podcast–how high is it on your podcast priority list? Every month I think about giving it a go, but I haven’t yet.

      • It’s one of my top 5 podcasts I listen to. I don’t get around to every one, but I listen to 2-3 every month (they’re weekly). The hosts are really entertaining, and they cover a wide variety of topics. They also just started a new podcast called Dear Book Nerd that’s next on my playlist (haven’t played it yet). If you’ve never blogged about your fav podcasts, that’d be a good topic 🙂

  3. Meg says:

    I will have to check out Parnassus on Wheels, and I am very much looking forward to Delancey! A Homemade Life is permanently creased open and stained in places!

  4. Nolo says:

    The Hypnotist’s Love Story is a sample on my kindle, waiting to move up the list. I just read What Alice Forgot (enjoyed it) after having read The Husband’s Secret (loved it). That’s the one that has stayed with me so maybe it is the first Liane Moriarty book that you read that is considered “the best”?

    If you’re looking for more airplane reads, I just started Tamara Mellon’s memoir In Her Shoes and think it would be a good candidate. Fast moving and potentially very interesting. With Jimmy Choo, she started the company that brought his shoes to prominence but it seems building the business wasn’t always easy.

  5. I just read What Alice Forgot and totally loved it. That’s disappointing that her other works aren’t as good. I just have to say that I stopped reading that book at the last chapter and I was so upset over how it “turned out” that I didn’t read the epilogue, because I just assumed the story ended with the last chapter and I didn’t want to hear any more! A friend told me I had to read the epilogue and it’s a good thing she told me!

  6. D says:

    I don’t have a blog. Can I list a few of my recent reads here? Thanks.

    I read Miss Pettigrew at your suggestion and enjoyed it. I think I was expecting a lot because you suggest it, but it was perfect for my vacation on the beach.

    Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart by Jim and Lynne Jackson is changing the way I parent, for the better. Qualifies (for me, anyway) as a “the best book you’ve never heard of on parenting.”

    Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. Loved the concept of one person re-living life until she got it “right” and made me reflect on my own life choices.

    I Hate My Neck (Audio) by Nora Ephron. Hilarious, especially written for ladies in their 50’s, but thoroughly enjoyable to me (30’s).

    Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict (audio) by Laurie Viera Rigler. A lovely, light novel with constant illusions to Austen’s works. A feel-good story for a plane ride, a busy week, or someone needing a happy ending. I loved the audio version because the reader uses English and American accents to clarify the story and I’m not sure I would have read those in.

    Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. I remembered reading this in elementary school and brought it out to read with my nearly-9yo son. I skipped over some illusions to the affair Brian’s mother was engaged in but otherwise it was a great story of survival, perseverance, and problem-solving. A hit with my son, and his older sister.

    • Anne says:

      I haven’t read ANYTHING by Nora Ephron (gasp!) but I love her films. I need to bump her to the top of my list. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

  7. Andrea says:

    I should really read Molly Wizenberg’s books, and then go visit her restaurant – since I live in Seattle! Big fan of her blog and adorable baby pics on Instagram 🙂

  8. Anne says:

    Oh, about Heathcliff: so true. He’s awful. I so romanticized that book when I was younger. It’s harder to take now. Have you seen the Ralph Fiennes/Juliette Binoche adaptation? I got to visit the moors and the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth. Those moors really are something else. The heather was faded but still….

    No active blog but here’s what I’m reading:

    The Rosie Project- just finished the other day, super charming, wonder what people with Asperger’s/HFA think of it

    What Alice Forgot- easy read, enjoyed, read a friend’s review/opinion that her sister was the more developed character, sounds dumb but it made me want to go to the salon for beauty treatments, good to take care of self

    How She Does It – (who wrote that again?) Just kidding, Anne! This is the best eBook I’ve read by far. Polished and insightful. Really enjoyed the glimpses into other women’s lives. The part about the hair stylist who discovered better hours? That was neat. And you have a connection to SWB! Cool. Need to reread.

    Prairie Tale – abandoned this Melissa Gilbert memoir a few pages in due to tone, I think?

    Home – early Julie Andrews memoir that plodded at first but got going when her career took off

    Early Decision – on p.7 of this college admission counselor’s first novel. Blurb reminded me of Admission with Tina Fey, which I liked. Good so far!

    • Anne says:

      No, I haven’t seen the Wuthering Heights film. Is it worth seeing? I’ve enjoyed some of Ralph Fiennes’s works….

      I feel like Julie Andrews’ memoir keeps coming up, and I’m curious. And thanks so much for the kind words about How She Does It. 🙂

      • Anne says:

        It’s a very good performance by him. I’m not sure what to say about Juliette Binoche’s performance. It’s all right. Ralph must find all these horrible characters appealing somehow. He plays a lot of them. Overall, it’s not the greatest movie, but I’m glad I saw it. I wish there was a definitive WH film.

  9. Cassie says:

    I am going to have to read The Vacationers now to see what the ick factor was. I am going to have to check out Delancey, I love me some food memoirs. And Wuthering Heights! So many great books!

  10. Pingback: What I’m Reading
  11. Breanne says:

    I love Jane Eyre but have never fully read Wuthering Heights. It’s one of those that I feel I should read but can’t get into, I’ll have to give it another try.

    And your picture inspired mine, it’s lovely. =)

  12. Annie says:

    I want to teach a (homeschool) high school lit class of Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Jane Eyre and have the students compare the three portrayals of love.

    I love your Twitterature- thanks for all the reviews.

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