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twitterature monthly reading linkup short reviews

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

Bel Canto

Bel Canto, Ann Patchett

This oddly structured pageturner from Ann Patchett fuses opera and a hostage crisis–and surprisingly, it works. #beachreading

The Distant Hours

The Distant Hours, Kate Morton

My first Kate Morton book. It won’t be my last. Perfect plot-driven novel for summer reading. #spellbinding

Crossing to Safety

Crossing to Safety, Wallace Stegner

“How do you make a book that anyone will read out of lives as quiet as these?” Just like this. My favorite book of 2013 to date. #gorgeous

Eleanor & Park

Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell

I fell in mad gushy book love with this YA novel of young love, lost. My favorite read of 2013 for 2 weeks before #CrossingToSafety ousted it.  #JustReadIt

world's strongest

The World’s Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family, Josh Hanagarne

This debut memoir is just okay. Read it anyway if you want to know about Tourette’s, Mormonism, Salt Lake City, or urban library life. #niche

2k to 10k

2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, Rachel Aaron

Writers will get their money’s worth out of this 99¢ Kindle single. Geared towards fiction writers but applicable to everyone. #bargain #writestuff

The next Twitterature link-up will be on Thursday, August 15.

(If you’re viewing this post in an RSS reader or by email, click over to the blog to view the link up. Thanks!)


twitterature monthly reading linkup short reviews

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54 comments

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  1. Stacey says:

    Anne- While I’ve read all your other Twitterature editions, this was my first time participating. So fun! And I love your list this month. Bel Canto is one of my favorite books of all time…I loved The Forgotten Garden so I can’t wait to read The Distant Hours…I am reading Eleanor and Park right now and am already ready to declare it one of my favorites of the year- now it sounds like I should read Crossing to Safety although the only other Stenger book I have read is Angle of Repose and I must admit, I struggled to get through it. Thanks for the fun!

    • Anne says:

      Stacey, I’ve talked to some people who adored Angle of Repose and some who said they yawned their way through it. I’ll definitely be reading it shortly. Glad to hear you loved Bel Canto! I’m looking forward to reading The Forgotten Garden soon…

  2. Jeannie says:

    Thank you for these great recommendations: my to-read list is growing exponentially! Like Stacey, I haven’t read The Distant Hours but I loved Morton’s The Forgotten Garden. And a friend just told me she’s going to lend me Bel Canto because she knows I’ll love it. Ah, summertime and the readin’ is easy!

  3. Jacey says:

    I just started reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton last night. It’s my first time reading her, too, and I really like the book so far!

  4. Sarah says:

    I loved Bel Canto. You’re right, it’s a totally bizarre set-up for a novel, but it just works so well. I’ll have to check out Crossing to Safety, it sounds really great.

  5. Amy says:

    OK I’ve been following your Ann Patchett journey. I just finished The Getaway Car. What should I read next?

    I want to read the Eleanor & Park and Crossing to Safety.

    Also, a lot of your amazon links aren’t working. A few of them are cutting off the “h” at the beginning of the URL.

    • Anne says:

      Ann Patchett: I’ve only read three, so I am definitely not the best person to ask! Patron Saint of Liars was her first novel. I think it’s only okay, but it was interesting to read it on the heels of The Getaway Car, where she described how it came into being. Bel Canto worked much better as a novel. (Many people think that one’s her best; many others think it’s a yawner. Let me know what you pick!)

      Thanks for the heads up on the links. I think they’re working now. 🙂

  6. Shana Norris says:

    I was looking forward to your thoughts on Bel Canto. I read it years ago, but I still remember that it’s just … really DIFFERENT. But good. It’s the only Anne Patchett I’ve read, though I own Run.

    I’ve always wanted to read Kate Morton. And of course, we’ve discussed Stegner and how I will be reading Crossing to Safety after LOVING Angle of Repose.

  7. Jo Lynn says:

    First time linking up : ) Looking forward to checking out what everyone’s been reading! My interest is definitely piqued by Crossing to Safety. I’ve never read Kate Morton but after your review and others comments I’ll definitely be adding her to my list of books to check out.

  8. Breanne says:

    Crossing to Safety definitely caught my attention as did Eleanor and Park. It sounds like a great read for evening wind down.

    This is one of my favourite link ups, thanks for hosting!! =)

  9. Meg Evans says:

    I loved Bel Canto, but I think Run was the first novel of hers that I read. There are several more by her that I want to read.

    I’ve never read any by Kate Morton, but she was just added to the list!

    And what about that news about J.K. Rowling writing under a pen name? I think I’ll have to check out that one as well!

    • Anne says:

      I saw that about J. K. Rowling! I haven’t delved into the details of the book, so I’m not sure if I’ll actually give it a go. I loved Harry Potter but couldn’t bring myself to read The Casual Vacancy.

    • Alison says:

      Kate Mortion is AMAZING. Be prepared for a literary crush–she is an stellar writer and storyteller. She may deserve her own twitterature post!

    • Anne says:

      Just curious–what’s your limit? (Not to rub it in, but either I don’t have one, or I’ve never reached it. My holds list is pretty slim right now with 16 on it, and they’re not all for me! But I’ve reached into the 50s before.)

  10. Anna says:

    Crossing to Safety and Eleanor and Park will have to get added to my to-read list. Especially Crossing to Safety. Any mention of quiet lives and I’m all over it. My best friend is reading Kate Morton’s book and tells me I should pick it up, but it’s not the sort of thing I usually read so I’m hesitant. Maybe I’ll give that a try too.

  11. I was excited when I saw the title and cover of the librarian book…and a little bummed to read your description. I not-so-secretly want to be a librarian, so I wish it was more librarian and less the other stuff. I’m going to mark that YA book to-read in Goodreads. I’d seen it but hadn’t really given it a second thought. If you say to read it, I’ll read it. (I’m a pretty easy sell when it comes to YA romance…)

  12. HopefulLeigh says:

    Distant Hours is my favorite Kate Morton! So glad you liked it. I’m on the library wait list for Crossing to Safety, per your instructions. On the wait list for Eleanor and Park, too. I meant to request it ages ago for the Phenomenally Indecisive Book Club but completely forgot. Alas.

  13. Anne, Just finished Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl which I loved, not as much as Eleanor & Park, but still really good. Moving Crossing to Safety to the top of my pile and have 2 great thrillers that I’m taking to the beach this weekend, Night Film & The Shadow Tracer. Nothing says beach read like blood, suspense and a tortured protagonist.

    • Anne says:

      I’m happy/sorry to hear that about E&P. I loved E&P and would hate to see it toppled as my favorite Rainbow Rowell book, but I wouldn’t have minded knowing a terrific novel would be hitting my doorstep in September. 🙂

      I just finished Attachments, which I really liked except for the stupid climax. Great beginning, middle, and very end, but those 5 pages the whole book was building toward? Meh.

      Enjoy your gory suspense novels. 🙂

  14. Amanda says:

    I have had Bel Canto on my list for awhile! Patchett lives here in Nashville and runs one of my favorite independent bookstores I’ve ever visited. I’ve become a huge fan of hers as a literary critic (and advocate for bookstores) but ashamedly haven’t read anything of hers yet!

  15. Cheri says:

    One of my all time favorite novels is The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton- an amazing story. Kate Morton has a wonderful way of weaving such amazing stories. Thanks for the list, Anne- you always give me some great reading material.

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