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Smiling Shelves

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

8/28/2017

20 Comments

 
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This weekly chance to add to your reading list is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.
I discovered on Friday that it's getting harder and harder to visit the library with my little guy. He's fine in the children's section where there are lots of toys (or another little kid for him to chase around and shriek at). But anywhere else in the library, he won't stay still for a moment! I was literally chasing him up and down aisles of books, reaching the end of one as he was halfway down the next. I had two books I planned to get for myself and ending up getting twice as many, but certainly not because I had time for leisurely browsing! I saw a couple books on the new shelf that looked interesting. I probably should have just put them on my Goodreads to-read list and gotten them next time. But in the thirty seconds it took to scan the new books shelf, my little guy almost ended up out the door twice and ran shrieking back to the children's section once. So I grabbed the books, chased him down, and headed to the check-out. Oy! Who knew going to the library could be so stressful? Anyone have tips for library trips with a one-year-old?

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Bout of Books 20 Updates

What I Read Last Week

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The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan (This was a wonderful book, and made for a good book club discussion.)
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde (I haven't reread the later Thursday Next books as often as the earlier ones, so I forgot how much I loved this one!)
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (This was really good on audio.)
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (This was a ridiculously good book. I'll for sure be adding this series to my own shelves!)

What I'm Reading Now

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Around the World in 50 Years by Albert Podell (I've been looking forward to this one!)
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (I've been reading this one sporadically on Serial Reader. I figure if I start posting weekly updates here, that'll force me to read it more often. So far, I'm 20% through.)

What's Coming Up Next

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The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (Another Newbery read!)
20 Comments
Katie @ Read-at-Home Mom link
8/28/2017 09:40:38 am

The Mighty Miss Malone has been on my to-read list forever. I love Christopher Paul Curtis. I guess now that he has a new book coming out in 2018, I can let myself go ahead and read this one. Glad to hear the audio is good - maybe I'll give it a try!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:24:28 am

I hadn't heard he has a new one coming out. That's exciting!

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Donna link
8/28/2017 12:36:47 pm

Perhaps if you know what books you want you can put a hold on them so that they are waiting for you at the desk instead of having to look through the stacks.

Happy reading!
<a href=http://www.girl-who-reads.com/2017/08/august-reading-round-up-read-reading-to.html>Girl Who Reads</a>

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:25:07 am

That's a good idea, Donna. It would make things easier and would keep me from checking out more books than I intended! :)

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Kathy Martin
8/28/2017 01:26:28 pm

I loved The Hero and the Crown. I hope you do too. Come see my week <a href="http://inside-dog.blogspot.com/2017/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-august_28.html">here</a>. Happy reading!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:25:39 am

I can't believe I had never even heard of this one before because it sounds right up my alley!

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Lark link
8/28/2017 08:35:36 pm

The Hero and the Crown is awesome! (Although I think The Blue Sword is even better.) Happy reading. :)

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:26:03 am

I'll have to read The Blue Sword, too! :)

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Sarah @ PussReboots link
8/29/2017 01:38:20 am

If your library does holds via the internet — request the books you most want to check out. Then you can be in and out with them before your toddler gets into too much trouble. <a href="http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comments_08/what_are_you_reading_0828.html">Come see what I'm reading</a>.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:26:37 am

Thanks for the idea, Sarah. I should definitely try that next time before he demolishes the library! :)

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Emily Reid link
8/29/2017 07:31:13 am

I REALLY want to re-read all the Thursday Next books! (I think I've already mentioned this to you, but I'm trying to wait until the last book comes out to do that... but I'm starting to loose patience. WHEN is the last one going to come out???)

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Around the World in 50 Years - I have that one on audiobook, and I need to queue it up soon, it looks great!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:32:23 am

I figure if I reread Thursday Next often enough, I'll remember everything by the time he publishes the last one - 20 years from now. :)

I think you would love Around the World in 50 Years. He focuses on some of the more obscure and difficult countries to travel to, including a couple I had never even heard of. Any travel lover should read this book!

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Melissa link
8/29/2017 08:23:47 am

I've been wanting to read The Hero and the Crown for years!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:28:04 am

I surprisingly hadn't even heard of it until I saw it on the Newbery list. I'm sad I missed out on it as a kid because I think I would have loved it then!

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Erin @ Quixotic Magpie link
8/29/2017 08:27:11 am

Stroller maybe? Or make library trips family nights/buddy nights - this is what we do. I wait until my husband gets home than we all go together. Good luck! :)

That Robinson Crusoe cover is awesome!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:28:48 am

Ooh, I like the idea of a family visit to the library! I'll have to run that past my husband. :)

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Jade @ Reading with Jade link
8/29/2017 03:34:37 pm

Browsing with a little one in tow is definitely hard... Library trips are just getting more manageable now with a three, almost four, year old. Every so often I try to block out some time to just visit on my own. Both titles you're reading this week sound great. Enjoy!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:29:37 am

I definitely miss the days of leisurely browsing. I'm glad to hear library visits get more manageable eventually - I just may have to wait a couple of years! :)

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Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) link
8/31/2017 08:25:22 pm

Oh, Robinson Crusoe. I did my senior research project on that book because parts of it were so baffling to me. I hope you enjoy it!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
9/7/2017 09:30:23 am

I am really enjoying it so far. It would be a good one for a research project!

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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