Albany Public Library discussion

Hello, all, and welcome to week two! This week's theme is Summer Fun, and we hope you're all enjoying the beginning of the season and the heat that's come with it. Hannah, at least, is just happy to have a fan that does a terrible job. Her children suffer, but that’s okay--they have cooling pads. Spoiled! (Not as spoiled as my fur babies: they live in an air conditioned apartment. 🤭)

Anyway, how is everyone? What are you reading? What are you doing for the summer? If you're looking for any inspiration, here’s this week's list of recommendations:

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
Vacationland, by Meg Mitchell Moore
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
The Measure, by Nikki Erlick
Weyward, by Emilia Hart
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
The People We Keep, by Allison Larkin
People We Meet on Vacation, by Emily Henry
One Italian Summer, by Rebecca Serle
The Beach Trap, by Ali Brady

Anything interesting out there that's not on our list? I'm currently making my way through Planes, Trains, and All the Feels, by Livy Hart. Romance isn't my cup of tea seriously where are the dragons??? but it seemed like a good, lighthearted summer read! What about you? Do you like to push yourself out of your comfort zone, or do you stick to your tried and true genres?

Happy reading! 😊

I'm reading a young adult book called Into the Light by Mark Oshiro.

Melissa

I just started Fifty Words for Rain for a book group. Seems like it will be interesting, but I don't think I can finish the 450 pages by next week!

Susan wrote: "I just started Fifty Words for Rain for a book group. Seems like it will be interesting, but I don't think I can finish the 450 pages by next week!"

And. . . I went to the library during my lunch break and picked up The Beach Trap from this list. I think that will be a lot more tempting.

I believe in you, Susan! You can do it! When in doubt, jump around.
Disclaimer: do not listen to this Librarian 😂😂
I love to read manga, and I am currently reading the Demon Slayer series. The anime is amazing!

Hi. I’m Jenna. I’m four books into the challenge thus far. So far I read …

The book of delights

Gay Like Me

Do you mind if I cancel?

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Do you mind if I cancel and the Seven Husbands are my fav so far.

I’m excited for the challenge. It has me focusing more on reading and staying off of screens.

I’m going to start the challenge with my kids this week too. We have been reading but I haven’t been tracking yet. They are four and five.

Thanks!
Jenna

Just finished the book for North Albany book group before Libby takes it back. How to Find your Way Home- Katy Regan. Can’t wait to hear Hannah’s summary next week :)

Currently reading The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead by Warners Lake but highly recommend People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry from the list above!

This morning, I finished Cassandra in Reverse .

Hannah wrote: "I believe in you, Susan! You can do it! When in doubt, jump around.
Disclaimer: do not listen to this Librarian 😂😂
I love to read manga, and I am currently reading the Demon Slayer series. The ani..."

Ha, I just finished The Beach Trap. A standard beach read, but yet I finished it and have not yet picked up the heavier book group tome.

I just started Manhattan Cult Story : My unbelievable true story of sex, crimes, chaos, and survival by Spencer Schneider. This is completely outside my usual reads. NonFic true crime, nyc cult, memoir. I can’t put it down.

I think I'm finding books that might be contrary to each week-- for one of the books I read, it's called The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish because I'm a jellyfish fan. This one takes place in the Arctic, so the exact opposite of summer. And I did a reread of All My Rage for a talk I was doing. I can't get enough of that heartbreaking read.

Wow, I did not realize how many books I'll be adding to my things to read list! These titles sound amazing reads ✨

Alicia wrote: "I think I'm finding books that might be contrary to each week-- for one of the books I read, it's called The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish because I'm a jellyfish fan. This ..."

😂😂 Honestly, there are times when you gotta read what contradicts each week!

Currently reading Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. Second time I’ve taken it out and finally getting through this epic space opera. My son recommended it. Good world building and quality writing, but definitely not a light summer read.

I finished Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse and it was such a wild ride. I didn't know how the author could even come close to the amazing conclusion of the first book in the series, Black Sun, but she did it and I am excited for the 3rd book in the series.

Hi All,
So far I have read two books for this challenge as I’ve been interested in light summer reading (no getaway vacations planned so I must live through my imagination)

The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I finished Manhattan Culture Story. Polished it off in huge gulps.

Hi, I finished three books this week. Treecat Wars by David Weber and Jane Lindskold, Girl Under the Christmas Tree by Cassandra O'Leary, and Aurora EV-01 by Ryk Brown. I am reading Instant Gratification by Lauren Blakely and Outback Gold by Ann B Harrison.

Mayra wrote: "Hi All,
So far I have read two books for this challenge as I’ve been interested in light summer reading (no getaway vacations planned so I must live through my imagination)

The Five Star Weekend b..."

Elin Hillebrand is perfect for going on vacation through a book.

This week I finished The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. Love her books, this one didn’t quite catch me like her others, but I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi ;)

Rich wrote: "This week I finished The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. Love her books, this one didn’t quite catch me like her others, but I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi ;)"

Oh, I read that one decades ago as a teen. I still remember it, which is rare for me! I usually would not remember what I read last month if it weren't for Goodreads.

Last week, I read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. I love both these authors.

I don't have a particular genre. I read anything, except self-exploration, which was last week's theme. However, I will try to read something in that genre before the challenge is over.

During this week (a bit late posting), I read Crime and Punishment. Not too sunny.