WWW Wednesday: July 17, 2019

I have sat down to write a couple of reviews this week and gotten less accomplished than I wanted to. I never like to do back-to-back WWW’s with nothing in-between but, sometimes, good enough is all you can do. Plus, WWW Wednesday is my favorite for keeping me organized and I am a HOT mess this week as the move approaches.

WWW Wednesday is graciously hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.

What Did I Recently Finish Reading?

A blue-green cover with the title, “Fish In A Tree” written in colorful block letters is under a tree with a cartoon fish in it.

I wrapped up Factfulness by Hans Rosling. I tried, really tried, to write a review of this book. This is my favorite book I have read this year. It will take the place of honor next to The Poisoner’s Handbook. It is an amazing work of nonfiction. This fascinating book of nonfiction gives you ten reasons why the world is better than you think. It reached right into my anxiety riddled brain and soothed it. It deserves a perfect review. I’m working on it.

I finished the audiobook version of Yes, Please by Amy Poehler this morning. I think she is hilarious but, for some reason, the cover of this book evoked a “yes, please, another drink over here” vibe to me and I skipped it when it was new. I wish I hadn’t. Instead, the book is bursting with profoundly deep thoughts, hilarious observations, and funny stories. I was a fan, now I’m a massive fan.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is another audiobook I finished this week. This book is a middle grade book with a message we all need to hear over and over again. “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.” Ally cannot read. She is twelve. Since her father is in the military, she has moved and hidden her inability to read for years. But now, she has a new teacher. Mr. Daniels sees her and recognizes her problem as dyslexia. I love this book.

Norse Mythology is a collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman. I tried, years ago, to listen to this as an audiobook but I couldn’t keep the Norse characters straight in my head. I’m so glad I bought the physical copy. It is excellent.

Ridorkulous by Mary Frame is a sweet contemporary romance that I purchased in the middle of the night when insomnia stopped by for a visit. Super cute romance blossoms between two college students forced to compete for the last rentable room in their college town. It was highly implausible and just as highly entertaining.

What am I Currently Reading?

A black girl in a purple lettermen jacket and denim skirt stands on the cover.

I was at my local library and saw that Ghost and Pinned were required reading for seventh graders this year. I had already read the required reading for the other grades so I wanted to tackle these two before school starts. I like to have a jumping off point when talking to kids about books.

I am also listening to Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly as an audiobook and it is good. Told from shifting perspectives of four middle schoolers I was sucked right into the story. I am especially in love with Lola, the grandmother of the protagonist. I am also fascinated with the author’s choice to make the bully a character with a voice.

Finally, after finishing Ridorkulous I downloaded another of Mary Frame’s books on my Kindle. I like having a romance to read in the middle of the night when my thoughts keep   me awake.

What Will I Read Next?

I have Brene Brown’s highly acclaimed book Rising Strong cued up as my next audiobook. I was also recommended The Rise of Winter by Alex Lyttle when I was talking to a student about marvelous middle grade books.

Tell me, please!

What’s on your WWW?