It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

I finally had a break out book this week -- Ayelet Waldman's Bad Mother.  I highly recommend it for a book discussion or for girlfriends who are mothers. She is a brilliant writer, PLUS, there are many potential hot button issues to discuss (or debate, which ever you prefer). 

Books finished this past week:

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (2 out of 5 stars)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (3 out of 5 stars)

Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman (4 out of 5 stars)

Currently reading:

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees

So far, this is a delightfully quaint book.  Nothing particularly new for this genre, but very enjoyable.  Louisa has been a fun character to follow.

To be read:
Ah -- the dreaded To Be Read list!!  Once again my impulsive nature sabotaged me this week.  I was so excited about Ayelet Waldman's writing that immediately upon finishing, I went to the library and checked out this:

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

Summary from Goodreads:

In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.

I think this has been made into a movie -- but I'm not sure if it was ever released.  One of my "goodreads" friends finished this in one day, she said it was so good.  I want to believe her!

Another impulse check out:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Summary from Goodreads:

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over a six-month period, first in a sixpenny book, then in a shilling book, and, finally, in a splendid two-guinea book, to hone her writing skills. And it is within these pages that she candidly chronicles her encounters with the estate's new, young, and handsome American landlords, the effects of her sister Rose's marital ambitions, her writer's-blocked father's anguished and ultimately renewed creativity, and her own hopeless, first descent into love.

So, the current stack of books (including the above) on my beside table looks like this:

Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks (book group choice, must be read soon!)

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (borrowed from a friend, must be returned soon!)

A Long Long Time Ago But Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka (carryover from last week)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (yep, another carryover)

Evangeline by Ben Farmer (this was only a 2 week check out, and I've reached my limit of renewals for this book -- I wonder if I will get to it or not?!)

For me, I've actually accomplished a lot this week.  My PTA duties begin in earnest this week, so I'm not sure July will be as literary prolific as June -- but I'm trying to keep up the pace until school resumes, because I know my reading time will take a hit once I'm fully ensconced as Madame President! Ugh!

What are you reading this week?  Anything to recommend?