Here’s my second edition of this weekly series of posts from Sam at Taking on a World of Words. Check out her blog if you haven’t, as she shares some fabulous content. In this series, each blogger answers the 3 W’s every Wednesday:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
What am I currently reading?
In hardback, I’m reading The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell. Russell is one of those rare authors whose every work I have devoured with absolute glee. She mostly writes historical fiction, but her bestselling novel, The Sparrow, is one of the greatest science fiction novels I’ve ever read. Every detail of her work is meticulously researched, and I highly recommend each one. This one follows a young woman who takes on a powerful mining company in the early 1900’s in the town of Calumet, Michigan. Russell draws on research into her own family history with this work, which lends a very personal touch to the story.
Evidently I’m feeling historical fiction at the moment, because my current audio read is the Holocaust novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I probably don’t need to tell you this is a difficult subject matter, and I’ll have a lot of thoughts about this book in a couple of days, as I’m more than 75% of the way through the audio. The performance is quite well done by talented actor, Richard Armitage, who flawlessly shifts from the dozens of differing voices and dialects of prisoners at the Auschwitz and Birkenau camps during the period from 1942 to 1945. This is a beautiful story based on the real-life account of Lali Sokolov (Lale in the book), a Slovakian Jew who acts as the camp’s Tätowierer during his tenure at the camp. Ultimately, it’s a love story about finding love and hope during the bleakest of times.
What did I just finish reading?
I recently finished Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Dutch House by Anne Patchett. You can link to my reviews of each to see my thoughts by clicking on each. Both I highly recommend.
What do I think I’ll read next?
On audio, I’ll be listening to the November selection for my book club, Cold Storage by David Koepp. David Koepp is a screenwriter who worked on Jurassic Park, so I would imagine the man knows a little something about suspense. A little apprehensive about this one in the current climate considering it is a pandemic thriller, but maybe this is, in fact, the right time to read it. Check back with me in a few days to see how good an idea this one is!
In paperback, I plan on picking back up a book I started and failed to finish due to circumstances unrelated to the quality of the book. It is The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty. I always find Moriarty’s books a delight and thought this to be a good buffer while tackling something a bit more panic-inducing on audio.
So, there is me! I’d love to hear what you are reading, have read, and want to read soon. I’ll be back soon with my thoughts on my current selections.
Until we meet again, Happy Reading!
A Librarian and Her Books 
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of those stories that I know I should read, but I’ve always been afraid to. Which is all the more reason I SHOULD read it, since avoiding things that make us uncomfortable is obviously not a good habit to get into.
Fantastic post 🙂
It’s definitely a tough read in places, understandably so. But I totally understand having difficulty starting books like this. I read a lot of super heavy stuff and sometimes need buffers in between. Something much lighter with a happy vibe.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is incredibly moving. Hope you enjoy all of your reads!
Thank you!
You have me very interested in The Sparrow now – I know it’s common for authors to write in different genres, but historical fiction and science fiction seem so opposite and I’m definitely intrigued!
Yes, I was also so surprised to find out she also writes historical fiction, because the Sparrow was my intro to her work. She’s a researcher at heart and has a degree in anthropology. Her sci fi is more along the lines of Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness where there’s emphasis on the sociopolitical structure of the alien planet.
I hope to read Becoming before the year ends.
I gave The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Dutch House 3-stars each.
Happy reading. 🙂
It was definitely a fabulous and worthwhile read. I hope you enjoy it!
Pingback: WWW Wednesday – January 13, 2021 | A Librarian and Her Books