It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

The Past Week: 

I was able to read four middle grade books and four adult books this week. I don't know that I ever finish that many adult books in a week. That's different. Blind Spot was a very interesting look at biases. I talked about it in one of my Slice of Life posts here. Below Stairs was a quick read. It's the memoir that inspired the shows "Upstairs Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" and I found it quite interesting. 

I finally finished reading The Elements of Style and I am sure my writing will improve a ton. ;) The book was humorous at times and that was a surprise to me. 

The Plague of Doves was more than I was expecting. I've read several books by Louise Erdrich, but had not realized what a complex book this would be. There are many characters and it was difficult sometimes to keep all of their connections in mind. It was a wonderfully rich book and I feel like starting it over again now. I wish I had read this one before Round House. I didn't realize they were connected.

The Monster in the Mudball was quite fun as was Lowriders in Space. Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America gave me a lot of history that I hadn't known about the beginnings of the state of Oklahoma. It's not so much a focus on Sarah Rector as on our country during the early 1900s and the changes that were happening.

My favorite book of the week was Listen, Slowly. This is a wonderful book about family, roots, and growing up. It was also a vivid look into modern Vietnam. The people, the homes, the sights, sounds and smells are all described in ways that bring the reader right there.

The Coming Week:

I never did get to The Hunted last week, so that and None of the Above have been moved to this week. I am likely to re-read Gabi, A Girl in Pieces too. Beyond those titles, I'm not too sure what will come my way.

Reading Challenge Update:

Diversity on the Shelf/Diverse Books - 46/100

Goodreads - 99/520

#MustRead2015 - 10/53

Diversity Reading Challenge - 6/12

Around the World With Books 2015