Ask... anyone read anything good lately?

And try naming something not-so-elevated

The other night, in my knitting group, someone asked my favorite question (after the discussion of how teaching math had changed and no one can help kids with homework anymore, which I have been part of, oh, seventy-billion times now):

Has anyone read anything good lately?

And it was not even ME! I love that.

Of course I came out strong with The Fountain.

And followed it up with The Correspondent.

Everyone’s read that now, though.

But then someone mentioned Mona Awad’s Bunny… and that led me to Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House… and then someone’s book group is reading Sandwich (a GOOD book group book) and then the conversation drifted a bit.

But next week I’m coming in with some Karin Slaughter. And some Tess Gerritsen. And some Sarina Bowen. Because as I look back on the conversation, I notice that we kind of stayed in the elevated book range. But what ELSE are we reading? What are we reading that’s good fun, that does not reveal us to be careful, thoughtful, smart?

Are we reading Assassins Anonymous?

Are we reading Starter Villain?

Are we reading freshly minted male-male hockey romance fans reading The New Guy, I’m Your Guy or Last Guy On Earth?

Are we reading The Heir Apparent?

In that last case—we ARE, and I’ll update you if I love it soon. (Best way to know if I did NOT love a book? Keep up here, and note whether something never gets mentioned again….)

But my point is: let’s talk about ALL the books we’re reading, not just the ones that make us look good.

What are you reading that you didn’t mention last time you were asked?