It has been an odd week for me. After getting back from a much needed weekend away, I returned to my real life only to find that my motivation was still on vacation. I wasn’t resting well. I still didn’t want to interact with people. I didn’t feel well emotionally or physically. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up somewhere under a blanket with a good book and read.
Well, I sort of wanted to read. The book that I finished this week was a joy to get through. The American classic that I am continuing to plow through was just that — a chore. Any other book, I would probably set aside. Because of the novel’s place in history, I feel as though I just need to push through to the end so I can say that I have read it and to see if I can figure out why it holds such a stable place in the literary canon.
What I Finished This Week
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. This book had been sitting in my TBR for quite some time. I selected it because I needed a cover font in a primary color. I was encouraged when I noticed a sticker on the cover declaring it the 2023 Book of the Year by the readers of The Book of the Month Club. What I discovered was a laugh out loud novel about two hurting people who find their way to each other. Jacob and Briana are both ER doctors. Jacob suffers from debilitating anxiety and is dealing with the heartbreak of a failed relationship. To make matters worse, Jacob’s ex is about to marry his brother. Briana’s divorce is about to be finalized and her brother is getting sicker with each passing day as he waits for a kidney transplant. The two enter an agreement to be “fake dates” to get Jacob through the awkward wedding season and end up falling in love, but both are too frightened because of past hurt to admit their feelings to the other. At times heartbreaking, this novel was an emotional roller coaster that left me rooting for true love to win out. The perfect story for me for the moment. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Moby Dick by Herman Melville (p. 420 of 552). This week has been a trudge through Melville’s writing. Lots of detailed descriptions of the various parts of a sperm whale’s anatomy mingled with a few interactions with other boats, warning the crew of the dangers of encounters with Moby Dick. I was getting so discouraged this week that I asked ChatGPT if the novel got better after chapter 79! I had to chuckle at the AI response: “Oh, the Moby Dick question!” I’ve charted out my daily reading goals to the end of the novel and if I can stay the course, I should be done with this one later this week. Perhaps when I reach the end I will understand why this is considered an American classic, because right now, I’m wondering why people (myself included) continue to read this horrible book.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (p. 102 of 359). I cannot keep my nose out of this book at the moment! This is my first McFadden novel, but her work has been on my TBR for some time. The novel is written on duel timelines and the reader doesn’t yet know exactly how they are going to connect. Sydney is a single woman in her 30s living in NYC. Like most contemporary singles, Sydney is using online dating to find her perfect match. When her best friend, Bonnie, is brutally murdered in her apartment, Sydney questions the safety of her dating choices…especially after having an uncomfortable encounter in the days leading up to Bonnie’s death. This story is set against the story of Tom, a high school student living in an abusive home who is fascinated with blood, especially as it flows through the neck of the girl he is currently dating. McFadden’s novel is not overly graphic (at least, not so far), but there is definitely a high level of tension and suspense. I planned to stretch this book throughout the week to keep a moderate reading pace, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I really need to know what happens next!
Reading for Me 
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