Snow Day Reads

LUCY BURDETTE: Oh boy, our Reds in New England have been whacked by winter lately. And it looks like more to come...The good news? Perfect weather to read and to find out what you're reading! 

During our trip, John and I both devoured

The Light Between the Oceans by ML Stedman, which is the story of a light keeper and his new wife who are stationed on a tiny island off the western coast of Australia. One terrible decision leads them into more and more tragic outcomes. Gripping! I also enjoyed catching up with two of my favorite mystery series, both long on character development, Julie Hyzy's All the President's Menus featuring White House chef Ollie Paras, and Stone Cold, CJ Box's newest installment in game warden Joe Pickett's series.

What are you reading Reds, to cope with the dreadful weather?

 
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

Hank's birdbath becomes a topiary

Let me first recommend Shannon Kirk's Method 15/30, coming soon. It is incredibly good, truly (reviewer Hallie, please note!) about a young woman who is pregnant who is kidnapped (really , stay with me) and what she does to get away. Its sort of The Ransom of Red Chief meets ah, well, you tell me when you read it. I have the Todd's new book ready to go, and The Girl on the Train, (of course, sigh) and I just finished a debut called Hangman's Game, which I loved--the star/sleuth is a....professional football player. No kidding, and it's pretty great! You don't have to understand football, which I kind of do, or even like it, which I also kind of do, if it's a game that matters. (I will pause now while you remember where I live!)  Oh, and Michael Sears newest, Long Way Down-- truly good--one reviewer compared him to Ian Fleming. Yeesh. Now THAT's a good review!

Hallie's driveway

HALLIE EPHRON: It's NOT snowing today but the roads are still dismal. So far 4 FEET(!) of snow in a week and more on the way. It's nutty.

Yup, I'm reading AND writing... Thinking of taking down To Kill a Mockingbird in anticipation of the NEW (but written in the 50s) Harper Lee novel that's been announced with much hooplah. I hope it's good.

Right now I'm reading Holly Robinson's Haven Lake and loving it. So far at least it's the story of a teenager who runs away from home and ends up with his new stepmother's hippie-dippie mother who has a sheep farm (that was of course once a commune). A great read for anyone looking for an interesting and not cliched older woman character. And the kid is spot on. It's not  mystery but I am so hooked.

Also I'm in the middle of Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. A journey through the digestive system and the history of what we know (or think we know) about it. She's a very funny writer and asks the questions of experts that the rest of us would be too embarrassed.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We have gone from freezing to warm to back to freezing here in Texas. But I love the idea of  a snow day to do nothing but read. Such a luxury! But I have been reading, of course--all three of the James Runcie Granchester books (on which the new PBS series is based) and I adore them! I hope there will be more! Also, the new Miranda (Dean) James, a Charlie Harris and Diesel book called Arsenic and Old Books, and a fabulous debut novel called Past Crimes by Glen Eric Hamilton. He's being compared to Dennis Lehane, Robert B. Parker, and John D. MacDonald, but I'd add a little Lee Child to the mix. The book is that good. Both these lovely guys will be our guests next week. AND I got my hands on a ARC of Mark Pryor's new Hugo Marston book, The Reluctant Matador. I LOVE this series--I think it is my find of the year.

Red readers, how are you holding up this winter and what are you reading?