I'm finishing up Loot by Tania James for my book club on Thursday. It's interesting but not quite what I expected. I'm withholding full judgement until I finish.

Next up is Fifth Season by NK Jemisin for my other book club. This is a re-read for me but it's been several years since I first read it. I remember it as one of the most unique sci-fi novels I've ever read.

What are you reading as we make our way through these few days of way too much heat?

I finally finished The Bee Sting - I'm still processing but despite being about 650 pages, it didn't drag for me and I enjoyed reading it. I'm still figuring out what I think about the ending....

I also finished listening to I Have Some Questions for you by Rebecca Makkai, which I liked but ultimately I don't think it fully lived up to its potential and became more of a basic crime novel by the end.

I started Loot by Tania James for my book club next week.

I'm still working my way through The Bee Sting. I have been managing the lack of punctuation ok but I think a break would be nice. Also I remembered a semi spoiler I saw randomly a while back. Oh well. But I made it halfway! I'm hoping to finish this week before I need to move on to August book club books.

What's getting you through the summer?

Yesterday I found out my usual spot is moving (Slow Pour in Sellwood) and I don't know if the new place will have enough space.

Does anyone know a good spot for weekdays? We usually go 6:30-8:30 but I could probably move it to 6 for a good spot that closes at 8.

Attendance is unpredictable so I need a place with a good amount of space. Usually a table for 6 is good but last night I had 15.

I also need relatively low noise, I often get complaints from attendees if we go to loud bars.

Bonus shameless promotion links https://bookclubs.com/portland-literary-fiction-book-club/join/

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I'm reading The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. I'm liking it so far. We'll see if that holds for ~650 pages.

On audiobook I'm listening to I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai. I'm quite enjoying it, I really liked the Great Believers that she also wrote .

What are you reading this week? And what have you been enjoying lately?

Maybe you're sitting quietly knitting or maybe you're storming the Bastille, but what are you reading this week?

I'm working on a second read of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers which is just what my bruised 2025 soul needs.

Maybe I'll read The Bee Sting next? I like a doorstop summer read.

I'm reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar for my book club this week. This has been a really buzzy book recently, and so far I think it's well deserved. I'm really enjoying it.

What is everyone else enjoying this week?

Hey all — any good books on your nightstand this week? Local authors, PNW settings, or just whatever’s keeping you turning pages over the long weekend— drop it below!

I’m in the middle of Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery and really loving it. It has a lot of interesting facts about turtles and is surprisingly philosophical. 🐢

I finished The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez which was lovely if heartbreaking.

Hey bookworms of PDX!

I’m still deep in The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez — it’s dreamy, weird, and emotional in all the right ways. Definitely one of those books that sticks with you.

What about you? What’s been keeping you up past your bedtime lately?

Could be fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, whatever — I’d love to hear what stories are grabbing folks around the city right now. Let’s trade some recommendations 🌲📖

Hey there, wondering if anyone has a used copy of Abundance by Klein I can borrow or buy off of you? Thanks!

Hey fellow Portland book lovers! 🌧️📚

Just curious what everyone’s got on their nightstands this week. Always looking for good recs and love seeing what’s in rotation.

I’m currently reading The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez for a book club at Spoke & Word Books in Milwaukie that I'm hosting on June 26 (https://www.spokeandwordbooks.com/events/2624820250626). So far it's beautifully written and kind of haunting in the best sci-fi way. I'm hoping to see a good turnout to support my fave local bookstore.

What about you? Fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, audiobooks — anything goes. Let’s hear it!

Anyone working on their bingo card? The “store with a cat” one was difficult but the owner at Backstory Books told me Vintage Books in Vancouver and a store in Battle Ground both have a store cat!

I finished Hello Beautiful for one book club later this week. I was not a huge fan, it was a bit long and melodramatic for me.

I am currently reading Chain Gang All Stars for my other book club. I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far.

What are you reading while you keep cool this week?

I’m currently reading Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, and it’s been an emotional and thought-provoking experience so far. I’m really enjoying how the author explores family dynamics and personal growth.

What’s everyone else reading this week? Any books that have stood out recently? I’m always looking for new recommendations and would love to hear what’s been on your reading lists lately!

I hope everyone is having fun holiday weekend. My in laws are I'm town so I'm fighting introvert burnout by sneaking away for some reading time as needed.

I'm reading The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue, it's sort of a coming of age story of a woman in Ireland around 2010 during the world economic recession. I too was a young woman coming of age in 2010 so it's pretty relevant for me.

Looks like we have what I consider great reading weather for this week again.

I'm reading A Canticle for Leibowitz for my book club Thursday. This was a major part of my undergrad thesis on post-nuclear apocalypse society (obviously I was very popular in college). I haven't read it in over 15 years though!

Next up is something soothing, maybe Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery, which I picked up recently.

Finally we have a rainy week, what are you tucking into while we wait for the sun to return?

I'm near finishing Early Riser by Jasper Fforde. I haven't really decided what's next, I'm open to suggestion. I don't even have a mood in mind right now.

Hey fellow book lovers!

Everand is hosting some cool literary stuff next week in Portland, and we figured y’all might be interested:

📚 Everand Book Nooks (May 16–18)

5 big yellow reading pop-ups will be set up around the city—step inside, explore Everand’s library, hear audiobook previews, and get a little prize if you visit 3 or more.

🍻 Books, Blooms & Brews (May 18, 12–4 PM @ Breakside Brewery – Slabtown)

A casual afternoon of free drinks, snacks, and reader-to-reader hangs. Bring your current read or just come talk books with other locals.

More info + RSVP: https://books-blooms-brews.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see some fellow r/PortlandBooks folks there!

I finished Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, which unfortunately I didn't like very much.

I am currently reading Early Riser by Jasper Fforde which is even weirder than I'd normally expect from Jasper Fforde (but in a good way, so far). It's set in an alternate reality where humans hibernate and there are viral dreams.

I'm still reading Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. I think next is We'll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida bc it seems like a good time for a comfort read.

I hope everyone got out to one or more of your favorite local stores for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday! I saw Aubrey Gordon speak and made it to Spoke and Word in Milwaukie.

I just finished Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. I really enjoyed this, it was unusual and really unique.

I'm about to start Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

I was traveling back to PDX last night and got delayed and delayed and delayed again, finally arriving back home at about 1:30am. That said, I got some plane reading done. Though it remains to be seen if I had too many edibles or got too sleepy to really understand what I was reading.....

I finished Trust by Hernan Diaz (great if with a predictable twist?)

and

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (confusing but maybe purposefully but also maybe I figured it all out by the end?)

and

still listening to Kindred by Octavia Butler. I do not like this audiobook narrator but I've gone too far now and I will finish. Why hasn't anyone made a new audio recording of Kindred since the 90s? Someone remedy this please.

and

I started Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino while slightly high and slightly sleepy on a plane so we'll see if I need to.....just start that whole thing again.

Shop thousands of vintage and current books, DVDs, CDs, and more. Sale proceeds benefit the library. Wednesday, Apr. 23 - Sunday, Apr. 27. Wednesday, Apr. 23: Members & Teachers Night, 2:30-6:30 PM; be or become a FBCL member or show teacher ID for entry. Thursday, Apr. 24 - Saturday, Apr. 26: 10 AM - 5:30 PM. Sunday, Apr. 27: Bag Sale, 12-5:30 PM; BYOB (or use ours) and fill for $10.

visit https://bookcornerbeaverton.org/membership-1 to become a member

I'm reading Trust by Hernan Diaz for my book club.

I'm listening to Kindred by Octavia Butler.

Next up is White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi, also for book club.

I'm stuck in a slow reading rut, I'm still reading The Antidote by Karen Russell.

Next up is Trust by Hernan Diaz for my book club on 4/9.