Albany Public Library discussion

Hi everyone and welcome to Week 2 of the Albany Public Library Summer Reading Challenge!

This week we will be getting Nerdy with Nature! Comment below if you read any of these great books and be sure to let us know what you thought about them!


Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The Overstory by Richard Powers
You & a Bike & a Road by Eleanor Davis
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by George Haskell
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
The Secret Wisdom of Nature: Trees, Animals, and the Extraordinary Balance of All Living Things ― Stories from Science and Observation by Peter Wohlleben
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

I read "Wicked Plants" and realized why my mouth itched after eating mangos - I was chewing on the skins! (The insides are fine. The outsides contain irritants.)

I finished The Death Spiral over the long weekend--moody, topical poetry (by a Cap Region local!) that does actually fit with this week's theme. Lots of nature and animal imagery.

Moon of Crusted Snow was one of my favorite reads last winter.

After reading A Walk in the Woods, all other hiking and Appalachian Trail books seem boring. Bryson's book is funny!

Diana wrote: "I finished The Death Spiral over the long weekend--moody, topical poetry (by a Cap Region local!) that does actually fit with this week's theme. Lots of nature and animal imagery.

..."

Always great to hear about a local book recommendation! Your book has been logged.

I am still reading "The Quiet Girl" by S. F. Kosa for this week. :)

Last week, I finished The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda and The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.

I appreciate that The Starless Sea was on last week's themed reading list since it's been on my to-read list for ages. I really liked it. The underlying love stories in both The Night Circus and The Starless Sea did not move me, but I love her writing and the whimsical worlds she creates!

Diane Brown wrote: "Last week, I finished The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda and The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.

I appreciate that The Starless Sea was on last week's themed reading list since it's been on my to-rea..."

Hi Diane, thanks for the reviews of those books! Your books have been logged.

Just finished On Fragile Waves, which was beautiful and heartbreaking and not about nature :)

Abi wrote: "Just finished On Fragile Waves, which was beautiful and heartbreaking and not about nature :)"

Hi Abi! Even if your book wasn't technically about nature, it's still got the word "waves" in it so it kiiiiind of fits the theme! Haha. Your book is logged.

I finished this week:
Sure, I'll be Your Black Friend by Ben Phillipe
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Shirtless Bear Fighter by Jody LaHeup

I finished Daisy Jones & the Six this week.

I am currently reading 2 books right now. One is an audiobook and another is an ebook. The audiobook is 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand and the ebook is The Quiet Girl by S.F. Kosa.

I finished 4 books this week:

Fitting into the nature theme, I finished reading a history of salt, called 'Salt' by Mark Kurlansky. It was pretty boring but I read the heck out of it.

Fitting into last week's theme, I also finished reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

I also read the out-of-print (but still accessible through APL!) Rage by Stephen King. (Followed by his essay 'Guns' in which he explains why the book is out of print.)

I also read 'Your Disgusting Head', part of the HoW book series.

Just finished Chosen Ones!

Today, I finished "Madam" by Phoebe Wynn. It's not on the list but had some great descriptions of the nature in Scotland!

I was really looking forward to reading this one after I saw it compared to "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt but ended up disappointed. While there were definitely some interesting parts, it was a little boring overall and I really couldn't connect with the main character.

I just finished People We Meet on Vacation. While not my favorite genre, it was a good vacation read.

Abi wrote: "Just finished Chosen Ones!"

Yay!

Hi! I’m signed up through read squared but have a question. Do audiobooks count toward the total? I’ve been excluding them so far.

Also just finished A Thousand Ships, which I loved

Hi, I have only managed to finish the second book in the Supercarrier trilogy - Juggernaut. I am working on the third book and also a ARC romance.

Ashley wrote: "Hi! I’m signed up through read squared but have a question. Do audiobooks count toward the total? I’ve been excluding them so far."Yes, they definitely do!

Valerie wrote: "I finished this week:
Sure, I'll be Your Black Friend by Ben Phillipe
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Shirtless Bear Fighter by Jod..."

Wow Valerie, you've been busy reading such interesting titles! Your books have all been logged!

Kelly wrote: "I finished Daisy Jones & the Six this week."

Hi Kelly, your book has been logged!

Kristopher wrote: "I finished 4 books this week:

Fitting into the nature theme, I finished reading a history of salt, called 'Salt' by Mark Kurlansky. It was pretty boring but I read the heck out of it.

Fitting int..."

Hi Kristopher, you've been busy! I've logged all of your books.

Abi wrote: "Just finished Chosen Ones!"

Hi Abi, your book has been logged!

Milanna wrote: "Today, I finished "Madam" by Phoebe Wynn. It's not on the list but had some great descriptions of the nature in Scotland!

I was really looking forward to reading this one after I saw it compared ..."

Hi Milanna, I'm sorry that your book was disappointing but now you get to start a new one! Your book has been logged.

Jaybee wrote: "I just finished People We Meet on Vacation. While not my favorite genre, it was a good vacation read."

Hi Jennifer, your book has been logged!

Ashley wrote: "Hi! I’m signed up through read squared but have a question. Do audiobooks count toward the total? I’ve been excluding them so far."

Hi Ashley, yes audiobooks count! Let us know any that you've read or listened to!

Abi wrote: "Also just finished A Thousand Ships, which I loved"

Hi Abi, your book has been logged!

Paul wrote: "Hi, I have only managed to finish the second book in the Supercarrier trilogy - Juggernaut. I am working on the third book and also a ARC romance."

Hi Paul, your book has been logged!

Last week I finished The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson (which was on last week's get nerdy with nature theme and I also finished The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Got your books logged, great job!

I read the Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan and it was beautiful. I haven’t read a book that has moved me like this in a while. Inspired me to get back to basics!

Logged your book! That one is on my "to-read" list! Glad you liked it.

The Hummingbirds’ Gift by Sy Montgomery was my next book tiny little book about tiny miracle creatures. Very sweet.

I also just finished the Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey. Not the theme but a great historical mystery of 1920s India. Specially Bombay.

I finished the The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World
Now, when I walk by trees, I am astounded by how they raise their young when given the opportunity to grow in a community with each other. Young trees thrive among their parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents. Trees in a community also talk to each other, exchange nutrients through a world wide web of sorts facilitated by fungi at their roots. They are alive and very intelligent. I can never look at trees the same ever again.

Logged all books above!

In week 2 I read two books by Krista Davis. The Dog Who Knew Too Much and Big Little Spies. After those I started a book about nature that I am still reading. It is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It is about indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge. She is a professor at SUNY ESF so there are lots of local references for NY state. I don't usually read nature books but I love this one.

Catherine wrote: "In week 2 I read two books by Krista Davis. The Dog Who Knew Too Much and Big Little Spies. After those I started a book about nature that I am still reading. It is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wal..."

@ Catherine I have added your books. Braiding for Sweetgrass is a popular title. I didn't realize she was a SUNY professor.

I read Underland by Robert Macfarlane, a very fascinating read about the natural and human relationships that exist below our feet

I read Moon of the Crusted Snow, which I never would have found if not for the suggestion on your list. One of the most gripping books I've read all year, although the start was slow. Very interesting setting that I don't know much about - a reservation in Northern Ontario. I would have ended it differently, but totally understand why the author ended it like he did. Thanks for the suggestion!

Logged all the books above!

I read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek last year and I liked it, certainly learned a lot. The book tried to tackle a lot of issues: prejudice, poverty, ignorance, medical experimentation, violence against women, etc.

Late June I read Where the Crawdads Sing, and was fascinated by the story of survival and resilience.

Hi Cinzia. I have logged your books.