Bed Rest and Books Read 5/28/2019

​My reading pace has slowed dramatically.  Other than when I’m at work, I’ve basically put myself on bed rest thanks to blood pressure readings that are slowly creeping upward and just generally feeling like I’m 14 months pregnant.  Bed rest *should* be great for reading but most of the time I feel pretty off and all I’m getting accomplished is alternating staring blankly at the TV and staring blankly at my phone.  Sometimes I stare blankly at my kids and husband. 
However, this is my BOOK BLOG, where I’m not asked to discuss my pregnancy!  I want to talk about books!  So although I don’t have much in the way of reviews, here we go!

​Mind's Eye by Douglas E. Richards

So my friend Adam recommended this science fiction thriller, and I used this as my “phone” book a couple of weeks ago.  I really appreciate recommendations from friends, especially for material that’s at least a little bit out of my norm. 
Mind’s Eye was, weirdly, a lot of fun.  It was a science fiction adventure mystery romantic psychological thriller.  The characters were funny and nerdy and relatively relatable and the action was fast-moving.  The writing wasn’t stellar, but it was good enough for what it was.  I may continue on in the series when I’ve finished a heavy book and need something lighter but not necessarily brain candy.
 

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​Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
Ian McEwan is one of the strangest authors on my “must always read his new book” list, because he can be AMAZING and he can be MEH.  But even the meh is worth reading, simply because he’s just a beautiful writer.  On Chesil Beach, for example, was so dumb and yet so good. 
Machines Like Me was a trippy story set in alternate 1970’s London where technology was advanced enough to have created computerized humans with programmable personalities.  Unlikeable protagonist and his equally unlikeable girlfriend each program part of “Adam” and then must live with the consequences of what they’ve created.  It’s a little bit of a nutty premise and the execution isn’t as poetic as McEwan tends to be, but there are some interesting and thought-provoking moments within. 
I finished this two nights ago and I’m still not sure if I actually liked it.  Lately I’ve been more inclined to not rate books on Goodreads, because I just think, “Ugh, I can’t even rate this book right now.”  I’ll have to go back to all of those books at the end of the year and decide where they stand.
I didn’t love it, primarily because the main characters were boring.  Adam, the machine, had a lot more personality than they did.  Maybe that was on purpose!  Brilliant!
 
Upcoming reading plans:
I still need to crack Pride and Prejudice, which I will do maybe tonight!  I’m also working my way through a fun nonfiction book about making decisions, which sounds lame but it’s awesome.  

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