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Good Reads : Who Needs Reviews Anyway?
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I finished the book and let out an audible AUGH when I let it fall closed onto my lap. I did it again in case JD didn't hear me the first time. Wanna know what bothers me, I asked him as he read Economist Magazine. Books I don't get really bother me...I feel like I wasted my life on something I didn't understand in the end...AUGH.
Later that night--still bothered from not understanding the book--I read reviews from other readers. This only made things worse because people just raved about every last word. Brilliant! Evocative! A Tour De Force! And then I worried I was dumber than I thought.
Note to self: who needs reviews anyway?!
I actually left the book at the hotel I was staying. On the shelves rested lots of orphaned books, so I imagined a tired traveler picking up the book I left and loving it far more than I ever could. Here's our last photo together... |
I've been reading quite a bit these days, but today I'll only highlight the books I've enjoyed because why waste your time with the Brilliant! Evocative! Tour De Force! stuff anyway?
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - Totally adorable and a light read. The story focuses on high school, first love, and the lengths we take to stay true to oneself. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Truth In Advertising by John Kenney - This book got knocked in reviews (people kept comparing it to Jonathan Tropper's work), but I really, really liked it. It takes place in an advertising agency, so I imagined it like a present day Mad Men episode, so I was smitten from the start. I loved Kenney's voice, wry humor and even laughed out loud at some points. Definitely thumbs up.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan - Any time a writer mixes books, Google, and mysteries, I'm sold. I was particularly fond of the geeky tech references and the fact that the story takes place in San Francisco (one of my all-time favorite cities), but the end was a little lackluster. I still recommend it, but it's not too high on the list.
After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey - Good grief...this book. THIS BOOK. The way Hainey uses words is the way a surgeon uses a scalpel. Artfully, confidentially, and so effortlessly you might not realize you're aching. The story of a boy trying to uncover the mystery shrouding his father's early death might not sound compelling, but it was beautiful and raw. Loved it.
Schroeder by Amity Gaige - The craziest thing about this book is how weird it makes you feel. Gaige writes so masterfully you find yourself cheering for a mentally unstable protagonist and empathize with his kidnapping plot. The story itself might not be the strongest, but the way the story is told definitely made it worth the read.
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moynes - I recently blogged about Me Before You, so I decided to delve into another one of Moynes' books. I love her writing and her ability to make characters stick with you after you close the last page. I enjoyed TGYLB and though the ending was just okay for me, I'd still recommend it...especially if you're into chick flicks and love stories.
Happy Wednesday!
Edited to Add
I don't like posting negative things about other works of art (photos, books, music, etc), but a few commenters left a logical reason as to why I should list the book I didn't like. There are a few books I felt were a waste of time, but Life After Life by Kate Atkinson takes the cake. The book is 500+ pages and I kept on thinking the story would turn around and I'd see why the main character kept reincarnating, but it didn't. Just hundreds of reincarnations and though it was very well written, I felt it was a hundred stories with not a single end. Blegh. |
    
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Good Reads : Where Did You Go Bernadette?
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L ast month I took time off. I spent three weeks traveling to Mexico, Christmas shopping, eating food laden with sugar (Santa told me to do it), reading...and, basically, taking time to simply be. I carved out time to let my brain rest and my soul find respite in the chaos life sometimes presents. I spent a good time reading and, for the most part, enjoyed the books that found their way into my hands.
I'm going to review a few of the books I really enjoyed (the others shown just didn't do much for me) in case you have time to delve into the world of words... |
Where Did You Go Bernadette - This book! THIS BOOK! I had to use caps because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's written in a clever way and as the story unfolded, I found myself smitten with the characters and the twists the plot took. I might be partial because the story takes place in Seattle, a city that stole my heart when we lived there for a month last year. Three of the four friends I recommended it to liked it. Is it just me or did this review turn into a Colgate commercial?
The Divergent Series - And here I am again recommending Teen Fiction books, but I can't help it. It's like I'm just begging the universe to let me stay young. The first two books of the trilogy were released and I found myself desperately lost in the pages of dystopic Chicago. It isn't ground-shattering writing nor is it as compelling as the Hunger Games series, but both books were enjoyable and I'll be reading the third. The series was also signed for a gabillion dollar movie deal, so move over Edward Cullen...Tobias is in town!
Never Fall Down - Word of warning: you'll have to read this book with a box of tissues. Or a truckload of tissues. This true story narrates the plight of a child assigned to a Cambodian labor camp under the Khmer Rouge communist regime. In order to stay alive, Arn teaches himself how to play an instrument to master revolutionary songs...and steal food to keep other kids alive. He lives by a simple credo: Over and over I tell myself one thing: never fall down. This book is powerful, heartbreaking, and inspiring.
Me Before You. This book was downright good. Definitely not warm-n-fuzzy, but the story was compelling, the writing was sharp, and the characters stayed with me far after I had finished the book. I laughed out loud at some parts and held back tears at the end. When a friend asked me to describe the book, I responded by saying it's about a paraplegic, his caretaker, love, loss, the power to make decisions, and the right to life. And death. Really, really good.
Happy Thursday! |
A s a child, my father read chapter after chapter of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boy mysteries. He'd stay up late after I begged him for one more page, ignoring the fact he had to rise before sunrise for work the next morning. Later, in high school, I breezed through John Grisham novels, leaving them on my dad's bed for him to read when he had the chance. We had a penchant for suspense.
A couple weeks ago, I picked up Gone Girl and I reverted back to my Nancy Drew book days...ahem, daze. I'd find myself reading into the wee hours of the morning because I needed to know what was going to happen. The bags under my eyes? Worth it for such a nail-biting read. |
I'm always giddy when I make my way through great books, so here's a few of my Good Reads lately...
Gone Girl by Jillian Flynn. I'd seen a lot of buzz about this book, but it wasn't until a friend insisted I pick it up that I did. The dark story centers around solving the mystery of Amy's disappearance. Unsure if she was kidnapped or murdered, Amy's sudden disappearance leaves her husband as the prime suspect. There was so many twists and turns I didn't know what to expect next...it was one of those books I couldn't put down. To be honest, I found myself asking a ton of questions about relationships, marriage, and husband/wife misconceptions...it was kinda creepy, but that's part of its appeal. 4/5
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. This read was a by-product of late night shopping on Amazon.com...oh, yes, I also buy those little do-dads at the cash register because impulse shopping is my jam. I enjoyed this light and funny read, but I don't think it's a book a recommend because it felt like I was reading a stranger's diary with a look back at her I Love Lucy-esque life. You know, the plot, the dilemma (oh no, I almost burned down the house when I baked cookies!), and the husband-shaking-his-head resolution. Cute, but not really my thing. 3/5
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. All I could think when I read this book was, this was mandatory reading in high school?! I shifted english classes when I was a freshman, so I somehow missed this book requirement, but seeing how the movie adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio is releasing in December, I thought it'd be good to brush up on my literary/cinema love. And, whoa. Infidelity, deceit, and drama...if it wasn't so well written, I'd be offended ;) It's hailed as a great American novel and if I had 1/1000th of Fitzgerald's ability to write, I'd die happy. 4/5
This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. Remember when I said I like short stories? Well, this book ranks on up with Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies (an awesome read), and a lovely follow up Diaz's The Incredible Life of Oscar Wao (which won a Pulitzer). I'm a huge fan of Diaz's poetic writing and his ability to access a rawness that leaves a reader numb. This was another book I stayed up late reading and it delivered in a way Diaz only can. 4/5
Happy Tuesday! |
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Good Reads : The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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T o say I had a panic attack would slightly dramatic, so I'll simply say I had a panic attack. A few weeks ago, JD and I spent a couple days in Monterey, California, a quaint city filled with tiny storefront windows, clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls, and sunbathing sea otters. It's all so quaint it makes a person feel like she walked into a west coast Norman Rockwell painting.
At 6pm, as we walked through a farmer's market, I announced I finished the books I'd brought for the trip (insert panic attach here), so JD found a used bookstore that made me feel like I died and went to literary heaven. A dog lounged by the cash register and incense burned in the corner window as I roamed the snug aisles of dog-eared books. I quickly grabbed a few books before the store closed and sat on the back porch steps as JD strolled the dock of the bay. On his way back, he grabbed a camera from the car and captured one of my favorite memories from the trip. |
In case you're wondering what books I bought and read in Monterey, here's my most recent Good Reads...
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I don't what attracts me to uber depressing books, but this ranks pretty high on the list of Debbie Downer reads...and yet I enjoyed it. The story chronicles the life of a woman battling depression and schizophrenia, the aftermath of her journey through being institutionalized. Yes, there were moments while reading it that I wanted to come up for air, but that's what made it so good. The story sucks you in, and sucks you dry. It's heralded as an American classic for good reason.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. This was one of those books I debated buying because it screamed BEACH READ to me, like one of those books with a pink cover and the silhouette of a poodle, but gave in in the end because a friend recommended it. The story follows Lee Fiora's four years of prep high school as a scholarship student and the struggle to find balance between her life in the midwest and her new life as an outsider in a world of prestige, wealth, and weekends on Nantucket. In the end, the read was just okay for me...I wanted to like it more than I actually did.
Best American Short Stories 2008 edited by Salman Rushdie. Let me be real: You'd be hard-pressed to ever have me say anything bad about a compilation of short stories. Ever. I don't know what it is, but reading short stories is my jam! This highly curated book is filled with some of my favorite authors and pulled from the glossy pages of The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, and the like. Loved.
The Perks of Being a Wall Flower by Stephen Chbosky. I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book, but the movie version is being released in a few months and it received great reviews. It's impeccably written and effortlessly adds layers to the story, resulting in becoming emotionally invested in Charlie's life. Charlie is an awkward high school outcast who befriends two people who accept him and invite him into their crazy world. He struggles to find his identity and battles insecurities, but soon realizes the value of true friends and voicing what a person truly wants from life. So good.
Happy Monday! |
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Good Reads : Beautiful Ruins
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I asked him what else I could do. I mean, we were going on a road trip, so, naturally, I'd bring reading material. What he didn't expect, however, was that I'd read to him through the twists and turn of Northern California, against the green fields of Oregon, and into the Seattle city lights. I'm not sure if my husband even paid attention, but--dang--did it sure satiate my childhood desire to be a librarian and host a read-along.
As we packed up to head back home, JD downloaded a new batch of songs which I'm guessing was his way of saying THANKS BUT NO THANKS to my mobile story hour.
Here are a few of my recent Good Reads... |
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt. I didn't know what to expect about this book, or even what it was about, but a few pages in and I was smitten. The story centers around the loss of the protagonist's uncle to AIDS and the struggle to deal with her loss in light of discovering his hidden past. Brunt is an amazing writer and weaves pain, loss, and honesty into a truly moving story.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. So, okay. Based on the raving reviews this book has received over the years (and it's upcoming movie adaptation), you'd think I'd like it. But I didn't. I actually texted a friend and asked her to tell me it was going to get better. The beginning and the end were the strongest parts (and I can admit the ending was beautifully done), but making my way through the mid section left me feeling like reading was a chore....so much so, I probably won't see the movie.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. I'd been hearing rumblings about this book, but it wasn't until my friend said I should pick it up that getting my hands on it became my life's mission. Four bookstores and an entire afternoon later, I finally had it in my hands. And it didn't disappoint. Walter does such a great job weaving many stories into one and creating idiosyncratic, yet compelling, characters. The fact that he uses the underbelly of Hollywood to paint his story is a mere bonus to how great he is at creating a mix of narratives and a wonderful novel.
City of Thieves by David Benioff. I don't do well with wars. Like, anything related to violence, pain, and/or suffering just isn't my cup of tea so I almost closed this book a third of the way into the book. It follows the story of a teenage boy (Benioff's grandfather) in war torn Russia during Hitler's invasion. With his life in the balance after being thrown in jail, he's sent on a mission to find a dozen eggs for a wedding cake, but in the process finds courage, love, and himself. Benioff does such a good job balancing really dark moments with humor and I'm glad I stuck through it all because it's such a powerful story.
Happy Monday! |
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