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| A couple months ago, I was in Oregon. Every time I visit a new city, I try to bring something home that reminds me of that place. Not like a keychain or a shot glass, but something that feels like me...just from somewhere else. As I roamed the aisles of a book and craft store, I found this stamp and knew it was mine. I can't wait to stamp the inside covers of my books like the librarian I always dreamed of becoming. |
Why, yes, I want to stake claim to books...oooh, before this post gets any longer and I intimidate you with my uber coolness, I'll get into my recent Good Reads...
*Gold by Chris Cleave. Now before you roll your eyes at the fact I'm bringing up the Olympics YET AGAIN (but, really, I can talk about my dream floor routine for hours), this book's plot is rooted in rivalry, pain, and the struggle of true friendship. And the 2012 Olympics in London. This is Cleave's newest book and after reading Little Bee, I'm pretty sure I'll read anything he writes. Including his grocery list. I adore the way he tells stories, colors my imagination, and forces me to think about my friendships in relation to truth. And competition. I really liked this book!
*The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. I picked up this book on a recommendation and it was supposed to resemble the tonality and voice of The Paris Wife (which I loved and can read about here). It was an enjoyable read and something that's perfect for the beach, traveling, or a night to escape. I enjoyed the story, its progression, and transported me to a time when alcohol was established and knee-length skirts were considered improper. I love historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley, though it wasn't quite as strong as The Paris Wife.
**I read another book, but I really don't have anything nice to say about it...so I'll refrain from criticizing it. My mama said if I don't have anything nice to say, it's best to but my tongue. So that's what I'm doing.
*Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. Oh, where do I begin with this book? Probably with a disclaimer: this book isn't for everyone and while I don't share the same sentiments as Strayed in many aspects, her writing and advice brought me to tears. Real, hot, streaming tears. This book is a compilation of Strayed's advice column Dear Sugar and seeing how I love advice columns, this was a gem. Beyond the beautiful writing and words that reach down in your gut and make you feel simultaneously free and weighted, I love that she made me see the world differently. From a new perspective, even if I may not agree. For this, I'm a stronger--and more thankful--person. Loved it. Truly.
Happy Wednesday! |
    
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Good Reads : The Submission
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I usually judge the worth of a book if I cry at the end. It's stupid, really, but I'm being honest. After I finished The Book Thief, I sobbed. For hours. It was THAT good. In fact, that book caused JD to create a category system for my Book Cries and as I sniffled my way through dinner, my cry fest was a solid category five. Mass emotional destruction.
The books I've read lately haven't caused me to cry, but they're still solid and in case you're looking for a few Good Reads, check them out... |
The Submission by Amy Waldman
This story chronicles the behind the scenes frustration, drama, and heart-ache in choosing the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. One of the things I loved best about the book is that it made me question underlying prejudices Americans may harbor and what's "right" when taking politics, culture, and emotion into consideration. The story is about what's right and fair...and all the blurry lines in between. A very good read.
We Have Always Live in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
This novella was written so, so well. The subject matter could be slightly dark (the protagonist's sister was tried for murdering her entire family), but the story itself highlights the after-effects of ostracizing a family and the ramifications of community bullying. Two young women are left to care for their handicapped uncle in a house on the outside of town, and their lives change when the community is forced to deal with their prejudice. I enjoyed it more for the way the story was written than the story itself, but it was an easy and pleasant read nevertheless.
The Cove by Ron Rash
Apparently Rash is widely known for his book, Serena, but seeing how I never read it, I was simply reading The Cove for the sake of reading the book. The story itself was straight-forward, I was drawn into the characters' lives, and I was hooked through the entire read, but at the end, I don't think it'll be a book that sticks with me. It was pleasant and I made my way through, but that the end of the day, it's simple a love story gone awry, largely based on being community outcasts.
WHOA, I just noticed a pattern in the books I read this month...prejudice and outcasts. I need to go read some books filled with explosions of glitter.
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
I'm primarily a lover of fiction, but when this book was recommended by way, I took and chance...and enjoyed it! This book chronicled the life of President James Garfield and the role Alexander Graham Bell played in his assasination. Didn't know he played a role? Me either! Bell played a role in the President's attempted recovery and not in the murder, but the layers to this story are insane. That's what made this book so good. The way Millard weaves history into a compelling story is art in it and of itself, but her ability to personalize each story within the story is what makes her a genius in my mind. If history is your thing, you won't be let down with this book.
Happy Monday! |
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Good Reads : Looking For Alaska
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W e came home from Cancun and hit the ground running. And by running I mean that I wouldn't be surprised if someone sprinted behind me, handed me a baton and pointed to the finish line. Why, yes, I just made myself the anchor in this pretend relay race because SHORT GIRLS CAN DREAM, RIGHT?!
I'm working for a portion of this morning then taking the afternoon off to read. Or train for a 4x400 relay race. Whichever comes first. |
Speaking of reading, here's a list of Good Reads I recently enjoyed and if you carve out time this summer for a literary splurge, I think you may enjoy a few of these...
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. When a dear friend recommended I read it, I was little leery because I'm not into stories that teeter on fairytale fiction, but this was a pleasant surprise. The writing is fluid and the story intrigued me from start to finish, even causing me to forego episodes of reality t.v. I know, RIGHT?! Who am I?! The end left me with lots of questions, but I think it's part of the lure and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I can't express how many people said I should read this book and I'm happy I finally made it priority. It's a simple read, but the premise was profound in the deepest of ways. It focuses on love--specifically God's love--and while I anticipated lots of warm&fuzzy, remedial quips, the questions Chan poses and answers have left an indelible impression. Weeks after I finished it, and I'm still thinking about it...so worth the read!
The Shoemaker's Wife by Ariana Trigiani. My sister gave this book to me for our birthday (we're twins) and it's such a my-sister book. That won't make sense unless you know Bianca, but she's the nicer, softer one in our duo and her book choices reflect it. She was the girl who stayed in bed for days to read The Help and Twilight, so to say our literary choices are different would be an understatement. More like polar opposites. But I'm happy with her gift because it was a delightful story and a quick read. It's loosely based on Trigiani's grandparents' love story and immigration from Italy and I enjoyed the pleasant read.
Looking For Alaska by John Green. And, whoa. This book? I loved it to a thousand pieces. I mean, yes, the story was good, but the over-arching theme deals with struggle, pain, and death, which sounds dark, but it's a teen fiction novel so Green does a great job keep things light yet asks deep questions. As each character works through his or her Labyrinth, their lives change and they're forced to grow up and see life in a new way.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I usually only read books recommended by friends, but surfing Amazon.com one afternoon brought me to this book and it had great reviews. On a whim, I purchased it, but when it arrived I was shocked to see its size. It's about 550 pages and though I was a tad skeptical diving in, I'm glad I did. Morton's writing is solid and she does a great job painting the story with words (hence the size), but the way she weaves three different stories into one is delicious. At the end of the day, a granddaughter discovers her grandmother's missing identity and rediscovers herself in the process too. It held my attention through the entirety of the read and though it reads like a chick flick, it was lovely diversity to what's on my bookshelf. Totally enjoyed it.
Happy Wednesday! |
| I'm off to Texas this morning for a meeting and even though I'll return home tonight, choosing a book to take has proven to be a pain-staking process. I'm not deep into a certain book yet (having just finished one), so I stared at my book shelf and debated what spine to pull (here's a picture of my options). Did I ever mention that I owned a library as a kid? And right about NOW you're realizing that, yes, I'm proving every homeschooler stereotype. |
I had shelves of books and an index box with corresponding cards alphabetized by author name, just as my local librarian, Mrs Blum, taught me. I dusted my library shelves and even charged fines to those who didn't return my books on time. It was a good thing I was fat as a kid or else I'd be worried about getting beat up for charging fees.
Years later, I still keep tabs on my books, even though I hate admitting this. Once my sister and I got into an argument because I wouldn't let her borrow a book because I said she wouldn't return it. I relented...but scribbled my name in the corner of the book JUST SO SHE'D KNOW WHO SHE WAS MESSING WITH. It's a wonder I have friends in real life.
I recently added these books to my library and here's my opinions on these Good Reads...
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I didn't know what to think of this book because I picked it up from the Teen Fiction section at Barnes&Noble...I slithered through the aisle to snag it before anyone noticed it was perched next to the Twilight series. I heard great things about it, but was warned it focused on a teen battling cancer. In light of losing Grace, my friends weren't sure it was proper time, but I dove it and loved every minute. I cried (and cried) at the end of the story because it's impeccably written, moving, real, and raw. Green writes in a way that makes the reader fully invested in the story and beg to find cures for a disease that robs many good souls. I loved it.
All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. Make no mistake...this book is good (and very well written), but I just couldn't get invested in the story. It's the biography of Bragg's mother's life and while poignant, it was a little slow moving and extraordinarily descriptive. I mean, I like words, but Bragg chains them together to make you feel like you're stuck in the hills of Mississippi licking moonshine off your chapped lips. Every.single.chapter. I have a ton of respect for his family and his hard working mother, but I'd likely pass if given the option to read it again.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Okay, WHERE DO I START WITH THIS BOOK?! My friend Gail suggested I read it, but she warned me it'd likely be different from what we normally read. Penned by the author of Seabiscuit (strike one), it focused on World War II (strike two...I don't like violence), and chronicled the amazing life of Louis Zamperini, an American Olympian drafted for the war then taken as a Japanese prisoner of war (strike three...I don't like prisoners). For some reason, I skeptically picked it up...then couldn't put it down. It's 400 odd pages, but I was hooked from beginning to end. It reads like a Hollywood movie and if there weren't so many legal documents verifying the truth of his life's odessey, I might never believe the strength of the human spirit. I finished feeling refreshed, emboldened, and challenged to live life bigger than I could have imagined. So, so good!
Happy Wednesday and if you borrow one of my books...LATE FEES!!! |
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Good Reads : Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
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H e looked over to me and asked me to stop. To restrain myself. That last part was said through gritted teeth. And that made me laugh even harder. I was reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling and restraining myself from a freshly frosted cake would have been easier than not laughing at her writing. But I laughed in a totally annoying way, almost like I was laughing underwater and found myself gurgling. It was way ugly.
The next morning, JD looked at me and said I was overreacting. I spit out the lather and asked how a person can overreact while brushing her teeth. No, the book...you made it sound like it was the funniest thing ever written. Now, I can admit I have a totally random sense of humor, but I've come to grips with the idea JD and I have completely opposite senses of humor. Like, North and South pole different. But this book? This book is seriously funny. It'd make Mona Lisa laugh. Twice.
After a heated conversation about Kaling's writing, I twisted JD's arm and made him admit how humorous the book is. Fine, he said, it's funny, but I didn't laugh like you did...I just smiled really big. Oh! Smiling! Yes, that aptly describes JD's reaction to things I think are funny. He smiles.
I guess I'll take it. A smile. Although I'm sure he'll so regret it when I'm trying to be funny and he doesn't laugh because as long as he merely SMILES, I'll feel like I'm the next Eddie Murphy. |
Regardless if we share a similar sense of humor, here's a few books I've read this month that I think you'd definitely enjoy.
*A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Wow. That's all I can say about this amazing read. Hosseini also wrote the The Kite Runner and though I heard great things about it, I never got a chance to pick it up. When my friend, Shannon K, sent me her copy of Setting Sun, I knew it had to be good. Not only was it good, it was mind-blowingly good. The story spans ten years in war-torn Afghanistan and chronicles how two women's lives intersect and the unlikely friendship that forms, resulting in finding purpose, redemption, and love. Ah-maze.
*Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling. Need I say much about this book? No, but I will. Mindy stars in "The Office" as Kelly Kapoor, but she's also one of the show's writers and completely hilarious. It's similar to Tina Fey's Bossypants in that its comprised of personal short stories about her life, but their lives are so different, which results in their stories being independently funny and overall a great read. And I probably shouldn't admit this because it sounds creepy, but I so wanna be her best friend after reading more about her life.
*Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Okay, so I don't like creepy things. In fact, I once got scared from an episode of Little House on the Prairie and couldn't sleep for a week. I'm weaksauce. I debated buying this book because the photos included in the book were freakishly eerie. And yet I found them making me think and feel differently about my own photography. So I bought it. The fictional book revolves around Jacob finding a series of odd photographs and wants to know more about his family's history. What results is a Harry Potter meets X-files meets meets Back to the Future adventure story. These types of stories aren't really my cup of tea, but it was an enjoyable read nevertheless.
*The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan. I told JD good books make me think, but great books make me feel...and this book? It's like Feel Station Central. The book is a dictionary filled with alphabetical short stories and powerfully written, so, clearly, I was filled with writing jealousy. It's an easy read and quite enjoyable, so if you're looking for a stocking stuffer for a book worm, this is it!
Happy Monday! |
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