Living life from cover to cover
Hi reader friends! There’s no recap from me this month due to a work trip and returning from that to a vet emergency. Everything should be back to normal next month, and I’ll cover all of my books then. I’m looking forward to reading all of your posts, though, and adding some of your recents reads to my TBR.
See you on October 8th for our FIFTH anniversary!
Me: I’m going to definitely start writing again!
Life: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Since we’ve last met, I’ve: started a full-time job, joined a 42 day fitness challenge, taken a trip to the ER with the child (she’s fine, but she is banned from using the toaster), saw Hootie and the Blowfish and BNL in concert, dealt with continual digestive issues from a very stubborn 15 year old dog, met a kangaroo and a sloth, took a couple of beach trips, and watched a shit ton of Netflix.
It’s been a month.
In between all of that stuff, I’ve managed to read a few books and stay on top of my Goodreads goal. So yay for me.
The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave. I love his books, he can do no wrong, even ones that aren’t his best are still awesome and that’s exactly how I feel about this one. His books are pretty gruesome, though, so if you don’t have a strong stomach for that stuff, you might want to pass. Also, expect a few more on my list over the next couple of months. I’m on a mission.
The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood. THANK YOU NETGALLEY. I can’t tell you how happy it made me to get this book because I think she’s a fantastic writer who writes messy, ugly stories with messy, flawed people. This one is a little tricky, though, so if you want to read it, be warned that one of the characters speaks exclusively in Middle English (?) and it is tough to follow until you get used to it. But OMG, it’s so worth it.
The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion. Better than The Rosie Effect, not quite as good as The Rosie Project. This book focuses on Don and his son, as well as Don coming to some realizations about himself through his relationship with his own father. It’s a solid end to the series. At least for me. Like Louisa from the Me Before You books, I don’t need any more Don in my life.
Cleaning the Gold by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child. This book is actually more of a long short story/novella. It was a fine way to pass an hour. The story involved their two most popular characters–Will Trent and Jack Reacher–and was a fun little thriller-ish adventure. It needed to be a full-length book as this felt rushed and abrupt.
Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. This is the sequel to a book I read with the child earlier in the summer. She didn’t like this one so she made me read it. It wasn’t great, kind of repetitive and annoying, but the ending had a great payoff. I’m not too angry.
The Substitution Order by Martin Clark. I only gave this three stars. Not sure why. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect on it, it’s actually quite good. It’s a legal thriller, which I don’t generally read, but it also addresses some social issues like health care. The plot was interesting and different, it’s well-written, and you can 100% tell this guy either was a lawyer or did some serious research. The main character did have a stroke, and it felt superfluous, which got on my nerves but that’s more for personal reasons than anything else.
Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America by Chris Arnade. The concept of this book was way better than the execution. The chapters felt very self-serving amidst the descriptions and commentaries of the towns he visits and the people he meets. His observations about McDonald’s as substitute community centers and meeting places are fascinating, though, and are reminiscent of some of the chapters in Eric Klinenberg’s Palaces for the People. And it’s printed on photo paper so the book weighed a ton.
TL;DR: Paul Cleave and Bryn Greenwood are awesome and you should read their books. The Substitution Order is also worth considering. Not so much the rest.
Currently reading: Cemetery Lake by Paul Cleave.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host, Steph, and some of the other bloggers joining us. And for those who like to plan ahead, the next one is on September 10.
This post is coming to you live from my couch while I watch the Home Run Derby. Any and all mistakes, including possibly leaving out some books I’ve read, are attributed to that.
Since we last met, I’m not really even sure where my days have gone or what I’ve done. I have read books. I do know that. So let’s discuss those instead of me trying to come up with something to say when words are hard.
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon. I had requested this as an ARC and was denied but I read it anyway. SO TAKE THAT, NETGALLEY. Anyway, I liked it. It was a weird little ghost story with some twists and turns and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. It did feel at times like it was written to be adapted into a movie but not so much that it was distracting. This did wind up being my favorite book of the month, so take from that what you want.
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms. This book was all over SUYB last month and somehow, and I don’t know how or why, it was already on my Kindle. Was it a Kindle First option at some point? Because that could explain it. Regardless, this book passed the time just fine. It was better than looking at my phone, not better than watching Sons of Anarchy reruns. It got annoying at times, especially the word “momspringa” WHICH I OFFICIALLY HATE and never want to see again, but overall a cute little story if you’re looking for a vacation read.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. ARC from NetGalley that I actually read before its pub date which is amazing and unusual for me. I felt about this one the same way I did about Amy Byler. Like, exactly the same. This is my second Center book and I feel like she’s a good go-to for me when I need something fluffy (even if it tries to be serious). I did like the callback to How to Walk Away in the beginning. That was fun.
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. I rated this 3 stars but I don’t know why considering I liked this book a whole damn lot and am very excited for the TV or movie adaptation (I can’t remember which and am too lazy and distracted to look it up). I have never read a book by Karin Slaughter that I don’t like. She, along with Paul Cleave and Chevy Stevens, are my favorite thriller writers right now. They have yet to let me down. As far as this book, I don’t think it was a graphic and gross as some of her others but still a solid thriller.
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren. To put into perspective how I felt about this book, I forgot I read it. I can’t even remember what it was about or what happened or why I even read it. Okay, now that I’ve reread the Goodreads summary, now I remember why I didn’t love it. It felt…unfinished. Incomplete. Boring at times, and the story would have been just fine if the main character was not LGBTQ. It was not at all relevant to the story, and it felt like a gimmick that she was written that way. Representation does matter but not in this kind of crappy book.
Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Apparently this is one of THE books of the summer because the author is a big deal, and the self-owns in the book were AWESOME and she wrote unlikable people on purpose, this book was a slog to get through. I kept reading mostly to find out if I was right (I was half-right). I’m not suggesting not to read it, because you might be the right audience, but either I’m not or it was the wrong time for me to read it. ARC from NetGalley.
The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker. Big fat DNF. Minimized my books read by putting this one the fuck down because it was terrible.
Currently reading The Laughterhouse by Paul Cleave
TL; DR: None of these books would win a home run derby but they make a good showing. Use your own judgement if you want to read them. Even the one I hated.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my vacationing co-host Steph and some other bloggers joining us, and save the date (August 13) for the next one.
You know what I love most about June? It’s my birthday month (the actual date was late week)! It also marks the halfway point of the year, giving me time to take stock of my 100% fiction Goodreads goal. I don’t actually care about achieving that goal. In fact, I’ve thought about not even setting one but if I’m being honest, it’s the best way I have to keep track of my books for SUYB.
I’m thinking about doing it by hand for next year. I want to do it mostly because I feel like Goodreads has gotten mean and pushy, and it takes some of the fun out of tracking my books and TBR. We’ll see. I don’t know. I’m quite lazy.
I’ll update you guys next month.
I’ve also set some summer reading goals. I think I’ll actually–gasp–write a post about them rather than make this post longer than already is. Because what I know you really want to hear about it what I read last month.
Oh, quick note. I meant to track where I got book recommendations from and I’ve done a poor job of that this year. I’m going to work on getting better about that.
Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll. TOTALLY judged this book by its cover first. It has a squirrel on it. A SQUIRREL. So I liked that. For some reason, though, I did not know it was a YA book but it is and that’s fine but if you’re going to read it, you need to know that fact. It follows the story of three misfits in a small Alabama town and some of the scenarios are way too real. It tackles a lot of issues: racism, homophobia, religion, and sexual assault. Yep, it packs a lot in there so be careful when you’re reading it. It is a cute little story around all the heavy stuff, though.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. Someone I follow on Twitter recommended this book to me after I asked for people to tell me a book I absolutely should read. I don’t think I loved it as much as she did, but it is a Very Good Book. It jumps around between characters and time, which is occasionally hard to follow, but it’s a great story about family bonds and tragedies and relationships and what happens when some secrets are exposed.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. As good as everyone says, and now I love Trevor Noah. You can’t not love him after you read this. If you’re looking for a memoir about his life as a comedian or how he ended up hosting the Daily Show, this is not that book. It’s completely about his growing up poor and, as the title says, a crime in South Africa under and in the aftermath of apartheid. I learned SO MUCH about both him and apartheid and I recommend this book just based on that. It’s incredibly eye-opening.
How to be Alone by Lane Moore. I learned about this book on Twitter somehow. But I loved the title and so I requested it from the library and here we are. The title is a little misleading, unfortunately. The book is actually a collection of essays about her difficult childhood and how that’s affected her relationships and her as a person in general. It’s very sad and heartbreaking–and maddening at times–but it’s a good book. She just did a TED Talk so I’m looking forward to watching that when it’s available.
The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci. This was an audiobook that my daughter selected for our drive to Long Island. I don’t generally enjoy audiobooks, but this one was quite enjoyable. It definitely kept me interested and listening and wanting to know what happened next. It is a bit dated (published around 2000) so some of the language is offensive but if you ignore that part, it’s a well-written, engaging YA mystery. There’s even a sequel that she made me get for her from the library as soon as we got home.
Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy. I got this from last month’s SUYB (I can’t remember who posted about it because I didn’t write it down) and since I liked the other book by this author I read earlier in the year, I gave it a try. I liked, not loved, it. It was violent and twisted and sad and disturbing, but I didn’t love the writing or the characters. Didn’t love the plot, either, but it was good enough that I wanted to keep reading.
Tried to get to Daring Greatly by Brene Brown but it went back to the library before I had a chance to read it. This is the second time that’s happened. I think I’ll just rewatch her Netflix special and call it a day on that book.
Currently reading: The Invited by Jennifer McMahon.
TL;DR: Cannot recommend Born a Crime enough. The rest are all good but you know what you like so pick and choose from that list.
Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host, Steph, and some other bloggers on the list. And if you missed this one, don’t fret. We do it the second Tuesday of every month and you can join us on July 9th for the next one.
Hey! Guess what! Another month has gone by and nary a word here except for Show Us Your Books. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess. But I do feel like I have a few additional things to say so look for those in the coming weeks.
I can FEEL your excitement.
Anyway, this was a weird reading month. Like, it’s been 5 weeks since our last meeting and I should have read WAY more books than I did but I just didn’t. I blame Netflix and Amazon for releasing shows I’ve been waiting for (Bosch, Sneaky Pete, the OA) and also one very boring, very tedious book that derailed my desire for books. I hate that that happens, too. One book, and a bad one at that, should not have that much influence. But it does. Sigh.
I don’t even know how many I read. 7? 9? Something like that. I’ll be surprised to find that out along with you at the end of this post. It’s like the monster at the end of this book but with less Grover and more violence.
That’s a weird thing to say.
Anyway.
Books.
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. Having loved The Great Alone, I wanted to give Kristin Hannah another shot. I found her very Jodi Picoult like, but without as much of the hard-hittingness you find in a Picoult book. I liked that she took a not-so-clean topic and centered a great, fairly well-written story around it but there was something that was missing. Hard to explain what, though. And I probably will give one more book of hers a try. Not The Nightingale. I don’t do WWII books.
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates. I loved Grist Mill Road so I thought I’d love this one, too. I didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it either. I liked the psychological games and stuff, but it felt a little redundant at times, and the ending felt like a cop out. I wanted…more. But still, not a bad read and not a waste of time.
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. This was probably my favorite book of the month. It struck a chord with me for some reason, and I liked the fact that the main character was poor but not a stereotype of being poor. That’s difficult to find in fiction. I don’t even know how to describe it in any real significant detail except it was a great read.
The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo. My friend Eric recommended this one to me years ago and I finally got around to reading it. I liked it. Didn’t love it. Didn’t find it life changing or anything, but I totally understand why people think it is. Lots of little life lessons in there. But overall? Meh.
Scarcity by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir. I don’t know that I learned anything new from this one but if you’re interested in how and why people develop a scarcity mindset, particularly as it pertains to poverty, and what it looks like when it’s in play, and if you really, really like descriptions of experiments, then go for it. If not, pass. There’s better books out there in this field.
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. I think it was Heather who read this book last month and I was all over it because it sounded like a book I would enjoy. You know what? IT WAS. I liked this book a whole damn lot. Even if it was historical fiction (but also not really fiction because it’s based on an actual story which maybe helped a little in my enjoyment of it) and I couldn’t pronounce anyone’s name. It was just a good book. No frills, just good.
Verity by Colleen Hoover. This book needed to come with a trigger warning because there are some very graphic and horrible violent acts towards children described in it. I was not prepared for that. It was gross. I also did not think the graphic descriptions of sex were necessary. I don’t actually care that those scenes are there if they make sense. But they were gratuitous and therefore quite annoying. However, taking those things aside, it was very good psychological thriller with a fine ending.
Supermarket by Bobby Hall. Apparently this guy is a Grammy-nominated rapper named Logic. I have never heard of him and that’s fine. I am also fine with musicians writing books. There are some very fine ones. This is not in that category. This book was like a really bad Fight Club rip-off. It wasn’t even written that well. But I kept going because I needed to see where it went even though I kind of really knew. I don’t suggest you do the same.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean. NO. RUN FROM THIS TEDIOUS MONSTROSITY. This is probably the single most boring book I have ever read. It romanticizes library work, which is fine, but I can’t imagine it’s as glamorous as she paints it to be. Nothing is. Not to mention that she almost never discusses the fire or the criminal which, let’s be honest, is what I came for. Not a detailed agenda of one librarian’s daily schedule or any of the other mundane details she beats you over the head with. If you like that sort of thing, have at it. Otherwise, no. Do not read.
Currently reading Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll. It’s a YA book with a squirrel on the cover. So that’s fun.
TL;DR: Definitely read Lawn Boy and Burial Rites. Verity, Magic Hour, and Black Chalk are good, too. Make a personal choice on the rest.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and share your recent reads. Don’t forget to visit my co-host, Steph, and some of the other bloggers on this list. And make sure to come back on June 11th to join us again.
