The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. People have been recommending this book to me for a long while and I finally read it. I didn't LOVE it, but found the subject matter fascinating and it certainly piqued my interest in Hemingway and Hadley.
The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen. A light read. There was an awful lot of dysfunction, however - it made me feel uber normal.
Demons are forever: confessions of demon hunting soccer mom by Julie Kenner
California Demon: the secret life of a demon hunting soccer mom by Julie Kenner.Two more in the demon hunting soccer mom series. Both fun.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Interesting one
Gulp by Mary Roach. And absolutely fascinating look at all this digestive, from the jaw to saliva to the stomach and the not-so-glamourous output. Very interesting and well-written.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
There must be a better way
It is certainly not a matter of life or death that I get my reading list recorded for posterity (really for myself), but I sure wish I could come up with a better way for me to get it done. Probably just logging on to the blog and typing is the better way (rather than procrastinating and saying I will get to it later), so maybe I will just go for that solution. But for now I am stuck trying to remember what I have read since January...
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I am thoroughly convinced that if high schools focused on having kids read well-written YA like this instead of all Dickens and Shakespeare all the time that this world would contain more adult readers. I am all for the classics and wouldn't advocate not studying them anymore, but it is books like this that I think will truly engage young adults and open up the world of reading to "reluctant readers".
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an accidental country girl by Ree Drummond. Yes...another cookbook. But I read them from cover to cover, so I think they count as a read book! And the recipes I tried were super yummy.
Stranger Here: How Weight Loss Surgery Transformed my Body and Messed with my Head by Jen Larsen. I bought this one for a friend that recently had weight-loss surgery and had to preview it, of course. Interesting and insightful. Can't say it made me want to line up for gastric bypass surgery - sounds pretty unpleasant.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This was probably the first time I actually really read this book (I skimmed an Cliff-noted my way through it before) and it was a really good book. Tragic and sad and left me feeling pretty hopeless (briefly!), but an excellent book.
Fat to Skinny Fast and Easy by Doug Varrieur. I am always hopeful! But there was nothing terribly new in this one.
Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. This one didn't disappoint. I love these humor/memoir type books. And I totally appreciated the part about buying a huge metal chicken that just "needed" to go home with her...totally something I would do. That is why I have a taxidermied raccoon eating Cracker jacks on a shelf in my basement.
The 100-year Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. This was a great book. We've all got some life in us no matter how old we get.
Pandora's Lunchbox: How Processed Food Took Over the American Meal by Melanie Warner. Another "food" book...I don't know exactly why I love these books so, but it is always fascinating to me to read about the food industry and gross myself out with the details of processed foods. Chicken nuggets don't mold, they turn to liquid gross-ness...who knew!?!?!
Carpe Demon: Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner. Mindless and fun. Haf to track down the remaining books as they are currently out of print, but I suspect it will be totally worth it to have a bit more fluffy fun!
And there are about three books I am REALLY wanting to add as I am ALMOST done with them, but I will wait. It will provide a memory challenge when i get around to posting again, six months from now.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I am thoroughly convinced that if high schools focused on having kids read well-written YA like this instead of all Dickens and Shakespeare all the time that this world would contain more adult readers. I am all for the classics and wouldn't advocate not studying them anymore, but it is books like this that I think will truly engage young adults and open up the world of reading to "reluctant readers".
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an accidental country girl by Ree Drummond. Yes...another cookbook. But I read them from cover to cover, so I think they count as a read book! And the recipes I tried were super yummy.
Stranger Here: How Weight Loss Surgery Transformed my Body and Messed with my Head by Jen Larsen. I bought this one for a friend that recently had weight-loss surgery and had to preview it, of course. Interesting and insightful. Can't say it made me want to line up for gastric bypass surgery - sounds pretty unpleasant.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This was probably the first time I actually really read this book (I skimmed an Cliff-noted my way through it before) and it was a really good book. Tragic and sad and left me feeling pretty hopeless (briefly!), but an excellent book.
Fat to Skinny Fast and Easy by Doug Varrieur. I am always hopeful! But there was nothing terribly new in this one.
Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. This one didn't disappoint. I love these humor/memoir type books. And I totally appreciated the part about buying a huge metal chicken that just "needed" to go home with her...totally something I would do. That is why I have a taxidermied raccoon eating Cracker jacks on a shelf in my basement.
The 100-year Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. This was a great book. We've all got some life in us no matter how old we get.
Pandora's Lunchbox: How Processed Food Took Over the American Meal by Melanie Warner. Another "food" book...I don't know exactly why I love these books so, but it is always fascinating to me to read about the food industry and gross myself out with the details of processed foods. Chicken nuggets don't mold, they turn to liquid gross-ness...who knew!?!?!
Carpe Demon: Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner. Mindless and fun. Haf to track down the remaining books as they are currently out of print, but I suspect it will be totally worth it to have a bit more fluffy fun!
And there are about three books I am REALLY wanting to add as I am ALMOST done with them, but I will wait. It will provide a memory challenge when i get around to posting again, six months from now.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
reading, reading, reading
Got a few more under my belt.
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes.
I haven't read one of her books for a while and this one was a slight departure from what I remember. I little longer, a little mystical and a little more serious than I remember her writing. But still a good one.
Skinny by Donna Cooner. A YA book I picked up at a book fair. Follows an obese teenager and her journey to and through gastric bypass surgery. I thought the author did a good job of describing the main character's struggles and eventual triumphs.
Everyone Worth Knowing by Laura Weisberger. Fun, fun book. The type I love. A main character you are rooting for, a bunch of ridiculousness from the characters and a satisfying ending.
And I am going to go ahead and include one that I am ALMOST finished with (close enough that it counts)...
I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I ever Had by Tony Danza. I can't decide whether this book makes me hopeful or if it makes me want to cry, but I have enjoyed it. I suspect it is going to leave me feeling a little more optimistic about inner city schools and their teachers and their future than I really should, but I am glad I am reading it.
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes.
I haven't read one of her books for a while and this one was a slight departure from what I remember. I little longer, a little mystical and a little more serious than I remember her writing. But still a good one.
Skinny by Donna Cooner. A YA book I picked up at a book fair. Follows an obese teenager and her journey to and through gastric bypass surgery. I thought the author did a good job of describing the main character's struggles and eventual triumphs.
Everyone Worth Knowing by Laura Weisberger. Fun, fun book. The type I love. A main character you are rooting for, a bunch of ridiculousness from the characters and a satisfying ending.
And I am going to go ahead and include one that I am ALMOST finished with (close enough that it counts)...
I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I ever Had by Tony Danza. I can't decide whether this book makes me hopeful or if it makes me want to cry, but I have enjoyed it. I suspect it is going to leave me feeling a little more optimistic about inner city schools and their teachers and their future than I really should, but I am glad I am reading it.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Try, try again
I didn't do such a good job of keeping up with the books I read last year, but what are new years for besides starting anew!
First up is St. Zita Society by Ruth Rendell. I didn't love this book, but I am not sure if it is because I just wasn't in the right mood for it or I truly didn't love the book. It was a slow start for me, but I did get into it about 1/3 of the way in. But the ending wasn't satisfactory to me - too many loose ends. I am not sorry I read it, but it definitely wasn't one of my favorites.
First up is St. Zita Society by Ruth Rendell. I didn't love this book, but I am not sure if it is because I just wasn't in the right mood for it or I truly didn't love the book. It was a slow start for me, but I did get into it about 1/3 of the way in. But the ending wasn't satisfactory to me - too many loose ends. I am not sorry I read it, but it definitely wasn't one of my favorites.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Books
Sutton by J.R. Moehringer/. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Thin Blue Smoke by Doug Worgul. This was a great book. I have to admit a slight bias because I was lucky enough to be part of a bookclub that Doug was gracious enough to visit and he was as charming in person as his book is. Mr. Worgul develops an array of interesting and realistic characters that I desperately wanted to go down to Smoke Meat to hang out with. I particularly enjoy the philosophically religious bent without the preachiness that often goes with books that deal with anything religious. This book is definitely worth a read and will be under the Christmas tree for a couple of family members.
Thin Blue Smoke by Doug Worgul. This was a great book. I have to admit a slight bias because I was lucky enough to be part of a bookclub that Doug was gracious enough to visit and he was as charming in person as his book is. Mr. Worgul develops an array of interesting and realistic characters that I desperately wanted to go down to Smoke Meat to hang out with. I particularly enjoy the philosophically religious bent without the preachiness that often goes with books that deal with anything religious. This book is definitely worth a read and will be under the Christmas tree for a couple of family members.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wowie...looks like I missed some books!
I haven't posted forever, so here is my attempt to catch up. That is probably an impossibility considering I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, much less a book I read 6 months, ago, but I'll give it a whirl.
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. I always find her books to be fun, and this one was no exception.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read this for bookclub after reading it years ago when it originally was published. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. If I were in a more contemplative place in my life, it probably would have excited me more.
Helping Gifted Children Soar by Carol Ann Strip. Needless to say, this wasn't a "for fun" book. Informative, though.
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. I liked this one more than I thought I would. Not an uplifting read, for sure, but really good.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Meh. I didn't love this book as much as I felt like I was supposed to. Ditto the next book...
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock. I actually came up with the idea of creating a "doing things that make me uncomfortable" time-table and writing about it. Unfortunately, Noelle beat me to it. And probably did a far better job at it than I would have.
Eldest by Christopher Paolini. this series is Bryn's favorite, so I read it at her insistence. I still have two books to go, but I have liked the two I read.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish. Good book. I am a sucker for books about women's friendships.
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale. Loved this one as much as the first book.
Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. Good, inspirational stuff here.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. This was a strange one. Glad I read it. Didn't love it.
Fifty Shades of Gray times 3...
A Rare Titanic Family by Julie Hedgepeth Williams. I always want the ending to be different. It never is.
The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. I always find her books to be fun, and this one was no exception.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read this for bookclub after reading it years ago when it originally was published. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. If I were in a more contemplative place in my life, it probably would have excited me more.
Helping Gifted Children Soar by Carol Ann Strip. Needless to say, this wasn't a "for fun" book. Informative, though.
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell. I liked this one more than I thought I would. Not an uplifting read, for sure, but really good.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Meh. I didn't love this book as much as I felt like I was supposed to. Ditto the next book...
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock. I actually came up with the idea of creating a "doing things that make me uncomfortable" time-table and writing about it. Unfortunately, Noelle beat me to it. And probably did a far better job at it than I would have.
Eldest by Christopher Paolini. this series is Bryn's favorite, so I read it at her insistence. I still have two books to go, but I have liked the two I read.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish. Good book. I am a sucker for books about women's friendships.
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale. Loved this one as much as the first book.
Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. Good, inspirational stuff here.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. This was a strange one. Glad I read it. Didn't love it.
Fifty Shades of Gray times 3...
A Rare Titanic Family by Julie Hedgepeth Williams. I always want the ending to be different. It never is.
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