What I'm reading: June

Better late than never on this one, huh?

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. I broke my "rule" of never giving up on books for this one. I really tried...but gave up because the plot was boring, I didn't care about any of the characters, and there was way too much Spanish (I was that kid who took French in school...). Yeah, not the best choice. 

I also read The Defining Decade. As I've mentioned before, I find psychology ridiculously interesting, so I loved this book. I found it honest and relatable, to the point where on almost every page I could identify myself in one of the stories. Definitely a recommended read for anyone my age. 

What I'm reading: May

Lately, I've been reading 2 books at once: a non-fiction one and a fiction one. Here is what I read this month:

Then Again, by Diane Keaton. I must say, I'm a sucker for a celebrity auto/biography. This one was no disappointment. It was less of a "linear" story, and more of a series of vignettes. It was refreshingly honest and interesting. 

Home Safe, by Elizabeth Berg. I love the way that Berg writes. Her writing is so descriptive and enveloping, you feel completely wrapped up in the story. She writes about a mother and adult daughter coping with the death of the father of the family.  The mother must learn to stand on her own 2 feet now that her daughter is out of the house and her husband is no longer around, lessons that I think can apply to any age. A good read. 

What I'm reading: April

Since I'm cutting back on my blog reading, I'm catching up on my book reading! Here was what I read this month:

The Raw Shark Texts. I don't know if I can sufficiently describe this book, because I'm still mulling over exactly what happened. Eric Sanderson wakes up in his house, unable to remember anything about his life. Using letters left for him by his former self, he begins to unravel the mystery of who he is. More sci-fi than I normally read, but interesting. 

The Descendants. Matt King is dealing with the coma of his wife and the news of her affair. At the same time, he must make a decision on what to do with the land he inherited from his family - sell it to developers, or keep it? Like not love. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain. This book is told from the point of view of Enzo, a dog belonging to Denny Swift. Enzo describes how Denny's family grows, then how they fall apart. At times it got a little mushy, but it was quick to read and cute. 

The Lucky One. (Definitely had to post the picture for this one) It's Nicholas Sparks, so it's self-explanatory. Soapy, romantic, beach read. 

What I'm reading: March

This month I read In Defense of Food. Pollan boils the message of this book down to a very simple phrase: "eat food. not too much. mostly plants." Throughout the book, Pollan traces the rise of "fake" food. Over the past few decades, Americans have moved away from whole food, and instead focused on nutrients and food science. Now we're at a point where "the more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become." 

This book was super interesting. I liked learning more about what goes into the food we eat today and how things have changed so quickly. Good read. 

What I'm reading: February

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This month, I read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (Side note: not quite sure about the "potato peel pie" part of the title, since that was mentioned like twice, but anyways...) This book is about Juliet, a writer from London during the post-WWII era. She is contacted by Dawsey, a resident of the island of Guernsey. Through him, she learns all about their literary society and how it helped them through the war. The entire book is told through letters between characters. It was interesting to see how the war affected each person. Overall, it was a good, quick read. 

What I'm reading: January

This month, I read Freakonomics. This was on my "to-read" list for a long time, and I finally pulled it off the shelf. This book dives into the reasons behind what motivates people - and the answers might surprise you. Definitely not a typical "economics" book (in that I didn't fall asleep reading it). I love learning more about psychology, and I feel like this book really spoke to that. 

I also read Blink, which discusses how we unconsciously make decisions. Through interesting examples, Gladwell explains how we make snap judgments, and how they can be helpful, particular in life-threatening situations where over thinking may cause you to make the wrong choice. Again, psychology nerd, so I liked it. 

Last but not least, I borrowed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close from my cousin. It's not your typical book - it contains pictures, sometimes there is only one phrase per page, and at one point all the words blend together and become illegible. Those make the book interesting to read, but the plot keeps you coming back. It's about a young boy whose father dies in 9/11. He finds a key in his father's closet and goes on a long journey to find what it opens. Throughout his journey, you'll learn more about his family and their history, from his grandparents' perspective. Some of the passages in this book were so beautiful, I read and re-read them. When I read about what the key belonged to, my first reaction was a little disappointment - but as my cousin said, the journey is more important, and the ending nicely blended his story with someone else's. A definite recommend. 

What I'm reading: December

In the midst of all the holiday craziness, I read Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). My lovely cousin gave it me and I finished it in about 2 days. Such a quick read and so funny. Loved it! 

And that was it for this month. I'm gonna hole up this long weekend and just read, nap and relax. Happy new year!

What I'm reading: November

I really love watching old movies from the '40s and '50s, so this month I picked up 3 books about 3 interesting Hollywood ladies. 

First was Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood's Celebrated Costume Designer. Edith Head designed for dozens of movies, including Sunset Boulevard, Rear Window and Vertigo. It was fun to learn more about behind-the-scenes events of some classic movies. However, Head's legacy is not pristine. She won 8 Oscars, but never shared any of the credit with her costume assistants. Still, she remains one of the most famous and talented costumers in history. 

Next was The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. This lengthy book dives into the history of arguably the most famous actress of the past century. Marilyn had a difficult childhood - bouncing back and forth between foster care and the home of her mentally ill mother. Monroe begins acting and rockets to fame. The book covers her struggles with her own demons, while trying to maintain her public persona. In the end, she dies a tragically young death. This book was really interesting, providing an in-depth look at every aspect of this well-known figure's life. 

Now I'm just finishing up High Society, The Life of Grace Kelly. This book introduces you to one of the most elegant actresses in recent memory. I was surprised by the fact that Kelly was so famous, when she only actually starred in 11 movies. Of course, the jump from actress to princess solidified her rise to fame. While this book was intriguing, it wasn't quite as "can't put it down" as the Marilyn Monroe book was for me. 

What I'm reading: October

Holy cow, I can't believe we're at the end of October already. Time is flying by! 

Here is what I read this month:

The History of Love. I had heard really good things about this book, so I was excited to start it. It would be best as a book club book. I say that because, I needed someone to talk about it to figure out what the heck was going on. The first half of the story, I felt really lost. I actually had to read the synopsis online to find my way. It contains 2 stories that intertwine as the story goes on. The second half of the book clears things up, so I would have seen the light eventually. I really liked Krauss's writing style, even though this might not be my favorite book.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. I have a deep love for anything Audrey Hepburn or Breakfast at Tiffany's, so of course I loved this book. 

Favorite books

What are your favorite books?

I thought since I share what I'm reading each month, it would be fun to do a post on what books I absolutely love.

Anything by Roald Dahl. He was my favorite author growing up - I loved his crazy, whimsical stories. I think I may have to ask for his boxed set for Christmas.

The Harry Potter series. I admit, I came to this party pretty late. I refused to read these when they first came out, I guess I thought they were too juvenile for me. After much pleading, a friend convinced me to read them after our freshman year of college. I read them all in one summer and then made my mom read them. Now we're both die-hard fans. And we really want to go here.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. This is one of the first "adult" books I remember picking up. I found it in the classics section in the library. I don't think I was able to finish it the first time I read it - it was a little too long for me when I was a kid. But I tried again, and fell in love. It's a richly detailed story of a girl named Francie growing up in the early 1900s in New York. I re-read it every couple of years and always come away with something new.

Those are just some of my absolute favs (although, honestly, there are too many to list!) 

What I'm reading: September

Ok, first of all, I can't believe it's the end of September already. Seriously?! Here is what I've been reading:

Lunch in Paris. I love learning more about Paris (I need to go back!) and so to satisfy my yearning, I picked this up. Elizabeth describes how she met and fell in love with a French man and ends up moving to Paris. I love the descriptions - good and bad - of the city. A fun, fantasy read. I loved vicariously living through her and learning more about the city I adore. Plus, the recipes sound yummy (and pretty difficult to try!)

Another Paris-themed read: The Paris Wife. This is a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife. I didn't know too much about Hemingway's life, but I loved learning more. It takes place in 1920's Paris, and you get to feel like you're in an extended version of Midnight in Paris. I didn't want it to end. 

I also finished up the Hunger Games trilogy. I really liked it! They were quick, interesting reads. I won't give away too much here, but you should check them out. 

What I'm reading: August

I never like to consider myself a book quitter. I usually stick a book through to the very end. However...this month, I picked up Anthropology of an American Girl. And I became a quitter. (I thought if I could make it through Twilight, I could make it through anything - guess not) I tried, I really did. But I HATED this book. Boring, whiny characters, no discernible plot - I gave up on this one around page 200. To recover from that book, here is what I read:

A Summer Affair. Perfect beachy read. 

The Raising. I looked at this at Borders a few times before I actually brought it home. It's a story of a college freshman, Nicole, who tragically dies in a car accident. Her boyfriend, who was driving the car, is blamed for her death. He becomes haunted by the accident, convinced that she is still alive. As the story unravels, the mystery surrounding Nicole's death grows deeper. You meet a cast of characters whose stories overlap and intersect. I found the subject matter really interesting, and the author's writing was great. In particular, the last 100 pages or so had me really eager to solve the mystery.....and then I felt like the story hit the brakes. The epilogue didn't give a concrete conclusion, and the one that it seemed to lean towards didn't seem plausible without more explanation from the author. Even with that, I'd definitely pick up another book from her. 

What I'm reading: July

Well, July wasn't my most exciting month for books....

I re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (in preparation for the movie!). I think I may have to re-read the whole series now. It's been a few years since I've read them all and I definitely found myself saying "What? I don't remember that!" a lot during the 7th book. 

I also read It's Kind of a Funny Story. It was all right, same as the movie - good, not great. 

Can I also say how devastated I am that Borders is going out of business?! Where am I gonna hang out now? I had to visit the closing sale and say my goodbyes. Sad. 

What I'm reading: June

Ok, so I never claimed to be the most sophisticated book reader out there. Every so often your brain just needs a break. So this month I read...

The Lost Symbol. I know, Dan Brown. Whatever. I really liked it! 

The Pretty Little Liars series. Why, yes I do watch the show. Why, no I have no clue what the heck is going on there. The books are not much help, since they're totally different. But equally addicting. I'm on book 4 now and I'll have to sneak into the young adult section of the library this weekend to find the next one. 

What I'm reading: May

I must say, May marked one of the best months I've had in a long time in terms of books. 

First, it was The Help. I had seen it in Borders, and was intrigued, and luckily found it at the library bookstore in $3. Yesss. As soon as I finished it, I handed it over to my mom and said "You gotta read this." I rarely say that, but this was so good. Funny, sweet, heart-warming, with great writing and a interesting plot that kept me hooked through the whole book. 

Next, I borrowed Bossypants from my cousin. Seriously hilarious. You won't believe how funny and relatable Tiny Fey is. Fair warning - you may want to think twice before reading this in public, it's that funny.

What I'm reading: March

[amazon]

Coming in just under the wire for this one...but here is what I read this month. I picked up One Day at the library bookstore. It tells the story of Dex and Emma, by only revealing their lives on one day a year. We first meet them as they graduate college, and follow them for 20 years. The characters felt real and relatable, and just when you think everything will work out...it doesn't. A little lengthy, but still good, especially for the very genuine commentary on friendships and relationships. 

What I'm reading: February

[amazon.com]

I picked up Between Here and April to read this month. The main character, Elizabeth, starts to look into the disappearance of her childhood friend April. She learns the tragic tale that her childhood friend and her sister were killed by their mother, who then committed suicide. As Elizabeth looks into the story further, she stirs up painful memories and hurt feelings. Elizabeth delves deeper into the life of April's mother, Adele, who had to deal with postpartum depression, something not well understood in the 1970s. The parallels between Adele and Elizabeth become more apparent. Elizabeth never finds out the true story of April's death. Heavy subject matter, but the ending felt a little unfinished to me.

What I'm reading: January

[michaelpollan.com]

In an effort to practice more mindful eating, I picked up the Omnivore's Dilemma to learn a little bit more about food today. Pollan explores many aspects of the food market today: from industrial corn-growing, to harvesting wild mushrooms. He spends a large chunk of the book at a small farm, learning how one man strives to create food as nature designed it. Each animal and plant takes part - in turns nourishing and being nourished by the land. Animals are allowed to freely graze, plants are grown and fertilized naturally, rather than with chemicals. It's a clear example of how a small, natural farm is still able to produce bounty. It's a fairly long book, with a ton of information in it, but if the topic is interesting (as it was to me) I'd recommend it! Definitely eye-opening. (Fair warning though - might make you feel a bit squirmish in some parts.)

What I'm reading: December

I apologize for the slow down in posts...but what can I say, it's been hectic lately. Gift shopping, wrapping, holiday partying, visiting with friends back in town and planning a bridal shower...yeah I'm busy. But I still had time to speed through a few quick reads:

[amazon.com]

Elinor and Ted are struggling to have a child, when she learns he has been having an affair. The situation gets even more complicated when the mistress's son becomes involved. Deals with heavy hitters such as infidelity and infertility, but still ends on a hopeful note.

[amazon.com]

The author relives the best summer of her life. In the middle of WWII, she moves to NYC and finds a job at Tiffany's. It was magical to experience what life was like in the forties...what they wore, where they went on dates, they way they spoke. A quick read. 

[amazon.com]

This was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I was so excited to receive it from a friend recently. Claudia and her brother run away from home and hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They manage to escape discovery for days and along the way discover a mysterious statue that may be a lost work of Michelangelo's. I think I finished it in a day. Just as good as I remembered. (Although I'm pretty sad to read that the fountain that plays a big role in the book doesn't exist in that museum anymore).

What I'm reading: November

[amazon.com]

Snore. This story tells the tale of a woman (I forgot her name...I was that bored) and what impact one decision would have on her life. It tells two parallel tales - one where she cheats on her husband, one where she doesn't. The man she has an affair with in one story plays snooker and you will want to throw the book out the window after 500 pages of snooker stories. Or maybe that's just me. 

[amazon.com]

Ok, I feel like I missed something reading this book. Like there was some forward that explained what the heck was going on, and my book didn't have it. Beyond being confused, I just didn't like the writing. There was a lot of backtracking, like "let me tell you something, but oh wait, I forgot to tell you the thing that happened first, ok now let's get back to what I really wanted to talk about..." Over and over. Not my best month for books.