What Alice Forgot - Round 3

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven't read the same book three times in one year since I was a little girl reading the American Girl doll books. But I really love this book, and when I finished another book a couple weeks ago, I needed to hang out with Alice and Libby again. Through Libby, Moriarty gives voice to the infertility journey in a way that I have never heard another person say out loud. I needed that. Happy reading and happy holiday season--

QB: My Life Behind the Spiral

QB: My Life Behind the Spiral by Steve Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know what you're thinking - 5 stars for a memoir by a former NFL player seems a little high. But what you need to envision is a teenage girl sneaking out to her car between meetings at church to hear what the score of the 49er game was...a girl who nearly cried when news broke that Steve Young would retire after one too many concussions....a girl whose memories with her dad and many of the men in her extended family revolve around San Francisco sports. If we're honest, the adult version of this girl doesn't follow the NFL nearly as much as her younger self did. She decided ten plus years ago that she couldn't follow so many sports and still do all the things she wanted to, so she consciously decided to become a more casual fan. But reliving so many classic 49er games and getting to hear more of Young's story was strangely exhilarating. Perfect fall choice--

Happy reading-

(my Hawaii books for our 2017 Thanksgiving trip)

The War I Finally Won

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In short, a three star beginning and a five star ending. I love these characters and this world that Bradley has created. It didn't hurt that I got lost in this book overlooking the ocean and being kissed by perfect Hawaiian sunshine. I cannot wait to read this and the previous book in the set with my kids in the future. They're genuine and interesting middle grade books that make you think that the world still holds more goodness than sadness. Oh, and if I have a daughter, I hope she has a bit of Ada's spunk.

Happy reading--

ps. If you have ten- or eleven-old girls, these books would make great Christmas gifts. Honestly, I think the book is interesting enough for boys too, but not all younger boys like reading about female protagonists.

Life After Life

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every attempt at reviewing this book has come out cliché or made the book sound like a series of bad plot twists. It's one of those that is better to experience than to hear described, or at the very least needs a verbal interaction to do it any sort of justice.

Let me just say this - the feeling as you read it is akin to "The Time Traveler's Wife". It's not quite as compelling because it's not about a star-crossed couple, but it is just as thought-provoking. I finished the book ten days ago, and I find my mind wandering back to it over and over again. "Life After Life" is a four star book, but earns the extra star for originality and the lingering impact. I don't think it's for everyone. British literary fiction often isn't, but it's perfect for blustery, rainy days and cozy fires.

If you read it, please call me. I need to talk to someone who read this. Happy reading-

Dear Fahrenheit 451

Dear Fahrenheit 451: A Librarian's Love Letters and Break-Up Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dear "Dear Fahrenheit 451":

I'm sorry I didn't love you as much as I wanted to. It wasn't that you weren't clever or that you didn't remind me of how much I love books. It's that your randomness sometimes distracted me, and I felt like occasionally you were trying too hard. Great books don't show their effort, and some of your commentary did. I actually think you would have been a four star rating if I'd read you instead of listening to you. I think the audiobook reader's tone was a little too flippant or self-assured.

All that said, I'd still recommend you to my bibliophile friends. We do tend to love books on books. Can't help it. And your title is pretty genius. Anyway, back to my other books--

Love,
Jaclyn

Braving the Wilderness

Braving the Wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brené Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you know me at all, you know I love Brene Brown. In fact, there's a good chance I've pressed one of her books into your hands and said "this book will change your life." That's how much I love her and her writing. Braving the Wilderness was just not my favorite of hers. Perhaps it's because the messages didn't resonate as much with my life or because I felt like her random political comments felt out of place and almost jarring with her normal eloquence. I'm not sure, but this is not her best. Rising Strong or The Gifts of Imperfection are both so much better.

All that said, Brene is the woman who kindly replied when I commented on one of her posts years ago and affirmed that I was not alone in one of my struggles. She lives what she preaches and makes the world a kinder place. I hope I can be more like her in the years to come, and if you still haven't read something by her or watched her TED talks, get on it. She's a game changer.

Happy reading--

Brave Enough

Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I love Cheryl Strayed. I gladly wandered with her in "Wild" (though I thought she was a touch crazy most of the time) and appreciate how authentically she lives her life. But while the concept of "Brave Enough" is great, the actual product is less than fulfilling. Rather than actual commentary, Strayed mainly has a series of her own disjointed quotes with more than one too many f-words. Out of context, she seems more adolescent than wise. That said, some of her words are still poignantly beautiful, but there are much better ways to access her writing. Skip this one and choose another quote collection or series of essays. You'll be more fulfilled because honestly the best part of this book was the YouTube fire I had in the background (yes I'm one of those), and the captivating introduction.

Happy reading friends. Hope you're enjoying the gorgeous fall weather-

Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't remember the last time I read a book in a single day. That's how good Wonder is. It truly should be required reading for all middle school kids and their parents. Palacio does such a good job at capturing what it means to be human and why choosing kindness is always the right answer. The only thing I'm sorry about is that I did not read this book sooner. Read it. And then make your kids read it. And then when you're finished, talk about it. The messages are exactly what this world need right now.

Happy reading--

"Shall we make a new rule of life...always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?" ~J.M. Barrie

Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We have been waiting such a long time for John Green to write another book that I now have three signed copies sitting within fifteen feet of me. The first, I ordered on Amazon when I heard Green was signing an unreal amount of the original printing. The second and third came from going to a fantastic book tour event put on by Green and his brother in Pleasanton. I love John Green so much, and I would read his thoughts on just about anything.

So about "Turtles" - it's an interesting book filled with real issues and authentically loveable characters. It's the type of book that describing the plot doesn't actually make it more appealing, but it's clever and unique. I love that he took on a main character with OCD and the experience of losing a parent, while still making you laugh and fall in love right along with the main characters. And true to Green's style, there are beautiful references to other writers and poignant one liners which means there are at least a dozen tabs sticking out of my book. Can't help it-

As always, happy reading. I'm off to find my next book...and to probably rewatch The Fault in Our Stars...again. 

Ps. This is my 600th post. Seems fitting to write about a John Green book and a night listening to a favorite writer for that. 

Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my first Agatha Christie, and while it was an entertaining read, it wasn't as magical as I was hoping. That said, Christie was ahead of her time and Dan Stevens is an incredible reader. He made the book. Can't wait to see the movie--

Happy reading and happy movie going.