The Lost Girls of Paris

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Women, espionage, World War II, and shifting time periods - this set of details is a trend in fiction right now, and still The Lost Girls of Paris held my attention to the point that I was trying to find any excuse to keep going with the story. Kate Quinn's The Huntress has more grit and drama, but I would still recommend Lost Girls because it's a well crafted story with interesting parallel story lines that converge in a clever way. There are some cliched details and character sentiments, but I was so hooked that I'm more than happy to look past them.

Already counting down to book club for our discussion-- happy reading!

(Book 63 - 2019)

Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's official - I am a Rainbow Rowell fan. This is my third one of her books, and I'm impressed by her ability to tap into the most basic human motivations we have to be loved, understood, and seen. She writes teenagers well and breaks her characters down into the most delicious of details. I cringed my way through so much of this story because Eleanor's home life is so rough, but it's well told and leaves you still inwardly sighing long after you've finished. Also, the audiobook readers are great.

Happy reading and happy reminiscing about adolescent twitterpation and first loves--

ps. This is technically a YA book, but it is not for young teenagers. The language and content is pretty mature.

(Book 62 - 2019)

Girl, Stop Apologizing

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not as magical or novel as "Girl, Wash Your Face" - but still inspiring and motivating. Her writing felt a little repetitive to me, but I wonder if that's because when I read her first book I wasn't familiar with her at all. Now I've listened to her Rise podcast that she records alone and her Rise Together podcast that she records with her husband enough to know her catch phrases pretty well. That said, my sisters and I have made real changes to our day-to-day lives and long term goals that are, in part, because of Rachel Hollis and her ideas. So I'm in, even if the book isn't perfect because neither am I, but I'm not going to apologize for it. ;)

Happy reading and happy achieving--

(Book 61 - 2019)

I Owe You One

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sophie Kinsella novels seem like the epitome of "chick lit" or a cheesy, romantic comedy. You don't go in expecting to be wowed by the prose or deeply inspired. That said, I was super frustrated by the main character. She was too smart to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Still I persevered because I liked the setting (England is always a win for me), the narrator (British accent and a good reader), the reason for the title, and the love interest character. Would I recommend the book? Only if you read a really high volume of books. Otherwise watch Bridget Jones Diary or read "One Day in December" or a Marisa de los Santos novel.

Happy reading and happy English summers--

(Book 60 - 2019)

Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was wary of Louise Penny because lots of people talked up her books, and honestly, I'm not drawn to mysteries. Still I decided to try out her world of Three Pines, and I'm so glad I did. The book started a little slow for me, but I was hooked a quarter of the way in and so intrigued by Penny's cast of characters. Her Armand Gamache is a more relatable Hercule Poirot, and I did not guess ahead of the characters. Well told and very engaging--

On to Penny's next book. Apparently there are 14 out so far in this series...

Happy reading--

(Book 59 - 2019)

China Rich Girlfriend

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

These books are like reading a really well written People magazine - there's gossip, fashion, travel, glamour, gourmet food, etc. I appreciated the change of pace and scenery from my usual reading. Perfect beach read--

Happy reading--

ps. Probably a 3.5 for how fast I devoured it.
pps. Lots of language in this one, so not an audiobook to listen to with littles around.

(Book 58 - 2019)

Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know I'm late to the game on this one, but I really, really liked it. Delightful, captivating, and with just the right amount of teenage angst-- It made me wonder what kind of Harry Potter fangirl I would have been if those books had come out when I was a child instead of when I was about to enter college. Rowell has a gift for tapping into the feelings that drive us and the little details that absorb so much of our, and in turn her characters', focus. Perfect summer read-

Happy reading and happy lounging in the sun--

(Book 57 - 2019)

Dad is Fat

Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gaffigan is one of Seth and my favorite comedians, so I wanted to see if this book would make a good gift for Seth. Gaffigan always manages to make me laugh out loud, whether he's commenting on the chaos of parenting or his eating choices. Funny, light-hearted read. Potentially good choice for a family audiobook on a car trip--

Happy reading--

(Book 56 - 2019)

Rules of Civility

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was gorgeously written. I felt myself being pulled into the nostalgia of 1930s New York with every passing detail. Like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Towles has the ability to capture a location and an era with such skill that you don't notice how far you've traveled into a world of their creation. Towles manages also to subtly clue modern day readers into a time or social stratosphere that we, ourselves, may not be familiar with without making it feel like a history lesson. The title, which comes from George Washington's 110 rules of civility, is woven in beautifully.

The book opens with our main character, Miss Katey Kontent, on the arm of her husband years after the story takes place, which lets you know that she and the charming Tinker Grey do not end up together....and still I held my breath just hoping it would work out. Also like Fitzgerald, Towles is not afraid of complex characters, flawed and susceptible to human frailties and whims. I'm afraid one of the major twists that involves a character's less-than-perfect life choices felt as disappointing to me as Daisy abandoning Gatsby all those years ago.

Long review short, I love Amor Towles' writing. I'm sorry to say that "Rules of Civility" and "A Gentleman in Moscow" are his only two novels. He has said that it takes him about four years to write a book, so I am already counting to 2021.

Happy reading--

ps. The audiobook reader, Rebecca Lowman, is excellent also - just in case you were wondering.

(Book 55 - 2019)

Hunger

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started Gay's memoir. As someone who has struggled with body image issues much of my life, I thought perhaps it might be worth delving further into the topic. That said so much of Gay's story is unflinchingly raw and sometimes gut-wrenching that I wasn't sure how to process it all. Because I didn't know much about the book, I didn't realize that sexual assault would be such a huge part of the story. While I think Gay's story deserves to be told, I can't decide if I'd recommend the book.

I'm sure I uttered an audible sigh when I finished - just grateful to be done. The book serves as another reminder of Henry B. Eyring's advice that, "When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” I couldn't agree more.

Happy reading--

(Book 54 - 2019)

Nine Perfect Strangers

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoy Liane Moriarty's books - as I mentioned a few weeks ago, her book "What Alice Forgot" is one that I reread often. "Nine Perfect Strangers" is nothing like "Alice", though Moriarty's strength of creating vivid characters continues. The book has a strange premise and an almost uncomfortable feel in over half of it. I couldn't decide if I was supposed to be laughing or afraid for whole portions. That said, the book is still engaging, and I'm glad to have read it.

Somehow I keep hoping though that Moriarty returns to a book more like Alice soon.

Happy reading--