Untamed

Untamed by Glennon Doyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's been a few days since I finished Untamed, and I'm still debating what I think about it. Perhaps it's because I don't feel the need to be "untamed" at this phase in my life or because it was a less cohesive narrative than I expected. The short version though is that there were chapters in this book that I loved and found myself nodding along and there were others where I felt like I was being preached at while she was saying people shouldn't impose their beliefs on you. When Glennon talks about her personal experiences, the text is better. So, this is a three star book with four and five star portions...

Happy reading and good luck with social distancing--

ps. If you read this, please call me. I'm dying to talk it out.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really liked this book. I love the concept of simple moments in time changing the course of our lives a la Sliding Doors, but better. Whenever I question past decisions, I settle on the fact that those decisions led me to the life I have now, so there's no going back. It would be fun though to see where choices or events would have taken you, and that's what we get to do with Lydia.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but there is love and hope...and it's not firmly rooted in reality, which I think is good for us right now. Can't wait to hear what you think!

Happy reading--

The Paris Orphan

The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have a thing for books with dual narratives that jump between time periods...it never hurts when one of those time periods is the 1940s. This is not a perfect book, but the story is very compelling. It's 3.5 star rounded up because I liked how the two narratives came together and how Lester built her story off of historical figures. This felt a bit like "Rosie the Journalist/Photographer" (rather than Rosie the Riveter) tells her story. And it made me want to go to the French countryside, which is always a good idea.

Happy reading--

The Unhoneymooners

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise was fun and some of the scenes classically entertaining, but repetitiveness of Olive finding her new honey attractive, etc was just too much. I'm all for finding love in unexpected places and figuring out your path in life, but I think I would have liked a movie version better than a book version. True beach read, but as I've said before this is a "read it or don't" type of book. Nonessential for sure.

Happy reading and happy dreaming of Maui beaches--

The Dutch House

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A friend of mine described this book as "a wicked stepmother and a cool house - what's not to like?" Throw in Patchett's incredible reputation as a writer and Tom Hanks narrating the audiobook, and I was 100% in. This book is totally unique and the storytelling compelling, unhurried, and poignant. I can't say that I loved the story because the characters are so flawed, but like Gatsby, The Crucible, and so many other great books, I could not look away. This book will stay with me for a long time, and hopefully they make a movie so I can see a real version of Danny and Maeve's Dutch house.

Happy reading--

Finding Chika

Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read just about everything that Albom has written since Tuesday with Morrie was a such a life-changing book for me. This book is intensely personal to Albom with all proceeds going to the orphanage that he sponsors and helps run in Haiti. The writing isn't amazing, but the story is compelling. It's probably only a 3.5 stars, but it gets a bump for being about humanity and doing more to make the world a better place.

Happy reading and happy better living--

Things You Save in a Fire

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my second book by Center, and I'm torn as to whether I'd read another one. Her premises are captivating and fun, but there's something just too simplistic or Hallmark-like about how the stories come together. I know that these are perfect stories for some of my friends, and as someone who loves that Jane Austen always gave her characters happy endings, I should be on board...there's just something missing for me even though I avidly read right through the end.

So this is a "read it or don't" type of recommendation. I think there are probably better choices, but if you are need of a more lighthearted story, this one could be for you.

Happy reading--

ps. I need to talk more about these books with someone, so if you've read any of her work, let me know. :)