Books 7-18
Been a while since I've updated. Wow. Short reviews under the cuts...
#7- The Double Bind by Chris Bonjalian
Wasn't a fan of this one. It took me forever to get through and honestly, didn't make much sense. The main character had a major twist at the end that just felt too convenient to be believable. Honestly, I hated this one.
#8- Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert
Is there a woman who has read this who hasn't devoured it and loved it? I even passed it to the boy, since he's on a similar type journey, although I warned him that it was femme heavy. It just inspired me. I loved her voice, her interpretations of her experiences and her constant quest for a better life. Absolutely loved it.
#9- Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Again, not one I really liked. I thought she was whine-y and really didn't get anything from her "quest". Now they are making a movie out of it, which I am not interested in. The food sounded somewhat decent but it really didn't appeal to me. What was the point? I didn't like how she spoke "for" Julia, especially after they pointed out that Julia herself didn't really care for her project.
If you like this type of story, I suggest (although I may be biased) Steven Rinella's Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine. It's a beautiful journey across the US by one of the last true huntsmen. His prose is gorgeous and he has true appreciation for what he's doing.
#10- Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
I liked this one, although it took a long time to get into. I was probably halfway through before I finally got into the story. It's a pretty simple tale but she tells it in a very elegant manner. I don't think I'll pick up her next one, as her style just isn't for me, but in the end, I did enjoy it.
#11- Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
My uncle gave me the Chronicles of Narnia when I was about 6 and I remember reading them all and not really understanding anything past Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. But re-reading it now was really a delight. I read it quickly before the movie came out to brush up (then didn't see the movie, haha) and am glad I did. I'll probably read the rest of the series now. It struck me that not a whole lot actually happens plot wise. Most of it takes place in the past. But it was enjoyable and fun to read again.
#12- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Like most, I had only been familiar with the Disney telling of Peter Pan. This one surprised me. There are so many more themes and events that take place. Peter wasn't the hero he's made out to be. (Although, he still is the boy who never wants to grow up.) The language and the fact that it's a children's story was surprising. It reads much older. I loved it.
#13- Black Widow by Nikki Turner
Another Nikki Turner classic. If you haven't read urban fiction before (hip hop fiction, ghetto fiction, street lit, etc), then it can be a bit jarring. But it's the best of Nikki's titles and a really quick read. It incorporates a few fringe characters from The Glamorous Life and creates a new world for them. You can pick it up and read fast. Just beware for the graphic language and scenes.
#14-The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
I picked this up after a friend recommended it and wasn't that enthusiastic to read it. But once I started, I couldn't put it down. She writes a really amazing story about her own life. To watch her journey and know what she's gone through to achieve a life for herself is inspiring. It's also shocking and fascinating to read about the people who raised her and realize that there are actually people like that in the world. It's an amazing story.
#15- Candy and Me by Hilary Liftin
I wasn't too sure about this one at first. The first few chapters is just about candy and the different types. But once she got into incorporating her own life into her candy fascination, it got interesting. Pretty creative way to write a memoir.
#16- The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
This one was beautiful. It's a philosophy book disguised as Spanish folklore. It reads like an old legend but you get so much from it. I want to read it again to get more from it. it unfolds so many theories on the Universe and life in each small tale. Really gorgeous.
#17- Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
After reading The Namesake, I was really curious about the one that won her the Pulitzer. It's a collection of short stories, all having to do with Indian immigrants or the incorporation of Western and Eastern cultures. Each story is a little different and obviously I had my favorites. She writes so gorgeously. I don't know how she does it but I can't get enough.
#18- Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I'm on a mission to read the classics, so I picked this one up. Hmmm.......honestly, I feel like I need to read it again. I didn't fully follow what he was trying to say. The story jumps around so much, which I was able to follow, but I didn't get why things kept moving the way they did, who the important players were, and what the point was. I know it's an anti-war novel but I think I need to read it again to get the full effect.
#7- The Double Bind by Chris Bonjalian
Wasn't a fan of this one. It took me forever to get through and honestly, didn't make much sense. The main character had a major twist at the end that just felt too convenient to be believable. Honestly, I hated this one.
#8- Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert
Is there a woman who has read this who hasn't devoured it and loved it? I even passed it to the boy, since he's on a similar type journey, although I warned him that it was femme heavy. It just inspired me. I loved her voice, her interpretations of her experiences and her constant quest for a better life. Absolutely loved it.
#9- Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Again, not one I really liked. I thought she was whine-y and really didn't get anything from her "quest". Now they are making a movie out of it, which I am not interested in. The food sounded somewhat decent but it really didn't appeal to me. What was the point? I didn't like how she spoke "for" Julia, especially after they pointed out that Julia herself didn't really care for her project.
If you like this type of story, I suggest (although I may be biased) Steven Rinella's Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine. It's a beautiful journey across the US by one of the last true huntsmen. His prose is gorgeous and he has true appreciation for what he's doing.
#10- Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
I liked this one, although it took a long time to get into. I was probably halfway through before I finally got into the story. It's a pretty simple tale but she tells it in a very elegant manner. I don't think I'll pick up her next one, as her style just isn't for me, but in the end, I did enjoy it.
#11- Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
My uncle gave me the Chronicles of Narnia when I was about 6 and I remember reading them all and not really understanding anything past Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. But re-reading it now was really a delight. I read it quickly before the movie came out to brush up (then didn't see the movie, haha) and am glad I did. I'll probably read the rest of the series now. It struck me that not a whole lot actually happens plot wise. Most of it takes place in the past. But it was enjoyable and fun to read again.
#12- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Like most, I had only been familiar with the Disney telling of Peter Pan. This one surprised me. There are so many more themes and events that take place. Peter wasn't the hero he's made out to be. (Although, he still is the boy who never wants to grow up.) The language and the fact that it's a children's story was surprising. It reads much older. I loved it.
#13- Black Widow by Nikki Turner
Another Nikki Turner classic. If you haven't read urban fiction before (hip hop fiction, ghetto fiction, street lit, etc), then it can be a bit jarring. But it's the best of Nikki's titles and a really quick read. It incorporates a few fringe characters from The Glamorous Life and creates a new world for them. You can pick it up and read fast. Just beware for the graphic language and scenes.
#14-The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
I picked this up after a friend recommended it and wasn't that enthusiastic to read it. But once I started, I couldn't put it down. She writes a really amazing story about her own life. To watch her journey and know what she's gone through to achieve a life for herself is inspiring. It's also shocking and fascinating to read about the people who raised her and realize that there are actually people like that in the world. It's an amazing story.
#15- Candy and Me by Hilary Liftin
I wasn't too sure about this one at first. The first few chapters is just about candy and the different types. But once she got into incorporating her own life into her candy fascination, it got interesting. Pretty creative way to write a memoir.
#16- The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
This one was beautiful. It's a philosophy book disguised as Spanish folklore. It reads like an old legend but you get so much from it. I want to read it again to get more from it. it unfolds so many theories on the Universe and life in each small tale. Really gorgeous.
#17- Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
After reading The Namesake, I was really curious about the one that won her the Pulitzer. It's a collection of short stories, all having to do with Indian immigrants or the incorporation of Western and Eastern cultures. Each story is a little different and obviously I had my favorites. She writes so gorgeously. I don't know how she does it but I can't get enough.
#18- Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I'm on a mission to read the classics, so I picked this one up. Hmmm.......honestly, I feel like I need to read it again. I didn't fully follow what he was trying to say. The story jumps around so much, which I was able to follow, but I didn't get why things kept moving the way they did, who the important players were, and what the point was. I know it's an anti-war novel but I think I need to read it again to get the full effect.