August Reads (15)

One star = did not like it at all

Two stars = eh, it was okay

Three stars =  liked it

Four stars = really, really liked it

Five stars = absolutely loved it

2-Star (1)

***The Bookshop on the Corner (Fiction, Jenny Colgan)

The most annoying thing about this book was the title.  There was no bookshop on the corner!  It was a mobile book store in a van.  What the heck?  There was plenty other annoying things about it too.

3-Star (8)

***The Breakdown (Fiction, B.A. Paris)

This is my second B.A. Paris book.  I liked it better than the first (although I gave that one 3 stars as well).  If you’re looking for a twisted mystery that’s not gross and written well, then read B.A. Paris books.  Especially this one!!  This is one of the best ‘thrillers’ I’ve read in quite a while.  Thriller/mystery books probably won’t ever get more than 3 stars from me, just because it’s not my favorite genre and I typically won’t read them again.  So 3 stars for a book like this is high praise.   

***Soulful Simplicity (Non-Fiction, Courtney Carver)

Pretty good book about simplifying your life.  Not anything earth shattering.

***The Art Forger (Fiction, B.A. Shapiro)

An interesting story about, well, an art forger.  It had a little bit of everything, but I wasn’t as captivated as I had hoped to be.  But it did keep my interest.

***Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory (Non-Fiction, Caitlin Doughty)

Okay so if you are not interested in medical stuff or get easily grossed out or are squeamish, then do NOT read this book.  It is not for the faint of heart.  There were a few times I actually gasped.  But it was really fascinating.  We never hear about what really happens at mortuaries and crematoriums.  Because it’s such an unpleasant topic.  If you are ever curious about these things, then read this book for sure.  The author does not hold back AT ALL.

***The Light of the Fireflies (Fiction, Paul Pen)

I went back and forth for quite a while on whether to give this book 3 stars or 4 stars.  Ultimately I decided on 3, because of content.  This is a HIGHLY disturbing, dark, horrifying-yet-can’t-look-away novel.  The first part of the book is told from the perspective of a 10-year old boy who lives with his family in a dark basement.  He was born in the basement, so this life is all he knows.  But then he starts to question his family.  Why were they in the basement?  Why could no one ever get out?  Why was his family constantly ‘tricking’ (lying) to him about everything?  As the book unravels, more extremely disturbing truths come out.  The first half was really good, but by the 2^nd half, I just wanted to get some answers already.  And then once I got some answers, I wished I hadn’t ha ha.

***The Little Book of Japanese Contentments (Non-Fiction, Erin Longhurst)

I love learning about other cultures and practices.  This little book was a nice read about Japanese cultures.

***You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone (Fiction, Rachel Lynn Solomon)

This is a YA book, but again, there are some very adult things that happen.  It’s about twin 18-year-old girls.  Their mother has Huntington’s Disease.  The girls get tested, and one girl has the gene for HD and one does not.  This is the story of how they cope (and NOT cope) with this news.

***Our House (Fiction, Louise Candlish)

A VERY original plot.  Fiona drives up to her house, only to find that another couple is in the process of moving in.  Her husband is nowhere to be found.  It was a good story, however it was REALLY all over the place and I found myself skimming a lot of the middle (which backfired at the end when I was confused ha ha).

4-Star (5)

****The Bell Jar (Fiction, Sylvia Plath)

This is one of those books that I’ve heard about for years but never read.  It’s the story of Esther Greenwood and her descent into mental illness.  It is devastating, mostly because the book is a semi-autobiography of Sylvia’s life (and we all know how that ended up).  But it was beautiful writing.  She described her depression as a feeling of being trapped under a ‘bell jar’, struggling for air.  Ugh.  So real.

****Three Things About Elsie (Fiction, Joanna Cannon)

Florence is a resident of an assisted living facility.  When she falls, as she’s lying on the floor, she tells us stories of her past.  One involves a mystery that she, her best friend Elsie, Jack, Simon, Mrs. Ambrose and a handful of other characters try to solve.  It is heartbreaking (Florence has dementia), but the book was written so beautifully that I still really enjoyed it.

****Unbroken (Non-Fiction, Laura Hillenbrand)

The true story of POW Louis Zamperini (an Olympic runner).  This man survived 40+ days drifting on a sinking raft, starvation, hungry sharks, only to survive and be sent to a Japanese prison camp where the torture he received was unimaginable.  Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing storyteller.  I highly recommend it.  I listened to this on audio and it was read by the wonderful (late) Edward Herrmann (a.k.a. Richard Gilmore).

****In the Woods (Fiction, Tana French)

I have had this book on my shelf for probably 2 years.  I’ve picked it up a couple of times, but put it down.  It is a dense book (496 pages) and it just seemed a bit daunting for some reason.  BUT then I put a hold on the audio book at the library and when it came through I couldn’t stop listening.  The book is French’s debut novel about the Dublin Murder Squad (a detective squad in, well, Dublin).  It is creepy, atmospheric, a bit wordy at times, and I can totally understand why people could either love this book or hate it.  The ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered and the main character is not entirely likable.  Which is usually really important to me…but I could NOT STOP LISTENING.  It is extremely well-written and the plot and character development is amazing.  However, (from what I’ve read online), her other books in the series each focus on a different character.  So Rob Ryan (the main character in In the Woods) does not make any further appearances in any other book.  However, his partner, Cassie (who is very likable) is the main character in the next book in the series (which I already have on my shelf!).  I’m VERY glad I stuck with this and am glad I have the next book in the series to read. (warning…there’s language in this book)

****The Grapes of Wrath (Fiction, John Steinbeck)

Shame on me for not having read this book before now.  This is the story of the Jode family.  They leave Oklahoma during the great depression to head out West to California.  Now…this is not a happy read.  Life is HARD.  And they just don’t catch a break.  Ever.  If you’re expecting a happy ending or answers and resolutions, you won’t get it with this book.  However, once again, Steinbeck writes BEAUTIFULLY and portrays what life was like in America during the depression.  I may read it again.  East of Eden is still my favorite Steinbeck, but this one is definitely my second.

5-Star (1)

*****Small Great Things (Fiction, Jodi Picoult)

I’ll admit, I haven’t read Jodi Picoult’s last few books.  I read a couple of stinkers in a row and then I kind of gave up on her.  But I kept hearing RAVE reviews about Small Great Things, so I borrowed it from the library and read it on my Kindle.  I don’t think a single book has ever made me think so much as this one has.  Jodi Picoult tackles the most difficult subjects and is such an amazing writer that it’s hard to believe this book was written by just one person, instead of the three people that tell their story in this book.

Here is a portion of the description of the book from Goodreads:

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

This book will make you incredibly uncomfortable and you’ll put it down multiple times.  But PICK IT BACK UP!!  It’s worth the read.

Total Books Read: 15 (4 non-fiction, 15 fiction)

Formats

Kindle: 5

Audio: 7

Real Books: 3

Books I read for FREE via the library e-book/audio book system:  10

Books I paid for (actual books/Kindle books):  5

DNF (Did Not Finish) 5:

I See You – lost interest

Midwife’s Confession  – lost interest

Before the Fall – lost interest

A Wrinkle In Time – not my thing

Arcadia – one more strike and you’re out, Lauren Groff