I know you've been wondering what's keeping me from turning out the light at a decent hour lately. Well, here's what I've been reading the last couple of months... Hint: After writing this post, I realized that there's a clear theme here-- perspectives different from my own. I'd say it's been an eye-opening few months! :-) So here's a quick run down on the pages I've been turning...
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green...I really enjoyed this book. It's a generally light and easy read. I think Green captures the voice of teenage boy on the cusp of manhood so well, and I LOVE the best friend character. It's a fun little ride. Recommend.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd...I am a HUGE fan of Sue Monk Kidd's book The Secret Life of Bees. It's one of my all time faves. And her book The Mermaid Chair was also quite good. This book follows suit...it is quite good. But don't read it when you're looking for something uplifting-- this is a great way to learn more about the days of slavery and burgeoning women's rights...important history to understand, but not light reading. The characters are well-drawn and the story is full-bodied. I feel like I learned a lot, and I defiantly cared for the characters. But it was a little long in the middle and pretty heavy stuff. Still, I'd recommend it.
Young Elites by Marie Lu...I really enjoyed Lu's Legend trilogy. I read all three books. But this one just didn't do it for me. It was okay, but I never really got into it. I kinda had to make myself finish it; and I had no interest in reading the rest of the trilogy. But, I'll still give her other books a try at some point. Not all books can connect with all people, you know.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas...Another eye-opener. My niece recommended this one to me last summer, so I put it on my book club's list and we read it last month. Thomas does a great job exposing her reader to an interesting perspective--a main character who straddles two worlds. This makes her broadly relatable, because most anyone can relate to at least one side of her life. And at the same time, they're also confronted with the other side as a new perspective. My niece is right, everyone should read this book-- especially if you're white and live in a safe part of town. Recommend.
The One and Only Ivan, A Wrinkle in Time, and Half Magic...These are all middle grade books that I've read along with my daughter. A Wrinkle in Time I read long ago, but it's on my nightstand to reread since I saw the movie. Here's why: the movie was visually beautiful and I loved its message, but it felt quite different in the details from how I remember the book...so now I've got to reread it to see if I'm misremembering. The One and Only Ivan was beautiful and I totally cried at the end. It's a quick read and completely worth your time whether you're a middle grader or an adult. My daughter read Half Magic for school and she enjoyed it...I read it to play along. It was okay, but I think it's a better read for kids than adults.
What I'm reading now: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline...I just started this one and I want both my husband and I to get it in so we can go see the movie next month. I love the description of it: Willy Wonka meets the Matrix. #Girlboss by Sofia Amoruso...This was a random library pick-up. It's interesting, another story so different from mine, and will be a quick read. I'm also relistening to You Are a Badass...because you know how much I love listening to Jen Sincero! I totally want to be friends with her.
What's up next in adult fiction? Here's what's on my list: Left Neglected, All the Light We Cannot See, Little Fires Everywhere, Beartown, and The Secret Chord.
On deck in nonfiction: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life, Farmacology, and Lab Girl.
And in middle grade fiction: Maniac Magee and Number the Stars (the next two books in my daughter's school book club!).
I'll keep you posted on what's great!
Until next time, happy reading, dear friends.
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