Books – Page 76

Categories: Books

Book Review: Earning It by Joann S. Lublin

What an appropriate book for this time of year! Earning It is about women who have done what was nearly unthinkable a few decades ago – they’ve climbed to the top of the corporate ladder of massive public companies. And they did it the hard way – encountering sexism, misogyny, and inappropriate comments along the way. As Lublin explains the different lessons that come along with shattering the glass ceiling, she brings stories of women who have done exactly that. They talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly about being a woman at the top, and it’s inspirational as well as horrific. (Horrific in the sense of everything women have to put up with in the workplace.)

I’ll be honest: as someone who doesn’t have any career aspirations of becoming a CEO, a lot of the advice given in this book was hard for me to relate to. The author, a journalist, also writes in a detached way and there was a personal element that was missing for me. At times, this felt like a regurgitation of facts.

That said, if you’re interested in learning more about powerful women and how they got to the top, then I’d recommend picking up this book. It’s filled with stories of fascinating women who overcame so many obstacles and had to make courageous, sometimes unpopular choices to meet their goals. It’s also a bit sad, to realize what women have to go through in the workplace. I’m thankful in that I haven’t really encountered too much sexism or misogyny in the companies I’ve worked for, but I know it’s a very real reality for most women in corporate positions.

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

More than fifty trailblazing executive women who broke the corporate glass ceiling offer inspiring and surprising insights and lessons in this essential, in-the-trenches career guide from Joann S. Lublin, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and management news editor for The Wall Street Journal.

Among the first female reporters at The Wall Street Journal, Joann S. Lublin faced a number of uphill battles in her career. She became deputy bureau chief of the Journal’s important London bureau, its first run by women. Now, she and dozens of other women who successfully navigated the corporate battlefield share their valuable leadership lessons.

Lublin combines her fascinating story with insightful tales from more than fifty women who reached the highest rungs of the corporate ladder—most of whom became chief executives of public companies —in industries as diverse as retailing, manufacturing, finance, high technology, publishing, advertising, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals.

Leaders like Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, as well as Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, and Brenda Barnes, former CEO of Sara Lee, were the first women to run their huge employers. Earning It reveals obstacles such women faced as they fought to make their mark, choices they made, and battles they won—and lost.

Lublin chronicles the major milestones and dilemmas of the work world unique to women, providing candid advice and practical inspiration for women of all ages and at every stage of their careers. The extraordinary women we meet in the pages of Earning It and the hard-won lessons they share provide a compelling career compass that will help all women reach their highest potential without losing a meaningful personal life.

You can connect with Joann S. Lublin on her website and Twitter. Her book is available to buy from Amazon, HarperCollins, and Barnes & Noble.

Click here to add this book to Goodreads!

I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions, unless otherwise stated, are my own.

No affiliate links were used in this post.

Categories: Books

Monthly Book Review | October 2016

October was a pretty good reading month for me, as I read 8 books and met my Goodreads reading goal for the year! I set my reading goal fairly low (for me!) at 75 books and I’m thinking it’s possible I can make it to 90 or more (especially with my upcoming cruise at the end of the month during which I’ll have copious time to read).

I think I need to take a moment and stress here that yes, I read a lot and no, I do not think everyone needs to read as much as I do. I read a lot because I have the free time to do so: no partner, no kids, no crazy social calendar. And I read a lot because, as an introvert, it’s my way of recharging my batteries. In essence, I need it to feel like myself. You may have a different way to recharge your batteries, like baking or watching TV or knitting or exercising. But the last thing I want is for someone to compare their reading list to mine and feel shame or guilt. We all have different priorities! And that’s totally okay.

With that off my chest, let’s dive into this month’s reviews!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (★★★★★)

This novel was probably one of the best I’ve read this year. Not because it was life-changing or had an important message or anything like that, but because of the way it made me feel. This book made me feel so grateful to be a reader and get to enjoy this incredibly fun story. It’s romance, but please don’t let that deter you from reading it because the overall story is just so delightful. I never wanted this book to end and I’m 99% sure I’m going to buy a physical copy to keep on my bookshelf and reread frequently.

Confess by Colleen Hoover (★★★☆☆)

Usually, a Colleen Hoover novel is an emotional process. She writes in such a way that just captivates me and makes me lose all focus because I can’t stop thinking about the characters and the story. This novel was not that experience. That’s not to say the novel wasn’t good, because it was, but it just didn’t have that same emotional gut punch that her other novels have. I also reallllllly couldn’t stand the main character; she was super frustrating and made decisions I didn’t care for.

The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelley Rowley (★★★★☆)

I reviewed this book earlier this month and you can find the review here.

Results May Vary by Bethany Chase (★★★★☆)

I read this for my in-person book club and it was a heavier read than I was expecting. The story begins with the main character, Caroline, discovering her husband of ten years has been cheating on her… with a man. Normally, the stories I read about infidelity write about it in a way that seems to glamorize it, but this one really dug deep into how irrevocably painful infidelity truly is. The author takes readers on a journey as Caroline tries to piece her life back together and decide whether she can forgive her husband or if the secret is just too massive and heartbreaking to get over. It’s a remarkable story and the writing is exquisite.

Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis (★★★☆☆)

There’s not too much to say about this novel. It was a cute contemporary romance that continued Shalvis’s Animal Magnetism series. It’s one of those novels that’s just easy. There’s nothing hard or gritty about it. It’s just meant to make you smile and believe in love for a little while.

Dare to Love by Carly Phillips (★★★☆☆)

Another cute contemporary romance, though the writing fell a little on the cheesy side. Also, I felt that the male protagonist was a bit too controlling at times and I was a little uncomfortable with some of his actions, but that could just be my preconceived notions. It was a good story, but not outstanding.

Joyland by Stephen King (★★★☆☆)

I read this for Postal Book Club and this is what I love so much about this book club: reading books I would have never picked up on my own. Thankfully, this wasn’t a horror novel, but more a coming-of-age story coupled with a mystery. I’ll admit that the mystery never gripped me, nor was I very interested in it, though the reveal did end up surprising me! But the way this book was written made me clearly see why Stephen King is so beloved. He’s truly one of a kind.

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn (★★★★☆)

I read this novel in, like, two days. It was excellent! It’s a Regency romance, the second novel in Quinn’s Smythe-Smith Quartet series, and fiercely feminist. I loved Anne for her vulnerability and her badassness when called upon. She was loving and gracious and I just wanted to see her happy ending. I felt that Daniel, the male protagonist, wasn’t as well developed and I would have liked more from him, but overall, a great novel.

OCTOBER BOOK STATS

Number of books read: 8 (2,655 pages)
Format breakdown: e-books (4), physical books (4)
Genre breakdown: romance (5), fiction (3)
Number of diverse reads: 1 out of 8 (13%)
Where I got my books from: Overdrive (3), library (2), friend (1), TLC (1)
Money spent on reading this month: $0.00

What was the best book you read in October? What’s your favorite way to recharge your batteries (and psst! Extroverts also need to recharge, so you guys aren’t off the hook here!)?

Categories: Books

Five Nonfiction Books I Always Recommend

A few months ago, I wrote a post listing the five fiction books I typically recommend to friends who are looking for a good book to read. I wanted to follow up that post with one on the nonfiction books I recommend frequently. As I stated in the other post, I’m always wary to recommend books, especially ones that I hold near and dear to my heart, but bibliophile that I am, I’m often asked about books so I do my best to tailor my recommendation to the person asking.

So, if you’re looking for a fascinating nonfiction book that will make you think and question everything you ever thought you knew about life, here you go!

1) The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

I read this book back in 2014 and wrote a blog post on some of my biggest takeaways, and it is still my most-recommended nonfiction book. In this book, McGonigal breaks down how our brain responds to willpower and self-control, basing her work on scientific studies and lots of anecdotes. Her writing style is fun and engaging, and I truly think I’ll read anything she writes, on any subject.

Best for… people looking for a science-based book about habits, motivation, and how our brains work.

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads shelf.

2) Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

This book is a collection of responses that Cheryl Strayed wrote when she was an advice columnist, writing her Dear Sugar column. She covers a whole range of topics in this book, from family estrangement to miscarriage to grief. It’s not necessarily an easy book to read, but it is a beautiful one. Cheryl’s advice is always so on point and I found myself highlighting passage after passage.

Best for… people looking for a book that offers advice and encouragement.

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads shelf.

3) In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero

This was a very recent read for me, but I can’t help but recommend it to everyone I know because it had such a powerful impact on me. It’s a memoir about Diane Guerrero’s life: her parents came to the United States illegally, had Diane here, and then were deported when she was only 14 years old. She was left alone in this country, depending on the kindness of friends to take her in and give her a home. Diane’s words are powerful and parts of her story made me sob. My views on immigration reform have been forever changed.

Best for… people looking for a book that tackles a serious topic using a firsthand account.

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads shelf.

4) Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

So, this is an interesting recommendation for me because I didn’t really love this novel. I liked it… enough… but I didn’t love it. But I still recommend it because I’m in the minority with my opinion and it is more of a “me, not you” sort of reason as to why I didn’t love the novel. Just not to my taste! It’s a memoir filled with inappropriate jokes and funny stories, some of which were taken from her super-popular blog. I found some of her stories to be a bit over-the-top, but some people like that!

Best for… people looking for a laugh-out-loud funny book.

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads shelf.

5) Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Yep – I have two Cheryl Strayed books on this list. Deal with it. My crush on her knows no limits. This is Cheryl’s memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail after losing her mom and downward spiraling due to her grief. I was captivated by this story from the very beginning, and it shocked me that I was because a hiking memoir is so not to my usual taste. But this book is really so much more than a hiking memoir: it’s also about grief, about vulnerability, about finding yourself again after tragedy.

Best for… people looking for an engaging memoir.

Click here to add this book to your Goodreads shelf.

Have you read any of these books? What’s a nonfiction book you always recommend?

Categories: Books

Book Review: The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelley Rowley

The Ramblers is a novel that’s about a lot of things, but it’s mostly about us. It’s about who we grow up to be and all the twists and turns that led us there.

For Clio, one of the novel’s protagonists, it’s about a family tragedy and her tenuous relationship with her father. It’s about how her rocky childhood made her wary about fully investing in people and relationships.

For Smith, another protagonist, it’s about being single after a serious, long-term relationship, a relationship that seemed to be perfect until it wasn’t. It’s about her family and the closeness that could be envied from afar, but up close is repressive.

For Tate, our last protagonist, it’s about separating from his wife, a cross-country move, and the realization of a dream. It’s about taking the road less traveled, even when that road is dark and scary.

All of these people… these stories are my story. I could see myself in each and every person. In Clio, who has trouble committing and tends to get caught up in her work to counterbalance that. In Smith, who isn’t sure what true love is anymore and doesn’t know who she is or what she really wants. In Tate, who just wants to live his passion and screw anyone who says differently.

The problems they face… yes, you could say they are “rich, white people problems” but I don’t see it like that because I am not rich and I find myself consumed with the thoughts and feelings of these characters. I understand them. They are hurting and happy and uncertain and confident. They are just trying to live their lives the best way they can, to move forward in their lives after their worlds have essentially fallen apart. It’s piecing back together a life that has meaning and purpose after everything has crumbled. That’s what these characters do. That’s why I found such kindredness in them. That’s why I loved this story.

This novel, The Ramblers, was slow and meandering, even though it only took place over a few days. It was a simple journey of discovery and triumph. It’s not a page-turner, but that’s okay. And it was poignant. Beautifully written. Nearly poetic in parts. I found the author’s voice to be refreshing, unique, and engaging.

It’s not a heavy read, nor is it necessarily a fun, light-hearted one. It’s a character-driven story about the power of choices and what it means to live in your truth.

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

For fans of J. Courtney Sullivan, Meg Wolitzer, Claire Messud, and Emma Straub, a gorgeous and absorbing novel of a trio of confused souls struggling to find themselves and the way forward in their lives, set against the spectacular backdrop of contemporary New York City.

Set in the most magical parts of Manhattan—the Upper West Side, Central Park, Greenwich Village—The Ramblers explores the lives of three lost souls, bound together by friendship and family. During the course of one fateful Thanksgiving week, a time when emotions run high and being with family can be a mixed blessing, Rowley’s sharply defined characters explore the moments when decisions are deliberately made, choices accepted, and pasts reconciled.

Clio Marsh, whose bird-watching walks through Central Park are mentioned in New York Magazine, is taking her first tentative steps towards a relationship while also looking back to the secrets of her broken childhood. Her best friend, Smith Anderson, the seemingly-perfect daughter of one of New York’s wealthiest families, organizes the lives of others as her own has fallen apart. And Tate Pennington has returned to the city, heartbroken but determined to move ahead with his artistic dreams.

Rambling through the emotional chaos of their lives, this trio learns to let go of the past, to make room for the future and the uncertainty and promise that it holds. The Ramblers is a love letter to New York City—an accomplished, sumptuous novel about fate, loss, hope, birds, friendship, love, the wonders of the natural world and the mysteries of the human spirit.

You can connect with Aidan Donnelley Rowley on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Her book is available to buy from Amazon, HarperCollins, and Barnes & Noble.

Click here to add this book to Goodreads!

I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions, unless otherwise stated, are my own.

No affiliate links were used in this post.

Categories: Books

Monthly Book Review | September 2016

Wow, what a month of reading it was for me! In total, I read 12 books and that is mostly because I read a ton of romance and had a ton of downtime to commit to reading. (Not writing two blog posts a week will do that for you!) I am going to try to keep my comments about the books short and sweet because that’s a whole lot of book reviews to read. I can easily say my favorite book this month was In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero. That book forever altered the way I view immigrants and immigrant reform.

Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis (★★★★☆)

Shalvis truly writes the best contemporary romances… stories that provide such a comfort to me. This is the third book in her Animal Magnetism series and both Adam and Holly have been a small part of the previous two books. I was excited to read their story, even though Holly didn’t come off too favorably in those other books. Thankfully, Holly’s character was redeemed and the romance was so perfectly written.

Dog Crazy by Meg Donohue (★★★★☆)

This was a quick, charming novel about Maggie, a pet bereavement counselor who is dealing with her own set of demons that has caused her to lose a bit of confidence in her work. Then, she gets a new client: a young woman who is forced into counseling by her brother who wants her to accept that her dog is dead. (She just believes he was stolen.) This new client, who asks for Maggie’s help in finding her dog, is the catalyst for Maggie to make change in her life. The novel could get heavy at times (I hate thinking about dogs dying!), but it was a beautiful novel about the impact that pets have on our lives.

Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins (★★★☆☆)

I thought this book could have been a bit shorter, and there was a lot of time devoted to developing the back stories of the characters, when what I really wanted was more action in the present day. Even with those faults, it was still a great read. It is the continuation of Higgins’s Blue Heron series about a small town in New York. In this novel, we learn more about Colleen, who has played a small role in the other two books, when her first love Lucas comes back to town due to a family emergency. It’s a delightful novel and perfect for contemporary romance lovers who want more story and less sexytimes.

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (★★★☆☆)

This is the first novel in a Regency romance series about a family quartet that is phenomenally awful at playing music, which is just an insanely unique idea and Julia Quinn gets all my accolades for that! It was a fun read, an easy read, but nothing particularly stood out for me. Good, not great.

In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero (★★★★★)

If you read any book off this list, let it be this one. I implore you to read it. Diane Guerrero has such an important message, and this book forever altered the way I view immigrants and immigrant reform. In this memoir, Guerrero details her life, from childhood all the way to now. She talks so openly about the pain and tragedy of her parents being deported when she was just 14, leaving her alone in America, and the effect that had on her and how she lived her life. To be honest, the book isn’t very well-written, but it didn’t really matter. The point wasn’t the writing, the point was the story. And the story is one everyone needs to read.

A Rake’s Guide to Pleasure by Victoria Dahl (★★★☆☆)

There was something lacking in this novel, something that kept me from fully understanding the characters and their motives, and thus, it was hard to feel invested in the romance. It kept my attention, but was also really easy to put down.

Into the Dark by Cindy Gerard (★★★★★)

Very few people can write romantic suspense like Cindy Gerard. She’s one of my favorites! This novel finishes up her Bodyguards series and this is the third time I’ve read through the series. If you love a good thriller novel that’s less about crazy twists and turns and more about a fast-moving plot, I highly recommend this author!

Be My Love by Lucy Kevin (★☆☆☆☆)

There’s not much to say about this novel – underdeveloped characters, silly plot, unrealistic romance. Blah.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (★★★★★)

We read this for book club this month and we all loved it! This novel follows the story of Lavinia, whose parents passed away on the ship coming to America from Ireland. She’s young, alone, and totally scared. She is taken in as an indentured servant at a plantation in Virginia where she works in the kitchen house and develops close relationships with the slaves working there. But as much as she feels that she’s the same as them, she really isn’t: she’s white and therefore has more rights than them. It was a difficult novel to read at times, but the writing and the characters pulled me in and about halfway through, I could barely put it down.

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins (★★★★☆)

My second Higgins novel of the month! Obviously, I was in the mood to read fiction that was light hearted and romantic. This book ticked all of my boxes, and I was so happy to get Jack’s story after three books of him as a secondary character. He was delightful, as was Emmaline. It was just a sweet story, and I think I finished the last 150 pages on my couch, not moving an inch until I finished it.

One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton (★★★★☆)

This was such a fun novel! It followed the romance between a successful NASCAR driver and a woman who is working on his estranged father’s campaign for Vice President. The woman, Evelyn, is tasked at getting Gray to help out on the campaign and garner votes from his fan base. Obviously, we all know what happens here: they fall in love and spend the novel fighting their growing feelings for one another. Easy story that I devoured in a matter of days.

Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin (★★★★☆)

This book is the perfect example that sometimes, you read a novel at the wrong time. I tried reading this book way back in 2009 and eventually abandoned it. Seven years and a whole lot of life experiences later, I came to this novel with an entirely different perspective on life and relationships and found the novel utterly enjoyable. It was a well-paced novel with an interesting moral dilemma. Even though there were times when the main character frustrated me because I wanted her to be more proactive about her life, I still enjoyed her and could understand and relate to her. Not my favorite novel of hers, but not my least favorite either.

SEPTEMBER BOOK STATS

Number of books read: 12 (4,083 pages)
Format breakdown: e-books (10), physical books (2)
Genre breakdown: romance (8), fiction (3), nonfiction (1)
Number of diverse reads: 3 out of 12 (25%)
Where I got my books from: Overdrive (8), library (2), Amazon (2)
Money spent on reading this month: $1.99

What was the best book you read in September?