Books – Page 76

Categories: Books

October Reads

It’s November! This month is packed with fun things: Dutch’s third annual “Running of the Weiners” race, the Turkey Trot (I think this is my seventh or eighth year doing it!), Thanksgiving, my birthday, and a fun road trip to Savannah. Woo!

Today, I wanted to take the time to review the books I read in October. I finished six books this month, bringing my total books read to 72. Since I’m obviously going to blow past the goal I set in January to read 75 books this year, I decided to bump up my goal and set it at 90. I’m a little behind (two books) to make that goal, but we’ll see if I can somehow manage it!

This month, my favorite book was Ugly Love and my least favorite book was To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

1. How to Rope a Real Man by Melissa Cutler – 3 stars

This was a sweet romance novel and is the third novel in Cutler’s Catcher Creek series. As almost all romance novels are, it was fairly predictable, but I think Cutler does a good job of throwing some unique twists and turns to get to the ending. The romance aspect was steamy, but I think the overall plot of the novel was a little underdeveloped, which dropped my rating to three stars.

While I love Melissa Cutler’s writing, I think I prefer her romantic suspense novels more than her contemporary romance novels.

2. The Marine Next Door by Julie Miller – 3 stars

This was a fairly typical Harlequin suspense novel. There was an engaging mystery, a sweet romance, and a precocious kid who made my heart melt. The mystery was creepy enough to keep me on the edge of my seat the whole novel. I knew things would turn out fine, but it was quite nerve-wracking until I reached the conclusion! I would have liked a little more passion from the romance – it seemed understated – but all in all, a good read.

3. Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah – 3 stars

Usually, I love Kristin Hannah’s novels because I find they have so much depth and character development. She really makes me feel something for the characters, and become super invested in their stories. For some reason, this novel didn’t have the same flow. I found the romance in the novel to be lackluster and really unbelievable. It fell flat and rang false to me.

While the novel starts off slow, it picks up about 60% of the way in, and then Hannah throws in a crazy plot twist that turned the book on its head. It was heartbreaking, in a sense, but also uplifting and I think if the romance had been better developed, it would have brought my rating up to four stars. I did like the development between the two sisters, even if I didn’t find either of them super likable. Not that characters always have to be likable, but in character-driven, heartfelt books like this, I think they do need to have redeeming qualities that make you root for them. In the end, though, I did find myself rooting for these sisters, which speaks to their personal development throughout the novel and Hannah’s writing.

All in all, a good novel but not Hannah’s best.

4. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner – 3 stars

I’ve been listening to the Freakonomics podcast for 6+ months now, and I finally downloaded this book from my library to read. I liked it but didn’t love it. The writing style felt a bit jumbled at times, and I had to read many paragraphs two or three times to comprehend what point the author was trying to make. (Which made me feel kinda dumb – ha!) I thought the different topics that were posed were unique and something I would never have thought to ponder myself. Some topics: why do drug dealers still live with their mothers? Did legalizing abortion have anything to do with the decrease in crime in the 90s? Was The Weakest Link racist? How important is naming your child for their future success in life?

It’s not a page-turner, but it was a fairly quick read (I think it’s less than 200 pages) that made me sit up and go, Hmm.

5. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover – 5 stars

I am quickly becoming a Colleen Hoover fan. She writes new adult romance and I’m just in love. With her writing, her characters, the depth of the emotions. She’s top-notch, and this novel wasn’t any different. Was it predictable? Absolutely. But when I read romance novels, I’m not concerned with something being “too predictable.” All romance novels follow the same formula and when a romance novel does not follow that formula, readers feel cheated.

It was a hard story to read at times because one of the characters has gone through a life-changing event that forever alters his world. But there was also humor, steamy sex scenes (and I do mean steamy!), and a beautiful love story. I was rooting for these characters throughout the whole novel. It took me 24 hours to read the entire book because I couldn’t put it down for anything. I know Colleen Hoover isn’t for everyone, but she’s definitely becoming one of my favorites.

6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – 2 stars

I was really let down by this book. I had seen some good reviews, so I was expecting a fairly lighthearted YA love story. Was it lighthearted? Yes. But I really have so, so, so many issues with this book. My biggest issue was the main character and her voice. She was not a believable 16-year-old. If I had to guess, I would have put her around 12 or 13. This read more like a middle-grade novel than YA. The characters were so lackluster and underdeveloped, there was really no plot at all, and the ending was super dissatisfying.

This is not a book I would recommend.

How many books did you read in October? When was the last time you were let down by a book?

Categories: Books

September Reads

It’s time to review the books I read in September! This was a lower-than-average reading month for me, as I only finished six books. This is mainly due to one book I read (Daring: My Passages), which was close to 500 pages and very verbose, so it took me a while to get through it. But I’m still way ahead of my reading goal, with 66 books read this year so far. This month, my favorite book was The Five People You Meet in Heaven and my least favorite book was Ballroom.

1. All He Ever Needed by Shannon Stacey – 2.5 stars

I usually enjoy Shannon Stacey’s books, but this one didn’t do it for me. The writing felt contrived and cheesy, and I didn’t fully believe in the romance between the two characters. It was a bit of a letdown, and I’m on the fence if I want to continue reading more of this series.

2. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison – 3 stars

This was the pick for September’s book club. It was touted as the “next Gone Girl,” but it didn’t come close to matching that book for me (as one of the few that loved the book). I found this novel very predictable and the ending was anticlimactic. I was expecting an edge-of-my-seat thrill ride, but it was the opposite for me. It was one of those books that’s easy to forget once you finish it.

3. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom – 5 stars

So, this is a book on my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge list and I was really excited to read it because it just seems like one of those iconic books that every book lover should read. My verdict? I adored this book. It was just so poignant and special and well-written. I had chills when I finished reading it. It’s definitely one of those books everyone should read.

4. Arranged by Catherine McKenzie – 3.5 stars

This was a really cute read! It was a unique idea – a woman who signs up for an arranged marriage service – and I loved how it all played out. Was it predictable? Yep. Did I care? Nope. I will say that I thought the writing was a bit cheesy (cheesier than I expect from chick-lit) and I wished for a little more chemistry between the two main characters. But! Still a very engaging read.

5. Daring: My Passages by Gail Sheehy – 4 stars

I wrote a review for this book, which you can read here. It’s a really long read and took me about two weeks to get through it. But it was well worth it because it was such an interesting read. Gail Sheehy has lived an incredible life, and she takes you through the ups and downs of her life, from beginning her career in journalism and taking big risks to losing the love of her life. I felt so privileged to read this book.

6. Ballroom by Alice Simpson – 2 stars

And I wrote my review for this book already, too, which you can read here. This one I didn’t love as much, mainly due to a lack of plot and unlikable characters.

Categories: Books

Book Review: Ballroom by Alice Simpson

Goodreads summary: Told in interconnecting stories, Ballroom is a beautifully crafted debut novel—reminiscent of the works of Elizabeth Strout and Jennifer Haigh—about a group of strangers united by a desire to escape their complicated lives, if only for a few hours each week, in a faded New York City dance hall

Time has eroded the glamour of the Ballroom, but at the end of the 1990s, a small crowd of loyal patrons still makes its way past the floor-to-ceiling columns which frame the once grand hall each Sunday evening. Sweeping across the worn parquet floor under a peeling indigo ceiling, these men and women succumb to the magic of the music, looking for love and connection, eager to erase the drab reality of their complicated lives.

Nearly forty and still single, Sarah Dreyfus is desperate for love and sure she’ll find it with debonair Gabriel Katz, a dazzling peacock who dances to distract himself from his crumbling marriage. Tired of the bachelor life, Joseph believes that his yearning for a wife and family will be fulfilled—if only he can get Sarah to notice him. Besotted with beautiful young Maria Rodriguez, elderly dance instructor Harry Korn knows they can find happiness together. Maria, one of the Ballroom’s stars, has a dream of her own, a passion her broken-hearted father refuses to accept or understand.

As the rhythms of the Ballroom ebb and flow through these characters’ hearts, their fates come together in touching, unexpected ways.

My review: I was really pumped to read this book. The synopsis sounded so perfect, and I love reading from multiple characters’ points of view and reading interconnecting storylines. Sadly, this book did not live up to my hopes.

While I think the book was well-written, it didn’t seem to have any sort of plot. I kept waiting for the story to begin, to feel the push-and-pull of conflict and resolution and drama. But there was none of that. To be honest, it was a struggle to keep reading because there didn’t seem to be a point to the novel.

Another issue I had was with the characters. They were just extremely unlikable! I can usually get over that if the plot is juicy enough to make it worth my while, but with a lackluster plot and characters I didn’t care for, it made it really hard to continue reading the book. There were no redeeming qualities in any of them, the exception being Angel. I did like Angel and would have liked to have learned more about him.

In listing some good qualities of the book, it was well written and the dialogue seemed to flow naturally. I did like the ending, too, and thought it was fairly authentic – not too cheesy and not too depressing.

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.

Categories: Books

Book Review – Daring: My Passages by Gail Sheehy

From Goodreads: The author of the classic New York Times bestseller Passages returns with her inspiring memoir—a chronicle of her trials and triumphs as a groundbreaking “girl” journalist in the 1960s, to iconic guide for women and men seeking to have it all, to one of the premier political profilers of modern times

Candid, insightful, and powerful, Daring: My Passages is the story of the unconventional life of a writer who dared . . . to walk New York City streets with hookers and pimps to expose violent prostitution; to march with civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland as British paratroopers opened fire; to seek out Egypt’s president Anwar Sadat when he was targeted for death after making peace with Israel. Always on the cutting edge of social issues, Sheehy reveals the obstacles and opportunities encountered when she dared to blaze a trail in a “man’s world.” Daring is also a beguiling love story of Sheehy’s tempestuous romance with and eventual happy marriage to Clay Felker, the charismatic creator of New York magazine. As well, Sheehy recounts her audacious pursuit and intimate portraits of many 20th century leaders, including Hillary Clinton, Presidents George H. W. and George W. Bush, and the world-altering attraction between Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Sheehy reflects on desire, ambition, and wanting it all—career, love, children, friends, social significance—and lays bare her major life passages: false starts and surprise successes, the shock of failures and inner crises; betrayal in a first marriage; life as a single mother; flings of an ardent, liberated young woman; her adoption of a second daughter from a refugee camp; marriage to the love of her life and their ensuing years of happiness, even in the shadow of illness.

Now stronger than ever, Sheehy speaks from hard-won experience to today’s young women. Her fascinating, no-holds-barred story is a testament to guts, resilience, smarts, and daring, and offers a bold perspective on all of life’s passages.

My review: This is the kind of book I like to call a “settle-in book.” It’s a long, long read (over 400 pages), so it won’t be something you can quickly read through. But there’s something so nice about those books that you really have to sink in with and spend a ton of time with. I felt as if I really got to know Gail Sheehy, and it was like losing a friend when I finished the book.

I was really interested in reading this book because I was a journalism major in college and, even though I ended up not taking that career path, I wanted to learn more about someone who went after this career and attacked it with such vigor. Gail Sheehy is one fricken amazing woman! She did so much, saw so much, and went through so much and it was just so amazing to read. And, even though I expected nothing else, it was incredibly well-written. I couldn’t help falling right into her story and her words just absolutely gripped me. Sheehy has led such a cool life, but it was because she worked hard for it. She fought for it. It’s so inspiring and I’m so glad I was given the chance to read it.

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.

What was the last memoir you read?

Categories: Books

On Reading Habits

I read a lot. Obviously, there are readers out there who completely blow past me, but in the past three years, I’ve read 79, 90, and 102 books respectively. I’m on pace to read 86ish books this year. How do I do it? How do I read so much? I decided to spend a week logging my reading time and seeing what my reading habits look like.

What did I find out? Well, let’s see!

Monday, September 8

6:11am-6:16am – 5 pages read
6:20pm-6:35pm – 15.5 pages read
9:47pm-10:02pm – 13.5 pages read

Total for Monday: 34 pages read

Notes: This was a lower-than-average reading day for me. One reason is that I was reading a book I wasn’t obsessed with. It was a good read, but nothing spectacular, so it’s a lot harder for me to want to sit down and read when the book is just okay.

Tuesday, September 9

6:14am-6:20am – 6.5 pages read
12:20pm-12:42pm – 26 pages read
6:51pm-6:58pm – 9 pages read
7:28pm-7:42pm – 17 pages read
9:59pm-10:39pm – 26 pages read

Totals for Tuesday: 84.5 pages read (and 1 book finished)

Notes: This feels more like an average reading day for me. I took myself out to lunch and was able to get a lot of reading done on my lunch break (my favorite!), and then was up a bit late to finish the book I was currently reading (The Silent Wife). I probably stay up late to finish a book once or twice a week because, really, who wants to go to bed when you only have 15-20 pages left of a novel? Not me!

Wednesday, September 10

6:20am-6:23am – 4 pages read
7:45pm-8:06pm – 32 pages read
10:55pm-11:08pm – 15 pages read

Totals for Wednesday: 51 pages read

Notes: Not much to say here. It was a fairly average reading day. A few pages in the morning, and the bulk of my reading in the evening.

Thursday, September 11

7:29am-7:33am – 6 pages read
9:28am-9:34am – 10 pages read
1:48pm-1:54pm – 8.5 pages read
7:33pm-7:52pm – 38 pages read
11:00-11:43pm – 65 pages read

Totals for Thursday: 127.5 pages (and 1 book finished)

Notes: Wowee… this was an insane reading day for me! Mostly because I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish a book. (Way, way.) I worked from home this day, so I got to sneak in a little reading time in between bathroom breaks. (Didn’t you always want to know about my bathroom habits? HA.) The book I was reading also had shorter pages and larger text so I was able to whip through the pages more easily. And I finished my second book for the week! Woo! I rarely finish books that quickly during the week, but it was a very quick read (I think less than 200 pages?) But anyway, a huge reading day for me! I don’t usually read that much on a weekday. Honestly, this was a bit nuts.

Friday, September 12

6:15am-6:20am – 5.5 pages read
6:34am-6:37am – 6 pages read
2:54pm-3:09pm – 19 pages read
7:04pm-7:32pm – 33 pages read
11:40pm-11:50pm – 13.5 pages read

Totals for Friday: 77 pages read

Notes: Pretty average reading day for Friday! A few pages read before work, and then I had more time to sit down for a little while and read once the workweek was over. During the workweek, I can only catch snippets here and there, but the weekend allows me to just lie down and read to my heart’s content! My favorite!

Saturday, September 13

8:09am-8:13am – 4.5 pages read
12:18pm-12:53pm – 51.5 pages read
6:12pm-6:20pm – 14 pages read
8:31pm-8:37pm – 10.5 pages read
9:04pm-9:14pm – 15 pages read
10:30pm-10:37pm – 13 pages read
11:28pm-11:46pm – 28.5 pages read

Totals for Saturday: 137 pages read

Notes: Ah, successful Saturday! I got a lot of reading done! Unfortunately, I could have gotten even more because I was stuck at the nail salon for THREE HOURS but forgot to bring reading material. I haaaate when I do that! Oh, well. I caught a lot of snippets of reading time in the evening while my nephew was over.

Sunday, September 14

8:47am-8:51am – 5.5 pages read
9:15am-9:22am – 13.5 pages read
9:58am-10:06am – 15 pages
2:05pm-2:30pm – 25 pages
3:53pm-4:04pm – 19 pages
5:30pm-6:15pm – 59.5 pages
10:14pm-10:20pm – 4.5 pages

Totals for Sunday: 142 pages read (and 1 book finished)

Notes: Oh, weekends. How I love thee for copious reading time. This was my highest reading day yet! (And yes, I read while I watch football. My brother thinks I’m ridiculous, but combining two of my favorite hobbies? Yes, please!) I finished up Arranged, and I’m now reading a book that will take me a while to finish (it’s almost 500 pages long!).

***

So, over the course of one week, I read 653 pages and finished three books. (Well, two-and-a-half, since I had already read half of one book before the week began.) Whoaaaa. That feels so high, but it’s actually pretty normal. (I’m averaging 8-9 books read a month, after all.)

I read 83 pages during bathroom breaks (eh, sorry), 102.5 pages while taking bubble baths, 161.5 pages before bed, and the rest while just laying around. The longest time I spent lounging and reading was 45 minutes, but I typically read in snippets of less than 15 minutes (57%).

As you can see, I make a lot of time for reading! There were many, many days that I spent over an hour reading. In fact, two days this week, I almost spent two hours in total reading! In bits and pieces, but still! That’s a lot of time to spend with my nose in a book. But I do it because I love it, because it’s my favorite hobby. Other things fall by the wayside so I can make time for reading. (And sometimes, that “thing” is called sleep and getting to bed at a normal hour. Sigh. It’s something I’m working on!)

What’s the one hobby you give up other things for?