Well. This was a very successful reading week for me. I haven’t finished many books in the past few weeks, but I have five reviews for you today. FIVE. Three of the books I’ve been working on for a few weeks now, one was a short audiobook, and the fifth a novella. So, settle in, my friends, for quite a few reviews.
Books Finished
Title: The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own
Edited by: Veronica Chambers
Published: 2017
Format: Library audiobook
Rating: ★★★★☆
Plot Summary: In this essay collection, 16 writers talk about the impact Michelle Obama had, both in the unconventional way she lived as First Lady and in the way she challenged ideas of what womanhood means in this culture.
My Thoughts: This was such a lovely, lovely read. I listened to the audiobook version, which is just under five hours, so it’s a fast read and a good starting point for anyone wanting to listen to more audiobooks. Michelle Obama had such a massive impact in our culture, and it is especially so for black girls who grew up not seeing themselves reflected in pop culture or politics. But for eight years, we got to have a black First Lady and someone who owned her blackness and celebrated it, someone who was beautiful and gracious but also unflinching in her beliefs. She was unlike any other First Lady in history, and I’m so glad we got to have her for eight years.
Title: Taking Fire
Author: Cindy Gerard
Published: 2016
Format: Library e-book
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Plot Summary: Bobby’s been betrayed by Talia once – six years ago on assignment in Kabul – and when they are unexpectedly reunited at the U.S. Embassy in Oman and thrust into a dangerous mission, he has to decide whether or not he can trust her again.
My Thoughts: Cindy Gerard is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, but I haven’t loved her last few novels as much as her previous ones. There’s something that feels… forced. The characters don’t feel real, the plot isn’t as dynamic as usual. This one even repeated a plot line from one of her previous novels, which I found to be just lazy writing. Plus, this book included my most-hated romance trope, a plot I just cannot get behind no matter what. Was the story well-paced and well-written? Yes. Was the action exciting? Of course. But I just expected more from Gerard.
Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Published: 1817
Format: e-book
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Plot Summary: Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth were betrothed once, but she was persuaded by her dear family friend to break off the engagement since the match was unworthy. Eight years later, Wentworth returns as a successful sea captain, only to find Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his sister renting the Elliot’s house.
My Thoughts: I gave Jane Austen a fair shot, and I have decided she is just not for me. And no, I don’t feel bad about this. I don’t feel I have to like Austen to be a “good bookworm.” I had to use SparkNotes to understand what was happening in this book, as so much of the language went over my head, and my reading experience was just not enjoyable. The plot could be considered compelling, but the writing felt so dense that it was hard to really get engaged in what was happening.
Title: Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life
Author: Emily Nagoski
Published: 2015
Format: Paperback
Rating: ★★★★★
Plot Summary: This book, written by a human sexuality expert, explores women’s sexuality – how it works, why it doesn’t sometimes, and how women can have fulfilling and happy sex lives.
My Thoughts: This book is life-changing, and it’s a book I want to get in the hands of every woman I know. I think it is so, so important to understand how sexual functioning works and why it sometimes doesn’t. I have a lot of thoughts about this book, and I’m going to save most of them for the blog post I intend to write very soon, once I’m able to formulate my thoughts into something coherent. I understand that it can be embarrassing for women to talk about sex (and to have a book like this on their Goodreads profile, ha), but I think that’s the whole point of this book. We need to stop being embarrassed, to stop thinking our pleasure doesn’t matter. It does. We do. And this book is a great stepping stone for that.
Title: Never, Never: Part Three
Author: Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher
Published: 2016
Format: Library paperback
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Plot Summary: In this third and final novella, Silas and Charlie are desperate to find out why they continue to lose their memories every three days.
My Thoughts: Oy vey. I was so intrigued after part one – it was so well-written and I just needed to know what happened next. Part two was less intriguing, probably because Silas and Charlie spent most of the novel apart and it felt like the authors were opening so many different doors. And part three? Part three was so disappointing. The reason for Silas and Charlie losing their memory was… silly. The loose ends that were opened up in parts one and two were never fully wrapped up. I think the problem with this series was breaking a full book into three novellas (still not sure why the authors did that…) I think it could have been much stronger as one book, and I think it would have been easier to really wrap this series up in the right way. Meh.
What I’m Reading This Week
- Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward – I was surprised to get an email from my library saying the audiobook was ready for me to download! (When I checked it a few weeks ago, I was #24 on the list and they had one copy.) It is so, so good and reads like fiction.
- Home Front by Kristin Hannah – Kristin Hannah is the kind of writer where I really have to be in the right frame of mind to read one of her books. Mostly because her books always pack an emotional punch, and most times, they have a slow pace. I’m a little over 100 pages into this novel, and I am loving it. It’s just so good, although I can tell it’s probably going to completely destroy me by the time I finish it. Eeks.
- Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid – I’m about halfway into this contemporary romance, the fifth in Reid’s Winston Brothers series. So far, so good. (I’m reading it in between pages of Home Front because sometimes, I need a break from that heavy-ish read!)
- On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins – Once I finish Dr. Strange Beard, this is next on my list! Higgins used to be one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, but she’s moved into women’s fiction and I haven’t read her recent releases. Remedying that now!
What are you reading this week?
I like how you said Woodward can write a good novel – but sadly his latest book is non-fiction! Sob.
I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo which was such a great, light read. It’s my book club book and our meeting is tonight. Several weren’t able to get a copy so I am not sure how many will have read the book but hopefully those who read it enjoyed it. Now I’m reading Enrique’s Journey which is a non-fiction account of a Honduran boy’s journey to the US. He entered the country illegally to reunite with his mom who came into the US illegally when he kids were young so she could send money back to them. It’s such a sad, hard read. Especially now that I am a mom as I can’t imagine having to leave Paul to be able to provide for him. I’m also reading The Widows of Malabar Hill which was recommended by Anne Bogel in her summer reading guide. I haven’t read much of it yet because I’ve been trying to finish Enrique’s Journey. I’m experimenting with having a physical (Enrique’s Journey) and eBook (Malabar Hill) going at the same time to see if I sleep better if I read a physical book before bed as I think the white light from my phone is too stimulating. But I have a hard time reading 2 books at the same time so I don’t know if it’s going to work for me to read 2 books simultaneously!
I’m sooo with you on not being a Jane Austen fan. I remember Anne Bogel talking about the opening line of Pride and Prejudice “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Anne explained that Austen was being sarcastic with this line. I was like, whaaaaat? I did not get that at all. I took it literally so didn’t see any humor or sarcasm in it…
Ahh… nice catch on my typo! I only WISH his book was a novel, haha. The book is insane and I honestly can’t believe this is our reality.
I will admit that I’ve always loved that Pride and Prejudice line and, even though I didn’t like Persuasion at all, there were moments of levity and humor in the book that had me chuckling. Jane Austen was a pretty sassy lady, I think!
I just finished a light read of The Royal Treatment, which I adored, and I’m in the middle of listening to Sarah Smarsh’s Heartland which is life changing. You should read it.
Oh yes! I looked it up and that book seems like it’s right up my alley. Added to my TBR!