BOOKS IN MAY/JUNE 2017

I'm fully aware that it's already halfway through July, guys. Believe me. I walked into Target the other day and I saw back to school stuff. Let's just say it gave me a little bit of anxiety. So, I am sorry that I am just posting about my May and June reads. I don't have any excuses besides the fact that I'm spending time actually reading, rather than posting about the reading. ;)
Summer time for me=books! Yay! I am excited to share with you some of the books that I've read over the past couple of months. Most of these were read in June because let's be honest, May is a teacher's hell with busy work to do. (Don't remind me).

What Alice Forgot// Liane Moriarty 
Genre: Realistic Fiction 
Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.
So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

My thoughts:  I am such a Liane Moriarty fan! She is the perfect summer read. I have wanted to read this book forever. I loved this one. Not as much as Big Little Lies simply due to being enthralled right in the beginning. With that being said, I found the story interesting. I rooted for the main characters wholeheartedly. I loved the realistic tone that it incorporated and the truth that it held. An important, great theme. I would recommend this book.

Favorite Quote from the book: “Each memory, good and bad, was another invisible thread that bound them together...It was as simple and complicated as that. Love after children, after you've hurt each other and forgiven each other, bored each other and surprised each other, after you've seen the worst and the best...-well, that sort of love is ineffable. It deserves its own word.” 

Mom & Me and Mom// Maya Angelou 
Genre: Nonfiction/Biography  
Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: For the first time, Angelou reveals the triumphs and struggles of being the daughter of Vivian Baxter, an indomitable spirit whose petite size belied her larger-than-life presence—a presence absent during much of Angelou’s early life. When her marriage began to crumble, Vivian famously sent three-year-old Maya and her older brother away from their California home to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. The subsequent feelings of abandonment stayed with Angelou for years, but their reunion, a decade later, began a story that has never before been told. In Mom & Me & Mom, Angelou dramatizes her years reconciling with the mother she preferred to simply call “Lady,” revealing the profound moments that shifted the balance of love and respect between them.

My thoughts:  I love Maya Angelou. Her life was just as fascinating and interesting as she was as a person. I wanted to read this as close to the passing of her death as possible so I could get a glimpse into her life. There were times that I got a little bored, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I love biographies about fascinating people, in general, and Maya's was no different. As usual, her writing in this was intriguing and easy to connect to.

Favorite Quote from the book: “Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.” 

Americana// Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 
Genre: Fiction  
Rating: 3/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland. 

My thoughts:  I'm not sure where to begin on this book. I have so many thoughts! First of all, I hate the ending. The last 100 pages were very difficult for me to get through. Second, I found so much of this book incredibly interesting. Her thoughts on race and prejudice in America are fascinating and were very interesting to read. With that being said, I will be the first to admit that I have white privilege, but I felt like she was trying to shove the race information down my throat. I couldn't stand Obinze and I felt like I wanted to skip most of his narrative. Her and Obinze's relationship is so unhealthy that it actually ended up making me quite mad. There were way too many side-characters, most of whom we don't need to know at all (and she goes into unnecessary exquisite detail on them!). Overall, a very interesting book regarding race and culture, but the plot was very weak.

I love my friend, Dylan's thoughts on this novel as well:  What a ride. This book is long and has at least one hundred characters, 5 or 6 of which are important. It reads in parts: Ifemwlu in Nigeria, Ifemelu in America (newly, with boyfriend 1, with boyfriend 2), Obinze in England, and then Ifemelu back in Nigeria. Things went seriously downhill once Ifemelu left America. I struggled hard through the last bit of the book, and if that were the book I would have rated it 1.5 stars. Ifemelu and Obinze make horrible decisions and seem not to care about anyone else. So annoying. Someone said that overall she felt conned into reading this book thinking it was a complicated romance...trust me, it definitely is not. It's a race novel.

The author made Ifemelu a race blogger, and randomly inserts her blog posts into the book. It's almost like the author really just wishes she was a race blogger, but knew she'd get more readers if she wrote a novel. Just know that the author has an agenda, and pushes race issues the entire book. It made me uncomfortable, but mostly in a good way, and it was helping me look for things to change about myself to be better toward immigrants. 
Negative things said: The first part of the book was good, and the Ifemelu in America sections were OUTSTANDING. I learned so much. I wish everyone could read and learn from these sections, which were engaging and beautiful. I really can't complain about anything in those sections. Would recommend...but those sections only. I really can't recommend anything else.

Favorite Quote from the book:  “If you don't understand, ask questions. If you're uncomfortable about asking questions, say you are uncomfortable about asking questions and then ask anyway. It's easy to tell when a question is coming from a good place. Then listen some more. Sometimes people just want to feel heard. Here's to possibilities of friendship and connection and understanding.” 

Imagine Me Gone// Adam Haslett 
Genre: Realistic Fiction 
Rating: 3/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: When Margaret's fiancé, John, is hospitalized for depression in 1960s London, she faces a choice: carry on with their plans despite what she now knows of his condition, or back away from the suffering it may bring her. She decides to marry him. Imagine Me Gone is the unforgettable story of what unfolds from this act of love and faith. At the heart of it is their eldest son, Michael, a brilliant, anxious music fanatic who makes sense of the world through parody. Over the span of decades, his younger siblings--the savvy and responsible Celia and the ambitious and tightly controlled Alec--struggle along with their mother to care for Michael's increasingly troubled and precarious existence.

My thoughts: Wow, okay. First of all, it this book is incredibly heavy. Which, actually, I don't mind, so I was fine with it, but just be warned. Second, I have so many mixed emotions regarding this novel. I think it is one of those books that is helpful to others for understanding mental and emotional health issues. But I also think that it was trying too hard to make a statement regarding medications and other social "politically correct" arguments right now (also included quite explicit scenes that were a little much for me). The characters were very fascinating, with intriguing thoughts and stories. Overall, though, the plot was weak. It read more like nonfiction. An interesting read, but definitely rated R for those interested. Along with that, it was incredibly relatable to anyone with mental health issues or lost anyone to suicide. Definitely a relatable book, but not written how I was expecting. It was a little boring at times, as well. I will say that it was written quite beautifully at some points. 

Favorite Quote from the book: “What I have always found most comforting about these forms is the trace of hope I get as I'm filling them out. How they break your life down into such tidy realms, making each seem tractable, because discrete, in a way they never are beyond the white noise of the waiting room. You get that fleeting sense that you're on the verge of being understood, truly and fully, and for the first time, if you could just get it all down in black and white before the receptionist calls your name.” 

Talking As Fast As I Can// Lauren Graham 
Genre: Nonfiction/Biography 
Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”).

My thoughts:  I literally read this book in two days. I am a huge Lauren Graham fan because of Parenthood and Gilmore Girls. Because of that, I felt like I could relate to her novel in many ways. I loved reading about her experiences filming on those shows and all that encompassed it. She is witty, funny and entertaining. A good, quick read.

Favorite Quote from the book: “I guess what I’m saying is, let’s keep lifting each other up. It’s not lost on me that two of the biggest opportunities I’ve had to break into the next level were given to me by successful women in positions of power. If I’m ever in that position and you ask me, “Who?” I’ll do my best to say, “You” too. But in order to get there, you may have to break down the walls of whatever it is that’s holding you back first. Ignore the doubt—it’s not your friend—and just keep going, keep going, keep going.”

JULY/AUGUST BOOKS.

via Instagram

So, hi.
School has started and we are two and a half weeks underway. Yikes. I still, somehow, feel like I am drowning and can't keep my head above water with my sixth graders. Maybe it's because I have 33 of them in my class. Yes, I do believe that should be illegal as well. Ugh. Any who, summer was fun. I miss it. A lot. In fact, I'm in a little bit of a funk because I miss it so much. Because of this stress, I am a little bit behind on my monthly reading. So, you get the books I read in July AND August combined. I did a lot of reading over this summer and I want to share these books with you!!! You just get them a little late. Hold on tight. There's a lot of them (BOOK NERD OVER HERE!). You're welcome?


The Invention of Wings // Sue Monk Kidd 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.

My thoughts: 
I liked this book. I did not love it as much as others, simply due to boredom at times. I was enthralled with Handful's story and I loved her thoughts. I found, however, whenever the story came around to Sarah, I wanted to skip over it. I wanted a little bit more from the ending. I wanted to know more and not have such an abrupt ending. 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“You got to figure out which end of the needle you’re gon be, the one that’s fastened to the thread or the end that pierces the cloth.” 

Room // Emma Donaghue

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Rating: 5/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

My thoughts: 
We read this book for July's book club. I loved this book so so so so much. It was not near as heavy as I thought it would be. I enjoyed that the point of view was from Jack's five year old view of the world. I brought up in book club that I think it would be fascinating to read the same novel but from Ma's perspective. With that being said, I thought having the story told from Jack's point of view made it more innocent, not as heavy, and made it more lovable, if that makes sense. It was interesting to read this book AFTER I saw the movie. I thought that would affect my reading negatively, but that was not the case at all. I loved reading about all of the things that Ma does while in room and her ability to cope even through the challenges of life. I loved that they did Physical Education and she tried everything possible to make life normal for him. I could not stand the grandma--I felt like she was cold, indifferent, and impatient. Even though the second half of the book was a little slow, I liked it because I felt like it gave a little bit more of "Real life" of what happens after those events. Amazing book. 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.” 

The Martian// Andy Weir

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

My thoughts: 
I read this book back in October of 2015, but I wanted to re-read it again for book club in August. This time I listened to the novel, instead of reading it. It was fascinating to get both sides of the token for this novel (AND seeing the movie back in December). Each time, the first part of the book took forever to get into. It was a little too scientific for me, but once I got past the nitty-gritty, I fell in love with the book (even for the second time). I loved the main character so much. He is so funny, quirky and intelligent. A great book! The author is a genius. 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“It’s true, you know. In space, no one can hear you scream like a little girl.” 

The Girl on the Train // Paula Hawkins

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery 

Rating: 3/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: 
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. 
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My thoughts: 
Even though the writing in this novel was engaging, I guessed the ending. It was a little too predictable for me. I have to admit it, I was totally hooked to the end, though, so the writing was quite suspenseful and not terribly written. I could not stand any of the characters--I thought they were all whack jobs, but I guess that is the point of the novel. Ha! Suspenseful, engaging, but not amazing. It was okay. With that being said, I am excited to see the movie. I'm intrigued to see how they will do it.

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“Hollowness: that I understand. I'm starting to believe that there isn't anything you can do to fix it. That's what I've taken from the therapy sessions: the holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mold yourself through the gaps."  




Fangirl // Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: 
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. She's too big of a Simon Snow fan. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

My thoughts: 
I didn't want to admit it, but after reading all of her books now, I can safely say her writing style just isn't for me. Although I can relate to her characters because they all deal with some type of struggle like anxiety or mental illness, I cannot, for the life of me, love the novels because they are so superficial and fake. It's a good story, but definitely not the kind of novels that I would say are "life changing" or "extremely well written." With that being said, this was my second favorite Rainbow Rowell novel (after Attachments), so that is good. If you like brainless reading, then this is for you. I won't lie, it was awesome reading for the beach because it required no thinking (which sometimes, I know that we all need!). 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“Just... isn't giving up allowed sometimes? Isn't it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?”
“It sets a dangerous precedent.”
“For avoiding pain?”“For avoiding life.”  

Still Alice // Lisa Genova 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: 
What follows is the story of Alice's slow but inevitable loss of memory and connection with reality, told from her perspective. She gradually loses the ability to follow a conversational thread, the story line of a book,
or to recall information she heard just moments before. To Genova's great credit, readers learn of the progression of Alice's disease through the reactions of others, as Alice does, so they feel what she feels -- a slowly building terror.

My thoughts: 
I read this book for three reasons. 1) I have never read a book about Alzheimer's disease, 2) For personal reasons, I have an interest in Alzheimer's, and 3) It has an incredibly high average rating on goodreads. That being said, I have to confess that I didn't really go into this expecting to like it. I picked it up from the library so I wouldn't have to spend money on it and so I could return it quickly when I realised it was nothing more than the regular Nicholas Sparks-style melodramatic chick lit. I started it with a bored sigh, thinking I would soon be putting it aside to distract myself with the internet or any of the million TV shows I'm currently trying to keep up with. But something unexpected happened.

This is not chick lit, whatever you want to interpret that to mean. It isn't melodramatic or emotionally manipulative. It isn't the Alzheimer's equivalent of the standard - forgive me - "cancer book". Instead, this is a deeply moving psychological portrait of a woman's deteriorating mind and how this gradually affects her relationships with the people around her. It's about an intelligent woman suddenly finding that she can no longer rely on her mind, she tries every day to hold onto her memories, her sense of understanding, and we are taken on a terrifying journey into what it must be like to know you are slowly losing pieces of yourself day by day. 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment. Some tomorrow soon, I'll forget that I stood before you and gave this speech. But just because I'll forget it some tomorrow doesn't mean that I didn't live every second of it today. I will forget today, but that doesn't mean that today didn't matter.” 

The Anatomy of Peace // The Arbinger Institute  

Genre: Self Help 

Rating: 4/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: The Anatomy of Peace helps us see how we actually cause the problems we think are caused by other people. Were trapped by preconceived ideas and self-justifying reactions that keep us from seeing the world clearly and dealing with it effectively. As a result, our efforts to make things better all too often make them worse.

My thoughts: 
Below, you will see my favorite novel from the book that talks about holding others to a different standard than I hold myself. I picked up this book because I am constantly enthralled with this idea of peace. I want to know more information regarding peace, how to find peace with myself and others, and learn to have patience with others. I loved the format of this novel because it follows a few different people and scenarios in their lives. It allows the reader to personally attach themselves to these stories and people and help delve into steps to find peace. I enjoyed this self help book a lot! 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
 “There is a question I have learned to ask myself when I am feeling bothered about others: am I holding myself to the same standard I am demanding of them?” 

The Rebel of the Sands // Alwyn Hamilton

Genre: Fantasy (Young adult---13+)

Rating: 3/5 stars (see more on GoodReads)

Summary: Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from. 
Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him... or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

My thoughts: 
There is a fusion between Arabian mythology and Western life. It's this weird cross over of two worlds and in my mind, it was hard for me to picture the setting of this story. The first chapter is intense, then it gets quite slow and boring, and it doesn't pick up speed again towards the end. I found this taking me a long time to get through, mostly because I don't normally love fantasy, but, in the end I was pleasantly surprised. I am reading this to my sixth graders right now, I am just taking out language and other information. They absolutely love it. I would say this is a young adult novel for mature young adults. 

Favorite Quote from the book: 
“The world makes things for each place. Fish for the sea, Rocs for the mountain skies, and girls with sun in their skin and perfect aim for a desert that doesn't let weakness live.”

What did you read in July and August?
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
I would love to know some of your thoughts!