I’ve read ten* books since my last recent reads post, and I’m approaching 60 for the year! I set a goal of 40 and I’ve obviously far surpassed it. I honestly don’t know how that happened, but I’ve definitely been making a conscious effort to make time for reading. Add in four cross-country flights, and a vacation, and that could explain it. Speaking of vacation, we’re heading to Turks and Caicos on Saturday and I can’t wait to be on the beach! I already have a couple of books downloaded, but if you have any favorite vacation reads, please leave them in the comments!
Educated by Tara Westover: This is the true story of Tara’s childhood, growing up with survivalist parents in the mountains of Idaho. She was raised to believe certain things, and it takes her a long time to realize there is more to the world than what her father tells her. She struggles to find herself and her own voice, despite a fierce loyalty to her family. It’s hard to put into words how I felt about this book. I found myself shaking my head in disbelief as I kept remembering that all of these things had actually happened. I give the author SO much credit for being so candid in this memoir. I really hope that writing it helped her deal with everything she’s been through.
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty: 15-year-old Louise wants to go to New York City to pursue dancing. Her parents agree, but won’t let her go without a chaperone. Cora, a middle-aged housewife with traditional beliefs signs up for the job. They spend five weeks together, and it’s a struggle, but they both end up gaining some valuable perspective. This one was just okay. Entertaining at points, but I found myself annoyed by the characters halfway through.
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis: New York’s Grand Central Station is the setting for two stories, fifty years apart. Protagonists, Clara and Virginia, are each at a crossroads in their lives. A very interesting premise, and I liked learning more about Grand Central. The two story lines tied together well and I enjoyed it, but overall this wasn’t as strong as Davis’ other books.
The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain: One mistake completely alters the trajectory of Tess’ life, and she makes the difficult decision to leave everything (and everyone) behind and start over. When I described this book to my husband, it sounded like it lacked substance, but it wasn’t fluffy at all. I loved the window into small town life and the role this particular town (actually) played during the polio epidemic. The character development was great and there were some unexpected developments later on. Really enjoyed it.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: Eleanor Oliphant is a woman of habit. She enjoys her routine and she thrives on stability. She’s smart, awkward and definitely quirky. But, something happens that affects her deeply, and she begins to very slowly peel back the layers of protection, considering whether being “fine” isn’t enough after all.
The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani: Jaya is at a challenging point in her life, so she drops everything and travels to India, her parents’ homeland. Initially, she only wants to escape her problems and maybe find out what in her mother’s past made her the way she is, but she ends up learning a lot more about her family and herself. There’s also a valuable lesson about not judging people who are different than us that many people need to hear. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon: I’ve read a lot of books about WWII, so I’m always amazed when I find one that tells the story from a new perspective. This one takes place in Italy, and focuses on childhood best friends, Eva and Angelo. They already have a rather tumultuous relationship before the war, and it only becomes more complicated.
Amanda Wakes Up by Alisyn Camerota: Amanda is a young journalist who finally lands her dream job at a big network. But, it turns out there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that forces Amanda to balance her own integrity with her desire for success. Parts of the story are a bit fluffy, but it’s a frighteningly accurate portrayal of the shift in politics and how it has affected the news business.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: As a fellow introvert, this book really spoke to me. I already loved Shonda’s shows, but now I admire her as a person too. I was so impressed by the way she committed to challenging herself and the ways in which she pushed her own limits. She gained such valuable perspective and, although it sounds cliche, a new lease on life. I liked this book so much that I’m going to do a separate post on it, so stay tuned!
Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagán: Main character James is perfectly average, and he’s always a little dissatisfied, but he can never seem to push himself to reach his goals. He falls in love with the one person he shouldn’t and must deal with the consequences. I kind of wanted to kick him a kick in the butt the whole time, but it was also a good reminder that to have an exciting life and continue to grow as a person requires drive.
*I also started Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller, but just couldn’t get into it.
