Half a Life by Darin Strauss
No matter the subject, I am grateful to learn something and have something to hold on to after finishing a book. Complicated Grief Disorder is not something I had ever heard of, nor have I ever imagined living my life with a dark memory that colors everything. This book is honest, poignant, and both a tribute to a life being lived and a life lost.
(Thanks Eric!)
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Haunting and beautiful and terrifying and sweet. I didn’t want to read more, but I couldn’t put it down. Touched by Alzheimer’s, like most, but I had no concept of the early-onset version. From the book summary:
Losing her yesterdays, her short-term memory hanging on by a couple of frayed threads, she is living in the moment, living for each day. But she is still Alice.
The Fall: Book Two of the Strain Trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Super creepy, really gross, and… I can’t wait to read book 3.
Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office 101: Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers by Lois P. Frankel, PhD
Excellent book. I have very low expectations of all self-help type books, and still, I am usually disappointed so it was really nice for a change to read a book that gave tons of great advice on small changes I could make today. Easily. This book also isn’t afraid to play nice with others – tons of great coaching tips with additional resources were listed at the end of every section. I plan on reading this one again.
The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Shadow of the Wind by the same author is one of my most favorite works of fiction (I’ve declared on many occasions) so even though this is young adult fiction, I don’t want to pass up anything written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I have read all his other books published in English and this was the last one I needed for my collection. He is a great story teller and this was as dark as a supernatural young adult novel can get.
(Thanks Dave & Tara!)
Seriously… I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
A good read at the end of long days during the holidays when I just wanted something light. I would describe most of the book as “very silly” and there wasn’t really a point to it. So, if you weren’t into a chapter and you skip it, it’s totally fine. I am a huge Ellen fan, I’ll always admire her.
Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance by Jonathan Fields
I wanted to love this book. I was certain this book would be amazing. 92% of the reviews on Amazon are 5 Stars so certainly that would equal brilliance, no? Yea, not really. I was less than impressed. I am going to steal Amazon reviewer Cara Trudeau’s summary because it is exactly how I would also sum up this book:
There are some great nuggets in this book, especially the sections on exercise and brain function, creativity anchors, and reframing from zero. So why only three stars? I felt the tedium and repetitiveness of this book distracted from the good parts. The first chapter described what the book would show. Then the start of each chapter described what would be discussed in that chapter. The end of each chapter summarized what was just described. And, if that weren’t enough repetition, the final chapter listed a bunch of takeaways from each chapter. I got the distinct impression the book was 30 pages of substantive material stretched to book length.
I would best describe this book as *Motivational* – I’ll keep it on my bookshelf and refer to it the next time I need a cheerleader.
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
I can never decide if I like Jodi Picoult. I am always so conflicted when I finish one of her books. I am consumed by the book – I can’t wait to finish my day so I can read more, I wake up in the morning and read, the mystery of it all always goes to the last page…but there are always gaps and questionable literary motives that always leave me a with bad taste in my mouth. Yet, I know myself, and if I see another one of her books at a used book sale that I haven’t read yet – I will totally pay that 50 cents to buy it.
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Abuse, poverty, hunger. No little girl should have to endure such things but little girls do, every day. We should all be thankful, every day, for our luxuries and for the kindness shown to us.
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
I don’t know how to describe a book about a donkey and a howler monkey that is lovely, and haunting, and disturbing all at the same time. I thought Yann Martel was a genius after I read Life of Pi (several times) and I am still certain of it. He truly has a gift.
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