Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

Living with a Seal by Jesse Itzler (Length: 262 pages).   This is such a fun book! This is the first-hand account of Itzler’s month being trained by a Navy Seal (David Goggins), who actually moved into the apartment Itzler shares with his wife (the founder of Spanx) and his young son. I was surprised by how well-written and how GOOD it is. It’s laugh-out loud funny in many places. I would definitely recommend reading this after you read Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt me” which I reviewed in August. I was fascinated to read a third person account of Goggins and how his mind works after reading Goggins’ book. While Itzler initially kept the Seal’s identity sealed when this was first published, a subsequent edition revealed that the Seal is actually Goggins. This would make an excellent gift for a fitness buff, or for someone who needs motivation to get into shape.

Book #2:

Beach Read by Emily Henry (Length: 380 pages). This novel was on “must read” book lists everywhere so I finally picked up a copy. First, I have to say that there are a few VERY annoying errors–more than typos (for example, breaks for car brakes) as well as some continuity issues (for example, protagonist is driving the car and then magically is the passenger). I also found the female protagonist to be a bit too whiny/mopey . . . of the does he like me, or does he not variety? This made the narrative too “angsty” for me, but that may be my middle aged outlook. I did enjoy the setting (a lake house, and a small-town, complete with charming bookstore), and I think the writer’s novels will improve as she gains experience. But overall, I think this is a “No Dawg” from me. (Now am I hip?!)

Book #3:

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Length: 289 pages).   This spiritual novel is another one that is often on lists of “best novel ever written” so I was excited to finally read it. I will say that the unorthodox format (the entire novel is a letter from a father to his son) didn’t bother me like it does to some. The father is an elderly reverend writing to his very young (8 years old) son about the reverend’s entire life, shortly before he dies. I will say this is a novel that is difficult to read quickly because it is very deep, spiritually as well as about life. The writing itself is excellent, with lyrical language and lots of wisdom throughout. There isn’t much plot to speak of, but I’m glad I read this, if only to experience this author’s incredible writing. There are more books based in this town of Gilead, focusing on other characters mentioned here. I’m not sure that I’ll race to read them as I have way too many other books on my TBR list, but someday when I’m in the mood for a more soul-nourishing novel, I’m sure will be reaching for them.

Book #4:

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (Length: 303 pages).   This was a novel my book club didn’t pick, but a friend read it anyway and raved about it so I picked it up and I am SO glad I did. I adore this book, and I’m blown away that this is the author’s first published novel! Set in Jaipur, India, this is one of those immersive, beautifully-written novels that immediately sweeps you up into the narrative. (In fact, I picked it up to glance through it, and 50 pages later I looked up.) There is a gorgeous sense of place, a fast-moving plot and wonderful character development–the trifecta! The beautiful details of henna artistry (and the fascinating art of herbal remedies) are an interesting backdrop as well as counterpoint to the more-serious issues of the caste system, the place of women in India and unwanted pregnancies. This is an excellent book club pick, with much to discuss. I can’t wait to read anything else written by this author, and I will be recommending this to people for years.

Book #5:

Eat a Peach by David Change (Length: 294 pages).  I have a “thing” for food-based/chef memoirs, which is interesting because I don’t enjoy cooking in the slightest. This memoir by the chef/owner of Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City (as well as the creator of a few Netflix food related series) is absolutely fascinating. Chang has recently revealed he suffers from manic depression, and this is a very honest look at his mental health as well as his well-known (in the restaurant industry at least) anger issues. The first half of this book is a chronological memoir of his experiences growing up as a Korean American in Virginia, as well as his restaurant career. The second half are essays on a variety of topics. I found this book to be well-written (thanks to a ghost writer of course), as well as very compelling thanks to Chang’s very interesting personal and professional life thus far. I found it hard to put down, which is always a good thing for me.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (Length: 302 pages).   I really enjoyed this collection of autobiographical essays after all was said and done.  Glennon Doyle is married to the former soccer player Abby Wambaugh, who she started dating after Doyle and her husband divorced.  I feel like I’ve read the essays in the first third of the book somewhere on social media before, so I wasn’t very impressed when I first began reading.  However the second half of the book the content and the quality of the writing began to pick up quite a bit.  Doyle is a very thoughtful and talented writer.  Her political and theological essays are my favorite in this collection.  I do think every reader will learn something from her, for sure.  

 

 

 

Book #2:

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (Length: 304 pages).  This is a fascinating (fictionalized) account of the Chinese immigrant experience in New York City, told from the perspective of a young daughter of a widow.  This is very plot-driven as the reader is carried along on the pair’s journey from Hong Kong to New York, and then as the protagonist daughter navigates elementary through high school, all while working for pennies in a garment factory.   The writing is just okay here, in fact I think it’s almost juvenile, but I couldn’t put it down because I “had” to find out what happened to Kimberly Chang.  This might be an interesting book club pick, especially post the American Dirt fad.  

 

 

 

Book #3:

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Length: 350 pages).   This is my book club’s September pick, and I was immediately intrigued with the premise of the novel.  Black twins separated from one another on the cusp of true adulthood, both with vastly different adult experiences.  The interesting twist here is that due to their skin color, the twins both can “pass” as Caucasian women, and one does.  So the one twin passing as white is literally eavesdropping on the racist attitudes of her community, and even acts racist herself to fit in.  The writing here is excellent, especially the character development of the twins.  Obviously the novel is also very plot-driven because the reader wants to find out if the twins are ever reunited.  This is a fantastic book club pick because it will generate interesting and very thought-provoking discussions on race in America.  

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1

Hiking Through by Paul Stutzman (Length: 338 pages).   If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you are already aware of my obsession with the Appalachian Trail, and all first-person accounts written by people who’ve actually been able to hike this 2200 mile trail, which stretches north from Georgia to Maine. I enjoyed the parts of this book where the author focuses on the actual hike. He is a very strong hiker, has a likeable personality, and he’s able to meet a variety of interesting people on the trail. He shares a lot of good details about the hike such as what type of food he actually ate, which shelters he stayed in, and his equipment that he found to be helpful. The other parts of the book discuss his desire to “save” people by them finding Jesus. It’s not overwhelming throughout most of the book, however, because it’s relevant to his personal background (he’s a Mennonite). I will say by the end of the book it became too distracting for me as I’m only interested in the nuts and bolts of the through hike. I’d recommend this to anyone who is also interested in this amazing journey. (It’s often on $1.99 Kindle sale on Amazon).

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Book #2

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (304 pages). I really enjoyed this book! Such a fun read that is so different than what I typically read. It’s very spooky and dark, with a splash of melodrama. I could picture the scenery so well thanks to the author’s beautiful writing. The atmospheric writing is boosted by the setting, a remote estate in central Mexico, adjacent to an old silver mine. There are many supernatural elements, along with some eugenics, which makes for an interesting and unusual combination. Excellent character development, but this is also very plot-driven which makes it difficult to put down. This novel is currently being developed for a series (or movie?) on Hulu, and I will definitely be interested in watching. I highly recommend this read! (A good book club and a good travel/vacation read).

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Book #3

Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins (366 pages). This is a memoir written by a Navy Seal (AND Army Ranger AND Air Force Tactical Air Controller), plus he’s also been called “The Fittest (Real) Man in America” due to his incredible performance in many endurance races. The purpose of his writing is to motivate the reader to excel in all areas of their lives, not just in areas of physical fitness, and I’d say he succeeds. I came away very impressed by his achievements given his very difficult childhood with almost-insurmountable obstacles, and his writing is relatively strong given the genre. His talent and sheer grit are astounding, but it’s his mental game that I think we can all learn from. Some of his achievements are a bit idiotic (ie, running a 100-mile race with zero training) but it’s a lot of fun to ride along with him as he recounts these exploits. I found many of his rules to be worth taking note of, especially the 40% rule (most of us only work to 40% of what we are capable of doing, and don’t tap into the remaining 60%). This would be an excellent book for anyone to have in their personal library.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe (Length: 464 pages).   This book is the 3rd book in the Beach House series (which I reviewed in June).  I mistakenly skipped the 2nd book, but it turns out it wasn’t  necessary to read that one first.  This novel has the same great storytelling and decent character development as the initial novel in the series.  I was happy to see the same super-interesting (to me, anyway) secondary plot thread regarding the rescue and rehab of loggerhead turtles.  Most of the characters from the first book are mentioned here, which is nice for the sake of continuity and for satisfying my curiosity.  However, there were over a dozen grammatical and spelling errors (which were not typos only present on a Kindle edition).  This was very annoying as the multitude of dumb mistakes (ie, “Prize” possession instead of “prized” possession) interrupted the flow of reading.  Overall, I would recommend this as an easy poolside read if you are a fan of the first book.  

From the publisher:

Toy Sooner has dealt with enough rough waves in her troubled past. It’s only been through the enduring love of a close-knit group of women on this tiny island that she’s finally started to find her footing. But as new challenges in her career arise for this young single mother, the choices and demons of her past will catch up to her. Soon Toy will learn that, like the steadfast sea turtles she cares for, a mother must find the strength within herself to make it safely to shore.

Book #2:

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Length: 381 pages).  This book is AMAZING!  I would even venture to say it’s better than the first book (The Handmaid’s Tale which I reviewed earlier this month).  Like its predecessor, this novel is also very plot-driven, which makes it an incredibly fast read.  This is written from three different perspectives (an Aunt, a young Canadian citizen and the “daughter” of two Gilead residents), which can get confusing at times.  The writing is excellent, especially the pacing of the plot, and the foreshadowing of what is to come.  This would make an excellent book club pick, especially given that its dystopian elements unfortunately are reminiscent of what we are dealing with in our country today.  

From the publisher:

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE

The Testaments is a modern masterpiece, a powerful novel that can be read on its own or as a companion to Margaret Atwood’s classic, The Handmaid’s Tale.

More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results.

Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia.  Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways.

With The Testaments, Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.

Book #3:

Defending Jacob by William Landay (Length: 431 pages).  This was my CrossFit book club’s choice for August.  I thought it was just okay, honestly.  Perhaps because I was a criminal prosecutor I found the legal aspect to be pretty inaccurate and thus, hard to believe.  The mystery at the heart of the plot is decent, but it’s a bit too easy to figure out what is going to happen, which ruins the thrill for me.  The characters aren’t very deep, but that is part of the central mystery, so that can be forgiven.  The resolution is a bit abrupt, which is odd, given the long build up to the end.  This was made into a TV series on Apple TV (starring Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery) and in my opinion, the TV series is a lot better than the book, even with the noticeable differences between the two.  You can watch the series without reading the book, which is what I’d recommend.  

From the publisher:

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney for two decades. He is respected. Admired in the courtroom. Happy at home with the loves of his life: his wife, Laurie, and their teenage son, Jacob. Then Andy’s quiet suburb is stunned by a shocking crime: a young boy stabbed to death in a leafy park. And an even greater shock: The accused is Andy’s own son—shy, awkward, mysterious Jacob.

Andy believes in Jacob’s innocence. Any parent would. But the pressure mounts. Damning evidence. Doubt. A faltering marriage. The neighbors’ contempt. A murder trial that threatens to obliterate Andy’s family. It is the ultimate test for any parent: How far would you go to protect your child? It is a test of devotion. A test of how well a parent can know a child. For Andy Barber, a man with an iron will and a dark secret, it is a test of guilt and innocence in the deepest sense.

How far would you go?