Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Show Us Your Books! What I Read in November

Link up your posts about the book(s) you've read recently with Jana of Jana Says and me!
Also, every time I type that title I almost type boobs instead of books. 
Life According to Steph

The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills - I only read nonfiction if the subject is intensely interesting to me. Harper Lee, novelist of one of the most important books in American literature? Sign me up. I was delighted for about half the book, then that wore off as the book appeared to become more about the author and her life versus Harper Lee and hers. Mills said 40983498 times that Lee agreed to the book, and now I know why - Lee issued a statement when the book came out saying she didn't voluntarily participate in it. Still, I could've rolled with that if it was more about the life and hometown of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird and less about Mills.

Everything I never Told You by Celeste Ng - I wanted to send everyone in this family a letter containing one word - COMMUNICATE. I struggled through this book not because the writing was poor but because I felt profoundly sad or disappointed for every character in this book. 

Reunion by Hannah Pittard - I think Pittard could've gotten more depth out of the relationships she began to flesh out in this book, but they were superficially satisfactory. In the beginning I felt like I should've known some of the back story, like this was the second book in a series or something. But overall it was enjoyable and I breezed through this book so it was worth the read in 24 hours.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - The premise of this book is really interesting. It reads like childhood fiction at times, but that's because it sort of is. There's something in it for adults too though. It was a nice imaginative romp. I'll probably go on to read other books in the series. If it had ended here with no books to follow, I would've been really freaking annoyed by the ending.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler - I'd love to have Amy Poehler as a friend. Her generosity of spirit and love for the people in her life is evident in her gracious storytelling. If you're looking for an in depth life study, a play by play of her climb to the top, or a tell all, this is not that book. She skims her life, and it's an enjoyable ride. Still doesn't top my BFF Tina Fey's Bossypants  though.

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta - This is a young adult novel, and it comes with all the urgency young adult books centered on females do. But there are legitimately serious issues in here too. But for me neither of those things was what made me love this book hard - it was the writing, particularly the dialogue. The scenes on the bus took me back to my teens. I loved the cast of characters surrounding Francesca. A really quick read that pulled on my memories and made me happy that she found good friends.

The Blessings by Elise Juska - I love reading books that are set in my town, it adds a familiarity that is hard to resist. Told from many different POVs in a sprawling family and spawning many years, it's successful without being disjointed. There are a million little strings that tie us to our families. Juska works them like a Chinese jump rope. And the few pages describing the ride to OCNJ and how things were different at the shore are fabulous.  

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Haikuesday
Cozumel beach day.
Book is libro in Spanish.
Lesson concluded.
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Link up your posts about the book(s) you've read recently with  Jana of Jana Says and me!
This link up will happen the second Tuesday of every month. 
The next one is Tuesday, January 13.
Since I'm on vacation this week, expect to see me comment on the post you link up here when I return!




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26 comments:

  1. Saving Francesca sounds really good, I'll have to add it to my list. Hope you are sleeping in, and drinking coffee by the waterfront.

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  2. hope you are having an amazing vacation! Miss Peregrine's book is on my list, as is Yes Please. Adding the Francesca book as well!

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  3. You read so many books in 1 month! How do you find the time?

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  4. Wish I could beam myself to you and have a nice lunch in that tropical venue! Love and lights and fun.
    I will be looking for Amy's book in the library!
    Teleportation
    Perfect it now
    Then I would travel.
    Happy Haikuesday !

    Love, your momma

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  5. Yes Please is on my Christmas list and if not I'll be getting it from the Library after the New Year.

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  6. The Blessings intrigues me due to the book being based in area I know.

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  7. Saving Francesca added!

    I really love these book posts, I'm always looking for new reads.

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  8. would you say yes please is kind of like bossypants? I didn't LOVE bossypants (i know- i just like stories more)

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  9. I so want to read Amy Pohler's book. Sounds like a fun read.

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  10. I've been interested in reading that Amy Poehler book! I will admit though, I wasn't a huge fan of Bossypants--but I think it's mostly because I'm not really all that invested in any celebrities. But I've heard such great things about the Amy Poehler book that I think I'll have to give it a go!

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  11. I'ved added Saving Francesca and The Blessings to my Goodreads! I love books/movies set in a town I'm familiar with as well.

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  12. I'm in the middle of Yes Please and I actually like it more than Bossypants, which says a lot. I also enjoyed Reunion. The Celeste Ng book is on my to-read list (I think I remembered to put it on there) and Saving Francesca sounds like a book I'd enjoy.

    Hope you're enjoying your vacation!

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  13. I'm looking forward to the next Peculiar Children book coming out. I'm all caught up with them!

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  14. Bossypants is my next "to read" book, but I'd like to get to Yes Please, also. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey both seem so awesome!

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  15. I want to read Reunion and Everything I Never Told You. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the second Miss Peregrine's book. I didn't like it as much as the first, but Jacob said I was too hard on it. I am excited for the movie though!

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  16. I loved Leaving Time
    (and now I'm loving House Rules)
    Picoult marathon?

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  17. I was reading a book set in Sedona which is a couple hours from me but I had checked it out, instead of bought. I ran out of time and I could not renew it. I did like the fact that it was based near me and it had a cool plot. This reminds me I should see if it is available again.

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  18. Yes Please is on my list of books to read, and now I am adding Saving Francessca too! I didn't link up this month because I only ready two books in my series, which I am sure people are tired of reading about. I hope to finish them soon!

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  19. Yes Please is on my list to read. I loved Bossypants! I read Miss Peregrine's but just couldn't get into it, I liked the premise but was bored with the storyline.

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  20. Really liked the Peculiar Children's book(s)! I'm going to try and link up next month, such a great idea! :)

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  21. Yes Please and Bossypants are two of the books I'm considering bringing on holiday with me in a couple weeks. I have a big day at the bookstore ahead of me!! I'll probably get both of them because I know I'll read them both eventually and I want them on my bookshelf. Thanks for the reviews and hope you're enjoying your vacation :)

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  22. What a bummer about the Harper Lee book. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorites... I would've been all over that shit had it not been a dud!

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  23. amy poehler' s book is on my list - excited to read it soon!

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  24. I couldn't get through Miss. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children...it just didn't strike my fancy.

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  25. Ooh I wanna read that first one about Harper Lee!

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