1.) You Have a Match by Emma Lord
This was Reese's Book Club YA pick for Winter 2021. I wanted a fun easy read and this YA novel fit the bill. Two secret sisters who find out that they're related via an ancestry DNA test who then spend the summer together at camp while hijinks ensue. Definite Parent Trap vibes but with a budding teenage romance as well.
From Goodreads:
When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie … although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front. But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister. When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself. The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.
This is an easy breezy summer read. I read it in a day. In addition to being a contemporary YA romance, it has an interesting family/found family storyline. I loved the setting and the writing style is page-turning and snappy. There were a few weak spots...some plot point plausibility in the familial drama and I didn't love the amount of profanity. I rarely notice that in books except when it's YA. For some reason it seemed particularly glaring. Other than that...this is a quick feel good read.
My Rating: Okay
2.) Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
I have always been a Matthew McConaughey movie fan. Besides being a handsome and talented actor; he has a reputation of being...shall we say...quirky. I was intrigued to read his memoir and see what all that handsome quirkiness was about.
From Goodreads:
From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.
Well Southern charmer though he may be; his book left quirky in the dust. It is squarely in the weird genre. Did I hate it? No. Did I love it? No. Did I like it? Sort of...ish. The book is interesting at times and an eye roll at others. Sometimes a BIG eyeroll.
Listen Matthew McConaughey isn't your typical Hollywood type. He is smart, funny, talented, adventurous, and quite a storyteller. But he is definitely...how to say this nicely...weird. He is also an overthinker, over-sharer, arty, free spirit. He lives life on his own strange terms and has a philosophical take on the world that is unconventional to say the least. This is his journey of self-discovery. Take that for what you will.
The book is basically existential ramblings, some stream-of-consciousness writing, poems, mixed bits from his journals/scrapbooks, with some anecdotal stories thrown in. He writes with candor...sometimes way too much...but he also tells some seriously hilarious stories. I loved reading about his unconventional family and his often alarming childhood. Wow. I also loved the part about him roaming around the country in an RV and living in RV parks for 2 years...just meetin' people. He is the quintessential southern storyteller. He can be warm and self-deprecating but he can also get tiresome.
I read the book but I hear that the audiobook is great with him narrating it, doing voices, and telling his tales in his own inimitable way which I think would be great but then you would also miss out on the crazy cacophony of pictures, scribbles, and pages from his diaries. So I am not sure what the best format would be. Even while reading the book, McConaughey's tone is all his own and his honeyed lazy Southern drawl comes right through the text and I loved it. He has one of the best voices hands down. But too much of the world-according-to-Matthew-McConaughey isn't necessarily a good thing. After reading the book, I listened to several podcasts where he tells some of his stories and he had me laughing until I was crying so...there's that. I don't know. I'm still processing the book and trying to figure out how I feel about it.
My Rating: It was an *experience*; not necessarily positive or negative, and definitely unique.
3.) On the Bright Side by Melanie Shankle
Melanie Shankle is a Christian writer I follow on Instagram. I also listen to her podcast with Sophie Hudson. She is funny and inspiring.
From Goodreads:
In On the Bright Side, Melanie Shankle reminds us of the unchanging principles we can count on in a changing world. These are lessons that Melanie has learned along the way about how to find all the joy that life has to offer - and why encouragement is never something to keep to ourselves. Exploring topics such as dealing with comparisons, when life doesn't turn out like we expected, and how to find your people, Melanie invites us to lead with love in all areas of our lives. This delightful memoir highlights the joys of life told in Melanie's down to earth, relatable, and totally enjoyable style. On the Bright Side is a how-to guide to knowing - and living - what matters most.
In this book she shares personal stories about life, faith, marriage, friendship, and parenting all with a focus on being positive during difficult times and facing life with humor and gratitude. Her essays are funny, heartfelt, and always encouraging. I particularly loved all of her 80s references and the Texas nostalgia!
“We seem to have forgotten that we can disagree and still love. Me calling you an idiot for your political beliefs isn’t going to do one thing to change your mind; it will just change our relationship."
This book was a great palette cleanser between heavier books. It was a good reminder to look on the bright side especially during a global pandemic that feels like it will never end.
My Rating: Good.
4.) The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
From Goodreads:
In a new World War II-set story from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, four women compete for a spot hosting a wartime cookery program called The Kitchen Front - based on the actual BBC program of the same name - as well as a chance to better their lives...These four women are giving the competition their all--even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together serve only to break it apart?
This book got off to a great start. I love historical fiction and I was immediately drawn into the story and the lives of the four women competitors. I loved learning about how women made do with food rations and shortages during WWII. The radio show, The Kitchen Front, was to help provide recipes, tips, and tricks for home cooks during this time. This part of the book is based on actual historical events and a real BBC radio program that did the same. I found it fascinating.
The characters had great promise too. There is Audrey the war widow, Zelda the London chef, Nell the kitchen maid from the manor house, and Gwendoline the Lady of the Manor. I really liked the first half of the book but then the pacing slowed WAY down and the book got incredibly slow. After our introduction to the various characters and their lives; their character development just seemed to stop. The novel remained on a surface level in both plot and characters. That was disappointing.
This was an easy and predictable read. Not bad but not great either. The most interesting parts of the book were the real wartime recipes. They were interesting but not necessarily palatable.
My Rating: Okay
5.) Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
From Goodreads:
Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost. Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.
Sci-Fi and horror aren't my favorite genres but mermaid horror had me intrigued. The premise sounded cool. I was hoping that the book would be a bit more page-turning and scary. Instead I found it to be campy and corny. There just wasn't enough tension and suspense in the *scary* parts. It was just gory and gross. The characters lacked depth despite being a diverse cast. I wanted people to root for and that was lacking. Some characters like Jacque and his wife, Michi, seemed more like caricatures rather than fleshed out characters.
Pacing was also an issue. The ending was abrupt and disjointed. Several plot lines were left hanging. I questioned why some of the characters were in the novel at all; as neither they nor their background story, seemed to add anything to the plot.
I did like how the author wove science into the story that added to the plausibility of the existence of mermaids in a fascinating way. I enjoyed learning more about the Mariana Trench and the Challenger Deep and spent an evening reading up on both of those. A lot of people really enjoy this book but it was not for me. I think this story would be better as movie rather than a novel.
My Rating: Not for me.
6.) Watership Down by Richard Adams
From Goodreads:
Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.
I am not a fan of talking animal books. I'm just not. Even if they are classics. The first half of the book was incredibly slow. I wasn't sure where the author was going with these rabbits. But by the second half the action had picked up and I was a bit more interested in the story and the characters. Kudos to the author for making all of these rabbits quite vivid and with distinctive personalities. Some of them I enjoyed more than others. I loved Bigwig (“My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run, and until he says otherwise, I shall stay here.") and was very annoyed by the mysterious psychic Fiver. The setting and world building were amazing.
Somehow I found myself easily imagining Watership Down and the Honeycomb Rabbit Warren with all of its many burrows. The story telling is also layered with stories within the story although I'll admit that I didn't care for all of the rabbit tales.
This book isn't your typical children's fantasy novel. It is incredibly imaginative and the world building has astonishing depth. The Lapine society has it's own mythology, god, culture, and language. The narrative is heartfelt if at times slow. I have mixed feelings. I didn't love it but I do see why it is a classic. Although beautifully written; it had me wondering about the veracity of the origin story that the author discusses in the preface of the book. I don't buy it Richard Adams.
My Rating: Okay
7.) Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
This was my book club's pick for July 2021. I've read two other Backman books: A Man Called Ove and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. I loved them both. I was excited to read this new one.
From Goodreads:
A poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love Backman's writing style. It is abrupt, funny, and acerbic. I thought the circular and layered story telling was interesting. I loved watching all of the plot lines come together. Backman is brilliant. He is a stylistic master storyteller. The intentional movement and illumination of the characters as we move from people with no names and little facts to people with histories, sorrows, hopes, and dreams as the author drops hints to their back stories with unexpected revelations. (Many of which I did not see coming.) I was caught up in the story and enjoyed watching everything unfold. I laughed... there were some great one liners!! I also teared up a few times too. Fabulous! I loved this poignant and compassionate novel about human connection.
This was my favorite and (one of the most hilarious) quotes from the book. It had this mother of four (two of whom are in their 20s) laughing HARD:
"Hand on heart. How many of us haven't wanted to pull a gun on a 20 year old?"
My Rating: I loved this quirky and beautifully written novel.
8.) The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
This was, I think, my third Edith Wharton novel. This classic was written in 1905. I really enjoyed it too except for the ending. I should have known going in that the novel would be less than cheery. Hello. She wrote Ethan Frome.
From Goodreads:
First published in 1905, The House of Mirth shocked the New York society it so deftly chronicles, portraying the moral, social and economic restraints on a woman who dared to claim the privileges of marriage without assuming the responsibilities. Lily Bart, beautiful, witty and sophisticated, is accepted by 'old money' and courted by the growing tribe of nouveaux riches. But as she nears thirty, her foothold becomes precarious; a poor girl with expensive tastes, she needs a husband to preserve her social standing, and to maintain her in the luxury she has come to expect. Whilst many have sought her, something - fastidiousness or integrity- prevents her from making a 'suitable' match.
This intriguing novel is set in New York City at the turn of the century. Edith Wharton's writing is gorgeous. Her character development is fantastic. I really rooted for the tragic, beautiful, privileged, shallow, and yet still captivating Lily Bart...a socialite who has fallen on hard times. Wharton does an amazing job of showing the duplicity of elite society with her always insightful and at times satirical social commentary. I often juxtaposed the character of Emma Bovary from Madame Bovary (whom I loathed) with the character of Lily Bart while reading this novel. Again...it made me appreciate the masterful writing of Edith Wharton who keeps Lily as someone to root for rather than detest. This is a book that is not soon to be forgotten.
My Rating: Excellent.
9.) Think Again by Adam Grant
This was our book club's pick for August 2021. It sounded interesting (especially during the times in which we are living) and it was. It was a great book club pick because there was a lot to discuss. Our book club liked it.
From Goodreads:
Think Again is a book about the benefit of doubt, and about how we can get better at embracing the unknown and the joy of being wrong. Evidence has shown that creative geniuses are not attached to one identity, but constantly willing to rethink their stances and that leaders who admit they don't know something and seek critical feedback lead more productive and innovative teams. New evidence shows us that as a mindset and a skilllset, rethinking can be taught and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities to do it. Section 1 explores why we struggle to think again and how we can learn to do it as individuals, arguing that 'grit' alone can actually be counterproductive. Section 2 discusses how we can help others think again through learning about 'argument literacy'. And the final section 3 looks at how schools, businesses and governments fall short in building cultures that encourage rethinking. In the end, learning to rethink may be the secret skill to give you the edge in a world changing faster than ever.
Grant discusses the Dunning-Kruger Effect. According to this study those who think they know the most about a subject are usually the ones who are the least knowledgeable and tend to overestimate their own knowledge and abilities while those that actually are the most knowledgeable are usually full of the most doubt about their knowledge of a particular subject or topic. Apparently common signs of a lack of knowledge are overconfidence and common signs of those with the most knowledge are usually doubt and humility.
Grant talks about three different mindsets:
1.) Preachers- They try to convert others to their way of thinking.
2.) Prosecutors- They try to discredit the beliefs of others and poke holes in their arguments.
3.) Politicians- Try to win approval from their audience. Tell them what they want to hear.
Part of the problem, according to Grant, is that we don't seek to update our beliefs. He believes that we need to detach our identity from any specific set of beliefs and develop mental flexibility. As he calls it... have the mind of a scientist i.e. periodically question and test our own beliefs.
He believes that the scientist mindset is always in search of truth. They challenge their own beliefs and continually update them. Flexible minded people are better able to learn and unlearn beliefs that no longer serve them.
I thought that his concept of complexifying an issue was an interesting idea when dealing with polarizing opinions. You introduce complexity and nuance. Instead of black and white you introduce grayness. I am curious to try this out in my own life.
All in all, I thought that this was an interesting and very readable book that is especially relevant for the highly polarizing times in which we live. I also agree that it is good to periodically reevaluate and rethink our beliefs. This book was and continues to be food for thought.
My Rating: Good.
10.) Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I loved the book The Martian by Andy Weir so I was super excited to read his newest novel plus this has gotten tons of glowing reviews.
From Goodreads:
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission--and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.
I feel like I can't say that much about the book without giving something away. It was not what I expected. At all. In both positive and negative ways. I loved the humor and even the unexpectedness of the plot. I think Weir always does a great job with both of those aspects. But overall the book was too science-y. The Martian was that way too but in Project Hail Mary the plot felt even more bogged down in the science minutia. Why spend SO MUCH TIME trying to explain in great detail the plausibility of the science in a book that requires you to throw plausibility out the window and requires a healthy dose of suspended disbelief?
But despite all of that I found this to be an imaginative, entertaining, and quirky novel. I liked the way the story unfolded as Ryland Grace's memory begins to come back. Bits and pieces of the puzzle of his life...past and present....come together in a way that was both propulsive and at times heartwarming. I even liked the ending.
My Rating: Imaginative but got bogged down a little too much in the science.
11.) What Happened to You by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. A book about trauma. Would it be another The Body Keeps the Score? Yes, kind of, but a little bit more readable especially from an emotional and practical standpoint. The back and forth conversational style between Oprah and Dr. Perry made the subject matter easier to read and process. In fact they encourage you to read it in small segments so as not to overwhelm you. This is a book that I plan to purchase. I listened to it on audiobook, which was great, but I need my own copy to annotate. I will be referencing it a lot.
From Goodreads:
This book is going to change the way you see your life. Have you ever wondered "Why did I do that?" or "Why can't I just control my behavior?" Others may judge our reactions and think, "What's wrong with that person?" When questioning our emotions, it's easy to place the blame on ourselves; holding ourselves and those around us to an impossible standard. It's time we started asking a different question. Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” Our earliest experiences shape our lives far down the road, and What Happened to You provides powerful scientific and emotional insights into the behavioral patterns so many of us struggle to understand.
The book asks the question, "What happened to you?" versus "What is wrong with you?" which gives us a different perspective on trauma and shame. Yes, the book talks about some of the usual topics related to trauma. For example flight or flight and disassociation but did so in ways that felt fresh and offered new insights. I also always knew that the first year of a child's life was important in many different ways but this book shed a whole new light on that too. I found the discussion about self-regulation extremely interesting as well as how we can retrain our brains to form new associations. I loved the discussions about connection: both in families and in community. I thought their discussion of resilience was extremely interesting too.
"When you experience trauma in the first years of life, meaning from birth through age two—before you’ve developed the ability to explain the event—it can have a deeper impact on your brain than when you actually do have the words to explain it. If, in the first two months of life, a child experienced high adversity with minimal relational buffering but was then put into a healthier environment for the next twelve years, their outcomes were worse than the outcomes of children who had low adversity and healthy relational connection in the first two months but then spent the next twelve years with high adversity.
“Rhythm is regulating.”
“It’s especially regulating if you can walk in nature. The sensory elements of the natural world bathe us with their own regulating rhythms.”
"I believe every environment has a tone. If you were to walk into any home as a stranger, not speaking the language, you could absolutely feel whether this is a place where people are loved. Just as you can sense when something’s off. You may not know what it is, but something feels off.”
"Marginalization is a fundamental trauma. This is why I believe that a truly trauma-informed system is an anti-racist system. The destructive effects of racial marginalizing are pervasive and severe.”
"When you've lived through adversity, you can come to a point in your life where you can look back, reflect, learn and grow from the experience. I believe it's hard to understand humankind unless you know a little bit about adversity. Adversity, challenges, disappointment, loss, trauma - all can contribute to the capacity to be broadly empathic, to become wise."
I could go on and on with the quotes. This should be recommended reading. It offers compassion and understanding to those who have experienced trauma and to those who love them. This was a personally meaningful and thought-provoking book.
My Rating: Excellent. A must-read.
12.) The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
I really liked Sally Hepworth's book The Mother-in-Law so I was excited to read her new novel. I enjoy her books. They are always propulsive fun reads.
From Goodreads:
Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be...dangerous. When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple. Fern's mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden.
This was a domestic suspense drama. The story centers around Fern and Rose, fraternal twins. Each of the twins alternates telling the story from their perspective. I particularly loved the character of Fern who is on the autism spectrum and found her to be an incredibly interesting character. She was awesome!
This was a quick and entertaining book. While it wasn't as good nor as thought-provoking as The Mother-in-Law it was still a fun read with interesting turns. I enjoy Sally Hepworth's writing style and look forward to reading more of her work.
My Rating: Good
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