Tag: reading

Recent Reads

Lauren3 Comments

At the beginning of the summer, I set a goal to read six books.  We’re just 10 days into August and CHECK!  I marked that sixth tally on my Summer Bucket List on Saturday and it felt so good.  I mean it took me like four days to finish the last eight pages of that sixth book, but whatever.  Now, I’m in between books and it feels so wrong.  I’m waiting for Amazon to deliver this one to me tomorrow, so I guess I’ll just have to immerse myself in Olympic swimming until then.  Not that that’s hard.  PHELPS PHOREVER ♥

Here’s what I read this summer!

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The Life We Bury

So this book wasn’t perfect.  The main character was unexplainably DUMB towards the end, it all wrapped up just a little too neatly and I didn’t give a $#!% about the main character’s relationship with his neighbor, but I really really liked the main character.  I liked that he was tough but had the biggest heart and that it showed in the way he cared for his younger brother.  I do really wish we’d had more interaction with Carl, as he was pretty much the catalyst for the entire story, but overall I enjoyed this one.

Me Before You

Surprised the heck out of myself by liking this one quite a bit!  I saw the movie at an advanced screening a couple of months ago and even though everyone else cried through the entire ending, I was like “god this is cheesy!”  But then I read the book and it gave me so much more than the movie.  All the gaps were filled in, all the characters were so well fleshed out and okay, I still didn’t cry, but I got pretty close.  Fellow readers, are Jojo Moyes’ other books worth reading?

The Devil in the White City

Can you even believe the World’s Fair in Chicago existed??  It sounded incredible and the history nerd in me loved all the facts and behind-the-scenes information this book provided but it all seemed a little drawn out for me.  I got too much of a research paper feeling and not enough of a connection to any of the characters.

The Good Girl

This is the story of a privileged young woman being abducted by a complicated young man.  It’s also the story of a desperate mother, a failing marriage and a good-hearted detective.  The evolution of both of these central relationships was really interesting and Detective Hoffman was such an easy-to-root-for character but I didn’t particularly like the way this one ended.  Too much stock is placed on plot twists these days.  Also, Mia, the “main character” is almost exclusively shown through the eyes of other characters and I thought that was a really weird decision for the author to make.

The Nightingale

I liked this book a lot, though after this and All the Light We Cannot See, I think I need a break from World War II stories.  It’s all so heavy!  I loved the French aspect, the sister aspect, the strong female character aspect and the semi-twist at the end.  Prose-wise, All the Light We Cannot See is far superior, but this story was equally interesting.  Also, my mom and I were supposed to be reading this together and I’m fairly certain I’ll have forgotten the plot by the time she finishes it 🙂  (Just calling you out on the internet, Mom.)   

The Secret Life of Anna Blanc

So this was interesting… the author of this book actually lives in Denver and attended our book club meeting!  It takes place in 1907 L.A. and Anna Blanc is a spoiled desperate-not-to-end-up-a-spinster socialite, who secretly takes a job as a police maiden and gets wrapped in a serial killer mystery.  I wanted to like it, but Anna was just annoyingly stupid and never got any less stupid.  The author explained that she wrote her main character that way purposely and cited Scarlett O’Hara as inspiration and okay, that made me hate Anna a little bit less but this still wasn’t my favorite read of the summer.

I’ve got Reconstructing Amelia, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Between Meals: An Appetite for Paris on the brain for my next few reads, but what else do you recommend??

Recently Consumed

Lauren8 Comments

A list of things consumed by my head, heart, eyes, ears and stomach lately.

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The Red Tent

I think this is a pretty well-known book, but somehow, I’d never read it.  Hannah’s mom, Tracey, loaned it to me and I LOVED it.  The story, the writing, the way it gave voice to a female character instead of the dozens of male characters.  It made the feminist in me say hell yeah.  It’s not often that I wholeheartedly love a book, but I felt that way about this one.

“The Unhealthy Truth Behind ‘Wellness’ and ‘Clean Eating’“

I don’t mean to offend anyone, but don’t even get me started on the gluten-free fad.  My eyes cannot roll any harder.  Much of this article was focused on Ella Mills of Deliciously Ella and I know nothing about her or her blog/cookbook, but still there were many parts in here that had me internally yelling “YES!”  Namely, Nigella Lawson’s disdain of the term “clean eating,” and this quote at the very end: “Eating a wide variety of foods, trying new things, and taking pleasure in food is good for you. Combine that with the structure of regular meals and snacks, and make an effort to include most food groups at your meals, and you are covered.”  Give it a read and let me know what you think!

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Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Joey and I found this on Netflix while we were in New Orleans and I cried big fat ugly tears at the end.  I couldn’t stop!  But even though it ripped my heart out, I ADORED this movie.  It was quirky, it was heartfelt, it was funny, it was excellently acted and perfectly scripted.  You always take your chances when you watch some lesser known indie film, but we found a real gem with this one.  Watch it, you won’t regret it.  Plus: Connie Britton.

“How to Ice a Layer Cake Without a Crumb in Sight”

This article from Bon Appétit was so timely because I made the crumbiest red velvet cake for Joey’s birthday and realized my icing skills needed some serious work.  I’ve never even heard of a “crumb coat” before, but that it genius!  Can’t wait to test it out next time I make a cake.  Also, originally, I used the picture from the article above but then I was like “wait, is it legal to post this?”

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Overnight Oats with Kefir, Berries, and Toasted Coconut

Ever tried kefir?  When I asked Joey, his response was “Kiefir Sutherland?”  Um no.  This recipe was part of a whole “Gut Health” section in the latest edition of Cooking Light and I was totally into it.  And I was also so into this breakfast, that despite it being so gray and rainy outside, felt bright and summery.  It was like the consistency of Greek yogurt overnight oats, but way less tangy.  More please!

Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail

Joey decided we should be more into bombers, so he picked this one up from the liquor store last weekend and we cracked it open last night.  Just no.  It was 13% ABV and it tasted like it too.  It was hoppy but had that sweet barrel aged flavor and I just couldn’t do it.  Better luck next time, I hope!

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Vermont Peanut Butter

My Peanut Butter of the Month subscription has come to and end and I’m sad.  The silver lining is that it went out with a bang because that Vermont Peanut Butter brand chunky pb is life changing.  It is SO CHUNKY.  Like full peanuts in there!  A chunky peanut butter lover’s dream.  Looking back, that dark chocolate rosemary peanut butter was my absolute favorite, but this chunky one is a close second.

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The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Just started this one and because I know it’s being compared to Gone Girl, I’ll succumb and say I like this one better.  A) So far there isn’t anything unbelievably crazy happening and B) The characters seem much more relatable and real.  I sort of already have a feeling it’s headed in a certain direction, but I’m only 60% done, so we’ll see how it plays out.  Ten points if it doesn’t end predictably.

Happy Wednesday!