First and foremost, THANK YOU to all of you that commented, shared, and gave in-person hugs in response to the post about my lockdown experience I wrote about a couple of weeks ago… I am so grateful for this small platform to share things that are important to me and will, hopefully, help others, and I love the community of support and encouragement we’ve built here. You guys are the best! (P.S. I’m still working on responding to emails etc. Please know that I have read and appreciate them all! I’ll be in touch.)

And now, because I’m terrible at transitions… Let’s talk about books!

March and April were good reading months for me. I was hoping to finish eight books, so that my collage would be more even (haha), but I was just short at 7 – three nonfiction, and four fiction. I liked all of them, and I loved several.  If you’re looking for something new to add to your TBR list (or are just a major book nerd, like me), read on for the round-up/review…

Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure by Amy Kaufman

As a not-so-closeted Bachelor fan, I was super excited for this book’s release, and grabbed it on Audible the day it came out (March 6th). The author spent years writing about The Bachelor for the Los Angeles Times, and is a self-described Bachelor super fan. In this book, she claims to “tell all” about the franchise’s thirty-five seasons, and give readers a glimpse behind the scenes of American’s favorite reality tv show. I, however, wasn’t all that shocked by anything I read… Maybe it’s because I’d already read a lot about The Bachelor – like this book, which seriously aired some dirty laundry (imagine me hiding my face in my hands now) – but I felt like I already knew most of the “secrets” Kaufman revealed. To me, it read more like a sociological study of The Bachelor phenomenon written in a conversational tone with some swear words thrown in for good measure.  I don’t think that’s a bad thing though… I enjoyed the story of The Bachelor’s inception and the summary of it’s 15+ year run. I enjoyed the exermpts of interviews with former contestants. And, perhaps most of all, I enjoyed the insight Kaufman attempted to provide on why this show has so many loyal fans and the role it has played in our society and culture since it first aired in 2002. In short, this is a fun read for Bachelor Nationites (?), but don’t go in expecting to have your mind blown. We already knew there was lots of drinking, a good bit of sex, shady producers, and plenty of editing. 😉

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco

I’d had this book on my Kindle for a while (I’m sure I bought it on special), and a few friends had recommended it + I felt like I needed to read something “sophisticated” to even things out a bit after The Bachelor book. Haha! Written by one of Obama’s closest staff, this was actually a light and easy read about Mastromonoco’s experience climbing her way up the White House ladder to eventually become the Deputy Chief of Staff at only 32. Even though I’m not super “into” politics, I really enjoyed this. Mastromonoca has a quirky and personable writing style, and she wasn’t afraid to share the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing parts of her job. There are also fun tidbits about the President (she worked with him for more than a decade); fascinating details about campaigns, Airforce One, and the Oval Office; great anecdotes on meeting the Queen and having to use the bathroom in the Vatican; and even some tips for productivity and scheduling. I loved the message this memoir (I guess that’s what you would call it) offered  women about the hard work and the power of goals, but also about the reality of the sacrifices that sometimes requires. I don’t know if I’d call this a “must read,” but I certainly don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you do. (P.S. My friend and I remarked that we’d like to be friends with any woman that would put that photo of herself on the cover of her book. Right? She totally seems like my kind of girl – awesome and real!)

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

I can’t remember where I first heard about this book, but I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and my library had a copy available, so I snagged it quick. It came out in January of 2017, but a paperback version was just released in April, so I’m guessing that’s why it was on my radar… Anyway, it did not disappoint. I read this in a weekend (could.not.put.it.down), and then passed it on to my mother-in-law who did the same. Basically, it’s about black teenager who has just been released from prison (into a group home) after serving time for allegedly killing a white baby her mother was caring for when she was nine. Now, she’s pregnant with her own child and breaking her silence on what really happened that day in a desperate attempt to set the record straight and keep the state from taking her baby. I can’t say anymore, but this was definitely a page-turner, and it had several twists that I did not see coming at all. The end left me speechless. This is dark, for sure, but if you’re OK with that, I definitely recommend it.

Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro

I picked this one up from my library also because Annie B. Jones (of The Bookshelf and From the Front Porch Podcast) raved about it. Just released in January of this year, it’s the story of a 30-something woman/writer who has done all the right things. She’s passionate about her faith in God and follows the rules. She loves her husband and her two children. THEN, she meets a fellow poet at a conference and connects with him on a deep philosophical and spiritual level that threatens everything she’s worked so hard to build.This book makes you think – whether you want to or not – and Quatro isn’t afraid to be raw and intense in writing about devotion, attraction, morality, and longing. The writing style surprised me by being very artistic, and most of the time it felt like reading long pieces of prose instead of a novel (maybe this shouldn’t have been a surprise given that both of the main characters are writers/artists, but still, it was). That form really isn’t my cup of tea, so I didn’t like this as much as I thought I might, but I did appreciate the author’s powerful use of language and images and her braveness in writing about something so intimate.

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

I know, I know… Every blogger in America has read and written about this book in the last two months. BUT, guys, it really is that good. This has been called a mash-up of The Glass Castle and Hillbilly Elegy, and I totally agree. I also found it very similar to The Sound of Gravel – almost too much so at first – but it really ended up having its own unique voice and story. In it, Westover recounts her life growing up in an extremely conservative Idaho home where her parents prepped for doomsday and avoided all modern medicine and educational institutes for fear of conspiracies. Westover, who went to on study her way into college and, eventually, earn a Ph.D from Cambridge, writes candidly about her experiences and the struggles she’s had to overcome them and find her own identity and peace as an adult. I listened to this on audio, read by the author, and it was fantastic. Worth every bit of my 12+ hours and $14.95 Audible credit. If you only read one book from this list, I’d say this should be it.

Only Child: A Novel by Rhiannon Navin

This was another one I learned about from Annie B. Jones and immediately requested at the library. (I had some serious good luck at my local library this month!) Based loosely on the events at Sandy Hook in 2012 (that’s never really said, but pretty obvious), this story is told from the perspective of a 6-year old boy who survives a school shooting by hiding in the closet of his elementary school. The story begins there – in the closet – and takes readers into the aftermath of such a tragedy through the eyes of a child. While his parents struggle to cope in a variety of “adult” ways, our narrator finds hope and healing in a secret hideout, The Magic Treehouse books, memories, and forgiveness. This was hard to read at times – for obvious reasons – but I absolutely LOVED it. The story is compelling, and the style is original and powerful. I, truly, couldn’t put this down and was sad when it ended.

Navin is a first time author and a SAHM mom to three children. In an interview I found, she said most of her research for her narrator came from simply spending time with her own children and trying to get into their heads — it worked, she nailed it. This book made me see my own 6-year old so much more clearly, and gave me a renewed spirit to see the good in the world despite all the fear and ugliness that threatens us. If you are a parent or teacher (and you can stomach a few truly heart/gut-wrenching scenes), you really need to read this. I hope there’s lots more to come from Navin!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in Nighttime by Mark Haddon

Technically, I read this for school (I’m pretty sure it’s going to be summer reading for my rising Juniors), and I wouldn’t normally include that in these lists; BUT, this has been on my TBR list for YEARS now, so I think it “counts.” Speaking of lists, this 2004 book is featured on TONS of “important book” lists (like, most recently, this one), and now that I’ve finally read it, I can see why. It’s a “murder mystery” meant to model the Sherlock Holmes books told by 15-year old Christopher Boone. Though the book never says it outright, readers can assume – based on his affinity for routines, order, and logic; his hatred of the color yellow; his choice to number his chapters with prime numbers only; and his quirks in human communication and empathy – that Christopher is on the autism spectrum. His story, initially focused on finding the person responsible for murdering his neighbor’s dog, takes some surprising turns into much more serious crises he is forced to face,  and we learn of all of it through the eyes of our innocent and extremely likable narrator.  From Amazon: And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally. I really enjoyed this book for its story, its unique voice and style, and – as a fun little English-teacher bonus – Christopher’s use and definition of literary/rhetorical terms throughout. (Warning: Lots of f-word usage, so be careful if you plan to assign this to students!)

Alright, there you go. Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think?!?

Four months into the year, and I’ve read 13 books – right on track for my goal of 30+. Currently, I’m listening to I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, and working my way through Far from the Tree and All American Boys with my student Book Clubs. (I’m also anxiously waiting for this to be stocked at my library.) I’ll share my thoughts on all of those in the next book round-up at the end of June. Until then, check out my new hashtag #samandscoutreads on Instagram for mini reviews etc.

And, finally, I’m always looking for new titles to add to my list. What are you reading lately?

E

I feel like I just did a book post (maybe because I did); but, I love reading these, and I have a lot to catch you up on so…

January was a slow reading month for me. I started several books but just couldn’t get into anything. BUT, in February, I made up for it… I finished a couple of those books (they just took a while to hook me) and then got the reading bug and just kept going… Total, in January and February, I read six books for myself (i.e. not including books I read with Sam or for/in my classes). My goal for 2018 is to read 30 books, so I feel like I’m off to a good start.

I’ve mentioned several of these already here, but here’s my final round-up/review…

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

This one had such rave reviews (Laura Tremaine called it the best book she read in 2017) that I thought it was going to be an instant slam dunk; but it actually took a while for me to get into it, and I found it quite slow for the first 50 – 60%. The writing is beautiful but, at times, it felt a little too wordy/descriptive and – this sounds terrible – artistic for my taste.  I also listened to it on Audible, and I think the different voices (the chapters rotate between a few narrators/characters) sometimes confused me. I actually think this one would have been a better one to read, but I’d already used the Audible credit. Haha.

All that said, once I finally got into it though I really did like the story. The characters were believable and sparked some pretty big feelings in me. The plot tackles some intense topics like racism, drug use, death, etc. This really made me think about the challenge it is for people to escape the “cycle of oppression,” for example.

This was also my real life Book Club pick for February, and that discussion made me like it even more – there really was SO much to take from it. (It reminded me a lot of Toni Morrison’s novels, and I could see this being something taught in schools at some point.)

All in all, it wasn’t my favorite book ever (or even recently), but I’m not surprised that it got a lot of attention and, ultimately, won the National Book Award for 2017. The writing is really rich and it is full of deeper meanings, symbols, etc. It’s worth a read, just maybe don’t set your hopes quite as high as I did.

The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs

I’ve mentioned before here that I found this book after reading this article about Riggs’ husband starting to date Lucy Kalanthi (Paul Kalanthi of When Breath Becomes Air‘s widow). Fair warning: the story is not a happy one. It is a memoir chronicling the less-than-two-years between Rigg’s finding “one small spot” of breast cancer and her death. She was 37 years old, a mom to two young boys, a devoted wife, daughter, and friend, and a poet (her talent with words definitely shines). This – even more so than WBBA – struck chillingly close to home for me.  At times, it was hard to read. Still , I’m glad I did… It encouraged me to make the most of this life, to value the people I love, and to find beauty in all things. I wish I’d known Nina in real life – I think she’s the kind of person who’d linger over coffee and discuss everything from literature to parenting to decorating – but her book is a good second best.

If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey

Let me start by saying this: I’m a HUGE fan of Jamie Ivey and her podcast The Happy Hour. I think she is genuine and relatable and an excellent interviewer – I rarely miss an episode and would LOVE to be her real life BFF (though the rest of this review may take me out of the running for that title…)

If You Only Knew was Ivey’s first book, and I knew from the podcast that it was a dream of hers to share her story in this way. I bought it (like, an actual hard-cover book) because I was so excited for and proud of her. She feels like a friend, so of course I’d support her in this way… I also had a Barnes and Noble gift card, and I think the cover is super cute. 😉 And, I’ll admit, she did a pretty stellar job marketing and made me super curious as to what the “big secret” she’d been keeping (i.e. “if I only knew ______”) was.

In the end though, I just didn’t like it. I seriously feel guilty saying anything negative about it because it is HER STORY, and it was clear that it came from her heart; but Amazon/Good Reads etc. is covered up in positive reviews (maybe I’m crazy?!?), and I just want to be honest… I thought it was very well intentioned; but, overall, the writing and content just did not deliver. (For what it’s worth, I talked to another friend who read the book and agreed that it didn’t live up to the “5 star” ratings it seems to be getting all over the place.)

First, the style of the book was super conversational. Jamie wrote exactly like she speaks – which can be fun, but it just came off as too much to me. I guess I didn’t feel like the writing was very “polished.”  (Blame the English teacher in me, but I want a book to read like a “final draft,” not like a blog post.) More than that, the “big reveals” in the book honestly didn’t seem like that big of a deal… Again, they were obviously a big deal to her, and I don’t mean ANY disrespect; but, I could’t help feeling like they were overplayed for the sake of suspense… Don’t get me wrong, I think it was vulnerable of her to openly share the parts of her life that would be easier to hide/forget; but, ultimately, I felt like her story was just pretty “regular.” Even some of her bigger confessions (particularly in Chapter 9 which is the part she said she was most nervous to share) were more about the temptation to sin than the sin itself.

From a spiritual perspective, this book is definitely rooted in the Gospel (the overarching message was one of grace and forgiveness – which is SO important) and references scripture regularly – even, in parts, retelling Bible stories and quoting whole passages. I think Jamie’s faith is genuine and beautiful, and I appreciated how authentically that came across in her book; overall, though, much of it read more like a devotional or Bible Study than a memoir in my opinion. (Again, this isn’t a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was expecting/wanting out of it.)

Overall, I think this book had some really wonderful parts and the heart behind it was clearly good; BUT, I think – with a few adjustments – it would have been better as a book for teen girls / very new believers. I get wanting to write a book for the demographic of people who already follow/love her, but I felt like the message/style was a bit too simplified for most of us.

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

As you know, I’ve gotten pretty into the Enneagram lately, and this book had been recommended to me by LOTS of trustworthy sources as they best “first step” into really studying it. The Enneagram can be confusing, but this is a very accessible book with tons of great information on using the Enneagram to grow personally, relationally, professionally, and spiritually. Confession: I didn’t read every single word, but I devoured the chapters about my own number, the ones on either side of it, and Jeff’s number; and I learned SO much. I loved how each chapter was set-up with a little “What It’s Like to be a #” checklist of sorts in the beginning, and then detailed sections about this type as a child, in relationships, at work, and in your spiritual life. It’s thorough, but it’s not overwhelming – which is an impressive feat. I definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in learning more about the Enneagram and, ultimately, yourself. (P.S. You might also like the authors’ podcast by the same name.)

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

I LOVED this book. I knew Rachel Hollis from her popular blog and podcast already, but I wouldn’t have called myself a “fan” before I read this. Now… it’s safe to say I’m a super-fan. (In a non-creepy way, of course.)

Read by the author, the audio-version was perfect… It was like one long coffee date with a friend – a friend who has become super successful because of her own hard work, is willing to share the not-so-perfect parts of her own story/life, truly cares about you / wants YOU to find success in whatever it is you care about, AND isn’t afraid to throw a little tough love your way and push you out of your comfort zone if need be. Who doesn’t want to have a 7 hour coffee date with that friend?!?! 

This book was empowering, encouraging, relatable, interesting, and well-written… Each chapter starts with a lie Hollis has believed herself (i.e. “I’m a bad mom”, or “I need a drink to relax”), tells a story about how that lie has played out in her life, and then calls the reader to the TRUTH and the tangible ACTION STEPS that will set her free. SO many of Hollis’s struggles echoed my own life — she is a 34 year-old working mom, after all — but even the ones that didn’t still kept my attention and offered wisdom/insight.

Hollis lays it ALL on the table in this book. She talks about the things most of us would be afraid to bring up to anyone other than our closest friends with rawness and intimacy. She admits her struggles and her flaws, but she also shares what has worked for her to get her out of those darkest, deepest places. I finished the book in only a couple of days and was left feeling like I could do anything + I had lots of tangible tips and ideas for actually making those things happen. In short, this is one of the best “self-development” books I’ve read it in a while. If I could, I’d give a copy to every woman I know. How’s that for an endorsement? 

*BTW, Hollis doesn’t know I exist; but, I’m determined to change that one of these days. 😉 (Rise Conference anyone?!?!)

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

This one was a light, “beachy” read in the vein of Gone Girl. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law both recommended, and I thought I was due for some easy fiction, so I picked this up right at the end of the month. Then, I preceded to stay up WAY too late several nights in a row to finish it. It was great.

Since this isn’t a new release (it came out back in 2016, I believe), I hadn’t heard anything about it before I started reading it, and the plot totally caught me off guard and drew me in. This was a definite page-turner, the ending was satisfying, and I found myself thinking about it (and being sad it was over) several days after I finished. Honestly, I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten more attention.

If you are a fan of the mystery/thriller/suspense genre, add this one to your reading list ASAP. (Then, email me and let me know what you thought, because I’m dying to talk about it!)

There you go. Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think?!?

It feels good to start the year on a reading kick, and though I have plenty of good titles on my TBR list to keep me going, I’m always looking for more… What are you reading lately?

E

Happy Friday!!!

SO… How about some books to read while you’re busy trying to stay warm/dry this weekend?!?! Below is a list of the 22 books I read in 2017, plus two books I read last year that I think EVERYONE SHOULD READ.

True to my normal preferences, I’ve read a lot of “Bestseller” titles and books that have gotten a lot of attention in pop culture, blogs, etc. (Most of my recommendations, come from Modern Mrs. Darcy, Mom Advice, and Laura Tremaine online and a couple of close “bookish” real life friends. I’m also a big fan of the “New Releases” and “Recommended Titles” sections at the bookstore and library.) I don’t read a ton of super “literary” books because I do that all school year, but I like a good mix of fluffy and thought-provoking. I’m particularly drawn to memoirs and “realistic fiction” as a genre, but I also appreciate a good thriller or ChickLit read once in a while – especially in the summer. For the most part, I don’t keep reading books that I don’t like, so – with a only a couple of exceptions – the books that made this list are ones I like and would recommend.  And, finally, during the school year, I do most of my “reading” via audio (especially nonfiction) because it’s so much easier when I’m picking up my classroom, packing lunches, etc. but I love a good Kindle read on the beach (or in my big comfy chair) when I have more time. In addition, this year, for the first time in a while, I took advantage of my public library and read several hard cover paper books – it felt nostalgic and comforting even if also a bit clunky and inconvenient (having to keep a reading lamp on, not wanting to get the pages sandy, etc.), and I think I’ll try to work that in more regularly moving forward as well.

I know 22 books isn’t a super impressive number, but there was a time not too long ago when I was barely reading anything outside of what was required for work. Life is busy you guys. I’ll take what I can get…

<< Want to know more about my reading habits and “procedures”? Check out this post.  >>

So, here’s what I read in 2017…

Nonfiction:

The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower (Audio) — I really enjoyed this intimate look at the White House and the first families (from the Kennedys to the Obamas) from the perspective of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doorman, etc.

The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner (Audio) — Powerful memoir about a girl who grew up in a polygomist sect of the Mormon faith. It reminded me a lot of The Glass Castle.

So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson (Audio) — Great topic/message about the dangers and seriousness of social media, but I found it a little dry. I just couldn’t relate to most of the examples. Still, it was definitely thought-provoking.

Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans (Audio & Kindle) — I LOVED this book. I first “met” Evans through The Liturgist Podcast where she is a regular guest, and her story of growing up in church and then really exploring her faith to make it her own as an adult really resonated with me. Evans said SO many things I’ve felt in the last year or so about faith and the church, and the overall message of hope was one I needed.

Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham (Kindle) — Super light and fun read with great insight into her time on Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, and her real-life romance with Adam (I mean Peter Krause). I love her even more after this!

Hunger by Roxane Gay (Audio) — This was an intimate and powerful memoir about Gay’s emotional and physical relationship with her body. It was not an “easy” read (listen?), but it was good.

American Fire by Monica Hesse (Audio) — A story of arson in a tiny town on the Eastern shore and SO much more than that. I was drawn to this because I had a friend living in this area, and I had visited a couple of times when this was actually going on, but I ended up really enjoying the read. It reminded me a lot of the S-town podcast.

Reading People by Anne Bogel (Audio) — You know I’m a huge Anne Bogel (of Modern Mrs. Darcy) fan, so reading this was a no brainer. It’s a great overview of the main personality frameworks (i.e. Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, Strengths Finders, etc.) all in her familiar, friendly voice with lots of personal insight and stories.

The Five Second Rule by Mel Robbins (Audio) — I saw so many people raving about this, and I’m a sucker for a good “self help” / “get motivated” book, so I had to read this one. I liked a lot about it – the basic premise makes a lot of sense and I have herefound myself using the 5 Second Rule – but I think a short pamphlet or just her Ted Talk () would have given me everything I needed to know.

What Happened by Hillary Clinton (Audio) — Curiosity got the best of me on this one… Plus, it was 16 hours which felt like a real bang for my buck with an Audible credit. 😉 I thought the first 1/3 of this book was excellent… Clinton (who narrates it herself) was incredibly vulnerable and down to earth (a side I wish we’d seen more of in the election) in her description of election night, the cold, sad days that followed, and Trump’s inauguration. Then, honestly, I was a little over it… There’s only so much you can say about one election. You know? Still, the first 1/3rd was well worth my credit.

Fiction:

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi (Audio) — This story really drew me in, but I was super disappointed with the “twist.”

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (Kindle) — This was super popular last summer, and I kept getting it from the library but never reading it. Once I finally did, I was mad at myself for waiting so long! In short, I LOVED it. It was the perfect light summer romance. Super cute, quick, and a very well-done modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve recommended it to lots of friends – especially friends that want to read, but aren’t big readers, and they’ve enjoyed it too! It is worth noting though, that this is nothing like Curtis Sittenfeld’s other books (which I loved) Prep and American Wife.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (Audio) — This book was compared to Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, but it didn’t have the same punch to me as those two. I found the story a little slow; BUT, I liked it enough that I bought it on Audible when my Overdrive check-out ran out 3/4s of the way in so…

Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue (Kindle) — This was on Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Guide AND on Kindle sale, so I couldn’t pass it up. It is said to be based on the real life of Delilah (you know, from the sappy radio show), which sounded interesting enough. Honestly though, it wasn’t my favorite — just a little predictable and cheesy for my taste.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Kindle) — This is currently being made into a movie which is always fun! (There are two more books that come after this one, but I haven’t read either of them yet. I *might* this summer.)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Paper) — This totally surprised me… It wasn’t at all what I thought it was going to be; but I really enjoyed it. Kind-of like a sophisticated tabloid read if something like that can exist. Haha!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (Audio) — This book got a lot of positive attention and, while I liked it, I didn’t love it. Only after I read it – and heard lots of other people talk about it – did I come to value the character development and the depiction of the modern, messy family in this story.

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (Paper) — This is a quick read (I knocked it out in one rainy weekend) about a young congressional intern who has an affair with her boss (the congressman). It wasn’t as deep as the topic might sound, but it did make me think about the “other side” of every side.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (Paper) — about a teenage girl with severe anxiety/OCD. Not my favorite John Green, but good nonetheless. (This interview on Fresh Air made me appreciate the book SO much more!)

When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (Kindle – free on Unlimited) — I thought I would really like this one – it’s about a small-town high school that loses three cheerleaders in a car accident and another student is to blame – but I just never got super into it. I did think it was a pretty accurate description of high school life, though, and an interesting look at parenting teenagers.

And the two titles I think you really MUST read?

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (Audio) — This is about a transgender child, but it’s told from the perspective of her parents in alternating voices. I don’t know how to describe how much I loved this book other than to say that it just felt very REAL. (It turns out the author does some have experience with this, so that helped, I’m sure.) Yes, the parts about raising a transgender child were interesting and made me think; but, even more than that, I just loved this book’s commentary on marriage, motherhood, secrets, families, and identity. It was BEAUTIFUL and – eight months after I finished it – I still haven’t stopped talking or thinking about it.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Kindle) — This National Book Award winning story is told from the perspective of a 16-year old girl who is a witness to her friend’s murder by a police officer (if I’ve turned you off because it sounds too “political,” I promise it’s not). More than that, it is about being torn between two worlds (the poor neighborhood she lives in and the fancy prep school where she is a student) and being a voice for change even when you are young, and it is scary. This theme comes up a lot these days, but I really loved this perspective. It was fresh and raw and took me WAY beyond what I see on the news and read in the papers. I needed to read this book. (I’d actually love to teach this one too… Any teachers have thoughts on that?!?)

For me, reading isn’t so much about escape (though I do like that sometimes too), as it is about exposure. Through characters and stories (some true, some not), I love being able to get an inside look at people’s lives/lifestyles that are DIFFERENT from mine and be challenged in the way I think about certain subjects etc. These two books did that for me in a BIG way this year, and they both covered topics that we NEED to be talking and thinking about today. If you read nothing else in 2018, I strongly recommend these… Email me if you want to chat when you are done! You’ll probably have LOTS of thoughts/feelings!

So there you go! What have you been reading lately? What’s next on your list?

Happy Reading,
E

P.S. I’m currently listening to Sing, Unburied, Sing on Audible for my Book Club next week, and reading The Bright Hour (because of this article) and The Road Back To You. I just finished Jamie Ivey’s new book, If You Only Knew, and The Almost Sisters is next on my list (when I catch up a little). I never used to be someone who had multiple books going at once, but now I kind-of love it.

<Don’t forget to search Books under the “Life In-Between” tab on my header (or just click here) for more book reviews and recommendations.>