5 Novels on My “Summer To Be Read List”:

(1) Beartown* by Fredrik Backman

(2) Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

(3) Fitness Junkie: A Novel by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza (due 7.11.17)

(4) This Is How It Always Is: A Novel* by Laurie Frankel

(5) He Said/She Said: A Novel* by Erin Kelly (due 6.6.17)

*These books were recommended by my go-to book girl – Modern Mrs. Darcy as part of her Summer Reading Guide. If you haven’t downloaded it yet – and tried out the fun new “check box” feature – you need to ASAP!

Obviously this isn’t my whole TBR list – it has more than 50 titles on it!!! – just some of the newer, fiction titles and ones I’m particularly excited to dig into on the beach this summer.

Are you planning to read any of these?! What’s on your list?!?! Please share!!!

Happy Friday!

E

P.S. Want to know how I keep track of my giant list of books? How I read them all without spending a fortune? Check out this post.

Oh, hey there… Still here. Still being the worst blogger.

You already know what I’ve not been doing lately (writing); but, I *have* been doing a good bit of reading….

In 2016, I read 21 books (you can see reviews of most of them here). I realize that’s not a ton to many people, but I was pretty happy with that number – it’s definitely up from some years. My goal for 2017 is 30 (+ one per month #youdothemath with Sam). It’s decently lofty, but I’m already off and runnings, so we’ll see…

Soon, I’ll share three books I’ve already knocked off my “To Read” list & a few other titles that I’m particularly excited about this year. But first, I thought we’d chat about some of my reading habits – you know, the what/where/when/hows. I’m kind-of a nerd about it all and have quite the “system” for choosing, keeping track of, and finding the best deals on books. You probably have your own methods (or not? just me?), but maybe you’ll get some ideas from all my madness….

*Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to the awesome “Readers Gonna Read” tee I’m wearing above. I’ve loved it for forever, and blogged about it many times, but I’ve got a great deal on it for YOU today!

So, here we go…

On Choosing Books:

I’ve always been a fan of reading new/popular titles. In middle school, my librarian literally set books aside for me when they first came in, and as I got older I always went straight for the “New and Noteworthy” table at Barnes and Noble. These days, in addition to good ole word of mouth from friends and the occasional skim of the Bestseller tab on Amazon/Kindle, I’m pretty reliant on the internet to tell me what “everyone” is reading, and I love to follow the trends. #noshame My favorite blog and podcast sources for book recommendations are: Modern Mrs. Darcy (and her podcast What Should I Read Next?) first and foremost, The Sorta Awesome Show – I particularly like Laura Tremaine’s recommendations, and often get ideas from her monthly “Secret Post”/newsletter, Mom Advice Blog, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, and The Popcast. There’s more of course (bloggers LOVE to talk about books), but these are my go-tos.

When it comes to choosing books for my kids and/or to read with Sam, I love the Read-Aloud Revival Podcast (we’ve been working our way through this list of first novels) and get lots of great ideas from Cool Mom Picks.

On Keeping Track of Books:

In any given week, I might run across as many as five book titles that sound interesting to me. Honestly, all the choices can get overwhelming, and I definitely don’t trust myself to remember everything; so I started a master “To Read” list on Google Keep about a year ago.  Usually when I first hear about a book, I do a quick Amazon or Google search to confirm that it’s something I’d like, then, if it is, I add it to my list. *I know there are much fancier notebooks and methods for keeping track of stuff like this (Goodreads, for example), but I’ve tried lots of them and this just works best for me. I love the simplicity of a basic list and having it right on my phone or laptop (Google Keep updates on both, which is awesome).

The list itself is organized into a few different categories (simply separated by a blank line): At the top of the list, I put the books I’m currently reading or want to read immediately, then I have a list of nonfiction titles (usually labeled with NF), and a list of fiction titles (F). I don’t usually put the author’s name (too much to type) unless its necessary for some reason. If a book hasn’t come out yet, I will usually add the release date too.

This will make more sense once you read the next little section on how I get my books, but I also label each title once I “purchase” or “reserve” it so I know where to find it when I’m ready to read. For example, if I reserve a book at the library, I mark it as so. If I find it on sale for Kindle and buy it for later, I label that too. Honestly, without this little system, I guarantee I would buy the same book multiple times. It’s all very sophisticated and necessary.

When I’m done reading something, I cross it off my electronic list and mark it with the date it was finished. I love having a record of what I’ve already read, and keeping the running list of what I want to read helps me never get caught without a book and get the best deals on the ones I decide to buy (coming up).

Side note: I fully realize I will NEVER get to every book on my list. There are more than 30 titles on there now, and I always add faster than I can read. It’s not like it’s a “challenge,” just a way to keep track. Sometimes I will delete a book from the list (different from crossing it off which indicates I read/finished it) if it’s been on there for a while, and I never read it/ stopped thinking about it.

On Buying/Getting Books:

Ok, this is where things get complicated. Haha. Basically, there are five(ish) ways I get books… I’ll explain each of them briefly, but you should probably know first that close to 50% of my “reading” is done through audiobooks these days (it counts – look it up), and I read about 90% of the books I actually “read” on my Kindle… I was an early Kindle adopter and – though I do still love the feeling of a book in my hands – I love the portability of a Kindle (I can take 10 books on vacation without taking up any space in my suitcase), the fact that I can read with one hand and without a light on (KEY during the baby/nursing stages of my life), and that I can buy a book with just a click no matter where I am, what time it is, etc. I’ve been reading in this format for about six years now, and I don’t expect that will change.

Of course, buying books can get super expensive, so – though that’s a priority to Jeff and I and something we’re willing to spend some money on – I try to be smart about it. Here’s my general game plan…

1. I always check Overdrive first.  If you are a reader and you aren’t using this, you need to be. Bottom line. Basically, it’s a free service through the public library that allows users to “check-out” Kindle/electronic books and audiobooks using their library cards for a set amount of time. My local library’s collection isn’t huge, so they don’t always have what I want; and, often, the waiting list for “big” titles is loooong (it’s just like a regular library in that sense), but I’ve been able to read some great books completely free this way, and there are LOTS of good books for kids. (One problem: It never fails that several books become “available” at the same time for me, and there is just no way I can read/listen to them all in the same 14 days. I thought this was a major issue, but Tsh’s Tip #3.5 last week might just change my life.)
2. I check Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Kindle Deals every day. My favorite blogger, Anne of MMD (mentioned above) does all the hard work of scouting deals for me and posts them every single day (even weekends). Scrolling through her list has become a part of my lunchtime routines, and I’ve gotten GREAT books for SUPER cheap thanks to her. (You can also subscribe to the list in the form of an email newsletter.) Every once in a while, she will share a deal on a book I’d never heard of but that strikes me enough to grab it “for a rainy day;” but, mostly, this is where my big “To Read” list comes in. Every day I am really just skimming to see if any of the titles I already want to read are on sale, and you’d be surprised how often they are!!! Even if I’m not ready to read it yet, if it’s on my list, and it’s on sale (we’re talking $1.99 – $4.99 per book folks), I buy it (and label it as such on my list).
3. I subscribe to Audible and get one book per month with a credit. Jeff and I go back and forth all the time about whether or not the $14.95/month fee is “worth it,” but – to me – it totally is. I LOVE audiobooks (see above), but they are NOT CHEAP (in fact, it’s hard to find an audiobook for less than $14.95). I’m careful about how I use my audible credits (i.e. try to save them for expensive new-release type books that I likely won’t find discounted or free) AND, if at all possible, choose titles that I think Jeff will like too.
4. I buy for Kindle (at regular price) if all of the above fails & add Whispersync if it’s a bargain (it usually is). Ultimately, if there’s a book I REALLY want, and I can’t find it anywhere else, I’ll suck it up and buy it for Kindle. Best case scenario: The Kindle book will have the option to “add Whispersync narration” for a good price too. I LOVE that that allows me to switch back and forth between Kindle and audio – though I usually just stick with audio. (I’ve written about Whispersync many times, but probably explain it best here.)
5. I buy a hard copy from Barnes and Noble or Amazon. This method is usually reserved for “special” books that I think I will want to mark inside, pass on to a friend, or display as “decor” in my house. Examples recently include Hillbilly Elegy, Chasing Slow, and Grace Not Perfection. I also like to buy hard copies of most books for my kids. (P.S. Teachers get 20% off Barnes & Noble, which is huge!!!)

On Actually Reading:

No great secrets to share here. This is just as hard for me as it is for you… Like I said at the beginning of this post, I know my 20-30 books a year is not super impressive compared to many people; but, I try to take into account this stage of my life and just be happy with what I DO read instead of worrying about what I don’t. A few things that have helped me read more in the last couple of years are adding more audiobooks (this has been HUGE – I listen while I’m driving, exercising, tidying the house, folding laundry, cooking dinner, doing menial tasks at work, etc. etc. etc.), allowing myself to quit a book I don’t like (also a pretty big deal for me – it means less books overall sometimes, but more quality books), reading before bed, and not feeling guilty about reading instead of doing other things (like cleaning, writing, or even playing with my kids) sometimes.

On that note, I obviously try to do a lot of reading WITH my kids too. I’ve written lots about this in this post, but Sam and I almost always have a book going together, and we like to listen to audiobooks in the car. Moreover, I’ve come to believe that providing opportunities for my kids to see ME reading can be almost as important to actually reading TO them in shaping them into book-lovers, so I do try to make that a priority. Just like with my students, if I tell Sam he has to have a quiet time and “read” some books, I genuinely try to model that behavior by curling up with a good book for myself during that time too. No guilt. This is something I hope to be even more intentional about as he gets older and is able to read more on his own AND over the summers when we have more “down time” together overall.

So there you have it. More than you ever wanted to know. 😉 Don’t forget to check out the Books category under the “Life In-Between” tab on my homepage (or just click here) and check back soon for some specific book titles and reviews… Until then, don’t miss the great deal below!!!

Books and reading are SO important to me. I’ve proudly claimed the label of “reader” for as long as I can remember, and I love passing down that identity and passion to Sam and Nora. These “Readers Gonna Read” t-shirts (shown above on my two little readers before bedtime last night) are the cutest, and the cool folks at Cents of Style gave me a great deal on them to share with you!!!

Normally pretty pricey, Sam & Scout readers can get the kids’ tee for just $12.95 and the adult for only $16.95 + free shipping by buying through the link below (yep, it’s an affiliate link, but you’re saving way more money than I’m making, and I legit love these shirts – promise)and using code LOVETOREAD when you checkout!!! (There are a couple other great “bookish” styles included in the promo too – like “More Books, Less Selfies” which I also have!)

Sam & Scout Exclusive – Reader’s Tee (Kids’ for $12.95, Adults’ for $16.95)

+ Free Shipping with code LOVETOREAD

Hurry and grab one NOW to have it for Read Across America Day / Dr. Suess’s birthday next Thursday (3/2). I’ll definitely be wearing mine to school that day!! (They would make great Easter basket stuffers too!)

Until tomorrow,

E

P.S. A quick note about sizing… These a meant to be a little more fitted/hipster style (hence the v-neck) so they run a bit small. Mine is a large, and it’s flattering (I think) but not loose. I ordered both kids’ true to size (Nora – 18 month and Sam 5T), and they both probably could wear one size up. Just FYI.

I’m still here! Were you getting worried about me yet? Thanks to a leak through our kitchen ceiling that prompted us a brief stay at the Hotel de In-Laws and millions of papers that didn’t grade themselves over my break, 2017 has been off to a MUCH busier (and stressful) start than I’d hoped. I’m actually planning to block out this week and next entirely from my calendar and actually “start fresh” after my semester grades are turned in (and our kitchen ceiling is patched) in a few weeks. I have lots of “drafts” and things I *want* to share here, but we’ll see what actually makes it to the blog between now and then. Thanks for your patience!

Now, on to the books I read over winter break…

*Note* I don’t want you to think I completely neglected my kids (and all other adult responsibilities) for the last two weeks while I read… I mean, I did a little (how else do you think I avoided grading those papers?), but I was also already more than halfway through two of these books when school let out, and I listened to three of them on audio. Still, the “extra time” to devote to my favorite pastime was amazing, and I’ve totally got the “reading bug” now…

(And, in case you are wondering, none of these reviews/links are sponsored or affiliate.)

Grace Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley

Obviously, I had high expectations for this book. As you well know, I love Emily Ley. I think her heart and her passion for helping women embrace the things that matter in life (and let go of the rest) comes through in everything she does – and this book was no exception. More than anything else, this was just a refreshing read about a real wife/mom/business owner, who followed a passion, took risks, and built/is building the life she wants. I felt like I could really hear the Emily I’ve grown to know via the internet in these pages — it was like one long coffee date with a trusted friend. (Even the pictures inside feature images of toy-strewn playrooms, laundry days, and hoodie sweatshirts and are a beautiful reflection of “real life” and all its messy joys.) She humbly shares her story – the ups and downs – and gently offers practical advice and tips (along with several  “worksheet” type pages for self-reflection etc.) for simplifying and making the most of your own life. Full disclosure: I didn’t feel like the ideas here were necessarily revolutionary or “brand new” to me, but what the book lacks in that area, it absolutely makes up for with its gorgeous design – definitely worth buying in hard cover – and sincere tone.  This is a GREAT book to give as a gift and/or to keep on your own night stand all the time.  (This is still on sale – both Kindle and hard cover versions – for less than $10.00!)

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

This was probably one of the most talked about books of 2016, and for good reason… Written by 32 year-old J.D. Vance – who grew up in the poor mountains of Appalachia and went on to, eventually, graduate from Yale Law School and live/work in San Francisco – this book received a lot of attention back in November after The New York Times called it “one of 6 books to help understand Trump’s win.” I, admittedly, was intrigued by that label; but, largely because of it, really expected a political book of sorts… In reality, only a tiny bit of this book touches on politics and policy; and I was pleasantly surprised to find, instead, a powerful memoir in the vein of Jeanette Walls The Glass Castle. Vance is a great storyteller, and he doesn’t hold back in discussing his family’s (and those around him) struggles with poverty, abuse, alcoholism, etc. The story is funny, insightful, and both profoundly sad and hopeful at the same time. All said, I liked this book enough and found it important enough to consider actually teaching it next year in my AP eleventh grade class; and, for sure, I’d call it one of my “favorites” of the year.

*Jeff and I bought this book in hardcover, but I ended up listening to it on audio and highly recommend that method – though there is a good bit of language and “mature content” so don’t listen around little ears – because the author reads it.

All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior

This book had been on my “to read” list for a while, and I’d heard lots of people rave about how great it was, so when it was on super Kindle/Whispersync audio deal last month, I grabbed it!  It is the type of book I really enjoy – well researched with plenty of stories and personal accounts to keep it from being too technical – and the message was something I REALLY resonated with from my first year or so as a mom… Basically, the autonomy that individuals give up when they have children. Without getting super personal in a book review, I struggled A LOT with that exact thing after Sam was born, but I didn’t really have the words to express it, and it wasn’t something I had read/heard in all the parenting books I’d been reading. Since Jeff and I were the first of our friends to have kids, I think we experienced this even more acutely because our peers were still “living it up” with complete freedom over their time/money/energy/etc. Of ALL the books I read when I was a new mom, I *wish* I had read this one – I think it would have offered a lot of insight into some of the feelings I was having and – more importantly – given me some reassurance that I was “normal,” and helped me to express some of my experience.

All that said, I didn’t *love* this book as much as I thought I would at this stage in my parenting journey – perhaps because I feel like I’ve lived it and reached this conclusion already on my own over the last five years. I don’t mourn that autonomy the way I used to, and I FULLY recognize the joy that is the reward of its surrender.

So, in short, I liked this book because I think what it has to say is VERY true and VERY important; but, I didn’t connect with it the way I think I would have a few years ago. This is a book I STRONGLY recommend for new(ish) parents – especially those that are kind-of “blazing the trail of parenthood” among their friends – and/or anyone who is struggling to express their simultaneous mourning of their pre-kid life AND the absolute adoration of their kids.

I hope that makes some semblance of sense. 😉

Small Great Things: A Novel by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult has been one of my favorite writers since I first read My Sister’s Keeper in college, but I took a short break from her books when I felt like she was just “cranking them out” a few years ago, and Small Great Things was the first I’d read in awhile… It was worth the wait – she knocked it out of the park with this one. I actually bought the hardcover paper-copy (something I don’t do often) and read all 400 and some pages in a little less than two weeks. Without question, it was my favorite read of 2016 and a great way to end my reading year.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the plot follows a black labor and delivery nurse who is faced with serious legal charges after the baby of white supremacist parents dies under her care. True to Picoult’s style, the book is incredibly well researched and does an excellent job of incorporating medical, legal, and moral/ethical issues into a story with well-developed characters. Perhaps even more than usual in this book, I thought Picoult tackled a very touchy subject – mainly, racism – that she has little personal experience with – extremely well. It is evident that she devoted a lot of time and attention to interviewing and really getting to know the people on both sides of this story. Most importantly, for me at least, she made *me* think and re-evaluate my own prejudices in a way that was both subtle and powerful; which, according to her Epilogue, was really her biggest hope in writing the book all along.

Bottom line: Read this.

I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson

Haha! What a funny book this is – especially following the last one… This was a last minute addition to my list after I saw on MMD (if you aren’t following her daily Kindle Deals, you are MISSING OUT) that it was on sale for only $1.99 + $2.99 audio. As a loyal Bachelor fan, I’ve had a vague interest in Courtney’s book (who won Ben Flajnik”s season in 2011) ever since it came out a couple of years ago; but the price – combined with my excitement over the upcoming season (which started Monday, btw) pushed me to finally read/listen to it.

This book is VERY dishy on all things #bachelornation. In addition to telling some of her back story and the start of her modeling career (with Abercrombie and Fitch during the controversial early 2000s, which I found pretty interesting), Courtney talks ALL about the process of applying, being chosen for, going on; and, ultimately, winning The Bachelor. It was fascinating, and I totally felt like an insider when I watched the season premiere this past week.  It’s kind-of like one giant gossip magazine on the entire Bachelor franchise/ UnREAL in real life.

On the negative side, it is quite R-rated, and – frankly – Courtney didn’t make me like her any more than I did after initially watching her as the “villain” on the show in the book… She pretty much throws EVERYONE under the bus – Ben, the other contestants on her season, past Bachelors/Bachelorettes and contestants, etc. I can’t even imagine how many people she upset by spilling their secrets in these pages! It is definitely a TELL ALL.

I can’t say I’d recommend this really – in all honesty, I’m a little embarrassed that I read it, and I think any of the other Bachelor books (Sean Lowe, Emily Maynard, and Andi Dorfman have all written one) would have been much more my cup of tea – BUT, it was interesting and it does make watching the show even a little more fun. So… Take that for what’s worth. 😉

And there you have it… What have you read lately?!?! Any thoughts or comments on the above books? Please share!

E

P.S. Sam was quite busy “reading” over the break too. Between our nightly(ish) read-alouds and his shocking attention span for audiobooks, he knocked out three titles by Roald Dahl – The BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and – as of last night – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That’s my boy! 😉

Maybe it’s just me, but I really feel like you can’t go wrong giving a book as a gift. It’s simple and in-expensive for an acquaintance, but can be very personal (especially if you take the time to write a nice note inside it) and something the receiver will keep for years too. If there are still some people on your shopping list, consider putting together one of these fun book-themed gifts for them, or skip the extras, buy the book, slap a bow on it, and call it “done”  —

*I’ve not read every book listed below, but I tried to link to the ones I have read; and all the others are on my personal wish list and/or are something I’m giving as gifts this year myself. In addition to choosing books that I can either personally recommend OR have come highly recommended, I also tried to think about pretty books that would look good sitting on coffee tables and bookshelves long after their pages have been read:

For Your Sister/Mom:
Upscale Downhome: Family Recipes, All Gussied Up + Apron + Measuring Spoons

I just ordered this cookbook from blogger, Rachel Hollis, and was so impressed with it! I love that it’s all about cooking and entertaining without the stress or spending tons of time and money! Rachel shares some of her own story, starts with basics like a list of items a hostess should always have on hand, and even tells where everything from her blouse to her serving dish comes from (hint: it’s usually super inexpensive). Her recipes cover snacks, dips, casseroles, slow cooker, potlucks, leftovers, parties, and more – perfect for your busy sister with three kids or your mom who wants to “stay hip” for her grandkids. Wrap it up with a fancy little apron and pretty kitchen tools that she’s never buy for herself, and you’re all set! (P.S. Want to spend a little less? Swap the apron for this gold polka dotted pot holder set instead!)

For Your Brother/Dad:
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family & Culture in Crisis + Kentucky Bourbon + Tovolo Ice Molds

This book is probably one of the most “talked about” of the year (click the Amazon link above for a summary and some of its recent praise) both for its subject-matter and its style, and since it’s based in the mountains of Kentucky, I couldn’t resist pairing it with a good Bourbon and one of my go-to gifts for guys – ice molds.

For Your Niece/Nephew:
Ada Twist, Scientist + Science Kit + Science Museum Passes

I thought it was just my kid, but it seems like LOTS of kids are really into science. You already know I love this “series,” of books, but I love it with a cute science kit and passes to a local science museum even more! This gift is sure to earn you “Best Aunt” status. (Alternately, try Iggy Peck, Architect with an awesome set of Magnatiles!)

For Your Best Friend:
Grace Not Perfection + Framed Print + Pineapple CandleMy love for Emily Ley is no secret, but her book really is good, and the message is SO important – I seriously want to share it with every woman I know! Pair the hot pink book with a cute framed print of her “famous” quote and a gold pineapple candle a’la her logo for the perfect gift.

For Your (Girl) Boss:
In the Company of Women + ‘Like a Boss’ Coffee Mug + Marble Laptop Case

This book, from the creator of Design*Sponge, looks ahhhmazing, Ashley Brooke Design’s coffee mugs are a dream, and this marble laptop cover – which I have and can’t even tell you how often people comment on – might just get you a promotion! #dontholdmetothat

For Your Newlywed Friend:
Very Married + Christmas Ornament + Mr. & Mrs. Champagne Flutes

I still haven’t read this book, but I’ve loved what I’ve heard about it – it seems like a totally “non corny” book about marriage with lots of things you “wish you’d known” about the hard (and good) parts of those first years… On a different note, I have such sweet memories of Jeff and my first Christmas together – our tree hardly had any ornaments on it, and we were starting all of our own little “family traditions” just the two of us, including champagne on Christmas Eve (like my parents used to do while they put together our elaborate bikes and dollhouses).  P.S. Write the date and your name on the ornament with a sharpie. They will remember you – and this first Christmas – every year when they decorate!

For Your Jet-Setter Friend:
Small Great Things + Passport Cover/Luggage Tag + USB Leather Tassel Keychain w/ Charging CordDoes everyone have a jet-setter friend?!? I don’t, but I liked this category anyway. 😉 What a world-traveler really needs is a good – and long – novel, and you can’t go wrong with something by Jodi Piccoult. Then, make her look like the queen of the airport with a fun passport cover/ luggage tag set & this awesome charging cord hidden in a trendy tassel for her purse.

For Your Literary Friend:
Fancy Jane Austen Classic Novel + Personalized Leather Bookmark + “Readers Gonna Read” Tee

This books are the real thing – only prettier – so even if she’s read it 100 times, she will love this!! Complete the gift with a bookmark and a teeshirt, and your friend will be in a reader’s paradise.

Ok, seriously, I’m stopping myself there, but wasn’t that FUN?!?  Any other ideas?!? Do you have a book you love to give as a gift? Please share!

E

P.S. “Five Books to Give as Gifts” (from 2014)

We’ve been talking a lot about books lately, and I’m on a bit of an audiobook kick (thanks to Overdrive, an Audible subscription, and good Kindle deals), so I thought I’d share some of what I’ve been reading… (You know, just in case you’re looking for something to do over the 4-day Thanksgiving holiday besides eat ;)).

Fiction:

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

This was our book club pick in October, and – though the premise wouldn’t necessarily have attracted me on my own – I ended up being really glad that I read it. This summary from Amazon is perfect: Friends and former college bandmates Elizabeth and Andrew and Zoe have watched one another marry, buy real estate, and start businesses and families, all while trying to hold on to the identities of their youth. But nothing ages them like having to suddenly pass the torch (of sexuality, independence, and the ineffable alchemy of cool) to their own offspring. It’s a fairly light read, but I found myself relating to the main characters (especially Elizabeth) in regards to aging, parenting, marriage, and friendship.  Unlike The Nest (our last Book Club read) which had me thinking more about my parents, I connected with these characters even though they are still a life-stage or so ahead of me. That says a lot about writing and development in addition to plot line etc. For me, the book brought up questions about finding yourself after the parenting stage is over, and maintaining relationships (in the context of friendship and marriage) even as each of you grow, change, and experience life differently.  There were a couple of silly/unnecessary (even a little random & under-developed maybe) sub-plots thrown in; but, overall, this prompted good discussion for our group and would make a nice read for lazy days by the fire.

Nonfiction:

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

This was kind-of a random pick, since it saw its hay day back in 2013 when it was first released; but, as you know, the topic of being a working mom has become very important to me lately, and when I saw that this was available as an audiobook through my library’s Overdrive, I decided to finally give it a go… (If I’m going to write/talk about being a working mom, this is a pretty significant/important part of that canon.) There were parts of it, of course, that I couldn’t relate to (because our jobs are just SO different); but, in all, I found Sandberg very likeable and wise. I loved hearing about her own career (including some of the inner workings of companies like Google and Facebook), and she definitely made me think about my own views of career and success + the way our culture sets women up (or holds us down) in those areas… Contrary to what I sort-of expected, I didn’t think this was a super feminist/girl-power read. The book is well-researched and supported (both anecdotally and statistically), but the tone is encouraging above all else. I’d definitely recommend it for working-moms, for sure, but also for any woman who has had to make choices between her family and her career, for mothers of little girls, and – if you can get them to read it – for men that work with and/or love a woman. 🙂

Love Warrior: A Memoir by Glennon Doyle Melton

Oh man, there is so much to say about this one, it could probably be its own blog post, but I’m going to try very hard to be concise and intentional with my review. Before I go too far though, let me say that my opinion has changed (slightly) since Glennon’s (big announcement) on Sunday night. (See it here if you don’t know what I’m talking about.) I wrote the first part of this a couple of weeks ago when I finished the book, and I decided to leave that “as is” then added a little section below with some “updated” thoughts so that you can see a little of my perspective shift too. As always, I welcome (kind and respectful) discussion in the comments (or via email) if you want to process too.

So… I really liked this book. I’m a fan of Glennon’s writing and work at her blog, Momastery, and I enjoyed her first book, Carry On, Warrior. I think she has some powerful and important words for women about identity, strength, bravery, truth, and love. She is raw and vulnerable, and she loves BIG. I think Glennon is doing good things in our society by giving women courage and a voice – especially those women that might be “on the fringes” in our society. This book did not disappoint on that front… It is about her marriage and its ultimate “survival” during a difficult season a couple of years ago. I remember hearing bits and pieces of that story in real time (about four years ago, I think – right after Carry On came out), and – I admit – I was greedy to get some of the details in this book. Then – unexpectedly about a month before the book released – Glennon announced that she and her husband were separating, and I vowed NOT to read it. How could I read a book about fighting for marriage from someone who had given up on hers – even after all the work they had done? Obviously, in the end, my curiosity and the hype (the book was even Oprah’s Book Club choice) won out, and I read it in spite of myself. (Well, actually, I listened to the audiobook – which is read by Glennon herself – and I highly recommend that method for this one.)   The book is good. It is deep and personal, and it touches on the subjects of body image and sex in ways that I had never read before. I connected with Glennon is some areas, and found her ability to put the fears and insecurities of SO many women into words powerful. I think her respect for her husband and the institution of marriage is evident, but she’s also not afraid to question some of the things women are told by our society/the church/etc., and I appreciated that.

BUT (full stop)… Glennon has been described as a “Christian Blogger,” and I just don’t think she is. I do not think this is “Christian” book. In fact, it’s probably dangerous to read this book through that kind of lens… Her story has a lot to do with self-exploration and self-knowledge. She finds strength through things like counseling and yoga and writing. Those are GOOD things; but they aren’t Jesus. I won’t attempt to judge or determine Glennon’s personal faith or relationship with God, but I will say that though I think she gets much right (about love and forgiveness in particular), she also gets a good bit wrong. Readers of this should be wary of thinking it is in-line with scripture and Biblical teaching. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it, just be cautious…

Edited to Add (Wednesday, 11/15): Sunday night on Facebook and Instagram, Glennon revealed to her community that she is now in love with a woman named Abby (who also happens to be a very famous soccer player and equal rights activist). I’m going to be honest… my first reaction was, of course she is. I was cynical, maybe even a little angry. Not because I don’t think she deserves to be happy or because I am against this lifestyle choice; but because I just felt like it was so “cliche” (trendy almost) right now. I’ve often compared Glennon to or discussed her in the same context as Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of Eat, Pray, Love and several other books – including one on marriage – who just recently *also* came out as gay).  Liz Gilbert is a lesbian, so now Glennon is too. It wasn’t the kindest response, I admit, but it also wasn’t all that original. My guess is that many people thought the same thing, and Glennon probably expected it. (The Washington Post even ran this article on Monday comparing Liz and Glennon.)

Then, over the next few days, I really thought about what that announcement meant to me.  I guess her “change” didn’t surprise me all that much, but I was disappointed because it made me feel like Love Warrior wasn’t the book I thought it was. If this is all true (which I believe it is at least in Glennon’s heart and mind right now), then Love Warrior really wasn’t a book about overcoming insecurities, understanding your body, and fighting for (both emotionally and physically) intimate relationships. It was about a woman who was confused. And, along those lines, I felt like I couldn’t connect with Glennon the way I initially felt like I had when I read the book anymore. Again, not because I think she is “wrong” or “bad,” but because we are, deeply, different. For me, the message of Love Warrior has completely changed now. Glennon’s marriage wasn’t hard because we are ugly, sinful people living in a broken world – for her, it was hard because she wasn’t with the right person. Not even the right gender. That’s an entirely different book, you know? So… The truth is, I don’t know if I’d still recommend the book… I’m still glad I read it, but I think my experience would be different now. I think a whole new population of women will relate to Glennon in a whole new way now (and, let me be clear, they deserve to have a voice and hear their story told too), but I don’t necessarily think I do anymore. Does that make sense to some of you?!?!

The good news is, Glennon said in her post that we’re allowed to “think and feel whatever [we] want,” and that she is entering into a new stage of leadership in which she cannot worry about what we think of her. I respect that, and I’m genuinely happy to see all the THOUSANDS of supportive, kind, and loving posts in the comment section of her announcement. But, I’d also bet that this left many women feeling confused and alone – and I wanted to speak to that response too. So there you go.

(And now I DID basically write a whole blog post on this. So much for short and sweet! Sorry!)

I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time by Laura Vanderkam

I’ve been a fan of Vanderkam ever since I read 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think back in 2014, and this has been on my list (yes, there is a literal list) since it came out last summer; but my internet-friend and fellow working-momma Kelsey’s strong recommendation finally pushed me to just bite the bullet and buy it (in my case with one, very valuable, Audible credit). I’m glad I did. Ultimately, I didn’t think this was all that different from 168 Hours (and I’d still recommend that one first if you’re only going to read one), but I do really appreciate that Vanderkam – in both her books – takes a very different approach to time than most of the “time-management” books popular today. Instead of saying, “do less,” “slow down,” “you are too busy,” (which, admittedly, is a needed message at times too), she says: “just be smart,” “be intentional with your time,” “make the most of your hours,” “you CAN do the things you really want to do.” Vanderkam isn’t against leisure time or rest (quite the opposite, in fact), but she makes some really good points about the fact that TIME is really the great equalizer. I have just as much of it as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and the mother of eight. She also makes a good case for looking at our time in the scope of a week (168 hours) instead of a day (which feels overwhelming). When you look at it that way, she says,  you can work 40 hours a week and sleep 56 (the recommended 8 hours a night) and still have 72 hours – y’all, that’s almost double the time spent working – to be with your kids, exercise, socialize, pursue hobbies, etc. I found this very encouraging motivating – especially for a working mom who worries about not spending enough time with her family – and was even inspired to track my own time for a week. (I started Monday and will let you know how it goes/ what I’m learning/changing .)

Up next…

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays/breaks are some of my FAVORITE times for catching up on my reading list (second only to summer and beach vacations), so I have quite a few in line for the next month or so… I’m currently finishing up Emily Ley’s Grace Not Perfection (full review and giveaway coming SOON), All Joy and No Fun on parenting (only $1.99 on Kindle right now), and Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (my Overdrive checkout ran out before I finished – BOO). After those, Hillbilly Elegy is high on my “to read” list, and Small Great Things – the latest from Jodi Picoult – is my book club’s choice for January, so I’m hoping to read it (not even on Audible) over the holidays too. (I also still have I Let You Go and You Will Know Me – among others – on my Kindle ready to be read incase things get really wild…)

So, what have you read lately? Have anything to add to one of the above reviews?!?! What’s on your list for this winter? I’d love if you’d share in the comments!

E