Imaginary Book Club: Midwinter reading

More mid winter reading from my cozy bed. In order from favorite to least favorite.

1. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.  Thumbs up.   Pretty sure I wandered into this award winning book based on an Oprah book club selection. But it was really good. It wasn’t a laugh a minute and it didn’t leave me feeling proud of the United States or human beings in general. But I read it quick looking forward to finding out what would happen and it left me deeply moved and thoughtful and aware of the importance of how people treat each other. Favorite quote #1:  "A hero does for others.  He would do anything for people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better.  I am not that kind of person, but I want you to be . . . You have the potentials.  We all have, no matter who we are."  True that.

 

2. Heft by Liz Moore. Two thumbs up. Fascinating and moving. It didn’t seem like a book I would like when I read the description but I really liked it. I was really struck by Arthur. Maybe because I’ve gone through some hermit-ish type periods in my life. Nothing on his scale but I still felt such empathy. I wished I could come sit and watch television with him. I will think of him when I run into strangers on the street or store or something. Because maybe you taking the time to smile at them and share a laugh will be the only other voice they hear all day. I was also very moved by Kel. I liked him so much and rooted for him. The depth of his grief really struck me and how adrift it left him. What an awful thing. I found his mother confusing. Mostly because she hid so much. 

 

 3. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Thumbs up. Sweet and moving. But I knew where things were headed. There was just no way other way they could go. There was so much pain involved for so many people and someone or possibly everyone was going to end up with the short end of the stick and there was just no avoiding that. But it was easy to understand how it happened and to know nobody meant anyone any harm but that that doesn’t keep people from still getting hurt.  My favorite quote: "Sometimes life turns out hard, Isabel.  Sometimes it just bites right through you.  And sometimes, when you think it's done its worst, it comes back and takes another chunk."

 

 4. Running Like a Girl by Alexandra Heminsley.  It’s a short book about a girl that had never run and how she decided out of nowhere to train for a marathon and ended up becoming a life long runner. I got sucked in after reading the introduction.  It spoke to me.  I find it beyond frustrating to read about people that just love running and always have and it’s such a pleasure. I hated it when I first started. There was nothing fun about it and I had to make myself do it. Now I have more perspective on it and can grasp that it’s work and that work requires effort and that some days will be good and some days will be bad. I also understand that I feel strong and capable and confident because of it. Sometimes while I’m running. But always when I’m done. I appreciated that she talked about what a death march her first marathon felt like. I also appreciated when she talked about how intimidating she found running stores and like she was a poser and didn’t belong there.  From the intro that spoke to me and that I will forever think of when I someone asks me about running:

 "Running is awful.  It feels unnatural, unnecessary, painful.  It can hijack you with breathlessness, cripple you with panic, and overwhelm you with self consciousness.  It isn't a warm fire or a deep sofa or a cup of tea and a smile.  It is cold and hard and unforgiving. 

It is also the pleasure of being outside on a sunny day, feeling the prickle of the sun on your skin.  It is the delight of feeling your body temperature rise despite the crisp winter breeze against your face.  It is feeling blood rush around every part of your body and coming home to a welcoming bath and a delicious curry, your skin still glowing an hour later.  

And, as I have learned, it is an honor, a privilege, and a gift."

Yes.  Yes.  And more yes.  

 

5. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty.I guess I liked it. Maybe?  30 pages in I couldn’t believe I was wasting my time on it. It is some serious Young Adult fluff. But I found Marcus really interesting. And I found her social awkwardness easy to identify with. And my best friend switched schools after 8th grade so I could especially sympathize with feeling lost without a BFF and not sure who to hang out with. And then the last 100 pages flew by as I eagerly looked forward to seeing what would happen. And now I kinda want to know what happens next. I tried Googling it. Wikipedia has saved me reading further into a series just to find out what happens.  I didn’t find as much on this one as I'd like so now I kinda think I want to read at least one more book to find out a little more.  I’m surprised. But apparently I liked it more than I thought? Eh.
 

 

6. The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer by David Whitsett. I didn’t read this for the training guide part. I already had a training plan and I already had a pretty good idea on the basics. For me this book was really about the mental preparation. Because it’s about a college course that has you run a marathon at the end. There are two teachers. One that seems to be in charge of physically getting the class prepared and the other that helps the class get mentally prepared. There were lots of techniques about being positive and visualization. Each chapter also had lots of first hand accounts from students in the class of how they used that technique and what they did. It's not great but I liked it as part of my marathon preparation.  I liked Jeff Galloway’s book better for learning about the physical parts of running. But I really liked the mental preparation in this one. Mind over matter is real but that doesn’t mean it comes easy.

 

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.  Two thumbs down.  It has whole sections that are kind of Harry Potter-ish fan fiction and hated all of it.  I started out reading all the fanfic trying hard to follow and like it.  Because I love Harry Potter so how could I possibly not like something similar.  But I didn't like them, didn't see the point of  them and finally just started skipping ahead.  I liked the book better then but not much.   The characters were well written and I felt they were alive and in the room with me which is such a testament to great writing but they didn't do much and I wasn't super curious where anything was headed.   I mostly just started looking forward to being done with the book so I could move on to a new book.  It wasn't awful but I just wouldn't recommend it.  And that kills me because I loved  Eleanor & Park so much it's nutty.  Oh well.  

Imaginary Book Club: Please let my baby turn down crystal meth

The only thing better than curling up in bed with a good book is when you can do it under a nice warm blanket. That only works in the winter. Which means I’ve been reading up a storm lately. Just this past weekend I read a book and a half.  Even better, I've read several books I really, really liked.  Winning! I even listed them below in order of how much I liked them.  Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – Loved. Big puffy heart loved. Read it in 24 hours. I thought it would be sad so I kept avoiding it.  I'm an idiot.  I loved it and didn't even cry reading it.  Which amazes me. But there it is. Loved. Favorite quotes: #1 – “I love you present tense.” #2 – “You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.” #3 – “I had a moral opposition to eating before dawn on the grounds that I was not a 19th century Russian peasant fortifying myself for a day in the fields.” I also really love her dad holding a sign at the airport and instead of writing their names on the sign like chauffeurs do he wrote, “My beautiful family.” Seriously. I could go for someone waiting for me with that sign.

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – Two thumbs way up. Lovely. Sweet. I wanted to take her under my wing and protect her from everything. And Park is the kind of kid that makes you wish you knew his mom so you could go tell her what a great job she did raising a person with such a quality heart. They need to make this into a movie immediately and they need to do a really good job making sure it doesn’t suck. I miss hanging out with the characters in this book.  That is a sign of a great book.  Favorite quote: "He made her feel like more than the sum of her parts." Second favorite quote: "Or maybe, he thought now, he just didn’t recognize all those other girls. The way a computer drive will spit out a disk if it doesn’t recognize the formatting. When he touched Eleanor’s hand, he recognized her. He knew."

3. The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes – Thumbs up. Nowhere near as up as Me Before You. But up. And suspenseful. It definitely hooked me and had me eager to find out what was going to happen. What’s really intriguing is that this book, just like Me Before You, had me wondering what I’d do in the same situation. In a good thought provoking way. Not all books can do that. Favorite quote: Do you know how it feels to resign yourself to your fate? It is almost welcome. There was to be no more pain, no more fear, no more longing. It is the death of hope that comes as the greatest relief.

4. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty – Thumbs up. I felt actual suspense and it drove me to keep reading and reading. I wasn’t sure where it was headed. I wasn’t sure how it would come together. And it did linger with me wondering what I’d do. I’m here to report this girl right here will rat you out for murder. Case closed, end of story. So don’t hope or plan for me to lie or even keep my yap shut. I am way too empathetic. Some mother loses her baby and every empathetic bone in my body is going to require me to get her some closure.

5. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult – Thumbs up. Very moving. Most of the time I find Jodi Picoult books moving on a personal level. Meaning I care about the specific characters in the book. In this one, it was less about the characters and more about being moved by the details of the concentration camp. I thought I had some understanding of the Holocaust. But reading about a day in and day out existence as it progressed felt like you’re the rock rolling down the hill picking up momentum. And then you get to Auschwitz and the extermination is so assembly line mechanical it takes your breath away. I thought I knew that already but I guess it had faded. Heaven help me. If you can’t handle reading about the Holocaust, this book ain’t for you though.

6. Bossypants by Tina Fey – I’d seen everyone and their uncle say how much they loved this book but avoided reading it. Right up until I read the quote from Tina Fey when she was on Saturday Night Live. She was talking about Hilary Clinton and how some people think she seems like a bitch. And then Tina says, “She is a bitch. And so am I. Bitches get stuff done. That’s why Catholic Schools use nuns instead of priests . . . At the end of the year you hated those bitches but you knew the capital of Vermont.” I could not agree more. Everybody loves girls in the office that never rock the boat and are gentle and quiet and unassuming. But have an opinion and push the envelope to get some stuff done, and you’re a wench but a guy doing the same thing would just be doing his job. Fine. But at least we get stuff done.

So then I was full on identifying with her and felt like I needed to complete the mind meld by reading her book. It was cute. I laughed out loud at the part about the fire on the cruise ship. Especially when her husband wrongly assumed she wouldn’t have gotten in the lifeboat without him and she felt obligated to not start their marriage with a lie and explained to him Leonardo Dicaprio would have lived in Titanic if Kate Winslet had gone the lifeboat route. I also learned that the crew member that captains that little lifeboat has a gun and is prepared to use it if you try to get crazy. Who knew a Tina Fey book would be educational, too! Anyhoo, Tina Fey seems super nice and if she needs some mom friends, I’m in. Favorite quote: Talking about her hopes for her daughter, “When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.” Heaven help me, please let my baby turn down the Crystal Meth, too.

7. Looking for Alaska by John Green – Thumbs up. Not great but an interesting read. I thought the characters were all well written and I wished I knew someone as interesting as his roommate.

8. Crapalachia by Scott McClanahan – Crazy. I felt like I was sort of watching an episode of Jerry Springer. Not in a bad way though. I just used to watch shows like Jerry Springer and I’d always be amazed that there are people that think and behave so differently than anything that makes any sense to me. I’d feel like a tourist visiting a different planet or something. Reading this book is sort of like that. Lots of crazy people. The story about taking his physically challenged uncle to the bathroom broke my heart, too. So awkward and awful but also sweet and kind.

9. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison – Eh. I didn’t like anyone in this book. I thought she was an idiot and I couldn’t figure out why she even took up space on the planet. I didn’t feel the slightest bit sorry for her and I suspected several of the surprises. And I thought he was a buffoon and wanted to punch him in the face. This book did nothing for me. I had read so many reviews of people that loved this book so I kept reading along hoping to get to the part that would have me riveted. Never happened.  It did keep me going wondering what would happen but only in the "How can I hate these people any more than I already do?" sort of way.

10. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin – This book spent the last 2 years next to my toilet. I’m so tired of looking at it I can’t even begin to tell you.  I read the first half of the book and then lost interest. It just felt so textbook and mechanical and I guess I thought a book about how to be happier should feel more fun. Then I left it in our bathroom. Then I lost it. Then I left it in the bathroom again. And then I finally just skimmed and called it a day. I wish I liked it. I really do.

My inner fat girl is behind the wheel

1. I gave up on Whole30 and even concluded that I should give my body maximum calories while training for a marathon instead of continuing in any attempts to shrink my Jelly Belly. My inner fat girl heard I had loosened up on the reigns and she has steered my car into the Whataburger drive no less than 4 times. My inner fat girl has also scrounged up quarters and gotten Dr. Pepper out of the soda machine at work 3 times. Twice there were enough quarters left over for animal crackers so she sucked those down, too.

She's also sucked down bowls of Cheerios before bed, pieces of chocolate, a Jimmy Johns sandwich, another Jimmy Johns sandwich, some BBQ chips, 1/2 a sleeve of Trefoil cookies and more Dr. Pepper than I care to remember. I’m pretty sure this is what falling off the wagon feels like. And I’m pretty sure it’s not good.

Not restricting my calories isn’t supposed to mean sucking down crap and forgetting about all my good eating habits. It also doesn’t mean I need to attempt to gain weight. Because in my brain, sucking down soda all day means you are attempting to gain weight. There can be no other explanation for sucking down that many calories that don’t make you feel full, don’t give you vitamins or energy and you’re just consuming it because you like the taste. I also tend to think the sugar entering your body feels pretty awesome. So there’s that, too. But still.

When I started on my health kick, the whole point of exercising was to burn calories. My husband told me a million times exercise would be good for me and help me have more energy. I didn’t care. I wanted to burn calories. So it feels really weird to still be exercising with a goal that doesn’t include burning calories or losing weight. Talk about wild. It’s going to be extra wild once my marathon training is finally over and I get to step on the scale to figure out exactly how many calories I’ll need to burn to try to clean up the fall out from all these trips to the Whataburger drive thru. Fall out primarily being my pants size. I’m currently wearing a size 8 comfortably. But my size 6 jeans have been MIA on my messy side of the closet. I may need to track them down and get a little reality check. Perhaps a reality check is what my inner fat girl needs to cease and desist with all the Dr. Pepper.

I love that little trainwreck.  But he's still a trainwreck.

2. While discussing school with my 8 year old over dinner last night, his class had again not gotten to play outside at recess because it was so cold out. He told me they watched a math video instead. He then began tearing up and a little tear started trickling down his cheek as he lamented in the most pathetic voice at the injustice of life because, “I had to learn at recess. It’s not fair.” I wish I had that on video so I could play it on repeat for his college buddies years down the road. Beyond ridiculous. Then, to add insult to injury, the video had the nerve to say it was Pre-K and as I well know he is in 2nd grade not Pre-K. He was now indignant on top of crying. Um. Yeah. Note to self: Get dinner on the table earlier because this china doll about loses his mind when he’s tired and hungry after a long day.

3. I have finally gotten my Downton Abbey on. I was a little behind on this season. Now I’m not. Good stuff. Thumbs up. I’m very confused that the guy randomly decides he wants to marry Mary and is prepared to wait 2 or 3 years for her to be ready to marry again. Didn’t that guy just roll in like a hot minute ago? Slow your roll, bro. And I’m currently very upset for poor Mr. Bates. My favorite was when he said he must have done something wrong in their relationship because she wasn’t capable of doing anything wrong. In my household, my husband would say that exact same thing. The difference being that my husband would be heavy on the sarcasm. I love that Mr. Bates says it and you know he genuinely means it.

Clark Kent would like you to know, he didn't appreciate that little joke comparing him to Mr. Bates. 

4. I am currently reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty and I’m so curious to find out the secret I actually felt tempted to Google it this morning. I had to restrain myself with promises of reading 50 pages tonight. Now I’m concerned 50 pages won’t be enough to get to the secret. Darn it. And yet, such a good problem to have with a book you’re reading. Rule for life: If you are randomly thinking about the book you are reading during the middle of your busy day, you’ve picked a good book.

5. My little Cub Scout did not win the Pinewood Derby. I knew we would not be winning when we arrived for weigh in the night before and my husband was busy assisting with the set up. I was now in charge of our car weigh in and we were all officially screwed as this dumb female right here brought the weigh in line to a complete stand still trying to figure out the what the target weight was even supposed to be let alone how I was going to fix it.  My 8 year old and I then began a series of trips back and forth to the scale as we super glued pennies on the bottom. Randomly, naturally, because I know nothing about physics or how to strategically disperse weight.  Then, just when I think we're done, I shut the line down a second time when they want to know if we've "graphited."  I didn't even know "graphite" was a verb let alone what I'd be graphiting. Deer in the headlights.  But we graphited the hell out of those wheels. The Cub Scout had fun so whatever.  And next year, I'll be googling the hell out of it beforehand.

Momma, when did graphite become a verb? 

6. In the fall, my daughter's volleyball team registration somehow went awry. I was the scapegoat for what I consider the incompetence of the YMCA registration system and crappy customer service. And by scapegoat, I mean I was getting made fun of more than usual in my household. Luckily, my daughter does more than one volleyball activity per season so she successfully lived through the trauma. I, on the the otherhand, had lingering scars.  Registration is now open for the next season and to clear my name once and for all I dragged my whole crew down to register live and in person with witnesses. I resisted the urge to take photos or video while we were there. The girl at the counter asked if I wanted a receipt at the end. Hell, yeah.

7. Now that I've successfully registered that kid for volleyball, we can all get back to more important issues like how the hell we're going to hawk another 47 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Or as professionals like us call them, 47 boxes of product. I seriously feel like I'm in a Breaking Bad episode everytime I say that. The other day I also described our neighborhood as "getting oversaturated" with too many girls hitting up every house. So now we're on the hunt for untapped markets. Because, the longer we cling to these cookies, the more oversaturated everywhere is getting. By the end of the month the urgency to part with these cookies is going to ramp up like an episode of 24. On the brightside, my household is doing it's part to inhale half a box per day. So there's that.

Imaginary Book Club: Fall reading in my cozy bed

The only thing better than a weekend with no soccer or volleyball games to drag my lazy self to is a whole entire week off work and 2 books I'm excited to  read.  Even better when both books turn out to be good!

My husband attempted to cuddle me with 30 pages left in the 2nd Mara Dyer book and I had to resist the urge to smack him in the face.  It's easy to hit the pause button on Say Yes to the Dress and get my cuddle on.  But ain't nobody got time for a cuddle break with 30 exciting pages left in a good book.

No worries though.  I rain checked that cuddle time and mauled him later.  Duh.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Book 1) by Michelle Hodkin: Two thumbs up.  I was skeptical when it started.  I think part of me didn't want to like it.  No clue why.  But I was dead wrong.  Reminded me of Twilight.  In all the best ways.  Very clean but a clean sexy if that's possible.  And some mystery thrown in.  Holla.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Book 2) by Michelle Hodkin: Holy crud I was bummed when this book ended!  Seriously!  Did. Not. Want. It. To. End.  Might have had something to do with the fact that I knew book 3 isn't coming out for several months.  But only a little bit.  I seriously enjoyed me some Noah.  I seriously didn't know where it was headed.  And I seriously don't know where book 3 is going.  Holla holla.  If you like Young Adult books, you need to read this series and thank me later.

Allegiant (Book 3 in Divergent Series) by Veronica Roth: Ok.  So let's just get it out there.  The ending surprised me.  Didn't see it coming and I'm not going to pretend I enjoyed it.  But I appreciated it.  It understood it and I was moved by it.   I was left feeling a little delicate but thoughtful.  That's not a bad thing.   Favorite quote:

"I fell in love with him.  But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me.  I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other.  I choose him over and over again, and he choose me."  

Big puffy heart love that quote.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: Loved.  No other words.  Just loved.  Didn't think I would.  Thought it would be the world's most depressing book.   I was wrong.  Loved.  Left me thinking about life.  I'm a glass half full kind of girl every day of the week and twice on Sunday but I wasn't sure what I'd do if I were either character in the book.  Loved.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire: This is my first time genuinely giving up on a book.  I hate not finishing books.  I always have to finish.  And by finish, I mean when the book is killing me slowly I at least skim to find out what happens and then move on with my life.  Skimming isn't really an option when the type is super small for 350 more pages and you're having trouble remembering who everyone is because the names are all kind of odd and there are weird locations and you're an idiot that can't retain much.  So I'm calling it a day.  I don't like having to do it.  I'm slightly embarrassed to have to do it.  And in the back of my mind I think I may be still holding out hope that I'll skim my way to the end.

Because I really want to read the book before I see the musical.  And the first 100 pages were great.  Gold.  But then the next 100 were slow and annoying and politics-y and I didn't care about whether or not talking animals should be allowed to go to school.  And then I stopped reading it for a month and started reading other things.  And now I'm convinced I need to stop seeing it on my nightstand.  So I think I need to break up with this book.  There are other fish in the sea waiting for me and I need to let go of this one to let new ones into my heart.  It's not you.  It's me.  Let's still be friends.  Call me.

Broken Harbor by Tana French: Very interesting.   Very detailed.  Well written.   Some stuff I totally knew had to be going on.  But I liked it.  Quick and suspenseful and entertaining.  I liked hearing how his brain ticked making his way through a crime scene and even squad room politics.  Thumbs up.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver: Not into it.  I found it hard to suspend my disbelief about the premise.  It just seemed stupid and I struggled.  Although I did successfully finish the book and I also didn't leave it sitting on my nightstand half read for a month so apparently it's not the worst book I've read this year. 

If you're going to get your literature at Target, I say leave that sticker on loud and proud.  I buy books at Target sometimes and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones  by Cassandra Clare: Target purchase based on the sheer number of books in the series.  If there are that many of them, surely they are decent.  Right?  Eh.  I read it.  I was moderately intrigued.  Then they mentioned the brother/sister thing and I was confused and then just plain annoyed.  Like, why the hell did I just waste 3 days of my life on this book annoyed.  Like, I'm getting on Google to figure some stuff out and now I'm writing this series off annoyed.

Imaginary Book Club: More Summer Reading in my Sweaty Patio Chair

With the heat outside, I've been doing some time with my feet up reading while my children run amok.  Run amok means having a cannonball contests in the pool to see who can do the best job splashing my book while I read poolside.  Trust me when I say they're talented.

I'm concerned I'm slowly morphing into a 14 year old girl because I seem to keep chucking Young Adult books into my cart at Target.  I'm thinking I may need to reevaluate that at some point.  Not now, obviously.  But at some point.  I'm also thinking the mothers of 14 year old girls need to reevaluate some of the crap they let their daughter's read.  Because I'm here to report some of it should not be 14 year old approved reading.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: Loved it.  No really.  Loved it.  Two thumbs way up.  Amazon and Good Reads both tried recommending it for me several times and I had been avoiding it.   Finally randomly chucked it into my Amazon cart one day.  What was I thinking avoiding it?  Read it in one day.  Enough said.  Super excited it's going to be a movie in 2014.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth: Didn't love it as much as Divergent (Book 1 in the Trilogy) but still really liked it.  Also liked it enough to be completely annoyed when I found out the last book in the trilogy hasn't come out yet.  Grrrrrr.  But at least it comes out soon in October.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple: Quirky as hell.  Quick read and interesting.  But I seriously don't know anyone like any of the characters in the book so it was practically like I was reading science fiction.  Didn't love it but didn't hate it.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: I'm not sure what possessed me to try this book but whatever it was is clearly something straight from hell and out to torture my soul.  Hated it.   It's considered Young Adult but I hope young adult means 18 years and older because it's got some mature stuff going on in there.  Overly soap opera dramatic and I couldn't find a single character I wanted to root for. And it left me hanging at the end with a teaser.  I guess it was supposed to motivate me to read the rest of the books in the series to find out what happens.  Screw that.  I hit up Wikipedia to end it and move on with my life.

 

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling: Cute and I would like to know how to apply to be Mindy's new BFF.  She seems awesome.   Like let's paint each other's toe nails and overanalyze reality television while throwing back a few awesome.  

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen: Eh.   I seem to have wandered into a Young Adult reading period in my life.   I thought I'd try one of her books.  On the one hand, I was bored and ready to be done before it barely started.  On the other hand, it's clean, sweet and I now know I'd totally let my daughter read one of her books.  But it's a little to young for me.

Marathon: You Can Do It! by Jeff Galloway:  Liked it, quick read and I felt like I got a lot of good advice out of it.  I've been debating recently trying to go for a full marathon.  But even if I don't, I feel like the advice still applies to any kind of running.  My favorite advice was slow down when it's hot, walking sometimes doesn't make you less of a runner and worry about finishing not how fast you finish.  Of course, I've never run a marathon to put his ideas to the test.  But why let that stop me from having an opinion!