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Posts Tagged ‘#readinglife’

February Book Report

How are you? How is your reading life going? It’s been a good news/bad news situation for me.

The good news is that I have thoroughly enjoyed each one of the four books I’ve read so far this year. Two of them are listed below. You can find the other two books in my January 2022 Book Report post. It is rare when I get on a winning streak like this one. So much so that it makes it hard to pick my next read because I don’t want to be disappointed.

Maybe this is why February has been a slow reading month for me. That’s the bad news. Typically, I like to have at least three books to report on here, but you are only getting two from me this month. I plan to pick up the pace in March and have already selected my next book, Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love.

But before I pick that book up, here are my reviews of the two books I read this month.

Project Hail Mary

The last science fiction book I read was The Hunger Games. It was also the first one I’ve read, although it might be considered young adult dystopian by others. But I’m not going to split hairs here. It was a book that my daughter wanted to read, and we decided to do it together. Side note: I read all three books in the series, and I don’t think she finished the first one. LOL.

The point is that while I enjoyed that series, I prefer historical fiction, family drama, mystery, and the occasional romance novel.

Having said that, I did enjoy Project Hail Mary immensely. It is hard to talk about this book without revealing spoilers. I’ll just say that it’s about a middle school science teacher who finds himself alone on a spaceship with amnesia. With that description alone, you should know that it is a story worth sticking around for to see how it ends.

Here are the things I loved about the book. The bromance between the main characters with their banter, quirks, and sense of humor made me feel like I was right there in the room as this relationship came to be.

Okay, spoiler alert – he isn’t exactly alone.

Also, while much of the story takes place in outer space, there are flashbacks to unravel the mystery of how this teacher wound up in outer space in the first place. I loved this particular storyline and might consider re-reading the book just to see what hints it may have dropped along the way that I missed. By the way, I also loved the ending – which was incredibly satisfying.

I’m glad I listened to the book on Audible because the narrator was so entertaining and kept me engaged even though I found the scientific aspects somewhat exhausting. Every time there was a problem, it took a lot of trial and error, circular logic, and self-talk for the main character to arrive at the solution.

If you have Project Hail Mary on your TBR list, I’d recommend it for the sci-fi fans and even for readers like me who like their stories to be from this galaxy. Amaze! Amaze!

The Personal Librarian

Back here on Earth, I love historical fiction. The Personal Librarian hits all the right notes. The brilliant Belle da Costa Greene is the personal librarian to American financier J.P. Morgan – a lover of the written word. Belle travels the world, securing rare manuscripts, books, and artwork to build an incredible collection. But, she has a secret that she is keeping from everyone – including Mr. Morgan. Belle is a Black woman passing as white. As she mingles with socialites and secures treasures for the library, she must tread carefully so that her true identity is never discovered. If her secret were revealed, the effects would be devastating to her career, her life, and her family.

Historical fiction is at its best when the books are well-researched, and the characters are fully developed. I didn’t know much about J.P. Morgan and had never heard of Bella da Costa Greene before picking up this book. By the end of it, I wanted to know more. I’m seriously considering picking up a nonfiction book about the life of Ms. Greene because she is that fascinating.

The story behind the writing of this book is also equally captivating. Co-written by Marie Benedict – who has written other books about strong but little-known women in history – and Victoria Christopher Murray – one of the country’s top African-American authors, these women are just as impressive as the book itself. If you read this book, do not skip the author notes from each of them.

I can’t recommend it highly enough, and if you read it, I’d love to discuss it with you.

Independent Bookstores

Zibby Owens is a podcaster for “Moms Don’t Have Time To Read.” She interviews authors, recommends terrific books, and supports indie bookstores. So much so that she has put out her 22 in 22 challenge, which is to visit 22 independent bookstores this year. As you know, I love indie bookstores, so this is the perfect challenge for me.

February is my birthday month, and I never work on my birthday. Instead, I drove to The Doylestown Bookshop and spent at least an hour combing through the stacks. I purchased four books, and because I am on their mailing list – I had a coupon for 20% off one title. Guess what – they took the discount off of the most expensive book! Happy birthday to me!

I love this bookstore because they have a large selection of bestsellers and backlist books. The nonfiction sections of the books are also well stocked, which is a bonus for me. If you have young children or teenagers, the children’s section and young adult books have plenty. And if you love jigsaw puzzles, they have an excellent selection in the back of the store.

The other bookstore I visited this month was The Story in Ardmore, PA. This place was more of a cafe than a bookstore. The coffee was excellent, but the shelves were quite limited. The prices were right – $5 for a paperback and $7 for a hardback. While it was nice to browse, I didn’t find anything I wanted that day – even with such low prices. Maybe next time.

I hope this inspires you to skip the big box booksellers and check out one of these stores instead. I’ll keep posting which ones I visit. Here is hoping I reach 22 books and 36 titles by the end of the year.

Happy Reading!

XO,

Elisa

The January Book Report

When people say they are seasonal readers, most of the time, they are referring to reading scary books in the fall and beach reads in the summer. For me, being a seasonal reader has nothing to do with the types of books I read but how I read them.

In the spring or summertime, you can easily find me sitting on my patio or at the pool with a physical book in my hand. I love to sit in the sun and turn the pages absorbing knowledge and Vitamin D. In the colder weather, I love listening to books on Audible.

I think this is because I tend to busy myself with projects around the house in the winter, and instead of listening to music, I download a book. And, I go through these books pretty quickly. One productive day of organizing my kitchen can also yield several chapters of a great story.

Here is what I’ve been listening to lately:

We Are Not Like Them

From the moment I heard about this book, I had to have it. The plot centers around a lifelong friendship between two women, one Black and one white, who are forever changed by a tragic event in their neighborhood. Then, I heard it was written by two women, one Black and one white, and listened to a few podcasts about their writing process. I couldn’t wait to read it, and it didn’t disappoint.

The story is about the shooting of a Black teenage boy who is mistakenly targeted as a criminal they were trying to apprehend. The co-authors share every perspective of this incident from the boy and his mother (heartbreaking), the police officer and his family (frustrating), and various members of the Black community (intelligent, inspiring, and honest). The Audible version was so well done, and the story and characters are unforgettable. My first five-star read of the year and I finished it on January 2nd.

The People We Keep

After finishing one fantastic book, I wasn’t sure if I could top it with this one. But every book is different, and one doesn’t have to top the other. The People We Keep is the coming of age story of April, a 16-year-old musician who fights with her unfit father and decides it is time to hit the road and see where it takes her. She finds herself in town after town playing her guitar and meeting interesting people along the way. Some of them are kind and generous, others not so much.

If you like plot-driven stories, this may not be the book for you. This book follows April’s life, her travels, and how she survives it all. It is slow in some places, and there were times when I was impatient. But, April is a force to be reckoned with and not always the most likable character. But, I was rooting for her throughout the book and found the ending quite satisfying.

Project Hail Mary

This book was on many 2021 bestseller lists and won lots of literary awards and high praise. Podcasters who like to talk books raved about this one so much that I avoided it like the plague. Why? Because I don’t have good luck with books that are over-publicized. The hype never seems to deliver. See my review of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins-Reid for proof of this.

Funny story – my sister has been talking about this book nonstop and begged me to read it. As a former lobbyist, my sister dug into her political science toolbox and came out swinging. She campaigned for this book to be voted to the top of my TBR pile. I tried to debate her by informing her of my aversion to science fiction, but she was a relentless opponent. I finally conceded and downloaded the book.

Unfortunately, when I went to listen to the book, I quickly realized I had purchased the Spanish version. Thinking it was a coup attempt on her reading tastes, my sister rallied, dipped into her personal funds, bought a copy, and presented it to me as an early birthday present. So, I’m finally reading it – against my will – just kidding. 🙂

And guess what?! So far, it is so good. I’m only on chapter 3, but I’m already hooked. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Maybe science fiction was a viable candidate for my reading list all along. Who knew?

If my reading life keeps going as well as this, I will be delighted. The next book on my list is The Personal Librarian.

So, what books are you reading lately? Are you a seasonal reader? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to support your local indie bookstore!

Happy reading!

Elisa

Reading Resolutions

Can you stand to read another book-related post from me? Good, because I want to talk about my 2022 reading goals. And because it is close to 9 pm and I’ve had a long day, I’m just going to get right to them.

Resolution #1 – Read More Books

Last year, I read 30 books. I didn’t plan to, but it just happened. Now that I’ve reached that milestone, I want to set a new record. Although my resolution specifies 35 books, I hope to reach 50 titles. On average, I read four books a month, which would add up to 48 books by the end of the year. But in all seriousness, I’m not putting that kind of pressure on myself. It isn’t the number of books that matters to me.

Here’s the catch – and this is what is important – half of the books I read this year must be ones I already own. Between my Kindle, my Audible and Libro accounts, and my bookshelf overflowing with physical books, I have close to 200 titles currently collecting dust.

There was a reason that I had to have these books, but because I bought them a while ago, I don’t remember that reason. Did I find the blurb on the back cover compelling? Did I read a fabulous book review in O Magazine and decide I had to have it? Did it come recommended by a friend? Or did I simply fall in love with the front cover?

Regardless of the reason, now is the time to dive in and find out. And if I’ve outgrown that reason, resolution #2 gives me the perfect out.

Resolution #2 – DNF More Books

As I go through my TBR list, I need to DNF more books. Therefore, if I read 50-75 pages and am not enjoying the book, I will put it in the “did not finish” bin. I will be ruthless about this. It isn’t a failure if I don’t finish a book. It is actually an accomplishment because, little by little, I am tackling my books and making decisions about each one.

Besides, there are too many books that I want to read. Why waste my time on books that no longer interest me?

Resolution #3 – Visit and Support More Independent Bookstores

One time, I was in Kutztown, PA, for a college tour with my daughter. My family decided to have lunch at the local brewery, and I noticed the Firefly Bookstore across the street. I remember the cheerful windows and holiday lights waiting to welcome me in. I wanted to check it out so badly, but I was also hungry. We walked around the entire campus and worked up an appetite. I decided to eat first and stop by the bookstore when we were done.

By the time we finished lunch, it was getting late, and it looked like it was about to rain. We stepped outside and felt the instant chill in the air. I glanced over at this quaint bookstore and reluctantly decided not to go in. I was so disappointed. I still haven’t forgotten about that place, and I hope someday I’ll get back there.

To make up for it, I haven’t passed up on entering an indie bookstore again. Ever since I was little, bookstores have been like a place of worship for me. (But, please don’t tell my rabbi I said so.)

Inside a bookstore, I find inspiration, enlightenment, and a sense of belonging. I’m with my people who share a faith in books and honestly believe they are a gateway to fulfillment. In 2022, I will not deny myself the opportunity to be a part of that community.

What are your reading resolutions for 2022? Let me know in the comments, and happy reading!

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