Friday, March 06, 2020

january & february book report.

I set a goal for 2020 to read 52 books and I read 14 (total) in January and February. Here are quick reviews; I've starred my faves:


Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris / Listened to this one and I highly recommend that. I liked some of the stories more than others, and found myself literally laughing out loud a couple times and gasping at at least one part.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith / I once wrote on my blog, before having read the novel, "I think I'd like Francie." I did like Francie! And her whole family, too. What a delightful novel.

*Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb / One of my fave memoirs of the many I've read! Interesting and felt like a breath of fresh air. Makes me want to see a therapist. I listened and the narration was excellent.

*The Dutch House by Ann Patchett / I absolutely loved this sprawling story about a house and a family spanning decades. I've never listened to a novel before, but kept seeing rave reviews of this one narrated by Tom Hanks, so I figured if I was ever going to, this would be a good one to try. I loved it! I found myself going for walks just so I could listen to more.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang / It had so much potential (and so much hype) but I thought the plot and the characters lacked depth. I probably shouldn't have finished it but I'm not good at quitting books.

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine / Even though I predicted what would ultimately happen about halfway through, I still enjoyed it and as I read, I wondered what the characters would do next.

So Here’s the Thing… by Alyssa Mastromonaco / I was super disappointed with this, especially after loving her first book (Who Thought This Was A Good Idea?). Some anecdotes were recycled from the first book, many I didn't care about (like the most-played songs on her iPod or what's on her nightstand), and some felt like they will soon be outdated (like mentions of Trump).

I'm Just a Person by Tig Notaro / I'm not a Tig Notaro fan (only because I don't think I've ever heard/seen her perform), but I stumbled upon her memoir and I like learning about people's lives, so I listened. I liked it, didn't love it.

*Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes / Loved it! A breath of fresh air. Loved the characters, the dialogue, the setting, and the details. Especially perfect for any other North American East Coasters.

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda / Loved Miranda's pep talks when I read them on Twitter and love them in the book. The illustrations are fantastic!

*Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid / Please read this so we can talk about it! I loved Briar and the relationship she and Emira had. This novel felt complicated, in the way that life can be. I want to say more, but don't want to spoil anything.

To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma by Molly Millwood / I wish that I had read this before having kids. Then again, I probably wouldn't have really understood or appreciated it as much as I do now that I'm living it. A lot of points the author made left me feeling validated, and I was excited to talk to my husband and a friend about things I learned. I liked but didn't love the book because I felt like I was listening to a textbook.

Dear Mother: Poems on the Hot Mess of Motherhood by Bunmi Laditan / A treasure for moms. A few of the poems really resonated with me, and I think that will be the case whenever I pick it up again. Would make a good gift.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield / Fairytale meets mystery. I was slow to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked. (I read it because it was a Girl Next Door Podcast book club pick.)

What have you read and loved lately?

P.S. I share reviews on my Instagram stories whenever I finish a book. I also save them in my highlights; here's 2019 & 2020.

P.P.S. More "book reports."

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