Reading Rainbow Roundup

Hello loves,

I recently posted a “to read” reading list, and I was actually able to read a handful of them.  Rejoice!  I thought now would be a great time to report back, as we are finally getting into the post-holiday lull.

Are you feeling the lull?  Truth be told, this semester is whipping by, but I could definitely use a little more fun reading time in my life.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Click image for original source. From cherylstrayed.com

Wild is a true memoir about a young woman who hits rock bottom in her life and spontaneously decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (a treacherous mountain trail from Mexico to Canada) by herself.  As a first time hiker, she has to dig deep within herself to keep moving forward and to conquer all of the crazy adventures that meet her on the trail.  It was really well-written and will make you laugh and cry.  I am nothing like the main character, yet she is completely relatable.  You need to read this.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Juliet Ashton

Click to be redirected to original source at Mazurkaplan.com

Kat recommended this book long ago and I avoided it for so long because it has a stupid title.  Seriously. I am embarrassed to tell people how good this book is because the title is so goofy.  However, this was a wonderful book!  It’s about a writer who is looking for writing material after WWII.  She finds a little town chock full of stories of how a group of friends survived the war together through books.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Click to be redirected to original source at Wikipedia

The Poisonwood Bible was on Oprah’s book club list, so you know it’s a little intense.  It’s about a family who goes to the Congo for missionary work and the story of how their family falls apart.  It shows you 5 different perspectives (it’s narrated by 5 different characters in the story) on religion, family, marriage, and other big-life issues.  I thought the characters were fairly static, but I think that was probably Kingsolver’s intention, in an effort to show 5 perspectives that can all exist within 1 person.  At least, that’s how I interpreted the book.  This book is definitely a conversation-starter and will challenge your own belief system.

Do yourself a favor and read them all.  Immediately.

What are you reading now?  Have you read any of the books I listed?  If so, what did you think?

-Mads

My Reading List

Hello everyone!

 

Having a month off from school gave me some time to evaluate my fun reading materials.  Most recently, I got halfway through the second Game of Thrones book and decided I did not need to read the book AND watch the show, so I gave up.  I normally read the book if it turns into a movie, but I couldn’t justify spending that much time on an entire TV series and a series of books.  It was exhausting.

 

For the time being, I’m going to read a few books that are not a part of a series.  Phew!  I received a few recommendations from friends that moved to the top of my reading list.

I typically read historical fiction, popular fiction, sci-fi/fantasy/epics, and non-fiction…so…most things.

 

Here’s what’s on my list so far:

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl

Click image for original source. From thebooklion.wordpress.com

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Click image for original source. From goodreads.com

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Click image for original source. From bookishbent.blogspot.com

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Click image for original source. From goodreads.com

Dry by Augusten Burroughs

Click image for original source. From thebookcellarnh.wordpress.com

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggars (also What is the What)

Click image for original source. From bookswim.com

The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead by David Shields

Click image for original source. From barnesandnoble.com

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Click image for original source. From cherylstrayed.com

Life Among Giants by Bll Roorbach

Click image for original source. From lifeamonggiantsthebook.com

There are definitely more to read than this, but these particular ones caught my eye.  I’m taking a few on my Kindle for the honeymoon and I’ll report back with my thoughts.

What have you read lately that you fell in love with? 

-Mads

Summer Reading List

As the fall semester approaches, I realize my “reading for fun” time is sure to come to a screeching halt.  Instead of moping, I thought I would regale you with a brief review of the books I read this summer (and yes, I did not read nearly as much as I hoped).

Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin:

I love epic novels and this one didn’t disappoint.  The family lineage of each house was a fun challenge to follow throughout the plot and I especially appreciated the bits of magic sprinkled here and there.  However, I spent the majority of my time comparing it to Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, another epic novel in a similar setting.  Pillars is easily one of my all-time favorites and Game of Thrones didn’t even come close.

Now the debate is: do I continue reading the series because I hear it keeps getting better?  Or do I give up and spend my time on something more productive?

 Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James:

Stupid.  I wish I could leave the review at that, but I can’t.  I read the first book and then quickly read the next two in the series because I turned into a crazed preteen girl.  I do not recommend reading these books to anyone because they are so poorly written, the characters have no basis in reality, and the “vivid sex scenes” quickly blur into one boring romp in the sheets.  That being said, I dare you to read a few pages without quickly finishing the rest of the book.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson:

I honestly can’t believe I’ve been blogging for (two?) years without reviewing a Bryson book.  He is easily one of my favorite authors because his dry sarcasm blends wonderfully with his brilliant descriptions of his world travel adventures.  My dad also grew up a few streets down from Bryson in Iowa, so I see them as one in the same.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid did not disappoint, but it was not as ripe with wit as his other works (Neither Here Nor There had me cry-laughing on the bus to work).  I saw this book as a memoir of Bryson’s childhood in the 50s and a glimpse into a better time in American history.

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman:

This has been on my reading list for well over a year, so I was antsy to finally read it.  To be honest, I had a really hard time getting into this book.  It is a piece of non-fiction, but the author felt so far removed from the “characters” that I had a hard time investing in their lives.  I soldiered on and found myself marveling at the horrific parallels between the zoo animal genealogy and the Nazi’s quest for race “purification”.  Diane Ackerman paints a beautiful and haunting picture of one family’s struggle to maintain a zoo and simply survive in Nazi-invaded Poland.

What are you reading this summer?  What should I add to my reading list?

-Mads

Reading Rainbow Roundup

I’m in the middle of one of those “I-have-zero-creative-bloging-energy” weeks.  I even dug through my drafted posts to find something of interest, but I came up with a whole lotta nuthin.  So, instead of regaling you with tales of my latest meals of Trader Joe’s salads or something equally snooze-inducing, I thought I would do a book review.

I recently went on an Amazon book-buying binge.  (I can’t help myself with the alliterations today.)  Mostly I bought books that you lovely readers recommended to me or books that have been on my “to read” list forever.

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of Eat, Pray, Love)

I’ve read both Committed and Eat, Pray, Love and my criticisms of Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing style are ultimately the same.  She comes off as whiny, hypocritical, and plays the devil’s advocate WAY too often.  It is hard to read her books and love her.

That being said, I still enjoy reading her books because she goes so deep into her emotions and her research.  She makes you think, and that’s a great quality in an author.  This book was no different.  Perfect for the soon-to-be-bride.

I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley.

I liked this tribute to growing up in the 90s, especially the entire essay on Oregon Trail.  Me likey.  Apparently, they say she’s the next David Sedaris, but I did not find myself peeing my pants or even snort laughing.  Snort laughter is the ultimate sign of a hilarious book, and this just didn’t make the cut.

What are you reading right now?  Anything fabulous?

-Mads

 

 

Reading Rainbow Roundup

I believe it’s about time to share what I’ve been reading this summer.  Here goes:

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I love Tina Fey.  She’s self-deprecating, liberal, and a raging feminist.  Plus, I have a soft spot in my heart for female comediennes.  They fight the good fight.

Bossypants was a hilarious look at Fey’s childhood, breaking into show-biz, and backstage at SNL and 30 Rock.  The last chapter or two felt rushed, but I was generally pleased with what she chose to include in this memoir.  This is one of those quick beach reads that is fun for a minute or two.

1984 by George Orwell

For some reason, I’m the only person who didn’t have this on a required reading list in high school.  I know the public education system failed me, but c’mon!

I pretty much love any book with Utopia/Dystopia themes, so this was a win!  I’m also amazed that something something written in the 1940s could be so timeless.  The problems in 1984 are still threats to us today.  Bravo, Orwell.  Bravo.

The Devil in The White City by Eric Larson

This took me an embarrassingly long time to finish.  I would pick it up, read the first chapter, and then completely forget that I was reading it.  So, I’ve been meaning to finish it for over two years now.  *shame*

I finally made the commitment and I’m ohsoglad I did.  The Devil in The White City is a blow-your-socks-off non-fiction piece that parallels the Chicago World’s Fair to the story of a serial murderer.  I couldn’t put it down and it inspired me to hop on the ole Google to find out more about the fair.  I’m not sure I’ve ever been so moved by a book as to investigate the history for myself.  I’m so excited they are making this into a movie!

What are you reading this summer?  What books are you stoked to see turn into movies?

-Mads