Review Round Up
Okay, I’m been slacking on posts this month. It’s been a crazy transition month, since my work schedule changed again, Nick’s been traveling, and I’ve actually had more time at home. Isn’t weird that more time at home has made me feel discombobulated? I think I realized how much more “moving in” we had left to do. I’ve been trying to get back into a healthy routine and it’s HARD. I’m going to be honest, I’m really struggling. I’m going to share a longer post about it for a wedding Wednesday post. But I’d thought I’d do a little review round up for the books that have kept me busy!
I have been slacking on writing reviews, because I don’t get a lot of feedback on them. I’d love to know if you value reviews, or if you’re just looking for recommendations. But I’ve been reading a lot of amazing books this month and I think they deserve some attention!
From the Corner of the Oval—This is probably my new favorite recommendation to give people! It is a memoir by Beck Dorey-Stein about her time working in the White House has Barack Obama’s Stenographer. I was immediately drawn to this book at first because I am an Obama fan girl (Barack and Michelle). But it is about so much more than working in the White House. It is a story about a young woman trying to figure out her path in the world and what her calling is. It’s a book about discovering self value, the friends who matter most, and believing yourself. The writing is honest, raw, and oddly poetic.
Beyond the Point—I just finished this one and all I have to say is WOW. I avoided this one at first, because I thought it had a lot to do with 9/11. It does, since it deals with three women at West Point and eventually the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I really felt that it was about the strength of women, of female friendships, and emotional endurance. It jumps through time but Gibson’s technique does “fill in” the missing parts as the story progresses. Not my favorite style, but it was really gripping and made me feel like I had to keep reading.
Well Met—This is probably one of the most surprising books I read this summer. I totally thought it was going to be a Shakespeare reimagining, due to the title. I thought of “Well met by moonlight, proud Titania” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Now I wasn’t totally off base, but it’s primarily about a Renaissance Festival. Shakespeare is mentioned frequently though! Basically, it’s a fun story about a woman who moved in with her sister, a single mom, after an accident. She ends up volunteering with her niece to be a part of the Renaissance Fair and falls for the least likely of people. It’s a classic hate to love romance, that funny and a steamier than I thought it would be!
The Rest of the Story—I chose this an add on to my August Book of the Month box. It was my first Sarah Dessen and pretty classic YA fiction. It’s primarily about a teenage girl who goes to her mother’s hometown after she dies. She gets to know this whole world of cousins and aunts and grandparents she never knew and isn’t sure if she wants to go back home. It has a great storm sequence at the end and that was definitely my favorite part.
Is There Still Sex in the City—I don’t really have much positive to say about this one. I’ve never read any of Candace Bushnell’s books before, but I thought this would be a fun one to try. I didn’t love it and kind thought it was a waste of time. I’m a huge fan of the show and movies, but this book really missed the mark! It was cool to see Bushnell’s writing and how much it mirrored Carrie’s voice in the show.
Sissy by Jacob Tobia—I listened to this one on audiobook which I HIGHLY recommend. If you’ve ever had any problems understanding gender nonconformity or non-binary people, this could be an important read for you. Tobia is funny and smart, making this memoir easy to read but full of important stories and experiences.
City of Girls—This was a highly anticipated book for summer 2019. I finally read it right at the end and found myself enjoying it, but wishing it was about 100 pages shorter. As an actor, I loved seeing Vivvie, the main character, experience the wildness of New York City in the 1930-40s and in a theater! I know a lot of people who didn’t love this one, but I do think it’s worth reading. It’s a slow paced book, but it does have some really important messages.
Things You Save in a Fire—This was my first read by Katherine Center and I really liked it! It’s a little fluffy for me and idealistic, like there are very few conflicts, but sometimes you need that! It’s a light, romantic read with light female empowerment.