Books!

I realize it looks like I've plowed through a ton of books recently, which, I guess I have...but these were all, for the most part, short and sweet. And there are some really good ones in this group too, so get ready to fire up that library card.

First up, The Quiet American! I'd read the paperback version before but when I realized I had access to the audio version I couldn't resist revisiting it one more time. This one is an oldie but a goodie. One of those anti-war novels that everyone should read at some point. It's dripping with symbolism and heavy in ideas and ideals. You can't go wrong here.

Someone, somewhere recommended this book to me and I wish I remembered who to thank because as soon as I started this book I became totally engrossed in it. A memoir of sorts about the author's experiences while expecting a baby with down's syndrome. It's part inspirational, part terrifying, funny, honest, touching, all that good stuff.  I'd highly recommend this one

So I listened to this one on Audible as well because I'd read Joanna's post on her favorite audiobooks and this one was on the top of her list. It's super short, like under four hours, but it still lost me time and again. I must have re-started it three times before I finally sat with it and focused hard enough to understand what was going on. In the end, it was interesting with some really beautiful writing, but the pace and format just weren't for me. 

 

I can't say I loved or agreed with everything in Roxane Gay's collection of essays that make up Bad Feminist, but I definitely enjoyed reading them. Until I didn't. Because sometimes this book is filled with so much negativity that it becomes too hard to enjoy. And that's okay. That type of writing and reading has it's place and is necessary. Sometimes reading is for pleasure, and sometimes you just have to read the hard stuff too. This book is both. 

 

Now this one is pleasure reading all the way. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Dystopian YA gold, folks. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Even after I finished I just kept revisiting scenes in my mind and thinking about what happens next. If you're a gamer, fan boy or 80's pop culture nerd then this book is definitely for you. If you're none of those things, this book is still probably for you. It's just so good. Read it now.

So how about I've never read any Rainbow Rowell books until now? After hearing so many good things about her, I had to pick up her first novel to see what all the fuss was about. I gotta say, it was pretty much pure fun, fluff reading and I totally enjoyed it. Nothing about this book is that particularly believable. Not the plot, certainly not the ending and especially not the character of the perfectly honorable/handsome/smart/sensitive male lead. But hey, that's the fun of fluff reading, right? I'm ready for the next one.

What are you guys reading? I'm trying my hand at another Mary Roach book. I loved Gulp and can't wait to see what she does with this one!