Here’s what we listened to in October, for our November book picks!
BOYS ADRIFT – A crash course every mom of boys should read. I am 10 years deep as a boy mom, should’ve read it 10 years ago!! Felt like I knew a lot/most of it already in my own research and study and it’s very thorough and well done. 3 Stars.
OPEN BOOK by Jessica Simpson – She really GOES THERE. She is open and honest and vulnerable and it was so appreciated by me. She narrates and had me in tears because she breaks into tears a few times. You’ll want to shake her a lot, she was a door mat for a lot of the book, but such a great memoir and written as a love letter to her fans, too!
MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite – super quick read, interesting, sardonic and dark, funny. A look at the survival and codependent relationship of two sisters. Had me thinking about the (perfectly legal, ha!) ways I turned the other way to preserve relationships with my sisters.
AUNTIE MAME by Patrick Dennis – The fun, flamboyant story of a boy who goes to live with his fabulous unapologetically unique aunt. Super funny and sweet and transports you to a different era.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – In all my fun and indulgent reading I try to throw in something challenging every once and awhile. Try and put my college degree to use (Critical Theory / English Lit) This book was just that. Absurdist, whimsical, fatalist and very challenging. I didn’t necessarily enjoy it but I pat myself on the back for flexing my mind muscles.
OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout – I really enjoyed this one. From the outside in Olive is totally unlikable. But when you know her from the inside out, she’s endearing. I thought it was a really cool effect by the author that could’ve failed but was done really well. I can see why it won a Pulitzer!
THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ by Heather Morris – I have lost count of how many WW2 novels I’ve read and at times this story too far fetched, but the more you learn about Lale the more you see it was entirely possible for such a scrappy intelligent man. True story, and really well done!
THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett – Really amazing story of twin sisters who choose to present as different races. One lives as a white person and one Black. Would be a great Book Club discussion, so much to talk about and dissect. The themes ran far and wide and everything related back to something else. Will have you thinking about all the choices we make to hide and show ourselves, what is DNA and what is choice, and how the pendulum swings through generations.
GREENLIGHTS by Matthew Mconaughey – Exactly what you would think a memoir by MM would be like. He narrates it and its hilarious SO HIM. At times I was scratching my head, with his high life or high on something vibes, like what the heck is he talking about?? But so many funny and sweet stories and lots of life advice that will leave you feeling uplifted.
DIDN’T LIKE / DIDN’T FINISH
Always a few books I have to send back. I used to power through even when I hated it, I have gotten over that now!
IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover. SO cheesy. I couldn’t handle it but the story line was interesting and the characterizations were good! If you like a Hallmark movie or a teen Netflix special hit this up.
MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY by Frederik Backman — Now I did actually finish this, but I skimmed a lot. I find children as narrators really grating right now. Not sure why, just being honest. It was super sweet, a cool concept, would make a great movie!
THE TESTAMENTS by Margaret Atwood — Probably should’ve just read the Handmaids Tale but felt like I knew enough after watching the show. The Testaments is the next chapter of their free life and a retelling through a child’s perspective in court. See the last review, just not in the mood to have a kid narrate something. Harsh I know!
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