So here are the noteworthy books that I've picked up and put down (and scrolled through) since my last reading post. I hit a patch in the middle of the year when I didn't really feel like reading (Netflix with Wells boys is more important), so it was kind of a light list to pick from. : )
Self-Help:
How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Patricia Love and Steve Stosny. This book recommendation was hands-down the best thing I got from therapy. I smacked my forehead SO many times ("That's why!"). The first half of the book explains physiological differences between men and women. The second half gets to the how to. It shed so much light on my previous marriage and is teaching me to take lots of detours in my relationship with J. If you're in a committed relationship, you need to read this book.
The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife by Sally Bjornsen. Hey! That's exactly MY situation! There were multiple times that I thought the author read my diary. She's funny but straight-forward - no big spoonfuls of sugar here. This is stuff that no one talks about. If you're the single girl in the title or the man or the ex-wife or care about any of the above, you should read this book.
For both of these, I borrowed them from the library, loved them, then bought my own copy so I could highlight it.
One of Jason's bosses is in the habit of asking me what I'm reading on my lunch breaks. As I was reading The Single Girl's Guide, he strolled over and asked. Not wanting to say, "The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife," I said, "Ummm, how to be a good stepmom." Clearly being caught off guard and not wanting to continue that thread, he said, "Okay!", turned on his heel and started to walk away! He paused, turned back around, and said, "Have you read Love Does?"
Love Does by Bob Goff. As in, love doesn't just talk the talk, it gets up and puts its money where its mouth is. Love does. The author is a Christian who shares personal anecdotes about accepting before criticizing and the selfless nature of love.
How To Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish. This is multiple exercises in being purposeful in the ways that we treat the boys. It often means taking a breath and a less critical approach. It's spot-on in its analysis of how teens react to different types of communication. The prequel is on my nightstand.
Boys Should Be Boys by Meg Meeker. I quickly realized that if I was going to highlight the good parts to read to J, I would be highlighting whole pages. It's the reason I didn't interfere when the boys were playing "Army" last weekend and got Al's backpack stuck in a tree and the reason why they kept playing together all afternoon.
Strong Mothers, Strong Sons by Meg Meeker. It's on my nightstand waiting for me to finish Faithful Place. I bought a hard copy after I read the first chapter of Boys Should Be Boys. No messing around with borrowing it from the library.
The Rita Recommendations:
I love that I have a handful of friends that once we run out of life to catch up on, we catch up on books. : )
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Charming and whimsical. I need it to be made into a movie (definitely IMAX) so I can wrap my mind around it, but I suspect that much of the magic would be lost.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Okay. This book is that feeling you have when you're laying in a hammock on the beach or curled up in front of the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and extra mini marshmallows. One of my new favorites. I even geeked out an made a character map, AP English style.
I'm sure J and Karen are embarrassed for me right now.
The Ones That Everyone Else Liked:
I read a few blog posts highly recommending this bunch. Hmm. How to start. I liked the story but not the narration in I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (loved that it was told from two perspectives three years apart and then to watch the overlapping and unfolding) and Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. I mean, it's weird to like the plot but not the characters.
I was really irritated with We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I never liked any of the characters. The whole thing seemed disjointed. The only reason I held on was because I had read that the ending would blow you away. Well, the disjointedness WAS to support the ending, but once it was revealed, I started complaining outloud. "Seriously?? [Spoiler] That's what you're going with?? Seriously!" So for me, the ending did not justify the poor writing.
Everyone and their best friend loved Yes Please by Amy Poehler. I DID love Bossypants by Amy's best friend Tina Fey, but I abandoned Yes Please after I was halfway through and forcing it.
The Ones I've Recommended:
The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. This series is unique in that each novel follows a different main character for an entirely new murder mystery. The Likeness is my favorite thus far.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. So adorable. The narrator is a geneticist with undiagnosed Asperger's (picture a hot Sheldon Cooper) which my OCD reads really well. I smiled the whole time I read this and laughed several times. The sequel is good, too.
Worth noting: The Nicholas Sparks ban is still running strong. I have not caved once in two years since I put the ban in place.
Next big book endeavors: Anne Rice, Miss Marple, and mental illness memoirs.
