Another month of 2018 rolls by. So far I'm doing pretty good with my goal of 100 books in 2018. straight numbers- 32 books by the end of the March- so about 10/month. The breakdown further finds I've listened to 14 audiobooks so read 18. A very diverse list of books below. As always- love to hear any opinions on those I've read.
The Reason You're Alive by Matthew Quick
I have liked Matthew Quick's story telling since first reading "Silver Linings Playbook". When I saw this book on the NEW SHELF at the library I picked it up and was intrigued by the story line. David Granger, Vietnam veteran, "on a quixotic crusade to track down his nemesis from the war" (Goodreads). Ever since I watched Ken Burns' documentary on the Vietnam War I have been haunted by it popping up in my reading life. Feel like it is a sign I need to read and learn more about that war.
I did feel like this book was reminiscent of "Slaughterhouse 5" (minus the weird fantasy/other planet stuff). Quick did a great job of writing a genuine portrayal of what occurred during war time and when the soldiers came home. David is a crotchety old veteran, widowed, yet throughout the story layers of the real David shine through.
It was a quick read, writing was clean and character development was spot on. The characters that interact with David and make up the back story brought different emotions/experiences to David's life. It was a great reminder of how people who come in an out of my own life make up different parts of my own story. I will continue to put Quick's book on my TBR list.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
I love Meryl Streep and when I heard that she reads this audiobook I knew I had to listen to it. Plus Nora Ephron is a smart writer who knows how to write about relationships (When Harry Met Sally, I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections, I Feel Bad About My Neck...). She is a journalistic writer and gets to the point. However, this book only gets three stars from me. I didn't overly enjoy this book as the characters were not endearing. A story about infidelity, love, marriage, dissolving of marriage, friendship and how they all can play nicely or not nicely together. I loved Meryl's reading of this book ( I think that is why I bumped it to 3 stars).
Life from Scratch by Sasha Martin
4 star read. The back cover of the book read "195 recipes, 195 countries, 195 weeks...". I found this descriptor to be a tad bit misleading. I had in my head when I started reading the book another version of "Julie and Julia" or a chapter by chapter review of the recipe/country/culture the recipe represented with some personal stuff thrown in.
It really was a book about life. The extraordinary life that Sasha Martin experienced and continues to experience. She never knew her father. Her mother remains a mystery to me. By the end of the book I decided her mother suffered some type of mental illness or was just super overwhelmed by life, or super selfish- hence why she gives up her two youngest children (Sasha and Sasha's brother Michael) to live with friends. Her oldest children from her first marriage (not Sasha's father) live with their father and only visit 1-2 times/year. I struggled with the family who took Sasha and Michael in. The Dumonts financially care for them, but I never felt they emotionally cared for them. Major drama and sadness occurs during the time with the Dumonts (that's all I can say without giving the good stuff- not really good stuff- up). Despite this crazy life living without parents Sasha grows up and becomes an adult and finds herself through cooking- hence the 195 recipes remark on book back cover.
Despite being mislead by the back cover I really enjoyed this book. It was the kind of book that I had questions I want to e-mail or call up the author and ask. Her perseverance was remarkable. If you like memoirs read this book. If you like cooking read this book.
Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
4 stars audiobook and now the blushing can begin because this book was a tad X Rated for my listening ears. A lot of sex, porn, and interesting relationships- i.e. "The Graduate"- Where have you been Mrs. Robinson...
| Wow...feel almost a blush coming on to write that I read/listened to this book. It was a combo story of a forty/fifty something woman trying to find herself after marriage ends in divorce and son goes off to college, and son at college finding his self. However,details like this “said mom” watching MILF porn and getting interested in lesbian porn was a tad “blushing” for me. Overall I thought it was an interesting story line but not sure I’ll be suggesting this to my mom to read. I thought throughout the listening of this book "would this story be different if a woman had written it". I thought some of the main character's musings sounded more like a masculine musing not female in nature, but maybe that is just me. Interesting characters and interesting story line and some blushing to boot. 
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
Book Club book for March- 4 stars. Great discussion at book club! In February I read "Before We Were Your's"- historical fiction about exploitation of children 1939 Memphis, TN and other areas of the US. Then March comes and I feel like I'm a broken record, but I'm saying it again "really this happened in America". Historical fiction highlighting two leading ladies: Ivy, poor white tobacco farm hand, who struggles to help meet ends meet with her family's needs while growing up as a teen in love with her master's son. Number 2 leading lady- Jane Forester, who has her own struggles: new job as a social worker, and newly married to a pediatrician who wants a family "like yesterday" and doesn't support her career aspirations. Can't share a whole lot of the story, but will say the historical fiction aspect is based on the NC state eugenics board "sterilization of persons mentally defective". I was constantly reminded of how the Nazi's sterilized populations of Europe to "weed out the weak" during WWII when reading this book. What truly appalled me was the board was in operation until 1977. I was a one year old when this program ended and that blows my mind.
Diane Chamberlain- never heard of her until this book- really surprises me when I come to find out she has written 10 books- goes to show you how there is never a stopping point for finding new authors to follow and books to read and love. I'll be picking up other Diane Chamberlain books in the future.
Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
Audiobook with my daughter- 4 stars. Although I'm not a fantasy person the fantasy in this book was intertwined to be almost reality and it didn't stand out. Twig and her brother James (who has wings and can fly) are living in a small North Eastern town. Their father is MIA. No one in the town knows Twig has a brother as her mother has helped keep James hidden from the community. That all changes when a new family moves into town and next door to Twig and her family. A great story for late elementary/early junior high age children, but an almost 42 year old adult can enjoy it too.
Radical Lutherans/Lutheran Radicals by Jason Mahn
This was the book our church read for Lent- yes I'm Lutheran (ELCA). I liked the first three chapters of the book which highlighted three amazing men: Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Soren Kierkegaard. They are all different men, from different times, but acted like radical Lutherans for the good of humanity and Lutherans. These chapters helped me further learn more about my own religion/faith. Then Dorothea Soelle's chapter hit and I just didn't get her story. The last chapter too was disappointing as I didn't get much "meat" for how to find my own life's calling as a radical Lutheran.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Audiobook- 3 stars. It was a quick read/listen. I didn't get a ton out of it. I think this is because I really don't follow Mindy Kaling or know her work. So some of her story telling did not intrigue me. I just couldn't connect with the story.
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
I really think this is a 5 star read, but for some reason when I entered my rating into my Goodreads account I gave it four, but I just might have to change it, because as I started writing this review, currently, I wanted to write 5 stars and was surprised to see 4... OK back to the review... I liked this book a lot and she was another author I've never read or heard of despite 30 books listed on her Goodreads author page. It was just such a pleasant read. The characters were great and all had interesting personalities. The story line is a girl loses her job in a London library and decides to buy a van and turn the van into a traveling book store. The book takes place in Scotland, and I've never been there, but her writing brought the area to life for me. I highly recommend this book if you like reading about real life romance, with reading/book selling as a side story.
I feel like I'm going to do with Jenny Colgan as I have with the author Cecelia Ahern- now that I've found her I'm going to try and read all of her books.
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
Kids Audiobook- 4 stars. My intention was to listen to this book with my daughter on one of her hockey away tournament weekends. We never got around to listening to it and it was such a short read I thought I might as well listen to it. Who could go wrong reading/listening to a Patricia MacLachlan book? It was a lovely story about Teddy, the Irish wolfhound, and two children stranded during a snowstorm. The children ("Nickels"- Nicholas and Flora) are side kicks to the main player in the story- Teddy the dog. The friendship that grows within this quick read is truly poetic. Would be a great read for a later elementary school kid, anyone who knows the power of an animal in their life, or any fan of Patricia MacLachlan's works ( "Sarah Plain and Tall", "Skylark", and "Word After Word"...).
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Audiobook- 4 stars. Anyone in health care should read this book. Anyone who wants to die gracefully should read this book. The audio version was great because I got to hear the author's voice, reading his words, his "death" story (no I'm not giving anything away...). I then got to hear the wife's voice as she had to finish the story reading to the death of the author. I appreciate the honesty and dignified look he gave the reader of what death by cancer looks like. I'd like to argue that this book's subject "death by cancer" gave the author the ability to really write about life not death.
That's it, my reading friends. Looking forward to seeing what April brings- just finished my first book for April yesterday and it was a 5 Star read! Can't wait to share it next month. Happy Reading!
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