· It was hard to narrow the list down to only 7 books, and there were a few that I had to leave off the list simply because I couldn't very well tell you to read them all. Here are the ones that didn't make the final cut.
·
All
the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
o
Category: WWII Fiction
o
Synopsis: Experience of living during World War
II told from the perspective of two children.
o
Recommendation: Maybe. It’s crazy that this isn’t a definite read
given that it is a wonderfully written book, and a very popular best
seller. If the genre interests you or
even just to be up to speed on what is trendy to read at the moment, definitely
check it out. I think my hesitation
stems from having read a number of other WWII novels (The Book Thief, Sarah’s
Key, The Nightingale, etc) and not necessarily giving me something “new”. I feel a bit disgusted for saying that about
such a horrific period in our human history.
·
Paper
Towns by John Green.
o
Category: YA Fiction
o
Synopsis: Story of a mildly dorky high school
boy who has had a crush on the popular neighbor girl for years. They were friends as young kids and grew
apart as they get older and she moves into the popular clique. They end up sharing a wild night of adventure
right before high school graduation that contains some fun shenanigans and
changes his life.
o
Recommendation: Skip. I went on a John Green kick after watching
and enjoying (as much as you can enjoy a movie that makes you bawl your eyes
out because it’s so heartbreaking) the movie (wildly popular novel written by
the same author). There was a movie
preview for Paper Towns that grabbed my attention, so I read the book and
watched the movie. There were elements I
enjoyed, but overall I felt the characters were a bit too angsty about things
beyond their years for being teens.
·
Think
of a Number by John Verdon.
o
Category: Murder mystery
o
Synopsis: A private investigator is contact by
an old acquaintance for help tracking down who is sending some mysterious
notes. Murder, mystery, and crime
solving ensue.
o
Recommendation: Maybe. If you need an easy, mindless read this is a
fun story with some plot twisting. The
beginning was interesting to ponder (and some of you may remember me telling
the premise and asking how you would react) if you had received this strange
note.
·
Undress
Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman.
o
Category: Memoir (I actually read the physical
book!)
o
Synopsis: Memoir of two female college students
from a hoity toity New England liberal arts school that decide to travel the
world together after graduation in the early 1980s. While this was definitely a story of personal
growth and self-discovery, it unfurled in a way I was not expecting, with a
plot line that took a dramatic turn I didn’t see coming.
o
Recommendation: Skip. I found the author to be such a narcissistic,
feminist, acting like a spoiled American that it made getting through the book
a bit tedious. Does that actually kind
of make you want to read it? I kind of
want you to, so we can talk about how annoying she is. I should caveat that I probably am forgetting
what it was like being fresh out of college at 22 thinking I knew it all, being
young, wanting adventure, and annoying everyone who knew what a self-absorbed
twit I was—and I think it was definitely the author’s intent to convey she now
realizes that too. I also should
probably give her a break since she didn’t have the luxury of Trip Advisor and
a smartphone to aid her travels.
·
·
Modern
Romance by Aziz Ansari.
o
Category: Non-fiction book about the current
world of dating.
o
Synopsis: Aziz Ansari actually did some research
on how dating has changed since our grandparent’s time, what’s gotten
better...and worse. Anyone who is single
or at least dated into their late 20s can relate to the laughable and sometimes
tear inducing jungle that is modern dating and romance. Aziz narrates his own audiobook which is just
plain funny.
o
Recommendation: Skip, particularly since I can’t
recommend that you read every book on my list!
There wasn’t anything novel about his research or his findings. It is good for some laughs, and you won’t
regret spending time on it if you decide to check it out anyway.
·
The
Fever by Megan Abbott.
o
Category: YA Fiction
o
Synopsis: A strange, unexplained illness slowly
takes over the girls, just the girls, in a high school of a small town. There is some allusion to linking this
illness to a vaccine, which I couldn’t tell if it was her commentary on the
anti-vaxing trend or just a story detail.
o
Recommendation: Skip. I read this because it was a recommendation
in the Skimm newsletter I read every day.
I love the Skimm’s snarky and pointed way of keeping current events fun
and consumable, so I figured I would love any book they recommended. The premise sounded super interesting to
me…and then it was just a complete let down.
I am disappointed just thinking about it and regretting wasting this
much of time and yours even writing about it.
·
Lost
Among the Living by Simone St. James.
o
Category: Mystery/Fiction
o
Synopsis:
o
Recommendation: Skip. This was another Skimm recommendation, which
is surprising I read another one after how much I loathed The Fever. While it wasn’t as bad, I actually had to
look up a synopsis because I couldn’t really remember. If I read it 6 months ago and can’t ever
recall enough to write a synopsis, I can’t recommend it.
·
I am
Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.
o
Category: Thriller
o
Synopsis: Think Jason Bourne/Mission Impossible
story via a book. This would make a
great movie. I couldn’t possibly say
anything more for fear of giving anything away.
o
Recommendation: Maybe. This book won’t really make you think or
change your life, but it’s pure pleasure reading. A page turner with everything you could want:
mystery, action, emotional angst, terrorist plots, saving the world, spies,
national secrets.
·
Sharp
Object by Gillian Flynn.
o
Category: Mystery/Thriller
o
Synopsis:
o
Recommendation: Skip. Gone Girl blew my mind, so I had to read some
of her other books and reviews I read said readers thought this one was even
better. I enjoy any book in this genre
but personally didn’t think this was the sensation that was Gone Girl.
·
The
Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
o
Category: Historical Fiction
o
Synopsis: Life story of a man who grew up in
Mexico and ended up working for Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. He eventually moves to the US and becomes a
famous writer. It is based on historical
events (in fact, I even knew an answer to a question at Trivia Mafia because of
reading this book).
o
Recommendation: Skip. I love, love, love Barbara Kingsolver, but I
admit this was not my favorite of her novels.
I am being more judicious in my “Read” recommendations so that I only
give you 6 or so. The book wasn’t
terrible, I just found myself looking forward to finishing it, so I could move
onto something else. If you really like
historical fiction, or interest in Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, it is an
interesting story.
·
Heart
Shaped Box by Joe Hill.
o
Category: Horror?
o
Synopsis: Famous (but aged) heavy metal singer
(I kept picturing Marilyn Manson in his 50s) interested in weird, morbid,
occult collectibles buys a box supposedly containing the ghost of a deceased
man on Ebay. No surprise, the ghost
haunts the protagonist and those around him.
He has to learn who this ghost is so that he may attempt to get rid of
him…if he wants to save his life and those of the people around him.
o
Recommendation: Skip. This is a weird ass book. I read another book by this author, Horns,
during Halloween with my book club. You
may recall that the guy who played Harry Potter was the lead actor in the movie
adaptation of Horns. Anyway, all the
reviews I read online and commentary from others in my book club said Heart
Shaped Box was the author’s best book.
Horns was super bizarre, so I was intrigued to see if I agreed with
other readers. If you are looking for
something different this is definitely “it”.
·
Secret
History by Donna Tart.
o
Category: Long winded fiction that goes on far
longer than necessary (not sure how else to classify it)
o
Synopsis: Story of a group of college students
enrolled in a highly selective major by an eccentric professor. The students in the group are all eccentric
as well, they take all their classes with this one professor and are almost
cult like. Something happens to the
group that causes a schism and the group falls into turmoil, secrets and
betrayals.
o
Recommendation: Skip. If you can’t tell by my category definition,
I did not enjoy this book. It was so
verbose with a lot of intricate details that I didn’t find moved the story
along or help me better understand what was happening or understanding the
characters. Writing this is reminding me
how much I struggled through and disliked this book. I am hesitant to read her best seller The Gold
Finch based on this experience. Blech.
·
Native
Son by Richard Wright.
o
Category: Historical fiction
o
Synopsis: A young, poor black man goes to work
for a wealthy, white family as their driver in Chicago during the 1930s. His awkward interactions with the family, a
terrible tragedy, and the court case that follows. I don’t want to give anything away!
o
Recommendation: Skip. I didn’t enjoy this book, though it would
have been hard to do so given the subject matter. Too many other good reads, but if you want to
challenge yourself and open your eyes to the plight of the poor, black community
prior to integration, it is worth checking out.
·
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
o
Category: Fiction/suspense
o
Synopsis: I loved the summary I saw online that
prompted me to read it, so I’ll share that.
A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island. A brilliant,
damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends-the Liars-whose friendship turns
destructive. A revolution. An accident.
A secret. Lies upon lies. True love.
The truth.
o
Recommendation: Skip. Hard to envision that based on the summary
above, right? I was a bit let down by
this book, although the ending was a surprise.
·
Looking
for Alaska by John Green.
o
Category: YA Fiction
o
Synopsis: Story of a mildly dorky high school
boy who transfers to a boarding school and makes friends. Something sad happens.
o
Recommendation: Skip. See rationale for all other John Green books.
·
Call
of the Wild by Jack London.
o
Category: Fiction
o
Synopsis: I was surprised that this was narrated
from the point of view of a dog. He is
kidnapped from his loving home and sent north to Alaska to pull sleds for men
rushing west in search of gold. Some of
the humans he encounters are nice…others are not.
o
Recommendation: Skip. Only because I have to pick and choose. This is a short book and an interesting
story. Kind of sad to read about the
treatment of the animals—even among each other!
·
Light
Between Oceans by ML Steadman.
o
Category: Fiction
o
Synopsis: A lighthouse keeper and his wife
living on a remote island off the coast of Australia find a baby washed up on
shore. They decide to keep it after
tragically losing a number of their own babies at birth or miscarriage. Eventually, they move back to the mainland
where they discover who the child belonged to, then they must decide whether to
tell the truth or keep quiet. Of course,
husband and wife disagree on what to do, so add some marital trouble to the drama
pot.
o
Recommendation: Skip. I started this book a while ago and couldn’t
get into it and decided to quit reading.
I finally decided to finish it to see how it resolved. A sad ending regardless of whose “side” you
are on. Something about it never grabbed me.
·
The
Invisible Man by HG Wells.
o
Category: Fiction
o
Synopsis: A man who is literally invisible
causes a ruckus about town.
o
Recommendation: Skip. I hated this book! I heard it was a classic, so I thought I
should read it. Turns out there are two
books of the same title. The other is about
a black man struggling through the racial divide in America. I can see how that one may be more
influential. But I repeat, I hated this book!
·
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