STATUS

I don't know how I got to be "on pace" with my reading challenge... I started the year so far ahead! I just finished book 20/50, which means I have no more wiggle room to spare and need to actually put in some effort if I intend to meet the goal. Truthfully, I had hoped to exceed 50 books this year, but in the past, I tend to lose ground in the summer/fall. I think I've fallen behind because I've been reading a lot of books from friends-which I enjoy doing-but haven't picked up as many of my own choices. I don't normally read so many pop novels, and like a blockbuster film, they are fun and entertaining in the moment, but leave you feeling like you've basically done little more than just waste some time, in retrospect. If I'm wasting time reading, I might as well be wasting time watching TV.... it's easier.

Hopefully June will be a lot more impressive than my last few months!

 

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET

Link to purchase from Amazon

TITLE: The Husband's Secret
AUTHOR: Liane Moriarty
PUBLISHER: Berkley Books, hardcover 416 pages
PUBLICATION DATE: July 30, 2013
GENRE: Literature and Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Domestic Life


As of this moment, The Husband's Secret has 18,200 reviews on Amazon, over 15k of which are positive. Although I admittedly don't always pay attention to those numbers, I have never noticed a book with that many reviews, so many of which are overwhelmingly positive. I can't remember exactly how I stumbled across it, but with that kind of a response on Amazon (and well over 300k ratings on Goodreads), I figured this would definitely be worth a read.



things that i liked:

• Moriarty-an Australian author who I have never come across before-is an exceptional writer. She makes domestic living both interesting and entertaining. She has a great sense of humor but can maintain the proper level of seriousness to make the story hit the correct mark. Overall the wasn't an "exciting" who-dun-it read, but she keeps you turning the pages, regardless. 
• Characters were pretty exceptional-not much else to say about that, other than I found something to appreciate with each person she introduced. Love or hate them, they're all exactly right. 
• The most important part of this book is the epilogue-more on that to follow...

things that i didn't like (SPOILERS-SKIP TO CONCLUSION IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK):

• This wasn't the thriller/suspense/mystery I thought it would be. The murderer is revealed way way way too soon, which is necessary for the story Moriarty wishes to tell, but makes the second half (or so) of the book feel utterly pointless. I only finished because I thought there would be an interesting twist, and there wasn't. I'm glad she writes well, otherwise this would've been a colossal disappointment, probably on par with the Nicola Yoon novels I've torn to pieces previously (sorry, but I'm not sorry). Although I [kind of] understand why she did what she did, I do think she could've worked the plot around and at least kept us guessing a LITTLE longer. Either way, I wouldn't say this "ruined" the book, but it did take the story from a potential 5/5 star rating down to a 3/5. 
• One character-the principal of the school-is totally sketchy and suspicious, but nothing becomes of her. I think that Moriarty is giving us just a little dose of "normal" domestic living (because in reality there ARE  those randomly strange people in our lives that aren't guilty of anything other than being weird), this character does feel like a confusing afterthought. I don't understand the purpose of the lengths she went to describe her and her quirks, as she lends nothing to the story. She's a good character and I thought she'd pop back up as having a link to something somewhere, but she didn't... she was just different. Still not sure what happened, there.

conclusion:

This is a pretty good book, because of the epilogue. Without sharing too much, I will say that-if you want to read this one-you absolutely cannot afford to skip the last couple of pages. I usually enjoy epilogues as you often "need" that extra push to finish the story, but a lot of them are sort of blah or generally boring/disappointing. In this case, the epilogue makes the story. Moriarty basically uses chaos theory to connect unforeseen dots and makes points that otherwise would've gone completely unnoticed and unappreciated in the original story. I loved this explanation, and would've absolutely hated the book without it. Ironically, the last 2.5-3 pages are the only thing making the previous 416 worthwhile. I just hate that there was a good chance I would've missed it completely if I had quit where I wanted to...

SOOOOOO.... no, I don't understand the extensive praise this book received. Maybe her other novels are way better and this one rode the waves or picked up a draft from them because her fan base is very supportive? I'm not really sure. Maybe her ideal reader is someone who identifies better with the characters? At any rate, I did add a couple more of her novels to my wish list and will probably eventually read them, because even with the things I didn't like about this book, I didn't hate it-I just expected so much more. 

Will I recommend this book? Probably not. Although it wasn't a long read for me, I kind of feel like the time I did spend on this one could've been used to read a handful of others that I haven't gotten to yet. I've actually told two different people all about it (emphasizing the epilogue, because that was the good part), but truthfully told them that they'd probably not appreciate the waste of time. That being said-obviously there are hordes of readers around the world that loved it, so if you're curious, you might as well go for it! 

3/5 stars-good but not great.

Into The Water

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: Into the Water
Author: Paula Hawkins
Publisher: Riverhead Books, hardcover (400 pages)
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Genre: Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, Literature and Fiction


I was SO excited to read this book... I've had it preordered since I found out about it (maybe half a year ago), and I was a little disappointed that it ended up being a really busy week when it finally got here. I didn't really get into it until Friday night, and once I started there was no putting it down. That's about the quickest I've read 400 pages since The Girl on the Train (although I think that one was a bit shorter, technically).

Being that The Girl on the Train was Hawkins' first book, I-along with everyone else who enjoyed it so much-wondered if she'd be a one-hit-wonder. Was the first one a fluke? Did she get lucky? Can she please please please do it again?

So let me just say, that I actually didn't love The Girl on the Train... the story didn't captivate me, but Hawkins' writing did. Knowing that she was capable of that level of writing, I went into this second piece of her work with high hopes.

And... I was NOT disappointed!

This story follows the lives of the members of a community that live around a river that runs through their town. We begin right after [another] woman is found dead at the bottom of the river this summer. There are a myriad of characters to follow, as the plot and history of the town unfold. Hawkins deals with body image issues, broken families, feminism, rape, abuse of power, mental illness, and probably more that I'm not remembering. Each of her characters has a deep and complicated past that she manages to weave together to tell her story, and she does it really well.

things that i liked:

• Hawkins tells a really good story; something about her writing (even when I don't care much for the story), really really has the ability to keep me turning those pages. She is very simple in style, but she pulls me in and keeps me there from start to finish.
• In both of her books, Hawkins has a plethora of characters. Some of them more interesting than others, all of them carry incredible depth in a surprising way; you would think that, with her style being so simple, Hawkins would lose some of her characters along the way. It seems like there's a lot of room for error with each chapter being only a couple of pages in length, but she manages to tie everyone together seamlessly, and by the end, you don't doubt her at all. 
• Short chapters seem childish, but Hawkins moves from one character to the next so quickly that you actually have to think harder than ever to keep up with her. I love that she forces you to pay attention by demanding you engage your memory at every turn; if you lose track you'll never catch up! It keeps me involved with the characters and I love this style of writing.

things that i did not like:

• Her stories haven't stunned me, yet. The Girl on the Train was pretty good, but it definitely wasn't the best book I've ever read... and the same goes for Into the Water. They're more than tolerable, I mean, I don't HATE them, but I think that more than anything, Hawkins wins because she writes well. I hope that she writes more and more, because I think that one day she'll manage to tell an amazing story, and she'll do it well. 

So, I wasn't disappointed. This was a good read, and Hawkins proved that her first efforts were legitimate and that she is here to stay. Like I said above, I'm looking forward to what she'll do next, because I think that she will really knock one out of the park at some point. Her ability to use SO MANY CHARACTERS and do it SO VERY WELL, is soooo impressive. 

I have maybe three different friends who are excited to read this one, so I'll pass it on with enthusiasm... I think people will like it, even though, like I said, the story is subpar. She pulls us in, regardless. Four stars!!  

Status report

So, it's the last day of April, and I have finished 18 books. No, I haven't blogged about each and every one that I've read (although that was my original goal)... some books just don't seem to be worth the time and effort, I'm sorry. I also just forgot one or two and will try to go back and review them at some point, but once I've moved on I find it very easy to not look back... 

That being said, on my reading goal I am exactly on pace, which is impressive only because I inadvertently read nothing through both February and March (biggest excuse: an intense playoff push for my favorite hockey team, which did NOT result in a playoff run... fortunately, for me =P).  Usually I'll take a week or two off, a month at the most, but after losing almost a solid two months I did have to consciously get my head together in April. It's always interesting to evaluate the areas of your life that sap the majority of your resources... as it turns out, sleep, work, and hockey eat up most of mine... it could be worse. 

The one thing that I hate about New Year's Resolutions-or any goals that are set, particularly with time tables-it makes the year feel so much faster! Here we are, five months into 2017, and I feel like I've done nothing more than read 18 books... which seems incredibly insignificant, in the big scheme of things. 

So that's pretty much the situation. I think that from here on out, I'll probably dedicate one large post to group together all of the books that feel like they aren't worth the effort of an entire post of their own. And now if you'll excuse me, the one single advantage of not having a team in the playoffs is that you can enjoy the best of hockey without feeling anxious or uptight. I'm gonna go do that...  

The Reason I Jump

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: The Reason I Jump
Author: Naoki Higashida
Publisher: Knopf Canada, Hardcover
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Genre: Memoir, Biography, Parenting and Relationships, Health, Fitness and Dieting, Special Needs


Written in a Q&A style, with a handful short stories also included, this was a really great read! It's a very short book and easy/quick read, but still manages to pack a punch. If you didn't get it from the extended title, this is the behind the scenes look into the mind of a child with autism. Naoki Higashida writes the book at 13 years of age using a unique method that his therapist/instructors have developed to help this child who is unable to speak due to his disability.

There isn't a whole lot to say about this book, other than it is a productive read for essentially anyone. Although there seem to be endless varieties of learning disabilities on the spectrum, and a plethora of different symptom combinations on top of that, this memoir does answer a lot of the questions that parents/families/teachers etc always have concerning their child who cannot adequately communicate their thoughts and feelings (for example, why autistic kids often jump). Higashida comes across as incredibly intelligent, which is a good reminder of the level of maturity that often resides in the mind of special needs kids... at one point, he begs people not to talk to him like he's a child.

So yes, I would recommend this book to anyone. There isn't much to it, but in the interest of understanding and being well-informed, this one is very useful. Four stars only because it did feel somewhat incomplete (but an entire 5 stars to the final short story at the end of the book!).  

Quite: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: Quite: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Author: Susan Cain
Publisher: Broadway Books, paperback 368 pages
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Genre: Psychology and Counseling, Creativity and Genius, Behavioral Science, Relationships


There are exactly three books that I can say I have and always will recommend to basically anyone who can read: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Outliers: The Story of Success, and now Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

With over 4,400 five star ratings (and only 600 "critical" reviews) on Amazon.com, my expectations going into this book were pretty high. I can't remember exactly how I got my hands on this one, but I'm pretty sure this was an Amazon recommendation for me based on other books I've purchased through them (cheers, Amazon, you nailed it!). I blew through the first half of the book in the first sitting (maybe two hours?), not because it is an easy read, but because every point introduced is thought-provoking, interesting, and very well presented. Susan Cain has a very fluid writing style that is easy to follow, and more than anything, the topic is captivating.

Admittedly, as the poster child for introversion, I did connect with this book on a personal level. Coming across someone or something that you can actually closely relate to is always refreshing, and although I've never actually walked in someone else's shoes, I feel like finding these connections is a rarity for me and is possibly more difficult for me than it is for other people (in particular, extroverts!). If I created a list of all of the things that I enjoy (or hate), it wouldn't be difficult to see why I feel this way.

So, things that I liked about this book:  

1) Cain debunks misconceptions (for example, there is a difference between being "shy" and being "introverted"-as an introverted person who would not consider myself to be shy, this was refreshing).
2) She explores the biology and the genetics of introversion (super interesting material that I have yet to come across elsewhere).
3) There are a lot of cultural implications when it comes to introverts/extroverts and how they play together in the world (at the office, in relationships, etc)-Cain provides history and sociology lessons while simultaneously giving useful tips and advice to people on both ends of the spectrum on how to cooperate with each other and find the best ways to maximize the benefits of different personality types.
4) Although I only perused the portions on parenting because I don't have children, Cain does offer advice on how to relate to an introverted child (haven't read it, but she also has a book that focuses on children Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids).
5) Seriously, this is a condensed list.. I literally loved everything about this book.


The one thing that I think other people may dislike about this book:

The only negative or critical thing that I can say about this book is that-thinking about it from the perspective of an extroverted person-Cain has the potential to come off as a little self-righteous or conceited, or maybe just anti-extrovert. For an introverted person, this book is a breath of fresh air! We can relate to it and feel far more validated and comfortable with those God-given traits that normally make us stick out like a sore thumb. I have recommended this book to several people, and up until this point only my fellow introverts have read it (and loved it!), but my next victim is a highly extroverted friend/coworker... I am anxious to see how she perceives the tone of the book. If you read to completion, you will see that Cain does consistently stress the importance of finding and working towards a healthy balance. More than once she points out the fact that-although it is important for extroverts to begin to pay more attention to their introverted counterparts-the introverts really couldn't do it alone.


I haven't written about the other two on my list of books that I always recommend (Elon Musk, Outliers, and Quiet), but I do intend to at some point. The three do have some things in common; they are all non-fiction, most obviously. They are also all VERY well written in a conversational, informative, and easy-to-follow manner. And most importantly, out of all the reading that I do (excluding the Bible), these three are the books that have had the most impact on me and my perception of the world and people around me. Elon Musk (among other things) was a friendly and necessary reminder that there is a lot to look forward to in the future of America and the world. Outliers was an informative look at the multiple factors that play in the story of success or failure (note: some people find this book to be sort of a bummer about how you can be talented and work hard but never meet your true potential; I took away a more positive note on how the people that ARE successful always did work hard and perhaps also had natural talent... this was mostly just super informative and interesting, though-it blew my mind!). And then Quiet-the book that more or less explains ME.

So yes, I HIGHLY recommend all three of these books. I want people everywhere to read Quiet in particular because I feel like it sheds light on an extremely important issue that we will all face, but has thus far been successfully ignored or blown over as far as I can tell. Selfishly, I want everyone I know to read the book so that they'll understand why I prefer to stay home and read a book over going out and "having fun". I cannot stress enough how meaningful it feels to be validated on a genetic level.

FIVE STARS, and probably the best book I've read this year. 

Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Press, Hardcover 335 pages
Publication Date: September 1, 2015 
Genre: Teen and Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction

Let me preface this by saying that the following makes a little more sense if you've already read my review of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR.

THINGS THAT I LIKED: 

• Nicola Yoon is still a pretty good author. I don't like the stories that she tells, but I can't say that she doesn't tell them well. As I said in my previous review of her work, I desperately want to enjoy Yoon, but she doesn't make it easy. 
• This is another fun(ish) and very quick read. 

THINGS THAT I DID NOT LIKE:

• This story is just too silly. You want to like it, because the characters are struggling and you want them to win... but it's impossible.  
• Teenage sex is a no-no; in reality it happens, I know, but to tell a story where two teenagers end up running off to Hawaii to enjoy what is essentially a honeymoon together... come on, now. It isn't realistic, and to spuriously glamorize it makes me feel so uncomfortable. You can tell the story just as well without the fornication, so why include it? It's like excessive swearing (which this book did not include, by the way)-profanity is acceptable and there is a time and place for it, but to validate the overactive potty-mouth just seems irresponsible. I don't mean to be a stick in the mud, but I also don't care if that's how you view my opinion on the matter; I want to support literature that pushes the reader and challenges the minds of all who consume it. Sinking to the level of  "sex sells" assumes that your reader has limited self-respect and is not completely in touch with the realistic side of society. 
• Without giving away the actual ending, let me say that I did not really appreciate it. There was a "twist" that was pretty good, but then the last chapter takes it a little too far (for me).
• There are quite a few more, but I honestly don't want to waste any more time than I need to on this book.

Once again, Yoon has me all uptight. I was hoping this book would be as good as other reviews that I've read on it, but it was a pretty colossal disappointment. The one good thing was that this was an insanely quick read (as in literally a couple of hours), so I didn't waste a lot of time on it and it was, admittedly, a nice break from some of the heavier stuff I've currently got my nose stuffed in. I had a lot of thoughts that I don't even feel like organizing... I'd rather just close the book and allow it to serve a higher purpose of dust collection. But without going into a lot of detail, I did want to share a few reasons I didn't like this book/improvements I would've made:

Please don't underestimate your reader. I know that I am not technically included in the target audience on this one, but I usually read books with the intention of sharing them with others who might enjoy them... I can't do that if you have no respect for your audience. I have read many a children's book (JACK) that I have found both thought provoking and also age appropriate, so let's be fair and acknowledge that it is completely possible to write a relevant story without exploiting your audience's "weak spot", so to speak. Please assume that we can follow complex thought processes (which I believe this author is capable of producing!), that we can keep up with your use of challenging vocabulary words (either by knowing them or being willing to learn them), and that we can enjoy entertainment that isn't littered with sex, drugs, profanity, etc. Some authors can't rise to the occasion, and neither can some readers... but when there's potential to be great, please don't sell us all short. 

So... NO, I won't be recommending this one. Frankly, there are so many other young adult novels that have a lot to offer, and this one really has nothing I'd care to endorse**. I can find basically no redeeming factors, EXCEPT that I do still enjoy Yoon's writing style... and that's just a personal preference, not something that I'd guess other people would likely relate to. 

I wish that this review were a little more cohesive, but I really didn't even want to write it. Sorrynotsorry! 

**I don't have that high of an opinion of myself that I assume that people care about my thoughts on anything, but the reality is that I have a lot of friends and coworkers who ask for book recommendations all of the time (this is why I buy most of my books--so that I can easily pass them around). A lot of my coworkers have teenagers that need books/recommendations for various reasons, so I keep up with young adult literature partially for that reason. I also just generally enjoy it...