Summer Reading List

I love to read. It's one thing that I do each and every day (I wish I enjoyed exercise as much!). As most of you already know, I'm a huge fan of both Amazon.com and Kindle. I can't even think of the last time I read an actual book or visited the library. In fact, my e-book-buying has gotten to be so much that I prefer to be oblivious to the amount I actually spend on books each month. I just simply turn a blind eye. I know...I know...I need to get better at using the library and that IS my goal in the coming year. I just prefer to fly by the seat of my pants and NOT wait for anything. When I make up my mind that I want to read a book, I want it now. I hate waiting for it!!! 

But because we are such avid Amazon.com users, I'm convinced they "know" me. They target me so perfectly...It's almost scary! As soon as I've finished a book and if I've given it a good rating, they immediately shoot me new emails depicting new books I'll like based on the ones I've rated well in the past. I must admit, these lists suck me in every time and they are completely accurate. I haven't had a bad reading experience in over a year. Of course, I enjoy some more than others, but, overall, I've been so amazed by Amazon.com.

Because of my amazing Amazon.com experience, putting together my summer reading list has been especially difficult this year. There is TOO many choices! So, I limited myself and, hence, my list to 11. My hope has always been that my picks keep you up past your bedtime...Happy Reading!!! 

1). 

Apparently I'm intrigued by midwives because two books about them made the list this year! I love this book! I fell in love with the characters, especially Miss Marie Babineau, who is a traditional midwife during the time when science and "painless" childbirth are beginning to make a forefront in modern medicine. The characters are so well developed. You'll want to love the good ones and hate the bad ones.  

2). 

I must admit when I first read the synopsis regarding this book, I thought to myself, "Really? Another book about a forbidden love during the civil rights movement?" It felt like this book had already been done...if not over-done. The only reason I read it is because the reviews were through the roof and after downloading a sample (my very favorite thing about e-readers), I was hooked. While the story line may seem like it's been done before, there are plenty of twists and turns of the plot to keep you coming back for more. This one is definitely worth your while. 

3). 

Elizabeth Strout is the same author who wrote "Olive Kittredge"...A highly acclaimed, Pultizer Prize winning novel...Which was completely lost on me. I admit it--I tried it--I didn't seen the point or the hoopla of it. It wasn't  the worst book I've read, but not exactly one that left me wanting more either. This being said, I absolutely LOVED "The Burgess Boys"! Its a tale about family and dynamics between siblings. Maybe it's because I, too, come from a family with two younger brothers and I could clearly relate to the spats and love and sense of generosity, but I closed this book (or rather my Kindle) not wanting to leave behind Susan, Bob, and Jim. They felt like family. So, obviously, Strout has done a fantastic job of character development (in my humble opinion). I felt deeply attached to them and wanted to keep "up" with them. It was hard to let them go! 

4). 

My son actually read this book for his reading class at school and urged me to do the same. It was a fabulous book!!! This book is actually one of four (a quartet) and after reading the first one, I quickly downloaded the other three. They are very easy, short reads and I enjoyed the way they made me think about the future. Jonas lives in a "perfect" world. No crime, no punishment, no starvation, etc.. It's a community based on sameness and equality. It actually reminded me a lot of the movie "The Truman Show". It's a Newberry Medal Award winner. I think the last one of those I read was "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" back in 1987! Whether then or now, it was definitely medal award winning worthy!!! 

5). 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! This is a story of friendship and what it looks like decades later after the four women have endured marriage, children, and middle age. It's very touching and I found myself completely immersed in each character and their relationships. This book was actually named Amazon's Best Book of March 2013 and it's a title well-deserved. 

6). 

Most of the books I've chosen, I felt were pretty uplifting and easy summer reading. This book is not one of them. It's a devastating story of loss. It's not for the faint of heart. Christa and Cora are twin sisters--who are deeply connected to one another until Cora dies from a drug overdose and Christa finds herself trying to pick up the pieces of her own life. Amazon's book description says it better than I can, "Beautifully written, mesmerizingly rich and true, Christa Parravani's account of being left, one half of a whole, and of her desperate, ultimately triumphant struggle for survival is informative, heart-wrenching and unforgettably beautiful." Well said, Amazon, thank you! Don't let the heaviness scare you away. It's a beautiful story! 

7). 

Ok, quite possibly...I'm almost scared to say it aloud...One of the my favorite books of all-time. For sure, probably my favorite of this year. It's a twisted story between past and present and the secrets hidden. This famous photograph entitled "Migrant Mother" gets a new twist--A reinvention of sorts. There are three families that you will come to love and know in this book. One is Mary Coin herself from the photograph and her family. She's a migrant worker during the Great Depression when food, money, and jobs are scarce. She boldly takes care of her children. She is a beautifully developed character and story line. Then there is Vera Dare who is the photographer who took the picture and present-day Walker who is a current professor who discovers his family has been carrying it's own secret for many decades. It's not only a creative book, but the characters and story lines are so well developed...As they shift from past and present in the book, you will find yourself sorry to let go of that family or story while you move onto to the next. It is a heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and fortitude. It's a fabulous book! 

8). 

Just when I said that most of the books I've chosen are uplifting...Maybe not so much. This one was gut-wrenching for me. I think I even shed a few tears, which hasn't happened since "The Shack" five years ago. This, too, is a true story about a son who stays with his mom during her weekly cancer treatments. During this time, they find themselves discussing the books they are reading to pass the time. While there are plenty of sections regarding books and their discussions, it's mainly about a son loving his mom and simply putting his memories of her on paper. It was sweet, loving, and sad. 

9). 

No selection list is complete without an Oprah Book Club pick! This is one I've been wanting to read for a long time, but just never got to it until now. In fact, I was shocked to learn Oprah picked it way back in 1998. I guess time flies when you're busy raising a family! I thought it was a superb book. It's based on a home birth going terribly wrong and the midwife being held liable. The daughter of the midwife is the narrator, so the story line is mainly seen from her point of view. It's a worthwhile read. I found it quite captivating. 

10). 

This story is based on May Dodd and her journal entries. She decides to take part in the "Brides for Indians" program initiated by the Grant administration as a means of integrating the American Indian into a white man's world. She was admitted into a mental hospital by her affluent family because she fell in love and married a man of lesser means. As a way out of confinement, she agrees to take part in the program. It's such a good story with lots adventure and love and suspense. 

11). 

A beautiful story of loss, love, and healing. When slave girl, Granada, must leave the main house of Amanda Satterfield due to her worsening mental state, she finds her herself in the house of Polly, the plantation healer. Polly immediately recognizes the same gift within Granada, but she's reluctant to accept it. Its a powerful story of connecting with the souls of others through our stories. By telling these stories, the souls heals itself. Odell is a beautiful story teller and a gifted writer. It definitely left me enraptured. 

Amazon.com

I love Amazon.com!!! Seriously...I used to think Target was my one-stop shopping...Not so much anymore. I can order anything from jeans to jam and get it shipped to my front door within 2 days for free. I just love it...But more than the online shopping, I love their book selection and I love how they've (I picture little cave dwellers) gotten to know me so well...

I purchased my first Kindle a couple of years ago. I'm now on my second Kindle. I really grew rebellious towards the whole e-reader campaign...But once I bought one, I was hooked. I don't know how we ever crack open a real book anymore. These devices are amazing. I can read about a book in the middle of an airport, download a sample (probably my most favorite feature of the e-readers), and have a book in my hand within seconds. Simply amazing...

But the most amazing thing about Amazon.com is how I can rate a book I've finished and a little screen will pop up of "recommendations"...Ok, I feel like they've, more than likely, installed a microchip in my brain because they know me so well. I get hooked on their recommendations and before I know it, I'm downloading another book and falling in love with new characters all over again. It's fabulous!!!

With this said, here's a new list of books I've read this past month and they were so good, I had to share!!!

 This book really, really surprised me...Like it says...It's a memoir of friendship. I knew it was a book I'd enjoy from how moved I felt after reading the sample. It's a beautifully written book about the love between friends, which developed because of their love for their dogs. It's so tragic, loving, and moving. Have a box of tissues handy!!!

This book had a slew of really well-developed characters. It was a joy to read. In fact, I loved it so much that I have already pre-ordered her next book coming out in January. I was sad when it was over.

Wow! Amazon did it again!!! I haven't ever heard of this book, but it popped up as "recommended" for me and it was so, so good!!! It starts out where a childless couple who are isolated and alone taking care of a light house happen upon a ship wreck on their desolate island. Inside the boat is a crying baby. The couple, who have always wanted children, but couldn't have any...decide to keep the child and not report the ship wreck. It a sad story of love and loss and the true meaning of family. I enjoyed every minute of it!!!

I happened upon this book while shopping at Target. It intrigued me. And if you don't already know...I totally judge a book by it's cover! :D This is somewhat a fairy tale. It's a very different genre for me, but I'm really enjoying it. While you know it's completely unrealistic, there's also a constant element of surprise  It has kept me turning the pages!!!

Good Books!

I've been so lucky lately with some GREAT reads!!! And as I always say, a good book must be shared! My youngest is going to be waking up from his nap any moment now, so I'm just going to put them down on paper and let you do the research. I have faith you are familiar with Google?!

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2012 List of good Summer books...

At least once a year, I try to compile a list of good books I've read for the past 12 months. I have very limited time these days. My "sit by the pool while the kids swim" days are over. I have a toddler, which means my main objective if a pool is anywhere nearby is to keep him OUT of it (or at least his head above water!). The only time I have to really read now is after everyone is snugly tucked into bed at night, so a good book must be able to keep me up past my bedtime! Below is a list of books that did just that for me. Enjoy!



1).

Let me begin this selection by saying that books that take the nation by storm are normally lost on me. For example, I'm still baffled by Twilight and more baffling for me is the fact that I read the entire series. I guess I just kept thinking I must be missing something. They did absolutely nothing for me! The "Grey" series is a little different. This series didn't involve intricate writing styles or themes. The plot was pretty mundane and stupid, but it was enthralling. It did keep me up at night and not because of reasons you're thinking...The relationship between the two main characters was just intriguing, I guess, for lack of a better word. I enjoyed watching it unfold and develop. But the main reason I included it on the list is because it's easy reading. It's entertaining. It keeps you coming back for more. I recommend downloading on some kind of e-reader with 3G because once you finish one book, you'll want to immediately download the next! 

2). 

Wow! This is by far by most favorite memoir I've probably EVER read! As most of you know, my motto is "life is too short to read a book twice"...Not true for this book. It's so funny and uplifting. It's a book any woman and/or mother can relate to. It's beautifully written. It's a book about coming of age...About being a mother and a daughter. As Kelly describes it, "That sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap." It's a story of survival and need. I just loved it. You will too! 

3). 

This is one of those books that I was so happy I never gave up on. It's hard to get into. The writing style is unique and it takes some time to adapt to. It may even seem boring at first. It's one that can easily be sat down and never picked up again...But don't do it! It's worth every minute you devote to it. It's about two twin brothers in Ethiopia who are orphaned by their mother who dies at their birth. Their father runs away. The boys come of age during a revolution. It's fascinating and heart wrenching. The twins are born conjoined at the head and forever share fates that are intertwined even after they are physically separated. As you might expect, there is betrayal and miracles and trust. This book was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year in 2009--A title I believe it wholeheartedly deserves! 

4). 

I was scouring the internet one night looking for a good book. This one kept popping up on every list: Amazon, New York Times, etc. I quickly downloaded a sample to my kindle. It immediately had me enraptured. It has love, romance, suspense, mystery. It contains a very, very unique story line. The story begins on Nick and Amy's 5th wedding anniversary--The day Amy disappears. It's a dark story about a marriage gone very wrong--one that started out with so much promise. As a fellow blogger wrote: "Marriage is the real mystery in this book". It's true. And maybe it's baffling for everyone. Maybe no one really truly knows their mate like we believe we do. The story is fascinating and hard to put down. I enjoyed every minute of it! 

5). 

Elizabeth Gilbert may be one of my favorite authors. I loved "Eat, Pray, Love", which made me want to read her next book, "Committed"....If you read her first book, you probably already know her view on marriage. She doesn't think too highly of it. However, you see a different side of her in "Committed". I expected to hear lots of marriage bashing and while there is some of that...She clearly states in the book that survey after survey clearly reveals that marriage benefits men far more than it benefits women....she comes to understand it and envelopes it and not necessarily out of choice, but necessity. It's a good book. One that made me look at my own marriage differently. It's, once again, another page turner. In fact, I read it years ago...And reviewing it here has made me want to visit it again. It's a striking look at commitment...Do we need a piece of paper to be committed to another human being? I really enjoyed it...hence, it made my list this year. 

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen

This was one of those "feel good" books. It's one that almost anyone can read without being offended. It didn't contain sex, gore, or violence. It was simply a book about a little girl with a big dream. She can't wait to grow up and spread her wings. She wants to escape the small town where she grew up. And like most of us, she quickly realizes that the one thing she has wanted most in this world may not be the key to happiness after all.

Of course, there are plenty of twists and turns within this short story which keep the reader guessing and coming back for more. Mainly, this story is about family, love, and forgiveness. When her father, the town's preacher, commits the ultimate betrayal, it rocks the foundation of her values. It shocks the town, but somewhere admist the chaos, she finds it within herself to forgive him and move forward.

This is a good book for the holiday season since it's short and easy to read. It's captivating. Go ahead...Try it for yourself. You'll like it!

Christmas Pick

This is a strange pick for me, but I thought it was very fitting for the Holiday season. I firmly believe in keeping things simple for my family. I believe I'm doing my kids a great injustice by overindulging them. There is something to be said about giving instead of receiving. This is a great time of year to reinforce these belief systems. My kids are required to give gifts. The older ones save their money to buy a special trinket or toy for their siblings. The younger ones make some kind of craft.

I have not read this book yet, but it came with lots of recommendations from friends of mine who read my latest posting on www.thegarrychronicles.blogspot.com.

If it is your goal to raise children who are responsible, contributing members of society, I think you'll enjoy this. We can all learn something from it.

Wow!

All I can say is "Wow!"...

This book is FAB.U.LOUS!!!! I think I mentioned in previous posts how I totally picked this book by it's cover? Yep, I did...It's beautiful, isn't it? I guess on a dreary, cold day in Minnesota, the cover of this book made me want to jump right in to some far away, tropical paradise.

And it did just that...I jumped right in to an intriguing story about a young Hawaiian girl, Rachel, who develops leprosy at a young age and is banned to a far off island where she will remain quarantined for the rest of her life. Her family, the only people she knows, is stripped from her life and she's forced to grow up without them. It sounds depressing right? Another story about love and loss? Well, not exactly. There is definitely love and there is loss, but I think it's a magnificent story of survival. A sort of "bloom where you're planted" kind of theme. There is a whole tapestry of characters, whom are weaved together, and become Rachel's family. She forms deep friendships with fellow patients. She finds love. She builds a life.

And while the characters are all fictional, the scenery and history the author provides is not. The writing style is very descriptive....It was easy to picture a sort of "prison" of leprosy patients on this beautiful tropical island.

I hope this doesn't spoil the ending for fellow readers, but at the end of the book, she's given the option of leaving the island. A sort of parole. She struggles with this choice because all she's ever known is the island. She's been on it since she was a child and her family has become all of her fellow detainees. The biological family she left behind is nothing more than a distant memory, most are now dead. This leaves me wondering...Would I leave just because I could? Would I want to leave behind the only family I've ever known? The only home I've ever built? The only life I recognize?

It's a GOOD book! In fact, normally I don't read numerous books by the same author (unless it's Jodi Picoult or Danielle Steel...But we all had to go through THAT stage, right?) But the author, Alan Brennert, does have another one called "Honolulu" which I wouldn't mind reading someday (when I get through my current list of "unreads").

Stay tuned for a Holiday pick soon! I'll also try to compile another list of my fav's soon!