What are you reading?

It's been awhile since I've share books with you... and the holiday break gave me a chance to check a few books off my to-read list.  Such as...

                                             

I pulled this book in our book club holiday book exchange, and I read it straight through in one sitting. It's the first book I've ever read where I've finished it, closed it, and immediately opened it up to start reading it again. I haven't met anyone who hasn't loved it... this is a great read!

                                          

This is our book club book for January, but I got a head start on it during the break. I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't call it a page turner, but it was good enough that I looked forward to getting into bed each night so I could read some of it. The story was good, and I love an ending that wraps up neatly, so all's well that ends well!

                             

If you haven't read this series, do yourself a favor and do it. Quickly. Schedule three solid days with nothing else to do and read them straight through. No, they aren't the best written books I've ever read, but they're good. Really, really good.

What have you been reading lately? Anything I should add to my list?

Reading, reading, reading

I have always loved to read. When I was little, I was only allowed to read 5 books before bed, because otherwise, I would have stayed up all night.

My "for fun" reading fell off in college when I was reading so much for school, but it always picked back up in the summer when I had more free time. Heck, my summer job after high school was running the Summer Reading Program at our local library. I love to read.

Then Zac entered the picture. Zac loves to watch TV. And then Zac was gone a lot for work, and I was home alone a lot. And so I started watching TV for company, and to cover up the creepy sounds old houses make when you're alone. You know what sounds I mean.

My new goal for the summer is to get back into reading for pleasure. I have a list of books that must be a hundred long, and it's about time I get to more of them! SO.... my bold summer reading goal is:

Read one book a week!

I'm a pretty fast reader, so that isn't as crazy as it sounds. I may not make it every week, but I'm going to try. Any suggestions for my summer reading list? I've got a few that we'll be reading for my book clubs (yes, I'm in more than one), but I'm always looking for more great reads!

What I'm reading this month

I can't believe that with 25 days until the wedding, I'm still reading! But... I am, and I'm glad. It helps me keep a bit of sanity.

For the first book club:

I loved this book. It's about slave owners who travel to Ohio each summer with their slave mistresses for vacations. It is Perkins-Valdez's first novel, and it's very well written. I would highly recommend it!

For the second book club:

I haven't started this one yet, but it comes highly recommended from someone whose book recommendations I usually agree with! Looking forward to getting in to it.

What have you been reading lately?

What I'm Reading

I'm in two monthly book clubs, which yes, I admit, is sort of crazy.  One is with a group of friends and one is with a group of neighbors/friends. Both groups are a lot of fun, and I like that other people suggest great books for me to read!

This month, we're reading:

If you have any science background (which I do not), you will have heard of HeLa cells. HeLa cells are a type of cancer cell that was removed from Henrietta Lacks in the 1950s, and have since been proven to be immortal. At issue in this book is consent for medical research and what happened to Henrietta's family.  Not a page-turner, but worth the read.

This novel is set in rural Kentucky at a home for unwed mothers. The protagonist is different from the other women, as she actually has a husband. So far, this is an easier read than the other book, and a story that I want to discover the end to!

What are you reading these days?

My happiness project

Maybe it's because vacations are such a great time for reflection, or maybe because we went to the beach and truly had TONS of time for reflection, but I've found myself thinking about a lot of things this week. I'm starting school in a few weeks - how is that going to fit into everything else I have going on? What about this wedding stuff? What can do to make our everyday lives easier and increase our happiness?

I got this book for Emily for her birthday, and because we were together on vacation, managed to sneak it away from her and read it.

I stumbled upon it at the bookstore, but this book is GOOD. I've tried to read Eat, Pray, Love a few times but could never really get into it. Maybe because it seems so unrealistic? Gretchen Rubin had the same problem, and she pointed out that she wasn't unhappy - she just thought she could be happier. I get that. I'm happy, but I know there are things I could do to make myself happier.

The book is great, and her blog is pretty good too. I really loved her writing style and related to a lot of her challenges (I also love gold stars for doing good things and need to shut up and listen more).  I need a few days to think about my commandments and resolutions, but then I'm jumping right in. I'm trying to get Zac involved, though he doesn't usually like stuff like this. Call me crazy, but if I can be happier and focus on my relationship by nagging less, etc., I feel like his attitude will improve just because mine sucks less. Yes?

I'm not planning anything totally crazy - don't worry! But if we made a weekly menu and had some healthy meals prepped in the freezer for nights we get home late, that could make a big difference in my day-to-day mood and patience level.

Stay tuned... I have a feeling this is going to be good!

Explaining my absence

It's been a really long time since I've gotten totally lost in a novel.  But it's happened.

This book is totally riveting - crime, old family drama, murder, mystery, passion - you name it, this book has it. So I haven't really been blogging because I've spent every spare minute I have with my nose buried inside it!! Go get a copy - because it's that good!