Good news, I am now working on my book reports AS I READ. So I finish a book and word-dump my thoughts. Then after I have 3-5 books I'll hit publish. It's like real time but maybe better.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Oh jeez, guys. I LOVE HYPE. Like, I love it. I'll get on board with nearly anything that's hyped because I feel like I may as well try it. Best case, I'm obsessed too and can join the club, and worst case, I have an actual reason to dismiss the hype. #winwin. Needless to say, I was so excited for this book but after finishing it can't get on board with, nor totally dismiss the hype. It was sad, obviously, but interesting and I loved that it didn't take itself so seriously. But it also suffered dramatically from Dawson's Creek syndrome. As in: who talks like that? I don't know. I liked the characters but for some reason I shed just one tear and that wasn't even about the romance - it was the about the parents (maybe I'm too old?). Feel free to call me crazy. I myself googled "Am I a robot?" after I finished.
The Cockoo's Calling by Robert Galibrath | This was written by JK Rowling under a pen-name and then the pen-name got out and now we all know it's her. While I am bummed there was not even one mention of Hogwarts, I actually liked this. It's a mystery that follows a craggy detective and I found the characters to be interesting and the story strong. I didn't know whodoneit until it was revealed and I was pleased with how it all came together. But it took ages to read. Like three weeks, which for me and a book feels like forever. It wasn't that it was boring or slow, it just felt denser than it needed to be.
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer | I enjoyed this a lot though I would say the overall theme is somewhat depressing. I tend to enjoy novels where the story-telling is done through multiple characters (although I didn't love ANY of the characters!). I appreciated how much time it spanned and how she shared what happened over so many decades. It was like a coming of age tale that actually showed the aging. Interesting and well done.
Drop Dead Healthy by AJ Jacobs | I am a BIG Jacobs fan. I read My Year of Living Biblically a few years ago and then The Know-It-All shortly after that. His style is my style of writing. This is the sort of stuff I enjoy reading and the sort of stuff I try to write. I love the smart, mildly self-deprecating sidenotes. I love how a story is told through a collection of facts. I love that I finish the books and feel like I laughed AND I learned something (or a lot of somethings). My favorite scene was the caveman workout where he describes the relationship between Vlad and John. THAT'S FUNNY. (Obviously I loved the part about how the fitbit makes him appreciate doing chores as well.) The social commentary, especially around something like health and fitness, is spot on. Full disclosure, I met AJ at WDS and he was incredibly kind, smart and yes, funny.
*links are affiliate
ps : friendly reminder that the copper dive deep prints will go on sale here at 1pm PST today.
