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What I’ve Been Reading – August 2016

What I've been Reading August 2016

I’ve been trying so hard to be super intentional about reading! If you’re not sure about what this post is, you can read my post from May explaining it all. General idea: Every few months, I’m going to share what I’ve been reading, a fiction and non-fiction book that I’ve loved, and one book that was less than stellar (taking my inspiration from the What Should I Read Next Podcast).

Here’s what I’ve read the past 3 months, a lot more fiction than usual. I feel like it’s summer and reading was becoming a must do, so I decided on having a bit of fun with what I was reading.

What I've been Reading August 2016

*The Light Between Oceans by M.J. Stedman
*Virgins by Diana Gabaldon
*Girl Meets Change by Kristin Strong
*The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani
*The Longing in Me by Sheila Walsh
*Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Book Shop by Robin Sloan
*A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock
*Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier
*Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
*The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

FAVORITE FICTION BOOK

This is a tough one! I honestly enjoyed all of the fictions that I read, each for a different reason. I’m going to have to say that Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Book Shop by Robin Sloan was my favorite though. It just catered to so much of my geekiness! I’m in a facebook group (SortaLiterary) and we’re doing a traveling book club (great idea and something I may do here in the future), Penumbra’s was the first book I’ve received through that.

I love geeky computer things, new technology and gadgets, but I also love old things, especially books, especially fonts. This book was the perfect marriage of the two; thrown together with a bit of mystery and it was awesome.

FAVORITE NON-FICTION BOOK

I didn’t read a lot of non-fiction these past few months, but my favorite had to be The Longing in Me, by Sheila Walsh. I reviewed the book here, but just generally felt that it was such a good book. I think it just hit me a lot more than either Girl Meets Change or Love Languages.

The subject matter and her discussion of David, as well as her own story was just very compelling to me. All wrapped together it was enjoyable, while also really giving me some things to think on and work through.

THE BOOK I HATED

I didn’t really HATE any of the books that I read this go around. I did feel that Love Languages left me a little flat. I read, and loved, the original Love Languages book and expected this to be along the same lines, but different enough to not feel like a repeat, and it wasn’t. I ended up skimming vast portions of the book, because it was just reiterating each of the love languages, how they present, and how to provide them.

~*~

That’s what I’ve been reading! Of course, my birthday was the end of July, which means I now have EVEN MORE books to read. I’m sitting at my desk just looking at a stack of about 20 books, wondering when I’m going to get around to reading them. Particularly, as I’m now in another book club (in addition to the Facebook one) that is focusing solely on reading “classics”. I’ve always wanted to be in a book club and now I’m in two of them! Craziness.

What have you been reading, and enjoying, this summer?

 

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A Fine Imitation {a Review}

9781101905111Just finished this one; and I have to say it was good. I managed to finish it in 3 days: Yea, haven’t done that in a while. The story is about Vera, a highfalutin well off girl in Manhattan, caught in an empty and unloving marriage, until the residence of the building her husband owns commission an artist to paint a mural in their underground swimming pool. The story alternates with the “current” story line (1923) and Vera’s life 10 years ago, at Vassar college where she is an art major. This is a first publication for author, Amber Brock.

I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction, in general, but felt that the story is relevant regardless of the time period: The struggle to do what is accepted, live with the consequences, and make better decisions for your future. Now, this wasn’t a lofty, intellectual read, but it was enjoyable and quick. Vera was well written, however I felt the rest of the characters were rather flat…but I believe that was part of the author’s goal in creating characters that showed their own shallowness.

There was one brief sex scene, less than a paragraph and nothing graphic, if that kind of thing is not something you tolerate. Overall, though I felt that it was a great read. It helped me feel like I accomplished something, without being overwhelmed and dreading the task ahead.

Brock was great too. I had tagged her on Instagram and she was quick to comment and reply!

You can pick this book on Amazon, or anywhere else for that matter.

*I received this book for free from BloggingForBooks.com; the opinions expressed are my own. You can read my disclosure policy here.