When friends and family start asking "are you still blogging?", it's definitely time to do some catch up! Life has been a bit hectic these past few months, so I haven't given Seersucker & Shamrocks much attention, but I have been reading... a lot. We're almost to the end of July and I'm currently reading book #35, so it's about time I fill you in on my reads these past 5 months. Here are the first 10 books I've been reading.... with many more to come!
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
My Rating: *** (3 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 5
The concept of this book made me think I would love it (a girl raised by her food loving single dad becomes a super star chef and reconnects with her long lost mom). However, it was really slow to start and I didn't love the story initially. Once it developed a bit more and the "pop-up supper" was introduced, I was fully on board for this story.
Wildflower by Drew Barrymore
My Rating: *** (3 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 6
Drew Barrymore has been one of my favorites since she was in ET (and of course Fever Pitch), so I knew I had to read her memoir. She tells of her childhood, family struggles, path to fame and how she's been able to get where she is today. My favorite chapter was the one about her friendship with Adam Sandler (another NH native, so naturally I like him!).
The Lake House by Kate Morton
My Rating: *** (3 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 7
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton was one of my favorite books of 2014, so I was hoping this one would be just as good. Although she stuck to her style of storytelling in past and present, it didn't wow me as much. But, I would still say this story of a child gone missing from a family's lakeside estate is definitely worth the read.
Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
My Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 8
I love a good food memoir... and this was just that. Ruth Reichl is a famous food critic and this is the story of her childhood and how she ended up in her current profession. Charming and witty, I really enjoyed Reichl's personal accounts in this one, which is no surprise since I loved her novel, Delicious!
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
My Rating: *** (3 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 9
This book helped get me through the flu, so I'm thankful for that. Picked up at Book Soup in LAX (one of the best airport bookstores I've seen!), this tells the fictional story of an Irish Catholic family in Charlestown, MA (I could just hear the accents!). Joe O'Brien is the head of the household and a Boston cop who develops Huntington's, a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment or cure. It was a heartbreaking story that read like a memoir and helped explain just what this cruel disease can do.
Euphoria by Lily King
My Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 10
The colorful book cover called my name at the airport on my way to Key West. I was headed to paradise, so it was only natural to read about another beautiful place... New Guinea. This story of 3 anthropologists in the 1930s wasn't overly complex, but the writing was lovely and learning about the river villages along their journey was really interesting. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did, but it definitely kept my attention and made me happy I picked it up.
Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr
My Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 11
Before reading All the Light We Cannot See (which I still need to do), I decided to read Doerr's memoir about his time in Rome. Having won the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, he travels to Rome to write his book... with his wife and newborn twins along for the ride. Having lived in Italy, I always love to read about the adventures and day-to-day life in a foreign city and how each expat adjusts.
Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes
My Rating: ** (2 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 12
I had high hopes for this compilation of short stories, but it ended up being just "ok". Although the title is a bit suggestive, it wasn't really telling of the actual stories, which focused on different characters and their relationships. I was hoping this would be laugh out loud funny, but it didn't really do much for me.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
My Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 13
I listened to this one on audiobook and enjoyed the narrators different voices and accents. Loosely based on Kate Middleton & Prince William, this is the story of an American girl attending university in England. She makes an unexpected friend in her classmate (and housemate), the Prince of England... which eventually leads to the storybook romance... and lots of ups and downs getting there. A cute story that would be perfect for a day at the beach.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
My Rating: *** (3 out of 5)
2016 Book #: 14
Reese Witherspoon and her production company are making this one into a movie, so I knew I needed to check it out. A hen party gone wrong is the basic premise of the book, but there are lots of twists and turns along the way. I picked this up at the library and couldn't put it down until I figured what the heck was going on.
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