A Review In Reading - 2014
Dang did I get my read on this year. I don’t think I’ve ever devoured books so voraciously—ever. I polished off 26 books this year, not including a small stack I tried but didn’t love. Here are some of my favorites:
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman, a nerdy genetics professor creates “The Wife Project” as a technical path to finding love. That’s all well and good until Rosie Jarman finds him. She’s seeking his genetic expertise but both of them end up finding much more. The Rosie Project is an adorable, modern love story with a twist. Don and Rosie are relatable in both their unique reservations and confidence in love. This is a good fast read, perfect as a vacation book and not so light that it’s mindless or mushy.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Tina’s book is a hilarious, short story structured memoir that proves her brilliance as a comic and a writer. My favorite chapters are the one dedicated to her dad—a most-interesting-man-on-earth meets 70’s strict, and the one about her Saturday Night Live peers and the strange “personal mementos” her male coworkers keep on their bookshelves. Another light read, this one is perfect if you don’t have much time to dedicate to a book as you can read the short stories independent of each other.
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
The Girl You Left Behind is the beautiful merge of two painful stories a century apart. The glue is a single painting, which was made by a French artist Edouard Lefevre for his wife Sophie, was removed from her possession during the first World War and later give to a woman named Liv by her young husband before his death. The characters themselves are profound and the painting takes on a life of its own seemingly a character itself. Safe this read for when you have a never-ending supply of tea, a long quiet weekend and nothing else to distract you.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Another Jojo Moyes book—another love story! The love between Lou Clark, a young aid worker, and Will Traynor, her handicapped patient, is as complex as they come. The love is intertwined into this book and often takes a backseat to more poignant, serious themes that will challenge your thoughts on life and loss. This is a good read but a heavy read; give yourself the time for it—and after it, too.
A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration by Meg Keene
I wish I had read this book right after we got engaged instead of later. It’s an honest, creative exploration of the idea of making your wedding whatever you want it to be. With an event so large and momentous that it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose, this book challenges readers to put the idea of marriage first and to build around that. Plus, the ideas for creative personal touches, saving money or doing things outside the box are priceless. This is a must, must read for any engaged lady—or heck, guy for that matter.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman, a nerdy genetics professor creates “The Wife Project” as a technical path to finding love. That’s all well and good until Rosie Jarman finds him. She’s seeking his genetic expertise but both of them end up finding much more. The Rosie Project is an adorable, modern love story with a twist. Don and Rosie are relatable in both their unique reservations and confidence in love. This is a good fast read, perfect as a vacation book and not so light that it’s mindless or mushy.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Tina’s book is a hilarious, short story structured memoir that proves her brilliance as a comic and a writer. My favorite chapters are the one dedicated to her dad—a most-interesting-man-on-earth meets 70’s strict, and the one about her Saturday Night Live peers and the strange “personal mementos” her male coworkers keep on their bookshelves. Another light read, this one is perfect if you don’t have much time to dedicate to a book as you can read the short stories independent of each other.
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
The Girl You Left Behind is the beautiful merge of two painful stories a century apart. The glue is a single painting, which was made by a French artist Edouard Lefevre for his wife Sophie, was removed from her possession during the first World War and later give to a woman named Liv by her young husband before his death. The characters themselves are profound and the painting takes on a life of its own seemingly a character itself. Safe this read for when you have a never-ending supply of tea, a long quiet weekend and nothing else to distract you.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Another Jojo Moyes book—another love story! The love between Lou Clark, a young aid worker, and Will Traynor, her handicapped patient, is as complex as they come. The love is intertwined into this book and often takes a backseat to more poignant, serious themes that will challenge your thoughts on life and loss. This is a good read but a heavy read; give yourself the time for it—and after it, too.
A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas for Planning a Beautiful, Affordable, and Meaningful Celebration by Meg Keene
I wish I had read this book right after we got engaged instead of later. It’s an honest, creative exploration of the idea of making your wedding whatever you want it to be. With an event so large and momentous that it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose, this book challenges readers to put the idea of marriage first and to build around that. Plus, the ideas for creative personal touches, saving money or doing things outside the box are priceless. This is a must, must read for any engaged lady—or heck, guy for that matter.