Friday, November 21, 2014

Books I Didn't Blog About: The Really Good Stuff

The other day, I started off my reading catch-up with a round-up of my 5-star reads. Today I have the books I really enjoyed, but didn't quite make "favorite" status. Apparently 4-stars is a pretty common rating for me -- I have a dozen for you today!

Really liked it - 4 star reads

 

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History +
Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began
by Art Spiegelman
Borrowed from Library / Paperback

Classic, must-read graphic novels. Not an easy subject matter by any means, but an important part of history. There are many Holocaust memoirs, but these have a very unique perspective and format.

* * * * *

If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Won from Giveaway / Paperback / For Book Club
Goodreads

A quick, emotional read. The little brother and the grandpa in this book pretty much slayed my heart. I saw the movie with book club shortly after I found out I was pregnant and the waterworks were definitely running. I'm not so sure I can really use the hormones excuse though, I think I would have been a total sap either way.

* * * * *

The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Purchased / Paperback / For Book Club
Goodreads

A super-fast read I really enjoyed. There was some (made-up) slang language that was a little jarring, especially at first, but I really loved the characters and am looking forward to the rest of the series. (Now if only we could pick a few less first-in-a-series for book club, I might not be so far behind on sequels!)

* * * * *

The Paintings of Hogwarts: Masterpieces from the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Sets
by Jody Revenson & Moira Squier
Purchased / Hardcover
Goodreads

This is the first book I read from our fancy-dancy collector set which reminds me I really must read the others! I will always favor the books over the movies, but it was really cool to get a close-up look at the paintings used on set.

* * * * *

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
by Gabrielle Hamilton
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook

As both a reader and a food/cookbook-lover, I was long overdue to check out this acclaimed memoir. Hamilton has certainly led an interesting life and I loved hearing about her unique perspective in her own voice. For anyone into cookbooks, her first Prune with recipes from her NY restaurant has just recently been published.

* * * * *

The Commitment: Love Sex, Marriage, and My Family
by Dan Savage
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook

I couple of things rubbed me the wrong way (like a comment about the stay-at-home parent being "off" all the time), but overall this was a really excellent memoir and an interesting look into the life of the author and his family as they navigate the decision about whether or not to get married.

* * * * *

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook
Goodreads

I've been meaning to try Gaiman for the longest time and decided to finally give his younger stuff a go. I absolutely LOVED his narration of this story and actually listened to it twice -- first on my own and then again in the car with my husband. Now I want to watch the movie!

* * * * *

The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook
Goodreads

Once again, stellar narration by the author. These four short stories were just lovely and I also listened to this collection twice.

* * * * *

Where'd You Go Bernadette
by Maria Semple
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook

I debated between print and audio for this one and ended up with the audio. It was a fun, light read and I can see why it has gotten so popular. Note for Gilmore Girls fans: the narrator is the actress who plays Luke's sister Liz. I recognized her voice right away and thought it was interesting to discover how many audiobooks are recorded by actors and actresses.

* * * * *

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
by Michael Pollan
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook
A fascinating look at where our food comes from and the different food systems in this country. I missed out on this one when it was first super-popular and have been meaning to read it ever since. I'm glad I finally got around to it and really enjoyed it as an audiobook.

* * * * *

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
by Michael Pollan
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook
Goodreads

If I had to choose, I would say I liked this one even a little bit better than The Omnivore's Dilemma. Practical, down-to-earth advice and information about food choices and eating. Food has gotten far too complicated and I really loved Pollan's approach in this book. Also great as an audio.

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Reading Challenges:
New to Me
Banned Books
Audiobook
Book to Movie
Prequel & Sequel
Foodies Read
My Kind of Mystery
Rewind
Nonfiction

18 comments:

  1. Okay, this has nothing to do with books, but I have to share.

    ***Anyone not interested in pregnant lady stories can ignore this.***

    So, my brother got married when I was 8 weeks along. (And yes, it was public knowledge at that point... earlier than we'd been planning on telling, but the wedding obviously complicated things. (Oh, and we had the couple's full blessing. I was worried about thunder-stealing, but they were both excited for us, and it was a non-issue. In fact the first non-immediate-family to find out was my now-SIL's mom, whom she called about two minutes after we shared the news.))

    Anyway...

    At the reception, after the couple's first dance, my brother had a dance with his new 2-year-old stepdaughter. I knew they had planned on doing this, but I didn't know what song...

    All of a sudden I hear the opening chords to Billy Joel's "Lullabye" (a song that I LOVE and has a chance of getting me teary on a normal day) and I start BAWLING!!! Like you with the movie, I can't entirely blame it on the hormones, I'm sure I would have been crying anyway... but I like to think that I would have been able to keep it together better than I did. Either way, it made a good excuse for the groomsman sitting next to me, and anyone else looking at the crazy crying girl.

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    1. I hadn't even told my family at that point, let alone the book club I was at the movies with, so I was quite relieved to not be the only one crying and feeling like I stood out like a sore thumb! One of the girls had even brought us each our own little travel pack of Kleenex, so I was able to blend in :) It is helpful to have the hormones excuse though because they DO come into play and people look at you funny for stuff like this, but then they seem to understand!

      My craziest experience I can DEFINITELY attribute to hormones so far would be the awful dream I had that something bad had happened to my brother and I literally started crying in my sleep. Like woke up with tears running down my face -- it was REALLY freaky. I think I will borrow your hashtag for that one -- #effinghormones!

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    2. That has become my catchphrase for the pregnancy. I blame everything on them. Not just the emotional stuff, but also the nausea, heartburn... pretty much anything. If it's pregnancy-related, blame the hormones. (Well, it's not like I can blame the baby...)

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    3. I have to agree with you on that!

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  2. If I Stay and The Maze Runner are two books I hear so much about I honestly feel like I'm missing out by not having read them, especially If I Stay. I haven't actually read anything by Gayle Forman who I hear so much positive feedback regarding.

    I started a Neil Gaiman book not too long ago - The Graveyard Book - and surprisingly just couldn't get in to it. I would like to try another at some point though. I enjoy Coraline the film, so perhaps that would be a good place to start second time round.

    It looks like you've been having great success with books of late!
    :-)

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    1. I've been wanting to pick up the Graveyard Book actually and I think I might continue with the audio since I've really enjoyed Gaiman as a narrator. I think if you already like the Coraline movie, it would definitely be a better one to try as a book :)

      And I definitely liked If I Stay better than its sequel and those are the only two Forman I have read -- I definitely want to give her other books a try though.

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  3. You're right - the Maus books are classics and must reads in the graphic novel genre. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed Maze Runner too, as I bought the whole set and have since seen some pretty negative reviews. You have given me the confidence to try them!

    And I know I'm going to just love Michael Pollan when I get around to starting one of his books.

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    1. I have the whole Maze Runner series too and have heard mixed reviews about the sequels. I liked the first one enough to want to continue, but I'm really not sure they will be as good as the first.

      And what I really like about Pollan is that I find his books very informative without being too preachy. I think he offers very practical advice and is more empowering rather than overwhelming which is far too often the case when it comes to food issues. He makes it all seem so simple, which really it should be! I hope you enjoy something of his if you get the chance.

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  4. I think I'll use my this month's Audible credit on the Pollan book. Audiobooks are still challenge for me, but it looks like they are more doable in non-fiction form (Chris Hadfield's memoir was fabulous). I should get to the Maze Runner as well, it's been on my Kindle for ages.

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    1. Non-fiction is a favorite genre of mine for audio, so I think that is a great idea!

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  5. Wow, nice group of books!! I read Maus I and Maus II in decades ago and enjoyed them both. I recently acquired In The Defense of Food.

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    1. In Defense of Food has been my favorite of Pollan's so far -- I hope you enjoy it!

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  6. I just finished the audiobook of Where Did You Go Bernadette, I agree that it was a great way to experience that book
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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    1. At first I wasn't sure with all the emails and other things that aren't straight prose, but it really was so well done!

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  7. I enjoyed If I Stay but I'm looking forward to seeing the film more. The next is even better, I'd say, possibly even more teary. I've read The Omnivore's Dilemma and liked it, a lot to think about there! Given the short stories you may have read it already but if not, look out for Gaiman's short about Sleeping Beauty in the Rags & Bones anthology.

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely need to check that Gaiman story out -- I'm not always good about knowing where to find stories like that in larger collections.

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  8. I'm glad you liked If I Stay. I have yet to see the movie. I should do that now that it is out on DVD.

    I enjoyed The Maze Runner as well, but the slang is a little annoying if you ask me, but it grew on me. Have you seen the movie? It had some decent differences from the book, but it was good I thought. Then again I haven't read the book in years so it is hard to really compare.

    The HP paintings book just sounds like it would be such a fun one to read and own. Still jealous you got that awesome HP book set. ;)

    I agree, Where'd You Go Bernadette is a fun book. It was unique and I liked her. I find it interesting that Luke's sister narrates the story, especially because I have been watching Gilmore girls on Netflix recently. lol

    I still have yet to read a single Neil Gaiman book. One day. I swear.

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    1. Gosh movies come out on DVD quick now don't they? It doesn't feel like very long ago I saw that movie in the theater!

      I haven't seen Maze Runner yet, but would like to once it's on DVD/Netflix -- just didn't make it to the theater in time for that one!

      And I <3 Gilmore Girls SO much :)

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I'd love to hear what you think :)