At the moment, the amount of unread books on my Nook is down to zero, so it’s time to start downloading some new reads. Before hitting bn.com to check out what’s new, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect briefly on my seven most recent reads. These are not full blown reviews, but my general impressions.
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Several years ago, we’re probably talking six or seven, one of my students came in with a book from his mother. She was an avid book club member and would send me in her club’s picks. One of the books was The Kite Runner. I was reluctant to read it because, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure I would be able to relate enough to the setting of Kabul, Afghanistan to get into it. I was so wrong. The Kite Runner was amazing, and And The Mountains Echoed certainly didn’t disappoint. Packing an emotional punch in the gut right from the beginning, Hosseini’s ability to make middle eastern culture accessible to Americans is amazing. I did feel as though the beginning of the novel packed more of a punch than the ending. Still, it was a nicely woven touching story that I would totally recommend.
As an aside, I have also read Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, and that was also totally worth reading. At this point, I would read anything he writes.
The Fault in Our Stars By John Green
All I can say is, “Wow!” When I started reading this book, I knew a story based on two terminally-ill teenagers falling in love was bound to end in a truly depressing fashion. I was blindsided. This book had me from beginning to end. It’s smart, honest, and offers all sorts of perspectives on mortality, illness, and love. I laughed at moments, ached at moments, and of course I cried my eyes out at moments, but it was so worth it. This is classified as young adult literature, but the themes and characters are so universal and lovable that every girl I know--from my eighth grade students to my mother--can’t stop talking about The Fault in Our Stars.
One and Only by Emily Giffin
Emily Giffin is another author whose books I devour. I’ve read them all. Giffin has never shied away from a scandalous love interest. I mean, her first book, Something Borrowed, is about a girl falling in love with her best friend’s fiance, but this book took forbidden love to another level. Its central character falls in love with, not her girlfriend’s husband, but her father. I would be lying if I said that there weren’t moments when this felt a little awkward, but Giffin handled the relationship really well. Like her others, there were moments in this book where all I wanted to do was keep reading. It wasn’t my favorite Giffin novel, but I enjoyed it.
All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner
To date, I’ve also read all of Jennifer Weiner’s novels. I started with Good in Bed and Little Earthquakes--both amazing--and most recently finished All Fall Down. In this book, Weiner tackles the tough, but totally relevant topic of drug addiction; more specifically, how a mother can transform from popping a xanax or a pain pill once in a while to help curb stress into an unrecognizable, dishonest, emotionally absent human being. There were moments when the book felt super depressing, but I could not put it down. A really timely, emotionally engaging read.
What Remains by Carole Radziwell
Carole is currently my favorite real housewife of New York. Part of this is because she’s quirky and open-minded, but its mostly because I admire her career in journalism. What Remains is a memoir that chronicles Carole’s husband’s battle with cancer. Her depiction of his and her struggle was so honest and beautifully written that it would have been enough on its own to hold my attention. But, there are two more losses that Carole experiences and documents. The loss of her husband’s cousin, John F. Kennedy Junior, and his wife/her best friend, Carolyn Bessette. Within a matter of months, they were all gone, and she was left to deal with what remains. Carole is a cool woman with a perspective that’s unique, yet relatable, even if her circumstances aren’t.
The Widow’s Guide to Sex and Dating by Carole Radziwell
A totally different genre and vibe from her debut memoir, The Widow’s Guide to Sex and Dating is a novel that follows a young New Yorker as she copes with the death of her husband, a sexologist who was killed by a falling statue while heading home from an out of wedlock tryst. I preferred the emotional, steady tone of What Remains, but I also enjoyed the quirky, comical vibe of this book as well. Even though it was not my favorite, I would recommend this book to other women who are looking for a laugh that’s not just a cheap laugh. Radziwell is really wonderful at being hilariously cynical and heartfelt at the same time.
Paper Towns by John Green
This is the third book I’ve read by John Green, and I’m definitely starting to sense a basic formula. Otherwise dorky boy falls in love with wild child female and tragedy ensues. Except, in Paper Towns, it wasn’t all tragedy. The book follows Q as he searches for his free-spirited, troubled neighbor, Margot, who has disappeared and seemingly left clues for him to find her. This element of mystery in this novel was really enjoyable. Plus, John Green has a knack for capturing teen angst and keeping it from feeling melodramatic. I’d recommend this as well as Green’s similarly themed novel Looking for Alaska.
As I mentioned before, these are not full-length books reviews, but I love talking books and would be happy to chat about any of the above in more detail. I’m also looking for titles for my next batch of downloads. My students tell me I must read If I Stay, but other than that, I’ve got nothing. To all my fellow bookworms out there, please send me your suggestions…
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