Reading & Book Reviews

So Many Books, So little Time!

31 Comments

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of writing and this has cramped my reading style. As you know, not much comes between me and my books – just ask my neglected husband and children.   I’m joking!  Kind of…

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Seriously though, I’m way behind on my reading. My “to-read pile” is starting to pass my “read pile.”  Also, I have reading goals I set for myself (dork!) and book reviews that are due.  Yikes!  Adding to this panic is the fact that in addition to four assignments I have due this week – I leave for the Type A Parent Blogger Conference early Friday morning.  Once I get back, I’m planning to refocus some of my energy on reading.  These are the books I’m going to enjoy next.

6528475[1]Nuked, Drunk and Writing: Shed Your Inhibitions and Craft a Compelling Memoir or Personal Essay by Adiar Lara.  This was recommended to me by my instructor for the Her Stories Essay Writing Boot Camp.  I’m really enjoying it and it’s been helpful – I just haven’t had time to finish it!

A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon.  A book I’m reviewing for Chick Lit Plus.

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These Few Precious Days: The Final Year of Jack and Jackie by Christopher Andersen.  I’ve wanted to read this book forever, but just haven’t found the time.  I’m a little Jackie obsessed.

The Essential 55: An 69402[2]Award Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child by Ron Clark.  I’m embarrassed to admit that I bought this book five years ago.  Unfortunately, some recent hiccups with one of my children compelled me to pull it off the shelf and add it to my short list.

The One and Only by Emily Giffin.  This book received such mixed reviews.  I’m shocked because I’m a HUGE fan and kind of thought Emily Giffin could do no wrong.  I recently saw her on a local talk show (she lives in Atlanta) and I became intrigued with the (controversial) plot.   I’m giving it a try.

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The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson.  I picked this up on a whim recently, because I love discovering small towns when we’re on a road trip.  I also loved Bryson’s book One Summer: America 1927, which made my list of favorite books last year.

In addition to reading books, I listen to them (geek!). This has helped me experience more literary pleasure than if I relied on my eyes alone.  Plus, it makes the carpool and road travel hours much more pleasant.  The following books are in my Audible queue.

Theodore Rex by 40923[1]Edmund Morris.  This one is going to take a while – it’s twenty-six hours long!   I really enjoyed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, so I’m looking forward to this sequel.  Diane, if you’re reading this, thank you for the recommendations.

The Comfort of Lies: A Novel by Randy Susan Meyers.  This has been on my wish list for a while, but I finally pulled the trigger because her new book is coming out soon. Lies has received really good reviews – and I love the title.  Also, Meyers has a great blog for writers.

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Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan.  Everything in the previous paragraph applies to this book too, except for the blog and a new book coming out.  It’s been a few weeks since I’ve read memoir, as well.

10335308[1]Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling.  Okay, for real, ditto the Brain on Fire paragraph.  Seriously – everything.

A Walk In The Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. This book has been recommended to me three times in the last week.  You don’t have to hit me over the head a fourth time.  Besides – it’s Bryson!

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper.  I adored This is Where I Leave You and I want to enjoy some more Tropper.  I hope this one lives up to my high expectations.  Love the title, too.

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workshop-button-1[1]This post has been a link up with Mama Kat’s World’s Greatest Writer’s Workshop. This week’s prompt (I verified, lol): “Tell us the top six books on your list to read next.”

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What are you reading, or planning to read?

31 thoughts on “So Many Books, So little Time!”

  1. That is quite a list! I have Bryson’s Walk in the Woods on my pile right now, too – my Hub bought it for me back in the spring and I am ashamed to say that after wanting it for so long, I have yet to read it. Life got kind of nuts around here this summer.
    I’m very interested in the Ron Clark book – I don’t know that one, but I’d like to get my hands on that.
    I’m working on this post for Kat’s, too – have to finish in the morning, though.

    1. Ron Clark is a local teacher and is school/students always win some big education awards/scores. There was a movie made about him a few years ago – for the life of me, I can’t recall the name. Anyway, I’ll let you know how it is.

        1. Oh my God – Surprise, surprise:). You never know who will pop up! I LOVE YOU!!!! I miss you, too. We need to talk! I’m leaving tomorrow for a blog conference and running around like crazy. I promise I will call you nest week! I assume cell is best?

          And yes- I LOVE the title:)!

  2. Wow– major list! I liked Tropper’s but not as much as This is Where I Leave You. I raced through Giffin’s, but wasn’t my fav of hers either. Way too much football stuff for me. I just put that writing book on my MUST GET list! Thank you!!

  3. Wow that is quite the list! Good luck with your reading 🙂 I think I might add Mindy Kaling’ s book to my list because I think she’s hilarious

  5. My goodness, but you have quite the long list! I’m afraid reading has fallen by the wayside for me, but it’s something that I have enjoyed in the past.
    Maybe again one day in the future??!
    Thanks for visiting and commenting today!

  6. I love Bill Bryson..
    And I LOVED “The One and Only.” I have no idea why it got mixed reviews? Everyone I know who read it loved it.

  7. I’ve got a walk in the woods on my nightstand and have been ignoring it for ages for no real reason other than, you know, get in line. Loved Mindy Kaling’s book – I’m such a sucker for funny memoirs.

  8. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson, sounds like a fascinating book. I love to travel, but it’s even more fun when you discover hidden gems on your travels. I’ll have to pick that one up. Wow! you’re a reader! If you do a review on these books, I’ll have to check it out. Have fun reading!

  9. Pingback: What’s Next On My Reading List? | The Meaning of Me

  10. Wow, you are ambitious! “A Walk in the Woods” is right up my alley. I’ll have to pick that up for my kindle. And I used to listen to books on tape too. One of the first ones I listened to was “Lonesome Dove”. It’s been a favorite ever since.

  11. Ha ha! I have a schedule for my TBR lists as well!

    These are some great books you have here. I recently listened to Mindy Kaling’s book and quite enjoyed it. I read Bill Bryson’s a while ago and remember enjoying that one as well!

  12. Wow, what a list! I’ve had a couple of these on my “to-read” list for a while now, too, like “Brain on Fire.”

    The last book I read was “The Chaperone” by Laura Moriarty. A book club I occasionally join was reading it, the library had it AND I was traveling without kids – I read it in one weekend. Ah, the good old days of reading before kids!

    You can add me to the list of blogger friends who love Mindy Kaling’s book. (I love her show, too.) Not quite as good as Bossypants, but still really good. I had so many delirious nights of reading it on e-book while breastfeeding at 2 a.m., and I composed many letters in my head to Mindy about why we should be best friends…luckily never actually written!

    Anyway, thanks for the great recommendations, and happy reading!

    1. Hi Amy! I have the Chaperone. It was one of those books I kept picking up in the store, but never bought. Then this summer, while on the road – I bought it because I thought it was Lianne Moriarty’s (I LOVE her) book. I just read a great review of it at Great New Gooks The universe is telling me something:)!.

  14. Wow! That is quite a list! I’ve had The Giver sitting on my table for months now. I read it in college, but didn’t realize it was a trilogy. I want to reread it and hit the other two as well…but still it sits. I’ve read Brain On Fire! That’s a really interesting one!

    Can’t wait to hear how the conference went!

    1. I bet brain on fire is interesting. It sounds like it, and I’m nervous – but such good reviews! I’ll post about the conference this week. My brain still hurts!

  15. I have Bryson in my to read list too (along with 500 other books on Goodreads, seriously, I have a hoarding problem when it comes to adding books to it). I enjoyed Mindy Kaling’s book, the first half anyway, about growing up Indian- in America because I am an Indian-American too and I had the same awful style as she did 🙂 Brain on Fire seriously scares me. I have one autoimmune disorder already which makes me apparently prone to others. Her experience sounds horrifying and I haven’t even read the book yet.

    1. Yes, Brain on fire is very scary. She is so very lucky. honestly, the tenacity and love of her family saved her. It’s a mind blowing story. Read Bryson – he’s wonderful!

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