4th Quarter Reading

32 books in the last quarter of 2014! Not too shabby. It actually makes for a total of 168 books in 2014! Phew, I’m not even sure how I managed to read all of that, but I definitely enjoyed the ride. 

Since this is my quarterly round up, that means that it’s time for mine and Janssen‘s Quarterly Link up! Take a look at the books we read during the fourth quarter of 2014 and then link up any book related posts you’ve put up in the past few months. We want to know what you’re reading! You can also grab a button from below for your post.

Before you read on, I have to let you know who the real MVP of this link up is: Janssen. In the past month, the girl has moved back to the US from London, taken a whirlwind road trip across the United States to her new temporary home and she’s planning to pack up and move back across the country in a few months. Oh also, she did this while running her blog, taking care of two kids, a husband getting his MBA, and, oh yeah, she’s eight months pregnant. Girl is a serious role model for me. If you haven’t checked out her blog before, go do it now.

And now on to the books and the link up!

The Vacationers by Emma Straub (Paperback)

This was a good beach read, so it was kind of odd to read this in the winter, but it was a nice break.

Tzimmes by Arthur Marshall Fell (Paperback)

See review here.

Lila by Marilynne Robinson (kindle)

I enjoyed it, but really not as much as I was hoping to, which was disappointing. The writing was beautiful though, which is something I’ve come to appreciate more and more.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (audiobook)

Maybe it was the reader of the kindle book, but I loveddddd Middlesex. I loved how instead of just talking about the main character, we got to go back in time and learn about his grandparents and parents and how they shaped who the main character is now. It’s a touching book and I highly recommend it.

Mermaids in Paradise by Lydia Millet (hardcover)

This story was pretty cute and an easy read about newlyweds on their honeymoon (and a surprise discovery that’s given away in the title). I would put this under the category of beach reads though, it’s not really one of the meatier/heavier books that people read in the winter. If you have a vacation coming up though, this is for you.

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais (kindle)

I don’t know why I had such high expectations for this book, though it probably had something to do with the fact that the movie came out a few months ago. Overall, I thought the book was enjoyable, but it felt like it had pacing issues. You went from focusing on two years to zooming back out and then in again and then back out. By the time I got to the last portion of the book, I couldn’t tell how many years that part took place over.

Reunion by Hannah Pittard (Kindle)

If you need a book to remind you just how dysfunctional your family isn’t and to be thankful for that, pick up this book. It’s a good post-Holiday reminder.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Kindle)

I was a little iffy about starting this book in the beginning, but I ended up loving it and flying through. The switch in the middle wasn’t as surprising for me though since a couple of reviews had spoiled it.

Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming (audiobook)

It took a little bit for me to get into this audiobook, but once I did I was engrossed with the story of Alan Cummings discovering more about his family heritage told in the present day (and in flashbacks).

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Paperback)

Similar feelings to Lila, beautiful writing, but I couldn’t get into it as much as I wanted to.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (Kindle)

A fun follow up to Pride and Prejudice and now I need to go watch the BBC version of the book!

China Dolls by Lisa See (kindle)

Once I was done with this book, I realized how much this book reminded me of Valley of the Dolls. It tells the story of three Asian girls as they deal with living in America before, during, and after World War 2. Told from viewpoint of all three girls, I went on a roller coaster with my feelings towards each of the girls (similar to Valley of the Dolls), but it was such a good read, I would highly recommend it.

As Long As You Love Me by Ann Aguirre (kindle)

A book with a title based on a pop song? Done. Warning though, this book is pretty heavy on the, ahem, adult content.

Fire with Fire by Jenny Han (hardcover)

Part two of this joint Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, this book took an…odd turn that I was not expecting. At all. 

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes (kindle)

I put off reading this because I’m not normally a horror/thriller story, but after reading Horrorstor (below), I decided to take the plunge. Oh. My. God. This book was crazy. Very good, but crazy and creepy and everything you would want to read from a horror story. However, I have to say, I would be way too scared to ever go see this as a movie.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler (hardcover)

I can not recommend this book more. This is everything you want in a memoir by a kick-butt woman and so so much more. After buying the hardcover copy of the book, I then went an bought it on audio. I’m so excited to hear Amy Poehler read it.

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix (kindle)

A fun, but super creepy book about five employees who stay overnight in an ikea-like store to try to figure out who has been trashing the store at night. After reading this, I’m never ever ever going to stay overnight in an ikea no matter what.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (audiobook)

Wonderfully heart breaking book. I highly recommend listening to it on audio and then making your friend listen to it also.

Sweetness #9 by Stephan Eirik Clark (kindle)

I stopped reading at about 60%. It was entertaining for the first half and then I lost interest. If anyone has finished this book, please let me know if I should bother to go back and finish it.

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom (audiobook)

I genuinely don’t remember the plot of this book.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell (kindle)

Before reading this book, I kept hearing from people that it wasn’t as good as her past books. Truthfully, I kind of agree. It was a fun read, but I’ve started to notice lately that I’ve liked Rowell’s YA books more than her adult novels.

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer (kindle)

You know what makes a good book? When you can’t predict the ending. I liked reading the book but as I continued to go along I kept guessing how it was going to end, so I thought I would be disappointed. I was so, so wrong. Go take an afternoon and read this book.

Looking for Alaska by John Green (kindle)

Forgot the plot of this book also, but once I went and looked it up, I remember actually enjoying this book. There were some points to it where I just wanted the author to move on, but it was overall a good read.

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham (audiobook)

I think I only got through this book because I was listening to it. I think if I had been reading it, I probably would have given up part way through. I think my main issue is that I wish Lena Dunham had waited longer to write a memoir-type book. She’s only in her 20’s, so this felt like a discombobulated first part of a multi-part book. My other issue, is that after reading some really great memoirs, I expect to be inspired by memoirs of people who are pretty awesome and have done some inspiring things with their lives so far. This memoir didn’t inspire me, it just left me kind of uncomfortable.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty (kindle)

Reading this right after Big Little Lies was a little bit of a let down, I admit. It had the basic story line of a Liane Moriarty housewife story, but not as much of the punch that one of her books usually packs.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott (kindle)

This is one of the first times I think the kindle format actually inhibited my reading of the book. This book told the story of four women who were highly influential during the Civil War. It was fascinating, but I was thrown by the tracker in my kindle. When the story seemed to be ending, my kindle said I had 40% left, which really confused me. It turned out that the remaining amount was actually notes about the real lives of these women and the Civil War. It almost makes me want to go back and re-read the book so I can enjoy it without the hindrance of the tracker.

Now I See You by Nicole C. Kear (Audiobook)

I had to go back and look up what the plotline of this was, but once I did, I remember enjoying this audiobook. Telling the story of a woman who is slowly going blind, it’s interesting to hear this story. It was also fascinating to see how stubborn Nicole was throughout the process and how she really didn’t want to give in and admit that she needed help.

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han (hardcover)

I can’t resist Jenny Han after reading “To All the Boys I Loved Before.” This one tells the story of three high school girls brought together by their mutual want for revenge on the people in their lives. Oh also, these girls are in high school. Have I mentioned how happy I am that I’m not in high school anymore?

Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman (audiobook)

Yes. Yes. Yes. It was like Ron Swanson talking to me for 10 beautiful hours. I purposefully waited to read this book until I could get my hands on the audiobook.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (kindle)

Such a fun book with another ending that I did not guess. If you haven’t read it already, go pick it up now.

One More Thing by B.J. Novak (short stories)

I’ve grown to enjoy short stories a lot more when I listen to them on audiobook. One More Thing was not an exception to that at all and it’s read by a lot of my favorite actors and actresses. Just a warning though, you may actually laugh out loud while listening.

The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer (kindle)

This was a great book to start off my 4th quarter reading with. While I didn’t like all of the characters, I loved learning about each of them, their lives, and how they were slowly being effected by what was taking over their small town. After reading this and Belzhar, I want to go back and take a look through Meg Wolitzer’s back catalog.

Grab a button and then join the link up (after the break)!

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