Book Reviews 2015

Well, a year has come and gone, and here I am to tell you about all the books I've read in 2015.  I set a goal to read 30 books this year and have met that goal!  I'm thinking my goal for 2016 will be 33 books.  I'll divide things up the same way I did last year (all the books, favorites, and ones I didn't finish).

All Teh Books!
All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I LOVED this book!  It is historical fiction set during WWII.  The story trades between the perspectives of a blind girl whose father is a high up museum worker in France and a young German orphan who attends one of the Nazi schools.  There are some difficult sections (because, Nazis), but it is a captivating read!

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I also loved this one!  I read The Secret Life of Bees a long time ago and really enjoyed it.  This story trades perspectives between a southern white girl and her black house slave.  I found it particularly interesting because the white girl stutters.  The story is based on the lives of two real sisters.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This one was pretty good.  It is set between Australia and England and flips between different decades and several character perspectives.  The main storyline is a granddaughter and her grandmother discovering how the grandmother ended up on a dock in Australia as a young girl.

A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
Lots of cheese to this Christian fiction, but overall enjoyable.  It's the story of a mail order bride who traveled from New England to developing Seattle believing she was being hired as a cook for a lumberjack.  Romance ensues.

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende is a phenomenal writer.  The book follows the life of a slave in Haiti from childhood on.  She lives through the Haitian revolution and travels to Cuba and Louisiana.  I didn't particularly enjoy the descriptions of voodoo rituals, and there is some graphic content, but it was interesting learning about a place and period in history that I did not previously know much about.

The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport
This was a thorough, in depth look at the Romanov family starting with the childhood of Alexandra, to her courtship and marriage to Nicholas, to the births and lives of each of their children (particularly their 4 daughters).  It was comprised of narrative descriptions compiled from various sources, as well as letters between the family members.  I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a little less detailed, it was a very long book and became monotous in many places.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I enjoy reading at least one classic every year.  This also fits into the category of "books I should've read a long time ago".  I liked it.  Jane Austen's wit and style of writing are very fun to read.  I'm definitely not one of the Austen-obsessed girls who now eats, sleeps, and breathes for her books, but I will read more of hers in the future.

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkein
I read Fellowship of the Ring and half of The Two Towers in high school, but got stuck somewhere in the middle and never finished.  I still need to read Return of the King.  There were many parts I enjoyed, and the drags less than the movie, but I still like Fellowship of the Ring best.

Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Wall
Loved this one!  It was a quick read too.  This is the true life story of the author's grandmother, but it reads like a novel.  It is incredible all the things the main character did, from raising horses to flying airplanes and teaching school.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Wild is the account of a woman hiking the Pacific Crest Trail through California to Washington.  What I liked about the book was hearing about her experience on the trail and the other hikers she met.  I did not like the side accounts about her life prior to setting out on the trail (destroying her marriage and getting into heroin).

The Heist by Janet Evanovich
Best description for this book: super cheesy rip off of the show "White Collar" with romantic tension between the female FBI agent and white collar crook.  When I say cheesy, I mean eye-rolling, groan-inducing lines and sections.  I love "White Collar", and the story was intriguing enough, but I have no plans to read more of the series.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
Set during WWII in a small town in Massachusetts from the perspective of the postmistress, the doctor's young wife, and a female radio journalist.  This was a big disappointment.  The story never really went anywhere, and I still don't know what the message or theme was supposed to be.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
About an Irish girl who becomes an indentured servant to a southern plantation owner and grows up in the kitchen house with the slaves.  Sounds like a great premise for a book huh?  And it was great, until it went incredibly dark and plummeted to a crash and burn ending.  Another big adisappointment of a read.

Unspoken by Dee Henderson
This was nice light reading after the two disappointments I read before it.  Christian novel that actually wasn't bad on the cheese level.  The wealthy owner of a coin shop meets an intriguing woman with a mysterious past and finds himself falling for her.  The book is mostly about relationships, but it does have a couple exciting action scenes to it.  It also has lots of descriptions of collectible coins and lots of daily life descriptions (like exactly what they ate for dinner on many nights).  I could see myself reading more Dee Henderson.

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin
A good quick read.  It involves two mysteries. 1) the origins of a mute boy found along railroad tracks 2) a murder, robbery, and betrayal between two brothers from years past.  The story is heavily about relationships and what makes people family.  Some very sad parts, but it has a good ending.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Ever seen "Fifty First Dates"?  This was like the drama version of that concept.  Every night when the main character goes to sleep, all of the events of that day are erased from her memory.  She begins keeping a secret diary at the recommendation of her doctor, and some suspicous things start to reveal themselves.  There were a few difficult places to read, but it was well written and certainly kept my interest the whole way through.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Francis Chan is a dynamic speaker.  I always enjoyed his messages in chapel at Biola, but had never read any of his books.  I'm so glad I finally did!  His writing is as engagin as his speaking.  Crazy Love is about meditating on the amazing, crazy love God has for us (that we take for granted) and how we should be loving God and others.

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen
An excellent read for all Downton Abbey fans!  Julie Klassen is a Christian author who loves all things Austen.  All of her books are written in that era with Christian themes.  This novel centers on the mystery of why the previous tenants of Pembrooke Park left in such a hurry.  The mystery is topped off with some (albeit cheesy at times) romance.

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
Meh.  This was a bestseller, and Amy Poehler is pretty funny, but I didn't enjoy this read.  It was just dull.  Maybe if I were a fan of "Parks and Rec" I might have found it more interesting.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Once again, excellent book!  This Francis Chan book is about the Holy Spirit, how He is frequently omitted from contemporary Christian conversation, and where He should be included.  Enjoyed Crazy Love more, but this was also a great read!

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
I'm a huge YA fan and have enjoyed Maureen Johnson's writing style in the past, so I thought I'd give this one a try. It's about a girl whose family runs an old hotel in New York.   The story kept me interested, but there wasn't much depth to it.  I'm not planning to read the rest of the series.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
This was a bestseller several years ago, and the summary seemed interesting.  It's about a British widower and his relationship with a widowed Iranian woman who lives in the same town.  The novel gives good social commentary, especially regarding intercultural relationships.  There isn't really anything hugely exciting in the book, but it is a good read with good themes.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Major page turner right here!  This is a supsense/thriller about what a woman sees through a train window one day and how she becomes involved.  One of the unique things to me about this book is that the main character is an alcoholic.  I developed a deeper sympathy for those who struggle with alcoholism through reading the book.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
I recall my mom reading this when it first came out.  The story is of a missionary family in Africa in the 1950's and is told from the perspectives of the mother and each of the 4 daughters.  The book sheds light on the importance of understanding culture in missions.  It was intriguing to me on a personal level, because my great aunt was a missionary in India in this same time period.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Having to be careful about the level and amount of violence I read/watch/hear in media, I read the version written for young adults (and was glad I did).  The audiobook I listened to had a couple sections that were actually read by Malala, which was neat.  I enjoyed reading it because it gave me a better understanding of the recent history of Pakistan and it was inspiring to hear the story of a young girl so committed to educational rights for women.

The Martian by Andy Weir
Initially I had no interest in reading The Martian, but my friend Justine posted about how much she had enjoyed it, so I gave it a try.  I'm very glad I did.  The good things about the book: unique concept, lots of humor, was very well researched to be accurate by the author.  The not so great things about the book: lots of swearing/potty language and so much math it started to feel like reading a word problem rather than a novel.  Overall, I would recommend it.  I still haven't seen the movie, but would like to, cuz Matt Damon.

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
I joined a book club this fall through Meet Up.  This was one of the previous books they had read.  It interested me because it had main characters with disabilities.  The main character, who si disfigured from a childhood accident, writes a show about a girl living with her grandmother based off her real life.  The book follows the production of the show and the main character's relationship with her coworker who uses a wheelchair.  I was disappointed.  The writing in the book is decent, but the story lacked the spark that a book needs to keep you hooked.

Food: a Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
This was the first book I read for my book club.  I enjoyed Dad is Fat last year, so I thought I would enjoy this one just as much.  I was wrong.  Most of the book is Jim's stand up bits written into book form.  Even listening to him read the audiobook wasn't enough.

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
Not as good as The Secret of Pembrooke Park.  There is still a mystery throughout the story, but it isn't as intriguing as the other book.  The romance was far less cheesy though, so I suppose it's a trade off.  I would consider reading another of Julie Klassen's books.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The second of my book club books.  I was excited for this one.  The summary I read of it said it was about a boy whose only connection to his deceased mother is the mysterious gold finch painting that draws him into the underground art world.
The good: the writing in this book is beautiful and truly draws you in.  There is a father figure character who I absolutely adore.  There is a huge plot twist about two thirds of the way through that makes you go "holy crap!".
The bad: It's unnecessarily long.  The story drags.  There doesn't seem to be a huge point or message to the book.
The ugly: Way more than you ever desired to know about drug culture.  I don't feel like it would be an exaggeration to say that half the book is talking about taking drugs, the effects of drugs, or withdrawal from drugs.  I don't need to read about teenagers dropping acid, I just don't.

Favorites (Fiction)
All the Light we Cannot See
The Invention of Wings
The Secret of Pembrooke Park

Favorites (Nonfiction)
Crazy Love
Half Broke Horses
I am Malala

Unfinished
Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild by Kristiana Gregory
It just didn't draw me in.

A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley
Same as above.  Also, it seemed like it was going to be a super cheesefest.

To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer
I didn't make it more than two pages.  It was just plain weird.

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers
I tried with two different audiobooks to read this one.  Both of them skip to them end a few chapters in.  maybe some day I'll get to finish it.

Book Reviews 2014

Over the summer, I ended my hiatus of pleasure reading and am delighted to be back in the book world!  Here are the books I read this year, the ones I liked, the ones I didn't like, and the ones I couldn't even finish :)

All Teh Books!

Behind the Beautiful Forevers  by Katherine Boo

I read this book as part of the nerdfighter book club (see Vlogbrothers channel on youtube).  It is the story of people living in present day in the slums of India.  It was eye opening to read about poverty and corruption in our modern times.  It is well written and frank about conditions without being too difficult to read (for those with sensitive dispositions like myself).

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

This was recommended by a friend based on my interest in history.  It is a biographical account of the American ambassador to Germany and his family in the early 1930's.  I had not previously spent much time studying the years before WWII in Germany.  It is disturbing and troubling to see the numerous red flags present during that time that were ignored by the allied countries.

Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

Another fascinating biography recommended by a friend.  This is the biography of President James Garfield.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about a president of whom I knew very little.  It also serves as a biography of Garfield's assassin.  There are extensive, graphic descriptions of medical procedures, which I skimmed through.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 

I was hesitant to read the Kite Runner because I knew it contained some difficult scenes, but I really enjoyed it.  The writing is excellent and the relationships in the story are touching and moving.

Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiantby Veronica Roth

Yep, I got sucked in to the Divergent series.  I'm definitely a fan.  I liked each one in the series a little less than the previous one, and I'm not happy with the ending to Allegiant, but I LOVE Divergent.  I think I'd like to read it again.  I'm toying with the idea of trying another dystopian series (but am not interested in Hunger Games), any suggestions?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Everyone seemed to be reading it, and it was on the bestseller's list, so I gave it a try.  I found it highly disturbing.  I was frustrated with how much strong language was in it, as well as the personalities/actions of some of the characters in the book.  Least favorite read of the year by far.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

I also picked this one of the bestsller list and love it!  One of my favorite books of the year!  It's the story of a present day foster teen and a recollection of an Orphn in the 1920's.  Wonderfully written and very touching.

The Name of the Star: Shades of London Book 1 by Maureen Johnson 

I enjoy young adult fiction and have been wanting to read something by Maureen Johnson for a while.  I selected this book, not realizing that "shades" is anothe rterm for "ghosts".  Suffice it to say, I will not be finishing the series.  However, the writing was fantastic, and  I think I might like to read another book by Maureen Johnson at some point.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

It's a memoir/autobiography.  I'm not a huge Tina Fey fan, but her writing is hilarious in parts.  If you like comedy and are curious to get a behind the scenes look at SNL, you might enjoy it.

Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

This is a memoir of an American woman who moved to Paris and married a French man.  The book contains recipes for French, Jewish, and American food.  Her writing is humorous, and I enjoyed reading about living in a different culture.

The Help by Katherine Stockett (re-read 

This is still one of my favorite books.  It had been several years since my first read, so I thought another one was deserved. :)

Let it Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and LLauren Myracle

As stated above, I like young adult fiction, and I wanted something Christmas-y to read.  The book is comprised of 3 interconnected short stories about teens in a snow storm.  It was entertaining enough for a casual read.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

My mom recommended this book after I mentioned how much I enjoyed Destiny of the Republic.  It's the story of the University of Washington rowing team who won gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  Some of the descriptions of rowing get a little monotonous, but other than that, it is an excellent read.  After having read In the Garden of Beasts, it was interesting to read about the early 1930's from the perspective in the U.S.  History is never as simple as black and white.

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
This is the first book in Ken Follett's "Century Trilogy".  It follows 5 families around the world during WWI.  I loved the writing and the characters.  What I didn't love was the descriptions of sex.  Fortunately those can be skipped without losing any of the plot.

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
I'm a big Jim Gaffigan fan and thus was interested to read one of his books.  This one is all about being a dad to his 5 kids.  It was an enjoyable read and made me like Gaffigan even more.  From his writing, he seems to be a pretty good dad.  I think he is at his funniest though when talking about food.  Hot pocket!

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I enjoy reading classics, but have discovered that I'm not a big Nathaniel Hawthorne fan.  The themes and symbolism in the book are quite thought provoking, but Hawthorne is just too wordy.  I don't like writing where I have to look back over a sentence several times to remember what was at the beginning of it.

Favorites (Fiction)
Orphan Train
Divergent
The Kite Runner

Favorites (Nonfiction)
Lunch in Paris
Dad is Fat
The Boys in the Boat

The Ones I Didn't Finish
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Too many characters presented at the beginning, and the book just didn't hook me.

 
The Mysterious Affair at Styles Peirot's First Case by Agatha Christie
I read about a quarter of this one, but just found it dull.  Perhaps I'll try a different Agatha Christie novel at some point.

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini
I love historical fiction, especially Civil War, but this one was a snoozefest!  Too bad.

An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer
Didn't hook me


George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade
I'm intrigued by the Culver Spy Ring, but this book felt like that term paper you don't have quite enough content for, so you pad it with other things.

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon
Could tell from the first few pages that this book and I were from very different worlds.