Two great, one not-so-great book. While this was a lower yield month book-wise, I’m still pretty proud of finishing three books. Still trying to find time for reading. I’ve been trying to read via the Kindle app in the middle of the night while nursing, but I can barely keep my eyes straight. Mike and I got to spend so much time together during the day since he was on paternity leave, so I didn’t do my usual audiobooks while walking too. That’s a trade off I was more than willing to make.
Here’s what I read last month:
THE BODY by Bill Bryson
5/5 Stars
This was a fantastic read. I downloaded it from my library and it did not disappoint. Bill Bryson was recommended to me more times than I can count over the years, but I worried I wouldn’t be interested in his books. I was wrong. Somehow he makes what would be dry content (in this case, how the body works) incredibly interesting and entertaining. I can’t wait to read more of his books. You know a book is good when you can’t stop talking about it. Poor Mike was getting play by plays after I finished every chapter; I’m sure he felt like he read the book along with me.
VERITY by Colleen Hoover
3.75/5 Stars
Okay. Verity. Where to begin. Here’s the thing. I hated it…. but I also couldn’t put it down and kept reading. (I struggled to rate it because on one hand, I would have given it one star but I was totally sucked into it at the same time.) The premise is that a struggling author gets hired as a ghostwriter by the husband of another very popular author who is too injured from an accident to finish her series. She moves into their house for research purposes and ends up discovering a hidden, unfinished manuscript for another book… I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it was a deeply disturbing book with horrible descriptions of child abuse. So if you think that’s going to be an issue, do not bother picking this up. I guess it’s labeled as a thriller, which should have been my first clue that I wouldn’t enjoy it. The content is very adult, while the writing feels like it should be a young adult book?
THE BRILLIANT LIFE OF EUDORA HONEYSETT by Annie Lyons
4/5 Stars
Switching gears, this was a lovely, heartwarming book. It’s about an older woman, Eudora, who is looking into options for a peaceful death on her own terms. She meets a handful of new people, including her new 10-year-old neighbor Rose. It’s a little bit like Eleanor Oliphant, and it’s fairly predictable, but I just loved the story so much. The characters come to life and you just fall in love with all of them! It just warmed my heart thoroughly!
Since you loved “The Body,” I highly recommend “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson! It’s educational, heartfelt and laugh out loud funny. Love his observations. So good!
I love book review days!
Thanks for sharing!
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Currently reading Verity right now. You are so right it feels like it’s written in a YA style! I was lent this by a friend and didn’t know what to expect. I keep reading on hoping for something redeeming!
I didn’t read Verity but felt the same way about It Ends With Us, also by Colleen Hoover. People raved about it on BookTok but I thought it was terrible. Like Verity, it dealt with adult themes (domestic violence) with graphic descriptions, but the writing felt very immature and the whole plot was bizarre.
I loved The Body! Bill Bryson came to my work on his book tour so I got tickets on a whim. He was exactly what you’d hope him to be – so charming and funny while also terrifyingly brilliant. Honestly I commend you for getting through three books this month if The Body was one, as much as I loved it I also found it to be a slog and it took me a long time to get through.
Check out Bill Bryson’s A walk in the Woods if you haven’t read it abiiut his hiking the Appalachian Trail. One of his best!
Okay, I also HATED Verity. I’m actually kind of disturbed that so many people I know loved it so much–what bunch of sickos! : ) Bill Bryson’s A Walk In The Woods is one of my favorite books, so I will definitely pick up The Body soon. Thanks for the recommendations.
Bill Bryson’s book Notes from A Small Island was laugh out loud hilarious observations about everything things – highly recommend! I’m sure it would be great as an audiobook, too.
I love hearing what others are reading, whether they enjoyed it or not! Books are such a fun way to spark conversation especially for moms who are home and looking for something to share that’s not kid related. Thanks for sharing!
High recommend Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot, a book every mom and every person should read! Enthralling and illuminating look at the life of an American child.
Also finished reading The Body by Bill Bryson recently. I started out reading only the chapters I was interested in, but then I realized how great the book was and I’ve already read it in the same breath. It’s a great book!