Book #44

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

464 pages

 

I thought since I am planning a wedding, I would indulge myself in some mindless chick lit about weddings. Lottie is convinced her long-term boyfriend is about to propose, but when he doesn't, she meets back up with an old boyfriend and decides to run off and get married.

Fliss, her older sister, knows Lottie has just made a huge mistake and attempts to foil the newlyweds by making sure they don't consummate their marriage on the honeymoon so Lottie will be eligible for an annulment when she returns.

This story could have been funny, could have been cute, but it was almost 500 pages, and just too damn long. I could not WAIT to be done with this book.

Next up: Huge by Sasha Paley

Book #43

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
400 pages

 

This book was marketed to me as a Gone Girl-esque book. The storyline intrigued me, and I've had it on my to-read list for awhile.

Kate is a stressed lawyer, and single mother. Her smart and seemingly put-together daughter is suddenly accused of cheating on a test, and throws herself off a roof. As Kate mourns her daughter's suicide, she starts questioning the circumstances surrounding it.

As this storyline progresses, the story of Amelia is shown through flashbacks. Amelia is asked to join a secret sorority-like club at her elite private high school, and starts getting into trouble to stay included in the group.

This book, although not quite as fast-paced as Gone Girl, did have one similarity -- although I had absolute no empathy about a single character in the book, I still really wanted to know how it ended. So I guess there was that.

Next up:  Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Book #42

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

196 pages

I read this book in about an hour. It was a pleasant story about Eddie, who has spent his life repairing rides at an amusement park, and his trip to heaven after an accident involving one of the park's rides.

In heaven, Eddie is faced with 5 very different people that have intersected in his life -- some he knew very well, some he didn't know at all. The people he meets are surprising to him, and their stories about how their lives overlap are fantastically written.

I've had this book on my list of to-reads since 2010! Worth the wait!

Next up: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

 

Book #41

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

275 pages

 

 

Believe it or not,  I don't think I've EVER read at book by David Sedaris. Or if I did, it would have been a very, very long time ago before I started documenting my books on GoodReads.

 

I LOVE a good short story. A collection of short stories was a perfect next book after reading The Interestings for almost a full month!

 

I especially loved the stories in this when it involved David's travels to other parts of the country. One particularly funny story talked about the different food in the various countries he travels to. I also loved the story about his search to find a stuffed owl for his partner for Valentine's Day at a taxidermist shop.

 

Next up: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Book #40

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
480 pages

 

I had heard many great things about this book, and actually was under the impression it was a YA novel. I was very surprised when I had this over 400-page book waiting for me on hold at the library a few weeks back.

The story starts at a summer camp for the arts, and with a group of misfit teenagers trying to find their place. It continued on through college, early adulthood and even toward retirement of these "kids."

Jules Jacobson is one of the starring players, as she was the girl on the outside looking in to the "Interestings," which is what the group decided to call themselves. She befriends Ash and her well-to-do family, and falls in love with their lifestyle.

I enjoyed the character of Ethan, as his storyline takes him to become an empire of a show like The Simpsons. Reading about his creative and thoughtful character being thrusted into so much money and fame was a good plot point.

The rest of The Interestings? Not all that interesting. I'd go as far to say that I would have enjoyed this book much, much more if it were about 150 pages shorter than what it was. I was fighting to finish it at the end, which is never a good sign.

Next up: Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris