Recent Reads

(First: I’ve now read 15 books this year towards my goal of 30. So I’m a bit behind schedule, but nothing crazy. Second: Be warned there may be spoilers, in case any of these are still on your “to read” list. Finally: some previous reads.)

Tisha by Robert Specht
5/5

This was a really lovely surprise of a book that I never would have even seen (much less picked up to read) without the postal book club I’m in. Based on the real-life story of Anne Hobbs, this has everything you could want — love, relationships, a healthy dose of conflict (racially-based between whites and natives, since this was 1927 in remote Alaska), survival and plenty of adventure. I waffled between 4 and 5 stars, but decided to go with 5 because I thoroughly enjoyed this book and suspect Anne’s unique life story will stick with me for years to come.

Four by Veronica Roth
3/5

I had added this one to my library wait list months ago when I read the Divergent trilogy, and it finally came available. It was a quick and easy read, and fun to go back into that world and learn a little more about Four/Tobias’s background.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
4/5

This was a thoroughly engaging book about two teenagers on opposite sides of World War II — a blind French girl trying to survive in an occupied town while assisting the French resistance and an orphaned German boy with a knack for radios also trying to survive in a military academy and then on the front lines. Their stories are woven together marvelously, even though they don’t actually meet until the end, and then only for a day. And while the book contains only words (obviously), it is somehow visually stunning. I had such vivid mental images of all of the locations and people that it often felt like I was right there with them.

There were two things that kept it from being a 5-star book for me. The story shifted perspective every few pages, which was a bit too frequent for me and I found it distracting at times. And even though the book ends decades after the war is over, I still felt like it left me hanging. While I wasn’t necessarily looking for an entirely happy conclusion, I suppose I was seeking a bit more resolution than what was provided.

What If by Randall Munroe
4/5

You have to be a certain type of person to like this book. But if you, like me, are that type of person then you will find this one funny, educational, thought-provoking and all-around fun to read.

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
3/5

This was my second Gretchen Rubin book; “The Happiness Project” was the first, and I had mixed feelings about that one. After hearing her on a few podcasts lately, and also enjoying her new podcast (“Happier”), I decided to give this one a try. Again, I found it only so-so — I think perhaps there is something about her approach and writing style that just doesn’t totally mesh for me. There are definitely interesting tidbits and notes to be found, but overall I feel like I had already learned basically everything of value from her podcast, and the book felt repetitive after that.