Recent Reads

(I’m up to 20 books read towards my goal of 30 this year. I’m not sure I can get through 10 books in 2.5 months, but I’ll give it my best shot. Be warned there may be spoilers, in case any of these are still on your “to read” list. Also, some previous reads.)

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
4/5

I’d heard about this one several times so when I found out it was coming my way via my postal book club, I was excited. I had an inkling of the plot already, so some of the themes weren’t a total surprise. The other people in my postal book club who have read this so far seemed to struggle a lot with Will’s ultimate choice…which is interesting, because that part actually didn’t bother me. I didn’t find it surprising or shocking. Tough to grapple with, yes, but also somewhat…realistic? Overall I enjoyed the story a lot, although I felt like it took a while to really get going.

The One & Only: A Novel by Emily Giffin
1/5

This is the kind of book that makes me think I could be a writer. Because if this can get published, ANYTHING can get published. I feel worse for having actually bothered to finish this book. The end.

Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Dr. Judy Melinek
4/5

This was a book club selection and it is not for the squeamish. Melinek goes into great detail about the various states one can find with a dead body and I could never, ever do her job. However, I did find her stories fascinating from a scientific point of view. It was also interesting to see all the different fronts a medical examiner has to cover, from the body to the family members to the police to the courts.

Melinek’s time as a forensic pathologist in New York coincided with the September 11 attack, and her account of that experience is the toughest but arguably the best chapter of the book. The details are horrific as expected, but it was insightful to hear from someone intimately involved in the response.

Lovable Livable Home: How to Add Beauty, Get Organized, and Make Your House Work for You by Sherry & John Petersik
3/5

I definitely miss the Young House Love blog, so I decided to check out their second book. I liked that this one was less project-based and more of a glimpse at many other homes. (I’m a sucker for seeing how other people decorate and live! It’s so interesting to me) There is definitely a focus on kid-friendly spaces, but since I have kids that was fine with me. There’s nothing earth-shattering here but I enjoyed it and came away with a few ideas of how to make some small changes in my own house.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler
3/5

I put this on hold at the library several months ago after seeing positive reviews from some friends. I feel like there are a lot of comedian books people recommend — specifically Tina Fey’s, Mindy Kahling’s, and this one — so I figured I’d start here. I didn’t know a lot about Poehler other than SNL and Parks & Rec so it was interesting to learn about how she got her start, and I found her thoughts on career insightful. Overall an enjoyable if not particularly remarkable read.