This
year has, so far, been a banner one for reading. With D in
school from January to May, I spent many long afternoons at coffee shops during which I
plowed through books like it was my job. Wouldn’t that be the best job
ever? Anyway, I’ve read a lot of books, is what I’m saying. Some of
them were meh, but none were downright terrible and some were pretty
great. Here’s what I recommend so far:
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: A compelling story told very well. You should know that I totally, 100% drink the Apple kool-aid, but even if you don’t, or are on the fence about the products or company, this is an interesting read.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles: This is one of the best fiction books I’ve read in several years. It’s kind of hard to explain what it’s about, but it’s set in New York City in the late 1930’s and follows the main character Katey Kontent, daughter of Russian immigrants, and her best friend Evie Ross. Starting the night they meet an elegant, wealthy gentleman named Tinker Grey, it outlines the events of the coming year. The end was a surprise--I won’t give it away--and it was exceedingly well written.
Life Itself by Roger Ebert: I love Roger Ebert, and reading his memoir was like meeting him in person and learning about his childhood firsthand. I loved it. He speaks with such fondness for Chicago, for film, and for Gene Siskel that I was almost moved to tears at certain points in this book. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in any or all of those subjects.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling: I read this book because I was coming off some pretty heavy nonfiction, and was looking for a fun, lighthearted read. It was just what I needed. You guys, Mindy Kaling is funny. And honest, and hardworking, and I really loved getting to know her through her book. This would be a great beach read.
Tinderbox: How the West Sparked the AIDS Epidemic and How the World Can Finally Overcome It by Craig Timberg and Daniel Halperin: This is one of those “heavy” books I read at the beginning of the year. I’d heard it recommended several places and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. AIDS is a really scary topic, and the authors did an excellent job of explaining why we don’t need to be scared of it. They detail how it developed (which I found fascinating), the trajectory of the disease through Africa and the United States, and what we need to do moving forward. I had no prior knowledge of the subject and found it an interesting and compelling read.
Ex Libris by Ann Fadiman: Actually a collection of essays about reading, the sentiments with which I completely and wholeheartedly agreed. I found myself nodding along and thinking “Yes, this woman gets it. She truly loves books.” It’s a slim little volume, but perfect if you love reading books about books. It's actually something that has been languishing on my bookshelf for years (part of the Books I Haven't Read project) and I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up.
Drop Dead Healthy by AJ Jacobs: This was another fun read I’m not sorry I picked up. I’ve read everything else by AJ Jacobs--a stunt journalist extraordinaire--and he’s funny, light, and easy to read. This book details his exploring every fad, diet, and latest medical miracle in a two-year quest to debunk myths, get healthy, and hopefully lose a bit of weight.
What have you read lately? I need your suggestions for my upcoming vacation! I plan to read to my heart's content.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: A compelling story told very well. You should know that I totally, 100% drink the Apple kool-aid, but even if you don’t, or are on the fence about the products or company, this is an interesting read.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles: This is one of the best fiction books I’ve read in several years. It’s kind of hard to explain what it’s about, but it’s set in New York City in the late 1930’s and follows the main character Katey Kontent, daughter of Russian immigrants, and her best friend Evie Ross. Starting the night they meet an elegant, wealthy gentleman named Tinker Grey, it outlines the events of the coming year. The end was a surprise--I won’t give it away--and it was exceedingly well written.
Life Itself by Roger Ebert: I love Roger Ebert, and reading his memoir was like meeting him in person and learning about his childhood firsthand. I loved it. He speaks with such fondness for Chicago, for film, and for Gene Siskel that I was almost moved to tears at certain points in this book. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in any or all of those subjects.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling: I read this book because I was coming off some pretty heavy nonfiction, and was looking for a fun, lighthearted read. It was just what I needed. You guys, Mindy Kaling is funny. And honest, and hardworking, and I really loved getting to know her through her book. This would be a great beach read.
Tinderbox: How the West Sparked the AIDS Epidemic and How the World Can Finally Overcome It by Craig Timberg and Daniel Halperin: This is one of those “heavy” books I read at the beginning of the year. I’d heard it recommended several places and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. AIDS is a really scary topic, and the authors did an excellent job of explaining why we don’t need to be scared of it. They detail how it developed (which I found fascinating), the trajectory of the disease through Africa and the United States, and what we need to do moving forward. I had no prior knowledge of the subject and found it an interesting and compelling read.
Ex Libris by Ann Fadiman: Actually a collection of essays about reading, the sentiments with which I completely and wholeheartedly agreed. I found myself nodding along and thinking “Yes, this woman gets it. She truly loves books.” It’s a slim little volume, but perfect if you love reading books about books. It's actually something that has been languishing on my bookshelf for years (part of the Books I Haven't Read project) and I can't believe it took me so long to pick it up.
Drop Dead Healthy by AJ Jacobs: This was another fun read I’m not sorry I picked up. I’ve read everything else by AJ Jacobs--a stunt journalist extraordinaire--and he’s funny, light, and easy to read. This book details his exploring every fad, diet, and latest medical miracle in a two-year quest to debunk myths, get healthy, and hopefully lose a bit of weight.
What have you read lately? I need your suggestions for my upcoming vacation! I plan to read to my heart's content.
4 comments:
I also really liked Rules of Civility!
I have read a lot of books this year, and some good ones, but nothing that I'd really highly recommend. Lots of the books have been lighter in nature as I need the break from the heavy CFA reading!!
I haven't read any of those! I need to put them on my list!
I don't have any books to recommend. (Except, I just read a great review for The Old Man and the Wasteland, that I decided to check out.)
But this Rules of Civility looks really intriguing to me. Thanks!
I loved Rules of Civility!
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