Barrel Fever and Other Stories by David Sedaris

• This is an older collection of Sedaris' stories.  
• I especially enjoyed stories about his younger brother The Rooster.
• He narrates the audiobook, with his usual charm.

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

• Having spent a few years early in my career in academia I found the tone and structure of the book engaging and funny.  The book consists solely of letters written by a troubled professor who posses glaring social awkwardness.
• This book highlights the effusive praise that professors are asked to authentically give repeatedly for students they do not know well.
• Impressively with such a limiting structure, the book progresses with the plot involving several characters.

The History of Bees by Maja Lunde

• The voice of this novel reminded me of Station Eleven.
• This story is told through three snapshots in time documenting the collapse of bee colonies and the problems this creates for pollination.
• This is an enjoyable read, however, the reader must be prepared for the politics surrounding this issue.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

• This novel questions the role of destiny or fate with individual choice.
• This novel is about siblings, family, fate, choice, and where all these things intertwine.
• I hope this novel becomes a movie.  A TV series would be too drawn out... but I'd still watch it.

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

• Hamlet as told by a sophisticated and cutting fetus.
• This relatively short novel packs a mighty punch.
• McEwan is truly a masterful storyteller.

Artemis by Andy Weir

• Rosario Dawson does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
• This book displays what has become Weir's trademark snappy sense of humor laced with cussing.  This gives the main character a realistic depth.
• I enjoyed the "space science" on display at every turn of the novel (e.g. describing how staircases on the moon are different than those on earth).

The Burning Girl by Claire Messud

• This book is about when long-time best friends drift apart.
• I enjoyed the setting of this book of a small community where families are interconnected through work, school, and friendships.
• The depth of the relationship at the center of this book was enthralling.

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

• Liane Moriarty used her standard approach to storytelling.  Everything has already happened, and the story is filled in on the events through flashback from the viewpoints of multiple characters.
• Again, Moriarty captured the nuance of suburban life and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

Today will be Different by Maria Semple

• This was a highly readable and fast-paced story about a flawed and lovable character.
• This book felt much like Where'd You Go, Bernadette, perhaps a bit too much.

Unqualified by Anna Faris

• Faris combines elements of her podcast with a memoir.  I found the book for the most part interesting, and enjoyed feeling like I was getting to know Anna Faris.
• The forward by Faris' soon-to-be ex-husband is written after they separated.  For me it is somewhat awkward as a reader.  It feels too personal.
• I read the audiobook, which is narrated by Faris.  She did a great job bringing her story to life.

Beyond the Messy Truth by Van Jones

• Prior to reading this book I didn't know much about Van Jones other than he was occasionally on CNN.
• Jones recognizes the troubling divide between conservative and liberal ends of the political spectrum.  He offers thoughtful insight on the reasons for this divide and the impact it has on the nation.
• His solutions were hard for me to buy.  His focus on non-profits solving all types of problems was striking.  Also, he seemed to be pushing things he may not know much about.  For example, he presents himself as an authority in pushing for more coding bootcamps, but seems to not know much about what kills are really needed in IT and inexpensive ways to get them.  (Note: I've seen many expensive coding bootcamps heavily marketed and show little about what skills they will produce.  They focus on the experience attendees will have.)

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

• Ng's storytelling captured me throughout the lengthy novel.
• I especially enjoyed the last 1/3rd of the book.
• The book begins in present day, then the story is told through flashbacks.

What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

• The book covers the election and much of Clinton's background.  As a reader solely interested in her viewpoint of the election, I skipped a bit of the book focusing on her background.
• This book tackles the challenges that Hillary faced as a candidate.  She was criticized as too guarded and criticized as unstable when she showed emotion.
• In this book, Clinton continues to proves to be a level-headed and pragmatic politician.

Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence

• I really wanted to like this book.  It is about loving books, which I do.
• The format was too repetitive with letters written to books.
• I am actually sad I didn't love it.

The Address by Fiona Davis

• This is an engaging novel that tells the story of a historical building in New York City.
• I read Davis' other recent release The Dollhouse immediately before this, which I wouldn't recommend.  The books are a bit too similar.
• Like The Dollhouse this novel celebrates the love of historical architecture.

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun

• This is a realistic and optimistic perspective on marriage.
• Calhoun establishes real world expectations for marriage.
• While this is not completely a feel good book, I'm glad I read it.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

• Vance recounts his personal story as the descendent of rural Kentuckians.  
• The author also ties his experiences into trends within the decay of the Rust Belt.
• Much of the Vance's experience centers around feeling as if he doesn't fit in as he crosses cultures.  
• Vance focuses on how we as a society answer this question: Who is responsible for my success (or lack of)?

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

• This book was a huge departure for me as I tend to avoid violent thrillers.  I doubt I'll return to this genre too soon.
• The main character tells the story through current day and flashbacks.  Both contribute to the suspense of the novel.
• I was truly relieved when the novel concluded.

The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson

• Bryson works his magic with a topic that could easily be dry.  He brings his curiosity and storytelling to this topic as he does with any that he touches.
• I think the alternate title of "Word Facts" would be more concise.
• I regret my decision to ready this as an audiobook.  The narrator spelling out various forms of words was cumbersome.
• Overall, I loved this book.

Sisters by Lily Tuck

• This is short and highly-readable novel.
• The entire story is told from the viewpoint of a second wife.  The work focuses on her fixation with her husband's first wife.
• I enjoyed reading this in one sitting.

The Waste Makers by Vance Packard

• Decades ago Vance Packard sounded the alarm about American society becoming wasteful.  This was well before the era of disposable... nearly everything.
• While this book and the examples it uses are dated, the concept is the same.
• Overall, Packard explores how an economy focused on manufacturing produces waste by design in order to stimulate demand.

Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins

• This is a bit of an oddball book with a great sense of humor for preschool readers.
• This book is about manners without being preachy.
• The text of the book lends itself easily to silly voices.

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

• I picked up this book at my local library for my 4 year old who has struggled with tantrums in the last few weeks.
• As with all the Llama Llama books, this is a fun read that has a nice rhythm for the reader.
• The illustrations clearly communicate the emotions of Llama Llama as he goes shopping with his mother.
• This book spurred a good conversation about how to be nice, even when we are mad.

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

• The story is told from two eras: near the present day by a journalist and a young woman in the early 1950's.
• This story jumps into what independence means, and how that has changed especially for women.
• Overall, I enjoyed this novel.

The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri

• This short work devotes its entirety to book covers.
• The narrow topic is surprisingly interesting, especially from an author's point of view.

The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor

• This is a love story between a scientist and a chef.
• While this is a story about a woman being torn between her work and love, it is much more.
• Instead of simple and common theme, the main character is engaging.  It is about finding herself, not choosing either a career or the man in her life.

The Girl Before by Rena Olsen

• This is definitely a tough read.  It deals with dark subject matter and follows the main character through her journey in realizing she was a victim of human trafficking.
• This is a relatively quick read as the story is told through short bursts of current day narrative and flashbacks.
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The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse

• Sasse does a great job narrating the audiobook.
• This is an extremely timely book as the nation questions our values and what entitlements the government should provide.
• This book explores a conundrum that I often find myself in as a parent: how can I best prepare my children for the world?  How can I give my children every advantage I can while instilling a strong work ethic and grit?

The Best of the Rejection Collection

• This collection of cartoons is a bit off... in a good way.  All of the cartoons were rejected from The New Yorker.  
• I enjoyed reading about the artists behind the cartoons, and what they find interesting.
• Warning: You will likely find yourself snickering and snorting as you read this book.

Losing It by Emma Rathbone

• At 26 the main character is still a virgin, and not happy about it.
• This book is about a new adult finding them-self, and questioning what they want to do with their life.
• This is a really quick read.

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

• This book ventures between what feels like a normal experience and the paranormal.
• The two main characters in this book attempt to find a missing person.  While they knew this person when she was in their lives, it is in investigating her disappearance that they begin to understand her.
• This book kept me turning the pages.  It is a character-driven suspense novel.

The Startup by Doree Shafrir

• This novel takes a sharp look at the start-up culture that has taken much of the business world by storm.
• The names of the businesses in the novel get a bit annoying as they are simply two works smashed together.  However, this is an accurate portray of tech company naming conventions.
• The characters in this novel all feel like they are rooted in flat stereotypes.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fin by Gail Honeyman

• This novel is unexpectedly difficult. It starts out with a nearly whimsical tone.  Then, quickly, it becomes much more.
• At times I found it difficult to continue on with the book as the subject matter is quite dark.
• Overall, the novel embraces a reassuring message.

Theft by Finding by David Sedaris

• I highly suggest the audiobook of this title. It felt like David Sedaris was reading directly to me from his diaries.
• The entries felt like very short stories with Sedaris' wit and humor.
• I'm looking forward to a possible release of his more recent diaries.

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg

• This is a quick read.
• The odd point of view in the novel took me a few chapters to get into.
• This novel at times felt like a stream of consciousness. 

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

• The Identicals follows the lives of identical twins over the course of a few months.
• The novel focuses on how the identicals are very much alike, yet quite different.
• There are some almost soap opera-ish elements of the plot, but somehow the tone of the novel keeps the story grounded.

I'm Your Biggest Fan by Kate Coyne

• This is a fun and quick read written by an entertainment journalist about her experiences in the industry.
• Coyne presents celebrities as real people, which is a refreshing contrast to tabloid headlines.

Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave

• This is a novel that couldn't have been written 20 years ago.  It focuses on the trajectory of a fraudulent YouTube star on the brink of reality TV stardom, and her downfall.
• Dave plays on many common themes such as the fast pace of entertainment news, lifestyle blogger/celebrities, and the misleading representations of these celebrities.
• This was a fun and quick read.

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

• This book looks at how happiness is relative and the advantage that happiness gives those who possess it.
• Achor stresses that money and material things do not make us happy.  Our perspective or approach does.
• This book provided useful guidance for work and at home.

Beautiful Animals by Lawrence Osborne

• At first I feared this would be a generic YA novel.  It isn't.
• This is a suspenseful work of literary fiction.
• I'm glad I picked up this book that is a bit out of my normal comfort zone.

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva

• Oliva combines popular culture's interest in reality TV and post-apocalyptic stories in this novel.
• I honestly didn't expect to like this book, but was really drawn in. 
• You don't have to be a Survivor fan to enjoy this book. 

The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn

• This novel explores how an arrangement for a short-term open marriage plays out.
• The characters seem realistic and relatable.
• The ending isn't as tidy as I expected.

Richistan by Robert Frank

• Published moments before the most recent recession, this books is a snap shot of the rich in a boom time.
• There are two things Frank doesn't take into account: inflation and population growth. Staggering numbers about the increasing number of million and billionaires are presented.  These statistics are not analyzed in regard to monetary inflation or population growth.
• The book combines descriptions of overall trends with stories of specific individuals making a highly-readable and compelling book.

Giant of the Senate by Al Franken

• I highly recommend the audiobook of this.  It is like Al (or in my case Stewart) is telling you a story.
• This is a book that is best suited for those that like or at least don't mind politics.
• After reading this book, I have more respect for Franken as a politician.

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

• I loved the first half of the novel.  For me, it lost steam later on.  Having already invested so much time into the novel I pushed myself to finish it.
• I enjoyed the international travel and cultural interactions in the novel.
• Additionally, the main character is in her first year of college as the novel begins.  I enjoy books about characters just becoming adults, so this was a good pick for me.

The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens

• Lansens weaves a story traveling between present day and the past.
• The narrator is a strong, fallible, and endearing character.
• This novel strongly focuses on character development.

The End of Advertising by Andrew Essex

• Essex explores what the development of advertising-evasion technologies mean for the advertising industry.  Essex mostly focuses on ad-blocking software.  The ability to skip commercials with DVRed television content is also mentioned.
• The book feels like a very long essay obsessed with ad-blocking software.
• All the focus on ad-blocking software effectively delivers Essex to his argument for meaningful and thoughtful advertising (e.g. Citi Bank's Citi Bike program).

How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson

• Johnson explores how inventions and discoveries are interconnected.
• One of the most notable take-aways is that discoveries are rarely independent. He demonstrates how many discoveries are simultaneous with several people making the same discovering at about the same time.
• Until this book I had underestimated the importance of glass in modern society. 

Mexico by Josh Barkan

• A collection of short stories about life in modern Mexico.
• The stories shared common themes, while providing a variety of settings and characters.
• It is a great quick read.

The Heirs by Susan Rieger

• This novel is about family secrets that emerge after the father's death.
• The plot keeps a nice pace that mixes action with character development.