Wednesday, September 27, 2017

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.

Monday, September 25, 2017

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.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

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.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

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.

Friday, September 1, 2017

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.