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.