Books Lately // Literary Ladies Final Summer Linkup

August just FLEW by! Wow, and we are halfway through September!

So far I have been doing a lot of bridal show prep for September, so I didn't have as much time for reading, but I did manage to finish the literary ladies summer reading challenge! Whoop whoop! Thanks for breaking me out of my reading rut girls!

Here's what I read since my last post:

1) Elixir by Hilary Duff

I had originally put Hilary Duff's book True on my list under the celebrity category. I realized after discussing in comments that I really needed to re-read the first two books in the trilogy first. So I re-read Elixir, and purchased the other two books used to read soon. :) Elixir follows Clea a 17 year old, travel photographer / politician's daughter. She comes home from a trip and begins to edit her photos realizing that a mysterious man is in EVERY picture that she took. She looks back through older pictures and he is in those as well. She then starts having extremely realistic dreams about this guy, and in each one she is a different woman. Each dream takes place in a different time period / place as well. From 1920's Chicago to Renaissance Italy. Clea then vows to figure out exactly what is going on, and who this guy is. It's an interesting story, and it ends on a cliffhanger. I remember enjoying the second one as well, so I am excited to read it again and finally finish the series. This is by no means great literature, but I really like this book. It combines travel with the YA fantasy/romance genre. That's pretty spot on for me.

2) Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

I have seen this book all over pinterest, and now goodreads (beyond obsessed!) for quite a while.... but once I started hearing what people thought of it I knew I needed to read it soon! I got it on e-reader library loan, and I read it in just two evenings. I could not put it down! The story takes place in regency England (Jane Austen time period) and centers around Marianne, a young woman who's mother has recently died, and consequently her father has gone to France. Marianne is stuck in Bath with her grandmother and tiresome suitors (the description on this guy... visible cringing and squirming on my part!), while her older twin sister is in London being introduced into society. She gets and invitation to visit her sister and her friends at an estate in the country. Marianne gladly accepts, and her grandmother vows to give her her inheritance, provided she can become a proper young lady during her visit. On the carriage ride over, a terrifying encounter has them stopping at an inn where Marianne meets a mysterious and arrogant man. Though he may not be as arrogant as he seems... and interesting mix of Mr. Darcy & Mr. Wickham. I'm not Austen obsessed, I love them, but I haven't really read any other regency set pieces... but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Go get it, now! :)

3) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help has been out, and popular, for quite a few years now. I finally picked it up at a thrift store this year. I figured if I was going to read something about Kickass Females, this would be a great one right? Well, it is. I love historical fiction, and I LOVE this book! It follows two African American maids, and one young wealthy white woman during the 1960's in Mississippi. It is written from the perspective of each of the three, and follows them as the two tell their stories about being maids in white households and the other records, edits, and sends the stories away in hopes of publishing them, and sparking change. For some reason, I especially love reading books that take place during the civil rights movement. This one was no different, and it really opened my eyes to how the relations were, especially in the upper class South at that time. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about American history a little more, or to anyone who enjoys a well spun piece of historical based fiction. This book is really wonderful, it left me feeling both wrecked and hopeful. That's talent.

4) The Selection by Kiera Cass

 I have heard the premise of this series described as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor. I have to say after reading the first book that's pretty accurate, but certainly more The Bachelor. :) I half wondered ahead of time if they were meant to battle to the death over the prince. Baha, not so much. This book was really easy to read, fluffy... if you will. But, I read it in less than 7 hours... so it's plenty intriguing. I'm excited to finish the trilogy, and also to read The Heir... because... I do want to know what is going to happen. Sorta spoiler below... 

Was anybody else like, "OH NO HE DIDN'T!!" when Maxon stationed Aspen outside of her room?! Gah.

5) The Elite by Kiera Cass

Well, after reading the first book in a day, I had to go buy the other two. I stayed up later the next night and finished the Elite... #cantstopwontstop Ok, so the second installment is a lot more twisty-turny, which is good. The first, while entertaining, was fairly predictable. Now I'm wondering how things will end up, and what else will happen that I don't expect. Not getting enough sleep though, so we'll see about reading The One... in one day... haha

6) The One by Kiera Cass

So... I definitely started this book the day after I finished The Elite... and I successfully did not stay up all night finishing it. That said, I did read a lot of it, and I still stayed up pretty late.... BUT sleep is good. :) I finished this the next weekend. I have to say that this one definitely focused a lot more on the dystopian society than the other two. Less fluff for sure. Maxon and America were driving me bonkers though, it's just like, "SAY WHAT YOU ACTUALLY FEEL!" - I kinda hate that. KC and I are unusually good communicators, so it's probably a personal issue. baha As I continued to read, in the rising action, I was so over them acting like children. I get it, it makes it more dramatic for readers, but they were a hot mess. Interesting series, will probably read the next one at some point.

(COMPLETED!) Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge:

I manged to finish the challenge! I shifted some things around, re-read one, and changed a lot of them, so here we go!

1. A YA book (mandatory!) - check
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

2. Non US Author  (mandatory!) - check
The Witch's Daughter - Paula Brackston  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

3. A book that was recommended by a blogger  (mandatory!) -check

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - recommended by Kristen!   The Selection by Kiera Cass, recommended by everyone.

4. A book that has been on your TBR list for a year or more - check
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett 

5. A book with a kickass female character - check
Etta - Gerald Kolpan  The Help by Kathryn Stockett    

6. A book that is or will be a movie (or TV show) - check
Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter

7. A book written by a comedian or celebrity – or even a memoir if neither of those are your jam. - check
True - Hilary Duff - I loved the other two. :)  Elixir by Hilary Duff - I had to re-read so I could finish the series!

8. A book with a one word title. - check
Son - Lois Lowery  Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

9. A suspenseful book – a mystery, a thriller, a book about revenge! - check
The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins  Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

10. A book about Summer, with Summer in the title, or in any way related to Summer because this is a Summer challenge! -check 
Summer - Edith Wharton  Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen - My initial pick was too short!

Currently Reading:

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - for Plucky's bookclub! I am determined to participate in the discussion this time! :)

Have you guys read any of these books?

Did you participate in the Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge? Did you finish?

Did you read The Selection Series? What did you think?

I just want to give a big, huge, thank you to Kristen, Kari, and Kay. Without this reading challenge, I would still be stuck in a non-reading, less engaged, life rut. Seriously, this was MUCH needed. :) :)

XO,

Alexandra

August Reads // Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge

August has been an amazing month so far. I'm not working over-time. We don't have any big plans. It's just been about organizing ourselves and taking it easy. HOORAY! :) 

That being said, I also haven't been on any planes recently. So, so far in August I have only completed 3 books.

1) Breakfast at Tiffany's + 3 Short Stories - Truman Capote 

Most of you have probably seen this movie, I took the chance to read it during the end of our Florida trip and our first week back home. Capote has a talent for description. He makes these quirky characters seem so real and vibrant. I enjoyed the fact that the book was different than the movie. I liked the additional characters. I did like that some of my favorite parts of the movie were in the book as well. But overall, Holly Golightly's character is much less delightful, and a lot more certifiable in the book. You can see that her intentions (wanting to marry rich and live a big life) are much less a whim than they seem in the movie. She's pretty calculated, and unstable in the book. It was very interesting, but had me feeling less attached to her character and the writer's fascination with her. And I don't even want to talk about Cat.

On the other hand, I really liked the three short stories that followed the novel. They were called A Diamond Guitar, House of Flowers, and A Christmas Memory. They were all really good. And I think I liked them overall better than Breakfast at Tiffany's. 

A Diamond Guitar is about a group of men in prison, and a recently arrested young man who changes group dynamic. He is very young and reminds the older prisoners of what they cannot have. Bonds form between the prisoners, and it's kind of a sad story, of what could have been.

House of Flowers was about a young girl who lives in a brothel in the Caribbean. It has a folk tale element to it, a kind of magic, which I loved. She runs away to marry a young man she meets. Conflict arises when her husband's grandmother decides to play tricks on her. On goodreads it seems that many people were disappointed in the ending. I wasn't. I should also mention that the description of the settings especially are really lovely. If you like pretty setting description and short stories I would recommend this one.

A Christmas Memory was the longest short story I read, and it was my favorite. It is about a young boy and his "friend," an elderly cousin. Every year the two have a tradition of making fruit cakes for their friends and family, but they don't have any money. It's a lovely story of friendship, resourcefulness, and quirky characters. As the story progresses you notice that something is off, and then it becomes somewhat sad. But I loved the story, and I loved the characters. I would highly recommend this one!!

After reading these stories, I have a new love of Capote's writing. He is so observant, paints some amazing characters. I can't wait to read more of his work!

2) Lost Lake - Sarah Addison Allen

I love Sarah Addison Allen's books, they are filled with subtle every day touches of magic and rich characters. I found this one at Barnes & Noble for $6 during the summer clearance, so I jumped at the chance to buy it. It follows Kate, a recently widowed young woman, and her daughter Devin as they struggle to find their new normal. It begins with Devin discovering a post card from Kate's aunt Eby, from a place called Lost Lake in Suley, GA. Kate had never been given the post card, and takes Devin to Lost Lake to re-live and remember her favorite childhood summer. The characters in this book are great, I especially loved the older guests at the lake. It made me want to own vacation property.... but overall this wasn't my favorite of Addison Allen's books. Perhaps because there were flashbacks and a focus on Devin that they were a little different than her others that I read. That being said, I would still give this one 4 stars. I would recommend it!

3) The Rosie Project - Graeme Simison 

This one has been really popular recently, and shockingly another book I found for $6 in the clearance section at Barnes and Noble. I started reading, and immediately fell in love with the Don Tillman and the way the story is told. It is quick, it's fun, it's hilarious. Picture Don as a mix between Sheldon Cooper, Hector (from Hector and the Search for Happiness), and Harold Crick (Will Farrell's character in Stranger than Fiction). He is an extremely calculated and intelligent geneticist. He decides that having a life partner would be beneficial, but he knows he isn't interested in smokers or picky ice cream eaters, so he devises a very logical questionnaire to rule out the undesirables, thus calling it "The Wife Project." Along the way he meets Rosie, a woman who is not at all his desirable life partner, but she does need help finding her real father. Being geneticist, Don offers to help and his world is turned upside down. I told KC how good this was. He read it in less than 24 hours. Might I just say, this man is not a huge reader (normally). He has however, read 5 books this summer. :) He loved this one. Highly recommend! 

4) Well-Read Women - Samantha Hahn

This book is an artsy, coffee table type book, and I loved it. It features illustrated pictures of literary leading ladies like Jane Eyre and Anna Karenina, next to beautiful quotes from the novels. I love this book, I picked it up in Florida, because I've wanted it forever. Being and art and lit lover its a great little treasure. This doesn't count for the summer challenge or anything, but it's lovely. I would recommend it just for fun, or to treasure on your coffee table forever. :) 

Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge Update: 6/10 (Hector and Tiffany's are too short!) - and I have clearly switched some of my books around.... Only 4 left! :) 

Summer Total: 9 books(!) 
Year Total: 11 books(!)

Current Read:

The Rosie Effect - Graeme Simison 

The sequel to The Rosie Project. So far it's delightful, but I have found myself working on other projects, so I haven't had as much time for reading this week.

I have put holds on The Selection Series by Kiera Cass and Paper Towns by John Green, but I am 6th on the list for both.

Check out my July Reads too!

What have you been reading lately?!?!

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Also: I am super pumped about this!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

XO,

Alexandra

I READ SOME BOOKS! // July Reads // Saint Anything Discussion

Planes are the best for reading. For me anyway. Anybody else?

I feel like I can't do anything else while I am on the plane... so why not continue reading? Blissfully undisturbed.

Here is what I read in July:

1) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A children's classic, but one I had never read. I thought it was funny how the author describes Mary, the main character. She is depicted as ugly and unhappy. It makes sense as you go, and I loved reading about the transformation of her character. Even though I had seen the movie a lot as a kid, I really enjoyed reading this. Hoping to read, A Little Princess someday soon.

2) Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I downloaded this from an online library, and it was great. I just tore through it. It's about two young magicians who are involved in a competition. I can't say much more, as I think the mystery is a big part of reading it and enjoying it. :) Also, don't think circus-y circus. It's more of a magical take. Though I would have liked a little more background on all of the magical details, I would definitely recommend it if you like YA/fantasy! - KC started reading this when I was done, and could barely put it down. He would stay up super late trying to get further into it each night. I have since recommended it to at least 5 other people!

3) Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

This is the Literary Ladies book club book. I downloaded it from the online library right after I finished Night Circus. I read most of it on our 9 hour flight from AK to TX. It is about a girl who's older brother is sent to jail. In the aftermath of what has happened she has to find out who she is on her own. This one was a little bit dramatic for me, but not too bad. I thought it was good, and a relatively quick read. I do think the phrase "took a beat" ("a beat later" "after a beat") etc. were extremely over used considering it was written from a teenager's POV. Thoughts on this phrase? What did you think Literary Ladies book club folks?

4) Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

A bestseller that has been taunting me from bookstores for a while. I bought this in February and finally had a chance to read it. It is the type of book that is written where each chapter is from a certain story line, think Love Actually. There are about 5 or 6 main pieces that fit together at the end of the book. As you read it, unless you have a lot of time each sitting, it can feel a little disjointed. The first few chapters move back and forth between the same few plots and then you are reading a chapter from a WWII memoir, then a pitch for a movie about The Donner Party. Those chapters are pretty long, so it can seem a little strange! The book follows a young Italian hotel owner, a sick Hollywood actress, an assistant in Hollywood, a recently divorced writer, and a struggling musician. The plot shifts from location to location, from the 1960's to the present, and a few places in between. Overall I liked how things came together at the end, I felt like I had a good understanding of the different characters' lives, and I was pretty attached to the story line. It was however, a little too bleak for me. Let's just say the emphasis was on "Ruins". There isn't a rose colored lens, and I suppose in ways that is really good. It makes you think. But sometimes, especially during a busy, emotional summer, it was digging into some things I would have liked to ignore. In the end the focus was more about how those struggles shape you and effect you, rather than moving on from them. Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

5) Hector and The Search for Happiness by François Lelord

This book is from Plucky's book club Plucky Reads. It is very short, and written in a very simple way. I kind of loved it. Especially after Beautiful Ruins - for both the simplicity and the outlook. It follows a psychiatrist named Hector, who is treating many patients who are unhappy, but do not know why. So he travels around the world in search of happiness. He meets many interesting people along the way and compiles a list of what happiness is and is not. It was easy to read, and fun. I appreciated how even in difficult situations the book was not depressing. It was more focused on the big picture, on gratefulness in struggle, and moving toward happiness. Again, something that I found lacking in Beautiful Ruins. This has also been made into a movie, and I can't wait to watch it. :)

Currently Reading: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

So far I am really enjoying Capote's writing style. It written from the very observant writer's eye. Giving fun details about even the smallest characters in passing. It is certainly less "Hollywood" than the book, but I'm loving it just the same. It isn't broken up into chapters, which I think is causing me to slow my reading a little bit. Still, it is short, and quick to comprehend. So I imagine I will be finishing it up here soon.

Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge Update: 4/10 (Hector and Tiffany's are too short!) - and I have clearly switched some of my books around....

Wanna Join? It's not too late. Do that here.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

What have you been reading lately?!?

XO,

Alexandra