(Taking a quick vacation-recap break to talk about books!)
I got a Kindle Fire for my birthday, not sure if I've mentioned that before, and it's been such a life-changer. Okay, wait, that sounds kind of dramatic, so maybe I should say it's been such a gadget changer? Book-reading changer? Anyway, it's awesome, let's go with that. It's especially perfect for traveling because I packed ten books onto it for my trip and my bag's weight DID NOT CHANGE. I was a little worried the glare would prevent me from reading on the sun-soaked beach, but I bought this pack and they worked great.
So, what books did I read on my Kindle while sitting on the beach? Glad you asked!
(I know, you didn't ask.)
1. In the Woods. This is not a book I'd recommend you read on the beach -- it's a mystery about the murder of a young girl -- but I was reading it when we left home, and I physically can't stop reading one book for another unless I'm done reading the first book for good. (And, this was a book club pick, so I couldn't abandon it.) I really didn't like the beginning, it was just slow slow slow and every other word was an adjective. Hey, I like an adjective as much as the next reader, but you don't have to describe every noun. You really don't.
But, around chapter five I couldn't stop reading. I skipped a beach trip to read in bed and then on the porch and then by the pool. (Okay, so these aren't bad consolation prizes.)
The ending was one of those beautifully haunting endings that I should have hated -- it's not how I wanted the book to end, and I kept willing for the book to turn sharply to the right or left toward those last few pages -- but it felt ... ok, somehow. Then, the more I thought about it, the more it felt like the only way the book could have ended, like the entire book was leading up to that ending.
I'm ridiculously excited about our next book club meeting, to talk about it.
2. Looking for Alaska. I think we all know how much I loved The Fault In Our Stars, so I was excited to read what many have said is John Green's best book. It was good -- a quick, enjoyable read -- but I wanted it to be better. John Green seems to enjoy writing female characters that are beautiful messes, and I can't decide if I love or hate that. I think I like it in theory, but then again what I enjoyed so much about The Fault In Our Stars is that the main character was dealing with a whole helluva lot, but she was also normal. She was smart and unassuming and young and idealistic, but she was refreshingly average.
There was also a twist of sorts that all the characters obliviously ignored while I was like ARE YOU KIDDING, THIS WAS COMING A MILE AWAY, and that annoyed me. (Okay, not that much. My default setting is kind of ALL-CAPSY, you should know.)
I did love the narrator's quirk. He loved finding out famous people's last words, and I kind of loved that.
3. I've Got Your Number. Sometimes, you just need to read something soapy and fluffy and full of cheesy dialogue that you both don't believe for a second but love love love all the same. While the main character could be cluelessly annoying many times throughout, this book was still totally adorable. Enjoyed!
Have you read anything awesome lately?