Books

My reads lately

Well, I am glad to report that I’m definitely ahead of schedule when it comes to reaching my yearly book reading goal. I decided to condense books 8 and 9 of the year into one post. They were both quick and easy reads…but I am excited to get on to book 10 – I just got my hands on a copy of Revenge Wears Prada, and I’m excited to see how it holds up in comparison to the first book!

Pioneer Woman book

I finally got around to reading The Pioneer Woman’s Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I shamefully admit: I purchased the book when it was first released, but it sat on my shelf. I don’t know why; I wanted to read it. I know there are a lot of people who have critiqued the book a little negatively…but I honestly enjoyed it. If you aren’t familiar with Ree’s blog, I totally understand how it would be hard to grasp her writing style. The writing IS different: it does read kind of like a blog (and well…that is how the book started forming, so it totally makes sense in my head at least), but I didn’t find that distracting. I really enjoyed reading about how she met and fell in love with Marlboro Man. It was a fun read, and definitely reminded me at times about how Justin and I met/formed our relationship. I also thought it was very cute (and appropriate) that Ree included recipes in the back of the book – they are ones she mentions cooking during the course of her story…fun!

Beautiful Chaos

Y’all, I am still soldiering on with the Caster Chronicles series. I hate leaving things undone, so I feel an obligation to finish the 4 books to know the ending to the story. I finished book #3 – Beautiful Chaos, and am glad there is only one book left to complete. I feel like this book was kind of a place marker…it was the filler portion that elaborated on details but was (hopefully) just building up to what will be the final installment of the series. I have no idea at this point, since I need to read the 4th book. And I will…somewhat begrudgingly. I enjoyed the first book, but the 2nd and 3rd have kind of started putting me to sleep. Oh well, you can’t win them all!

Do you feel an obligation to finish a book or book series once you start it? What have YOU read lately?

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  • I’ve been reading tons this summer! I felt an obligation to finish the Giver series, even though, The Giver is far and away the best book of the whole series. If I find myself not enjoying a single book, though, I will drop it and never look back. It’s not worth my time when I have so many other books waiting to be read!

    • Is it bad to admit that I had NO IDEA the Giver was a series of books?!?!?! I feel kind of silly!

      I have managed to give up on books in the past if I’m not into them, but I have a hard time with the “young adult” type books since they’re such easy reads. Since it only takes me a few hours to finish a book, I find it harder to give up. Now…you can never force me to finish reading Love in the Time of Cholera – I tried reading that book about 5 times and I gave up. Rented the movie version just to see what happens…and I fell asleep. Sheesh!

  • I’m like Ayesha, if I don’t like a book, I’ll stop reading it even if it’s part of a series. Life is too short to waste on mediocre books!

    • You’ve got a point! I have put down a good share of books in the past (cough cough Love in the Time of Cholera cough cough), but for some reason with this series I have a hard time stopping knowing that I’m almost done. Well, that and the fact that I can read one of the books in an afternoon since it’s a YA book and the writing is pretty fluffy! 😉

    • Oh good – I’m glad to hear that perhaps it will get better when it wraps up at the end! I’ll soldier on to complete the series I’m sure!

  • I always have to finish what I start. I somehow convince myself that the book will eventually turn around and be fantastic! (Usually not the case.) I read Life of Pi this summer and loved it. Kelly Oxford’s book made me laugh out loud throughout. Mitch Albom’s The Time Keeper was short and poignant. I can also recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Imperfectionists.

  • I finished Revenge Wears Prada a few weeks ago…I personally didn’t like it much, but I’ll look forward to hearing your review!

    • Ah darn! I’m about halfway through right now and so far it’s ok (I think I enjoyed the first book more at this point). A good book for summer…and right now I’m kind of enjoying imagining the actors from the first movie playing out in a movie version of this one. I’ll wait until I finish the rest before ultimately judging it though!

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