Here we are at another weekly recap post…does it feel like we’re just barreling towards Christmas at a crazy speed? I can’t even wrap my brain around Christmas shopping and the New Year (2020, whaaaaaat!?!?)
Speaking of Christmas gifts…head over to my Instagram page and enter to win my free 3-month membership giveaway from Libro.fm! The post you need to find to enter is this one:
That post has all the details you need to enter. I’ll announce the winner on Instagram on November 21, 2019! (As always, you can use my promo code: HAPPIEST to get 3-for-the-price-of-1 on audiobooks. Use this link to sign up!)
What have you been reading (and loving) this week?
Last Week’s Reads:
*** The Body: A Guide for Occupants by: Bill Bryson (Doubleday) – Pub Date: October 15, 2019
My goodness, this book was fascinating. I’m not super into the science or medicine or the human body, but I was so intrigued with this book that I had a hard time putting it down. Bryson goes through all the major systems of our body and gives the most incredible facts. I found myself talking about this book with my kids as I drove them to school in the morning. For a subject that could easily fall in the dry category, Bryson delivers the information in a way that kept me turning the pages!
Sabrina & Corina: Stories by: Kali Fajardo-Anstine (One World) – Pub Date: April 2, 2019
“She said people will find the loveliest part of you and try to make it ugly. “And they will do anything,” she always said, “to own that piece of you.”
I saw this book on many lists for #LatinxHeritageMonth and the cover immediately caught my eye. I requested it from my library and even though it’s not nonfiction, I immediately dove right in. I am always in awe of authors that have the ability to write short stories that convey connection and have a defined goal. These stories were immersive and each time they ended, I wanted more! While story collections can be hard for me, I found that Fajardo-Anstine creates them so well. I wish she mastered the endings a little bit better as I often found myself a little bit confused with some of her conclusions, but overall this was a great read. Also, Colorado is the main setting and reading about local places was an added bonus!
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by: Dani Shapiro (Knopf) – Pub Date: January 15, 2019
I am blown away by this story; I read the whole thing in one sitting! Imagine thinking you’re innocently taking a DNA test only to discover that the man who raised you and you thought was your father wasn’t actually your biological father? This is exactly what happens to Shapiro, and as she navigates this new world – where she feels like a stranger to herself – she takes us along for the journey. I had previously read Shapiro’s work (Hourglass, see my review here) and I didn’t love it, so I was hesitant to pick this one up. I’m sorry I waited because this one is much more cohesive and better told. While I have no experience with anything Shapiro experiences in this book, she made me feel as if I were part of the story. Her writing grabbed me and I am so hopeful for her future with her new family.
🎧 *** Frankly in Love (Frankly in Love, #1) by: David Yoon (Penguin Teen) – Pub Date: September 10, 2019
Frankly in Love started off strong for me, but quickly fizzled as I kept reading. At first, I loved the dialog amongst the characters, but after awhile it just felt cheesy and repetitive. I loved the deeper dive into racism and how Frank and his friends addressed it and acknowledged that their own parents harbored some deep-seated racist attitudes towards others, but it soon felt like it went just kept going on and on and on. I guess I would have done better if the book was just a tad bit shorter (or maybe if I had read it in print instead of listened to the audiobook? Though I did love David Yoon’s narration…audiobooks just get boring to me more quickly than books in print, generally speaking.) And (without spoilers), the buildup to the climax was so huge that I felt pretty disappointed with the final wrap-up. Overall, I just wanted so much more from the story, and it ended up falling flat for me.
Currently Reading:
*** Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by: Jia Tolentino (Random House) – Pub Date: August 6, 2019
Just starting this one and it’s too soon to tell, but I’m nervous I’m getting in over my head. Tolentino is smart and that’s extremely obvious right off the bat! I’m just not sure if I have the awareness to keep up, but I’m going to give it a good try. I’m thinking this may be slower going than I anticipated, but I don’t anticipate giving up!
🎧 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by: J.K. Rowling (Pottermore) – Pub Date: November 20, 2015
I keep hearing that Jim Dale, the narrator of the Harry Potter series, is amazing! I’ve been on the library wait list for ever, so imagine how happy I am that the first book finally became available. There’s also a podcast (Harry Potter and the Sacred Text) that dissects each and every chapter of the Harry Potter series, pulling out themes and having discussions to help the reader dive deeper. I really want to try to to do both…🤞🏼
DNF (aka: Not For Me):
Southern Lady Code by: Helen Ellis (Doubleday) – Pub Date: April 16, 2019
I just wasn’t enjoying this one. The author felt a little pretentious to me and I couldn’t get over it. I DNF’d around 30%.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by: Abbi Waxman (Berkley) – Pub Date: July 9, 2019
This is totally a case of wrong timing for me. I’m just not in the mood for a quirky lead character. I DNF’d around 10%.
Happiest When Reading 
I have heard so many good things about Trick Mirror. Don’t give up because I want to know what you think of it! Also, your review of The Body definitely wants me to check it out. Great post!
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The Bryson book sounds interesting. I received Trick Mirror On Overdrive about 2 weeks ago, but haven’t had the chance to check it out yet.
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