WHAT I'VE BEEN READING
My Running Book List...
You may recall that one of my resolutions was to read more books this year. While I've always enjoyed curling up with a cozy blanket and a captivating read, my attention has been with the monotonous tasks of everyday life. Lately, I have been spending a bit less time on social media and managing my days better so that I have more time to read. For me, that typically means indulging in a book during my morning cardio session, which surprisingly, makes cardio go by so much quicker than when I'm watching a YouTube video or listening to music. Okay, I'm vintage.
I've gotten through seven (some reviews are yet to come!) so far and am currently starting a fourth (such a great feeling to have the excitement of a new book). Most of the time, I bask in a vintage bookstore while I browse the non-fiction section, take pictures of the books that appeal to me most, and check them out at the library. While I understand the hype over digital copies, I much prefer the feel of physical, usually worn down pages, and the crisp sound the cover makes when you open the book. And mostly I find that the books that are raved over don't always resonate with me. This brings me to the first book.
So far I've read...
Station Eleven
When the new year came around, I was so excited to start my first book of the year. The setting Station Eleven is a futuristic Earth, much different than we know it today. Cities that we currently know of have very different features and names in the book. It follows a traveling theatre troupe from the Great Lakes region throughout the U.S. who are all fighting for survival after a pandemic wipes out the majority of the population and resources are quickly being depleted. As the book reveals both past and present facts and clues, we learn how certain characters are connected and what specific flashbacks symbolize.
A favorite among many readers, I found it dry and repetitive, which is completely fine, as certain genres and reads suit some people more than others. I personally found Station Eleven to be quite dull as it spun around in circles without many revealing facts or plot twists. I appreciate the futuristic aura it elicits and thought this storyline had so much potential, as it could have spun off in so many eventful directions. I kept reading, eager to discover symbolic meanings and see what might happen, but gleaned little. Granted, it is very unique, well edited and has an interesting storyline, but it lacked plot twists and overall captivity, which made me struggle to finish it.
Megyn Kelly: Settle for More
This book will forever go down as my favorite read of all time. While there has been infamous debates about her career at Fox News and our President, the first three quarters of the book lacks all political stance, which gives it so much body. She opens up about her childhood, law school journey, and career endeavors. I never realized the extent of Megyn's diligence, drive, and power until I read this incredible book. She offers some of the best career and life advice I have ever received. Her will to always settle for more compels me to achieve my life long goals. By means of her writing, I now know that others will only have more than me if I decide to settle for less than they did. Her power will drive you to accomplish incredible things in life. Words cannot describe how gripping and inspirational this book is. Her life-changing words and motivation are not to be missed out on. Trust me. It's on my list to re-read already.
My Saligner Year
My most recent read is My Salinger Year, which I found at the same bookstore where I found Settle for More. As a passionate writer and editor, I found this true story very relatable, as it follows Joanna through her journey as an assistant to a literary agent for the powerful author, J.D. Salinger. The book takes place in Brooklyn and highlights the struggles of young adulthood, such as inadequate finances, broken friendships, and struggling relationships, but also the aspiration to become someone memorable.
Joanna scrapes to pay her way through life, impresses her seemingly impossible-to-please boss, and ultimately breaks away from her socialist boyfriend in a threadbare apartment to spend her life with her former college soulmate. Initially, Joanna spends her days in a standard office cubicle where she uses a dictaphone and typewriter in the pre-digital era, then progresses to her self-discovery as an inspiring poet. Laced with humor and relatable circumstances, this book has becomes yet another inspirational favorite of mine.
The Last Mrs. Parish
This raved about mystery novel has been featured many places, including Reese Witherspoon's Bookclub. It is a gripping, filled with plot twists. I'm usually one for a non-fiction read, usually involving some type of journalism work, but I do enjoy a great mystery novel. While this book was certainly page-turning, I found myself slightly let down by the ending. Although it was filled with rightful payback, I felt as though the ending was a bit too evident throughout the book. Books such as The Girl On The Train or Gone Girl have endings that take a reader by complete surprise, leaving us with our mouths gaping, so I thought that was how this ending might be. Still, a great mystery that was so intriguing and well written.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
A coming of age story like none other - Eleanor Oliphant is a forthright character who lacks social skills due to the scars embedded deep within her. Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and finding oneself. I love how Eleanor,eccentric and regimented, develops in character after an encounter with Raymond, her coworker. Her unfiltered honesty gives this book a humorous twist in the midst of a struggle to find oneself. Very much unlike a typical love story, Eleanor meets Raymond who helps her repair her own damaged heart provoked by her phone calls with her mom. This novel is very heartwarming and eye opening in the sense that it artfully portrays a damaged character who grows by being given love and shown the best life has to offer.
I'm really enjoying reading and having a book to get lost in lately. I'm currently in the middle of The Light We Lost and cannot put it down! It's utterly romantic and gripping in a way that I know the ending is going to be shattering yet profound. Have you read any of these books? What has been your favorite read so far this year?
