I've always envisioned doing a little write up of the books I read over the course of the year and never get to it. This is the year! It won't be detailed... I have no patience for writing summaries of books when you can get that anywhere on the internet...just my main thoughts on the book and how many stars I give it. A word about my personal rating system;
1 star means I DID NOT like the book AT ALL and didn't even finish. Do NOT recommend
2 stars means I finished it...but NOT a fan. Don't recommend
3 stars means it was FINE. I don't necessarily recommend but if someone wants to read it I wouldn't tell them not to.
4 stars means I REALLY REALLY liked it. Totally recommend it. Would read again.
5 stars means I LOVED IT. Life changing. It changes the way I see the world or think about life. It's that good. Totally recommend.
I set a goal to read 36 books this year and finished book #36 with 5 hours to spare. Luckily we had a long drive home from our ski trip to Big Sky Montana.
Here are the books from 2024 in the order (ish) I read them.
- The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt: *** Some of my kids had read and really liked this book but for me it was just fine. I kept waiting to fall in love with it but never did. 3 stars
- True Grit by Charles Portis**** I love both versions of the movie and so it was no surprise I loved the book just as much. I'm a sucker for a plucky young woman protagonist who is strong willed and determined and this fit the bill. Also love Rooster and the Texan. 4 stars
- I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella** I keep trying modern romcom books and this one made me think I should stop trying. Lame...unrealistic 2 stars
- Life in 5 Senses by Gretchen Rubin*** Love the idea of paying better attention to life through your senses...but didn't think it warranted an entire book. 3 stars
- birdie & Harlow by Taylor Wolfe**** Loved this book. It actually made my laugh out loud and made me cry real tears. TOTALLY recommend. This book was instrumental in getting another dog this year.
- Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri**** YA book about an Iranian immigrant. VERY well written...made me wish I was reading rather than listening. I loved the way it showed how the way we treat each other REALLY matters. 4 stars
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson**** Fun to read a book in prose. Very different from my usual picks and I really liked it. Words and the way authors use them can be so cool and this author nailed it. 4 stars.
- I like me Anyway by Brooke Romney**** I'll admit it wasn't the best written book...but the ideas are FANTASTIC. This is a book I would (and should) reference often to help me get clear in my head on how to deal with life. 4 stars
- Longbourn by Jo Baker**** SO fun to get the downstairs/ behind the scenes of Pride and Predjudice. How had no one thought of this before? Plus the writing was just BEAUTIFUL. I read, not listened to this one and I'm so glad I did...although I heard the narrator's voice is captivating. 4 stars.
- We Should Hang out Sometime by John Sundquist*** I feel like 3 stars is generous but it truly was just...fine. Cool guy with 1 leg reconnects with old girlfriends...or almost girlfriends to see why things didn't work out. It's like a car wreck...you don't really want to see what happened...but you can't look away. 3 stars
- Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann**** This true story about the murder of dozens of Native Americans in the 1920's is MIND BLOWING. Well told and very interesting... a little long in some spots but still fascinating. 4 stars.
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon*** Could have been 4 stars but the ending was way too over the top for me. 18th century midwife going about her work while also trying to get a woman off for a murder she didn't commit...or did she...can't actually remember and delivering babies all the time. By the way her husband is totally cool with doing all the domestic chores on top of his own all they time while she's out midwifing and crime solving...in the 1700's? Not likely. 3 stars
- The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion*** Another rom-com book. I'll never learn. An autistic guy falls in love with a girl...he's quirky...that part is fun...but the rest was just blah blah blah 3 stars.
