The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver: I began this book before last semester ended for a book club we started at work (the book club didn't work out). I wasn't reading much during last semester (because my workload got crazy), but once my classes were over, I flew through this novel. What I found most interesting was the way it was written. Each chapter was in the perspective of each of four daughters of a southern Baptist family relocated to Africa to become missionaries in a small village. Their mother has a few chapters, as well, although they are fewer of them throughout the book. Kingsolver gave each character such different, interesting personalities that (after you met each of them) you were able to recognize who the chapter was by just by the way they were speaking. The book takes you through their time adjusting to life in the Congo and how they grow up into adulthood and take surprisingly different turns. You even get an accurate history of the Belgian Congo moving out of colonial rule under Belgium and gaining their independence.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach: Previously, I read one of Mary Roach's other books, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, which was a wonderful read. I highly recommend it. In Bonk, Roach discusses the history of studying sex, which is really interesting. She also talks about the science of orgasms and sex in general. I thought it was a pretty good book, but it was slow at times and I was expecting a bit more from it (maybe because Stiff was so freaking good).
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver: Another book by Barbara Kingsolver! This book is nonfiction, unlike her other books. This tells the story of her family's year long venture to eat foods either grown by them or purchased from neighboring farmers they knew personally. Although, it was difficult to be completely successful (making your own pasta is pretty intense and certain herbs had to be purchased from far away locations), they did a pretty amazing job. It was wonderful to read about growing your own foods (especially after my sad first attempt at a garden. At the time of reading this, it was doing better). I learned a lot about what is actually in season at the grocery store and what has been shipped in from halfway around the world. The book is also peppered with informative essays by her husband and older daughter. I think this work offers a lot of great lessons about our food industry without the usual pushy hippy dippy stuff that turns most people off.
Preacher by Garth Ennis (illustrated by Steve Dillon): Okay, this one isn't a novel. It's a graphic novel comic book series. Josh and I started reading this series right after high school and we never got ahold of the last three or four books and never actually finished it. Not long ago, Josh made a trade of some Magic cards to a friend for a huge stack of graphic novels (including the entire Preacher series). So, Josh and I started from the beginning and read the entire series this time. What a great read! It is arguably the best comic book series ever. Jesse Custer is a preacher in Texas and, one day, a spirit with the power of God enters his body. Along with his gun toting girlfriend and an Irish vampire, they set out to find God (who has left Heaven) and get an explanation as to why he bailed on everyone. I know, it sound pretty crazy, and it is. But, it is really a wonderful story, I would highly recommend it.
Bossypants by Tina Fey: Let me begin with, I love Tina Fey! I think she is absolutely hilarious and I could not wait to read her book. Finally, I found it at Half Price Books (because I refuse to pay full price for anything other than essentials) and purchased it immediately. She talks a lot about her personal life and being a mom, which I found really awesome. She also talks about being a boss (hence, the title of the book) and her journey to the top. There is a great section on posing for pictures I found especially funny. You really can't go wrong with Tina Fey.
Normal Gets You Nowhere by Kelly Cutrone: Ever since watching The City, I've always thought Kelly Cutrone was the most awesome bitch I'd ever seen. When I found her book (which I didn't know existed and, after looking online, I've since learned she has another book) at Half Price Books, I had to have it. This book is awesome! She is a no holds barred, tell it like it is woman. It was refreshing to read a book telling you to stop being stupid and get your shit together! She talks about everything from sex to coping with people close to you dying. She also talks about being a mom (I had no idea she had a child). Surprisingly, she seems like a really good mother. Her section about talking to your kids about sex was especially great. It seems like so many parents are afraid to talk about sex because it's somehow inappropriate, then they're floored when their daughter gets pregnant or their son gets someone else's daughter knocked up. Also, she never wears makeup, definitely my kind of role model.
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard: What an incredible story. Jaycee Dugard went through hell and is back to tell her story. She was kidnapped and kept captive for 18 years while being sexually abused and mentally manipulated. She had two daughters during her time in captivity (her first at age 14). Although her story is incredibly sad, I found comfort in her ability to share her experience and move on with a new, wonderful life with her daughters and mother. Throughout the book, she has sections called "reflections" where she talks about how she feels now and how she has worked through things that happened to her. Her story makes you realize people can overcome almost anything with love and hope.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides: This is the story about a man, born a girl. He is a hermaphrodite with a rare chromosome condition carried down from his grandmother and grandfather who happened to be brother and sister. This novel is unlike any I've read before. Although, the story progresses slowly from the late beginning through the middle, it really picks up when the main character, Callie, starts showing male traits and has to figure out how to deal with the changes. It was an interesting story and gives the reader a view into a subject I think few people have advanced knowledge of.
Did you read any great books over the summer I need to check out?
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