My Year-End Book Recommendations

Just like the book challenge I did in 2013, I was pushing myself to read 40 books this year. Because it's been such a rough year for my family, I only ended up reading 24 of the 40, and many of them were deep and emotional reads involving the subject death (ex. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Night by Elie Weisel, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion). My mentality was sort of, "Well, I am already sad, so I might as well read the sad books and wallow in it." I don't know if that was the smartest strategy for catharsis, but at least I was feeling my emotions of grief instead of masking them.

That being said, I have a few book recommendations. These were my favorite reads this year.

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
I am a big fan of Jhumpa Lahiri. Ever since I read her first short story collection, The Interpreter of Maladies, I have been hooked. The Lowland is probably my second favorite book of hers yet (my favorite being Unaccustomed Earth). It is the story of two close brothers who are of totally different mindsets politically and the different paths that their lives take. When one brother dies, the other returns to the lowland where their family lives to try to pick up the pieces, but it is complicated. This was a very interesting read.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
This book was fun. When Clay goes to work for Mr. Penumbra's bookstore, he is not really sure what he is in for. Open 24-hours, the store is rarely visited, and the patrons who do stop in are often borrowing books instead of buying them. At once mysterious and modern, this book was a page-turner. The parts about Google definitely made me laugh!

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Another fun read! The story of Bernadette is an interesting web you have to unravel through correspondence, as her daughter Bee did, when Bernadette goes missing. From the wacky over-bearing parents at Bee's school to Bee's Microsoft-guru Dad, the characters are highly entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed putting the puzzle together with Bee.

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat
This book was the most random choice for me all year. We were cleaning out a closet at the non-profit where I work and there was a stack of unclaimed books of fiction. I took them home thinking I could sell them at Half-Price books and ended up reading this one. I am so glad that I did! This collection of short stories follows characters of Haitian descent as they deal with their lives in Haiti during the 1960's or in the aftermath of what happened during that time. Dew breaker was a Creole nickname for the torturers under the regimes of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier. Although each story focuses on different characters, there are threads linking them together which are so interesting to unravel.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
 A collection of essays, this book made me laugh out loud. I have to admit that this was the first David Sedaris book that I had ever read, but I definitely will seek him out again. My favorite essay is the last one where he details traveling to Tokyo to quit smoking, and discovers several safety pamphlets in his hotel, including one with steps to take "When You Are Engulfed in Flames." A very funny, very interesting group of essays.

Book Recommendations: Fiction

Summer may be winding down, but I am hoping to continue my Summer reading into the Fall and Winter! I am pushing myself to read 40 books in 2013. I'm up to 25 so far, so I am hopeful to stay on track and meet my goal.

I am fortunate to be surrounded by lots of readers who are always sharing books with me. I think my Mom is really the one who instilled that love of reading in me. One of my favorite family excursions as a kid was going to the Library with her and my brothers. I even still have my very first library card from 1st grade, faded and cracked, but so special because it has my signature from when I was six years old!

Reading is something that I love to do every day. It is the perfect way for me to relax and unwind so it is a night time routine for me!

Recently I've read some really good books, so I thought I would share my recommendations. Of course I would like to hear your recommendations too!

Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James Written by an author raised in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, this book was one of my Summer favorites. It is the story of two sisters from India, and what happens to them when one goes to live in the United States. I was so impressed by this novel which is Tania James' first. James has such a knack for storytelling, at one point mesmerizing me just by describing the handcrafted wedding invitation made by one of the characters. I am so thankful to the co-worker who lent it to me to read!
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente You may have noticed that I like stories with strong female characters, and this is definitely one of those books. Written for a young adult audience, this book tells the story of September, a little girl whisked away from her boring life in Nebraska to a magical place called Fairyland. Only, Fairyland is not as happy as it may seem, so September sets out to help, making many friends along the way.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai I learned about this book from a magazine and added it to my long list of "to-reads." I casually looked for it at the local library and once I saw the cover, I had to pick it up. I know that you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but how could you not? The artwork is amazing! Inside Out and Back Again is the story of one Vietnamese family's journey to the United States to escape the Vietnam War. Told through poems, Lai's book was at times heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching. I am always fascinated by stories told from different perspectives (like what it means to be an outsider) and this was one of those stories that was achingly beautiful. I really recommend picking up this book.

Don't forget to share your current reads and recommendations with me by commenting on this post!

Book Look: Crafty Chloe

One of the things I have noticed, which I think is pretty cool, is a new wave of kid's books involved crafts, art, and making stuff. As a kid, I loved being crafty and I loved to read. Of course I always checked out craft instruction books, but craft story books would've been fun too!


That's why I like "Crafty Chloe." I discovered this book on a recent library trip. My nephew is learning to read, so I thought this would be a fun book. Turns out that I really like it too!


The book follows Chloe, a crafty girl hoping to make a birthday present for her best friend. I love the illustrations, which are by Heather Ross, an amazing fabric designer. The book is written by Kelly DiPucchio, who coincidentally wrote one of my nephew's favorite books: "Zombie in Love."


We were also excited to learn that this book will be a series and another Crafty Chloe book is due out this August. How exciting!

Are there any books you or your kiddos are really into lately? I will share some of my own reads later. In the meantime, my nephew and I recommend this read!