5.03.2013

Good Reads - April


State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

This was borrowed from my own personal librarian, Amber.  She read it and liked it and I needed a book for our trip.  Unfortunately, vacationing with two small children didn't leave a lot of free time for poolside reading.  I ended up reading most of it when we got back and I thought it was a good story.  This one is about a a pharmaceutical company that is developing a fertility drug in the Amazon.  There's a story with some good characters going on in the background, but the general theme is just because something is possible doesn't mean we should do it.  My only complaint about the book is that the chapters are super long and I have a hard time putting a book down in the middle of one so it led to some late nights.


This is a book written by a mom that pulls her daughter out of public school and home schools.  It is hilariously true to real life which is refreshing after reading a million homeschool books where the moms seem to have it all together.  She tries pretty much every method and writes about her inadequacies, her daughter being smarter than she is, and the bliss that comes from realizing grocery shopping can count as school.  The last chapter was my favorite.  She talks a lot about the current state of US schools and where she thinks it's headed in the future.  I'm in the same boat with Quinn in thinking that it will be a mix between traditional schooling and homeschooling.  I loved it and recommend it to anyone who is homeschooling and can laugh at themselves.


Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Melton

Y'all.  This book.  It ruined me in the best way.  Glennon shares her story is such a real way.  She calls us forward to keep moving, keep trying, keep breathing.  To let go.  To forgive others and ourselves constantly.  I was hooked from the prologue.  Her story was so close to mine, it was alarming.  I've shared here before that I am a former meth addict who dabbled in a little bit of everything before my parents literally sent me away to save me.  I was high functioning and most people didn't have a clue the kind of life I was living.  Like Glennon says, "sometimes people that need help look a lot like people who don't need help."  She writes about life after sobering up and how hard it was, but more than that, how much life there was.  She spoke my heart sharing how much each day can be savored.  I feel that way everyday and know that it comes across as hokey and not real, but it think it's just a result of nearly losing it all.  The book isn't just about overcoming addictions.  It's about being real and letting other people be real.  I wish I could recommend this book enough, but I can't so just read it.


The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

This is our May pick for book club.  After reading the Amazon reviews I didn't think I'd like it, but I did.  I think I'd call it a love story.  It's about a man that grew up in Burma and during childhood becomes blind.  He faces a lot of hardships, but than he meets a girl that can't walk and they form a bond that helps both of them overcome their handicaps.  Without giving too much away, they are separated and live separate lives for 50 years and then he goes back to find her.  It was a really easy read with short chapters.  I think the discussion will be good at our meeting too so that's always fun.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I love me some new book recommendations :-) thanks for sharing!

Km said...

Thank you so much for sharing these... Espically Carry on Warrior! I so need to read that one!!