family life, by akhil sharma (i would never have picked this book up if my book club hadn't chosen it for this month's selection, and i ended up really enjoying it. apparently david sedaris has been talking up this book, which seems like as good an endorsement as you can get. the book is a coming-of-age story of an indian boy who moves to america with his family. it grew on me as i read, and then when i googled the author after finishing the book i learned things that made me appreciate the book even more.)
the longest day, by cornelius ryan (i listened to this audiobook in preparation for my trip to normandy in a week. it was published in the late 1950s, so i was skeptical that it would stand the test of time, but it turns out there's a reason people point to this as the definitive book on the d-day invasion: it is fascinating nonfiction that reads like fiction. the book is split into three parts - the wait, the night (when the paratroopers landed), and the day (of the invasion from the sea). i learned a ton and hope it helps me appreciate seeing the beaches in person.)
the wonder, by emma donoghue (i loved room but this one kind of disappointed. interesting premise...but it wasn't a page turner. skip this one and read room instead.)
seabiscuit: an american legend, by laura hillenbrand (another audiobook - this one i had to check out from the library three separate times to get through it all. the ultimate question one should ask oneself before starting this book: how much do you care about horses? did i learn some fun facts: yes. was i charmed by the meteoric rise of seabiscuit: yes. did i really want to listen to second-by-second accounts of horse races from 70 years ago when i was driving to work: no. this is another one where you should read the author's other bestseller - unbroken - instead.)
the sun is also a star, by nicola yoon (ugh, a third i would put in that same category - i liked everything, everything better than this one, though i read this in three days and was charmed by it. if you like YA fiction you should familiarize yourself with this author!)
seabiscuit: an american legend, by laura hillenbrand (another audiobook - this one i had to check out from the library three separate times to get through it all. the ultimate question one should ask oneself before starting this book: how much do you care about horses? did i learn some fun facts: yes. was i charmed by the meteoric rise of seabiscuit: yes. did i really want to listen to second-by-second accounts of horse races from 70 years ago when i was driving to work: no. this is another one where you should read the author's other bestseller - unbroken - instead.)
the sun is also a star, by nicola yoon (ugh, a third i would put in that same category - i liked everything, everything better than this one, though i read this in three days and was charmed by it. if you like YA fiction you should familiarize yourself with this author!)
