Perhaps I was a bit ambitious in my reading challenge this year, setting the goal of 40. I only read around 20 instead. But to be honest, I had a lot going on. In case I haven’t mentioned it a dozen or so times, I wrote a book that came out in October.
So much of my time and energy was put into that. But I did have time to read a few books on trips to Peru and Canada. I purchased a lot of books from Goodreads deals and BookBub and tried to branch out in terms of the type of books I was reading.
If you want to keep up with what else I’m reading, or what’s on my to-read list, be sure to follow me on Goodreads. Also, note that some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links, but will not cost you anything extra.
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Comics and Graphic Novels
March: Book Two and March: Book Three, John Lewis
If you only read one graphic novel in your lifetime, make it the March series. Not only is the artwork fantastic, but it’s a unique way to read about the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of Representative (and all around icon) John Lewis. These events are as relevant today as ever.
The Walking Dead Vol. 29: The Lines We Cross and Vol. 30: New World Order, Robert Kirkman
I finally caught up with the comics and pre-ordered the latest one that I received in November. A lot of interesting things are happening to our favorite zombie apocalypse survivors that I hope to see play out on the show.
Preacher Vol. 1: Gone to Texas and Vol. 2: Until the End of the World, Garth Ennis
After hearing about the production of the AMC show on an Armchair Expert interview with Seth Rogen, I gave the comic series a go. I actually loved it and read two compilations that were available at my local library. It’s definitely out there and, at times, graphic, but a fun read.
Memoirs and Non-Fiction
Troublemaker, Leah Remini
I never really put that much thought into Leah Remini’s career until she left Scientology. I didn’t watch King of Queens, but my first read of this year was a behind the scenes look at her upbringing in New York, her life in the cult, and her life since getting out of it. She writes in the way that she talks, which can sometimes be hard to follow, but if you pick one Scientology memoir to read, this is a solid one.
How to Murder Your Life, Cat Marnell
There are no words to describe how much I hated this book. It was an impulse buy on BookBub and I had no background information on Marnell before reading it. It seems that a lot of people in the New York City publishing and party scenes hate-read it to learn more about her public meltdown.
She doesn’t write well and there were a lot of extraneous details that an editor should have taken out, including name drops. She’s still not sober, so it wasn’t very satisfying. I was hoping for something more like Blackout.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou
I don’t know why it took me so long to read this book. Maybe because it wasn’t assigned in school? This memoir of a young black girl’s life in the South is hard to read at many times, especially with themes of sexual assault. But I think it’s an important one.
The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy
I absolutely loved this memoir and tore through it in a matter of days. Levy’s life is so different from mine, but I felt like there was a lot to relate to. In a matter of months, she goes through multiple traumatic events, including one while traveling for work. She writes about them with a unique dark wit that I adored.
Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham
I’m a longtime fan of Gilmore Girls, especially Lauren Graham. Fans will be glad to know she is as quick-witted as her characters. This fun read had some behind the scenes details of her time on the show as well as other projects. I was interested in her unique upbringing as she lived with her dad and spent time all over the world.
Ultimate Journeys for Two, Mike and Anne Howard
My friends Mike and Anne wrote this book for National Geographic last year about the ultimate honeymoon and romantic destinations around the world. They also include activities for all types of budgets, travel styles, and landscapes with interviews from fellow traveling
This Will Only Hurt a Little, Busy Philipps
People know Busy Philipps for her smaller roles on big shows, but she’s been in Hollywood since she was in her twenties. I liked learning more about the background of her acting career (she spills some tea!) and the trauma she’s been through that makes her a stronger person today.
Novels
The Good Girl, Mary Kubica
My mom bought this paperback on a trip and passed it onto me. There are a lot of books that fall into the wannabe “Gone Girl” category and this felt like one of them. It was pretty long and I didn’t care for the ending. It was a twist, but not enough to satisfy me.
The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Now a movie, this book is a modern day look at police violence through the eyes of a teenager whose friend dies. Protests turn into riots as she must decide what to do next. The novel is well written and has all the makings of a classic.
Atonement, Ian McEwan
I started reading this book a few years ago but gave up before picking it back up. The beginning is a bit tedious, especially the section written from the perspective of Briony, but the section during the war gets more interesting. Fair warning that much of the book is based around an assault, so it might not be for everyone.
The Girls, Emma Cline
I heard mixed reviews about this book, but I picked it up because of my fascination with the Manson Family. It’s a fictionalized account with a girl who is dealing with divorced parents but befriends an older girl and is invited into their group. The events mirror closely with the real-life ones, but I found the end to be a bit anticlimactic.
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
I received this book as a gift around the time the movie came out. The novella features a girl who works at the glove department of a high-end department store and is dating two different men in Los Angeles. It had surprisingly good character development for such a short book.
Plays and Poetry
The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler
This was another one that I couldn’t believe I had never read, or seen a production of. I think the stories of female experiences from around the world are as poignant now as ever, especially due to #metoo and the national reckoning.
Milk and Honey, Rupi Kaur
I’m not a big poetry fan, but I read this highly praised collection in a matter of hours on my flight to Peru. A lot of the sections resonated with me enough that I would read her other works.
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