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It’s time for me to share my May reads with Jana and Steph’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup. May was a decent reading month for me in terms of numbers, with seven books read. However, four of the books were only three stars, so not wonderful in terms of quality. I did read three non-fiction books this month which is more than I usually tend to read. Here are my May reads:
3 Stars:
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This book, told in interview style, describes the building and demise of Daisy Jones and the Six, a seventies rock band. I know that I’m in the minority here with my rating on this book. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid. The format was okay with the interview style/different perspectives. However, I didn’t find the story line interesting.
Girls Just Want to Have Likes by Laurie Wolk – As a parent, I am really struggling with technology use and social media, especially with my 13 year-old. Wolk gives tips and advice on how to build a foundation and boundaries with technology and social media use.
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center – Helen is divorced at 32. She needs a change and decides to go on a wilderness survival course in Wyoming. Right before she goes she learns that her brother’s best friend Jake will also be going. I’ve read a couple of other books by Center. This one was okay but not my fave.
You Are a Bad Ass Every Day by Jen Sincero – I’ve read Sincero’s other Bad Ass books. This book was more of a resource of inspiration rather than a reading book. I like her other books better.
4 Stars:
Educated by Tara Westover – At 17, Tara attends Brigham Young University, without ever having a formal education, growing up, “off the grid.” One of seven siblings, she had a traumatic childhood filled with abuse and parents who believed more in their religion than their children. This book starts off very slowly. This was my second attempt at reading it, after originally giving up about fifty pages in. After so many rave reviews I had to give it another try and am glad that I did. Westover’s story is very powerful and it’s amazing that she was able to overcome such odds.
Where the Crawdad Sings by Delia Owens – Kya, also known as the Marsh Girl, has lived on her own since she was about nine years old. When a well-known community member is found dead in the marsh, Kya becomes the number one suspect. This book started out very slow for me. Since both my mom and a colleague raved about this book I decided to stick with it and am glad that I did. Owens is a descriptive writer, where at times it felt like too much for me. But it was a great overall story.
5 Stars:
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin – I know I am so late to the GOT party. But I finally finished the first book in the series after starting it January 1. This was one of my goals of 2019 and I did it! In the meantime, my husband and I are watching the series and are up to Season 3. I enjoyed the first book more than the show. There’s just so much more detail in the books that they can’t put in the show. But I think they did a great job of editing and making it all work. I have started the second book but with all my other reading, it’s not one of my reading priorities.
Well, you’re ahead of me… I found the first Game of Thrones book in a free public bookcase so now I just need to start it. My dad and my cousin both recommended it years ago when it first came out but it was never a priority for me, but when I saw it sitting there free it seemed like a good time to bring it home with me 😀
Yes, you should read the book! It’s so much more detailed than the show!
I had heard rave reviews about Happiness for Beginners, but just couldn’t get into it. Great reviews this month!
I can totally see how you found this book hard to get into. When that happens, I sometimes find it goes better when I try again at another time.
Hubs & I binge watched GoT, from the beginning to the finale, last month. Considering reading the series now, so glad to hear some good reviews!
My husband and I are watching the series as well…but we are only on season 3 right now! We have a long way to go and I don’t think I’m going to continue with the books….I loved the first book but they are just so big!
I’m on the library waiting list for Educated & Crawdads, because they average such high reviews. I’ve thought about reading the GoT books, but I get so engrossed in a series like that (like Outlander) that I have a hard time taking breaks for something lighter, then I get the WORST book hangovers..
I tried reading the first Outlander but it was so large and I was having a difficult time getting into it. Hope you enjoy Educated and Crawdads.
I liked Crawdads and Daisy Jones.
I cannot imagine navigating a teen’s use of social media. I’m glad authors are on it – very important subject.
Yes, I grew up in a very different time. It’s so difficult with teens and technology.
Daisy Jones is my jam all the way. Love love love!
It wasn’t my favorite TJR book….I find I like her earlier books a lot more.
So I read Daisy Jones this month and I gave it a love rating because well, I really wanted a love book and that was my favorite book last month. I loved the premise and interview style but with that said, the story did drag for me too. Like I said in my review, I enjoyed Behind the Music, which is what this basically was, but that show was an hour so it felt tight. This grew a bit old and I did not feel the connection to them as I did with Evelyn. I deeply cared about Evelyn, even when she annoyed me or I disagreed with her, but Daisy and company I felt more meh about because I didn’t feel like I knew them. I read the first two books in GoT but never went further. Maybe I’ll restart the series if Martin himself actually finishes the series.
I’m not sure that I can invest in book two of Game of Thrones, but I do own it, so I may try to read it in between all my other books. It may take a year though! I also didn’t really care for any of the characters in Daisy. I enjoyed Evelyn but I really prefer TJR earlier books.
Educated and Crawdads were each excellent in their own, very different ways.
Yes, they were both enjoyable reads. Glad to finally have read them both.
crawdads did get a bit descriptive there, i agree. i liked educated as well, glad you gave it another try. happiness for beginners was my first Katherine Center and it holds a special place in my heart 🙂
I’m glad I read Happiness for Beginners. It wasn’t my favorite Center book but it had been on my to read list forever!
I really like Katherine Center but I haven’t read that one yet.
I’ve read a couple of her other books but this one wasn’t my fave of hers.
It was very hard for me to enjoy the daisy book. I just couldn’t get into it either!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I feel like everyone else loved it!
I definitely “fear” that the storyline of Daisy Jones just won’t be my thing. That’s a culture/time period I’ve never had an interest in. But I’ll always at least try one of her books.
Yeah, it wasn’t my thing either but I also will read all of TJR books!
I thought Daisy Jones was compelling, but I don’t think it has stuck with me, and won’t in the future. Not a favorite. I loved Happiness for Beginners. It was a bit lighter than How to Walk Away which is always my personal preference. heheh Here from SUYB! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Yes, Happiness for Beginners was definitely a lighter read but not my favorite by the author. Glad some other people had similar feelings towards Daisy!
I tore through Educated in a day because of the “omg could this get worse? YES it can” mechanism. I love “reading outside on the deck/beach” pics. Long live summer!
I’m glad I gave Educated a second chance. So looking forward to more deck/reading time this summer!