Book Roundup #1

I finally got a library card! I'd been meaning to get one since I moved to Houston almost five years ago and I finally did it! I should have done it a long time ago! I love being able to check out a ton of books! I typically read while I am eating my lunch and before bed. Below are my brief thoughts on the books I read or listened to from January 2018 through March 2018!

Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow

I'm not going to lie, I read this book because I am obsessed with the musical! I have yet to see the show, but I've listened to the soundtrack countless times! I've never considered myself a history fan until this point. This is the first biography I have ever read so I don't know how it compares to others, but I really enjoyed it. It was very long and dense at times and it helped that I didn't have a strict deadline for reading it. I spent about a month and a half reading the book. It is one of the more difficult books I've read only because of how much information there is, but if you are a fan of the musical I highly recommend you read it.

Wonder - R.J. Palacio 

This book was a super quick read for me, started it one day and ended it the next, which was great considering Hamilton took me all month to read! I'd honestly not heard of the book until I saw previews for the movie, and no, I did not watch the movie first!

Wonder is about 10 year old August "Auggie" Pullman who will be attending school for the first time. Auggie was born with a craniofacial abnormality that caused him to have many surgeries as a baby and child. Auggie was homeschooled by his mom until they decided to enroll him in the 5th grade. The story of Auggie's first year attending school is told from multiple perspectives giving light to not what different people in Auggie's life go through.

Wonder made me laugh and cry more than I thought a book about middle school could do. Wonder is one of the books I will be saving for my future children because I think it tells a wonderful story of accepting everyone as they are.

Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling 

Oh Mindy! I'd heard friends talking about her show the Mindy Project a couple of years ago and I finally started watching it in February and loved it! I enjoy Mindy Kaling's wittiness in the show and it translated well into her book. I found my self chuckling quite a bit while I was reading her book. If you want something quirky, funny, and quick then this book is for you.

Girl In The Blue Coat - Monica Hesse 

I love reading historical fiction set in World War II. The stories usually captivate me from beginning to end and this was no exception. The book tells the story of Hanneke and how her work in the black market leads her to becoming a part of the resistance against the Nazis.

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

This book is basically Cinderella in a science fiction setting. I went into this book not knowing what I was reading about. I was taken aback at first and didn't think I would like it, but it grew on me. The story was pretty predictable but still entertaining. It was a light and easy read. If you want something to pass the time this is a great option.

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes 

I cried, oh boy did I cry. I knew from having watched the movie that this book would make me cry, but I wanted to read it anyway. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the ending of this book but there is more to the story then how it ends. If you want to read something that makes you see the world a little differently this story of loss, heartbreak, love, and compassion is for you.

The Invisible Bridge - Julie Orringer 

This is the first audio book I've listened to in a few years. It took me about four weeks to listen to all of it. The book started off a little slow and would go into lots and lots of detail about the life of Andras Levi, a Hungarian Jewish student who moves from Budapest to Paris to study architecture. At first I didn't know where the story would go because there was a bit of everything- love, friendship, belonging, drama, and loss. It was a long book to get through and I think listening to it is the way to go.