Commencement (by J. Courtney Sullivan)

I enjoyed this book. It was a light reading until the very end when it turned into a mystery. Kind of threw me for a loop. This book follows 4 women, from when they first meet at the all girls - Smith College, to when they are in their late twenties in respective different areas of the world/life. It's told from each of the 4 girls perspectives, which is interesting because it also talks about events that happened in their lives from different point of view. There's the feminist girl, the snob, the rich girl, and the laid back chick. I related to a lot of the book, as in relationships I formed in College and how life is like for the relationship four years later. It read really fast, and kept you pretty enthralled. It dealt with love, dreams, growing up, not wanting to grow up, losing touch, and also when its a good time to be opinionated about a friend's choices and when you should just keep your mouth shut. I recommend this book for a light end of summer read, but watch out for the last 100 pages, will surprise ya.


Up next: The Likeness (by Tana French) and The Art of Racing in the Rain (by Garth Stein) (for book club)

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (by Aimee Bender)

I read this book a few weeks back, on recommend from one of my besties. I liked it. I didn't loveee it. But I liked it. This book concerns a girl, who ate the age of 9, realizes that she can feel the emotions of the person who made the food she is eating when she eats the food they made (got that?). She quickly realizes how sad her mom is, despite her mom's peppy exterior. The book then chronicles her teenage years having to learn to deal with the ability to tell what someone is really feeling inside. There are some relationships thrown in there, as well as some heartbreak. If anything, this book made me think about what its like to "mask" your emotions if you will. How often do we do that? Pretend to be happy when we are crying inside? Or pretend to love something when in fact you hate it? I would have loveed this book if there hadn't been this weird, unexplained thing with the brother, I didn't feel like there was an adequate explanation. But I'll let you be the judge. I recommend it if you don't mind reading about super human powers, and are able to suspend reality for about 300 pages.

Up next: Commencement (by J. Courtney Sullivan) - already finished this, currently reading The Likeness (by Tana French)

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (by Steig Larssen)

This book is the third and final book in Steig Larssen's series. And what a good series it was! The third book was my favorite. It might be because everything comes to a climax and resolutions, and it also might be because it seemed to read at a faster pace. Once again, as with all his books, there is a lot of description of everything - such as "now we are drinking coffee", "he walked up the stairs", etc. If you have read these books then you know what I am talking about. This particular book deals with the protection of Zalachenko, Salander's dad, and the secret section of the Security Police who used every tactic it could to protect itself and Zalachenko, to the detriment of Salander. This book was interesting because it got a little Bourne-y - spies, stalkers, crime, murder, etc. I enjoyed this book, and like I said it was a good conclusion to this series. I recommend it!

Up next: Winter Garden (by Kristin Hannah) - I think this book has been on my "to read" list for about 6 months.

After that - if anyone has an good recommends let me know!

Just Don't Call Me Ma'am: How I Ditched the South, Forgot My Manners, and Managed to Survive My Twenties with (Most of) My Dignity Still Intact (by Anna Mitchael)

I read this book in less than 24 hours. It was just that good. This is a non-fiction memoir about a chick named Anna (the author). She is in her late twenties. It was very witty and relatable. At times I felt like I was reading about my own life. She's a Texan, from Houston who moved from Boston to Seattle to New York. The book starts in her apartment in Brooklyn, and at the end of a relationship, and continues on from there. Its an introspective look at the mind of a late twenties woman who is forging on through adulthood. I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to discuss it at book club in a month!

Up next: Still reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, keep getting sidetracked, but plan on finishing it up soon!

A Space Between Us (by Thrity Umbrigar)

I just read this book for my June book club meeting. It took me a while to get through it, but it was interesting nonetheless. This book is set in India, Mumbai to be exact. This book is centered around two main characters - Bhima and Serabai. Bhima is a maid for Serabai and lives in the slums with her granddaughter Maya, and Serabai is a member of the middle class and lives in an apartment in a high rise building in Mumbai. The book details the two women's lives and how they intersect and effect one another. I learned a great deal in this book about the Indian culture and the class system. This book also deals with the power of ignorance in your life and how it can mold who you are and the decisions you make in your life. It also deal with the issue of prejudice, and how even if you care about someone so much, the prejudice you feel towards their class of people overrides any care you might feel for them. This is not a happy book. Its realistic and deals with difficult topics, including abortion (just to forewarn ya).

I won't lie and say that I didn't skim it the last 100 pages, mostly because I had only read half the day of our book club. But it is a good book, well written, and worthy of your time if you are looking for a more serious book.

Up next: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Next (by Steig Larssen)

The Carrie Diaries (by Candace Bushnell)

I was given this book by a best friend of mine, and I took it with me to read while on vacation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. That was the best decision! This was a perfect "beach read". It's an easy read - I read it in 3 days (much of which were interrupted by floating on a raft in a pool and drinking Pina Coladas, among other things). This book is a prequel if you will of the Sex and the City book by the same author. In this book, you read about Carrie Bradshaw's senior year of high school and all the antics, drama, romance that comes along with it. I really enjoyed it. It was entertaining and read fast. I learned all about Carrie's senior year - her friends in high school, the boys she dated, her decision to become a writer, and why she ended up in NYC. I definitely recommed this book if you are a fan of Sex and the City, gives ya a glimpse of Carrie pre NYC. Still the same spunky girl though as she is on the show! I wouldn't mind reading a book like this about Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha. A little back story is always good, and I hear in the upcoming movie (to be released this week!) we get a glimpse of the ladies back in the Eighties!

Up next: The Host (by Stephanie Meyer) - about 1/4 in right now, AND The Shack (by William Young) - about 1/2 through.

Little Bee (by Chris Cleave)

What an interesting book. This one did not take me long to get through. I won't divulge too much of what this book is about because it'll ruin it for you and I don't want to do that. But, what I will tell you is this - read it. This book is not "easy" emotionally. Its not a romantic book. It is a love story though. This book centers around a character named "Little Bee" who is a Nigerian Refugee and a British woman named Sarah and how their lives impact each other's lives. This book will take you through the emotions of anger, fear, compassion, gratitude, frustration and happiness. That's all I will tell you about it thought - I definitely recommend you read this one for yourself! And then let me know what you think!

Up Next: The Shack (William P. Young)