june book report

This month I fell back onto the reading bandwagon. Here's what I've been reading the last few weeks. 

Scar Tissue by Michael Ignatieff // I picked this book up from Good Will in February. It's about two brothers relationship with their mother as they watch her go through something similar to succumbing to Alzheimer's. Mostly it reminded me of my grandma, who has dimentia and was placed in a home right before I moved to Waupaca. Parts of it made me cry because of the similarities between my story with my grandma and the characters relationship to their mother. 

The Perfect Marriage by Kimberla Lawson Roby // This book was short and didn't really hold my interest all that well. It's about a couple that has been married for close to fifteen years, they have high power jobs and they're very well known socialites. The wife, Denise, is sneaking pain pills to help her get through the day, while her husband, Derrick, is socially using cocaine. They both become addicted to drugs and their lives fall apart. I wasn't really a big fan of this book. 

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen // I love Sarah Dessen. She's by far at least in top 3 for young adult authors. I've read all of her books and loved them, and this one was no exception. It took me two days to read, but I didn't want to put it down. It chronicles the journey of Sydney, as her older brother goes off to prison, and she changes schools as discovers who she really is. And there's a shout out to one of my other favourite Sarah Dessen books, This Lullaby, in it. So good. (And I got the last signed copy from Kmart!)

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins // When I was in high school, I read every Ellen Hopkins book I could get my hands on. All of her books are actual stories told through poetry, which is they look so thick and intimidating. Perfect was told through 4 main characters and each of their stories was woven together through them each doing something to achieve whatever their idea of Perfect meant. 

The Sometimes Daughter by Sherri Wood Emmons // The story of Sweet Judy Blue Eyes and her relationship with her estranged mother. She was born at Woodstock and after that her father grew up and got serious about life and work and taking care of her, but her mama never did. I remember the first time I read I made my mom read it after I had finished. Excellent book. 

No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July // I've had this book since high school, and every time I read it I balk at how much sexual content is in this collection of short stories, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I would not recommend this one. My favourite story in this book is Something That Needs Nothing. It's a good story about all encompassing love and how far you're willing to go when that love gets pulled out from under you. 

At this rate, I'm going to have 10 books knocked out in the next couple weeks. Hooray for reading. 

i love harry potter

I love Harry Potter. I grew up with Harry Potter. I was in first grade when the first book came out. I was in third grade when I got the first three books in paperback from a school book order. I devoured them and was hooked for life. It's Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family. I tuned in two days too late but I'm still catching up with Parts 1 & 2 of Deathly Hallows. I am forever indebted to JK Rowling and the universe she created for most of my childhood. I never went to any book release parties, but I had a special spot in line for the midnight showing of Deathly Hallows Part 2. When I was 18, the summer before I went to college, I went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter right after it had opened. I read fan fiction (Remus/Sirius FOREVER) and even wrote some myself (Arry/Maco!). I wouldn't trade my love for this series for anything... Except maybe to erase my memory of them so I could go back and read them again for the first time. Seriously, I am a Potterhead for life. 

my favourite books

Books have always been a very big part of my life. I remember sitting at the kitchen table at my parents house reading Itchy Itchy Chickenpox and More Spaghetti I Say! with my mom or my grandma by my side, helping me sound out words and turn the page for me. I was four years old when I got my first library card and we used to bring home stacks and stacks of books every week. I have always loved reading, being transported into a totally different world and falling in love with characters that I can come back to again and again and again. 

I've noticed recently that I haven't been able to actually finish a book in a very long time. So I've set a goal to read 10 books this year. They can be books I've read before or new books, library books or Good Will books. These are the books that I find myself coming back to time and time again. 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen // I was recommended this book by my therapist when I was a senior in high school. I think the first time I read it was the summer before I left for college and it captured my heart. I fell in love with the Great Depression era traveling circus world. Jacob, Marlena, August, and Rosie captured my heart and I love diving back into their world. 

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger // This book, hands down, wins the title of my favourite book of all time. The pages of my copy and dog eared and marked up to no end. I love the story of Claire and Henry and how they go through normal life, starting a relationship and getting married and starting a family while dealing with one little thing—Henry is a time traveler. Definite page turner, from cover to cover. 

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling // I remember the first time I read The Sorcerer's Stone in second grade. I was catapulted into the world of Hogwarts and magic and I never looked back. My copy of Sorcerer's Stone is ratty and falling apart and all of my books are dog eared from being read time and time again. The last time I read the series all the way through was the summer before I left for Savannah, and I'm itching to read them again. 

High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips // I owe this book a lot to my recovery from PTSD and depression. I pre-ordered it from Amazon after watching her interview on Oprah coming out about her incestuous abuse from her father, John Phillips, and devoured it in two days. I read during class, I read during dinner, I almost literally did not put this book down except to do homework and sleep.  I did a report on it for my American Women Writers class in high school where we had to read a passage out loud and reading a paragraph on sexual abuse and drug abuse and what it means to be held captive by those things was extremely freeing for me in the process of my recovery from sexual abuse. 

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey // another Oprah book. The first time I read this book I was fourteen and in a phase where I devoured memoirs about rehab and recovery from drug abuse and addiction. Even after all the controversy surrounding Frey and this book, it still remains as one of my favourites. I try to think of it more like a novel instead of a memoir to help lessen the sense of controversy that surrounds this book. 

Looking For Alaska by John Green // This is another ratty, literally falling apart at the seams, very very well-loved book of mine. I remember going to the library and always looking at this book but passing it by for something else that caught my eye. The summer I went to the Lake Forest Writing and Thinking Workshop was the first time I picked this book up and actually dived in head first. Alaska and Pudge and The Colonel and Takumi never fail to make me laugh and then cry and then laugh some more. 

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien // THIS BOOK BLEW MY MIND. I read it for the first time in AP English Lit in high school and was just floored with all the discoveries of memory and storytelling and what really is the truth. It's a collection of short stories that are all about the Vietnam war and all I can say is keep a highlighter and a stress ball handy. You will feel all the feels. 

Those are all of my favourite books that I find myself coming back to again and again. Read any good books lately? Let me know in the comments! My library card is always up for a workout.