Books of My Month: August

Last month brought a bit of a change to my usual reading habits. With everything that was going on, I only found time to read what I had to, not what I wanted to. Meaning that the only "real" book–as in not a textbook or magazine–that made it into my hands in August was...

The Soiling of Old Glory. I bet y'all are sure glad that this is the last time you'll have to see this cover on a Books of My Month post! And let me just say, I was more than happy to be finished. While the subject matter in my APUSH summer reading was quite interesting, the manner in which it was presented was a bit strange to me. I hated the inclusion of some facts that I deemed irrelevant, yet was fascinated by an entire chapter on the history and symbolism of the American flag. And since I had to write an essay on it (which I killed, thank goodness!), it was even less appealing to me on the whole. I sure am glad to be finished with it, but I'm also glad to have read it. It's quite outside of my literary comfort zone, so I believe it was a good thing for me to branch out at bit.

Next on the list? Some fun chick-lit and Gatsby!

What have you been reading?

XO

Books of My Month: July

Despite my book count this month, I actually did read a lot!

The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family by Lawrence Leamer

I'll admit it: this was THE book of the month. And I finished it, finally!! I absolutely loved it, and I found it soo fascinating. I thought it was brilliantly written also. It definitely didn't read like non-fiction, and kept me engaged the whole time! I would definitely recommend it.

The Soiling of Old Glory by Louis P. Masur

I've also made a nice dent in my AP US History summer reading! The plan is to finish this one on the plane home from California!

What did you read this month?

XO

Books of My Month: June

School's out and I've officially gotten started on my summer reading list. Last week, I went to the library and came home with a huge stack of books to start myself off, and I've already finished two of them! I've been flying through pages on my front porch in the evenings. The weather has just been too perfect to pass up!

Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath by Mimi Alford

I loved this book! Set aside my near obsession with anything remotely related to the Kennedys, and I still would have loved it. This book is written with so much honesty on such a personal topic, that I immediately liked Mimi, and rooted for her from start to finish. And even though it's nonfiction, it's written like a novel, so it's not dry or boring at all. Ever. There wasn't a single moment reading this book that I was bored.

Carpool Diem by Nancy Star

This book was super cute, and really a great book to read during the summer. It's not "literature," but it's a fun read.

The Soiling of Old Glory by Louis P. Masur

Every time I try to sit down and just read this book, I can't do it. My APUSH summer reading, while highly intellectual and very interesting, just doesn't do it for me right now. Granted, I'm in the middle of a pretty dry chapter right now, so there is hope it will get better. For now, I'm just slowly chipping away at it on the side.

What have you been reading?

XO

North Shore Prep

Books of my Month: May

Hey y'all, I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting regularly lately. Things have gotten pretty crazy with the end of the school year and all of the associated events, but after I finish finals this week (or maybe even this week) I'll be back to posting more regularly. That being said, I hardly had time to read this month. Here's what I did read:

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

I had to read this book for my lit circles in English, and I hated it. Okay, no, maybe I didn't hate it (I've definitely read worse), but I definitely did not enjoy reading it. While the writing itself was good, I just didn't find myself very interested in the plot and found it quite tedious.

The Kennedy Women by Laurence Leamer

I feel like I've been reading this book forever. It's definitely a long one, but I'm happy to say that I'm about halfway through it (there are actually about 700 pages of actual text, not 960)! I'm completely fascinated by it though, so I kind of don't want it to end!

I'll definitely be reading more this summer and you can expect to see a summer reading list in the near future!!

What have you been reading?

XO

North Shore Prep

Books of My Month: April

With all my stress lately, I wasn't able to read as much as I would have liked to last month. Here's what I did read:

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank by Celia Rivenbark

This book was absolutely hilarious! I breezed through it and the humorous nature was perfect for some study breaks. I definitely want to read more of Rivenbark's books!

Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell by Crickett Rumley

I had low expectations for this book. I definitely expected it to be poorly written, trashy chick lit. I was so pleasantly surprised to find sharp wit and a–dare i say it?–almost inspirational story of unexpected friendship in the pages of this book. It's a fun read, but it isn't completely substance free! I really enjoyed it.

The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family by Laurence Leamer

I started reading this book in the middle of finalizing my research paper. Not my best idea. Meaning that while I'm nowhere near finished with this (960 page!) book, I am really loving it. It's opening up a world that I was previously unaware of, and I love that even though it is obviously nonfiction, it's still gripping and enjoyable to read.

What have you been reading?

XO

North Shore Prep

Books of My Month: March

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I'd been reading this for English class this quarter and we finally finished in early March. I'll admit, it was wonderfully written, but I definitely had some built up resentment from having to read it. I do think it's good though, to brush up on your classic literature, even if it is required reading!

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells

Loved this. Loved it, loved it, loved it! I laughed, I cried, and thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic novel. I definitely, definitely recommend it.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I finally got my hands on the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I wasn't disappointed. Oftentimes, I find that with all the anticipation and excitement of a series like this, the final book just sort of drops off, but that was not the case at all here. I loved it just as much as The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but I was so sad to be finished with it!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Eh. I loved Sarah Dessen all through junior high, and hadn't read anything of hers in two years. I wasn't expecting it to be spectacular, but reading one of Dessen's books through a more mature, sophisticated lens definitely changed my memory of her as a writer. Which is a bit of a shame.

Yankee Doodle Dixie by Lisa Patton

This book was just darling! I picked it up at the library from the new fiction shelf because of the cute peaches on the front and it turned out to be a perfect spring break read. It was charming, and funny, and sassy, and I absolutely loved it. I'll definitely be putting Patton's Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter on my reading list for April!!

What have you been reading?

XO

North Shore Prep

Books of My Month: February

I haven't been able to read much this month. What with Nationals and V-Show and catching up on schoolwork, reading (and blogging) got pushed to the back burner.

I did read Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger. I loved The Devil Wears Prada, and I really enjoyed this one too. Not as much as Devil, but it was quite witty and enjoyable.

I'm also chipping slowly away at Rebecca Wells's The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder. I'm not very far in yet since I've been mostly reading it here and there when I get a few spare moments, but what I've started of it, I really like!


What are you reading?


XO

North Shore Prep

Books of My Month: January

This month, I had the opportunity to read a lot more than I had been. It was one of my unofficial New Year's resolutions to read more for myself–as in, not for school. So no, Great Expectations, you don't count. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

I love, love, LOVE Mary Kay Andrews. So it was really no surprise that I really enjoyed Blue Christmas. It was a super quick read that I actually ended up reading after Christmas (poor planning on my part. Oops.), but still had fun with.

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Surprise, surprise. More Mary Kay Andrews:) I loved this one. It was just what I needed to take my mind off how cold it's been on the North Shore lately!

Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells

I loved Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Loved it. I had super high expectations for Little Altars Everywhere, and I felt a little let down by Ms. Wells. Don't get me wrong, it was fabulous. But Divine Secrets was just...divine.

It's only three books, but it's a start for me! I've just recently gotten back in the habit of reading for myself, and this monthly blog post is really going to help I think!

Have you read any of these?

XO

North Shore Prep