It is time for the best linkup of the month!
August was a slow month reading wise for me. A lot of other things were going on and I just didn't make the time for it...I am making up for it in September though!
Here is what I did manage to read:
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry- This book started off so strong. I was drawn in by the mystery and pretty much hooked all the way up to the end. The end however was an utter disappointment. It was rushed in my opinion. I remember thinking "There isn't enough time for everything...must be a series!" but nope it just....ended....in like twenty pages everything was just cleaned up and done. I was super bummed....it had so much potential!
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan- So in July I had read Gaffigan's book Dad Is Fat and loved it. I have to say I may have loved this one even more. I laughed out loud SO MANY TIMES. I think I was actually driving my brother and my husband crazy one evening because I just kept giggling to myself all night. I loved reading his stories about different places and the foods he relates with them. I also just really love to read about food. This is a great one if you like to laugh, really love food, and know or are some picky eaters!
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak- I picked this up because it had popped up on a recommended reading list. I love The Office and even though I didn't like B.J. Novak's character Ryan, I appreciate all the work he did writing for the show. However this was just an "eh" for me. I thought it was going to be kind like a memoir but it wasn't. Just a bunch of short stories.
It felt very cynical and negative...and honestly it felt like a bunch of papers that he had to turn in for a creative writing class in college. All the stories felt like they were trying to hard. You could probably pass on this one.
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen- This book was brilliant. I'm not really sure that there is another way to describe it. Sydney is trying to move on with life after her brother is sent to prison. She is dealing with a lot of guilt and mixed emotions. Also her mother refuses to see the truth of the situation which only makes things harder for Sydney. I loved Sydney and I loved her best friend and her weird obsession with fries. I did want to punch her mom in the face a couple times though. I also feared the worst for one of the outcomes of the book like Megan had mentioned. No spoilers so if you wanna know you gotta read it!
Have you read any of these? Like? Dislike? Let me know!
I can't wait to see what all of you read this month! I also can't wait for next month because I have finished some really great ones this past week!
Saint Anything is definitely on my radar. As I often say - too many books, too little time. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when a book is full of promise and is a major let down with the end. Saint Anything has gotten mid-high remarks from people I trust so I've thought about adding it to my TBR, glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI will have to look into Gaffigan, he is so funny! And it seems like everyone is raving about St Anything.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed the two Sarah Dessen books I've read. I think I should try Saint Anything.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your first book, I hate when a book starts off strong then fizzles.
I enjoyed Saint Anything, enough that I'll read more of her books.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing to hear about the BJ Novak book because I really like him and considered reading this.
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die sounds interesting....too bad it disappointed you. I love a good suspense/thriller. I read Food: A Love Story. I like Jim Gaffigan and love food. Overall, it was just okay for me though. I've heard him do bits of some of the things he wrote about in the book and they are just funnier hearing it come from him versus reading it! Loved Saint Anything!
ReplyDeleteI've got Saint Anything on my to read list but my library doesn't have it. Whomp whomp.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm the last person left who has not read Saint Anything- I need to get on that!
ReplyDeleteI read a book that had a rushed ending this go round too and it made me mad. Food: A Love Story sounds like an interesting read!!! I liked Saint Anything, so much so that I picked up The Truth About Forever from the thrift store when I saw it and figured I would give the author another look :)
ReplyDeleteI also chuckled many times while reading Jim's book. Glad you liked it!
ReplyDeletei totally wanted to punch the mother in saint anything as well. that sucks about the rushed ending for the first one - hate when that happens!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about BJ's book. I think a funny memoir would be better for him. I wasn't expecting something so strange! Jim Gaffigan's books are so funny! I love him. Are you watching his TV show? I LOL many times an episode!
ReplyDeleteJim Gaffigan is the shit. I need to read that book!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't finish One More Thing... I found it painful. I love Jim Gaffigan but I can't get into that book! Maybe because I listened to his stand up CD and a lot of the best jokes were already on it? Such a bummer!
ReplyDeleteI love Jim Gaffigan so that would be a good one for me to add.
ReplyDeleteThat is the worst when a book just...ends. Only slightly better when you are reading thinking it is a single book/end of the series only to find out there are more books after it!
ReplyDeletesaint anything has been on hold for me since FOREVER at the library!!
ReplyDeleteI just watched a few episodes of The Jim Gaffigan show and I think he is so funny. I've seen his book on Amazon but now I really want to read it. Love a funny book! Saint Anything looks like something I need to add to my list too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked Saint Anything! I think I'm going to add the Gaffigan book to my TBR list because food and laughs are right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really like Girl Stolen, another book by April Henry since I felt she did the same thing. It was going going going, DONE. Like, what? Why did we bother with all that buildup if you're just gonna slam me with the ending like that?