Below is the definitive list of books I have read since I have left:
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer-A real life account of the Everest climb that went terribly wrong-I thoroughly enjoyed this but it did not make me want to climb Everest (sorry Ashley).
Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham-A light and funny look into her life and her time on Gilmore Girls, a good beach read.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood-I wanted to read a hard copy of something so I borrowed this from another trainee. It is Intensely detailed and did not get good until page 300 with no closure (I don’t recommend).
My Horizontal Life:A Collection of One Night Stands by Chelsea Handler-Utterly hilarious, as expected, and a very quick and easy read!
Bedwetter by Sara Silverman-I knew nothing about Sarah Silverman prior to reading this, but I did learn a few things: she worked incredibly hard in a male dominated workplace, she name drops like crazy and uses her Jewish heritage to her advantage when it is convenient for a good joke.
Hamilton by Rob Chernow-what to even say-this book was a masterpiece. I loved the challenge, it was dense and daunting and I had to look words up every few pages, it has been a while since I have read a book like that. The comprehensive view of Hamilton’s life that Chernow gives us is absolutely amazing. The amount of research that went into this books is abundantly clear. I highly recommend it if you are interested and up for the task. It is also so fascinating to see the parallels of political life then and the stark similarities of political life now.
Danny Champion of the World by Rohald Dahl-if you are ever in need to know about pheasant hunting, this is the book for you! A Roald Dahl book I had never read before, but still did not fail to disappoint. Though unconventional, Dahl is quirky, creative and an author I admire. If you’ve never read it, give it a try, you can be done in a day or two…light and easy.
Yes Yes Please by Amy Polher-light read, a good beach book or break from the norm but nothing spectacular. I laughed only a little but learned a lot about improv and how hard she worked to be where she is today, as well as the fact that she hates technology but is addicted to it, loves Seth Meyers, and went to Haiti.
Suck it! Wonder Woman by Olivia Munn-A light hearted read about random stories of her life that was semi-sad and wildly entertaining at times. I read it picturing her as her Newsroom character Sloane and it seems that the highly intelligent working woman with awkwardness and quirks was a perfect role for her to play in that show as it appears to reflect a number of different aspects of her own life.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë-A book I had always wanted to read but never got around to and cannot believe I never took the time! The detail that Bronte uses is indescribable. I felt as though I saw the rooms she entered as she saw them. The detail she describes the faces of the people she encountered is delicately painstaking and minute. The story line itself is amazing considering it all from her imagination! I highly appreciated this work of art and highly recommend it.
The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien-The world that Tolkien is able to create is an inspiration. The detail and the characters that he uses allows us to see what is happening as if we are there. I had always been daunted by reading this series and after reading this book could not believe I felt that way. It was amazing and as good as the movie is, the book was a million times better…as expected…
The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien- My favorite of the three-the plot and character development is amazing and keeps us hungry for more, a great set up for the third part. I thoroughly enjoy the journey of Merry and Pippin and their experience with the Ents, creatures that I would kill to talk to.
The Lord of the Rings Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien-A thick book that gives full closure yet still leaves us readers thirsting for more. Reading through the battle scenes and the last battle to destroy the ring was so great. Again, I can’t believe I have never read this series and am so grateful to have had the chance.
Holes by Louis Sachar-A book I haven’t read since elementary school, and followed up with a movie of course! It was a great read again and I saw the value of reading it as a young reader. Sachar’s use of foreshadowing combined with his descriptive language allow for a great story to come alive. How Shia LaBeouf got cast as Stanley Yelnats, I am not sure-but alas.
Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom-A sequel to The Kitchen House, this book picks up the tale years later. In a harrowing tale about a black man passing as a white one and then escaping from his former father’s slave master; Grissom exemplifies conflict, love and loyalty amongst an unlikely group. This book, like The Kitchen House is historical fiction, but based on events and places that really happened. Both are well researched and well told, I highly recommend both.
Harriet the Spy by -I had only ever seen bits and pieces of the movie as a child and never even knew there was a book. It was a long detailed read about a rich girl trying to navigate middle school after her nanny left while feeling misunderstood by her parents. I can see how other middle schoolers may relate, but overall not a very enjoyable read.
The Children’s Act by Ian McEwan-A story about a female judge in England that is extremely busy and childless in her 60’s. The reader gets a first person account of her family law cases and her mixed up feelings about her unfaithful husband. In addition, wek get to follow the story of Adam, a Jehovah Witness boy that keeps popping up in the life of the judge after she makes a decision about his case. Overall, it is a very quick and thought provoking read.
Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost-An interesting take on island life in Vanuatu and in Fiji. While he divulges into much of the history of both countries, he lacks the cultural integration to make assumptions about the people and the countries, which he does anyway. I am glad I read it, as there are very few books about Vanuatu out there, but I wouldn’t read it again or necessarily recommend it.
F*cked: Being Sexually Explorative and Self-Confident in a World That’s Screwed by Corinne Fisher & Krystyna Hutchinson-While the title may be a turn off to many, this book discusses everything from sex and relationships to sexual assault and rape. It is very open and honest and comedic. It really makes you think about the challenges women face going through life in their twenties and thirties in a man’s world and tries to take some of that ownership back while educating young people about the ins and outs of sexuality.
Bossypants by Tina Fey-a quirky look at how she got to where she is today. I admire her persistence to be unapologetically herself and be one of the first females to break through the male dominated comedy writing world.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossini-A truly captivating story. The detail and description makes you care for each of the characters from the start and gives a lens of innocence to the violence and conflict happening in Afghanistan before the turn of the century. The way everything comes full circle in the end is a little cliche; however, there is redemption and closure by the time you reach the last page.
A Generation Lost by Zi-ping Luo-An amazing true story about the cultural revolution in China and how it harshly impacted an entire generation. It is the story of a girl growing up in a time where formal education was mocked and ridiculed and with a hunger to learn she and her siblings secretly and earnestly self taught themselves everything from calculus to quantum physics. A truly eye opening and curiosity perking book.
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger-Not just a story about boys playing football, but a revealing narrative about racism, oil and a town revolving around the lives of teenage boys. The celebrity status, the pressure, the lack of discipline, set these boys up for failure and it is still happening today.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed-I was hesitant to read this book, especially after seeing the Gilmore Girls reboot where Lorelai decided to hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail. I thought it was going to be a story of a rich, white woman going to find herself…but it was not like that at all. Cheryl goes through unbelievable hardships leading up to her hike and even more throughout it. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different kind of story, it is a story of failures and successes and doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, but leaves you satisfied as you turn the last page.
Homegoing by Yaa Ghast-An incredible read by an amazing author. This is unlike any other book that I have read, where each chapter is a new generation. The story follows two different pedigrees, all originating in Africa, but one line progressing as a result of slavery in America and the other as a result of that slave trade, but based in Africa. It is fascinating insight and an unbelievable way to tell a story.
The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali-This is an information heavy text that really makes you think about how you perceive the world, what makes your perceptions what they are and how they can effect other people. Ali-Karamali uses this book to explain how normal it is to be a Muslim-American woman but also the challenges that come along with that identity. She also discusses how extremists do not represent the entire religion and draws many comparisons to Christian faith in order to make it easier for some readers to conceptualize how she might feel and to point out some inconsistent claims and ways of thinking in regard to Islam and Muslim people and different cultures in general.
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance-A memoir of what it is like growing up with a hillbilly family and breaking free from the mold. As a Yale graduate and lawyer you would never expect Vance to be a hillbilly but he makes it very clear that he is or at least was raised that way. Though this book offers a different kind of story, often Vance comes across as self-righteous. He over explains the events of his life and the hillbilly culture without presenting it in a way that has a clear message as to why he is explaining it, other than to show how great he is now.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini-After reading The Kite Runner, I became an instant fan of Hosseini. One of the other women in my book club recommended this to the club and I was overjoyed to read it! It details the life of two women navigating the difficult societal changes that came with the Taliban. Nothing seemed to go right for these two women, but they found a way to coexist and eventually bond, despite their shared, boorish husband. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It takes you out of your world and into another where you get to learn what it might be like for some women in Afghanistan.
Black Mass by Dick Lehr & Gerard O’Neill-An inside look at the corruption of John Connoly and the FBI in Boston during the 1990s. It is unbelievable and disappointing to me that such crime was committed with the knowledge of trusted agents that are supposed to be protecting the public. Paddy Nee’s book was more entertaining and about his experiences with the Mullen Gang and the Winter Hill Gange. Black Mass is more about the history of the gang and the police, as well as some public perspectives.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen-A classic, of course. I couldn’t help but struggle to relate to the characters. Though the story was entertaining enough, it was not highly eventful and slightly predictable. What I find to be the most interesting thing about Jane Austen is her detail. I could picture every outfit, drawing room and facial expression. For me that was what kept the story going and where the true art of her writing shines.
Emily by Margaret J. Miller- A depiction of Emily Brontë’s life from her childhood through to her short lived adulthood. It explains how she grew up surrounded by family, nature, but also death. Her imagination was endless and she and her sisters built and destructed kingdoms all in an afternoon playtime session by the fireplace. What stuck out the most to me was how the book relayed how real these worlds were to the Brontë children.
Becoming by Michelle Obama-What can I say? She is amazing. Bougier than I thought, but amazing nonetheless. There were so many times while reading Becoming that I had to stop and underline something that was said. There are so many sprinkles of wisdom throughout. She takes you through her childhood, the election, and her family life in a very personal way. One of the most shocking things that she made clear was how badly she wanted to be a mother. It was refreshing to read in detail an account of a woman who is extremely driven and ambitious but also deeply wanted to start a family. Such sentiments are rare these days and Michelle Obama achieved both, though she may have put her own goals aside for a time for Barack to be president and such.
Girl Squad by Sam Maggs-A compilation of stories about women who rose above hardship and gender during conforming and restricting times. While the stories were interesting peeks into various era of history, the narrator’s voice was juvenile and there lacked thoughtful analysis. This was an advanced copy, so hopefully the final print offers a more satisfying read.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton-A different kind of book that I would never have laid my hands on if it wasn’t for book club. This work of fiction takes you into a completely different world where justice and revenge walk hand in hand. It has a multi character perspective and a surprising twist at the end that strangely brings the many murders of the story are solved.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusack-This story put me in Molching, Germany. The description was impeccable, making you feel like you are seeing the wary faces and tasting the hunger deep in their bellies. It is a story of a girl in Nazi Germany trying to grow up despite the war around her. Though the writing was impressive, I found the plot to be lacking and the ending underwhelming. (Although it is much better than the movie, naturally.)
Code Girls by Liza Mundy-I feel lucky that the records from this era finally became unsealed. Reading about the stories of these women serving their country in a way no one envisioned nor expected was amazing. It baffles me how much the U.S. government relied on women during that time. After reading this book you would expect women to flow naturally into military positions right after WWII; however, that was not the case. Mundy is very intelligent and well-researched, a very good read.
Teach to Work by Patty Alper-This book was written to help ground corporate America through mentorship and sponsorship programs. If someone or a company needs help humbling themselves, this book is perfect. It details what to say and how to say it. There were a few key pieces of advice on what it means to be a mentor, but mostly I felt like the author was bragging about the ingenious of her program.
My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira-An account of a woman ravenous to be a surgeon during the Civil War, loosely based on real events. It is captivating and unexpected and keeps you reading right until the end.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch-Having formerly read this book, I was not sure what I would take away from it this time around, but I felt like reading it at the end of my service was meaningful. It is the type of book that can humble you at any point in your life and called me to reflect on what I might say if I had terminal cancer…Though Randy is arrogant, he knows it and owns it in a way that only he could. If you are going to read it make sure you have tissues handy.
Vanuatu blog 