My Summer Reading List & Personal Reviews

I got to read so much this summer and I wanted to share some great finds with you! 

One of my favorite stores is Goodwill. I buy so many clothes and books from there because I know they are cheap - I don't feel bad if a pair of jeans start to fall apart because it was less than $4! Getting my library and wardrobe from Goodwill helps me to find things maybe I wouldn't have in a regular store and save a little extra. 

Below you will find a list of books I read throughout the summer and my honest thoughts on each one - they were all finds at Goodwill too!

Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford
       This book has so much history involved that I just had to get it! It is a story about a young girl who is excited to become a secretary at the newly invented and slowly rising radio company, the BBC. Some of the characters are in fact true persons that helped the BBC be where it is today and it was absolutely fascinating to read about how people were for and against the "newest technology." As the story progresses, you begin to learn about some conspiracy revolving around the company and how this new secretary finds the strength to confront it. The conspiracy/spy part of the story seemed a little rushed and chaotic; however, the little love story twist at the end does make you have to finish! The story left me wanting more, even if I felt parts of the story were jumbled, but the ending was a nice wrap-up.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
        This was an amazing read! Starting in the 1960s it is interesting to read from the perspective of different characters and lives as the haunting decision of one night changed everyone. A doctor's wife goes into labor and has twins - a boy born healthy and a girl with Down Syndrome. At this time, children with disabilities were always sent away to an institution but the nurse keeps the child and raises her as her own. It was an amazing story that kept me hooked throughout the whole thing and it was so interesting to hear about how both families were affected by the loss/gain of a child. I wish I could have gotten more closure (but that's just me) but I love the way the story wraps up. You should give this story a try and be prepared to be a little sad and want to put the book in the freezer!

The Package Deal: My (not so) Glamorous Transition from Single Gal to Instant Mom 
by Izzy Rose
        I actually bought this book a few years ago and came across it again while moving and I was excited to try reading it. It seemed like it would be a funny little story and it actually was loosely based off of the author's real experience when she got married! It was definitely a funny story that had me locked in really fast. It's written in the first-person and the newly made mom has some funny commentary to being married and full-time mom all at the same time. I read it in a short few days and loved the growth the mom experienced throughout the story. The ending happened way too abruptly and it just wasn't enough for me though! I got so involved and curious that at the culmination I needed more...but it was still pretty funny and I would probably read it again for those funny mom moments.

The Curious Incident of the of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
        As a future special education teacher, I have always been told that this is a great book to read. I had tried reading the book several times before but was never quite ready for it I guess. The book is about a boy with autism who investigates the death of a neighbor's dog. It took an unexpected twist when you read about his parents and what really happened to his mom! It was amazing for me to see how the teachers worked with the boy and how the boy thought and processed. I can read a lot of textbooks and "understand" a disability, but this book truly helped me to better comprehend what autism can be like. It's a pretty easy read (minus the math problems!) so you should give it a try!

The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery 
        I have read a few books related to Japanese historical fiction and this book offered a fresh new perspective about a young "foreign" girl who runs away while in Japan. She is taken in by a family even though she looks strange and follows her years as she grows to learn the new language and cultural tea ceremony. At times it was a little confusing and maybe even a little dry, but it was so interesting to learn about a specific tea ceremony and ritual. The beginning and end had the most drama to stay entertained. I often have the complaint that books always end too abruptly because I always want to know what happens even years down the road - this book's epilogue satisfies that curiosity!

Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost 
       I really just bought this book for the title and I just had to know what in the world it was! It sounded pretty funny - it's about a man and his girlfriend who travel to a tropical island because they are restless and want to work in a country that needs help. They think it'll be this romantic experience, but you read stories about how awful and hard it is! It makes it better that it was based on some true events! Some parts are definitely hilarious but it does turn more into a "documentary" type text, so eventually, the book became drier. It does make you think about a lot though and you might enjoy it.

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon 
     I didn't even know I had two books by the same author until half way through this one! I wanted another fun read for the summer before I picked up another textbook pretty soon and this seemed like a good fit. It is structured similarly to his other book with short chapters and is also written from multiple perspectives. I, of course, wished there was more closure at the end of the story, but I was left with the feeling that everything turns out okay (even though there was an affair, wedding emergencies, and a father who thinks he's going crazy!).

Teatime for the Firefly by Shona Patel 
      I have had this book on my shelf for years and I'm glad I finally picked it up. I do not know much about the culture and history of India, but this book helps to learn a lot! It was so interesting to learn about a small section of tea culture especially when I drink so much tea. It is amazing to read about a strong woman especially when you learn about her new position and changing roles. I, of course, wanted more closure, in the end, to know that everyone turned out okay, but in the midst of rebellion and war during India's history, it does make the most sense. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that is looking for a book that includes love and adventure.

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda 
     I decided to read this novel next since I had just read another book about the culture of India - which was a great idea because it helped to understand some of the vocabulary along with the cultural aspects of the story. This book is an amazing read and even brought me to tears a few times. You learn about a family who is unable to conceive and a family who is not able to keep their daughter which is the premise of the story. You follow the biological and adoptive parents as well as the daughter as they learn to understand what family means. You get angry and emotional with each character as the story unfolds over the span of twenty years and it is difficult to put down.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
     I have always had the desire to read this book - maybe because Reese Witherspoon stars in the movie version. So when I finally found it I was really excited to get it!! I had no idea that it follows the memories of a 90-year-old man on the day the circus comes to town - I loved learning about his life and experiences of life working for a circus from working with the animals, unlikely friendships, and an alleged affair. I did not want to put it down and I would definitely recommend this to someone who wants more than a typical love story. *This may have been my favorite find for this summer.

The Dressmaker's Dowry by Meredith Jaeger
     This book has been on my list for a few months (it just came out!), I saw it in a bookstore and loved the description - I was so happy I found it cheaper! I absolutely loved this read and you should definitely give it a read! This book, set in San Francisco,  follows the story of a writer who is attempting to write her master's thesis by writing a novel which isn't working out - she finds an old article of two dressmakers who were murdered. She begins writing on this mystery that over a hundred years old. You also hear the story from the perspective of one of the dressmakers as the journalist is uncovering her story. It was an awesome journey and mystery that is hard to put down!

My shelf is a little crowded! 

What should be next on my list?

I still have a few books on my shelf that are untouched but I have a few of my favorites with me too! Maybe I should start with Austen or Bronte since I love the classics or focus on Paley because then I can see her theories and observations in practice!