Comments on: Books read in May 2019

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 15:45:50 +0000

I loved The Boxcar Children as a kid, too, and I was disappointed when later books in the series were more about solving mysteries than living in a boxcar 🙂

I also read Cribsheet this month and really enjoyed it. I am a new mom and although I’m out of the very vulnerable new days of motherhood, I appreciated her tone and presentation of the research, especially with regard to breastfeeding since I struggled with that. I also found some of her comments about her own parenting journey hilarious. Looking forward to hearing her episode of the podcast!

Other books I read this month: The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel, which I found fascinating (it’s also very short, for anyone looking for a quick read). I listened to The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, and would highly recommend it for any fans of young adult lit and dark fairy tales–plus the narration was excellent, for any audiobook fans.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:19:33 +0000

In reply to Sophie.

@Sophie – yep. I know why they wrote those headlines, though – I imagine that “I raised three kind children who contribute to their communities” just doesn’t have the same lure for many people.

By: Erin

Erin — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 23:50:01 +0000

I traveled to India for work last year! While there I read Out if India: Select Stories by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. This was a great in-country read as her works have been compared to Jane Austen in style. I started Freedom at Midnight by Collins and Lapierre on the return flight home. This book peaked my interest but was very long. I only got a few chapters in. I set it aside and read others once I was back in the states. It bugged me not to finish so I set it as my May reading goal. Once I picked it up I remembered the interest. This history of the time surrounding India’s independence from British imperialism was fascinating. The real characters like Gandhi and Mountbatten were inspiring. I definitely recommend and learned so much about the history and the area.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 15:34:40 +0000

I read The Ten Year Nap after hearing about it here, in the comments, I think. I’m surprised I finished it…it felt like it was going nowhere and I still think it didn’t have an actual plot?

By: Marz

Marz — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 11:49:47 +0000

In reply to Kathleen. Hmm. Reading your comment, I wonder if I might like Anna Karenina better now that I’m in my 40s? I was distinctly unimpressed by it when I was 17. My lasting impression was that someone dies under a train at the start, then there is a lot of self-absorbed, overly dramatic twaddle and then someone dies under a train at the end. I don’t remember much about the main characters- the only character I recall liking in the slightest was Levin.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Fri, 31 May 2019 21:12:44 +0000

I haven’t actually heard about Esther Wojcicki’s book, but those publicist headlines would have made me NOT want to pick it up.
I really don’t like anyone pandering outward status as the sole and most important aspect of success in life.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 31 May 2019 20:58:28 +0000

Just last night I finished re-reading Anna Karenina. The first time I read it – around age 15 or so – it was from a nerdy kid’s desire to read great literature. This time I could enjoy it as a wife, mother, and adult. It’s so much better when viewed through the lens of 20-some years more experience.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Fri, 31 May 2019 19:31:48 +0000

In reply to Kenia Sedler.

@Kenia- I didn’t listen to any – I don’t have too much listening time built into my life (I sometimes have long drives, but not too regularly). But many were in ebook form rather than print, because it’s very easy to get ebooks and take them with me at all times. The Library Book, the Boxcar Children, The Way We Eat Now and How to Raise Successful People were all ebooks.

By: Kenia Sedler

Kenia Sedler — Fri, 31 May 2019 19:14:59 +0000

Just out of curiosity: how many of these books did you read in audiobook format and how many in print/eBook?

I’m a big fan of reading with both my ears and eyes, and it allows me to get through so many more books than if I only limited myself to my eyes (I read ~35 print format books each year and have never been able to break 40 with the visual format, so I love the boost I get from reading audiobooks too).

By: Lisa of Lisa's Yarns

Lisa of Lisa's Yarns — Fri, 31 May 2019 15:31:14 +0000

I’m excited to hear your interview of Emily Oster – I was one of the listeners that suggested her as a guest! I’m on the waitlist for Cribsheet. I loved her pregnancy book, expecting better. I like that she’s not an alarmist and is very even-keeled and pragmatic with her interpretation of advice!

I read a ton of books in May – 12 – which is probably a record for me. I have always been an avid reader but when I was pregnant I had multiple people tell me that I wouldn’t have time to read after having a child. Turns out they were wrong. I read more than ever! Some of my favorites from this month were Tell Me Three Things (fun YA novel), the latest Louise Penny Inspector Gamache book (loved this series!), Where the Crawdads Sing and Text Me When You Get Home (non-fiction examination of the importance of female friendship).