Another Book Post

In my 'To Read' list on my phone, (which I have recently alphabetized by author to make browsing the library shelves easier), I've started moving the books I've read to the bottom of the list along with a rating, to make it easier to share with you.  I'll delete them after I've posted them here for you, and voila, you get my thoughts on everything I've read again, and my list stays up to date.  (I do keep an author's name in the list if I liked them, so I can look for more of their work.)

So here is what I've read in the last while:

Janette Walls - Half Broke Horses   7*
Glass Castle is her story, and very good; Silver Star is fiction, and a good read.  This one is the story of her grandmother, and I found I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two, but it is still worth a read.  It's an interesting look at a time when so much was changing across the States, and the main character has great strength.

Mira Barton - The Memory Palace   5*
This one was on a recommended list somewhere - it's also a memoir of a hard life with a schizophrenic mother. I hate to diss anyone who's written a book, honestly, but there was not much here that I enjoyed.

Chris Pavone - The ExPats: A Novel   9*
Excellent read with lots of twists and keeps you turning pages. You might stay up late with this one!

Carry On Warrior  - Glennon Doyle Melton   8.5*
This author is nothing like me, and probably nothing like you.  But she has so many good things to say that I almost turned back to page one to start over the minute I finished.  This was a book club read that I might not have found otherwise - gotta love book club!  You can check out her site Momastery to get a feel for if you want to pick this up.

Night - Elie Wiesel   8*
Nobel Peace Prize winner about his experiences in the holocaust.  This was on many Have to Read lists, and I agree, it's one that should be read.  Not entertaining, of course, but well written and important.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn   8*
Almost didn't pick this up because there was too much hype, maybe?  But I did, and the first half I didn't really even enjoy - wasn't sure if I liked either of the main characters, wasn't sure where she was going - couldn't tell who was going to be the bad guy.  But.  The twists that came made it a pretty good read, and it's stuck with me more than most.  I mentioned it at book club last night and there was lots of discussion already; we've decided to do it as out May read.  So pick this one up.  And let me know - have you read any of her others?

An Astronaut's Guide to Life On Earth - Chris Hadfield   7*
The latest book club read & the one we discussed last night.  I followed him on twitter while he was in space, and maybe had higher expectations of this one.  Good life lessons, well written, lots of interesting details.

The Dressmaker - Kate Alcott   7.5*
Set on the Titanic, this was a pretty good filler read that I picked off the shelf knowing nothing about it.

Go pick up a book!!  After you've gone for a walk.  Happy Spring!

And as always, share what you are reading & enjoying - I love to hear your suggestions!