I read, therefore I am.

Three and a half stars. This was my first David Sedaris book and I can see why he’s so famous. I’ve heard his other books are better than this one, and now they’re definitely on my reading list.

This book is an anachronistic collection of personal essays, all of which evoke the entire gamut of human emotion. Sedaris has the rare gift of making his readers think, relate, and empathize, and he makes it look stunningly simple.

If you’re looking for an interesting read that veers effortlessly from witty to hilarious to poignant to heartbreaking, Sedaris is the author for you.

Rating- 3.5/5

epicreads:

All you need for this workout is a stack of hardcovers and some yarn or rope to tie them together!

Workout #1: The Book Curl

Workout #2: The Book Up

Workout #3: The Brunch (Book Crunch) - Just like brunch this can be done alone or with a friend!

Cool Down

(via teachingliteracy)

quietontheinside:

Rereading Gone Girl because I can’t stop myself. 

A phenomenally interesting read. It’s no surprise that this book won the Goodreads Choice award in 2012. Engrossing, enthralling, and a highly recommended read.

Nick and Amy Dunne start off as a perfect couple in New York, living the life they’ve always dreamed of. They’re the two narrators of Gillian Flynn’s whodunnit thriller, and I’ve never met two more appealing literary characters; I found myself rooting for both of them, even when they were in the wrong.

I also found myself questioning my very notions of right and wrong. That’s how brilliant this book is. Its about so much more than just a candid look into a marriage gone wrong; it’s a look into a crime mystery, a family saga, the story of two complex and ultimately human characters.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Gillian Flynn is a highly gifted author and I was hooked from the very first page, racing through this novel in a day. An incredible read, particularly for those interested in reading about crime, relationships, human psychology, and marriage. I can’t wait to check out more of Flynn’s books!

Rating- 4/5

This book was a disappointment, even with my low expectations. Two stars seems like a pretty generous rating, considering that Mindy Kaling’s book is all over the place and sometimes wanders into politically incorrect territory. 

I think Mindy is a talented actress and scriptwriter, but she has a lot to learn about writing. Although she seems interesting, her writing style is so tangential and scattered that I literally got a headache from this book. Apropos of nothing, entire chapters are dedicated to her Jewish friends and descriptions of the selfies on her Blackberry. I also could not believe she passed off her random lists as chapters. To me, that seems like the height of laziness by a disinterested author. 

Most anecdotes didn’t really strike a chord with me, but when they did, they were quite poignant. I wish she had paid more attention to really fleshing out her characters. Despite her constant yammering about her two best friends (and roommates), the only thing I know definitively about them is their race. Also, Mindy gushes about her parents and brother, but I haven’t the first idea about them, either. That’s how vague this book is. I don’t feel like I learned much about Mindy either, except that she really likes comedy, food, shopping, and Amy Poehler, in that order.

Narcissistic, occasionally funny, and very disorganized, this is only recommended for die hard fans of the chick lit genre. Or staunch Mindy Kaling fans. It would be best if you’re both.

Rating- 2/5