2014 READING LIST.

One of my resolutions is to read more so I need to start having ideas ready for what I'm going to read next. Here's my list of books that I plan on reading this year. Obviously, this is not the complete list and I'm open to suggestions. You can tell I'm really into non-fiction, but I'm fairly open to any suggestions you have.

1)The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin -- There is a Teddy Roosevelt movie in talks based off one of her books - much like Lincoln. So, I have to read this one before the movie. 

2) Because I Said So: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids by Ken Jennings -- I read Maphead last summer by Ken Jennings and I really loved his writing style. Super easy to follow, funny, and full of facts. I'm excited to read another book by him.

3) This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral - Plus Plenty of Valet Parking in America's Gilded Capital by Mark Leibovich -- Remember when I wanted to be in politics? Yeah, some side effects still remain and wanting to read this book is one of them.

4) Lean In: Women, Work, and The Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg -- I've heard mixed things about this book and I want to check it out on my own.

5) The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough -- David McCullough is one of my favorite history writers. I heard him talk about this book on NPR a year ago and I've had it on my list ever since. This is finally the year I'll read it.

6) Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments by Alex Boese -- If the title doesn't give you a reason to read it then I don't know what else could.

7) Shrinkage: Manhood, Marriage, and the Tumor that Tried to Kill Me by Bryan Bishop -- I loved Bald Bryan on the Adam Carolla show and I remember when he was first diagnosed with his brain tumor. This book doesn't come out until May, but I look forward to reading it. Bryan is a smart guy and I'm sure his book will be great.

8) The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene -- I saw Brian Greene speak at an event last year with Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I've heard good things about his writing style -- that it's fairly simplistic and makes sense to people that aren't scientists.

9) The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt -- I've seen this book repeatedly on Best Books of 2013 lists. So, I figure why not see what the hype is all about.

10) Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden 

RECENTLY READ // Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black - Piper Kerman

Apparently, just like everyone else, I inhaled Orange is the New Black on Netflix. I zoomed through it and then I was left wanting more. MORE, NETFLIX, MOAR. So, I decided to read the memoir on which the show was loosely based. And not surprisingly, I quickly devoured that.

The book was well written and much different from the show. There are some similarities, obviously. But the show is much more dramatic -- obviously.

Piper is incredibly respectful of the women that she is incarcerated with and the juicy stories we see on the show are not in the book. What we do see are women that are just trying to get by and get past the things they have done. Piper is lucky to have a huge support system and she realizes how truly different she is than the other inmates. I know a lot of criticisms of the show have been how it's about a white woman that is on a short sentence with the intention of "growing," but the real Piper did recognize her privilege and I don't feel like it's a problem within the book. 

Should you read it? Yes! Definitely. It was a good book and if you finish the series and need more, then this is the only way to go. If you have no interest in watching the show, this is still a good book and at least that way, you won't be totally clueless when people are talking about this show. 

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - 23/50

RECENTLY READ: World War Z

World War Z - Max Brooks

I obviously read this because the movie came out and after hearing reviews of the movie, I don't think I will. Basically, if you haven't heard, the movie is nothing like the book. It's just "Hey, Brad Pitt is gonna fight some zombies! That are fast! Politics!" And, I do love me some Brad Pitt, but I don't feel like spending money on that.

The book, however, is really good. It's better than it had any right to be, actually. Zombie books are, let's face it, pretty lame. I thought we all got over zombies around 2006.

I think I just really like the style of this book. It's just short little stories about how people handled the war. And, they're really well written. Some of them have little twists. Some of them are sad. But, for the most part, they're all good. And hey, if you totally hate one, you could probably skip it because there is no true plot to this book.

Should You Read It? Sure. If you want to see the movie and then gripe about how the two are nothing alike, please do. If you want to enjoy the movie without feeling the need to complain endlessly that it's not like the book, then don't. And, if you're like me and have no intention of seeing the movie, go ahead and read it. It's pretty short and actually, pretty good.

23 for 23 -- Goal #3 - 21/50. 

RECENTLY READ: Maphead

Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks -- Ken Jennings

First off, let me just stop you right there. I know, it looks incredibly boring. A book. About maps. But, hear me out on this one -- it was really well written and interesting. It wasn't like, "A map of America created in 1780 first showed this ..." It's so much more than that.

We all know (or we should all know) Ken Jennings from Jeopardy! fame. He's the guy that won a lot in the early 2000's -- now do you remember him? He's a very interesting person and his writing style is informative and personable. He incorporates little tidbits into his writing that make you feel like you're just talking with the guy. I love that in some non-fiction books -- sometimes, especially in subjects that I'm not super familiar with, I want to feel a more personal connection with the author and I definitely feel that in this book.

The book takes a deeper look at people that just love maps. And surprisingly  there are a lot of people out there that fit that description. Jennings feels that a love of maps is a secret thing -- something that people hide, but once he admitted it, he found a lot of others that felt the same way he did. He talks to kids in geography bees, geocachers, and map collectors. The book is about so much more than just maps.

I cannot wait to read his other books, like Because I Said So! His writing style really impressed me. 

Should You Read This? Yes! I cannot stop recommending this book and everyone looks at me like I have a third eye. But trust me on this one, it's definitely worth it. 

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - 20/50

RECENTLY READ: In the Garden of Beasts

In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and An American Family in Hitler's Berlin - Erik Larson

Last year, I read Erik Larson's Devil in the White City. I immediately fell in love with his writing style -- his ability to take non-fiction and write it like it was fiction. To create a world that existed and immediately pull the reader in. The problem with a lot of non-fiction authors is that it gets a little dry. We're so far removed from the action in the book that it seems far away. That's not a problem in Larson's books.

In the Garden of Beasts follows the American Ambassador to Berlin right before World War II. Ambassador Dodd is not a typical member of the State Department - he's a history professor that just wanted an easy post so he could work on his grand work of a history of the American south. Unfortunately  that was not possible while in Berlin.

Knowing what I know about World War II and Hitler's regime, it's really interesting to see the perspective from Americans at that time. At first, Dodd's family was actually sympathetic to the Nazi regime. 

This book is very well written and interesting. No real dry parts either.

Should You Read It? Yes! Even if you're not a huge non-fiction fan, this book would appeal to you. It's got romance, action, and you might even learn something.

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - 19/50. 

RECENTLY READ: Space Chronicles

Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier -- Neil deGrasse Tyson

I've had the pleasure of seeing Neil deGrasse Tyson speak and this collection of his essays is fairly similar to his speaking points - manned vs. unmanned space exploration, the need to promote science for children, etc. And, I definitely agree with a lot of the points he makes.

Some of the essays do get a bit repetitive, but I think that it helps to drive his points home. If he didn't think what he was saying was important, he wouldn't keep saying it. He was interested in science because of the Apollo missions - so why should we deny our future generations that push towards science? 

His essays are fun and interesting - very easy to read. You wouldn't think an astrophysicist would be simple to read, but Neil makes it fun. He includes his "Space Tweets" throughout the book as well. 

Should You Read It? Yes! Even if you have only a mild interest in space, this is such a good and easy to read book that it is definitely worth it. And, you might even learn something. 

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - 18/50

RECENTLY READ: Breasts

Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History - Florence Williams

I have them. So, I was pretty intrigued by the book. Breasts come out of nowhere and suddenly, you're stuck with these two things for the rest of your life. It wouldn't hurt to know a little bit more about them.

I guess I was expecting a very scientific look at the development of breasts, breast feeding, augmentation, and the inevitable decline. However, I ended up reading a lot about chemicals because as Williams mentions repeatedly - they're everywhere.

For the record, Williams is a journalist - not a scientist. So when she shrugs off scientists because they're men (Honestly. She's very judgmental about male scientists that are studying breasts), I'm a little wary of her intentions. And, she's a self-proclaimed "granola girl." 

It's a little bit of a bummer read. And, by little bit, I really mean it's a total bummer of a read. It's a lot of "You're going to get breast cancer no matter what." I wish the book had been more about the development of breasts in mammals (what an odd thing to write) and about breast augmentation with less focus on the doom and gloom of having breasts.

Should you read it? Meh. I wouldn't bother.

Goal #3 - 23 for 23 - 17/50.

RECENTLY READ: The Road

The Road - Cormac McCarthy

This is one of those books that everyone talks about and I push off reading until it seems like everyone's forgotten about it. 

At first, I wondered what exactly I was reading. I had heard it was a great book and it seemed to move slowly and like walking into a dark room, it took a while to adjust to my surroundings. Who are these people? What is happening? Where are they going?

Eventually, I started to feel for the two main characters in the novel - the child and the man. Their relationship strains on my heart. I'm not a mother, but I feel like I would do the same for anyone in my family.

The book left me with a lot of questions. My head is still swimming with them.

4 out of 5 stars. A book that leaves me feeling the way that The Road did is a good book. 

Goal #3 - 23 for 23 - 16/50

RECENTLY READ: Drift

Drift: The UnMooring of American Military Power - Rachel Maddow

I'm a huge fan of Rachel Maddow and I'm also a huge fan of reading about the military. So, I knew I would really enjoy this book.

Maddow's thesis is essentially that as a country, we once wanted to make it so that if we went to war, we wanted to be all in - we wanted to feel the consequences to prevent us from jumping in. Our founding fathers put up roadblocks in the Constitution to prevent it as well. However, Maddow explains how we've moved away from that. 

It's an interesting read. Now that I've read a non-fiction book, it's time to read a fiction book. 

Goal #3 - 23 for 23 - 15/50

RECENTLY READ: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

I read this book on the plane and I sobbed.

It was a quick read (because it is a Young Adults novel), but it was well written. It's about kids with cancer, so naturally, it was a tearjerker.

If you're in the mood for a quick and easy read (and you want to cry), then I highly suggest it. It was a little goofy in some parts - the main guy in the book puts a cigarette between his lips, but doesn't light it because of the metaphor. Pretty eyeroll inducing. The kids had a Dawson's Creek feel - you're 16 and why are you using such big words? I don't even use that big of words. But what are you going to do?

Goal #3 - 23 for 23 - 14/50 

RECENTLY READ: How Did You Get This Number?

How Did You Get This Number? Sloane Crosley.

I have so many books on my Kindle that I'm interested in reading (Obviously I'm interested in them or they wouldn't be on my Kindle), but I keep finding excuses not to read them. "That'll take SO long to read" and "....I'm not ready yet." And, I'm definitely putting off reading The Life of Pi for my book club because I just don't want to read it. 

So, if something seems quick and easy, it appeals to me a lot more. At least right now and How Did You Get This Number hit the spot.

I really enjoyed this book. Some of the stories are really goofy and feel good while others are more heart-wrenching. The last story in the book is really amazing.

Goal #3 - 23 for 23 - 13/50

RECENTLY READ: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz.

I read This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz a while ago and I knew I had to read his novel. And much like his collection of short stories, this book was amazing.

It took me longer to read than usual because I had to keep stopping to look up the translations for some of the Spanish used. The slang is what gets me. That and I've definitely never taken a serious Spanish class (I'm the girl that took Latin as her foreign language). 

I love how seamlessly he transitions from different points of view throughout the book. It doesn't seem contrived. I complain a lot about how authors try to write from different perspectives, but it always sounds like the same voice. Diaz's voice is clear and distinct and even when he is writing from the perspective of a character, he is not afraid to interject to give you some perspective on what's happening.

It felt like this story was something that had to be told and he was just doing its work by putting it to paper. If that makes any sense.

I'm glad I read This is How You Lose Her first. It was a good introduction to Diaz's voice and writing style.

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - 12/50

Book Tuesday - The Age of Innocence

I've been trying to have a book review ready to go every Tuesday. It's helping with my goal of reading 50 books before I turn 24. Last week, I didn't have one ready and I just thought, "Oh well." Because seriously - oh well.

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton

I joined a book club through GoodReads (My profile is here) and The Age of Innocence was this month's selection.

Let's get real here. If you hate Downton Abbey and you have a short attention span, you will hate this book. It's full of descriptions and it's about a time in American history full of particular rituals that seem mundane to the rest of us. Also, if you're of the belief that if you have to struggle to get to the good part of a book then the book isn't worth it, this book isn't for you.

The first half sets up the story and introduces the characters. And, it's a little tedious to get through. But once you power through, then the "action," if you can call it that, begins. And it's interesting.

It's a good look at 19th century society. It's a good look at relationships. It's a good look at the power struggle between men and women. 

I really enjoyed reading it. It just took me a while to read. 

23 for 23 - 12/50 - Goal #3.

From My Wish-List...

I'd like to think that anyone that knows me is aware of my insanely long Amazon wish-list. It's mostly books that I'm interested in reading. And it just keeps growing. I can't make a dent on that.

I'm going to highlight some books from there and if you're read them, let me know if it's even worth it for me to try or if I should just abandon the notion of ever reading that book.

1)
 The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success - Kevin Dutton.

I don't remember where I found a recommendation for a book. I think on a blog somewhere, but the specifics escape me. The reviews are good. And the bad reviews on Amazon miss the point of the book - at least, from what I understand. I love a good non-fiction book, but $13 for the Kindle edition? Hmmm...

2)
Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations - Stephen C. Schlesinger

I found this book on my own. Someone asked me what I thought about the United Nations and I kind of blankly stared at them and had to admit, "I know an incredibly small amount about the UN, so I don't have any kind of nuanced opinion." And then they sent me to the Wikipedia page of Criticisms of the UN. I wanted to find a good beginning book to the UN. I know about Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations. But, what else? There's so much more to it than that.
It is $10 for the Kindle edition. And, once again, I love non-fiction. But, are there any better books on the United Nations?

3)
Some Girls: My Life in a Harem - Jillian Lauren

This looks so interesting. I saw this posted in a "What Are You Currently Reading?" discussion and immediately added it to my Wish List. It looks like it would be a fast read. The only reason I haven't bitten the bullet and bought it yet is because I have so many other books to read and the reviews are mixed. Some people are praising the book while many others are complaining about the lack of detail - which I've found to be a problem in some memoirs/autobiographies.

4)
Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food - Jeffrey M. Pilcher

I feel like Tyler Cowen recommended this. Maybe? Who remembers? Living in Arizona immediately makes someone a Mexican food expert. Everyone out here has a place that is "the best." And every December, when everyone comes back home, all they want to do is eat Mexican food. So, of course I'm interested in this book. It looks academic - which is totally okay with me. I love reading about food and culture, especially a food that is so near and dear to my heart.

Have any recommendations for me to put on my wish list? Or have you read any of these books?  Let me know in the comments?

Book #10: Dark Places

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.

Wow. I've read Flynn's other two books - Gone Girl and Sharp Objects. And, I'm glad I saved Dark Places for last. This was the best book - by far.

My biggest problem with her other two books was that the endings came on way too fast and in an attempt to neatly wrap everything up, the endings were sprung on the reader.

Not the case in Dark Places.

Everything just worked in this book and I cannot urge you to read it enough. It was the best.

23 for 23 - Goal #3: 10/50.

Book #9: John Adams

John Adams - David McCullough

Quickly - one of the things I hate the most is when they change book covers to reflect the movie that is based on the book. Huge pet peeve.

Now that that's out of the way...

John Adams gets a lot of flack. A lot of people see him as George Washington's annoying Vice President. The guy that whined and created the Alien and Sedition Acts to protect himself from any criticism. The guy that couldn't get along with Alexander Hamilton despite agreeing with him. The guy that lost to Thomas Jefferson.

But, most people forget that John Adams was instrumental in America's independence.

This book was very long - it took me a month to read it, but it was worth it. I ended up really liking John Adams. Some of my favorite parts was the correspondence between John and Abigail. Their relationship was amazing and very sweet.

I don't like how Hamilton was vilified though.

Now, I'm going to watch the miniseries!

23 for 23 - Goal #3 Book 9/50.

Book #8: Under the Banner of Heaven

Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer

I can't remember who recommended this book to me, but I'm so glad they did. I haven't been reading nearly as much non-fiction as I usually do and I was excited to read a non-fiction book.

The story begins with the Lafferty brothers, a Fundamentalist Mormon family. Two of the brothers believed that God told them to kill their sister-in-law and niece. And the story follows them.

In addition to following the story of the brothers and the murder, the book explains the history of the Mormon church and how polygamy created all these different schisms within the church - ultimately leading to a different sect of Fundamentalists that have been excommunicated from the church.

I've read other books on Mormon history, such as The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, so I had an understanding of the hardships they faced and the reasons for moving to the Utah territory. But, this was an interesting look at how the split happened between the mainstream church and the fundamentalists that support polygamy.

It was an incredibly well-written book and the mixing of just straight history along with the story of the murder kept the pace up.

23 for 23 - Goal #3 - Book 8.

Book #7: Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn

After reading Gone Girl, I wanted to read something similar to it, so I immediately downloaded Gillian Flynn's two other books - Sharp Objects and Dark Places.

Sharp Objects is about two murders of young girls in a small town and a reporter, originally from there, returns to write about the murders. But, the story quickly becomes about her own troubled life.

Flynn's novels are easy to get into and go by quickly, but the endings always feel rushed. So much happens towards the ending and I wish it would have been fleshed out more.

I'm looking forward to reading Dark Places.

I'm suddenly on a fiction kick. My main gripe with fiction books was that it always took so long to get involved - whereas in non-fiction, I usually already have some idea what's going on. But, with Flynn's books, they're easy to get into. The main characters, despite their flaws, are easy to like and you end up rooting for them, even though they make mistakes.

7/50 - 23 for 23 - Goal #3.

Book #6: Loose Girl

Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity by Kerry Cohen

I don't think anyone recommended this book to me and I'm quite sure why I downloaded it in the first place, but there it was on my Kindle and I figured it looked like a quick and easy read, which it was.

The beginning bummed me out. She was so down on herself for her actions - she was slut shaming herself.

I read it because I wanted to see what was going to happen -  I assumed that something would change, hence her writing this novel. But, there was little character development. And the writing wasn't that great either.

I don't suggest anyone read this book.

6/50 - 23 for 23 Goal #3.

Book #5: Here's The Story

Here's The Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice- Maureen McCormick

After my kick of awesome books by women (Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling), I asked my mom what I should read next and she asked, "What about that Marcia Brady book?" I had some interest when it originally came out and it seemed like an easy read, so I went for it.

First, I got confused. The writing is rushed and small anecdotes are rapidly fired. Time doesn't really make sense either.

Maybe I'm frustrated that I don't know who she's talking about even though names are clearly changed and people haphazardly explained. I wanted to read about the perfect Brady child's drug addiction and crazy sex life and while I got that, I just hated having to suffer from her terrible writing to enjoy it.

If you are not particularly religious, like me, stay away from this book. After all the drugs, the book takes a turn towards religion and feels ... not preachy, but contrived.

A lot of the book felt braggy. "I was so pretty," "I had so many boyfriends," "If everyone loved me, why couldn't I find work?" I'm not underscoring her struggle with drugs and her family problems, but I felt like she was trying to make the readers like her and admire her for her looks.

Towards the end, I was struggling to finish, but the last bit became incredibly interesting when she wrote about the struggles within her family - the family dynamics between herself, her mom, her father, and her older brothers. I kind of wish she had just written about that and kept everything else to herself.

Do I recommend it? Eh. I told my mom she might like it because she knows what Maureen was talking about (the movies, the culture, etc.).

5/50 - 23 for 23 Goal #3.