Book Nerd - 2nd Edition

Sometimes I get stuck in book dry spells. A book dry spell is very annoying. Nothing sounds interesting, and I can't find anything I want to read. Everything seems pointless and not worth the effort.

Then all of the sudden, my curiosity is piqued by so many books that an enormous stack begins growing on my table.

This is one of those times. The stack just keeps getting bigger. It's so fun!!

I believe the last time I regaled y'all with my fabulous literary opinions, I was reading Jennifer Weiner's Good In Bed. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I figured it would hold true to chick lit nature and be a light and fun read, but it was way less shallow than the title would suggest. It was so much better than I expected it to be. I can't even put into words all the things I loved about it. It was so smart and funny. I want the main character, Cannie, to be my new best friend. It was my first Jennifer Weiner book, but it definitely won't be my last.

I picked up The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd a year ago. I tried to read it, but couldn't get into it so I put it down on a shelf and never looked at it again. Then, I hit my previously mentioned book dry spell. I decided to try it again, and I am so glad that I did. I think the first 30 pages or so were a little slow which is what made it hard to get into the first time. Once I got past them, it picked up and was a really great book. Normally, I read through a book pretty quickly, but there was something about Secret Life that made me want to take it slow and really enjoy the reading process.

I've mentioned before that the new book club over at Literally Booked had it's first selection, The Heretic's Daughter. We haven't discussed it yet (which means that there is still time for more of y'all to read it!!) so I won't get to far into it, but it was very good. It's not a fun and cheery book at all. It was haunting and thought-provoking. It's definitely a book that stays with you long after you have finished it. It's not like any book I've ever read before. I think being introduced to books that I wouldn't have selected on my own is going to be my favorite part about participating in a book club.

After an emotionally tough book like The Heretic's Daughter, I wanted something light and silly. I picked up Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin. I've read her books before and really enjoyed Something Borrowed and Something Blue, but O.M.G. I hated this book. Not since high school, when my senior English teacher made us read Gulliver's Travels, have I hated a book so much. The main character was totally unlikeable. She was a spoiled brat who complained nonstop, constantly compared her life to other's, and, in my opinion, had disdain for everyone she considered "mainstream". I am so glad that I got this one from the library because no one should have to spend money to read a story that dragged on so pointlessly. I really tried to give the author the benefit of the doubt. I kept reading and hoping that there would be one thing that would redeem the story, but nothing ever came. Even the ending was a complete and utter letdown. I almost want to recommend this book to people just so that I can have someone else understand how much I hate it. Anyone want to waste 342 pages of your life and talk bad about a fictional character with me? Anyone?

That about does it for now. Time to get back to work on that never-ending stack I told you about. Stay-tuned!!!