September 8, 2015

August Books

Books for the Literary Ladies Book Challenge are in blue. 

#55 Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand C
This was Scott's audiobook and I listened to (most of) it over the period of a few weeks.  I wasn't crazy about it.  There's a lot of value in listening to this kind of history, but the way the story was told kind of annoyed me. This women was essentially writing a series of memories, not a researched biography and some of it just seemed off to me. It jumped from event to event very quickly and I often wondered what the significance of certain things were as they were mentioned in passing.  I felt like the narration was a little unreliable and it maybe needed to be told from an "I" perspective?  I don't know. It was just kind of okay.

#56 Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe A-
I liked this. Rob Lowe has led a fascinating life.  I never even really watched any of his movies (I saw St. Elmo's Fire once by accident...I hate Demi Moore). I loved him on Parks and Rec, but I think that anyone could get enjoyment out of this book.  Listening to him read it was probably part of what made it great, so I'd go the audio route if I were you.  It was particularly interesting to see how the famous people in Hollywood came together in the 80s.
It was incredibly well-written and it made go straight to Netflix to start watching The West Wing.  I can see the similarities between it and The Newsroom because it's the same creator/writer.

#57 10% Happier....by Dan Harris C
I don't think I finished this book.  I can't remember.  Is that bad?  It was half biography/half self-help. I heard about it on Gretchen Rubin's Happier podcast and thought it'd be good to try.  Its focus was the idea of meditation and I keep meaning to try it and haven't gotten around to it...which I suppose is the point of what Dan Harris was saying on the podcast, so maybe I should just suck it up and try already.

#58 At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen A
I did not like Water for Elephants.  In fact, I hated the movie so much that I never felt the need to pick up the book.  I don't like anything having to do with the circus really.  And elephants aren't my thing. Robert Pattinson is also not my thing so I just couldn't read it after glimpsing the movie.
I picked up At the Water's Edge on audiobook at the library, set it back on the shelf, walked around, thought "Why not?", picked it up again and checked out.
I really liked it.  I don't actually have a complaint about this book.  It was different than a traditional WWII story and I just enjoyed it.  Predictable ending, yes, but a good story nonetheless.
I had to bring the discs into the house to finish it because I didn't want to wait until I drove somewhere the next day.  That's my rule: if I can't stop listening, I have to give it an A.

I told you August would be a slow month...

Linking up with Jana and Steph!

22 comments:

  1. For some reason I think celebrity books are just better in audio form, at least most of the ones I've listened to. Maybe because it feels like we are getting to hear from them, instead of just their characters? Or because we are already used to them? I have Mindy Kaling & Amy Pohler's audio books and they are just fantastic.

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  2. I couldn't get through The Water's Edge but loved Water for Elephants (book).

    The Rob Lowe sounds like something I'd like.

    I have no interest in Unbroken.

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  3. I'm always interested when people talk about audio books that are read by the celeb that wrote it and their thoughts.

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  4. I had no idea Rob Lowe wrote a book! My husband loves him on Parks & Rec, too, so now I know one of his Christmas presents!

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  5. I'll have to read At the Water's Edge. I have it on my Kindle from Netgalley!

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  6. I just added At the Water's Edge to my to read list. I loved Water for Elephants! I liked Unbroken and saw the movie as well. Really sad stuff though.

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  7. Did not know RL wrote a book. Must look into it now :)

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  8. It took me a bit to get into At the Water's Edge. Once I did though, I enjoyed it. It was a different story and it kept me guessing. I thought for sure she'd find out they were gay and secret lovers.

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  9. I read a WWII book this month too. Rob Lowe's book sounds interesting, I will have to check it out.

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  10. oh yay, glad you enjoyed at the water's edge. i enjoyed water for elephants (the book, the movie was laughable). I'm normally one to shy away from anything circus related (including an actual circus) but because it was set so long ago, i could take it. i was in the airport when i finished it, sobbing like a lunatic. it's one of those books that stayed with me.. and then they got robert pattinson to be in the movie what the actual fudge.
    rob lowe's book has been on my list for ages, moving it up now!

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  11. The Water for Elephants movie was pretty awful. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book.It sounds like I'll have to check out At the Water's Edge.

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  12. I'm a little bummed you didn't like Unbroken! Maybe it's better read than listened to? I thought it was fantastic.

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  13. I think the Rob Lowe book is on my TBR. It sounds like the kind of memoir I would like.

    I didn't love Dan Harris's book, either. It became more of a support essay for meditation than a memoir and I felt misled and angry.

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  14. I loved your Water for Elephants rant. Haha! I felt the same way about all those things! So I'm definitely picking up At The Water's Edge. I liked Rob Lowe's books too!

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  15. I had no idea about the book by Rob Lowe, I am definitely intrigued.

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  16. I like memoirs and the Rob Lowe one peaks my interest.....

    When a book is made into a movie, rarely do I prefer to see the movie instead of reading the book. But, that's how I've felt about Unbroken. I want to see the movie; I'm not jazzed about reading the book.

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  17. I have heard great things about Rob Lowe's book. He is just stunning to look at but also very intriguing.

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  18. I tried Unbroken and even though it's Rory Gilmore's grandpa reading it, I can't make myself care. I'll probably just go read the guy's wikipedia entry and call it a day. I loved Stories I Only Tell My Friends and I also listened to it. The way he grew up with the Sheen/Estevez crew was so cool to read about!

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  19. Water For Elephants has never appealed to me (the book or movie), so for whatever reason I just didn't even look into her other book, but now I'm definitely intrigued.

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  20. I have not seen the movie Water for Elephants, but I did really like the book. True to form, I made sure I read (ahem...listened to) the book first. I like Reese Witherspoon, so I still want to see the movie. At the Water's Edge sounds like it would be great, too!

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  21. ROB LOWE HAS A BOOOK!?!?!?! !!!!! /squeeeeeee He's totally my old man crush and now I need to read the shit out of that book!
    I also had to add At the Water's Edge to my TBR list.

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