July 2016 Reading

Temple Grove by Scott Elliott (library) About a grove of trees in the Olympic National Park. The author weaves a fictional story about a logger who wants to make money from the timber and the environmentalist who is out to stop him. Having hiked and traveled through the area alot, I really enjoyed all the local flavor in the book.
Bait and Switch by Barbara Ehrenreich (audiobook) About the corporate job market. I listened to this one on audiobook while driving to and from trailheads to go on hikes and to pick up and drop off Ryan for his hiking!
The Pedestrians by Rachel Zucker (library) a book of poetry, not bad, but I think I liked the Ellen Bass poetry better. If I like Ellen Bass now, I guess I cannot pick one of her books to be "out of my comfort zone" LOL
The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson (library) I am still fascinated by all things Swedish and on a hot day, reading descriptions of snow is so refreshing! This is a short book, but complex. It was just okay
Looking for Alaska by John Green (library) on the list of banned books because of a sex scene. You can follow this link to see what the author has to say about it!  I liked it but it is just as sad as The Fault in Our Stars. So be warned!
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (library) A girl gets a job as a server at a fancy NYC restaurant.  Reminded me a lot of Kitchen Confidential, but more about the waitstaff than the cooks. I enjoyed it.
All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister (library) Supposedly there are more single women now than in any other time in history. Women are staying single longer before getting married and women are choosing to remain single rather than have a boyfriend. How this has all evolved over the years is fascinating.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (library) How did I skip this one in school? I thought I had read it, About the experiences of a black family with particular emphasis on the perception of beauty equaling light skin and blue eyes.
Trophy Hunt by C J Box. (library) Jack the Ripper style killings plaque Wyoming, but Joe Pickett is going to figure out the mystery.
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory ( audiobook). Still trying to figure out this period of English History.  Gregory does a good job of making it come alive for me.
Shock Wave by John Sandford ( audiobook) a Virgil Flowers book on CD.  I have gotten addicted to having a book on tape going when I am driving around alone in my car.
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (library) Edith Wharton is one of my favorite authors and I needed to pick a book that was over 100 years old to read for my library bingo card. So this was my choice! Reading Book Bingo Again, it is set during winter and there is much snow!!
The Lover by Marguerite Duras (library) I read this book years ago when the movie came out. So I am rereading it now for the Reading Book Bingo  I had forgotten that I did not like it so much. I think the movie that was made from it was better. It skips around so much, past, present, it can get confusing to really follow the narrative. But I think too, that that is the point. Sometimes it is almost like poetry, but maybe that is just because it is a translation of another language? This is the Barbara Bray translation of the book.
The Secrets She Keeps by Deb Caletti (library) I enjoyed this one, part of the story is set at one of those dude ranch places that people used to go to in Nevada back in the day and I found that fascinating. Reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Berg's style (I am a HUGE fan of Elizabeth Berg)
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (library) Private airplane crash with two survivors I really liked it. Lots of twists and turns to find out what happened.
Unprocessed by Megan Kimble (library) about her year of trying to eat only unprocessed food, despite living in a city on a budget. I have been trying to eat more unprocessed food, so this topic fascinates me. And it is extremely similar to the 100 mile diet idea (of eating items that come from within 100 miles of where you live) It can be a real challenge and I live in an area with great access to farmers markets year round.
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (library) similar to The Almost Nearly Perfect People that I read earlier this year. More of my fascination with all things Scandinavian. I really liked it and laughed aloud quite often while reading.
Lies Across America by James Loewen (library) I absolutely loved this book about historical markers across America and the things that they don't get right!! I'll be reading this authors other books as well!!
He's Gone by Deb Caletti (library) ok, now reading everything that she has ever written!! This one about a wife whose husband disappears.
Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas okay, chalk up another author that I am going to have to read everything that she has ever written. This one also gives me an Elizabeth Berg vibe. This particular book is set at a Japanese Internment camp in Colorado during WWII. Mostly about the young girl who lives on a farm right next door to the camp.
I Loved, I Lost, I made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci (library) I really enjoyed her descriptions of her NYC love life and I got some really great ideas for pasta dinners!! LOL My favorite line from the book might be: " My imagination had the flexibility of a thirteen-year-old Chinese gymnast."


For those of you who are supporting Ryan and me for the WTA hike-a-thon this year, Here is the link to our donation page! Hike-a-thon