Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Reading Recap

 
This month I have a fairly "eclectic" group of books to share.  Funny romance, dystopian fiction, thriller and Holocaust memoir - and they were all excellent!



I LOOOOVED  "The One" by John Marrs.  It's categorized as Dystopian Fiction and I found it to be JUST far-fetched enough for me to be like "well, this could never happen" but then I'd turn around and think about how it actually COULD happen.  It was a totally unique concept filled with lots of twists and turns and a big ol' surprise at the end which I thought was so clever. 

"A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner—the one you’re genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…"


I listened to Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner and it was another winner.  It grabbed my attention right from the beginning and I found it to be fast paced and hard to put down.  Honestly - it felt like a movie - in the best possible way.

"Really gripping read. A wealthy family is kidnapped in their supposedly secure Boston house and imprisoned in a remote area in New Hampshire. The father is the head of a multi million dollar construction company and they are actually being held in a facility his company built. The mother is addicted to prescription drugs and their vulnerable 15 year old daughter has her own secrets, but to survive they can only rely upon their own strengths. A really good twist at the end ensures a very satisfying read."


I saw an intagram post about Gerda Weissmann Klein and I immediately downloaded "All But My Life".   I don't know how I hadn't heard about it before now but I'm so glad I did and feel like it should be required reading for everyone.  It was difficult to read at points, gut wrenching actually - but somehow despite the absolutely horrific content Gerda's courage and love is what I'll remember the most.  It was detailed but not in a bogged down way and the way she shared in detail how she was feeling during all the various events she went through really set this book apart from other memoirs and fiction books involving the Holocaust.  

My grandparents lived through the Holocaust in occupied Europe and I know how difficult it was for them to talk about what they experienced so I can only imagine how hard it was for Mrs. Klein to write her memoir but what an incredible and important gift she has shared.  HIGHLY recommend!!!

"All But My Life is the unforgettable story of Gerda Weissmann Klein's six-year ordeal as a victim of Nazi cruelty. From her comfortable home in Bielitz (present-day Bielsko) in Poland to her miraulous survival and her liberation by American troops--including the man who was to become her husband--in Volary, Czechoslovakia, in 1945, Gerda takes the reader on a terrifying journey.

Despite her horrifying experiences, Klein conveys great strength of spirit and faith in humanity. In the darkness of the camps, Gerda and her young friends manage to create a community of friendship and love. Although stripped of the essence of life, they were able to survive the barbarity of their captors. Gerda's beautifully written story gives an invaluable message to everyone. It introduces them to last century's terrible history of devastation and prejudice, yet offers them hope that the effects of hatred can be overcome."


The Rosie Project by Graeme Simision was a light and fun romantic read that I really enjoyed.  It wasn't super sappy, the characters were WONDERFUL (they were well developed and unique!) and I laughed out loud several times at the situations that Don found himself in (like the bartending scene).  It was endearing and realistic and there were a few little twists which y'all know I enjoyed.  If you're looking for something fun and light and not your typical "beach read" I'd highly recommend!

"Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper."


HAPPY Wednesday and happy reading, friends!!!

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

29 comments :

  1. I absolutely LOVED The One. I feel I can't suggest it much due to the very rated R parts, but man, what a great read. I heard it will be a movie. I loved the following books this past month: The Woman With the Blue Star, The Book of Lost Names, The Daughter of the Reich, Falling (so so good- by TJ Newman)

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    1. The movie is nothing like the book other than the DNA matching part. Like, totally different and not in a good way.

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    2. I probably should add a disclaimer about that - hahaha. I think I was so intrigued by the characters and premise that those parts didn't stand out to me. Checking out your recommendations now! THANK YOU!

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  2. I read Night Swim that you recommended and have LOVED it. I'm reading The Escape Room now and I'm pretty sure I love it even more!!!

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  3. These all sound great! I'm very interested in the Memoir of Gerda Weismann Klein, and the Rosie Project sounds hilarious!

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    1. YES! The memoir is a must read and then follow it up with the Rosie Project!

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  4. Did you know the Rosie Project is a series!?

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    1. I just realized that yesterday! Have you read the other books in the series? If so please let me know what you thought of them!

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    2. I've only read the second one, The Rosie Effect, but it has the same funny tone that the first book. I really enjoyed it as it was about the next logical step in Don and Rosie's relationship. Headed to the library tomorrow to get The Rosie Result.

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  5. Did you know the Rosie Project is a series!?

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  6. Ohhh soo many good recommendations! Can’t wait to read all of these!

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  7. I just placed a hold on The One at my library, thanks for the rec/review! I've never read a dystopian novel but my junior daughter is taking Genres of Literature: Dystopian so I'm looking forward to learning more about it!

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    1. Ooooh! Check out "The Farm" as well if you like The One.

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  8. These all sound fascinating - off to the library I go. Baseball tournament this weekend and a good book recommendation is what I needed.

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    1. Oooh fun! Let me know what you end up with and what you think!

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    2. I got the Rosie Project and The One. Both so good and not my usual “type” of book. Really enjoyed them. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. LOVED Touch and Go! I'm reading some more of Lisa Gardner's books as well, they are very good! The One seems interesting, will have to grab that one!

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    1. Do you have a favorite Lisa Gardner book? I was looking at reading another one of hers and would love a recommendation!

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  10. I want to read them all! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're so welcome! Let me know whwat you end up reading and what you think!

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  11. Thanks for all the recommendations! :)

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  12. Touch and Go and All But My Life sound like books I would love. I have the Rosie Project somewhere around here and need to read it. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Thank you for the great recommendations!
    I don’t know that I have many of my own since I rely on you and Shay for most of my reads ;)
    I did read Malibu Rising before she did and, unlike her, did enjoy it. Maybe because I wasn’t expecting a “happy ending”? To me, it was more of a “realistic” ending/conclusion. Totally think the author could do a sequel.
    I tried The Farm on your rec but the dystopian theme wan’t my thing. Can’t hurt to try another, though, so will see about The One.
    Hope your school year is wonderful!!!

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  14. Book review is my favorite blog day!! I find myself coming to search your blog for books that I may have not read yet. Do you think you could put the links in the 'catergories' side bar to make them easier to search?

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