2017 Book Challenge

In an effort to read all of the books I somehow manage to keep purchasing, I've set a goal to finish two books a month for 2017.  Seems easy, but I have a short attention span and a real love affair with streaming television.  I'll include a list and an quick review.

January

1.  Scrappy Little Nobody - Anna Kendrick - Great memoir, funny and easy to read.  Makes me even more sure that we could be friends.

2.  Forward - Abby Wambach - Memoirs are my sweet spot, and this may be one of the best I've ever read.  Unflinchingly honest, and an interesting look at how the things that create us have the potential to destroy us.  Highly recommend.

February

3.  The Marvelous Misadventures of Ingrid Winter - J.S. Drangholt - I can't lie.  This book is difficult mostly because it has been translated from one of the lovely Scandinavian countries (which I can't currently remember).  I only made it through a few chapters.  Also, I totally didn't account for how crazy February is for me.

March 

4.  Talking As Fast As I Can - Lauren Graham - I enjoy her as a human being and like her conversational style of writing.  I'm also a huge Gilmore Girls fan, so I'm sure that also shades my review.  But it was an enjoyable read just the same.

April

5.  The Polygamist's Daughter - Anna LeBaron - Anna is a Twitter friend, and I have been looking forward to reading her story.  It was both harrowing and hopeful.

6.  Love Warrior - Glennon Doyle Melton - I love Glennon, and this book made me laugh and cry and highlight the heck out of it.  I will be returning to its wisdom again and again.

May

This month was a total mess.  No books here.

June

7. The Antelope in the Bedroom - Melanie Shankle - I have loved reading the adventures of Melanie on her Big Mama blog, and this is a book mostly about marriage (which does not apply here).  But I still really enjoyed it because I like her voice and I've given this book as a gift to newlywed friends.  I really need to read her other two books, as well.  Maybe next month.

8.  We'll Always Have Paris - Jennifer Coburn - I loved this book of a mom's memoir of her European trips with her daughter.  I bought this e-book on sale a while back, but it was worth the read.  Some tears, a ton of laughs, and it definitely stirred up some wanderlust.

9.  The Magnolia Story - Chip and Joanna Gaines - I bought this on sale (picking up a theme?) as an e-book this week.  It was a quick read, and enjoyable.  It was a lot like the show in the alternating narration, and that it was over and you don't necessarily carry anything with you, but you aren't sad you did it.  Nothing new here, but a sweet story.

10,  Spring Awakening - Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik - There are a ton of musicals that I haven't had the chance to see staged, but that I'm very interested in.  This is a paperback version of the book and music of this Tony Award winner.

July

11.  The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells - I love books set in the South with real southern eccentrics.  I've read all of the books written by this author, and while this one isn't my favorite (The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder is), it was great to revisit this one.

12.  Stories I'd Tell In Bars - Jen Lancaster - Jen Lancaster may very well be the reason I love memoirs so much.  Her early works are some of my all-time favorites.  This self-published book takes us back to those stories that are truly why we loved her in the first place.


2 comments:

  1. I loved Love Warrior as well. I wish I was as wise as her. What will you be reading this summer?

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    Replies
    1. I haven't completely decided. I have about 20 unread books on my shelf right now, another 10-15 on my Kindle. I'm a very mood based reader, so it will probably just depend day-to-day. (I have three that I'm switching between at the moment.)

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