A Book a Week – Instructions for Happiness and Success

I saw Instructions for Happiness and Success: A Step-by-Step Mind Manual for Creating the Life You Choose a few years ago at a store and fell in love with it immediately. I just loved the design, the happy orange cover, etc. It certainly didn’t hurt that it was about happiness.

I wanted to buy it right then and there. But I didn’t. Not sure why, honestly.

I put it in my pinterest board of books I want to buy and then it sat there for like two years. When I finally bought it, I sat down to read it and read the whole thing in one sitting.

It was quite great.

If you like pretty design and some interesting food for thought on happiness, it’s recommended.

A Book a Week – Lexicon

I read Lexicon in one sitting. I had read that it would be a fast read but I had no idea how interesting, weird, and fun I would find it.

I’ve read other Max Berry books before and the pace and tone was similarly over the top but I really liked this one.

I would recommend you go read the blurb on amazon and if the subject interests you I’d recommend this one.

A Book a Week – Wild

I’ve been meaning to read Wild for a long, long time. But what finally got me to read it was the movie, of course.

I won’t see it until I read it.

So read it, it was.

I knew a lot of people liked it and I did, too. But I didn’t love it. It was interesting and I enjoyed reading all about the hiking adventures. But overall I had a hard time relating to the author and many of her choices and that did cloud my view of the book.

I am very much looking forward to the movie, of course.

A Book a Week – The Luminaries

The Luminaries was the Man Booker Prize winner for 2013 and I knew I wanted to read it.

Except that it’s really long.

Really long.

So I decided that I would listen to it instead. That’s hours and hours of listening. But I did it anyway.

And listening might not have been the best call because there are a lot of charts and visual cues is this book. And it’s a tough story to follow as is.

But it was still worth it. I liked the story, found it interesting to follow and even though I got thoroughly confused at the end, I am still glad I read it.

A Book a Week – The Desire Map

I read Desire Map many months ago and wrote about it a little here. Even though Danielle LaPorte can be hit or miss for me, I loved this book. Loved it.

I think it’s spot on and I recommend it.

A Book a Week – Me Before You

I picked up Me Before You because I knew there’s a movie coming and I refuse to see movies if I haven’t read the book first and this one was very recommended, too.

Even though I read this one really fast, I am on the fence about it. I don’t know that I loved it. I did like it. I can’t even put my finger on exactly what. If you like a nice story, this one is a good one to put on the list.

It’s definitely one of those books you can’t put down. At least I couldn’t until I was done. However it could have been shorter without losing most of its value.

A Book a Week – The Husband’s Secret

I picked up The Husband’s Secret cause I kept seeing it in all the lists and so I finally succumbed. I was worried it was going to be too chick-flicky for me and I have to say that it wasn’t incredibly deep.

However, there’s a bug twist in the middle and I so totally didn’t guess it.

I am usually good at guessing these kinds of things, but I didn’t see it coming. Like not. at. all.

So that made the book good for me. It was chick flicky but it was not super-light. I think this one was interesting to read.

A Book a Week – The Maid’s Version

After The Rosie Project, I picked up The Maid’s Version for something more serious. And more serious it was.

I’d never read Daniel Woodrell before even though I’d seen The Winter’s Bone in the movies. Having read this book, I am confident the movie must have been so inferior. Woodrell’s writing is nothing short of amazing. The words, the phrases, the whole thing is just excellent.

Even though the subject matter is tough and it jumps around a bit more than I’d like, this is a short book and it’s a literary joy. If you like really well-written books, this is one not to miss.

A Book a Week – The Rosie Project

I picked up The Rosie Project thinking it was going to be light and simple. As it turned out, it was super funny and lovely to read. It was also hilarious. It wasn’t deep and heavy but it was so funny that it made up for everything.

If you’re looking for a quick read one that’s really fun, I really recommend this one.

A Book a Week – The Circle

The Circle was for book club. I remember when this book first came out and I read about it, and thought I had no interest in reading it. I am not a huge social network fan but I still couldn’t muster up enough excitement or paranoia to read this one. Even if Dave Eggers wrote it.

As it turned out, it was a quick and easy read. And it was so over-the-board unrealistic, in my opinion, that I didn’t find it dystopian or scary enough. Some parts rang true and sad, of course, but overall I just thought it was a semi-interesting story that fell flat by the end. It was too overdone.

Alas, if techie stories are your thing or you’re deeply scared of what social media means for our future, this is an interesting read.

A Book a Week – Counting by 7s

I picked up Counting by 7s because someone in my book club recommended it. They said it was a great book like Wonder. So I decided it would be fun to read it and then pass it on to David.

And, great it was.

I will say that, in my opinion, I don’t think it was as wonderful as Wonder. But it was a completely different book so it’s not fair to compare. Nonetheless, it really was a great story, beautifully told, and a really wonderful read. If you have middle-school kids and/or like to read stories that might be for younger kids, this one is recommended.

I am glad I read it.

A Book a Week – Allegiant

I cannot tell you how excited I was about Allegiant’s release. I’ve been a huge fan of the Divergent series and I couldn’t wait for the final book. I waited and waited and waited.

But then when the book came out, I wouldn’t read it.

I read a few pages and I kept putting it down. I am not sure what was going on but I just couldn’t get into it. The reviews were bad, too, which made me sad. I think it was that I didn’t want my favorite story to be ruined.

When I finally sat down to really read it, I ended up leaving it with mixed emotions. I won’t say I hated it because I really still love this story. I love Veronica Roth’s writing, characters and plot. Even though it wasn’t my favorite of the three, I still love this whole series.