Quick updates: We moved! We’re getting settled! I have kept up with blogging not at all! I keep my eyeballs on Instagram sometimes to see updates. Sometimes not. I can never decide what should take the front seat – Ellie obviously, and then I have a thousand things I want to do in the little spare moments I get. And sleep – I pretty much always choose sleep about an hour after she goes to bed.
I missed last month’s linkup, so I have a bunch of really good books to share. I haven’t read a ton but I have hit some fantastic ones, lately, and a couple just alright.
Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham – 5 stars
I loooooove Gilmore Girls, so it’s no surprise I loved this book. It was a nice surprise that Lauren Graham seems as down to earth and funny as you would think she’d be. There were so many good stories about Gilmore Girls and her life before, and she has a great sense of humor.
The Lauras by Sara Taylor – 3 stars
via NetGalley
This was a coming of age type story about a character named Alex, and it is not clear if the character is a male or female. It was definitely intentional and an interesting take. I didn’t identify very much with the character although he or she was in a tough situation – the story follows Alex and the mother moving around the country and explaining the mother’s backstory. I recommend if you like stories about disconnected families getting to know each other.
Double Dutch by Laura Trunkey – 3 stars
via NetGalley
I usually enjoy short stories – I think I prefer a certain genre of short stories. I was expecting more magical realism, which is probably my favorite, and this had more realism than magic. Some of them were unexpectedly sad (elephant!), others were interesting, and overall it was not bad but didn’t hook me.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes – 5 stars
I knew nothing about Shonda Rhimes before starting this book and didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I was thinking it would be more of a self-help style book, so I wasn’t that quick to take it off my to-read shelf, but it’s a personal story/biography that’s funny and a fascinating look at how one person changed.
Also, I was mildly interested in Grey’s Anatomy before, and now I really want to see it. I’ve never actually seen more than the pilot. If I ever get TV time, I’m going to jump into it. The book feels especially relevant to me right now since she talks about motherhood and I agree with lots of her viewpoints, but I feel like it would be massively spot on even if you are not a mother.
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Iron Carmon and Shana Knizhnik – 4 stars
RBG is another lady I knew very little about before getting into the book, aside from what I’d seen Kate McKinnon portray on SNL (“you just got Ginsburnnnned!”). I knew I would be a big fan already, and it was interesting reading about her. This is the kind of book that makes you want to get up and become an activist or judge and feel both outraged by our nation and satisfied by RBG’s wins or dissents. I loved reading about her personal life, especially the relationship between her and her husband. They seem like two people who were just perfect for each other.
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison – 5 stars
This was something completely different and disturbing. In the beginning, it’s hard to get a read on the storyteller, but by the end you fully understand her and it comes to a well-worth-it conclusion. This was strange, graphic without being descriptive, and unsettling. I could not wait to get back to it to find out what happened next when I stepped away.
I have realized that I read more non-fiction when I have real life stuff to focus on – anybody else do that? Somehow it’s easier for me to jump in and out of non-fiction and it holds my interest.
I’m linking up with Steph and Jana today for Show Us Your Books.
Jeans and a Tiara 
I felt very meh about The Butterfly Garden, I just couldn't get onto it. It was entertaining enough but I didn't enjoy how the story itself was told. I would have preferred to not already know that the girls were rescued beforehand. It took a bit away from the mystery, I thought.
It's always interesting to see people love some of the books that I didn't and vice versa. That definitely makes book talk more fun!
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I loved Year of Yes and Notorious RBG!!! And I was actually considering reading Men Explain Things to me because apparently there's a feminist book club in DE that started up this year, and I'm intrigued. But also struggling to make time for things. Between networking events and client meetings, I think my mom has more baby-time than she wants already, so adding another event that I can't take him to might not be doable.
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I am on the wait list for Lauren Graham's audiobook and I cant wait!!!! I never really cared to read a Year of Yes from others reviews, but you just made me add it to my list!!! I love Greys Anatomy and you should absolutely try to get some watching time in!!! The Lauras sound interesting.
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I am so glad to hear that about Lauren Graham's book. I bought it in Feb. but have been nervous to crack it open. I really want to read The Butterfly Garden. I love short stories too… but I can already tell whichever the elephant one is will be too sad for me! I love magical realism as well! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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I always meant to get around to the Year of Yes – I've always heard great things about it – especially because I'm a Sonda TGIT fan from the beginning. I cant believe I still sit & wait every Thursday for Gray's & Scandal. The best shows!
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The Notorious RBG has been on my list for a while. And The Lauras sounds interesting.
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I LOVED Year of Yes! So so good. And I love Grey's!!
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Butterfly Garden was bananas.
I liked the Lauras. I was intrigued by Alex.
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I loved Year of Yes. I only knew a little about Shonda Rhimes when I read it and was surprised by how relatable she was and how much I loved the book. The Butterfly Garden is waiting for me on my kindle. It's my kind of book but since I own it, it keeps getting pushed back by library books. LOL!
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I absolutely accept the cat photo. (Perfect for National Pets Day!)
I'm glad you liked Double Dutch, Notorious RBG, and The Butterfly Garden – they're all on my TBR list.
And now I'm very interested in 'Men Explain Things to Me'!
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Loved RBG. Have had The Year of Yes on my TBR forever. I feel like a few others are, too.
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I need to read The Butterfly Garden ASAP! I also know I would love Talking As Fast As I Can, so I need to read it soon!
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I loved The Year of Yes! The Butterfly Garden is on my to read list already.
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Omg omg Lauren Graham's book and The Notorious RBG are two of my ABSOLUTE favorites!
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I have seen Year of Yes bandied about the interwebs for a while and I assumed like you it was another self-help book but your review makes me want to read it. I had no idea who Shonda Rhimes was though – Never seen a single episode of Grey's either!
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yay for moving and settling and sleep! i will always accept photos of cats. haha. i adored year of yes, especially because i wasn't expecting to. i am like 2 seasons behind on greys but i used to be a huge fan. i am really glad you enjoyed the butterfly garden, me too. good book. i am the opposite to you – i need fluffy light ridiculousness when life gets all real and stuff.
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Congrats on moving and hopefully things are starting to settle down for y'all! You really did get a lot of good reading in lately, and a couple of them I've had on my list for forever, but I haven't had the chance to read them yet. I love Lauren Graham as well and I love Gilmore Girls, so I figure that I'll love her book. And I've heard so many good things about The Butterfly Garden so I need to pick that one up soon too!
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Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed The Butterfly Garden!
I need to pick up the RBG book.
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I have Men Explain Things to Me on my on list! Look forward to your thoughts on it. As we already established, I'm with you on Year of Yes and Talking as Fast as I Can too. I read Notorious RBG some months ago and am always excited to see it on someone's post here; how great is that woman?! Seeing as we apparently have similar taste I'll have an eye out for The Butterfly Garden, which I haven't read much about yet.
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I really loved The Year of Yes. I've watched some Gray's Anatomy but that's it! I really really want to read Lauren's memoir. I'm glad you loved both of these.
-Lauren
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I have The Lauras on my iPad to read, and after reading your review I'm not even sure I really knew what it was about, but I'm definitely intrigued to read it now.
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