2014 Quarterly Book Rewind, Part 2

I made a point, during this second quarter of 2014, to read a few nonfiction titles amongst all my fiction ones.  I tried my best, and a few were actually completed.  Each book is linked through Amazon, in case you want to form your own opinion. (And help me out in the process-they are affiliate links, meaning I get compensation for your purchase, at no extra cost to you!)

• Hidden by Catherine McKenzie. This is not a book I'd normally read, but I was able to download it for free thanks to Amazon Prime. It turned out to be a very interesting read. Each chapter rotates between the points of view of a man, his wife, and the girlfriend.  Yes, wow.
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.  Not being an English literature person, I knew very little about Ernest Hemingway before reading this novel.  The story is told in the point of view of Hemingways' wife, and it was interesting to see (even fictionally) how Paris was during this time period.  
• Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult.  This was an interesting storyline but it was very slow going for me.  I kept putting it down and making reminding myself to pick it back up.  If we were listing favorite books, this one wouldn't be on my list.
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  I wasn't sure if I would like this one.  The first few chapters started off slow but by the fifth chapter, I was hooked.
• Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple.
• Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller.  To a reading teacher, this book was GOLD.  Unless you are naturally curious about people who love to read, or instilling a love of reading in your child, this may not be the book for you.
• Unbroken by Laura Hildebrand.  This was a true account of a WWII solider who was a Japanese POW.  While this was a great story, I felt like the author gave every single detail of the entire time spent in the Japanese war camp.  I found myself skimming just to find out how it ended.
• Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle.  This book was very journalistic--and hilarious.  Each chapter told the story of Melanie's life and her take on things had me laughing out loud.
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.  I've heard great things about this author.  The book was good, but it's not at the top of my recommendation list.
• Simple Genius by David Baldacci.  I love David Baldacci.  This book is older, but it was no exception--wonderfully written and kept me entertained until the very end.
• The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly. I've loved Michael Connelly's books before (think Lincoln Lawyer and The Witness) and this one was no exception.  Loved it from the first paragraph to the last.
• Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming.  I started reading this book as part of a Bloom book study through Incourage.  No offense to Jean Fleming, but it just wasn't for me.  I gave it the standard 4 chapters, and then set it aside.
• The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle.  This book is nothing short of hilarious.  I love how Melanie uses stories from her life and puts a positive spin on things.
• Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  Not a fan.  After the third chapter, I mostly skimmed through just to see how it ended.  Both the language and some situations were rough.  Not recommended.
• Paper Towns by John Green.  Not my favorite.  Definitely not as good as The Fault in Our Stars, which is one of my favorites.
• Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Melton.  This book is real and hilarious, but I don't know that I would recommend it.  The author has different beliefs than I do on things such as homosexuality and abortion.  

Books read with the girls:

• Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary.  The girls enjoyed this.  In case you've never read it (or, like me, it's been a million years), this is all about a girl who doesn't want to learn to write cursive.  
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.  We are all three loving going through this classic again!

If you decide to read any of these books, let me know.  We'll have a virtual book talk over coffee or something.   What are you reading this summer?