What have you been reading?

[MrsPotatohead]

I haven't read much for fun in the past... 10 years? lol Ok, maybe here and there, but since finishing school I'm actually enjoying it. Plus my bus commute is longer so there's lots more time!

Anyway, I'll admit I tend to be into more 'serious' things, I've always preferred non-fiction, but have found things I really love lately.

Serious stuff
All of Brene Brown (I Thought it was Just Me, Daring Greatly, The Gifts of Imperfection), if you haven't you should go watch her TED talks
And Baby Makes Three, and probably all of John Gottman's other books after this one (we're not at kids yet, but I've always wanted to read his marriage books so I figured this was a two-for-one, it's pretty amazing)


Not serious stuff
The Glass Castle
Where's You Go Bernadette?
Boys in the Boat
I did also read some of those series like Maze Runner and Divergent, still liked Hunger Games the best though

[Deleted]

Currently re reading the Castings Trilogy. Just also finished the first Richard Castle novel since I am a huge Castle fan.

[Deleted]

I'm mostly a sci-fi fantasy reader. I'm on book 3 of the Mistborn series I borrowed from @aellasbeth. Might go find online some more books by this author, not sure what I'll read next.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2015 12:09:21 GMT -5 @ksta said:

I'm mostly a sci-fi fantasy reader. I'm on book 3 of the Mistborn series I borrowed from @aellasbeth. Might go find online some more books by this author, not sure what I'll read next.

hes AMAZING.. i recommend his stormlight archive.. loved it.. nd hes releasing a warbreaker sequel sometime soon toooooo!!!

[InBetweenDays]

State of Wonder
Orphan Train
Girl on the Train
What Alice Forgot (listening to it on my commute - easy listen but also intriguing)
Me Before You (just started it)

If you like Boys in the Boat type true stories - try Unbroken or In the Heart of the Sea. In the Heart of the Sea is also being turned into a movie sometime soon. Incredible story.

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 12:31:01 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

State of Wonder
Orphan Train
Girl on the Train
What Alice Forgot (listening to it on my commute - easy listen but also intriguing)
Me Before You (just started it)

If you like Boys in the Boat type true stories - try Unbroken or In the Heart of the Sea. In the Heart of the Sea is also being turned into a movie sometime soon. Incredible story.

oh yeah! I forgot about that (still haven't seen the movie), thanks for the rec

[minion]

Wayyy too many baby books.

[dana86]

GBCN.....

Seriously its been a while since I've found a book that caught my attention. It is pretty depressing but I feel like I've been so much more picky with books that nothing sounds good.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2015 13:12:04 GMT -5 dana86 said:

GBCN.....

Seriously its been a while since I've found a book that caught my attention. It is pretty depressing but I feel like I've been so much more picky with books that nothing sounds good.

This. When I find a good book I'll be on a roll, but I haven't found a good one lately.

[spa]

Jun 2, 2015 13:01:17 GMT -5 minion said:

Wayyy too many baby books.

This cracked me up

I read A LOT of non-serious stuff
Kids series that I thought was well written: Wings of Fire Series 
Swimming Pool Sunday 
Witched at Birth 
The Lost Gate & Gate Thief 
(R)Evolution 
Katie Oliver's Series including: Manolos in Manhattan, Love, Lies and Louboutins, And the Bride Wore Prada etc 
Journey to the West 

Some serious-ish 
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home 
I am Malala 

Then I recycle a lot of books at home. I am constantly stopping by the thrift store looking for cool books from the 60s-70s to read. 

I mean I just read Happy Birthday Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle ... don't judge me 

[spa]

(R)Evolution is kinda weird but it was reallllly interesting from a technology stand point. I should also point out I get a free book a month from Amazon Prime that is a new release <?> and this was it for May and I tore through it

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 13:01:17 GMT -5 minion said:

Wayyy too many baby books.

read And Baby Makes Three! From reading that and the Brene Brown books I think it's true that the #1 most important thing is not all the stuff you're supposed to know about babies, but about knowing yourself and having a good marriage. I also just love all the research in his book about relationships and the data talking about how that actually does affect babies. It's pretty crazy. Anyway, even as someone not quite there yet I'm finding it super helpful.

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 14:12:44 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Jun 2, 2015 13:12:04 GMT -5 dana86 said:

GBCN.....

Seriously its been a while since I've found a book that caught my attention. It is pretty depressing but I feel like I've been so much more picky with books that nothing sounds good.

This. When I find a good book I'll be on a roll, but I haven't found a good one lately.

Read The Glass Castle, it's crazy (true story) and totally engaging. I think I want to read some of her other books.

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 14:15:30 GMT -5 spa said:

Jun 2, 2015 13:01:17 GMT -5 minion said:

Wayyy too many baby books.

This cracked me up


Some serious-ish 
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home 
I am Malala 

ooh how was that?

[spa]

Jun 2, 2015 15:03:27 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Jun 2, 2015 14:15:30 GMT -5 spa said:

This cracked me up


Some serious-ish 
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home 
I am Malala 

ooh how was that?

I liked it a lot- it was a really engaging, interesting, amazing (running out of adjectives) read

[monsterz]

Nonfiction
Unbroken
Dead wake
Winter of our disconnect
Neil Patrick Harris choose your own autobiography

Fiction
The Rosie Project
A Sudden Light
Century Trilogy by Ken Follett
Orphan train
The language of flowers
The goldfinch

[mkate710]

Right now I'm reading Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans and still finishing Boys in the Boat.

MrsPotatohead I've been wanting to read some of the Gottman books. I'd be curious to hear if you have some favorites to recommend. I should stick a copy of something called Baby Makes 3 on my nightstand and see if H notices and freaks out

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2015 22:04:23 GMT -5 mkate710 said:

Right now I'm reading Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans and still finishing Boys in the Boat.

MrsPotatohead I've been wanting to read some of the Gottman books. I'd be curious to hear if you have some favorites to recommend. I should stick a copy of something called Baby Makes 3 on my nightstand and see if H notices and freaks out

Please do and report back!!

[BlackCanary]

In the past few months-


Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (one of my favorites!)
God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell 
The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher 
Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 22:04:23 GMT -5 mkate710 said:

Right now I'm reading Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans and still finishing Boys in the Boat.

MrsPotatohead I've been wanting to read some of the Gottman books. I'd be curious to hear if you have some favorites to recommend. I should stick a copy of something called Baby Makes 3 on my nightstand and see if H notices and freaks out

Well I started with the baby one because I figured I'd get the relationship stuff + parent stuff all at once. It's making me want to go back and read the others though for more detailed info. I really love it and think it's a great combination of research (not just opinions), history (pregnancy, fatherhood, culture), info about baby development, advice and exercises here and there to do. H normally doesn't like this kind of thing (he likes to do things on his own), but I'm going to genuinely ask that he read it.

My biggest take-away is that the biggest predictor of child development is their parents' relationship and having a good marriage is the most important thing to focus on over which stroller to buy. It seems sort of obvious, but I don't think I had thought to really work on our relationship as much as I want to now. I mean, people read all sorts of books about dogs or DIY home improvement, but now I really want to be a good couple - like practice things and be better. It also doesn't shy away from things like sex and although it's focused around having a baby, it pretty much applies to any stress in a relationship.

Also, after H saw me reading it he ran back in the room and was like "You're not pregnant right?!" LOL um no.

If you know me, I'm a HUGE Brene Brown fan, but I think John Gottman is coming a close second...

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 2, 2015 23:40:41 GMT -5 BlackCanary said:

In the past few months-


Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (one of my favorites!)
God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell 
The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher 
Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

we had to read this in an international studies class... so freaky

[stretchad]

When I was on vacation I managed to get through Where'd you go Bernadette and Girl on the Train. Both quick and engaging reads. I started reading the Patriot Threat by Steve Berry. For those unfamiliar, his novels are along the lines of Dan Brown & the davinci code. A dude, consipiracies, connect the dots type stuff of history partially based in fact.

[BlackCanary]

Jun 2, 2015 23:45:21 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Jun 2, 2015 23:40:41 GMT -5 BlackCanary said:

In the past few months-


Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (one of my favorites!)
God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell 
The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher 
Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

we had to read this in an international studies class... so freaky

I love it, it is scary, but sooo good. 

[spa]

Jun 2, 2015 23:40:41 GMT -5 BlackCanary said:

In the past few months-


Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (one of my favorites!)
God is Disappointed in You by Mark Russell 
The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher 
Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Christopher Moore cracks me up I just re-read Fool for the 5th time 

[toratoratori]

I'm halfway through Lois Lowry's The Giver series (there are four books now). I had to take a break because it was making me too sad. I'm currently reading (listening to - I do audiobooks on my commute) "The Other Side of the Night," which is about the ships that came to the assistance of the Titanic when it sank.

[mkate710]

Jun 2, 2015 23:44:25 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Jun 2, 2015 22:04:23 GMT -5 mkate710 said:

Right now I'm reading Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans and still finishing Boys in the Boat.

MrsPotatohead I've been wanting to read some of the Gottman books. I'd be curious to hear if you have some favorites to recommend. I should stick a copy of something called Baby Makes 3 on my nightstand and see if H notices and freaks out

Well I started with the baby one because I figured I'd get the relationship stuff + parent stuff all at once. It's making me want to go back and read the others though for more detailed info. I really love it and think it's a great combination of research (not just opinions), history (pregnancy, fatherhood, culture), info about baby development, advice and exercises here and there to do. H normally doesn't like this kind of thing (he likes to do things on his own), but I'm going to genuinely ask that he read it.

My biggest take-away is that the biggest predictor of child development is their parents' relationship and having a good marriage is the most important thing to focus on over which stroller to buy. It seems sort of obvious, but I don't think I had thought to really work on our relationship as much as I want to now. I mean, people read all sorts of books about dogs or DIY home improvement, but now I really want to be a good couple - like practice things and be better. It also doesn't shy away from things like sex and although it's focused around having a baby, it pretty much applies to any stress in a relationship.

Also, after H saw me reading it he ran back in the room and was like "You're not pregnant right?!" LOL um no.

If you know me, I'm a HUGE Brene Brown fan, but I think John Gottman is coming a close second...

I'm not familiar with Brene Brown at all... Tell me more?

[MrsPotatohead]

Jun 3, 2015 12:22:22 GMT -5 mkate710 said:

Jun 2, 2015 23:44:25 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

Well I started with the baby one because I figured I'd get the relationship stuff + parent stuff all at once. It's making me want to go back and read the others though for more detailed info. I really love it and think it's a great combination of research (not just opinions), history (pregnancy, fatherhood, culture), info about baby development, advice and exercises here and there to do. H normally doesn't like this kind of thing (he likes to do things on his own), but I'm going to genuinely ask that he read it.

My biggest take-away is that the biggest predictor of child development is their parents' relationship and having a good marriage is the most important thing to focus on over which stroller to buy. It seems sort of obvious, but I don't think I had thought to really work on our relationship as much as I want to now. I mean, people read all sorts of books about dogs or DIY home improvement, but now I really want to be a good couple - like practice things and be better. It also doesn't shy away from things like sex and although it's focused around having a baby, it pretty much applies to any stress in a relationship.

Also, after H saw me reading it he ran back in the room and was like "You're not pregnant right?!" LOL um no.

If you know me, I'm a HUGE Brene Brown fan, but I think John Gottman is coming a close second...

I'm not familiar with Brene Brown at all... Tell me more?

Her TED talks are amazing - her first one is one of the top 10 TED talks of all time. I watched them a couple years ago and then recently decided to read her books. She studies shame and vulnerability, mostly in women although she started to do some with men. It's seriously some of the most important stuff I've ever read and so amazing. I have rewatched them multiple times and feel like I'm learning, or at least being reminded of something, each time. I wish everyone would watch them!

First one: www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en
Second one: www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame

I think the research that Brown and Gottman do really gets at the heart of things like addiction, eating disorders, PPD etc - so much of it is about the fact that humans are built for connection and when those connections are lost or bad it comes out in those other things. And as a scientist I can't help but love that these two people really work at the things they talk about, it's not just things they have opinions or feelings on. I can't recommend these books enough, it's seriously changing everything I knew about myself and relationships.

ETA: it's a wonder I haven't posted all over the board about her yet, lol, I've been trying to restrain myself. But all my friends IRL know about my addiction to her

[fiddles]

I read...A LOT!  These are just the books I've finished since April

Currently:
The Daughter

Just finished:
The Wife, The Maid, The Mistress I liked this. Easy ready. Engaging story. I actually added it to my list because I saw Spun had read it on Goodreads.

A Memory of Violets Really liked this one. 

I Regret Nothing Always a fan of Jen Lancaster. Love her sarcastic humor.

The Girl in the Glass I need to go to Florence now.  

What She Left Behind One of my favorites recently!  Very good book.  I spent hours one night reading it because I couldn't put it down.  I love how it has 2 different narrators telling the story and they are years apart.

These 2 are interesting. Same story being told by 3 different people.  I like how you get different sides.  The Affair and the 2nd book The Consequences

The Color of Secrets Set during WW2. 

Beautiful Ruins Another fun, easy read.  This book goes back and forth in time with different stories.

A Small Indiscretion 

Secrets of a Charmed Life

Traitors Wife Interesting story about Benedict Arnold and his wife.  I really liked this one as well.  I learned a lot of new stuff about ol Benny.

Sound of Glass




And some of my favorite:

Secrets of a Lighthouse

The Wedding Gift

The Art of Racing in the Rain  YOU MUST READ THIS IF YOU LOVE DOGS!

Sarah's Key

Light Between the Oceans

The Girl Who Came Home

Bittersweet