Books of April 2021
Another month, more books read. Although April was a pretty calm month, on the whole, I have that feeling of being on the cusp of some major changes. I’m not sure how much I’ll share here, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes which often makes me turn to books to escape (in a mostly healthy way) and for a break, but simultaneously I feel like I don’t have much time to read.
I guess I do have some time though because I got through 12 books this month. And, of course, two of those were for my planned categories.
Classic: Welcome to the Monkey House - 3 Stars. I’ve been a long-time fan of Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five is one of my favorite books), but I still haven’t read all of his works. This one has been on my list for a while and I finally can check it off. It definitely has Vonnegut’s distinctive style, although I felt like the tone was a bit more Hemingway-esque than some of his other books. The book is a collection of short stories with very little overall cohesion other than a common theme of the transience and meaninglessness of (much of) life. Most of the stories are at least mildly depressing and highly satirical, both of which Vonnegut is known for. Looking back, it is interesting to see which of the stories stand out - in most cases, not the ones that I enjoyed most, but the ones that seemed to have the greatest social commentary. That commentary, and the fact that that is what stands out, is something I will continue to think about as time goes on.
Re-Read: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) - I read this book several years ago, long before I ever even watched Gilmore Girls. I know, I know, it doesn’t really make sense. But I had just started reading for fun again and was very into Hollywood memoirs at the time (and in many ways, I still am), so I picked it up. I enjoyed it then, but I enjoyed it much more this time since I have seen the show, and I just finished re-watching it with my mom (one of my goals from my 21 for 2021 list). As you might expect, reading the book had much more significance this time through. I appreciated all of the stories that Lauren Graham shared, and even just hearing about the show from her perspective. I also liked learning more about Lauren Graham’s life beyond the show, particularly because it was told in her own words (and through plenty of asides). Although this book doesn’t have any greater transcendent significance, it was enjoyable and fun, and as a fan of the show and her character, it was really meaningful.
I got through those two planned books in April and also several others:
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie - 3 Stars. As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I was so excited to delve into this book. Going into it I was a bit confused as to what parts of the story were based on fact and which on fiction, a feeling which continued throughout much of the book. The story itself was exciting, the fact that I felt it was taking liberties with history, a little less so. I also didn’t really connect with, or even like, most of the characters - and they didn’t feel consistent over the course of the story. As I’ve shared before, I don’t really like books that jump between perspectives, and this book was certainly one of those. Not only that, but it also jumped between time periods and even past and present tense - something that I didn’t think made sense until close to the end of the book. And although the reason it was written this way became clear eventually, so little is written in present tense that I found it annoying and distracting, to say the least. I was also hopeful that the writing style would be reminiscent of that of the real Mrs. Christie, but it was not. So while the book as a whole didn’t quite live up to my (admittedly high) expectations, the story itself was still enjoyable and fun.
Let Me Tell You What I Mean - 2 Stars. Even as a lover of memoirs, I have yet to truly connect with Joan Didion’s style and impact. This collection of essays she has written over the years is no different. The introduction to the book was exceedingly long, especially in proportion to the rest of the book. Each essay, while engaging or entertaining in its own way, seemed to me to lack a greater purpose, and left the book without any sense of cohesion. I came away feeling like I had gained very little, other than a loose insight into fragments of someone else’s experience - which, I will admit, can hold tremendous value. In this case, however, I felt like I still wasn’t quite sure I knew what she meant.
Elizabeth Is Missing - 2 Stars. I was fascinated by the concept of this book, trying to solve a mystery when you can’t remember the clues, which is why I decided to read it in the first place. It is incredibly painful to see those you know and love suffer from memory loss, and it is almost as painful to read a story from that perspective. Since the narrator is an elderly woman, the story progresses at the pace you would expect. In the story, Maud is searching for her friend Elizabeth, who it turns out, is actually in the hospital - not missing. That part of the plot doesn’t seem to get anywhere, maybe because there is nowhere to take it, but Maud also reflects on her childhood and the disappearance of her sister, which is where the real mystery happens to be. The two stories are, of course, brought together in the end, in a mildly surprising and slightly disturbing way. Although I didn’t particularly enjoy the plot, I am still intrigued by the concept of the book, and it is one that I don’t think I am likely to forget.
The Dinner List - 4 Stars. I read another book by Rebecca Serle earlier this year that I really enjoyed, so I was excited to branch out to some of her other novels. I found this book to be similar in style and theme - a bit cliche in parts, but still entertaining. I generally don’t enjoy books that jump back and forth between different time periods or eras, but this one handled it pretty well. We’ve all named people throughout history that we would love to have dinner with, some probably still living and others long dead, and the premise of actually having dinner with them, along with the things that you would learn, and what would come to light, was intriguing and compelling. As with Rebecca Serle’s other novel that I read, the story is based in unreality (you don’t see your future, and you don’t actually have dinner with dead people - at least, I don’t), but that is what takes these stories from mere cliches to something captivating.
Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life - 2 Stars. When I shared my rating of this book on Instagram, a friend of mine texted me her surprise at the low rating. When she asked why, I told her that the author is much too verbose for the commonplace and mundane points he makes. I didn’t particularly enjoy this book’s precursor either. I had hoped that this one would be more elevated or interesting but for the most part, it wasn’t. The content of the book is generally important, somewhat interesting, but more importantly, it is inaccessible. There is not even any cohesion or even smooth transitions between the topics or “rules” discussed. In addition, the book references the Bible and Christian tradition repeatedly, almost excessively, but it neglects to acknowledge the foundational principles that set them apart from the rest of society. While the “rules” shared in the book are certainly what many people would consider beneficial ways to live your life, they are not by any means new or unique, and I did not feel any more inclined to follow them based on the content in this book.
The Dead Fathers Club - 2 Stars. I’ve enjoyed Matt Haig’s other works, but I found this book to be odd and depressing. Someone summarized the plot for me and I was intrigued, but also a bit unsure that it was something I would enjoy. That unsure feeling continued as I read the book. I didn’t feel a particular affinity for any of the characters, even the narrator, despite the difficult things he experiences. The dialogue in many places is choppy and seems to detract from the story, although pulling you out of the story may be its point. The ending was an ending, but it felt abrupt and inconclusive. Since I didn’t really care for the characters I didn’t really mind, but it would have been nice to feel that the story came to some greater sense of resolution.
Broken (in the best possible way) - 4 Stars. I’ve read all of the books by Jenny Lawson and I am a big fan. Few people can write so powerfully about mental illness and the common struggles so many of us face (most in our own minds and behind closed doors) in such a compelling and humorous manner. Every one of her books has made me laugh out loud all throughout, and this one was no exception. Although I know some people find her writing style a bit loose, she is famous for her rabbit trails and outlandish stories, which I always enjoy. This book, however, had a few rabbit trails that were on their own and didn’t seem to tie back into the overall narrative in any meaningful way. I didn’t sense that there was any overarching purpose to those sections beyond humor. They were also the raunchiest of the book, and while I don’t tend to mind her general level of raunchiness, since I didn’t feel like they had much reason for being in the book in the first place, I didn’t enjoy them as much. She’s right though, we are all broken in many truly beautiful ways, raunchy jokes or not.
Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable - 4 Stars. As with most memoirs, the narrative at the heart of the book is the true gem, and Jamie Kern Lima’s story is no different. From starting a beauty brand in her living room to selling it for $1.2 billion, her path wasn’t smooth, or easy, or straight. But along the way, she learned the most important lessons about what it takes to believe in yourself and your mission, even when no one else does, and why that is the most important thing. She shares a lot of general motivational and inspirational messages which are just as important as they are cliche - but against the backdrop of her story, they take on new depth, meaning, and resonance. It is through seeing how Jamie Kern Lima developed greater self-belief, that it becomes clearer how we can do the same, and how we can find success on our own life path, whether we ever meet Oprah or not.
The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices - 2 Stars. I’m not really sure what I went into this book expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn’t what I got. This book details the ways that we can turn different areas and activities into our lives into religious rituals, of sorts, except that they aren’t actually religious, which is why the author (and apparently many others) will do them. A lot of the ideas make sense. Why wouldn’t we think about how we can add additional depth and meaning to the areas of our lives that can easily be embued with such things? I also enjoyed reading more about how such strong communities can form around common ideas and themes - with everything from CrossFit to various fandoms. But as someone with strongly held religious beliefs, I already have a life full of powerful rituals and soulful practices in most of the areas described. And furthermore, by trying to make normal things religious, I felt that this book illustrated how, without belief in something outside yourself, you still are made to ascribe that meaning to something in some way - in this case, through reading Harry Potter as a sacred text or viewing SoulCycle as your congregation.
How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-By-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often - 3 Stars. I’ve read a lot about writing powerful copy, and it is something I am always working on improving. This book covers all the important topics and it does so completely and succinctly. Although there isn’t anything particularly new, I do think that it covered the relevant topics well. It was a bit dry at points, but I can see how having this book by your side as you type out an email sequence or sales page could certainly come in handy.
In addition to my reading, this month I bought all of my favorite classics - Slaughterhouse-Five (told you that I love Kurt Vonnegut!), The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Catcher in the Rye, and The Great Gatsby. My goal is to buy at least one of my favorite books each month, but so far, I haven’t been able to limit myself to buying just one. Oh well, I guess that is an okay problem to have.
I can’t wait to see what books (and maybe major life changes) May will bring.
Until next time,