August Reads
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Bel Canto
“In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. Alas, in the opening sequence, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. And thus, from the beginning, things go awry.
Among the hostages are Russian, Italian, and French diplomatic types. Swiss Red Cross negotiator oachim Messner comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands. Days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months. Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Time stands still, priorities rearrange themselves. Ultimately, of course, something has to give.”
I’m not sure how she turned written words into music but she did. I could hear an opera. I could see a soap opera. The book also made me think about the immigration debate and all of the wonderful people whose talents we are missing out on. And also the people we are keeping away from an average life. Away from the American dream. There were moments days, and even weeks, after reading this book that I would think back on things I thought I knew and that were proven inaccurate by the ending.
Year of Yes
“In this poignant, hilarious and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder and Catch, reveals how saying YES changed her life – and how it can change yours too. With three hit shows on television and three children at home, Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when invitations arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No. And to an introvert like Shonda, who describes herself as ‘hugging the walls’ at social events and experiencing panic attacks before press interviews, there was a particular benefit to saying no: nothing new to fear. Then came Thanksgiving 2013, when Shonda’s sister Delorse muttered six little words at her: You never say yes to anything. Profound, impassioned and laugh-out-loud funny, in Year of Yes Shonda Rhimes reveals how saying YES changed – and saved – her life. And inspires readers everywhere to change their own lives with one little word: Yes.”
Despite all the hype, I did not know how much I needed to read this but until I was halfway through it. From now on I will embrace my accomplishments. I know I’ll fail and still pretend I’m demure sometimes but I will say, yes I did that and it was difficult. I’m pretty good about doing things that scare me, but there are definitely a few areas that I fail at that too.
To Be Honest
“Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her sister goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she’ll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn’t count on is that her mother’s obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy’s mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats.
Between her mom’s diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears.”
While I appreciated that this was a body positive book, for me the storyline fell flat. None of the relationships felt fully fleshed out to me and what should have been the heavier part of the storyline felt abrupt. That being said, it was a light read which is nice for summer.
A Girl Divided
“Rural China, 1942. Twenty-two-year-old Eugenia Baker exists in a bubble as yet untouched by WWII. Content to help her father with his missionary work, Genie sees her future as a straight, if narrow, road—until an American pilot arrives, warning them of the approaching Japanese army.
Lieutenant Ted Younan is one of the Flying Tigers, volunteer fighters protecting China from aerial attacks. After rescuing Ted from his downed plane, Genie’s father asks the flyboy to get his daughter across the mountains so she can escape to the United States. To leave her beloved home—much less chaperoned by her father’s overbearing assistant, Nathan—is the last thing Genie wants, but she reluctantly agrees.
Ted is unlike any man Genie has known, and he opens her eyes to the idea of determining her own fate and chasing her dreams. But Genie has her doubts when tragedy thrusts responsibility upon her and the war creates unexpected opportunities, challenges…and temptations. Now, a world away from the woman she was, Genie must discover the woman she wants to be.”
I love a good story about a girl coming into her own. It was a classic story of what happens when you outgrow who you were before. Sometimes you really can’t go back home. At times I was a bit frustrated because I wanted her to break out of following what other people told her blindly, but that’s mostly just me since her naivety is part of her character building. The only downside for me was that I felt a lot of books could have been condensed and the ending could have been the beginning of a bigger story. I would read a sequel just to see where she goes next.
Once and For All
“Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants.
Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.”
I love a good Sarah Dessen book. This one wasn’t my favorite, but I appreciated her bringing in a lot of the issues young adults and Americans, in general, are dealing with. It was nice to see different representations of family. I’m not the biggest fan of the manic pixie dream boy, but towards the end, you get more insight into Ambrose which gives him a bit more depth. Overall, this book probably won’t stick with me, but it’s still a nice poolside read.
