My Fall Reading List

I read a lot of fluffy, fun reads this past summer. And now that fall is going full tilt, I found I've kept on with those fun reads. That is, when I've been doing any reading at all. But fall, for me, always feels like a more serious time, mostly because I associate it with going back to school and learning new things. So I thought I'd give myself a little challenge and pick some more difficult books to work through. 

My only criteria for deciding what books to put on the list were 1: do I actually want to read this possibly challenging book, and 2: will I enjoy it wrapped in a blanket while drinking some peppermint tea? 

Anna Karenena. I've been wanting to read this for a long time. The story sounds interesting, and I love a good dramatic novel. Everyone I've talked to about it has loved it, so I'm really exited to get started. For an added incentive, I promised my friend Jason that I'd read it, so now I have to follow through. 

Anne of Green Gables. I love Anne. I've seen the movie countless times. Last summer I read a biography on L. M. Montgomery's life and where she found inspiration for Green Gables. When I was in grade 4, I started reading the book, but never finished. This fall sounds like the perfect time to curl up and read about Anne, Marilla, Matthew, and everyone else on the island. 

Austenland. It is a true fact that I've never finished a Jane Austen novel. I've started Pride and Prejudice three times. I once almost made it through Sense and Sensibility, but then I had to return the book to the school library. I like Jane Austen a lot, but for whatever reason I have a hard time finishing her books, so this seems like a step in the right direction. I loved the film adaptation, and I'm hoping that the book will be just as good. 

Northhanger Abbey.  Fall seems like the perfect time for a good gothic novel. I don't know why, it's just one of those things. Besides, it looks like it could be a quick read, which should increase my chances of finishing something by Austen.

Yes Please. Amy Poeler is one of those women who I'm going to follow forever. She is funny and smart, and has an advice column for teen girls. If her writing voice is anything like her real voice, this book is going to be fantastic. 

Bird by Bird. My aunt first introduced me to this little book on writing a few years ago. I finally bought a copy and plan on working my way through it slowly. This is a book I don't want to read and be done with. I want to pour over it, making notes in the margins, so I probably won't finish it for a while. 


The more I sit and think about the books I want to start reading, the longer the list gets, so I should probably end the list here. I love getting book suggestions, so please leave your favourite fall books in the comments! 

Book: Revenge Wears Prada

I started reading this book on a cold February day while I was in New York. I was supposed to meet Luke for lunch, but he got delayed, so I went to the library to kill time for a little while. I only made it through the first few chapters before I had to leave, and I finally got around to finishing it up in August. This book is the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, which I read last summer, so I kind of knew what I was getting into. 

The story picks up 10 years in the future, where Andy is now running her own magazine, planning her perfect wedding, and no longer has any contact with Miranda Priestly at all. As it turns out, her new mother-in-law hates her, which introduces some good conflict early on. While this conflict is a slow burn during the first half of the book, it isn't until about halfway through the novel that anything really starts to come of it. It's also at this point that we find out Miranda wants to acquire Andy's new magazine, and is relentless in her pursuit. 

I won't give away the juicy bits, as they are pretty stellar, even though it was a bit obvious what was coming. The climax and resolution comes fairly late in the novel, but it comes in spectacularly, with Andy finally speaking her mind and standing up for herself. The novel wraps up on a hopeful, but uncertain note as Andy considers her future possibilities. This ending makes me think that perhaps someday there will be another sequel, but I'm not holding my breath. 

If you're looking for a dramatic read that pulls you in, this is the book for you. It's a page turner, but there are a lot of pages. It's not a quick read, but it's hard to put down. If you need a little more drama in your life, this is the book to pick up. 

How to Feel Rich: Books and Chocolate

I swear, there's nothing better than lazing around, reading a really good book, and eating really good chocolate. It just seems so luxurious to me, being curled up with a blanket, reading something really interesting, and then every once in a while, stuffing square after square of fancy chocolates into my mouth. 

It means I have the time and place to settle in to a story, plus enough spending money to splurge on a bar or two of gourmet chocolate {at least when they're on sale}. 

Book: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

I finally finished a book from my reading list! Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress has been on the list for forever, and now I can officially cross it off. 

The story is set in China during the Cultural Revolution (around 1972), and tells of two teen boys who are sent away from their family to a remote mountain village to begin their "re-education". They work hard in the village, learning how to farm and live off the land. During their time there, they meet many local people, including another boy who is being re-educated in a nearby village. Through a series of events, they find out that this boy has a suitcase full of books, which have been banned due to the revolution. They do chores for him in exchange for his books. 

The plot of the story isn't quite what I was expecting. The way the back of the book reads, it sounds like the Little Seamstress has a lot to do with them finding the books. However, that is far from the case. In fact, it is the two boys who introduce her to the books, by telling her all about them {as she can't read}. By telling her these stories, she is inspired to live her life. 

At less than 200 pages, it's a short read. I learned a lot about China and the Cultural Revolution, which I'd never heard of before. The writing was simple, but very effective, and I liked the voice of the narrator. The only hiccup was near the end of the book, when the narration changes between several characters. This happens for no reason that I could see, and was a bit jarring. Despite that, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone a little bit. 

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Book: Looking for Anne of Green Gables

I've been trying to read more non-fiction lately, so I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across this book at the library. 

This is a book about the famous author L. M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, and countless short stories. A Canadian icon, I loved learning more about the author and her beloved heroine. 

The book starts out detailing Montgomery's young life. The author outlines unique situations that would have gone on to inspire the character of Anne. As the book progresses, more interesting facts come to light, including the identity of the model who inspired Anne's red hair, and snippets from Montgomery's journals as she grew up and began work on the novel. 

My favourite aspect of this book is discovering how much Montgomery drew on her own life experiences to shape the character of Anne, and in some instances, Diana. It makes me feel drawn to Anne even more, and closer to Montgomery. 

I highly recommend this book to Anne fans of all varieties. Keep in mind that it is non-fiction, and it may seem a bit dry to some readers. It is an easy read, and even includes photos of Montgomery, her family, and other important ephemera. It's a fascinating book, and worth the time and effort you put into it. 

Book: The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing

A few weeks ago, I finished reading The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing. 

It was a quick read, making it a good summertime book. As it opened, I was caught up in the world of a young girl who is sad about losing her childhood vacation home {it also might have been their real home, it was hard to follow along}. As the book went on, I found myself more and more interested in the life of the heroine. 

However, halfway through, things went a bit...off. There was randomly one chapter about nothing in particular. After that, the main character started doing things that didn't seem true to her character. It got really boring watching her make terrible choices, and the book stopped moving forward. Finally, the last chapter seemed to provide a sense of completion, of a satisfying ending. And yet, nope. I found the ending to be jarring, and there was no true ending, or satisfaction of endings wrapped up. 

Some people might say that it's like life; there isn't always closure, and people make bad decisions. But I felt like the ending didn't match the story that had been established. Overall, I wouldn't really recommend it. I found it on several reading lists on Pinterest, so clearly some people think it's worth reading. If you find it at the library, sure, check it out and bring it to read by the pool. But don't feel like you need to go search it out. 

Book: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

A few years ago, this book {and subsequent movie} was extremely popular. At the time, I was around 8 years old, much to young for the demographic the book was aimed for. Now, many years later, I read it without all the excitement and hubbub, and I'm glad it worked out that way; there was nothing to influence me before I read it, or sway my opinion afterwards. 

I watched the movie a few months ago, because I was curious. I'd even forgotten that it was a book. From there, I figured I might as well read it. So I did. 

I loved reading this book. I dove right in, and loved everything about it. The writing style is descriptive without being flowery, the characters are developed and interesting, and the setting is somewhere I'm not familiar with {the South, years 1920-1990ish}. Some of the minor characters tended to blend together for me, but for the most part, each character stood on their own. 

What appealed to me the most was the themes of love, friendship, and female connection that ran throughout the novel. Perhaps it's because most of my female friends have moved all over the world that I connect so strongly with a novel about having your closest friends around you. I would love it if all my closest friends lived within blocks of me, and we could get together on a whim. Unfortunately, that's not the case. So I lived vicariously through the characters in the novel. 

After I finished reading, I looked up some reviews online. While there were some positive reviews, there were many negative ones. Reasons ranged from dislike for "chick-lit" to anger over issues of alcoholism and child abuse. Yes, this is a serious read. I don''t enjoy reading about child abuse {I can't think of anyone who does}, I recognize that life is complicated and not everyone has perfect, loving parents. 

Overall, I would recommend this book. Be aware that it's not all rainbows and sunshine. It is a book about women who are trying to figure out who they are. It is a book about friendship, love, and family ties.

Good Reads

I started using Goodreads today.  Well, that's not totally true. Technically, I started using it 4 years ago, but I didn't really know what I was doing. I still don't know what I'm doing, but I added a bunch of books to my profile, and poked around. I'm not sure I'm using it right, but I like it so far. 

You can check out my profile here. I hope to keep it fairly updated. Between my amazon.com wishlist, and the list I've got on my library's website, and Pinterest, and the list here on the blog , I've got quite a few book lists. But I like books, so I'm alright with that. 

Speaking of so many books, I have quite a few book reviews I need to write up. I shall do that next week. 

Quick Updates

I haven't been posting a lot lately. Mostly because it's summer, and things move slower.  Plus, I'm pretty boring, so there's nothing to update on. But I think I can scrounge up a few things. 

We have a washer/dryer in this new place. So I use it sometimes. However, the dryer isn't the best, so it usually takes a cycle or two for clothes to become properly dry. I often forget to turn it on again. And then my clothes sit around wet, and they start to smell bad. So then I have to wash them all over again.  

I've been working on my reading list a little bit.  There's actually a really great post about it that I need to finish up and edit a bit. In the mean time, I've been trying to read The Sound and the Fury. It's a Faulkner, and I'm finding it very hard to read. There's no introduction of characters, or situations. It just kind of launches in. And everything is dialoge, so you kind of have to piece it together yourself. This does make for a faster read, though. I'll write about it once I'm done. 

That's about it, I suppose.  

Top 5: The Reading List

Choosing only five books is going to be hard.  But let it be noted that this is not a summer reading list. This is only the books currently pinned on my Pinterest board. I'll do a reading list a bit later. 




1. 1001 Books to Read Before You Die 
          Is it cheating to start with this one? Really, it's a thousand and one books. I'm interested to see what books make it to the "must read" list; how many are classics vs. how many are modern. Most interesting will be to see how many I've read {my guess is not very many}. 

2. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

          I started reading this two summers ago. But it's such a huge book, it took me all summer, and I still didn't finish it. Although that's probably due to the fact that I wasn't totally invested in it. I'm a fast reader, I swear. Except when a book doesn't hold my interest.  

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? {And Other Concerns} by Mindy Kaling 

          I just finished this book last week. I've been dying to read it forever. It was great. I really love Mindy. I identify with her a lot {except for the fact that I'm not Indian, or working at my dream job right now}. Seriously, it's awesome, and I recommend it as a fun summer read. 

4. Caps for Sale  by Esphyr Slobodkina

          This books was a big part of my childhood; my nana used to read it to me. I love the illustrations and the sneaky monkeys.  Plus, it's just fun and silly.  

5.  He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know by Jessica Valenti 

          If you know me, this list wouldn't be complete without some kind of feminist reading. I love the idea behind this book - just because we think that men and women are equal, doesn't mean that there's really truly equality between the sexes. The title of this book shows that. I haven't read this yet, but I really really really want to. 

**I didn't include hyper links for the source of the pictures, because you're all smart people who can google book titles to find a cover **

Books: Bossypants, Pink Think, and More

My writing has been suffering. I haven't created anything new in months. They teach you that in order to be a good writer, you need to be a good reader. So I took it to heart. 

I read Bossypants, Tina Fey's first book. It was clever and engaging. It told of her struggles and how she really had to work to get to where she is today. I loved it. It was funny. She told things as they really are. She was open and honest. She was inappropriate in hilarious ways. I highly recommend it. 

I read Pink Think, a text book of sorts, which took a look at how the standards for a "proper woman" were created through culture from 1930-1970ish, and how that has affected us today.  The essence of the books was what "pink think" was - the impossible standards that were set before women; clean the house in pearls and heels, don't make conversation with your husband (it bores him), motherhood is the height of a woman's sexuality and the only way to realize your womanhood, domesticity is where it's at, etc. 

The book was eye opening, without condemning women who believed that pink products would make her more ladylike, or mocking the culture that created the unobtainable stereotype. Again, a highly recommended read. 



I read Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), written by Mindy Kaling, writer of my favourite show The Office. An easy read, I polished it off after dinner tonight. Entertaining, engaging, Mindy comes off as someone instantly relatable. I feel as though I ought to have more intelligent things to say about it. But it was a lighthearted read. I could tell she had fun writing it. And getting a little insight into the life of a TV writer is very interesting. 

Fun fact: Mindy and I have the same computer. And love of cupcakes. 



I feel as though I should close with some witty statement in order to wrap up this almost-book review. How about I say this: I miss having elementary and high school reading assignments. I miss the easy book report. I miss reading something challenging, then having a teacher explain what it really means. I've forgotten how good it feels to finally understand what "allegory" means and then to see it written and have a new meaning to a favourite book. I miss being the only one not grossed out by the ending of The Grapes of Wrath, because I saw the deeper meaning. 

Reading is more than just a pastime for me. 

Book: The Hours

I read this in just a few days. Despite being a Pulitzer Prize winner, it's not very long. 

My verdict? It's very good. 

It focuses on three women from different eras, and how they all relate to each other though the power of literature. 

I think what I liked best was that it focused on one day, and showed how each woman lived through that day. It felt very real. Nothing show-y or overwritten. No unnecessary drama. It was just simple and clean.  

One of the characters is Virginia Woolf, who I don't know a whole lot about, but who I admire very much. Her story really came alive for me, what her life had been like, what kind of a person she was. 

I would highly recommend this to those who are lovers of drama. Although, note that this is not necessarily a "beach read" (it's not sappy or a romance, typical of "beach reads"). You can read it on the beach if want, though. I won't tell you what to do. 

P.S. I hope it doesn't bother anyone that I don't write my book reviews as a school book report. I use choppy paragraphs and fragmented sentences. I use words that aren't exactly academic. I probably spell words wrong.  But I know that this is just a blog, a space where I also show pictures of funny cats and talk about my new jeans. So you're not really expecting an eloquent piece about what I'm reading. If it does bother you, let me know, and I will write you a 2-3 page paper, with sources, about the book I read. In return, I expect payment in cookies or lip gloss. 

This Week's Media in Lists....

Books from the library: Bossypants (Tina Fey) 
                                           The Hours (Michael Cunningham) 
                                           5th Ave, 5am (Sam Wasson) 


Watched on Netflix:  Arthur 
                                      Monk (and finished the series) 
                                      Scrubs 
                                     Hoarders
                                     The Office 


Watched at the movie theatre: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 
                                                       Unicorn City 

A Literary Tragedy

Tonight we went to the bookstore. I found this fantastic book on how to encourage your inner artist. But since we're poor college kids, I didn't get it. I figured I'd look it up online, and maybe buy it used. 


Now that we're home, I can't find it. I didn't write down the title, and I can't find it hidden among the knitting craft books and strange self-help volumes. And the website won't let me search by cover colour. 


This is eating me alive. 

To Know Me is to Pin Me

I'm having a hard time forming a real post, so I'm sharing with you my favourite pin from each pin board I have on Pinterest. You can see what else I've pinned by clicking this. 


Caveat: None of these images are mine. They are all taken from Pinterest. Original links found there. 

Delicious Things: Andes Mints cupcakes 

via Your Cup of Cake

Projects: DIY bathroom accessories 

via The Idea Room

My Future Home: What I want my future home to look like 

via Tumblr 

The Reading List: The Glass Castle (I'm about to read it)

My Style: Comfort 

via Junk Garden Girl

Journals: Good idea for art journal

via Free People blog

Good Ideas: Rosemary Lemon room freshener 

via One More Moore

Because It's Lovely:  London in the Rain 

via We Heart It

Get It Together: A favourite quote of mine 

via Theo

I Have a Crush On:   The Fab Four 

via Tumblr 

Trips to Take:  San Fransisco 

The Cinema: Moulin Rouge (a favourite)

via Imp Awards

OWLS: Hipster Owl (this is my favourite board) 

via We Heart It 

Words: Thin Mint Cat 

via Cheezburger Network

Someday I'll Be a Mom: Onsie 

Book: The Devil Wears Prada

Technically, this one isn't from my reading list (which you can take a look at by clicking on the "Summer Reading List" link on the right), but I've seen the movie, and I wanted a quick fun read. Well, if you count nearly 400 pages as quick. 

The writing style was fantastic. I was drawn in right away. The main character, Andrea (known as Andy), gets a job working for the editor of the world's best fashion magazine. As it turns out, her boss is....unpleasant. Demanding might be a better word. So the story starts out with Andy running her errands and failing miserably. In fact, most of the story is about Andy failing miserably. Not because she's incompetent, but because she works for a demanding woman in a demanding industry that she does not like, nor does she care for it. After months of enduring, Andy up and quits during a fashion show. The book ends with her making amends with her family (whom she has ignored since starting her job), her best friend/roommate (whom she has ignored since starting her job), and breaking up with her boyfriend (whom she has ignored....you get it). 

I found the ending to be rather refreshing. The story finishes without Andy in her dream job. She is also spending time with her family, and repairing her relationship with her best friend. What she is not doing, is getting back together with her boyfriend.  

Final verdict: Fun read, even though it was a lot of pages. But I didn't like it enough to recommend it to anyone. 

Well, I'm Behind

My reading list is suffering greatly. Due to finals, finals being over, and trying to figure out how to get by for the rest of the summer, the list has been pushed to the back burner.  I feel terrible about that. And I blame Emma. I really tried to read it. But it's a slower book, and very long. And it set me back. So I have set it aside, and moved on to Atonement. I'm nearly done (only 60 pages or so left), so expect a post on that sometime soon. 


And I think I shall watch Emma, and count that. Afterall, Austin adaptations are usually very close.  

Book: The Time Traveller's Wife

So, it's been a while since I read this. I just put off doing a post, I guess. Probably because I'm lazy. But I'll share with you now. Although I'm still lazy, so it's coming at you in bullet points. 

Pro's: entertaining

          easy read 

          sweet love story 

          two different story lines (his and hers) kept things interesting and unique 

Con's: confusing plot 

           over-sexed (an affair, over description of romantic moments, you get the idea)

           the ending is very odd 

Overall, I'm glad I read it. I have plans to watch the movie and see how it compares to the book. However, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. If you want to read it, I'll say "great!" but I'm not saying "everyone should read this book". 

And now you know. 

    

Book: The Nanny Diaries

Alright. Now, I don't want to bash, but I need to be honest. This was, in fact, one of the most frustrating, terrible books I have ever read. I kept hoping for some kind of character development or resolution, but the most I got was a passive-aggressive rant.  Some of the characters were set up nicely, and some I just couldn't imagine being in real life. 

The book is about a college almost-grad who takes a job as a nanny in New York City. She takes care of one little boy, and he is pretty adorable. But her employer, Mrs. X, is just terrible. She treads on everyone else, and only thinks of herself. The nanny, then, instead of confronting her about it, passively complains to everyone in her sphere of influence rather than confronting the woman. 

The book left me feeling extremely angsty. And with a solid resolve to never become a nanny.  I really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. 

P.S. They even made a movie about this. The movie is not much better, as it follows the story line pretty close. 

Book: 1984

First one done! Nineteen Eighty-four by Gorge Orwell has been on my shelf for a while. I finished it this afternoon. I found it to be a depressing story. There's lots written about how it's  a political statement and other such things. But I don't read for that. I'm always most interested in character. And here, there wasn't so much of that. I could see the main character, Winston, changing and learning and defying Big Brother (yes, that's where the term comes from, not some dumb TV show). But I was never sure how I should feel about him. I liked him, but I wasn't sure that I should.  In any case, I'm glad that I read it.  And I would recommend it. This is one of those books that everyone should read. It really makes you think about what's real and what's only in your mind.