This month was an interesting mix of books for me ๐
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
I don’t usually go in for poetry but I had seen a lot of fan-girling on the ‘ol interwebs about this book and its author so I decided to give it a read. I found her prose beautiful.
The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
Absolutely freaking hilarious! True accounts and tales from an actual bookseller (the author) who lives in Scotland and runs a second-hand bookstore. I read this book during my daughter’s naptimes and almost woke her up I don’t know how many times, from trying to contain myself from laughing out loud. A definite must-read! ๐
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I was super excited to read this book about a group of friends who meet up at a hunting lodge to ring in the new year together, as they have done for the past 10 years, but this time, someone is murdered. Sounds interesting, right?
As I am reading this book, I kept having the feeling like I have read something like this before. The same annoying themes that another author writes into her books that I find extremely off-putting. And it hit me: this feels like a freaking Ruth Ware book, and wait, whaddayaknow? Look what is on the front of the book??
*face palm*
I CANNOT STAND RUTH WARE BOOKS! And this book is chock-full of her nonsense. Characters who are drunk, completely plastered out of their minds but still somehow process information and figure things out? Check. Woman who just had a baby, but thinks it is a good idea to bring said baby and continue drinking as if this is not a problem? Check. Friends who literally can’t stand each other, but feel this compulsion to meet up with each other every New Year’s Eve because….why? Check. Knowing immediately who is going to be the murder victim and now having to finish the tedious book to find out why? Check.
Arghhhhhhhโฆ.
Y’all, do not read this book. Let this be a lesson to everyone: if the book positively compares the book and/or author to Ruth Ware, calmly put the book down, and run away.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Ahhh, a breath of fresh air. Seriously. A great who-dunnit and I didn’t figure out who did it! Yay! ๐
Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet. by Ashlee Piper
I didn’t expect this book to be so amusing, but it was. A book on basically how to be a better human. Reduce, recycle, yada, yada, yada, but with a comical spin. Very, very funny ๐
The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
Really interesting book about really and truly, where all of our stuff comes from and where it is going, once we are done with it. Landfills aren’t the answer and she goes into detail about things that we don’t really think about, such as the fact that when you are not buying or using organic cotton, you are wearing/using cotton that has been treated with formaldehyde. *mind blown*
There is also a documentary of the same name by this author that she made. I haven’t watched it yet, but I plan to.
Well that’s it for me. Any good books that you guys can recommend? ๐
I read An Unwanted Guest this month too! I really appreciated how classic it was as far as mysteries go, but was disappointed because I did figure out who but not why pretty early on!
Oh wow, that’s awesome that you figured out who did it, early on! ๐
I really want to read An Unwanted Guest, and sorry you really hated The Hunting Party. I still want to check it out!
-Lauren
An Unwanted Guest definitely kept me engaged! ๐
i haven’t read a ruth ware book yet but i am curious to see which side i fall on – i feel like people love her or hate her. it’s not a genre i read a lot of so i feel like i might be easily impressed. i don’t know lol. i will have to check out an unwanted guest!
Read Ruth Ware at your own risk, lol!!! ๐
An Unwanted Guest is definitely a page-turner!
Had to laugh reading your Ruth Ware comments. I read one book of hers and didn’t love it, but they seem to be very formulaic. Which is fine, if you like that particular formula, haha. It’s always concerning when authors are compared directly for this reason.
Lol ๐ I know her books are super popular, but her writing style bothers me sooooo much.
The Story of Stuff is on YouTube, it’s short! I find it fascinating.
Laughed at your Ruth Ware commentary, I actually like her but 100% her books are super similar/predictable.
I didn’t know The Story of Stuff is on YouTube! Thanks for letting me know, I will definitely go on there and check it out.
Ha! Thanks ๐ Ruth Ware’s writing drives me a bit bonkers, lol.
Super interested in the last two given my focus on consumption over the past few months and looking ahead. I’m going to check them out.
LOLOL I hate Ruth Ware books too.
Poetry is not typically my thing but I love Rupi Kaur
I think you’ll enjoy those two books. Happy reading!
I knew you would understand about Ruth Ware, ha! ๐
You and Jana both hate Ruth Ware and trust you both, so I have never ever picked up one of her books. ๐ And while normally I’d be of the mindset that I should just see for myself, your little checklist is spot-on and I hate, hate, hate all those tropes. Grrr…. they just piss me off. Milk and Honey is already on my TBR and the Diary of a Bookseller sounds so good, adding it to my TBR. An Unwanted Guest also sounds good. I had just put another book on my TBR with a similar name and was momentarily confused but two different books! More books to read! ๐
Yay! You’ll enjoy all of these books ๐ And yes, stay away from Ware’s books…Jana and I know what we are talking about, lol ๐
OMG I HATE RUTH WARE’S BOOKS. They are awful. As soon as I saw that comparison I was like “nope. hard pass for me”. This is why we’re friends.
I think I need to read Stuff, or at least hunt down the documentary. I will tweet you the link when I find it.
Yes, her books are THE WORST!!!
I almost WANT to read a Ruth Ware book now, like people feel compelled to try burp-flavored jelly beans or whatever.
I’m trying to incorporate more poetry into my life. I read Mary Oliver last year so maybe I’ll give Rupi Kaur a try.
Lol regarding Ruth Ware ๐
I have a Mary Oliver book on request from the library and am anticipating reading it ๐