Hello and happy Wednesday!
It’s the last day of September, and I’m sharing the books I read this month.
I mentioned in my August post that I’ve had a really great few months of reading, and September was no exception.
This month I read four books and listened to one…
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Shampoo Effect:
Summary:
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
Quick Thoughts:
A friend let me borrow this book, and I really enjoyed it.
In the past, I’d tried reading Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and just couldn’t get into it. Since I had just listened to Jenna’s Open Book podcast where she interviewed Jackson, I decided to give the book a chance.
I think since the writing is more contemporary it took me a bit to get adjusted to that style.
Anyway, this book had just the right amount of drama, romance, and friendship complications. Caroline was definitely an outsider looking into a group, and that friend group was pretty complicated. It was interesting to see everything play out.
At some point, I’d like to give Pineapple Street another chance.
Rating:
Through Mom’s Eyes:
Summary:
When Sheinelle Jones launched “Through Mom’s Eyes,” a recurring TODAY show segment interviewing celebrities’ mothers about raising successful kids, she had an ulterior motive—she wanted to bring all their wisdom to bear on raising her own three children. So she asked Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mom about staying present with kids while working multiple demanding jobs, talked with Lady Gaga’s mom about how to recognize bullying, and got tips from Steph Curry’s mom on making sure even future NBA royalty does the dishes. She has since interviewed dozens of remarkable women, and then taken their advice home and tried it out on her own family. The an extraordinarily candid, warm, and insightful collection of wisdom that has taught Sheinelle valuable lessons about life, love, and parenthood.
Now in her first book, Through Mom’s Eyes, Sheinelle is ready to share even more of those life-changing secrets (along with her own experiences and stories) with the world. By combining behind-the-scenes insights from top celebrity mothers—such as the moms of Matthew McConaughey, Serena and Venus Williams, and Padma Lakshmi—with her own tales from the trenches of modern parenting, Sheinelle reveals how to make it through the hard parts of motherhood and still tap into the joys of it with empathy, generosity, and solidarity. Part parenting guide, part insight into the rich and famous, and all heart, Through Mom’s Eyes is a beautiful celebration of those who are the guiding light for their loved ones—mothers.
Quick Thoughts:
I knew when Sheinelle started promoting her book that I wanted to wait for the audio book. It was interesting to hear the perspective of moms of highly successful kids. One thing they all had in common was that raising kids isn’t easy, but they were all their child’s biggest and best cheerleaders. Sheinelle sprinkled in her own stories and wisdom which I loved hearing as well.
This could make a great gift for a new mom or a mom of kids before the teenage years!
Rating:
The Calamity Club:
Summary:
In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.
Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?
Quick Thoughts:
Well, this six hundred page book took up most of my time in September. This book was recommended to me by so many people, and I wanted to wait and read it once I wrapped up my summer reading.
I’d also listened to Jenna’s interview with Kathryn (Kitty!) Stockett, and her southern drawl sealed the deal for me in regards to reading it.
Knowing it was such a long book was kind of a mind game for me at first because on my Kindle, I like to keep the “percentage read” screen on, and that percentage really wasn’t moving.
Insert Labor Day, and my two hour solo pool float, and I really got into the book.
Once I started reading it, so many people told me how fabulous the audiobook was. I ended up getting an Audible account, and I loved that I could read some chapters, but then I could sync with the audio and listen when I wanted to as well.
The narrators for Birdie and Meg were fabulous, but I especially loved listening to the Meg chapters, but I could hear both voices in my head when reading on my Kindle.
The premise, the unique characters, the Mississippi setting, the time period, the friendships, relationships and individual circumstances of each of the ladies kept me wanting to read more.
I feel like I’m not doing the book justice with my thoughts; here’s a snippet from Goodreads.
“The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings.”
That being said, this book had a lot of hype surrounding it, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I think I enjoyed The Help more, but I really did love this one too.
Rating:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 & 4
Summary:
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
Quick Thoughts:
I enjoyed these books just as much as the first two. I read Vol. 3 and listened to Vol. 4. Each book covers a two month time period. The neighborhood of St. Crispian has quite the cast of characters.
I hope to read all of these books in the series, and I’m guessing my reviews won’t be too different. The Goodreads summaries appear to be the same for each book. Emma is funny, and all of the characters are unique and endearing in their own ways.
The ninth book comes out in 2027, and I read there will be 25 books in total?!
Rating:
What have you read lately?
That sounds like such a wonderful month of reading!
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