Book Review: "The Summer of Skinny Dipping"

I've decided that for 2013 I am going to keep track of every book I read this year. My tastes in books can be pretty all over sometimes, it just depends on what I feel like reading at the time. It should be very interesting to watch.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells is my first official read of the year. I am not really into young adult novels anymore. I find it incredibly cliche most of time and very idyllic in the plot lines. However, I had this sitting around and I was intrigued.

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I loved this book and I read it in less than 24 hours. It might have just been the right timing but I really connected with the story and the main character. Essentially, the story is of a 16-year old named Mia who goes with her family to stay at her Aunt's and Uncle's summer house in the Hamptons. Her family life is anything than stellar and she doesn't feel as though she can ever win her mother's approval.

She is looking forward to reuniting with her beloved cousin, and yet she is in for a reality check. Her cousin and her friends are beach beauties with an admiration for smoking and drinking. Mia feels like a black sheep amongst everyone.

She eventually meets someone who changes her world and that story will stay with her forever.

It is such a strong story but I don't want to give too much away, but it does end up being a growing-up and love story. I think I identified with this book so much, because I know how it feels to be lonely even when you're surrounded by people. It is easy to feel like everyone is putting on a facade around you, and that you don't belong. I think everyone will be able to relate to the main character's plight whether it is in their past or what they feel now.

If you have a lazy afternoon to kill, I definitely recommend this book.

Summer Book Review

If you know me then you know I am a total book worm. I'd rather stay home and read a good book than go out to a party. I am a proud little nerd :)

I did finish up a few books at the end of August and I wanted to share them with you! 

"Imagine" by Jonah Lehrer

There has been a ton of controversy with this writer over the last few weeks. It has come out that he was possibly committing plagiarism and fact checking errors. I won't say much about that only because I don't know enough but keep this in mind when you read this book. 

I say this because this book is about the "science of creativity". I really enjoyed this book actually, and I thought a lot of the research he spoke about was interesting and made sense. Of course, due to the scandal we cannot be sure about the facts but either way this is such an intriguing look into what makes us creative.

"The Chaperone" by Laura Moriarty

This is a great book for anyone who likes the plot to take place in early history. This is placed in the 1920s (my favorite time period) and is about a woman who is hired to be the chaperone for Louise Brooks who is going to the big apple to dance with a company. 

Now, Louise Brooks was a real person and became an actress, but this is a fictional story with the real person being used as a character. The story is heartbreaking, and so relatable because the main character has a parts of her life that try to brake her down and she is trying to find and accept the truths that hide in NYC so she can move on with her life back home in Kansas. 

It has a lot of twists but you will love every second of it I promise!

"Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Yep, it is that Bill O'Reilly that you are thinking of. He as wrote a book about President Lincoln's assasination. This is hands down in my top 5 list of books. I could not put this book down, I just wanted to read it all night! President Lincoln is my favorite president so I'm drawn to anything about him. 

The duo wrote the book in the style of a fictional story but in fact only used fact and documents. It was brilliantly written and the use of facts to mold that story was perfect. I certainly recommend this book for any history lovers and anyone who is just interested in what went on in the time leading up to the assasination. 

Final note: he has just come out with Killing Kennedy whihc will probably be my number one favorite book ever because as much as I love Lincoln I love the Kennedy family just that much more!

Currently Reading: May

I thought I would do something a little different and do a post about what I am reading this month. I am one of those people who can read two different books at the same time. I don't know why but it doesn't seem to confuse me. Although if it is a really good book or a more difficult book to read, I'll stick with one.

This month I have been reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky. Truthfully, I started the Happiness Project in April and I just started Inside Apple today.
I am really enjoying both books though; they are subjects I hadn't ever planned on reading about.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin started with a bus ride and a Aha! moment. She wanted to test different aspects of life and see how and why they made her happy, and ultimately if they could make her happier. She sets up a year long project and assigns different aspects like fun, money, friends, and love to each month.

It is a pretty genius idea, and it has branched off into her offering templates and plans on how to do your own project. At 22, I don't really think I'm ready to tackle such a big thing. I'm still figuring out what makes me happy in the first place, I don't really want to start questioning it, but the book has given me some great ways to improve my mood.

Ms. Rubin does a lot of research so it isn't just hearsay, there is an actual basis for everything she is doing within her project.

Today, I started Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky and I'm pretty impressed almost 3 chapters in. It is not a look into Steve Jobs so much as it is a look into what Apple as a company has done to run as a business and how those tactics have made them so successful. We get a great look into the atmosphere of the employees and the headquarters. We do see a lot of Steve Jobs and how he made choices and how he truly decided to run Apple, but the book delves into so much more.

Like I said, I'm only 3 chapters in but I think it will be pretty amazing to see inside a company that has more money than our country.

What are you guys reading? I have such a large pile of books to still read and an even bigger list on Barnes and Noble that I've yet to buy!

[Pictures from Barnes and Noble's website - bn.com]