What Alice Forgot Archives - Luggage and Literature

Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. And this year I’m participating in the 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenges, so I’m also going to be listing which category my books fulfill. If you want to join in on the fun, you can check out the list of categories here! This is my July 2017 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for July 2017. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Of all of Moriarty’s books that I’ve read, this was the least enjoyable while reading it, but the one that I just can’t stop thinking about now that I’ve finished. I think I what contributed to both of those sentiments, is that it is uncomfortable to think that a love of a spouse can be poisoned by such small acts or failures to act, such that divorce seems like the only option. So, I guess what I mean to say is not that I didn’t like this book, because that’s not accurate, but that it made me uncomfortable. And that’s okay, and probably even a good thing from time to time.

Complete Guide to Starting a Used Bookstore: Old Books into Gold by Dale L. Gilbert

I own a building in which my law practice occupies the first floor and the basement. The second floor is vacant and gutted. I’ve considered putting an apartment up there, as well as toyed with the idea of a bookstore. Our town doesn’t have a bookstore, and I think that it would be an awesome addition. Either option is going to be very expensive, but this was a good education about what it takes to open and run a bookstore, if I opt to go that way.

In the Land of Blue Burqas by Kate McCord

2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a book you chose for the cover

The cover of this book is beautiful. It features two women clothed in burqas and a small child, as well as the mud huts of the rural villages of Afghanistan, framed by aqua and orange pattern. It was the reason that I initially picked the book up off of the shelf. The collected stories of Kate McCord (a protective pseudonym) and her time living and working in Afghanistan, trying to understand their culture and worldview, while her neighbors did the same. It was clear that Islam, and in particular the conservative brand of Islam practiced in Afghanistan is inconsistent with the love and peace preached by Jesus. But it was also made clear that a conversation with stories of Jesus’s life and teachings, which many of these people had never heard before despite believing Jesus to be a prophet, changes hearts and minds. I’m glad that the cover was so beautiful that it prompted me to pick up the book.

Daughter of the Mountains by Louise S. Rankin

2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a Newbery Award winner or Honor book

I picked this book up from our local Friends of the Library book sale, because I noticed the Newbery medal on the cover, and knew that I needed a book to fulfill this category of the reading challenge. It follows a young Tibetan girl on an epic journey to India to find her stolen dog. It was sweet and exciting, a great look at another culture, and totally appropriate for both children and adults alike.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow

Have you seen or heard of the video of Randy Pausch’s last lecture at Carnegie Mellon after his terminal cancer diagnosis? The video received a fair amount of media attention a few years ago, and a lot of views on YouTube. This book is essentially a continuation of that story and discussion about what it means to be a good person and achieve your dreams, as well as a summation of what Pausch wanted his children to know about himself. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. I listened on audiobook, and did some ugly crying.

The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed by Scott Parazynski

One of the Kindle First books for July, I couldn’t wait to read it. Although simply ‘reading’ is not what you do with this book. The book has photos and GIF clips embedded into the book, so it’s an immersive type of experience to read Scott’s account of growing up all over the world, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and his career as a NASA astronaut. I truly loved this book, and recommend it.

Lamentation of the Marked by March McCarron

The latest in the Marked series, I couldn’t wait to read this one. It picks up immediately after the previous, so it’s necessary to read the series in order starting at the beginning. Now I can’t wait to see what McCarron comes up with for the next entry! I don’t really want to say more about what happens in the book, as it would be full of spoilers if you haven’t read the previous entries. But if you like Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, this is probably right up your alley.

Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler

My bible study has been reading this book, and just finished it. It goes through different stories of women in the bible, and examines their motives for their actions, and what message we can take from the stories. I really liked it, and think that they all did as well. And the book sparked some excellent discussion in our group. I also appreciated that the chapters were reasonably short, so that we had time to read them, and then discuss them in our group setting.

Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

My book club read this book in July. A couple of people had seen the television series and the movie and were Veronica Mars, but the majority of us had never heard of it. Across the board, we enjoyed this book. Most of us want to read the second book in the series; and many want to watch the show and movie now. There was one point in the story where there’s a huge coincidence that I found a little cheesy, but overall the book is a really good detective mystery.

Books in Progress:

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a book published before you were born)

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

When God Says Wait by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous by Gabriella Coleman

New Enlarged Anthology of Robert Frost’s Poems by Robert Frost (2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection)

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck

Books I’ve Abandoned:

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Books Finished:

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

This was our book club’s pick for June, and I really liked it! The story jumps between a modern-day story of a widow of the World Trade Center bombings, and the story of a woman in the 1910s dealing with the lost of a loved one from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire working on Ellis Island. This type of structure makes for a dramatic story; and historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. So all in all, this is a really good book, that I’d recommend. I’ll likely read more by Susan Meissner, as after reading this one, I noticed that I have a couple of her other books in my To Be Read list.

When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine by Monica Wood

A memoir, this is the story of a young girl whose father dies in the 1960s shortly before John F. Kennedy is assassinated. It is the story of a family dealing with their own personal loss, while the Kennedy family is dealing with their personal loss, and the nation is dealing with the loss of the President. It’s an absorbing read.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I had been looking forward to reading Poehler’s book, as I’ve always thought she was hilarious on Saturday Night Live. It was an interesting look at her background. Her stories were humorous, and the photos were entertaining.

Knowing the Truth About Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon

Gathering together various prophecies from the Old Testament and showing how only Jesus fulfills them, I found this book interesting and useful. It wasn’t terribly long, and had short chapters, perfect for listening to using text to speech or for reading while eating breakfast.

Wives of War by Soraya M. Lane

I really liked this book, but then it’s one of my favorite genres, historical fiction set in wartime. The characters (the story follows three Army nurses) were relatable and believable. And the setting during the invasion of Normandy moved the plot along. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Daughters of the Red Light: Coming of Age in Mumbai’s Brothels by Shanoor Seervai

The short but moving account of an Indian woman educated in America, who returns to India to work as a journalist. After an experience working for a nonprofit helping in the brothels, she is dedicated to tell the stories of those who work there, and in particular the children who live there.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

After reading Into Thin Air by Krakauer, I wanted to read more by the same author, and had seen the documentary about it. Ultimately the book is well written, but the subject bugged me. I think that Chris “Alex Supertramp” McCandless was reckless and irresponsible. But he was also unlucky and young. I think every reader needs to learn all of the facts, and make up his or her own mind about him.

Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son by Lois Lowry

The second, third, and fourth books of The Giver Quartet, these books follow different characters in different places. They weren’t very long, no I was able to read all three in less than a week. I found them to be as beautifully written as The Giver, and as engaging. I’d recommend all four of them, as well as pretty much anything else by Lois Lowry.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

I am a fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson, and this book popped up in my Audible recommendations. When I saw that it was narrated by the author, I was sold. And it did not disappoint. It wasn’t over my head, but was quite understandable, while also entertaining.

A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer

A short book, this is the story of the author’s childhood rampant with the most unimaginable abuse at the hands of his parents. The book is full of difficult subject matter; but I think it is important reading, so that people know that these kinds of things can happen behind closed doors, even now.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Wow, this book is odd. It follows the death of Willie Lincoln, and his time in ‘the Bardo’ after his death. Essentially the Bardo is like purgatory and is full of the ghosts of those who are not yet ready to move on. The ghosts that Willie meets are quite an unusual cast of characters. It’s strange, and a little slow-moving in the center, but I’m glad that I stuck with it to the end. I listened to this one on Audible, and was very impressed with the cast that narrated it, in particular the caliber of the actors recruited.

Books Finished:

Books in Progress:

Books I’ve Abandoned:

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Books Finished:

Books in Progress:

Books I’ve Abandoned:

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