Year 3, week 18: One Day in December

This week's book:
One Day in December
By Josie Silver

It finally showed and it put me in the mood for a winter themed book. When I saw this week's book on one of my audio book apps I thought I would give it a whirl. The novel is a basic romance and it's on Reese Whiterspoon's book group list to boot.

I have a confession that I loved the Bridget Jones books and movies when I was in high school. I feel like all women at some point had at least one romantic comedy they enjoyed in their lives. This novel gave me a similar vibe; they both take place in England and are centered around a character that loves romantic comedies. The novel follows a girl in her early twenties who sees a guy from a bus window when she is coming home from work one Christmas. The following Christmas, this dream boy comes to her Christmas party on the arm of her best friend and roommate. Let the drama begin! The book follows the Christmas star-crossed lovers for the next ten or so years.

This week's book isn't amazing by any means, but it would have been one of my favorite books if I had read it in high school. There are dreamy men, a best friend that she lives with, drinking silly drinks, and a whole Grease themed birthday event. If you want a quick romantic read with a chick flick feel, then you should pick it up.

Year 3, week 17: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

This week's book:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
By Gail Honeyman

I'm going to be honest here; I literally bought this book on one of those "I'm running into the store as fast as I can to buy a container of milk, a loaf of bread, and a stick of butter (fill in your own item) while the rest of my family sits in our cookie monster blue colored van playing Pokemon go and hoping the baby doesn't start screaming because the van stopped moving” shopping trips. It had been a long day of the kids trying to kill each other and randomly the book aisle was right beside the item I was looking for, and this week's book was at the end of the shelf. I had seen the cover a few times before, and the book had Reese Whiterspoon's book group sticker on it, and most importantly, it was on super sale, so I bought it.

The novel is pitched as a hilarious story, but I found it really sad at parts. The novel is the story of a woman who has been on her own for a while. She works in an office and keeps to herself, and doesn't think that much of the people around her. She develops a crush on a musician and then tries to get with the times. The book kind of is a coming of age story, but with a woman in her early thirties, or twenties I can't remember her age. A lot of the plot points are a little predictable, but there are some twists.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it.

Year 3, week 16: Strange But True

This week's book:
Strange But True
By John Searles

This week's book was an impulse buy. I saw a trailer for a movie a while back, and when I saw that it was based on a book, I was intrigued.

The story is about a woman in her early twenties who finds herself pregnant, but she has only ever slept with her high school boyfriend who had passed away in a car accident on the night of prom. The story is told from the point of view of the girl, the brother of the deceased boy and his mother, and the landlord's wife of where the girl is staying. The concept of the book was so weird and since I couldn't find out what was happening via the internet, I just had to read it.

Since it's a thriller/mystery, I will not give any more information. I will be honest, I was disappointed with the book as a whole. The author had a cool idea, but couldn't really maintain it through the book. I would say you should read it if you like mysteries or if you like young adult stories, which aren't really my cup of tea.

Year 3, week 15: True Grit

This week's book:
True Grit
By Charles Portis

My grandfather was the biggest fan of westerns, and this week's book is a western.

At our grandfather's funeral a couple of months ago, my sister and I shared with everyone some of the advice and humdingers that our grandfather shared with us over the years:

You don't talk when the Hawks are on, you just watch.

It doesn't matter if you have a good singing voice, just sing as loud as you can at church, and if you forget the words just move your mouth up and down and it looks like you’re singing.

If you're ever being kidnapped be as loud and crazy as possible because people will notice and you have a better chance of getting away.

Also, run because you can survive a gunshot opposed to being taken to a second location and potentially die.

My sister once made stew with steak instead of stewing meat and Grandpa said, "now you're getting it."

There was a couple that would cut coupons or collect pop cans from his 5 Mile Walk... but would spend so much on their loved ones.

If ice cream is a dessert option, always choose the ice cream.

If you can't pay for cash you don't really need it.

Life stops at four for a highball.

They threw the fanciest nicest garage sales you've ever seen, and Grandpa put of all the signs for Grandma even though it wasn't really his jam

Grandpa would have been a real asset if we ever got to appear on The Price is Right because he knew all the prices down to the penny for everything.

Westerns and Johnny Carson are valid excuses to let your granddaughter stay up too late

When watching a western in the coveted spot right beside him on the settee, there was a bar fight in the film, and Grandpa casually said that if you're in a bar fight, always break the bottle up because you have a chance of hitting your opponent with glass in the face.

 And so many more things that were not quite Church appropriate.

True Grit has been made into two great films. It's a classic western that has been enjoyed for fifty-one years. So if you enjoy the wild west, or miss my Grandpa, definitely pick it up. I enjoyed it.