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an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

august book report.

Augustbookreport

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith I got through this one much quicker than the Cockoo's Calling and really enjoyed it. Maybe because I already knew the characters and so I felt like it was easier to read? I feel like we didn't need to hear about how Strike can't afford to take a taxi on every single page, but other than that, this was a good one. I'm anxious for the third book…

The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss I added this to my library queue after AJ Jacobs mentioned it in Drop Dead Healthy. I have read 4-Hour Workweek and thought this might be interesting. It's not the sort of book you curl up with and read (at all), but it's for sure worth a page through to see what he says about different weight loss, muscle gain & calorie intake theories. I just like to know this sort of stuff for some odd reason. I read so many chapters of this outloud to Paul it was just so crazy (and interesting!).

Fallen Skies by Phillipa Gregory | I have read almost every single book Phillipa Gregory has written (which for the most part means the Tudor Series). I picked this up at the library on a whim and because it's classic Phillipa, I found myself totally sucked in and wanting to devour it in a day, forgoing all other activities, like eating and tending Ellerie (I'm reading it in the photo above). It's not a literary work of art, but it's entertaining and a super quick historical fiction read.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub | I saw this everywhere this summer (it's one of those books that got a lot of great press and is making the blog rounds). It was…fine. Another one with a wide range of mildly screwed up characters (which I tend to like) but I didn't think the characters did that much. I never felt "on the hook" or more than a bit interested. Quick, easy read, but I wish I had enjoyed it more.

WHAT'S NEXT?! I'm currently reading Lean In (and having SO MANY THOUGHTS about it) but I'd also love a great fiction book, folks. Where's the next Still Alice? Or Night Circus? What are you reading?

ps. see all my past book reports here and be sure to come back for the comments section on this post. It's always 10x better and more helpful than anything I write.

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110 responses to “august book report.”

  1. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    I love your book reports and picks, and I also love the comments! I haven’t read any great fiction lately so I don’t have anything to recommend today.

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  2. christi rejent Avatar
    christi rejent

    Been on a plane a lot this summer and really enjoyed: “Crazy Rich Asians”, “We All Fall Down” and “What Alice Forgot”.

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  3. Casey Avatar
    Casey

    If you want a quick YA read that you can’t put down, try We Were Liars. So good! Just don’t read it alone at night when the lights are on a timer and flick off at the most intense part…yeah.

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  4. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    Everytime someone asks me for a book recommendation, I have to tell them “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon–it is one of my absolute favorites!!

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  5. Danielle Avatar
    Danielle

    I recommend the book, Maine, by J. Courtney Sullivan— it is Night Circus good. Promise. And might I also add that weeks after finishing Still Alice, I still cannot stop thinking about it! Such a powerful book.

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  6. Veronika Avatar
    Veronika

    Have you ever read the “Thursday Next”-Series from Jasper Fforde? Think you would totally love it!

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  7. Kelliann Avatar
    Kelliann

    I really liked where’d you go Bernadette? As a quick fiction read-crazy rich Asians was also a fun, easy read.

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  8. Tsila Avatar
    Tsila

    Good YA fiction by Rainbow Rowell – “Fangirl” and “Eleanor and Park”

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  9. Tami Avatar
    Tami

    Still alice was a great book . Jojo moyes is a great author, me before you was great and the girl you left behind . Education of the urban farmer. Is great, its based in Oakland about a gal,who starts a farm in the empty lot next to her apartment building

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  10. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    If you haven’t already, read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (a memoir) and then read Half-Broke Horses also by her (she calls it a “true-life novel”), and then her novel The Silver Star. I loved all 3!

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  11. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    I just read Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, which I didn’t expect to like but I loved. Quick read but not fluff.

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  12. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    The Raylan books by Elmore Leonard, I think there are four total in a sort of series are really good, and the show they inspired on FX “justified” is my new addiction, watched all four first seasons on Amazon Prime in about 2 weeks. Also for Tim Ferris fans 4-Hour Chef is awesome!!

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  13. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    I’ve been seeing Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty everywhere. It’s on my list, but it would be fun to see what you think before I get to it. 🙂

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  14. kelly purkey Avatar
    kelly purkey

    Couldn’t put down Night Circus. Spent a whole day in bed with it last winter.

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  15. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    All of the Jojo Moyes books have been really great. Also, have you checked out the Rachael O’Brien series? It is ebook only, but it is about a girl going to college in the 80s and it is so fun!

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  16. Kathi Avatar
    Kathi

    thought of “Night Circus” as quite disappointing…
    like what you saif about the vacationers – what’s the Hype about?

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  17. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    I just picked up True Notebooks by Mark Salzman at the library and am loving it. It’s about his time teaching writing classes for high risk offenders at a juvenile detention in LA. Each chapter is almost like a short essay, which is good for my mama brain at the end of the day.

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  18. Christen Avatar
    Christen

    I loved One Plus One by Jo Jo Moyes. I’m also a huge fan of Shadow of the Wind! I liked the Silkworm better than Cuckoos Calling too and I love your book reports.

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  19. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Oh, that window! What a perfect spot to read. Would love to hear your thoughts on Lean In – I’ve gone from absolutely loving it to disagreeing with every single thing – and back and forth again. Either way, great to read such a thought-provoking book.

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  20. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    What IS the next Night Circus?! I will check out Maine; thanks for the tip, Danielle. I’m also looking up We Were Liars from Casey, because I just can’t help myself with the young adult reads.

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  21. Rosemary Avatar
    Rosemary

    I listen to audiobooks at work and I can’t wait until the next “Robert Galbraith” book comes out. also i’ll have to check out fallen skies because I’m a big Philippa Gregory fan. I’m excited for her next book to come out – I think the release date is in September.

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  22. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    I just read “Maine” and it was absolutely wonderful, couldn’t put it down.

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  23. amanda dawn Avatar
    amanda dawn

    read “the visible man” by chuck klosterman.
    its a little eerie. but honestly.
    it was one of the most intriguing books i’ve read.

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  24. kelli Avatar
    kelli

    If you like Philippa Gregory, you may also like Carolly Erickson’s historical fiction. And there’s a trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte that is SO good – the first one is The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B, by Sandra Gulland.

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  25. Jodie Allen Avatar
    Jodie Allen

    Night Circus was hard for me to get into but I know some loved it. My favorites from vacation were Orphan Train and The Rosie Project! Wild was good too!

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  26. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    I second What Alice Forgot but anything by that author (Liane Moriarty) is great. I particularly recommend The Hypnotist’s Love Story and Three Wishes. She has a new book that I can’t wait to read! Also: House of Memories and The Faraday Girls by Monica McInerney, Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden,

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  27. Betsy Avatar
    Betsy

    I’m reading The Orphan Train right now, and it’s wonderful.
    I’m also a big Elin Hilderbrand fan: Silver Girl is my favorite.
    I’ve really enjoyed Sophie Kinsella’s books this year: I’ve Got Your Number and Twenties Girl were both light, fun, classic Sophie Kinsella.

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  28. Pattie Avatar
    Pattie

    I recommend Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano. The novel is a fictionalized account of her great grandmothers immigration to America from Italy….memory keeping and great story telling. I loved it!

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  29. erin Avatar
    erin

    for GREAT fiction…
    Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett…
    and its sequel World Without End.
    they’re both hefty volumes, weighing in at a little under and a little over 1,000 pages…but TOTALLY worth the read. Pillars will take you 80 pages to get “into it”…he has to lay a lot of groundwork at the beginning. after that, though…you’re captivated.
    i’m in the middle of Stephen King’s Under the Dome right now.
    considering that i just started it on Monday–and it’s over 1,000 pages long–halfway in is clipping right along.
    so far, it has me hook, line, and sinker.
    i’ve heard that the ending is disappointing, though, so i can’t totally attest to its quality…although, as good as it is so far, i’d still say it’s worth the read.
    love P. Gregory, too!

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  30. jenny Avatar
    jenny

    I just devoured Beautiful Ruins… 🙂

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  31. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    The Time Traveler’s Wife
    Olive Kitteridge
    Gone Girl
    One Day

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  32. Kelsey, Esp. Avatar
    Kelsey, Esp.

    I’m reading Dreaming for Freud by Sheila Kohler. Only two chapters in but such a great read so far. I’m not usually a fiction fan, but as someone who majored in psych I was immediately drawn to the book because of the title. And then to learn that it’s based off one of Freud’s actual (and most “famous) patients, and that the book picks up where the in-real-life story left off…? Add in a little bit of provocative erotica and I was sold.

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  33. Erin | house on hill road Avatar
    Erin | house on hill road

    All The Light We Cannot See by Doerr – it’s my favorite read so far this year.

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  34. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I felt the exact same way about The Vacationers. And I can’t WAIT to read what you think about Lean In! I read it last year when it came in and had SO MANY THOUGHTS about it.

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  35. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    The Thirteenth Tale. Sort of the in the same vein of Night Circus. I loved it!

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  36. Carlee Avatar
    Carlee

    I am reading Gone to New York by Ian Frazier.
    Carlee

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  37. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Definitely The Glass Castle. Two fluffy books I read and enjoyed this summer were Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan and Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick.

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  38. Amy T Schubert Avatar
    Amy T Schubert

    I just finished reading The Interestings, which I think you’ll like.
    Otherwise I am deeply in love with The Magicians trilogy (Lev Grossman) … it’s literary fiction w/ a layer of fantasy (not really Harry Potter for adults like you might have heard it described). Highly recommended, especially if you like The Night Circus.

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  39. crystal Avatar
    crystal

    when you find the next Still Alice, please do tell! In the meantime, the best fiction book I read this year was The Rosie Project.

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  40. Lindsay Avatar
    Lindsay

    The Night Circus is one of my favorites from last summer. I finally got my bestie to pick it up this month. I loved rereading it through our convos about it.

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  41. Jessika Avatar
    Jessika

    It’s not fiction, but I really think you would like “Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers’ Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm.” It’s by Forrest Pritchard. It is FANTASTIC so far, and quite inspirational. It is so hard for me to put it down!!!!

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  42. Amy T Schubert Avatar
    Amy T Schubert

    Yep, I really liked Under The Dome until the very end. But most of it is good 🙂

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  43. Kacie Avatar
    Kacie

    I feel like I’m the last one to hear about them, but I just started reading the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon and am totally engrossed. If you like historical fiction, I bet you’d like these!

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  44. Joy Avatar
    Joy

    It’s not fiction but Bringing up Bebe was a really interesting and fast read. I read it a few months ago when my baby was tiny and although I was busy it’s a book I found time for.
    She has two of the same book – this one is the autobiographical one and is less a how-to more her story of living in France and raising children.
    xx

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  45. JC Avatar
    JC

    Have you read any of the Phillipa Gregory: Cousins War series? The new one comes out next month, and I am so stoked for it!
    Also right now I’m into the Outlander Series, more historical fiction, with a side of scifi. I’m addicted.
    I’m also in the midst of Queen of the Tearling, a futuristic world that’s midevilesk (is that a word?) and I love that the main character for once isn’t a beautiful girl, that everyone fallows automatically.

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  46. Tiffany M. Avatar
    Tiffany M.

    Left Neglected is also by the author as Still Alice and I thought it was really good. I recently read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and really enjoyed it. Didn’t realize they had made it into a movie. Read a Nonfiction book called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, that I found interesting (but this is coming from a person with a degree in Biology). Thanks for your recommendations! Put some of them in my to-read pile!

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  47. Denise von Minden Avatar
    Denise von Minden

    Recommending We Were Liars, Garden Spells, and The Death of Bees!

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  48. lauren Avatar
    lauren

    i would highly recommend “the swan gondola” by timothy schaffert. great read. had a similar vibe to “the night circus”. 🙂

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  49. julie brown Avatar
    julie brown

    I would second the recommendations for “Where’d you go, Bernadette” and “we are all completely beside ourselves”… both easy reads but super intriguing. I would also add “Lottery” (not to be mistaking for THE lottery short story); similar themes to Still Alice but a bit lighter with THE most loveable characters. Happy reading 🙂 xo

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  50. Kimi Avatar
    Kimi

    The Rosie Project was awesomely fun and spirit lifting, a total delight! And if you want to be totally slayed/devestated/hopeful/in love/in hate then read Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes… I couldn’t STOP thinking about that one for a month after finishing!

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