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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. Aimee Avatar
    Aimee

    I just finished reading The Orphans of Race Point….it was really good, the best I’ve read this year.

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  2. VA Avatar
    VA

    Best YA book I’ve read this year: “Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell. It’s realistic fiction, so nothing like “The Night Circus,” but incredibly moving and powerful.
    If you haven’t read “The Magicians” by Lev Grossman, check it out! It’s like a hilariously cynical “Harry Potter” skewed for an adult reader. There are three books in the series and the last one just came out.

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  3. //Panda Avatar
    //Panda

    I just finished the first book in the Jack Reacher series. Although it’s written in first person (for some reason it’s hard for me to get into books written this way) it was actually really interesting and I’ve already started reading the second book, ‘Die Trying’.

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  4. Andrea Leda Wilborn Avatar
    Andrea Leda Wilborn

    I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Lean In – I loved this book!! But am also a work-from-home lady so found some pieces to not totally fit. However, her bold perspective is fantastic.
    -Andrea
    p.s.
    Are you an Outlander fan?!

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  5. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yes, read Bernadette! It was good.

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  6. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    loved Glass Castle … will have to check out the other two.

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  7. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yes, all tastes are different, that is for sure. 🙂

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  8. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    so interesting! I’m almost done. I don’t think it’s a book you “love” or “hate” but more a book that makes you think about your actions. I don’t agree with everything, but some points are SO SPOT on and really resonate with me.

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  9. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yep, read the Interstings last month and did enjoy it!

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  10. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yep! loved bringing up bebe when I was pregnant!

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  11. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    I’m in line for Left Neglected at the library. 🙂

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  12. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    Have not! but I will.

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  13. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    I totally agree. I’m not trying to move up the corporate ladder. But the negotiation parts are so interesting. the part about women want to meet 100% of job criteria before applying and men only care about 60%!?!?!?! that’s INSANE.
    have not read outlander!

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  14. Maribel Avatar
    Maribel

    I recommend The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
    The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
    The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
    I loved Maine, too as well as Olive Kitteridge.

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  15. clare Avatar
    clare

    Night Circus is wonderful. Think of Tim Burton movies as you read it. I just finished What Alice Forgot, the Storied Life of AJ Fikry, The Husband’s Secret. I am currently making my way through Longbourn.

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  16. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    Yes! I was just going to suggest this! I’ve been pushing my husband to try it and he’s dubious about it being my all time favorite. Seriously, it’s wonderful and memorable. Oh, and funny 🙂

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  17. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    I finished “Swamplandia!” not long ago. I found it a little bit different but really intriguing and well-written. I’m now re-reading The Prince of Tides, one of my favorites, because Pat Conroy’s writing is beautiful.

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  18. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    NIGHT CIRCUS!! It’s very very good. The world is probably the best part of it, more developed than the characters and plot, but it’s so juicy I’d really recommend getting stuck right in.
    I just re-read Wolf Hall so I can (finally!) read the sequel so I’m basically recommending that to everyone I meet.

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  19. Leigh Anne Avatar
    Leigh Anne

    I’m curious “how” you read. Do you read at a specific time of day? For a specific amount of time? Or do you allow yourself to read whenever and whatever you fell like from day to day?

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  20. Armalite Avatar
    Armalite

    All the people who loved Maine by Courtney J. Sullivan should check out Wish you were here by Stewart O’Nan and its sequel Emily, alone. I actually was disappointed when I read Maine because it seemed like a watered-down version of those two books. To the people who loved Night circus, I would suggest Alice Hoffman’s The museum of extraordinary things.

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  21. Holly Avatar
    Holly

    You should read A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman. It’s one of those classically mellow, funny, Scandanavian fiction and it was absolutely wonderful! Highly recommended!

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  22. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Night Film by Marisa Pessl. I’d definitely rank it with Night Circus. So so good. There are also a lot of visual aspects to the book. It completely sucks you in.

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  23. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    How do you build in so much time to read? As a mama to an almost 15 month old, I would love to get back to it but his naps I spend doing the day to day stuff that makes the household run and at night I’m so tired! Would love some tips!

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  24. Caitlyn Avatar
    Caitlyn

    My go to fiction recommendations are always Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and The Epicure’s Lament by Kate Christiansen. But have you ever tried Sharon Kay Penman for historical fiction? They are long but they are so very good.

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  25. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    Just finished Lean In! LOVED the “Making your partner your partner” chapter. Cheers.

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  26. Welcome Home Taylor Avatar
    Welcome Home Taylor

    I adore these reports. I’m still working on mine, so it makes me feel so lazy that you’re already done with your August one so soon after July! haha. Right now I’m reading Mindy Kaling’s book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me.” I love it; especially because I’m a huge fan of The Office. I just finished “Brain on Fire” and it was absolutely fantastic and very interesting being a psych major.
    xoxo
    Taylor

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  27. Welcome Home Taylor Avatar
    Welcome Home Taylor

    I absolutely ADORE her books! So good!
    xoxo
    Taylor

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  28. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The 3rd book just came out so you won’t have to wait to finish it! It’s basically the educated version of Twilight…i.e. a witch + vampire love story…but the witch is an Oxford scholar and the vampire worked for Queen Elizabeth back in his early days. It’s a great love story mixed with history and science fiction.

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  29. Casie Avatar
    Casie

    Starting “the gifts of imperfection” by Brene Brown. The subtitle of “let go of who you think you’re supposed to be & embrace who you are” grabbed me!
    I am wanting to start a new blog and a teany tiny home business but I am so scared I’ll mess it up or fail that I am paralyzed to even start 😦 hoping this book will jump start me!

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  30. Casie Avatar
    Casie

    I love the office & Mindy is super funny! I am adding that one to my list 🙂

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  31. Kym Avatar
    Kym

    If you’ve finished the George RR Martin books, try the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon….sooooo good! Also, I just picked up a book of sci-if stories by Connie Willis……she’s amazing. Also: the Shadow of Night trilogy by Deborah Harkness…..my hubs and O both read this, and really enjoyed it. Ignore that it is about vampires, she is really very good at creating characters and relationships that are real and complex.
    And seriously…..you are MISSING OUT by not having already read the Night Circus! It’s so good!

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  32. Skye Avatar
    Skye

    I’ve been trying to read classics (I love getting the ones in public domain free for my Kindle!) – I recently read Little Women, Ethan Frome, and Sula and re-read The Giver. Now I’m in the middle of Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed – not a classic (yet!) but an absolutely incredible book. I’ve cried (in a good way) at almost every chapter. I cannot recommend it enough!

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  33. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    It’s true – I think I’ll get to that place of keeping the parts that resonate as well 🙂 Part of my issue was that I also read a lot of critiques and a lot of praise and I’m sure that influenced my reactions quite a bit! Thanks for your response!

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  34. Elise Avatar
    Elise

    95% of my reading is before bed. I usually have a non-fiction and a fiction going at the same time. I’m a very fast reader.

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  35. Elise Avatar
    Elise

    Before bed for me! Paul and I go into bed early and he falls asleep immediately. I read about an hour more. He wakes up much earlier than me.

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  36. Elise Avatar
    Elise

    Have not yet!

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  37. Megan Campbell Avatar
    Megan Campbell

    I loved The Interestings. Partially it is because I grew up at the same time period that the book takes place; so many of the “asides” were memory-inducing. Her writing is always brilliant. And of course, as one of the later character’s says the weren’t always interesting, but they were friends and young at a tender time of life. Have you read any of her other stuff?

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  38. Megan Campbell Avatar
    Megan Campbell

    The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is excellent, and a favorite of my book club. (Admittedly, we have several scientists among us.) It is on my permanent short list because of the issues it raises (medical care, race, journalism, science marvels, the human factor).

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  39. Shalinic Avatar
    Shalinic

    I like that a lot of our book reads have same titles, its a recent discovery and I like that connection 🙂 I love books! You asked about ‘Still Alice’, I loved it, it tugs you at a very deeper level and made me emotional at times. Here’s my review on it http://shalinic.blogspot.com/2011/03/still-alice-by-lisa-genova.html

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  40. Naomi Avatar
    Naomi

    The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared was funny, heartwarming and so so interesting (bet you’ll like the book cover too – great design).
    Life After Life by Kate Atkinson has been my other favourite this year. It’s looooong (didn’t realise how long at first as I was reading it on my Kindle) but that was good as I didn’t want it to end!

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  41. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Hooray! Out of the other two, I think I liked Half-Broke Horses more, maybe because it’s based on her life, or rather, her mom’s life (I think).

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  42. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Ooh, yes! Elin Hilderbrand! Elise, from reading your older blog posts, I know you are, or were, a fan of “chick lit.” If you haven’t checked out Elin’s books, I think you’ll like them!

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  43. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Love Anthony is another book by Lisa Genova you might like! P.S. Sorry to bombard you with comments 🙂

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  44. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Just thought of another you might like… Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Its alternate title is The Other Hand.

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  45. Janet Kemper Avatar
    Janet Kemper

    I have heard this multiple times about this book. It is up next for me to read.

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  46. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    Have you read Delicious! yet? I just started it and am already hooked.

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  47. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Beautiful Ruins is exquisite.
    I’m deep in The Orphan Master’s Son right now, which is incredible, but definitely not a light read.
    I second whoever said to read Half-Broke Horses if you liked The Glass Castle – interesting to think about who the mother in The Glass Castle’s mother was and how she was parented.

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  48. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    I just listened to Glitter and Glue and The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan and I loved them both!

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  49. Kellie Avatar
    Kellie

    I LOVE Phillipa Gregory books!! Haven’t heard of the one you mentioned though- I’ll have to check it out!
    I’m currently reading Kite Runner. The Giver is also on my to read list!

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  50. Justine Avatar
    Justine

    I agree!! All The Light We Cannot See was a great read.

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