enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

september book report.

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Eh, I didn't do so well book-wise this month. I started falling back into "browsing my iPad" instead of reading before bed and I can always tell…and not just because I get through less books. I'm more tired during the day and generally feel more bummed out when I'm reading the Internet instead of reading books. Hopefully I can get back on track in October.

But here's what I did get through…

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese / this took me forever to read. I struggled with it a lot at the beginning and sort of waded my way through the middle. FINALLY, finally at the end I felt it click and I would say that the last 150 pages were worth it. But so many people really recommended this book and I have to admit I was slightly perplexed for a long time as to why. I liked it, for sure, I just don't think I would blanket recommend it (though clearly Amazon reviewers would).

Dirty Chick by Antonia Murphy / this was recommended after I said how much I loved The Dirty Life. It was a fun read (and totally laugh out loud funny at some parts) but while there were many crazy stories it lacked some of the farm detail that I think I was longing for.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion / wow. This was a hard one for me to read. It was painful and beautiful. So very beautiful. I think I was most struck by the simple power of the relationship between Joan and her husband. It BLEEDS off the page. I enjoyed hearing about the little things, like how they would take separate walks around the park but then always time it so they met up for the end. Inspiring and heartbreaking.

I started and stopped Astonish Me about halfway through and couldn't really get into the Rob Lowe memoir (what's wrong with me?). I am currently reading (and enjoying!) Farm City.

What about you?

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And speaking of books! Today on ELISE GETS CRAFTY I have John and Sherry Petersik of Young House Love fame. I have admired these two for a long time and it was a pleasure to chat with them about their new book and how they've changed since getting out of the daily blogging routine. Subscribe or stream here!

Other posts you might enjoy: 

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26 responses to “september book report.”

  1. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Try the Rob Lowe books on CD (I listen in my car) or audiobook. I don’t know if I would have gotten into it by reading either, but I love his voice so it made the stories so good. Plus, inside stories of the West Wing = awesome.
    After the Emmy’s, I checked Olive Kitteridge. Have you read that yet?

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  2. Jackie Avatar
    Jackie

    But did you read The American Wife? I really enjoyed it. So much so that I also read Laura Bush’s autobiography. Fun to compare what was real and what was not so real.

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  3. michelle t Avatar
    michelle t

    I’m currently reading The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, it came highly recommended. Before that I read Anne Rice’s Prince Lestat. I stumbled on it in the library. I read the first few in the series back in the day. Wasn’t sure I’d like it, or be able to follow along after so many years, but it was good, I enjoyed it.

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  4. Chrissie Avatar
    Chrissie

    Definitely adding The Year of Magical Thinking to my TBR list – thank you. Last month I read (and LOVED) Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. It’s been out for awhile so you may have read it, but if not, it’s one I’d highly recommend. I’m so thrilled there’s a sequel coming out next week! I also just finished At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen, about a wealthy American woman stranded in Scotland during WWII while her husband and his best friend hunt for the Loch Ness monster. I really enjoyed it, and the Scottish setting was completely transportive – so great.

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  5. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I just finished All the Light We Cannot See and The Invention of Wings – both were excellent. I’m now reading The Death of Santini after listening to Pat Conroy on the Salon@615 podcast from the Nashville Public Library. All really great books but I’m ready for something lighter :O)

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  6. kym Avatar
    kym

    I also stopped Astonish Me about halfway through. I just kept thinking “what, exactly is going to happen in this book?” There was just nothing moving the book forward. Ugh. Can’t wait to read the American Wife!

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  7. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    I would second the rec to give Rob Lowe’s book a second try on audiobook. I haven’t read/listened to it, but I’m currently listening to Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance on audiobook on loan from the library. The subject matter is engaging enough – it’s about modern dating with some light sociology and psychology thrown in – but what makes it really entertaining is Aziz delivering his own jokes.

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  8. Sarah M Avatar
    Sarah M

    I hated all but the last 350 pages of Cutting for Stone (and at nearly 700 pages, that feels like a LOT) but I stuck through it and I did like the ending, but I don’t think I would have read it if I didn’t have so many people recommending it to me. I usually don’t bother with books over 350 pages, they’re just too dang long.
    The Year of Magical Thinking was so good…I agree with your review.
    My favorite two books I finished this month that I really enjoyed were The Martian by Andy Weir, and Brene Brown’s Rising Strong. I thought Brene’s “Daring Greatly” was a summary of her other couple of books, but this new one is very different, and SO good. I had so much to think about while going through it. Some of her data blew me away. I’d recommend it if you have liked her stuff or TED talks in the past.
    I’m looking forward to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert!
    Sarah M

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  9. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    Just started The Long and Faraway Gone, but not far enough in to have an opinion yet. I re-read the Rachael O’Brien series last month and it was just as good as the first time I read it (author=Paisley Ray…I think e-book only). LOVED 7 by Jen Hatmaker.

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  10. Caitlyn Avatar
    Caitlyn

    American Wife is great, but if you haven’t read Prep, it’s a great introduction to Curtis Sittenfeld. I tried to get through her most recent one (Sisterland) and couldn’t…but, boy, are those two so so good.

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  11. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    I read Atonish Me this month. I get why you didn’t make it through. It did pick up though once the story revolved more around Harry. But I definitely got annoyed with Joan during the first half. Someone needed to simply tell her to get over Arslan. HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!!!! OMG!!!!

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  12. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    Did you read American Wife? It’s one of those ones I preordered the hardcover when it first came out but still haven’t read. I loved Prep but didn’t like The Man of My Dreams.

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  13. christen Avatar
    christen

    I just finished The Long and Faraway Gone and really enjoyed it. I’m reading Paid For by Rachel Moran for my book group. It’s not something I’d normally read and it’s really good. It’s a memoir about prostitution. It’s a tough one – but I think it’s it’s important. It’s changing a lot of my thinking.

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  14. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    I have had Cutting for Stone on my shelves for years now it seems and I still haven’t read it, even though the person who gave it to me said it the best book she has ever read.
    I just finished Dark Places. I recently wrote a list of books of I have read in 2015:
    http://www.kldphotos.blogspot.com/2015/09/books.html
    And then a follow up the other day:http://www.kldphotos.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-update.html
    Happy Reading!

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  15. Leah Noble Avatar
    Leah Noble

    I loved this podcast episode so much. I stopped updating a blog I had written for three years, last year, and I loved hearing the Young House Love people’s thoughts on what that is like. I feel similar: that at the time it feel like this Big Ending, but in reality the content is still there, and people still support me in my new endeavours.

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  16. Kelsey Avatar
    Kelsey

    I am recommending two nonfiction books to everyone: Gut and The Good Gut. Now I’m completely fascinated/obsessed with the microbiota and gut health! Knowing the mechanisms how how food affects our gut and how that is tied to our overall health is so interesting to me and has me more motivated than ever to eat very healthy (lots of fiber).

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  17. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    I just read Astonish Me and couldn’t put it down! Same with Cutting for Stone, a while back. I love books that strongly evoke a setting that is unfamiliar to me (such as the world of professional ballet, or Addis Ababa). To each their own, though.
    I read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante a few months ago and thought it was veeeeerrrry slow to pick up, but am now finally getting around to reading the sequel (The Story of a New Name) and am rushing through it, though it’s much longer (and I do have a love-hate relationship with the story– I’m totally hooked but find the plot despair-inducing at times).

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  18. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    American Wife is amazing. I love everything by Curtis Sittenfeld (“The Man of My Dreams” was my favorite, but “American Wife” was a close second). I hope you’re able to get to it at some point! Keep the reviews coming, I love hearing your thoughts!

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  19. Beck Avatar
    Beck

    Ooh!I want to hear a round-up of your favorite farming memoirs!

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  20. Lula Avatar
    Lula

    I read Young Adult… I don’t think you’d be interested but I totally need to listen to your podcast again it’s been a few weeks.
    Either way Ill tell what I read these last couple of weeks:
    To all the boys I’ve loved before and its sequel Ps I still love you
    Entwined
    The jewel
    Fangirl
    Anna and the french kiss (bleh)
    The whole trylle series, Switched, Torn and Ascend.
    The One, from the Selection series
    Oh and I am reading How to be a Parisian and finishing This is so not happening (high school drama, but I thought I’d finish the series).
    Waiting to be read on my bed are Before I fall and Frostfire. (and a tbr list of 101 books)

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  21. San Diego Decorator Avatar
    San Diego Decorator

    So I love books and you’re very blessed to read them. I’m gonna look out for those titles. How do you look for new books/authors to read?

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  22. sassypantsjulie Avatar
    sassypantsjulie

    I just started ‘My Brilliant Friend’ by Elena Ferrante, because it seems every woman I know has been raving about her books. Happy to see someone else say it’s slow to pick up, because the entire time I’ve been reading it I’ve been thinking, “Am I missing something here?”
    I also recommend the Rob Lowe autobiography on audiobook. I loved it.

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  23. Margie S Avatar
    Margie S

    I’m now listening to The Leftovers which is what the TV series is based off of. It was in the “staff recommendations” section of my library. So far, so good.

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  24. Margie S Avatar
    Margie S

    Tom Perrotta is the author.

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  25. Marian Avatar
    Marian

    I love American Wife. So good.

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  26. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    I second this suggestion of Rob Lowe’s book on audiobook! He makes the stories come alive and who doesn’t love listening to his voice? Ditto the West Wing stories, plus all the great stories of him meeting random famous people!

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