books.

Here is a little round-up of some books I've read recently. I'll try to keep it updated as I finish books and add quick reviews below each book. Comment below if you have any book recommendations! I always love a good book!

Okay, so I'm going to be honest. I didn't finish this book. I am hoping to pick it back up and finish it when I have more time to soak into a book-I think it would be perfect for a vacation, or even over the holidays. I found it to be a bit wordy and uneventful, it was slow at times and I just don't have the patience for that kind of writing right now.

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. This is a non-fiction study of human behavior as it relates to decision-making. It was interesting to skim through and gather some fun facts, and a great one to keep on the bookshelf.

Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood. This is a book I started in highschool, picked up again in college, and picked up again a few months ago and finally finished. My inconsistency is not for lack of quality writing or story line, but because I was not in the place where reading was high on my priority list. I really enjoyed this book (over about 3 years) and it's one that I should probably revisit and read start-to-finish to get the full effect.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I didn't read this book until after I'd seen the movie. The book was just as touching as the movie. This is one of my favorite stories of real love and redemption.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Here is a great example of not judging a book by it's movie. While the movie was light-hearted and pretty to look at, the book dealt with some pretty serious loneliness, regret, and spiritual issues that the movie barely touched on. This book really made me look at spirituality in a different light and read more like journal than a novel-which I think was the intention.

Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer. This is a quick book (I read it in an evening) consisting of 5 or 6 short stories. I'm not normally a short story fan but these were so well written and moving, and the first story is visited again in the last.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This book may be my favorite that I've read this summer. It's an easy and fairly quick read. It takes some concentration to keep up with where in time the story is taking place but the author did a good job of not throwing in too many confusing twists. I found it to be an enjoyable love story that wasn't too gushy or explicit. I've heard the movie wasn't very good...shocker.

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. This is without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read. It follows a woman from the age of 4, I think it was, to middle adulthood. It is powerful and moving and will have you crying and laughing and cringing all at once.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. This is hands down one of my favorite books of all time. The dog in the story is also the narrator which lends itself to a humorous and touching tale of a man and his dog. It's a fairly quick read and deals with heavy subjects in the most uplifting way possible.

Yes, I did read both the Twilight Saga and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series. Both collections are hands-down better than the movies they've inspired. If you want an easy and escapism read, I would recommend either series. Sue me.