What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am struggling to find the words to adequately review this book because it felt unlike so many other books I have read. I found parts of the book fantastic, but at other times it seemed repetitive and off topic. Overall, listening to this book felt like sitting with a close friend and talking about the election and everything that went on. I didn't find this book as politically divisive as all of the cable news shows, I found this to be a personal reflection, almost like reading her journal or diary of the past two years. There was some defensiveness, and although she was careful in her phrasing, there are still clearly some hard feelings about some individuals, but overall I found this book very interesting and it added a new layer of knowledge about the events of the Presidential election from Hilary's unique point of view.
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The American Spirit by David McCullough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a collection of speeches made by the author, and they are a perfect antidote to the partisan bickering that currently fills our media. David McCullough is not only a respected historian, he is a lover of words. His speeches show the depth of his passion for history and his admiration for the unique characters of the men and women throughout our history that have made us who we are. Although many of the speeches are from a decade or more ago, they continue to be relevant today. The wisdom offered by Mr McCullough is inspiring. I listened to the audiobook so I was able to enjoy the speeches in the authors own voice. I highly recommend this book, especially at a time like the present when we all need a reminder of the many courageous individuals who have contributed so much to this country.
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Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This story is a haunting look at the lives of four young women in New York City in the 70's. The lyric writing style is beautiful but at times very confusing. I know this book has many glowing reviews, but for me the writing style with short choppy thoughts and sentences and rapid switching from different time periods made it hard to follow. I wanted to know more of what August, the main character, was thinking and feeling. The author left so many thoughts incomplete, as a reader I was confused and had so many questions.
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Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly deVos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story begins with Cookie Vonn, the main character, as she is forced to purchase an extra seat on a plane due to her weight. The first chapter tells us everything we need to know about Cookie, she has a love for fashion and a strong personality and when she is pushed too far, Cookie will not back down. Cookie is continually frustrated by the very beautiful and very rich Kennes Butterfield, who manages to take away Cookie's job and her best friend and seems bent on humiliating Cookie at every turn. The book jumps back and forth between the story of Cookie Vonn before and during/after her weight loss as Cookie begins to see that losing weight is not necessarily the answer to all her problems. What makes this book so special is the brutally honest portrayal of emotions that Cookie deals with as a fat person, particularly in the fashion field. Even after loosing weight, Cookie is still acutely aware of her weight at all times and how it affects her life. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.
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The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love history and this charming book took an important historical place, the Hull House, and made it into an engaging story about four young women who spent time at Hull House participating in the Saturday Evening Girls club. The four characters Caprice, Ada, Maria and Thea are best friends trying to make their way into adulthood, but for an immigrant in a poor neighborhood of Boston that is not always easy. Supporting each other as only a group of girlfriends can, the author makes these four young women engaging and interesting. This was a fun book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fictions.
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