A Little Pleasure Reading

As a child, I loved reading, couldn't get enough of it - my sister and I literally devoured books, especially in the summer. I have fond memories of boarding the local library's bookmobile when it would come by in the summer (did ya'll have one of those where you grew up or is that only a small southern town thing?) and picking out some books I thought I would enjoy alongside a popsicle. My library card was certainly well-used! Not all of my book selections were literary classics (can we say The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High?), but the important thing was that I had a love of reading.

Fast forward to law school, where I was expected to read 50 plus pages of the most boring case law before each class session - needless to say, my love of reading went down the tubes. I didn't want to spend what little free time I did have reading more books, even if it was for pleasure!

I still don't have much time these days, but in the last several months, I've really tried to pick up my reading habit once more - especially now that summer is here. Most of the books I have read are on the best seller list or I have learned about by word of mouth - I am always welcome to suggestions, should you have any! Here are the last three books I have read - I'll keep the reviews very short as the hour is getting late and my eyelids are getting heavy:


(1) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. One-Sentence Plot - A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet. FANTASTIC book, a great read if you are looking for something different this summer. The storyline was wonderful, not quite like anything I've ever read before. Gruen definitely did her research in preparing for this novel. Rumor has it that it is being made into a movie with Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Hal Holbrook, and Christoph Waltz (who was incredible in Inglorious Basterds).

(2) The Help by Kathryn Stockett. One-Sentence Plot - Young white woman in Mississippi joins with two black nannies to pen a book that tells the story of what it was like to work for white women in the racially divided South in the early 60's. In a word, INCREDIBLE - this book is worthy of all of the glowing reviews it received. Do yourself a favor and pick it up now.

(3) The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. One-Sentence Plot - Meet Carrie Bradshaw, the teenage years. As an avid SATC fan, I definitely wanted to pick up Bushnell's latest account of the adventures of Carrie Bradshaw. This book was okay, but not quite what I had in mind - seemed to be targeted toward younger readers. It was alright and a quick read, but just not what I had envisioned.

And here's my lineup for books to be read next:


(1) My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster. Oh my word, LOVE Jen Lancaster - all hail the queen of snark! I read Pretty in Plaid last fall while in Hilton Head Island for a wedding, and am planning to pick up this latest memoir for a return trip to HHI in a few weeks for another wedding!

(2) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I picked this one up in the Atlanta airport on a return flight to Louisville several months ago. I managed to read the first couple of chapters and found the story to be interesting, but I haven't picked it up since and I have no idea why. I've heard great things so I'm thinking it might be best to try this one again.

(3) Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. So I guess I've been under a rock because I know this one has been around for awhile, just never got around to reading it. What did you think of this one? From speaking with others who have read it, you either love it or you don't, with what appears to be an equal number of folks in each camp. I definitely would like to read this one before the movie with Julia Roberts comes out in the fall.

What say you? Have you read any of these books? Do you have any other suggestions for summer must-reads?