I read or listened to all of these books while nursing. The Kindle (and iPod Shuffle) make it easier than ever before to balance a book and a baby.
Because I Said So! : The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids by Ken Jennings
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Audiobook - READ BY THE AUTHOR!!!!
A book like this (meant to be picked up and read in short segments, rather than devoured all in one sitting - also, you can open this up to any page and start reading, no problem) can really only be three stars, max. So I'm giving it the max. I loved that the audiobook was read by Ken Jennings himself. Only he could give it the proper snarky nuances. Plus, he read it really fast. Sometimes I am put off audiobooks because the narrator reads so. slowly. This was a great audiobook performance. And a great read. I learned lots of interesting things and I will even be reconsidering my hardline stance on not letting my kids lick the beaters after making cookies or whatever.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of the first pages of this book has the sentence, "[Once I spent a year] trying to build a telescope made from clarified sheep intestines from the kiosk, so that I might look deep into the library." That will probably either make you want to shut the book immediately, because WOAH...or, you will not be able to keep yourself from reading on.
I hope you read on. This is quite the story. It reminds me of a bad dream, but not in a bad way, if that makes sense. A bad dream in the same way The Master and Margarita is a bad dream, then. And like The Master and Margarita, this book will stay with you for a long time. You will be enchanted and disturbed by it, all at once.
I'm not sure I'm totally on board with how things ended up in the book, but this story is truly a thing of terrifying beauty. To end it differently would have been selling it short.
Catch Me If You Can by Frank W. Abagnale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five stars for the sheer enjoyment of reading this book. What a fun ride! His patronizing (borderline benevolent misogynistic) attitude toward women got a little old, but they were different times (the 1960s)...I guess. This book was so darn entertaining I almost feel like starting it over again from the beginning.
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I know this sounds odd, but if the Sevenwaters books are Juliet Marillier, then Shadowfell is Juliet Marillier Lite. Everything is simplified and toned down, but the basic elements are there. This was a great book to read while nursing, but ultimately it wasn't fantastic. I had trouble figuring out why she needed to get to Shadowfell. It reminded me of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (#7) - there was a lot of camping, and traveling companions not getting along/not trusting each other, and a final confrontation scene.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Audiobook. DNF. I got through the first 90 minutes or so of the audiobook. Then I had a baby. This is not really the time of my life to be reading a scary book about vampires. I liked what I read, though, so I will probably pick this up again in a few months.
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really interesting idea for a book - two men share the same name and similar backgrounds, but one ended up a Rhodes Scholar and the other is serving a life sentence - and really heartfelt execution. Plus, how could I not like this book, seeing as I keep track of my own Other Bridget?
Because I Said So! : The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids by Ken JenningsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Audiobook - READ BY THE AUTHOR!!!!
A book like this (meant to be picked up and read in short segments, rather than devoured all in one sitting - also, you can open this up to any page and start reading, no problem) can really only be three stars, max. So I'm giving it the max. I loved that the audiobook was read by Ken Jennings himself. Only he could give it the proper snarky nuances. Plus, he read it really fast. Sometimes I am put off audiobooks because the narrator reads so. slowly. This was a great audiobook performance. And a great read. I learned lots of interesting things and I will even be reconsidering my hardline stance on not letting my kids lick the beaters after making cookies or whatever.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. PeckMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of the first pages of this book has the sentence, "[Once I spent a year] trying to build a telescope made from clarified sheep intestines from the kiosk, so that I might look deep into the library." That will probably either make you want to shut the book immediately, because WOAH...or, you will not be able to keep yourself from reading on.
I hope you read on. This is quite the story. It reminds me of a bad dream, but not in a bad way, if that makes sense. A bad dream in the same way The Master and Margarita is a bad dream, then. And like The Master and Margarita, this book will stay with you for a long time. You will be enchanted and disturbed by it, all at once.
I'm not sure I'm totally on board with how things ended up in the book, but this story is truly a thing of terrifying beauty. To end it differently would have been selling it short.
Catch Me If You Can by Frank W. AbagnaleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five stars for the sheer enjoyment of reading this book. What a fun ride! His patronizing (borderline benevolent misogynistic) attitude toward women got a little old, but they were different times (the 1960s)...I guess. This book was so darn entertaining I almost feel like starting it over again from the beginning.
Shadowfell by Juliet MarillierMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I know this sounds odd, but if the Sevenwaters books are Juliet Marillier, then Shadowfell is Juliet Marillier Lite. Everything is simplified and toned down, but the basic elements are there. This was a great book to read while nursing, but ultimately it wasn't fantastic. I had trouble figuring out why she needed to get to Shadowfell. It reminded me of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (#7) - there was a lot of camping, and traveling companions not getting along/not trusting each other, and a final confrontation scene.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly BlackAudiobook. DNF. I got through the first 90 minutes or so of the audiobook. Then I had a baby. This is not really the time of my life to be reading a scary book about vampires. I liked what I read, though, so I will probably pick this up again in a few months.
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes MooreMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really interesting idea for a book - two men share the same name and similar backgrounds, but one ended up a Rhodes Scholar and the other is serving a life sentence - and really heartfelt execution. Plus, how could I not like this book, seeing as I keep track of my own Other Bridget?