August Book Review

Well, August came and went which means I've got books to review! I had at least five books on my iPad all lined up and ready to read, and I only got through three of them! Oops. But I really liked all three, and just for fun I thought I would throw in one of my all time favorite books that I feel everyone should read at least once! Okay, let's get to it!

1) The Island- Elin Hilderbrand

If you remember last month I read The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand, and secretly loved it. I wanted to keep my salacious summer reading theme going, so I picked up The Island hoping for the same fluffy Nantucket escape novel chocked full of  soap opera plots and characters with ridiculous names. I have to say...The Island was not what I thought it would be...it was better! It still had it's fair share of a romance driven plots and names that belong to nobody in the real world ( India, Birdie, etc), but it was much more focused on the bond between mothers and daughters and sisters. I really, really enjoyed this one, and I highly recommend it!

2) Diana: Her True Story- Andrew Morton

Random selection? Yes. It all started when I was browsing Netflix and started watching a documentary on the Royal Family and the scandal that was the Princess Diana/Charles/Camilla Parker Bowles love triangle. I was in elementary school when Princess Diana died, so I really was too young to remember all the drama surrounding Diana and Charles' failed marriage. I also felt like all I really associated with Diana is that she was the "people's princess," she did lots of humanitarian work, and that she died escaping the paparazzi in Paris. I'm one of those people that if I get a taste of something that intrigues me then I immediately need to research the heck out of it. So after I watched the documentary I knew I wanted to know more of the inside story of Diana's life-which led me to this book. The first half is the transcript from secret interviews Diana did with Andrew Morton while she was still married to Charles. The second half is done from Andrew Morton's perspective, and he gives context and elaboration to Diana's interview. I honestly couldn't put the book down, and couldn't believe how dysfunctional the marriage and the Royal Family all were. If you are like me, and are oddly obsessed with the Royal Family this book is for you! If you are also like me and feel the need to read up on all the little known details of a subject, then this book is up your alley as well. Very interesting read.

3) Nobody's Cuter Than You- Melanie Shankle

Melanie is the writer behind The Big Mama Blog which just happens to be the first blog I started reading on a regular basis. She is quite possibly one of the funniest writers I've ever read, and I feel like if we ever met in real life we would be best friends! Melanie- when I'm in San Antonio lets hang out!! (I'm not as creepy as that last statement makes me sound I swear!). This is her third book that I've read. I really liked her first and second books, so I figured this one about her friendships would be no different. I was actually a little surprised that the book was a bit heavier than her previous two books. I'm pretty sure I bawled like a baby at some of the last chapters, but maybe that's not a true reflection of the books' overall tone because as previously mentioned in my last months book review, I am a hormonal mess that can only handle "happily ever after" books. Even with some tearjerker chapters, this book is a very sweet story on the importance of female friendships.

4) The Alchemist- Paulo Coelho

Next to To Kill a Mockingbird, this may be my favorite book of all time. This is one of those special books that just completely changes how you look at life. I believe reading this is what my gal Oprah calls an "AH HA moment!" I'm not alone in this either. The Alchemist has spent over 300 consecutive weeks on the New York Times' bestsellers list. The story is about a sheperd boy who goes on a quest to see the Pyramids of Egypt after having reoccurring dreams about traveling there. The book is short, and told much like a fable about the importance of following your dreams. It is a quick and easy read, but I promise it will really change how you see the world and your future. 

"When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
- The Alchemist
  
 As always, I am looking for book suggestions for next month! I've got The Boys in the Boat, and The Nightingale on my to-read list along with The Rosie Project, but I'd love any and all recommendations! Happy Reading!