Book Reviews – Summer 2019
It feels like forever since I’ve done a book reviews post and as I’ve read some terrific books lately, I felt compelled to share my favorites! Instead of my usual long list of holds at the library, I’m trying to get through some of the stacks of books I’ve had TBR at home. So, some of these titles are a bit older. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth reading – AND it means most will cost less or be easier to obtain at your library – seems like a good deal to me.
Non-Fiction Book Reviews
FutureBoards: Learn How to Create a Vision Board to Get Exactly the Life You Want #FutureBoards was sent to me as a review copy and I have to say I loved it! Most entrepreneurs have done or at least heard of vision boards before, but this book took it to the next level. I enjoyed the friendly tone as well as practical advice. I especially liked the step-by-step action items at the end of each chapter. Definitely, a fun way to dream and plan a little. My rating 4 out of 5.
The BUILD Framework: A Heart-Based System for Personal and Professional Growth This was another book sent to me as a review and I thought it was quite helpful. It is a very quick read, but there is so much wisdom in it, that I’d recommend reading it twice! Most of the ideas and suggestions are common sense, but the “heart-based” philosophy made me feel a lot more excited about them. This is definitely worth adding to your business help books. My rating 4 out of 5.
Fiction Book Reviews
The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel I absolutely loved this book. The story of how I found it is great too. I was reading a book that I had picked up at a half-price book sale and I just couldn’t get into it. We were staying at Vero Beach at the Disney Resort and they had a small shelf of books with a sign that said take a book, leave a book. So, I left the book I had started and picked up this one. If you are at all interested in WWII fiction, you’ll enjoy this book. It tells the story of a young man imprisoned in one of the concentration camps, and how he survived and found love by being one of the prisoners tasked with doing the tattoos. It’s based on a true story which made it all the more powerful. My rating 4.5 out of 5.
Where the Crawdads Sing. When I first added this book to my on-hold list at the library I think I was number 64 or something crazy like that. Well, my number finally came up and I have to say it was worth the wait if only to see what all the hype was about. I can see why this book is so popular. The story is beautifully written and very engaging. I especially loved the descriptions of Kya relating to the wonders of the world around her. The basic gist of the story is that Kya’s mother, brothers, and sisters leave her with a non-involved father (and that is a generous description of him), doesn’t attend school and pretty much raises herself. Of course, this isolation doesn’t last forever … My rating 4 out of 5.
The Masterpiece: A Novel There are two stories within this book and I loved them both. The first is of a woman artist named Clara in the ’20s. How she survived in NYC, how she dealt with being a woman artist and how she continued to learn and grow as both artist and woman. The second story is the all too common one of a woman who’s husband decides to leave her after their child is grown. Virginia deals with the stress of being responsible for herself for the first time in her life, finding her way and learning to care about something else. The stories are beautifully woven together in the end with a painting Virginia finds in the old abandoned art school in Central Station. My rating 4.5 out of 5.
What great books have you read lately? Although I’m still working through the stack of books I have at home, I’m always interested in recommendations!
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