It’s a new week and time for this month’s Four Points Mom & Books post. We started this monthly book review post in August and I’ve loved getting to share with you all my thoughts about the books I’ve read each month.
If you want to catch up on my previous book reviews from the past couple of months, you can find August’s post here and September’s post here).
This month’s books were a collection of unusual reads. Part of the reason for this is that I used up my month’s Audible credit right off the bat (I love Audible – if you try it now you get 2 free audiobooks right off the bat) and my library’s online database was picked over. I had to wait an unusually long time for the books at the top of my to-read list. So, I was forced to get a little creative and find “available now” books that I might not have otherwise chosen. Plus, our book club book this month was a tough read too. Overall, my escape into the pretend world of books I typically enjoy wasn’t as joyful this month. That happens sometimes, though, right?
Okay, let’s get to it!
All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
Wow. I’ve literally written and erased about ten sentences already trying to start off my review of this book. The book follows a little girl, Wavy, through her childhood that can only be described as messed up and nearly hopeless. She meets a tattooed ex-con, Kellen, who is one of the very few who actually seems to care about her, and they develop …. well, a very unusual relationship. Again, I’m struggling with what to say without ruining the book. 🙂
The author does not hold out when describing the poverty and hopelessness of Wavy’s upbringing which is very hard to read. I think my experience working with social service agencies and children with similar upbringings, I could “get” some of what happens int he book. However, I have a feeling it might seem ludicrous or farfetched if you haven’t seen it firsthand.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes and no. I thought the author is a wonderful storyteller. I’ll definitely read more of her books. But, it was sad and heartbreaking and not for the faint of heart. I feel like I need to tell you this because you have to have a tough stomach to get through many parts of this book. I have a friend who actually said she was kinda depressed all week because she couldn’t shake this book off. So beware!
This was our book club pick for the month, and I CANNOT WAIT to hear everyone’s thoughts about it when we meet tonight. This should be a very lively discussion! This reminds me to grab a good seat when it all goes down … lol.
Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming
One of my friends included Not My Father’s Son as one of the three books to vote on for book club a few months back. It wasn’t chosen by the group, but I was intrigued and added it to my “to-read” list. I LOVE Alan Cumming. If you watched The Good Wife, you may recognize him as Eli Gold. Eli Gold is one of my absolute favorite tv characters. I now might have to rewatch that series … Hmmm.
Okay, back to the review.
In Not My Father’s Son, Alan (yeah, I feel like we’re friends and on a first name basis) intertwines two separate drives down memory lane. First, he shares his troubled history involving his abusive father. At the same time, he is bringing you along as he is featured on a popular UK genealogy series, looking into his family’s deep-rooted and mysterious history on his mother’s side of the family.
I enjoyed the book, but I’m not sure it would have been nearly as enjoyable if I didn’t go with the audiobook version. Alan was so passionate telling his story, and I loved getting to listen to him tell it.
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
This is another random one for me, but it was finally a happy and light read. Yay – I needed it after the first two books. Whew! If you haven’t seen Fixer Upper, come out from under the rock you live in and find out why everyone loves Chip and Joanna Gaines. They seem authentic and people just love that about them. He’s the silly guy and she’s the beautiful, calm woman that he needs to keep him in line. It works on tv and I thought it worked in the book as well.
The book is mostly told from Joanna’s perspective and gave a ton of backstory about how they found themselves in front of a camera, doing what they love. I really enjoyed hearing their honest stories, involving the ups and downs of life and learning they aren’t an overnight sensation. They worked their tails off for years! Plus, as a Christian, it was a great story about prayer and faith.
I recommend this book as a light read, and again if you are choosing between an audiobook and kindle/ hard copy, go with the audiobook. It’s fun hearing them tell you their story.
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
A few months back I read Karin Slaughter’s Pretty Girls and I loved it. I enjoy a good thriller and Karin Slaughter had me hooked. So, as I mentioned earlier, I was searching for “available now” audiobooks and when I saw Karin Slaughter’s name I jumped on it.
The Kept Woman starts with the discovery of a former police officer’s dead body in a nightclub owned by a local basketball superstar player. The story has hundreds of twists and turns, and it kept me entertained the whole time. Plus, the characters were actually quite likable.
The book is actually the eighth in a series, but you don’t need to read the other books in the series to completely understand what’s going on. If you’re looking for a good thriller, I’d recommend Karin Slaughter’s books. She’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in this genre.
Alright, you guys. Let me know if you’ve read any of these books or have any recommendations for what should be included in next month’s book review. Check out my Goodreads account to see what all I’ve read if you’re looking for even more suggestions too!
