So last week, I totally skipped on using the format I discovered I like for these posts. TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
Last week, I finished:
Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
So, this book has a cool premise and an intriguing set up. The mystery is pretty well done with lots of great clues and red herrings.
The writing is so bad, though, and the world building is not as great as it could be. For example, I really didn’t know how the word bubbles worked until about 3/4 through the book. That should have been clear from the beginning. So stuff like that took away from my enjoyment.
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead by Michelle Markel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hillary Clinton is a badass. Whether you like her politics or not, some facts cannot be denied. Also, this is a great, age-appropriate primer to class, race, and other justice issues.
The illustrations in this book are FANTASTIC. They are gorgeous and so well-detailed and amazing. Really, they made this book. I need to seek out more of Pham’s work because I also enjoyed her art in Grace for President.
I actually reviewed Grace for President on the blog. You can read that review here.
I also abandoned two books: Come Hell or Highball and Yes, Chef. I’m going to revisit Yes, Chef in print because I am interested in Samuelsson’s story, but the audio wasn’t really grabbing me.
Last week, I posted:
[wrap-up-posts week=”1″ year=”2016″ listtype=”ul”]
Okay, and I left this out last time, so the week before that I posted:
[wrap-up-posts week=”52″ year=”2015″ listtype=”ul”]
You can see why I had to include it this time! All those posts!
As of today I’m reading:
I am making my way through The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. I wasn’t sure about this one at first because the opening is a little hard to get through. However, once the narrative got going, I was invested. Also, I assigned my creative writing students to read Wildwood last semester, and I knew more was coming for Lola than what was in the first section. (I’m on her part now, so yay for that.)
Also, the book has a candidate for my favorite quote of year (already!) because I know I won’t be forgetting it any time soon.
The next day at breakfast, he asked his mother: Am I ugly?
She sighed. Well, hijo, you certainly don’t take after me.
Dominican parents! You got to love them!
I am a little in love with the narrative style, I have to say. It’s one I want to imitate more in my own writing.
As for Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, I just downloaded it last night for my commute tomorrow, so we’ll see how I feel about it after I actually start it. I’m looking forward to it, though. It’s been checked out forEVER, and this is the first time I’ve been able to get my hands on it.
The Englishist 
I notice your reading is diversified, like mine. I love challenging myself to read different genres. Enjoy your reading week!
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Yes, I tend to just pick up whatever catches my eye. Thanks, you too!
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I am also a Wildwood fan, but I don’t have many readers who are into the book. Sure I get the odd hard core book nerd who loves them as much as I do, but alas, they just don’t work for most kids here…
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I read 3 Hillary Clinton picture books this past week. I’m glad you share what books you abandoned. We can’t read them all!
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I actually left one off, which I remembered after I posted this. So I abandoned three books this week. Three!
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All new books to me. Hope you enjoy them. You can see mine here: http://theresaraymer.blogspot.com/
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I’ve seen so many biographies of HRC coming out this year (which makes sense) that it’s been hard to sift through them and decide which ones are must purchases. It’s great to hear a positive review for one! I know people who adore Junot Díaz and others who hate his books, so I’m curious to see where you fall when you finish Oscar Wao!
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I really enjoy his short stories, so I have high hopes.
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My friend was just raving about “Crazy Rich Asians.” I’m going to have to read that one soon!
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I am not American but have to say I admire Hillary Clinton and do so want to read a book about her at some point.
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I’m not American either, but Hilary Clinton is indeed a badass and I am so excited to see all these awesome picture books introducing kids to a strong, intelligent woman who is making strides in a male-dominated field. Loving it!
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I have read a few picture books about Clinton, but I may have to get this one too. I am also diving into The Brief Wondrousl Life…. I’m going to go to one of Diaz’s lectures next month and the only thing I’ve read so far is This is How You Lose Her so I wanted to get at least one book finished. I would agree about the beginning.
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I haven’t read a complete collection of his, just stories here and there. I have heard really good things about this book (it’s a fave of one of my friends), so that really made me stick with it past that dry beginning.
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I also own a copy of Crazy Rich Asians and looking forward to reading it. I abandoned Oscar Wao at one point – may not be the perfect time for me to read it.
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I haven’t read Oscar Wao yet. I’m saving it! I adore Diaz’s stories, though. They’re brilliant on audio too. I think I’m going to cave and buy the book on Hilary Clinton–looks fascinating and illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators. Thanks for sharing!
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Busy week for you last week with all those posts.
The Oscar Woa book didn’t cut it with me. I hope you are enjoying it.
That is funny about the bubbles in the Roger Rabbit book….I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading that book.
I hope this week is going well for you.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday, What Are You Reading
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I didn’t know that there was a picture book about Clinton–so great! I will have to get it!
Happy reading this week! 🙂
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I’ll really be interested in your thoughts on Crazy Rich Asians. At first I really liked it and got into it, but a slump hit me and I put it aside. I definitely want to go back to it, but the satire of it stretched over 500ish pages gives me a bit of pause.
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