Recently read: June & July

You know what I hate about putting off my “recent reads” post? I end up forgetting some of the titles I’ve read. I haven’t yet figured out a good system for keeping track, so I often have to scour my Amazon account for orders, library book holds and my failing memory. Which isn’t a system at all.

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. I’m cheating a little by listing this here, because I have a chapter or two left, but I’m posting it anyway because I have lost my copy of this delightful book and don’t know when I’ll be able to find and finish it! Herriot’s memoirs have been on my wish list for years. My 17 year old son read this book on my recommendation and enjoyed it as much as I did.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Simple living and minimalism being one of my favorite topics, I enjoyed this book, although since it was written from the perspective of a male businessman, I had to work harder to find good ideas. One big takeaway is that is really does take self-discipline to not Do All Of The Things.

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French – Why do the French have such seemingly contradictory ways? For example, why will a Frenchman you’ve just met invite you to his home for an impromptu dinner, passionately discuss politics and sex, but not tell you his name? This book answers the question. I enjoyed it both for the glimpse into the minds of les francaises and for the deeper look into French (and European) history.

Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott
A reader turned me on to this fellow Francophile blogger and author. (Thanks!) This slim little book had me longing for a French style mentor like the author’s. More on this book later.

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert – File this under “books everyone else has read but me”. I saw (and really liked) the movie based on Gilbert’s year-long spiritual quest (is Julia Roberts ever not totally adorable?). I was surprised at how religious in tone the book was. It’s less Under the Tuscan Sun and more a woman’s desperate search for connection with the Divine. She ends up finding the love of her life (two for one!) in Bali. Thoroughly enjoyable, if a teensy bit racy in places. I hear Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talks are great, so I’ll cue those up while cooking dinner or sitting by the kids at the pool one of these days.

Oh and a couple of words about Go Set a Watchman: I. Just. Can’t. I think I’ve had a crush on Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch (Atticus seriously showed up in my “possible baby names” lists more than once) for 30+ years.

Read any good books lately?