Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
This is another fantasy book by Brandon Sanderson, also recommended to me by my co-worker, which I didn't read in its original form: I listened to the graphic audio version! I didn't even realize that was a thing until this one. The tag line is "a movie for your mind", which sounds sort of silly, but it really does remind me of those old radio shows with sound effects! It was fun and transporting.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, by Erick Larson
The book is set in Chicago in 1893, telling the true tales of Daniel H. Burnham, the architect behind the 1893 World's Fair, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, the serial killer. This one was hard to get through at first. It read more like history textbook and I wasn't expecting that (I thought it was going to be historical fiction, but it's strictly non-fiction) and I had to trudge through the first half of the book trying to get used to it. Once I got to the part when the World Fair opens, it started getting more interesting, and the story of Dr. Holmes started getting more creepy. I finished the book in awe of the effort that was the World Fair and also thoroughly creeped out and depressed by the story of the serial killer.
Fringe Hours: Making Time for You, by Jessica N. Turner
This is a term I have found myself using now and then to refer to those hours in between or at the beginning and end of my day that are exclusively for myself. It would probably be more accurate to call them fringe minutes, rather than hours, but I have come to really value this time, so when I saw someone had written a book about it I was intrigued. There is nothing new here so far but there are really great reminders like taking time to recognize what really matters and not worrying about doing it all, and practical suggestions like tracking your time and finding pockets throughout the day and making those minutes count.
Anything is Possible, by Elizabeth Strout
I just finished this one and loved it! It follows her other book (which I also loved), "My Name is Lucy Barton". It's not a sequel per se; it's a collection of stories of people who are connected to Lucy from the first story. I was instantly captivated here and it made my heart ache, how she captured both the smallness and vastness of what we all have in common, no matter where we come from. It also made my heart ache because I want to write beautiful things like this, and will I ever? I appreciated this one so much.
i'm impressed you had the guts to read the devil in the white city- I'm not sure I would have lasted through the whole book. Fringe hour definitely sounds up your alley. I bet you could write a better book about the same topic!
ReplyDeleteloved your thoughts on these books. fringe minutes - yes! in fact, just last week i had to write down what i would do in 15 minutes segments for the time in the morning during which i strive to be up before the kids. i struggle to get up, and then even when i succeed, i wander around in a stupor, wasting the time because i am not a morning person. jotting down my routine and what i would like to do has helped me be more "productive" and has actually in fact helped me get up early, because i have a plan.
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