Recently Read

You'd think that vacations would be the time when I read the most; however, I almost never find time to read on vacation.  The kids are with us, and when the kids are sleeping, I find myself spending time with my husband and the other friends/family we are visiting.  As a result, I haven't read a ton this Summer.  That said, it is still time for me to share the last few books I've read.  

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green - Holy cow.  I loved this book.  It is unbelievably sad, and I cried big fat tears; so if you don't want to have a good cry, stay away.  However, it is equally joyful and funny and beautiful.  It's a love story.  It's a life story.  It's... Oh you really should read it, even if you don't like sad stories.  It's a really good one. 

The Law of Dreams, by Peter Behrens - This book takes place in Ireland during the Great Hunger of 1847.  It tells the journey of Fergus O'Brien as he travels from Ireland to England and on to America.  It's beautifully written, and I enjoyed it.  It's rough, as you'd expect given the subject, but I was rooting for Fergus the whole way.

The Queen's Gambit, by Walter Tevis - This book tells the story of Beth Harmon, an orphan who discovers a love of chess at eight years old.  She becomes a prodigy and then goes on to excel on the international stage.  A girl playing a man's game.  There is a lot of chess in this book, so it's best to have some sort of appreciation for it.  I barely remember how to play chess, and yet I was fascinated.  It moves quickly and entertains, but at the end I was a little let down.  I wanted to like Beth more than I did, and I wanted more for her.  She's very socially awkward, and I wanted her to grow a bit more before the book ended.