Recently Read

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides.
This was recommended to me years ago, and I finally picked it up when I saw it at the library. I had no idea what the book was about when I picked it up, and I often like it better that way. This is an epic book, telling the story of three generations of a Greek family, ultimately leading to the story of the main character and narrator, Cal. The family and social history of the story is interesting, from the grandparents in Greece, their love story and journey to America; to the parent's love story and time of social unrest in Detroit; to the journey of self-discovery made by Calliope/Cal. It's a long one, and I admit getting a little impatient during the first two generations, but it's fascinating and definitely worthwhile.

The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, by Ron Lieber.
I've decided to add more non-fiction to my reading list. There is always room for improvement, in all areas of life. I had seen a couple recommendations of this book, and its topic is definitely one that is top of mind. Kevin and I talk very often about how good our boys have it and how we want to make sure they recognize that. I liked this book - it's a fast read, and although it contains a lot of practical ideas; most of them are shared through example stories, so the reader can decide what may work best for them.  The subtitle is important, since the primary focus of the book is money. I picked up several new ideas (e.g., my boys now have bigger allowances, with contributions going into spend/save/give jars), reinforced thoughts I already had (e.g., allowance is not tied to chores), and started thinking forward about how we might want to handle certain situations in the future (e.g., how much of their college education do we want them to be responsible for?).

The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty.
This was a fast, easy, and entertaining read. I did struggle a little in the first few chapters of the book,
keeping all the characters straight; but after that I flew. This would be a great book for vacation or traveling. I've heard good things about this author's other books as well, so I will definitely pick up more.