Maaaaaan, you guys. I’m struggling hardcore with my reading life. Sure, I have a baby and less time. But I’m finding myself choosing not to read when she is napping or I have rare Riley-free time. I think it’s because I’m just in this creating mood rather than a consuming mood, which has happened before, but not to the extent it is now. I think also sometimes my brain chooses other things that feel ~easier~ to do. It feels weird, though, not really reading much.
HOWEVER, I have read some books and now we can chat about them, okay? OKAY!
The Girl With The Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
Oh you guys, I loved this book! If you like historical fiction with a little magic, you need to pick this book up because it’s the perfect blend of that. The main character accidentally time travels to 1988 Berlin and gets involved in an underground network of people who use magic to create magical balloons that help people escape over the wall of East Berlin. Right before she time traveled she grabbed one of these red balloons but none of the balloon-makers know how it appeared before her and, because of that, her way home is unknown.
I felt instantly transported into East Berlin during this hostile time and Katherine just really did a phenomenal job with the world-building of a cruel East Berlin at this time as well as integrating these magical balloons into it. The writing was beautiful and I LOVE LOVE LOVED how we got not only Ellie’s point of view but Kai’s point of view AND Benno’s — the way the POV’s flow is just SO GOOD. GUYSSSS get this book, it’s so good!
I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
Ahhh a new Gayle book and I was NOT disappointed. She’s one of my all time favorite authors and this book just really resonated with me right now as I’m navigating to find my own way right now after feeling a bit of a loss of identity. The book takes place in the span of a day (which I love!) and follows 3 characters who are all kind of at this point in their life where they have totally lost their way for different reasons — some which immediately become known and others that get unraveled along the way. I loved each and every one of these characters and my heart ached for them all as they dealt with the thing in which they’ve lost that sets them on this path of uncertainty…but also a path to each other. I LOVED watching these strangers connect as they are all lost and in need of support. I think there is beauty in sometimes it being a stranger or someone we don’t know that well that can help us see something more than the people in our orbit can.
My only gripe is I feel like I wanted a little MORE – I definitely think this book could have been a little longer. Or maybe that is just how I feel with Gayle’s stories? But, for real, I do think I would have love having these characters a little more fleshed out than they already were. I’m too lazy to check the page counts for all her books but I feel this one seemed so much shorter.
The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte
One of my goals for this year was to read a personal development type book every month. So far I’ve only read one but HEY there’s still time to keep going on this goal, right? Anyways, I read The Desire Map! I have mixed feelings about it — on one hand I got quite a few BIG things out of it and I found the workbook aspect that goes along with the book to be super enlightening but on the other hand I found myself so bored with the book alot of the time and just didn’t LOVE the author’s writing style at all. I think, for me, some of it was a little too New-Agey and I would be like OMG wheeeeere is this going but then I’d be able to pull out a little nugget that I had to bookmark because it resonated with me. Also I feel like sometimes I would straight up read something and be like “uh yeah no…I don’t agree at all.” The workbook is great though! Probably got more out of that!
Have you read any of these? What did you think?! Any of these going on your TBR? Tell me what you’ve been reading!
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Shannon says
I have lost my way sounds like a great Read. I will look for it this Friday on my bookstore run. I always stick to self help but I’m seeing Fiction really gets my creative juices going. Thanks for the recommendation!
Jamie says
It’s not out until the end of the month but yes definitely check it out! Also highly rec all her other books. I love switching between non-fiction and fiction…good for the brain!
Maud says
Oooh I’ve not read any of this yet. Thank you very much for the advice. I am really enjoying Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman. Have you read it?
Jamie says
I haven’t but I own it and plan to read soon!! Are you enjoying it?
Kristen says
I havent’ heard of any of these, but just added them to my reading list!! I cannot wait to read this!
Jamie says
Yay!! You’ll have to let me know what you think!
Ginger @ GReads! says
I just started reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I know. I KNOW. I am late to this game! But I wanted to make sure it was read before I saw the movie.. and that’s happening on Friday.. so here I am, FINALLY reading it.
It is good.
So good.
Jamie says
SHOCKED. Also disappointed in myself I didn’t make sure you read it!! 😛
Daniela says
I love this! I’m always looking for new books to add to my list! Thanks for the suggestions!
Jamie says
You are welcome! You’ll have to let me know if you read any of them!
mae says
Great suggestions! I’ll definitely add them to my list.
Jamie says
Yay!
Sarah J. says
Glad to hear that you enjoyed I Have Lost My Way. I just started it a couple of days ago and I’m greatly enjoying it. 😀
Jamie says
Yay I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying! I need to chat with someone about it!! !
Cheryl @ O the Places We Go says
I vowed to make 2018 the year of reading again. Thanks for the suggestions!
Jamie says
Yay good luck on that endeavor! If you ever need any suggestions, I’m your girl!
Brianne says
These are great recommendations. I have been on such a slump lately (regarding my book choices) and haven’t found anything that’s captured my interest, so I definitely love reading recommendations by other people and will keep a couple of these in mind!
Jamie says
Ugh I hate book slumps like that! What kind of books do you love/what are some of your faves? Maybe I can help! It’s literally my fave thing in life haha
Annemieke says
Oh The Girl with the Red Balloon sounds interesting but historical fiction is such a hit or miss with me.
I finished The Fifth Season and The Passage recently. Loved the Fifth Season but had some troubles with The Passage. I also read the first 3 volumes of Fables deluxe editions, a graphic novel which was certainly interesting.
Elise Ho says
I have not. I was vaguely interested in the one but grateful that you saved me the time.
Sophia Smith says
Quite honestly, this title “The Girl with the Red Balloon” sounds like a funny one. I do not think I will be able to take it seriously into my TBR – sometimes I judge the books by its title.
Susan (Bloggin' 'bout Books) says
Oooh, I hadn’t heard of THE GIRL WITH THE RED BALLOON before, but it sounds really good. I’m definitely going to add it to my Goodreads TBR list. Thanks for the heads-up!
Mommy Jhy | www.myfavoritelists.com says
Hello,
I saw your blog from Blogging Like We Mean It FB group 🙂
I envy you for having finished these books. I have started reading 3 books early this year but my focus have shifted to reading blogging-related resources haha!
xoxo
JR/ Mommy Jhy
Jamie says
hahah I feel you on that front! I feel like I have been reading a lot more of those than actual books!