August Book Review

I know we still have a few days left in the month, but I've decided to go ahead and post my books for August. I didn't get much reading done for the month of July, but I picked it up in August.

Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt

I loved this book. I know it's been around awhile, but when the author Frank McCourt passed away last month, it intrigued me to read it. It is the true story of the author growing up in extreme poverty in Ireland during the early part of the twentieth century. It is a sad story, but it does come with a happy ending. Some parts left me in disbelief. It is hard to realize that not so long ago people have lived like this and in some places still do. Even with the tough times our country is going through at the moment, none of us will more than likely never have it this bad. This book truly makes you appreciative for what you have.

Ana's Story: A journey of Hope Jenna Bush

I saw all the hype on this book when it came out a few years ago. I bought it awhile back when I found it for $3. It is the story of a teenage girl in Latin America and her struggles with growing up with abuse, being HIV positive, and being a teenage mother. I didn't like the way the story was written. I just read weird to me (if that makes any sense). The story is aimed at young adults, but I thought it was written in even a lower level than young adults. It felt to me that the story had the potential to be good, it just was not written well. Thankfully, it was an easy read and I finished it in a day, but don't waste your time.

The Last Lecture Randy Pausch

This is a great book. I bought it for my dad for Father's day and he sent it along to me once he was done with it. It was written by Randy Pausch for his three young children after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only months to live. The book is filled with life lessons that he wanted to leave his kids after he is gone. It is also a great reminder to not take life for granted. It is an easy read and I finished it in a day. A great book, especially for anyone in a leadership position. It talks a lot about leadership. David is reading it right now and so far enjoying it also.

My life in France
Julia Child

After seeing Julie & Julia, I picked up Julia's My Life in France. It was an interesting book and it took me some time to read, but I enjoyed it. It was interesting to read about her beginnings to becoming such a famous chef (long before the food network came along). This is the third memoir I've read this summer and though they keep my interest, they are a little harder to get through. It has taken me most of the month to get through. If your into memoirs or food, then I recommend this one.

The Memory Keepers Daughter

Kim Edwards

I'm not sure how I really feel about this book. There was a lot going on throughout the story and to be honest, the story wasn't really what I thought it would be about either. The story starts in the 1960's and is about a young doctor who delivers his twins and discovers that one of the twins has down syndrome. He then tells the aiding nurse to take the baby to a institutional home and then lies to the wife telling her the baby was dead at birth. Instead of taking her to the home, the nurse takes the baby and raises her in a different town. Without trying to give too much away, I thought the book would focus more on the daughter that was given away, but instead it focuses on the lives of the doctor, his wife, and the demise of their marriage after the birth. The real focus is on family secrets and what they do to families. I think the part that I didn't like the most was the ending. It just seemed to end abruptly to me. Overall, not my favorite, but I have read worse.