What I Read in September

Monday, October 2, 2017


September was a chill month, book-wise, but I really enjoyed the four books I read. Looking at the list below, I feel like it's actually a hilarious assembly of books, all completely different from one another: a book on Jewish weddings, a famous author's first try at the crime genre, the memoir of a reality TV star, & a beautiful novel about family & race.

Hey, I'm a woman of varied tastes.

I also hit my Goodreads goal of reading 60 books in 2017! You may recall that I read 101 books last year, which definitely will not be the case this time around - but I figure that 60+ books is still pretty good, right? My new goal to round out the year is 70. Onward!

The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant

My friend Michael, who just happens to be the rabbi officiating at our wedding next month (!), sent us this book as a must-read before we started planning a Jewish wedding. It took me awhile to finish it but, man, what a great book. If you're considering a wedding that contains any Jewish elements, this is the perfect how-to guide for figuring out your options & melding tradition with modernity. ★★★★

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. JK Rowling)

How did I not realize that JK Rowling had another entire series? A crime series, no less?! I started reading the first book in the series literally as soon as I found out. It centers around the fantastically named Cormoran Strike, a British PI who's looking into the supposed suicide of starlet Lula Landry. It's slowly paced, with little to no climax, but I love a good character-driven drama, so it was right up my alley, if a bit long for my preferences. ★★★★☆

I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson

I went on vacation & intended to read What Happened by Hillary Clinton... & instead I read this memoir written by a former Bachelor contestant. Back in 2012, I watched Season 7 of the show &, along with the rest of the world, pretty much haaaated the woman who won & then authored this book a few years after calling off her engagement to Bachelor Ben Flajnik. This didn't make me like her, necessarily, but it was a fascinating look at the show's behind-the-scenes happenings & how being on a reality TV show can drive contestants to act, well, pretty crazy. An easy & entertaining read, especially if you're a Bachelor/ette fan. ★★★☆

Everybody's Son by Thrity Umrigar

I read this one for Cleveland Magazine, whose entertainment editor asked me to write a couple reviews for their holiday issue - & what an incredible book it is! Anton, a biracial 9-year-old, is taken away from his drug-addicted mother & fostered by a well-to-do white family who later adopt him. He subsequently grows up in the footsteps of his famous father & grandfather, both respected politicians - but what happens when he finds out more about his mother & his past? Stay tuned for my review in the magazine, but suffice it to say that I'm so glad I read this one. One of the best books of the year for me. ★★★★★

Comment to tell me what you're reading, then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch & see what I've read in months past.

My "What I Read in..." posts include Amazon affiliate links to the titles I discuss. If you buy a book using one of these links, I will receive a small percentage of commission. Please don't feel any obligation to use these links, but if you do, it will help me buy more books.

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