The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon I want to say that I hated this book, supposedly one of Pynchon’s most accessible works, I almost abandoned it with only a page and a half to go. And yet, I will probably be unravelling the this story in my mind for possibly the rest of my life. Is it possible to be haunted by a book? If you’re looking for a challenge and a book you won’t soon forget this is for you. The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America’s First Serial Killer by Skip Hollandsworth A series of attacks and murders of women are committed in the mid 1880’s in Austin, Texas. Though many are suspected of the crimes a killer is never found. This book might be a tad disingenuous regarding the serial killer aspect of these crimes. What I found most interesting was the day to day life in 1880’s Austin in comparison to today. If you're really into American history or western expansion then you’ll probably enjoy this, if you’re looking for some good true crime maybe try something else. Postcards From The Edge by Carrie Fisher The twisted wit of Carrie Fisher never fails to amuse and entertain me. Drugs and celebrity in Hollywood give this novel a slightly autobiographical feel, but maybe thats just supposition on my part. This was her first work of fiction and her unique writing style combined with incredibly interesting and fucked up characters make for a fun read. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness If Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey had a baby and then that baby grew up and became a history nerd who loves wine is the best description I can come up with for this book. If you’re into creepy controlling love stories (I don't judge) then you're going to love this, if you’re looking for a cool vampire book its halfway there. Half Moon Bay by Alice LePlante I randomly picked this up from the library entirely because it takes place in Half Moon Bay, a small sea side town about an hours drive from where I live, this is not a recommended book selection tactic. The writing is flowery both literally and figuratively. The protagonist, who is a native plant expert, is overly neurotic and scatter-brained and the narrative is neither mysterious nor thrilling. I did finish it though, so I guess thats a positive. Kitchen Confidential
by Anthony Bourdain Bourdain was a genius, just try and tell me otherwise. I highly recommend getting your hands on the deluxe edition which includes handwritten notes and an afterward by the man himself, as well as a new introduction from Eric Ripert. This was his original expose that earned him the bad boy chef rep, but its not that shocking if you’ve ever spent any time in a restaurant as an employee before. As always I would love any book recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments.
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Six books is a lot to read in 28 days. I did other stuff, I swear… All In Good Taste by Kate Spade New York I read my coffee table books from cover to cover when I first get them. I figure they are reference material, and I like to have at least a vague idea of whats inside. This book is a compilation of Kate Spade ( the company, not the person) approved tips and tricks for entertaining. It was very interesting, and has some great recommendations for music, books and things that might inspire you to throw a dinner party. An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris by Stephanie LaCava This was a weird one, but not in a bad way… LaCava has a distinctive writing style, and makes for a very complex protagonist. She is a collector of things, and I was entranced by all of the strange factoids, trivia, and historical notes included along side the narrative. Read this if you’ve ever been a stranger in a strange land, a fish out of water or a teenage girl. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon I’m at a loss about this book, I’m not sure I liked it, but I can’t stop thinking about it? This was not an easy read, the writing style is literary and the narrative never follows a straight line. If you’ve read Pynchon before you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you love weird characters, immersive detail and slight delirium, all soaked in sixties surf-rock then this is a book for you. And who doesn't love a hippie private-eye who only hallucinates when he’s not high? I’m Fine… and Other Lies by Whitney Cummings This was not what I was expecting, it turns out that Whitney Cummings has spent the last several years becoming enlightened in her spare time. From psychics to therapy and almost everything in between Cummings lays bare all of her trials and her victories. I’m not sure that I agreed with everything she says, but she also doesn't claim to be right and she’s definitely not afraid to be wrong. A fun quick read that might also make you think about some stuff. Just Kids (Illustrated Edition) by Patti Smith I loved this book, so much that I bought my own copy before I even finished reading the one I had borrowed from the library. Read the Illustrated Edition, it's wonderfully curated and really adds to Smith’s narrative. Even if you’re not into Patti Smith or Mapplethorpe, this is an amazing window into the wonderland that was New York City in the sixties for creatives, artists, musicians and anyone else who didn't fit into the mainstream. Watch out for the end though, it's a tear jerker. The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman I decided to read this book totally based on the fact that it takes place in Quebec, Canada. If I had finished reading the description I might have bailed, but I’m glad that I didn’t. Goodman weaves the real and horrifying history of post WWII French Canada into a story of motherhood spanning three generations. An emotionally difficult, but important reminder of Duplessis orphans. Read this book. I'm looking for a good title for this series, if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments.
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