"I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks." Harry stared. "One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a pair. People will insist on giving me books." -Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone
Loved:
The Taming of the Queen, Philippa Gregory: I'm a shameless Philippa Gregory fangirl because I absolutely love Tudor and Plantagenet history and she's an incredibly interesting fiction writer. Her newest offering, centered around the life of Henry VIII's last wife Katherine Parr, synthesized sex, politics, and religion in the most fascinating way. Totally unreliable from a historical perspective, but such a fun read.
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World, Anthony Doerr: A writer and his wife and their newborn twins receive a grant to spend a year in Rome. His musings and recollections and sweet family stories meld into a beautiful depiction of a city I have such fond memories of. A must read for anyone who's visited or loves Rome.
American Wife, Curtis Sittenfeld: This has been on my "to-read" list for years. Based more than loosely on the life of Laura Bush (a First Lady I am not-so-secretly obsessed with), it depicts the rise and life of an unlikely president and his reluctantly political wife. Again, it takes insane liberties with the aspects of "Alice's" life that aren't public record, but the writing is beautiful and the book was a can't-put-it-down treat.
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr: Oh my god. If you haven't read this, and if you have even the remotest interest in World War II/the Holocaust/Nazi Germany/northern France/Paris/science/blindness/nature/ALL things wonderful and good, read this. It's unbelievably good. I devoured it at the airport/en route to Toronto and will be recommending it to everyone in the world now.
Enjoyed:
The Last Anniversary, Lianne Moriarty: A cute, charming, light read from an author my mom discovered. We've fallen in love with her books...always a bit twisted, with super funny and multidimensional characters and out-there plots. This one didn't disappoint...a perfect airplane read.
Tolerated:
Nothing this month! Everything was really good! Always fun when that happens.
Re-reads:
Oh my god, I re-read all the Harry Potters in like...four or five days. Claire got me started on it when we went to South Bend for Zach and Colleen's wedding, and I couldn't stop. I ended up finishing the seventh one in the Chipotle by my office, crying shamelessly in the corner booth. I forgot how much I absolutely adore the books...a totally life-defining series that I'll always revisit with so much love.
Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling