Recent Reads (And a Book Giveaway)

I’m trying to strike a balance with my recent reads and not be totally consumed by parenting books.  Here are a few non-parenting books I’ve read lately that I want to share with you.

**Note: The last two books listed were sent to me by the publishers, specifically for review on my blog.

A Reliable Wife

I stayed up all night reading this because it was pure entertainment.  I gave it four stars on Goodreads and wrote:  “Written with exquisite detail and vivid imagery, this book reminded me a lot of Rebecca and other Gothic romance novels. There are a few holes in the plot that bothered me a bit, but overall it’s an easy and engaging read from the very first page.”

Before I Go To Sleep

Another fluffy page turner.  I kicked myself for not figuring out the ending earlier.  The entire plot is rather unbelievable, but it’s such a fun read that you can get past the improbabilities.  You’ll read it in one night.

Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall: How I Learned to Love My Body by Not Looking at It for a Year**

I have to be honest; I hesitated when I was first approached to review this book.  I like to think I’ve worked past most of my former weight and body issues and am now kept pretty well occupied with being a crazy first-time mom.   My mind just isn’t on my own body anymore and I’m actually okay with that.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Kjerstin’s story of giving up looking in the mirror (or any reflective surface!) for an entire year is a truly heartfelt and entertaining read.  She tells her story with a humility and reliability that makes reading it feel like a conversation with an old friend.  It is full of interesting tidbits and anecdotes about feminism, body image, and weight.  While it is a personal account, she discusses her experiences and emotions within a broader social context, thus recounting experiences and emotions to which so many of us can relate.

The book is admittedly very dense in self-analysis, so it took me a while to get through.  I also would have liked a little more analysis at the end, after her experiment, and a little less about her feelings while she was going through it.  Those are my only points of criticism.

Coming Clean: A Memoir**

I am so very proud of my blog pal, Kim, for authoring this stunningly written memoir.  Coming Clean recounts a childhood of secrets, shame, and a complicated but loving relationship with parents struggling with compulsive hoarding.  With themes of forgiveness, hope, and unwavering loyalty, this book grabs your attention from the first page.  Kim does not ask for pity but instead tells her story with grace, wit, and utter bravery.

The book is truly compelling and I am dying to share it with you.  I have one hardcover copy to give away to a reader of this blog.

Giveaway

To win a copy of Coming Clean, please leave a comment on this post telling me the latest good book you read!  I’ll announce a winner on August 1.