Fall Florals and the last 5 books I've read

Today I have such a good transition outfit from summer to fall (or just good if your fall is extra warm) and the last

It’s been a hot second since I shared what I’ve been reading! I’m 75 books into my 100 book goal for 2019 and September has been a lot of book club picks. I love reading for book club (even if I don’t make it to the actual discussion) because it introduces me to new authors and stories I might not have picked up otherwise.

I’ve started categorizing the books I read by the value they add and trying to make sure I’m reading a good mix of the categories – here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

Educational: I learn something from just about every book but this one I reserve for parenting books, self help books, or historical books.
Insightful: These books tend to not be my favorite kind of fiction but they help me understand a type of person better. A great example of this was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It wasn’t really my cup of tea from an entertainment side, but getting into the head of Eleanor, a young woman who struggles with social skills and connecting with people, was interesting, enlightening, and endearing.
Entertaining: Sometimes you just want to be whisked into another world, another life, another circumstance.

The last 5 books I’ve read

Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok: Beautiful Sylvie disappears after flying from New York to the Netherlands to visit her dying grandmother one lat time. The best thing I can say about this book is that it kept surprising me; the twists weren’t anything I could have anticipated. It was a book club pick that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise but this tale of love, loss, and dark family secrets keeps you guessing. <entertaining>

Exodus by Leon Uris: This passionate and powerful historical fiction account details of the treatment of Jews throughout Europe, their exodus to Palestine, and the creation of Israel. I learned so much during this read and it left me wanting to learn a lot more. This is the LONGEST book I’ve listened to all year and it was hard to keep all the historical details straight. That said, it was a fascinating dive into the issue of a Jewish state and, as someone at bookclub put it “felt like the history lesson I missed in school.” <educational>

The Gown by Jennifer Robson: My favorite of the five, this fun historical fiction tells the story of grandmother and granddaughter, a few decades apart in London. The book takes you inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created, and into the lives of the workers, chronicling what it was like to be a woman in 1940s London . The only disappointing part of this book is that it’s fiction and you really want it to be fact. <entertaining>

The Plus One by Sarah Archer: Kelly, brilliant robotics engineer prone to social anxiety, doesn’t have a date to her sister’s wedding…so she builds one. This fun read is an interesting look into the struggles, insecurities, and perspective of Kelly and the concept of relationships and love. I’m not sure when I put this on my library hold’s list but it was a good way to break up big chunks of “Exodus.” <insightful>

S hakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates: This book documents the real experiences of professor Laura Bates in supermax prisons teaching Shakespeare to inmates. It was a fascinating insight into the mind of murderers and makes you want to re-read the works of Shakespeare that you probably haven’t looked at since high school lit. It isn’t something I would have picked up on my own but I’m grateful for this book club pick that left me less judgement than it found me.

currently reading/listening to:

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand Elin Hilderbrand is a favorite guilty-pleasure author of mine for light, drama-filled romances set on Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.
No-Drama Discipline by Dan Seigel: Re-reading this one in physical form for the first time so I can mark it up. It’s been a minute since I read parenting books and there are a few things about life with my 3 and 4 year old I’m trying to figure out right now.
The Enchanged Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading I wonder if this will be any different than “The Read Aloud Family” (which I LOVED) but trying it anyway.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri: I’m not sure why I added this to my library holds awhile back but it finally came up and this story of refugees is already powerful.

Do you like hearing what I’ve read recently? Would you prefer book recommendations organized by topic?

outfit details:

dress: This amazon find is perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. The tiered layers are quite flattering (aka hide all the post partum extra). It’s lined and comfortable. I’m 5’4″ and wearing a size small (and you can see it hits a little above the knee). It comes in a million different colors (I’m wearing the navy blue floral) and the shirt version has a ton of good reviews (and would be so cute post partum as well). If it’s still hot where you live, this is a dress that won’t scream summer while still keeping you cool. As the temperatures drop, layer on a long cardigan and booties.

sweater: Goodthreads (Amazon Brand) – my favorite fall purchase so far! I got this last week and have worn it just about everyday since. It is so versatile and the quality is on par with my sweaters from Madewell (but at about half the price with prime shipping). It comes in a couple of different colors and I’m wearing an XS. It runs TTS

bag: stolen from Adelaide (knockoff of this designer bag)

flats: J.Crew Factory – I’ve head these for a few years and they’ve held up well and are one of my go-to’s for day-to-day. They’re marked down right now and come in a few different colors.

watch: Daniel Wellington (I’ve had it for 3+ years and still love it)

pearl barette: Part of this pack for less than $6.
=