Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan was another recommendation by my famous friend who is featured in Elin Hillenbrand books. The cover alone makes you want to read this book. It’s so luxurious. Even though I became a little tired of reading about entitled ridiculously wealthy people, overall, I enjoyed this frivolous read. I might even read Kwan’s next book, China Rich Girlfriend.

I read about The Prince of Los Cocuyos on Oprah’s recommended book list. I love a good memoir and this was a nice, quiet read. Nothing monumental happened – it was really a series of short stories about Richard Blanco’s life. I enjoyed it, it was interesting, and it was certainly well-written, but it wasn’t amazing. If you like memoirs, you will like this one, and it’s a quick read.

I received an advance readers copy of One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis by entering a Facebook contest on William Morrow’s page. I always enter and never win, so this was a nice treat. One Step Too Far was a quick read. Not only was I sucked in immediately to the strange story of Emily/Cat, but I was dying to know what had happened to make her abandon her life, husband, son, and family. There was no way to have predicted the ending of this one, and while I kept thinking I had figured it out (twin switch, anyone?), I hadn’t. It left some things hanging and required some suspension of disbelief, but, all in all, it was a good read and one I would recommend. It reminded me of Gone Girl, but it wasn’t as good.

I adore Ian McEwan. I was so excited about his newest book, The Children Act, that I bought it in hardback. This is unheard of for me, as my few blog readers already know. I couldn’t wait for it to come from the library and it was so spare and had such a luxurious cover, that I had to have it. However, after a friend’s so-so review of the book, I put it aside for a while. I was excited to have a snow day to get through it today. Unfortunately, after spending the day reading, I am completely disappointed. It was such an utterly boring story with characters I cared nothing for that I feel like my reading time was wasted. It’s so sad to have felt this way after having read an author I usually like so much.

I have heard nothing but good reviews of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs and was really excited to read it. It certainly didn’t disappoint. It was a fascinating and, indeed, tragic story. While I hate to say it, there were some flaws in the writing and it slogged a bit midway through and toward the end. But I was compelled to find out what had happened to Rob Peace. Why had his life, with so much potential, derailed so tragically? I am not sure that, even having read it, I can completely understand his story. And, I thought that perhaps the author (Peace’s college roommate at Yale) was too close to the story. However, there is no doubt that Hobbs cared very much for his roommate and did exhaustive research to understand Peace better. At the end of the day, though, I think the story could have been more effectively told in fewer words. I am glad I read the book, though, and so sad for this truth both for the environment in Newark and also for Rob’s family and friends.

It was hard to pick up a new book after reading The Girl on the Train (for a good review, read Gayle Weisswaser’s most recent post on her wonderful blog, Everyday I Write the Book). That’s what always happens when I love a book. However, Station Eleven was another one that drew you right in from the first scene. I am not entirely sure what to make of Station Eleven, however. It was a great read and I had trouble putting it down each night, but at the same time, it was disconcerting. I enjoyed the ins and outs of the characters and how they tied together. I liked the moving back in forth both in time and place. But, the open-ended quality and missing details frustrated me. It was almost too devoid of detail in many instances. Part of that lack of depth was effective and contributed to the disquiet you should have felt as you read it. But another part was like a niggling itch that you can’t quite get to. Overall, though, this was an interesting glimpse into a post-apocalyptic America and a book that I very much enjoyed reading.

Even though I had a few books on the nightstand, I decided that I had heard too many good things about The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins not to give it a go (thanks for the recommendation, Nina!). I treated myself to actually purchasing it for my Kindle and was drawn in immediately. You should run right out to buy this one. It’s a great read and totally engrossing. I thought about it all day and was so excited each night to read it. It is absolutely worth the price!

Delicious, by Ruth Reichl was aptly named in all ways. Not only did I devour this book today (unexpected snow day), but all the food descriptions made me want to cook up something scrumptious. It was certainly a fluff book, not too deep, but perfect for a long day of hunkering down under a blanket and just relishing a good story. Looking for something light, fun, and fast? With the added bonus of partial epistolary-ness, it was really a pleasure.

After a bunch of false starts and abandoned ships, I finally picked up something that sustained my attention, The Possibilities by Kaui Hart Hemmings. While the storyline was somewhat predictable, this was a short and interesting story about a mother whose son died in an avalanche. The story picks up after the death as she has gotten back to work and as she picks up the pieces of her life. The characters are pleasing and the story is full of possibility (sorry). I was glad to read it and get myself back on the reading track.