Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

** Vinegar Girl will be available in stores June 2016 **

Goodreads Summary

Kate Battista is feeling stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but the adults don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr…

When Dr Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to win her round?

Anne Tyler’s retelling of The Taming of the Shrew asks whether a thoroughly modern, independent woman like Kate would ever sacrifice herself for a man. Its answer is as individual, off-beat and funny as Kate herself.

My Thoughts

I was super skeptical about this book.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it at all and then when I first started reading it... I found it to be boring.  But, I kept reading and I realized that I was wrong!  Vinegar Girl turned out to be a very enjoyable book!

I could totally picture this as a movie.  But not a typical "these days" kind of movie.  More like an old classic!  With Audrey Hepburn playing the part of Kate!  It would have been so good! Oh, and I am aware that The Taming of the Shrew was made into a move in the 1960's but this is not at all the same.

Anyways, I really did enjoy this book (and the movie played out in my head).  I already have a few people in mind that would definitely enjoy this book.  Another book added to my "Recommend" list!!!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Goodreads Summary

A charming and laugh-out-loud novel by Lauren Graham, beloved star of Parenthood and Gilmore Girls, about an aspiring actress trying to make it in mid-ninties New York City.

Franny Banks is a struggling actress in New York City, with just six months left of the three year deadline she gave herself to succeed.  But so far, all she has to show for her efforts is a single line in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters and a degrading waitressing job.  She lives in Brooklyn with two roommates - Jane, her best friend from college, and Dan, a sic-fi writer, who is very definitely not boyfriend material - and is struggling with her feelings for a suspiciously charming guy in her acting class, all while trying to find a hair-product cocktail that actually works.

Meanwhile, she dreams of doing "important" work, but only ever seems to get auditions for dishwashing liquid and peanut butter commercials.  It's hard to tell if she'll run out of time or money first, but either way, failure would mean facing the fact that she has absolutely no skills to make it in the real world.  Her father wants her to come home and teach, her agent won't call her back, and her classmate Penelope, who seems supportive, might just turn out to be her toughest competition yet.

Someday, Someday, Maybe is a funny and charming debut about finding yourself, finding love, and, most difficult of all, finding an acting job.

My Thoughts

I actually bought this book several months ago, put it on my bookshelf, and sort of forgot about it!  I would remember occasionally when I was already in the middle of another book and then forget again later!  I can't believe it took me this long to finally read it!

I have been a huge Lauren Graham fan since Gilmore Girls and was absolutely thrilled when I heard that she had written a novel!  To be perfectly honest, it made me a little nervous to read this for fear that it wouldn't live up to my expectations.  However, I really enjoyed it!

Someday, Someday, Maybe is a very charming, fun read.  It wasn't super predictable, which made it even better, in my opinion.  It didn't end "just perfectly" like some might prefer, in fact, it was left open ended.  I hope that means she might write a sequel!  I have heard that it's might happen but I haven't been able to confirm it.  I would certainly be happy if she does!

I certainly recommend reading Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham.  It's a good book and I'm pretty impressed with Lauren Graham's writing.  It just makes me a bigger fan that I was before!

Last Act by Craig Shirley

Goodreads Summary

His name in American politics is more cited than any other president. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are radically different today, mainly as a result of Ronald Reagan and the force of his ideas. No twentieth century president shaped the American political landscape so profoundly.

Craig Shirley s Last Act is the important final chapter in the life of Reagan that no one has thus far covered. It is the kind of book that widens our understanding of American history and of the presidency and the men who occupied it. To tell Reagan s story, Craig has secured the complete, exclusive, and enthusiastic support of the Reagan Foundation and Library and spent considerable time there reviewing sealed files and confidential information.

Cast in a grand and compelling narrative style, Last Act contains interesting and heretofore untold anecdotes about Reagan, Mrs. Reagan, their pleasure at retirement, the onslaught of the awful Alzheimer s and how he and Mrs. Reagan dealt with the diagnosis, the slow demise, the extensive plans for a state funeral, the outpouring from the nation, which stunned the political establishment, the Reagan legacy, and how his shadow looms more and more over the Republican Party, Washington, the culture of America, and the world.

My Thoughts

Last Act was such a wonderful book!  I loved reading about Ronald Reagan and learning so many things I hadn’t heard before.  Insights into the kind of man that Reagan was, his character and his honesty, so amazing.

So many people loved and adored him.  Most of the people who worked under him seemed to love him as well.  I found all of it so interesting and I kept wanting to read more.

Last Act is a great read, especially for anyone who loved Ronald Reagan, but really for anyone who enjoys biographies.  Honestly, I don’t read that many biographies but this one was so interesting.  Definitely a book to recommend!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

Goodreads Summary

Have you ever finished a meal that tasted horrible but not noticed until the last bite?

Eaten in your car so you wouldn’t have to share with your children? Gotten hungry while watching a dog food commercial? Does the presence of green vegetables make you angry?

If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you are pretty pathetic, but you are not alone. Feast along with America’s favorite food comedian, bestselling author, and male supermodel Jim Gaffigan as he digs into his specialty: stuffing his face. Food: A Love Story is an in-depth, thoroughly uninformed look at everything from health food to things that people actually enjoy eating.

 My Thoughts

If you like listening to Jim Gaffigan’s stand up comedy, you will love this book!  He loves food and he loves to talk about food!  In this book, he talks about food he likes, food he doesn’t like, and some of his favorite restaurants.

He is so funny!  He talks about being overweight and that he won’t take restaurant or food advice from skinny people because they aren’t passionate enough about food to overdo it!  Jim also said that he doesn’t call himself a foodie; instead, he says he’s an “eatie.”  Hahaha!

Food: A Love Story is a very funny book that made me laugh out loud quite often!  It is definitely a book that I will be recommending.  Actually, I already recommended it to my son and he’s reading it now!  However, I do feel that I need to put a warning out there…. Do not read this book if you are on a diet!  All of the talk about doughnuts, pizza, burgers, and all the other deliciousness will ruin your diet!

*Note: I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.