Introducing...

Hello! I think it's about time to introduce myself. My name is Niki, and I've been reading since I was 2 years old (writing since I was 3). As a child, books were my passion. Believe it or not, even when we went to Toys 'R' Us, I was more content sitting in the book/coloring book section and reading while my parents walked my little brother around. If there were no books with words, I'd make up my own stories to coloring books. Do I need to explain any further?

In middle and high school I was adept at picking apart linguistics and methods of writing (English is my third language, so that helped), and multiple IB and college honors classes have given me a good insight into dissecting authors' meanings (although I'm not always impressed by that--has anyone read Kiss of the Spider Woman? So boring). I'm jealous of my friends who received English or Journalism degrees because they got to read so so so much and are better writers and analyzers for it, while I've forgotten much of what I used to know and have to rediscover it all at a much slower pace.

Enter law school. I will be starting my third and final year this fall and am currently working a more-than-full-time internship. This means I have had no time to read for pleasure. I'm really glad Mallory invited me to join this because it will force me to read more, as I have been craving and missing for years. I plan to get started ASAP and will let you know when I've finished a book! Until then, I might just review some books I've already read. (If I have time.)

:D
Niki

Heart of the Matter

I feel conflicted. I would confidently say that Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. I love her style of writing and the way she toys with your emotions. BUT, I cannot stand the theme of most of her books. I know most authors write about things they've experienced in their own lives and I can't help but think that Ms. Giffin has experienced infidelity in hers.

I absolutely loved her first two novels, Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I also love that one of her characters intertwine with another character in a different book. I always get that "Ah-ha!" moment after I've figured out that this character has already been in another book. I think it's very clever.

Back to this infidelity topic. It hasn't happened in all of her books, but it is definitely a reoccuring theme. She likes to depict a relationship and how crystal it is from the outside, but then slowly picks it apart and shows us that not everything is as perfect as it seems on the outside. Which, I totally agree, nobody is perfect. But, she has this way to make me connect the story to my own relationships, whether they're past or present. And then I end up feeling either grateful or resentful.

Heart of the Matter is definitely a story about infidelity and the way we choose to deal with such occurences. Confused housewife, Tessa Russo, has it all from the outside: the perfect doctor husband, a cute tudor house outside of Boston, two adorable children (with equally adorable names, Ruby and Frank), and the perfect life. Nope, wrong! She's got postpartum depression, hates that she's turning into what her mother has warned her about (she gave up her teaching job to be a stay-at-home mother), and feels her relationship slipping with her husband, Nick. Next, meet Valerie Anderson. Single mother and determined lawyer. She lets her son, Charlie, go to a sleepover and he ends up in a terrible accident that lands him in the hospital and under the care of Dr. Nick Russo. Uh oh!

Don't worry, I won't give away specifics, but I read about three-fourths of the book in two days. I usually can't put down an Emily Giffin novel once I've gotten into it. I definitely have mixed feelings about it, mostly because it made me sad for all parties involved, but overall, I enjoyed it. If you haven't read any of Emily's work, you should for sure read the two mentioned above first. Here's a list, in case you're interested:

Something Borrowed

Something Blue

Baby Proof

Love the One You're With

Heart of the Matter

Just a warning: you will NOT be able to put down the first two books. So, I would suggest to start them when you have a TON of free time on your hands (like a 14-hour flight?).

Happy reading!

Hey, I'm Dani!

And now, I shall introduce myself. My name is Dani and I’m an elementary school teacher in a “highly impacted” Title I school. I teach a population that is “highly impacted” by poverty (but also parental [and in some cases student] drug use, gangs and lack of educational motivation). Most of my students have the incredible ability to speak two languages fluently (compared to my one, unless you count junior high French) and are most of the time awesome to be around (which I typed with clenched teeth as it is the second to last week of school and I don’t think there is a word to describe the level of squirrely that we all have reached).

I started reading well before kindergarten, read well all through school, but for some reason absolutely dreaded it. I read the bare minimum in college and maybe (?) read a few books by choice. Since graduating from college my story has completely changed. I love reading! It is completely relaxing for me and I try and read as much as I can. I think in the past two years I have quadrupled the amount of books I read in the 22 previous.

I am excited for this school year to end so I can get a lot of personal reading finished this summer as I start graduate school in the fall. I’m sure starting in August my reading time will be consumed with topics of a more academic nature (read: Blah!).

I like to read everything from biographies and autobiographies of politicians to mindless and hilarious dribble put out by my favorite quasi-celebrities (and of course gossip magazines, blogs and articles forwarded to me by friends while they’re “working”) and everything in between.

I’m currently reading “Stones into Schools” by Greg Mortenson (he also wrote Three Cups of Tea). So far, I love it, it’s a feel good book that reminds me why I put up with being an educator. I shall finish it soon after school gets out for summer and report back!

Furiously trying to find time to read,

Dani

Apologies

I apologize about the continual color change of the blog! I'm trying to find the perfect fit for us. So please be patient with me as I play around with it for a bit.

I'm planning on designing a header for us. The one we have now is bo-ring! So, keep an eye out for that!

Welcome!

Welcome readers!

My name is Mallory and I am a long time lover of reading. I started reading at the age of four. My mother bought me a set of alphabet books in hopes to jump start my reading. I was completely mesmerized by these books and I wanted to prove that I could read them all on my own. Before anyone could have guessed, I was reading. My mom thought I had just memorized what she had read to me, but I proved to her that I could actually read.

So, for the past twenty years, I have been reading. I was always the kid that was toting around a book wherever I went. I was reading at a twelfth grade reading level by the time I hit junior high. I forced my mom to take me and my brother to the library every Monday and I couldn't check out enough books to keep me busy for the week.

While life has slowed me down in my reading quite a bit since those days, I am still just as passionate about reading as ever. I love to buy books and I love seeing them on my bookshelf. I love reading to help me fall asleep at night. I love curling up on the couch with a book. I love to read!

Please enjoy browsing this blog. Myself, along with some other passionate readers, will provide you with insight and inspiration to read some of our favorite books. If you click on our name links, you will be directed to our GoodReads page, where you can find even more recommendations. Please feel free to leave us comments as we love to converse over a good book!

Happy reading!