The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

This was recommended by my friend, Kjersti, on her blog. It's a memoir written by a 20-something lady living in New York City trying to find her way professionally and personally. She's trying to figure out her own identity, and how being Mormon plays into that. It's kind of a coming-of-age story, but with very funny stories about dating, heartbreak, and weight loss. A very fast read, and I learned some stuff about the Mormon religion, so you could say it was educational as well.

Thanks for the recommendation, Kjersti!

A note for my junior readers: this book is definitely rated PG-13, almost, but not quite R.

Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs In and Out of the Kitchen by Alyssa Shelasky

This writer was living in New York City when she fell in love with a chef. On a whim, she moved down to Washington, D.C. to live with him as he started up a new restaurant. She found out that being in a relationship with a chef meant not seeing him that often. She had days on end alone so she decided to learn how to cook.

There's other relationship drama and moving back and forth from coast to coast, crying, and self-pity.

I read this book over two days. It was easy to read. But after I finished, I was struck by how spoiled and whiny the writer is. So although I couldn't put it down, I can't really strongly recommend it to you either.

Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup

Kate's husband died suddenly in a car accident, leaving her a widow with four young children. Her husband, a Maine state trooper, had been planning on making a career change and attending seminary, so Kate decides to do that herself. In this book, she doesn't include so much about her own grieving process. Rather, she tells tales from her work as a chaplain to search-and-rescue teams.

Readable, and okay. I liked the author and I admire her courage, but in terms of a reading experience, it was satisfactory, but not enough to give you a glowing review.

Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

Is this year's election season getting you down? Tired of all of the presidential campaigning? I'm here to suggest that you take a break from this year's campaign by reading about the 2008 campaign!!

This book is an insider's look into the 2008 presidential race. It follows Obama, Clinton, McCain, Palin, and even includes some Edwards in there. Who knows exactly how accurate this book is, but the authors claim that it was meticulously researched and that many of their sources independently reported the same conversations/interactions.

This was a fascinating, fun, and interesting read. It was also a great distraction! However, at 400+ pages, I'm only recommending this to those of you who have more than a mild interest in politics.

PS: Thanks to my cousin, Russ, for recommending this book to me!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Dealing with her mom's death, a recent divorce, and some experimentation with drugs, Cheryl Strayed set out to reclaim herself by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. With no experience or training, she tackles this long trail by herself.

I didn't start off liking this book because I didn't start off liking the author. She made some very poor choices and seemed impulsive and self-centered. Over time though, as I read more and more about her hiking adventures, I really came to like her (except for some romantic decisions she makes on the trail)! She's gutsy, flexible, and has a good heart.

A recommended read!

A word of caution though: if you get queasy reading about losing toenails, this is not the book for you.

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff

This is a collection of short essays by the founder of Restore International. He writes about the adventures of his life (getting into law school, courting his wife, taking his children to meet world leaders) and challenges us to not just think about what we should do, but to actually do something and engage with life, and show our love.

Each story was fun, and had some wisdom attached. I found it enough to read one chapter a day.

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

It's 1914, and Grace Winter is stuck in a lifeboat after a mysterious explosion on their cruise liner. Surrounded by strangers and a wild ocean, Grace reflects on her short marriage and what it will take to survive.

If you want to read a book about being stranded in the ocean, I would suggest Unbroken instead of this one.