I am so excited… I read two books in January! It is really amazing that the simple act of a setting a goal for yourself can be so effective! As part of my #MoreMEin2016 initiative, my reading challenge was just one of the ways I wanted to make more time to do the things I love.
I selected two books and simply made more of an effort to read. I’m actually embarrassed by how easy it was to carve out this time to myself. Here I am thinking, “I am SOOO busy.. NO time to myself… I just have SO much to do… I never have time to read.” Nope. There’s actually plenty of chances for me to read, once I decided to MAKE the time to do it. Laundry can wait sometimes. So can those emails. Now to the good part, book reviews!
Big Little Lies
Summary from Amazon:
A murder… A tragic accident… Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
My Thoughts:
This is my first Liane Moriarty book. I know everyone raves about her and this book. If you are one of those people you might want to stop reading my review. I was interested in the beginning, but then I just got kind of bored. I am all for a good mystery… however I want to enjoy the entire book. I got to the point with this story where I was like, “Just get me to the end, already!!” Also, I figured out the main story line when a MAJOR hint was dropped in the middle of the book. I was still surprised to find out who died at the end… but by that point I was just happy the book was over. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads since I know this book didn’t suck, I am just impatient. (However, I am looking forward to the HBO version of this book, especially since it will star Reese Witherspoon & Nicole Kidman!)
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Summary from Amazon:
This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing.
My Thoughts:
As I write this, I am STILL on the waitlist for the freaking ebook edition of this book from the library. It is a popular read these days. Lucky for me, one of my good friends had copies of this book and was eager to send me one after I put the word out on social media that I was looking for it. I feel like there are 2 responses to this book, from what I have seen. It either changes your life or gives you a really good laugh. As for me, I think I may be right in the middle. I enjoyed the book and read it in just a few days. I have not started any of the methods outlined in the book, because frankly, I haven’t had a chance. I mean, taking every single item of clothing I own, placing it on the floor, and then touching each item while closing my eyes and thinking, “Does this bring me joy?” just isn’t feasible when you are a full-time working mom with 2 kids. However, this book was very motivating & while I may not do the program exactly how she suggests, I am definitely going to try a modified version that will work for me. After years of moving around and having kids, I know that I have TONS of things I don’t need. I am DONE with STUFF and ready to tidy my life. (& you know I can resist anything with the work “magic” in it!)
Did you guys read either of these? I would love to hear what you thought in the comments section! Be sure to check back here tomorrow for February’s books picks! Also, I would love for you to follow me on Goodreads.
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I've been hearing so much about the Marie Kondo book in just the past few days. I put in a hold at my local library and I'm only #210 in the queue. (I guess it's pretty popular.) I think, from what I've read, that I'll fall somewhere in the middle as well. I'm hoping to take some new ideas that will work for me. And perhaps I'll end up talking more to my socks…
Looking forward to your next picks.
I almost picked up the TLC book about tidying up but, decided even if I read it was it really going to help? I've been paring down and ready to do more spring cleaning. Really I'd love an organizer to come in & take over my teens room, lol. If I see the book for free I'd give it a quick read though.
Good for you reading two books this month! Haha I read the title of a few… does that count?;)
Well I absolutely loved Big Little Lies. I was definitely anxious to see who died, but I enjoyed the suspense. Totally not for everyone! As for Marie Kondo's book, I have yet to read it in it's entirety, though I did read the section on clothes and my husband and I spent several hours on Friday night when Eve was at my in-laws' for the night to actually do the process with our clothes (we really know how to live it up!). I actually really like how my clothes are organized now much better than they had been previously. We'll see if I ever follow through with the rest of it, though!
I love your book reviews..the 2nd one I have heard of on GMA…I usually don't have trouble with clutter, but acquiring too much stuff is definitely a problem sometimes!
I need to make more time to read novels, I usually have my nose in fashion magazines!
Valerie
I love how honest you are. Probs not going to try and read that first book. I saw the word bored and thought, "okay, nah" but I do want to try and read the Tidy Up book. If nothing but for a good laugh. None of my maternity clothes give me joy so it's time for me to start from scratch. Again, thanks for being honest. This was fun to read!
I haven't read or heard of those books before. I don't get as much reading done as I would like though.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is fantastic! I was right in the middle too. Some parts of the book are truly life-changing, but it still gave me a few laughs. Hope you enjoy it!
I've heard of both of these but not read them yet. I liked your reviews because they got right to the point and were obviously your opinion. I totally agree, we have more time to read than we realize if we look for it.
So glad you made time to read! I've been really curious about the Tidying Up one and I will probably give it a read when I get the chance.
Big Little Lies sounds like a great book club selection – we just read a murder mystery type book earlier this month too. The second one, well, I'm right there with you. What full time working mom has time to touch every item and think about it? I just don't even want to look at the clutter, so I hide it, but I don't have time to actually go through everything and remove unnecessary stuff. I hope to make time for such a task someday, but that someday hasn't come yet. Glad you're making time for reading 🙂
i really am stunned that you have time to blog, parent, work and now READ TOO!? Do you ever sleep!? ;0
I've read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying up and while I didn't think it was life-changing it was an interesting perspective on 'stuff' 🙂
Ummmm is it bad that oven ever heard of either of these books lol… Honesty they could be the number one books out right now and I would still be clueless since I live in "Courtney bubble land" lol…. Glad you are kicking your goals though!!! Feels so good to accomplish things!
So proud of you for following through. I'm still not entirely sure I have time to read! Haha!
I want to check out that second book though. I could use some STUFF-rehab
Liked "Big Little Lies" well enough; hated the Kondo book–I kept having images of this poor little OCD child who couldn't form relationships or even go out to play because she was so bothered by clutter. I think the popularity of this book says more about our culture of over-consumption and how sick everybody is of it.
I haven’t read either of these books but read another Moriarty book so I will try another but, I actually put bothof these books on hold at my library.