First of all, I’m not going to comment on the amazing line-up of television premieres last night because I haven’t watched them all yet. (Don’t worry, I will catch up this weekend.) I will say, however, that I watched Grey’s Anatomy – followed by a quick break to put Sam to bed and do a few little things around the house – and Parenthood and, basically, sobbed through both episodes. Pregnancy Hormones + Thursday Night TV = Hideous Elizabeth on Friday. Just in case you happen to see me today and think I look like I got beat up. 😉
Moving on…
So, way back at the beginning of August (I know), I read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and hosted book club at my house…
I absolutely LOVED this book. It was, by far, the best book I read all summer.
Here’s a little blurb from Amazon:
I really enjoyed that this book read like a “beach read”/ chick-lit, BUT it also really made me think.
Obviously, since I’m thirty years old, happily married, and pregnant with my second child, I could relate a lot to the “young Alice” character. I think all those “commonalities” are what drew me to the book to begin with. But, what really stuck with me long after I was done actually reading, was just how easy it was to fall into the trap of image/pressures/expectations and become someone entirely different over time. Thirty-nine year old Alice was, frankly, unlikeable. BUT, she too, was relatable. It scared me how many tiny glimpses of myself I saw in her – the way she took her marriage and other relationships for granted, the way she strived to “do it all,” the way she found her value in how nice her clothes were or how perfect her house was. If I’m really being honest, it’s a trap I stand dangerously close to already.
Based on our book club discussion, I wasn’t the only one who read this book more like a warning – almost as if the “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come” showed up in my dreams and gave me a tiny glimpse of what could happen if I let it. Not only that, but it helped put into perspective the incredible gifts of THIS season and helped me appreciate my husband, my family, my life just.as.it.is.
It was good.
Even months later, I find myself thinking about this book.
If you haven’t already, go read it.
E
P.S. I’m about a month late planning my Book Club for October. I haven’t even chosen a book yet folks. Please, what should we read? I need recommendations… Ready, set, go!
I think Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is a book club-worthy book. After I’d read it I had so many feelings and I needed to talk about it so badly, but no one else I knew had read it.
I just finished What Alice Forget a few weeks ago and loved it too! More than just a “beach read” definitely! I read “Where’d ya go Bernadette” recently and thought it was a different & quirky read that would be fun to discuss in a book club, just a thought! Have a great weekend!
I haven’t read this one, but The Husband’s Secret by this same author was VERY good. I am currently reading The Goldfinch…very long but a very interesting book (I’m over halfway finished).
I really liked Me before You, too.
I’d like to recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain if you haven’t already read it. And I think it’s especially timely since Stein just hit the banned books list in Texas 🙂
I second Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I also recommend the The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Both are love stories painting pictures of hope against deep despair. They are very different, but I learned things from both.
I just started reading this last night- my book club read The Husband’s Secret this month, which is by the same author, which reminded me that you’d talked about this book…so I just grabbed it at the library and here we are!! Anyway, LOVING it so far- thanks for the recommendation!! (And if you haven’t read Husband’s Secret- YOU SHOULD!!!)