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melissajogibbs's reviews
379 reviews
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
In grade school, this was never assigned in any of my classes yet I knew it was something someone should read. I recall attempting it and shortly after knew I would not continue. I didn't care for the snotty, cursing main character. And felt too young and disgusted with that to continue which i find very curious to reflect on now. I could sincerely write about Holden the same way he talked about everyone else. To some extent, that was the point I believed was made at some point...what I felt from my reading of this. He obviously needs to get help in figuring things out. He is just as the others he describes. I do believe at some point he took the advice of that quote of his Mr. Antolini and realized how to be the catcher in the rye in life.
The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential by John C. Maxwell
5.0
I have to say this is my favorite self help author. He always says what I need to hear and he has a lot of books of various, although not too different, topics. They are easily applicable to many areas of life and I look forward to trying out some others of his despite having read his newest.
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
5.0
Very entertaining. Great for the car-ride. Steve reads the recorded version AND plays snippets of banjo in between chapters. I respect the guy a lot and not really that much for the area of his life that was his stand up so I liked learning about him there. He put the story together very nicely, great writer.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
5.0
I didn't put this book down until it was over which was about 24 hours before I had finished it. I'm so glad this story was told. But if you asked me for my opinion I couldn't give you a definitive answer. I want all my friends who are in medical research to read this.
The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food by Adam Gopnik
4.0
First time "listening" to this author. I enjoyed discussing food in this manner. While it was a bit meandering I enjoyed each topic we alighted upon. Elizabeth Pennell was certainly fascinating as was his letters to her. I just like how it made you think about the culture of food. "Our morals and our manners, together, define our molars." Great for listening on my commute. I don't think I'd have felt the same way about reading the book.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
3.0
I gave Rowling the benefit of the doubt. I wasn't interested nor keeping the characters straight until two hundred pages in. Finally we started having real conflict instead of suggested conflict and the last fourth of the book was really juicy. I'm glad the reading ended up being worth it but can't help but feel that it could have been trimmed or reorganized to some capacity. Again, I would stick with it though because Rowling's greatest gift is how she weaves everything back together.