The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There was very little in here that was new to me as I regularly read science books but it was a very entertaining and therefore a quick read. I think it would be good for young adults (post sex-ed).

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A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun at the beginning but drags in the middle so so much. In the end, it's kind of fun again. At the very end, it was so stressful because some days it feels like "the conservatives" might do something like throw out a cure if the cure somehow limited capitalism the least little bit, or cost some huge company a few dollars. I am jaded.

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The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another 10 stories. Tigger steals the show in this one as his 2 (3?) stories are the best.

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More Deadly Than War by Kenneth C. Davis

More Deadly Than War: The Hidden History of the Spanish Flu and the First World War by Kenneth C. Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was good and remarkable in its parallels to our current situation. However, it left me with some questions about about the 1918 and didn’t seem all-encompassing is general. It had a very strong afterword and I strongly recommend that you do not skip that as it provides an important conclusion.

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We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.: Essays by Samantha Irby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really like Samantha Irby as a person, but I didn't like this one as much as Meaty. Possibly because I felt like she took aim at my own personal lameness in this one. Haha. (Ex: I once didn't have a TV and would totally talk about how I did other things, just like Irby mocked. I have a TV now though. It even has Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney so I'm not acting snotty about not watching TV. Ha!)

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The Plague by Albert Camus

The Plague by Albert Camus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is fantastic and-- despite the opinion of my friends who are horrified that I'm reading this right now-- this is the perfect time to read this. Covid doesn't allow you the ordinary-day emotional distance from the plague victims.

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Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ten cute stories. My favorite is the story of Eeyore’s birthday, though the switcheroo of Roo and Piglet has a lot to recommend it.

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Meaty by Samantha Irby

Meaty by Samantha Irby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Five stars for incredible raunchy entertainment value. It was also pretty interesting, touching, and funny. Irby is definitely smart and funny.

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Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro

Dragons and Marshmallows (Zoey and Sassafras, #1) by Asia Citro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mrs. Srb has been reading this virtually to Miranda these last two weeks and I've been listening too. Fantastic book for Kindergarteners and 1st graders. It's magical but also teaches scientific concepts and age-appropriate emotional lessons. Loved it! Read this instead of that treehouse junk.

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The Problem with Everything by Meghan Daum

The Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars by Meghan Daum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

She's a great writer, and though I definitely don't agree with everything she writes, I share many of the same frustrations. I am also a Generation X feminist, and I struggle with a lot of the changes that are taking place, both good and bad. When I was in my 20s, I was not yet familiar with serious feminist thought and writing, or for that matter, serious thought and writing about racism and economics which both inform my current understanding of feminism. I also hadn't experienced more of the snags women face as they grow older in our society so my experience was also only partially informative. But I also remember thinking what a dinosaur my fairly young mother could be at times, so I'm concerned about turning into a dinosaur as well.

This is the sort of book we should all be discussing at a book club. It presents a real challenge to both our ingrained and developing views.

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Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks, Gita Varadarajan

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks, Gita Varadarajan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute story about new friendships, new cultures, and developing sympathy and understanding.

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Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very fun zombie romance book. The beginning was particularly interesting and thoughtful, but it dragged a bit as it entered adventure book territory, and the end was unsatisfying.

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I like this book because it's fundamentally about how powerful just trying to do something helpful can be. It's about the things that motivate us to try. It's about love and sacrifice! It's about the natural world and what we owe it. Really enjoyed this one!

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