I'm Through by Ingrid Michaelson - Ingrid Michaelson's new CD came out last week - and I am in love. As I knew I would be. Here is one of the slower songs from her album that I love. I think anyone who's been through a tough break up can relate. Her songs tends to be full of honest, raw emotions, which is why I love them.
Books:
I'm really happy with the number of books I read this month, especially since I started studying for the CFA (and studied 15 of the 31 days in January for a total of 42.25 hours, which isn't too bad considering I had 2 business trips + a sinus surgery/recovery that knocked me off my feet for a week).
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides I hated this book. There. I said it. I was so happy to finish it when it was over. The main character reminded me of a mindless character from a chick lit novel that makes poor decisions and can't see her relationship for what it truly was {yes, she was young, but I still don't think that is an excuse}. Harsh? Yes, a bit, but I expected more for a book that was so highly praised by many critics. This Huffington Post review sums up my sentiment about the book PERFECTLY.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles My friend Katie recommended this book to me, and I am glad I checked it out! It is sort of hard to explain what the book was about, but I really enjoyed it. It follows the life of a 20-something girl, finding her way around NYC in the late 1930s.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak This was highly recommended by a couple of friends so I was anxious to get my hands on it! The story is narrated by death - which sounds odd, but works. It's sent during WWII and tells the story of a young girl who loves books (and tends to steal them). It's a sad book due to the setting and the tragedies that occur, but it's worth checking out!
The Big Short by Michael Lewis I loved this book and gave it 5 stars on goodreads. It's not for everyone as it's very 'financy' but I loved it. It basically explains the subprime mortgage meltdown that occurred in 2007-2008. It reads like a novel and there were many times when I thought there was no way it was non-fiction. Sadly, it is the truth, and it's bit sickening to read the play-by-play downfall of our financial system, but since it relates to the industry I work in, it was an important read for me.
Book buying fast update: I haven't bought any books so far this year. Yea!
Miles:
Well, my month started out strongly. I was getting my long runs in, doing speedwork on the dreadmill and cross-training on the bike. Then I had surgery, and well, there went that great running trend that I was building. My activity was restricted until I fully recovered from surgery so I took some time away from running. I am going to try running today for the first time - I have to stay indoors for now, per my doctor's orders, but hopefully I can run outside again in a couple of weeks.
Looks:
I didn't wear much that was noteworthy this month, but I did get a new scarf! My aunt knit it for me as a happy birthday/get well soon gift!
Here's a close up of it - I adore the colors and the ruffles!! It's so pretty and feminine and is allegedly easy to make!
Here I am wearing it - with stripes, of course. :)
23 comments:
I think you rocked the reading this month - the fact that you got through The Book Thief alone is an accomplishment because that book is huge! I love that scarf - and I still need to get Ingrid's new CD!
Hope the run goes well today - remember, take it easy!
I love when you do these posts! I am very impressed with the amount of reading you were able to get done considering everything- but I guess I am always impressed by your reading. It's funny I used to really like chick lit when I was younger, but now that many of the characters in those books and my age and just DISASTERS with life, I get annoyed a lot more easily. I can't even remember the last chick lit that I read, maybe Sammy's Hill and we all know how that turned out haha
Glad you are getting back to running today because that must mean you feel a lot better! I hope it goes well!
Love the ruffle scarf! I made a ruffle one once but it definitely isn't as cool as that one!
It makes me smile to see you wearing the scarf and I am glad you are feeling better. Good luck with running. I am starting to read "The Goon Squad."
I'm loving that Ingrid Michaelson son! She is such a great artist.
Love the scarf Barb made for you! You look great
Wishing you luck on your return to running today! I bet you're excited to lace up your shoes again.
Ryan has the book The Big Short & loved it too! Did you know there was a movie made a few years ago that was kind of based off that too? I cannot remember what it was called...something about "Wall Street" in the title though. Very interesting! (yet sad)
I just finished Rules of Civility last night and I loved it! D (the finance guru) has been bugging me to read The Big Short but I'm a little intimidated by the subject matter. Maybe I'll pick it up later this month instead of buying a new book.
I'm doing so bad for the twookclub books so far, I'm 0 for 2! I'm going to get back into if for February though, I just keep putting it off and then end up not having time to read it. I don't know if I'm going to read Marriage Plot or not at this point, but who knows!
Book Thief is one of my all time favorites, especially set in Nazi Germany. I've read a lot of books from that time period but that one still really stands out for me.
I will have to read "The Book Thief" as it would fit in with the book I finished reading this month - "Hitler's Niece". This book is a novel but based on truth about their relationship. I am always impressed with the amount of reading you do! Happy running! And that scarf is even more beautiful than the picture shows! I loved it!
That's a strong month alright! You had a lot to get through and pulled it off flawlessly. Good job.
It's 70 degrees in raleigh today, just in case that knowledge makes your minnesota winter any easier to get through.
It's not often that I get to recommend this book even through it's really good, but if you liked The Big Short, you should check out Ship of Fools: How Stupidity and Corruption Sank the Celtic Tiger by Fintan O'Toole. It also reads like fiction but it's about the Irish banking and housing crash (which occurred a few months before the US crash) and such an interesting look at how decades of idiocy left Ireland teetering on the edge of complete collapse.
That scarf is fabulous!
I hope that you have an enjoyable first run back post-surgery! Just make sure not to overdo it.
I love the scarf (and the stripes)!
I really enjoyed The Marriage Plot, but if we all liked the same books, the world would be terrible boring.
The Book Thief is in my pile, should I jump ahead?
I really want to read The Book Thief! And that review of The Marriage Plot WAS spot on. Especially the part about Madeline sitting around pining after Leonard while Mitchell traveled the world.
That scarf is so so so pretty! I love it!
Ohhh, thanks for the tip about the new Ingrid Michaelson album. I've loved her for years and didn't realize she had new music!
That scarf is really cute! Does your aunt have an etsy shop?
January was good book month for me too! I knew it would be good, but not that good!
That scarf is absolutely adorable, I love it! Learning to knit is on my bucket list, someday when I have time I will sign up for lessons! :)
That is a cool scarf and of course I love the stripes. Man, that is a ton of CFA studying hours. It's like marathon training! Whew. And still very impressive book reading. I'm just impressed that I'm making time for 10 and 20 pages a night. Ha!
Hope the run went well. love the scarf paired with stripes. tres chic!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that scarf! Its so pretty and ruffley. You rocked at studying. so proud of you.
I love that scarf! You really did well on your reading! I had a hard time getting into reading this month! I read Middlesex and REALLY didn't like it, so when I heard that another of his books was going to be up for the twookclub, I was not super excited. I am glad that I skipped it!
I just got Sarah's Key, which I know you really liked! I can't wait to get started on it!
PS Mr L LOVED the Big Short. I have it on my To Read list!
You read so much!! I need to stop spending so much time online and start doing some more reading!
Love the scarf! I hope you can get back outdoors soon with your running. I am hoping to fit in a run this weekend and get back on track with running myself.
Loved The Book Thief and love that scarf!!!
The Big Short isn't the type of book I normally read. But I do think I'd still enjoy it, and I would definitely learn a lot reading it. Definitely one I want to remember!
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