something I read...

This weekend I took a little trip to Philadelphia, the city of "brotherly love".  If you know me, you know that a trip cannot possibly become a vacation unless I get to spend some time reading.  Since I was in-between books, without a clear idea of what I wanted to read next, I decided to take a chance and buy a book at the airport.  In between Fifty Shades of Grey and a Jodi Picoult novel, I found Orange is the New Black, which is a memoir I've been meaning to read.

Along with about 4 million other people, I watched the Netflix series last year and was curious what the  real-life Piper Kerman had to say about her time at Danbury, a women's federal prison in Connecticut, where she spent a little over a year.  The series is filled with sensational crimes by colorful characters, dark humor, and ahem, quite a bit of lesbian activity.  I really enjoyed watching the entire series all in one sitting… but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading the book too!  A few things to take away… it seems that Netflix has really amped up the violence and prison hook ups, which shouldn't be too surprising.  Piper's memoir is fresh, honest, and really sheds light on the many problems of our justice system and the Bureau of Prisons.  

If watching the Netflix series isn't your thing, I would say, give the book a chance!  It's not nearly as shocking as the show, and there's a wonderful positivity to it. (And if you buy it from the airport and return it within six months… you get half of your money back!  It's a great deal.  Thanks Paradies!)

something I read...

This morning I finished reading Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton. Without giving too much away, the book is a mystery novel written from an interesting point of view, a coma patient in an out-of-body experience. The story-line follows the coma patient who is looking for the arsonist who put her and her daughter into the coma. The book has 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and has generally excellent reviews. At points, I found the author's writing slow, but I am glad I continued reading as the ending was a surprise. I definitely recommend this book.

-Lu

something I read…

I just finished reading The Dinner by Herman Koch.  It was a super long time coming; I first heard about the book about two years ago while working for the literary series Arts & Letters Live.  I am so glad I finally went out and bought the book because it was absolutely amazing.  Koch writes with an even, suspenseful tone that takes you from aperitif to entree; dessert to digestif.  It's been compared to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and it's easy to see why.  It isn't until the middle of the book that the mystery is revealed and you understand what is actually happening in the lives of two Dutch couples.  The ending was shocking and unexpected, and I urge you to read it!  You'll love it.

xoxo, H