Books from Punta Cana

One of my favorite things about our trip to Punta Cana was all the uninterrupted reading time I had, and I am so grateful I took some great books with me.

The night before we left I had book group and we discussed The School Of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. Even thought I didn't technically read it on the vacation I have to mention it because I loved it! I fell in love with each of the characters and felt like I knew them personally. I read it in about 2 days, (thanks to Kai and Luke for sleeping in until 10am on the second day) because I just needed to know more about each character. If you haven't already read it, you need to. Also, good news, her next book is coming out in June.

Jackie & Bobby was the first actual book of the trip. I started it on the plane and finished it the day after we arrived. It is all about the relationship that grew between Jackie & Bobby out of their grief from losing John F. Kennedy. I learned a lot I hadn't known before, and I was heartbroken for Jackie most of the book. I really enjoyed it however, if you are not interested in the Kennedy's or non-fiction it might not be for you.

Here I am reading Jackie & Bobby poolside.

Then I started to read a book I have been wanting to read since I saw it at Target, and then saw it on a blog I like. It is Bloodroot by Amy Greene. I loved every second of it. It is about a girl named Myra who grew up in Appalachia, told through the people closest to her. It was a heartbreaking and vivid story of her family. My mom grew up in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky, and although her experience growing up there (and mine visiting as a kid) was nothing like this families, I could relate to her love of the land around her. Visiting Kentucky as a child was the most amazing experience, and I think part of my love for it was trees, creeks, hollers, and animals that were always surrounding me. My grandparents owned an awesome house on over 350 acres of land, all untouched and unexplored. Amy Greene did an amazing job of writing about the land surrounding Myra, it was almost its own character.

Here I am reading Bloodroot with the ocean right in front of me. I love this picture because it pretty much sums up what we did the whole time. Brian tanned, I read, Emily put on sunscreen, and Nate took pictures.

Lastly I started to read Wild Swan by Jung Chang. I read it about 4 years ago for my book group in Washington, and now I am reading it again for this book group. This is another great book, and is about three generations of Chinese women. Jung Chang does a wonderful job telling her story as well has her mothers and grandmothers. Parts are brutal but she doesn't hold back. I am so excited to read it again because I already see myself noticing things I didn't the first time around. I can't wait for another great discussion about it.

Happy Reading!

*Side note: We just traded pictures with the Steinhafel's and I am sorting through them right now, so the rest of our trip pictures will be up soon!