What I Read: August 2017

Today I bring you the first installment of "What I Read," a compilation of mini-reviews of all the books I finished this month.

The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray (not my favorite narrator, but okay for the part and very enthusiastic)
How I read it: Audible audiobook
Why I read it: The movie is supposed to be great (it was!) so I wanted to read the book first.
One-sentence review: I loved this book for the reason that I usually love hard science fiction--it felt like a travelogue written just slightly in the future, and I kept forgetting it wasn't a true story.
My rating: 5/5 potatoes

Artemis Fowl
Written by: Eoin Colfer
How I read it: paperback
Why I read it: My husband recommended it as a fun, lightweight YA novel, perfect for our summer road trip.
One-sentence review: If you like fart jokes and the idea of an amoral, prepubescent James Bond blackmailing fairies, you will like this book.
My rating: 4/5 cheeseballs

Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being
Written by: Brian R. Little, Ph.D.
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor (a totally inappropriate choice of narrator, who made me wish I had read instead of listened)
How I read it: Audible audiobook
Why I read it: I saw it recommended somewhere on the internet, and studying the intersection of well-being and personality sounded interesting and useful. Plus, I liked that he isn't sold on the validity of the ever-popular Myers-Briggs personality typing.
One-sentence review: There are a lot of books about personality psychology you can read, and this one offers a slightly different perspective--but not that different.
My rating: 3/5 neuroses

Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic & the Domestic
Written by: Esther Perel
Narrated by: Esther Perel (beautiful voice, fascinating accent, excellent narrator)
How I read it: OverDrive audiobook
Why I read it: Because I recently got married, and growing up around a variety of sparkless marriages was depressing, so I've decided to do my research and take a pro-active, humble, and preventative approach to keeping things awesome.
One-sentence review: While I personally won't be taking some of her suggestions (like those about non-monogamy), I will certainly be remembering her hilarious client stories and her unique insights about communication, sex, love, and romance in the context of a long-term relationship.
My rating: 5/5 date nights

The Earth Gods
Written by: Kahlil Gibran
How I read it: hardback, with original illustrations by the author
Why I read it: I was drinking tea with my husband, and it was the closest poetry within reach on our dining room bookshelf. (What, you don't have a dining room bookshelf?) Also because Gibran's The Prophet is wonderful, so I suspected this would be as well.
One-sentence review: This is a deeply beautiful book about earth and soul, beauty and despair, love and longing, and I'm not sure I "got it", but it will only take half an hour to read again.
My rating: 5/5 fields untrodden