100 Books 2014: 45-48

I'm trying to catch up to where I really am on this reading challenge! Lately I've read a few bummer books in a row, I need to get back to some young adult fiction soon I think. Here are 8 more of the books I've read this year:

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure: I REALLY loved the little house books as a kid, I read Little House in the Big Woods and On the Shores of Silver Lake so many times! Somehow I never knew that Laura Ingalls was a real person and the Laura stories were based on her life. This book was super fascinating to me. Wendy McClure rediscovered the books as an adult and went on a journey to visit all of the "Laura sites" in a year. There is a whole world of Little House enthusiasts, many of them go on the same pilgrimage that McClure goes on. Even if I've not in a fandom, I really like reading about other people who get super into things. After reading this I bought a vintage set of the books at the flea market and I plan to read them this summer.

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See: A few years ago I read and loved Lisa See's book Shanghai Girls. This book is a sequel that focuses mainly on the daughter of the women in the first book. At the beginning of the book Joy leaves home in California because she thinks things will be better in Red China. I didn't know much about this period in China before reading this book and I was completely enthralled! It is pretty bleak at times but the storytelling is wonderful.

Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence by Ross Mathews: You probably know Ross Matthews as Ross the Intern on late night tv. I have always thought he was really funny and Travis checked this audiobook out for us when we went to Atlanta last month. I don't know if I would have liked reading the book as much, because Ross's signature shrill voice makes this book! It is full of stories from his childhood and gossipy Hollywood stories. I totally recommend the audiobook!

Austinland by Shannon Hale: This book was made into a movie last year and I couldn't WAIT to see it. I love anything Jane Austen of course, and Bret McKenzie (from Flight of the Conchords) was starring in it. The movie was cute and when I found out it was based on a book I put it right on my library hold list. The story is of a woman who loves Pride and Prejudice and is too hard on men because she is waiting for that perfect "Darcy." Austenland is a vacation destination where woman are immersed in a Regency England experience with promises of romance! It is definitely light reading, but never crosses into romance novel territory. If you've seen the movie you aren't in for any surprises, but it was just different enough and I liked the protagonists voice. I'll probably read the second one if I can get my hands on it.

We're going to the beach in just a few weeks and I'm making a little list of books too take. Do you have any recommendations for some light-ish books to read? I've recently been reading about child soldiers and the FLDS and serial killers and I need something a little more fun!