It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week!

Read Last Week:

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly: Calpurnia Tate is a coming of age story set in a rural area of Texas during the 1890s. It is a Newbery Award Winner, and is one of my "summer reading requirements" that I assigned myself this summer. I brought home a huge pile of books from work to read over the summer break - there is nothing worse than when one of the students asks me what I think of a book and I have to say I haven't read it! I am hoping to have my review finished in the next day or two, but I thought this book was a lovely little read.

The Bucolic Plauge by Josh Kilmer-Purcell: Definitely one of my favorite books I have read all year!! I wanted to crawl through the pages and hang out with Josh, Dr. Brent and Farmer John. I wanted to help with the goats. This book was charming and funny, and I absolutely love books that are about farming- especially when the farmers have never really farmed in their adult lives before. This book was fabulous, you can read my whole review here.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: I planned to read this, but just wasn't in the mood. Unfortunately, I am not in the mood this week either. I will read it though! It sounds amazing!

Currently Reading:

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch: I love this book because of its cover- yes, I do judge books by their covers sometimes, sadly. I love the city of Savannah, and this book looks interesting. I have read good things about it around the internet, I am looking forward to it.

Pawley's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank: Lately I have been beach dreaming from my house in the Michigan suburbs. I think this has prompted what I feel might become another mini author fixation. But it is summer, we all need to read something beachy and fun sometimes.

The Bucolic Plague- Review

Title: The Bucolic Plague

Author: Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Publisher: Harper

Goodreads Summary:

What happens when two New Yorkers (one an ex–drag queen) do the unthinkable: start over, have a herd of kids, and get a little dirty?

Find out in this riotous and moving true tale of goats, mud, and a centuries-old mansion in rustic upstate New York—the new memoir by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, author of the New York Times bestseller I Am Not Myself These Days. A happy series of accidents and a doughnut-laden escape upstate take Josh and his partner, Brent, to the doorstep of the magnificent (and fabulously for sale) Beekman Mansion. One hour and one tour later, they have begun their transformation from uptight urbanites into the two-hundred-year-old-mansion-owning Beekman Boys.

My thoughts:

I adored every word in this book! While reading it, I wanted to rush over to Sharon Springs, make friends with these guys, and become part of their world, kind of like Ariel in Disney's Little Mermaid. This memoir was light-hearted, funny, sincere, and real, and was reminiscent to me of The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy by Robert Leleux . The Bucolic Plague inspired me to dream my own dreams, evoked nostalgic feelings in me for eras I never lived in, and caused me to stay up until 3 AM because it was just so good I couldn't put it down.

This book had me from the beginning, goats, diarrhea, and all. The moment Josh stuck his head out the window because he couldn't breathe, I knew I was in for a good book. The zombie flies, the paralyzing panic in Martha Stewart's kitchen, all these things and more made me laugh right out loud. The part where Josh realizes that eventually Brent is going to have to find out about the 88 goats in the barn is so something that I would do and feel. I would do something like that, and then be like, uh-oh, now I have to tell my husband? Eek! I did have to skip the scene where he slaughtered his turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, especially once he related that the turkey went with ease and calm under his arm, trusting and secure. So for anyone who is squeamish about animal death scenes, be forewarned!

But this book was not just about good times- in fact, this book illustrates how you should never take anything at face value. On the surface, Josh and Brent lived a utopian, idyllic life. For a while, at least. Then in the pursuit of perfection, they lost the sense of authenticity, the simplicity of what they were doing, and worst of all who they were together. The very traits that they loved in each other became traits they despised. I found myself wanting them to know that this was happening, to calm down, appreciate what they have, realize that it does not all have to be impeccable, Martha standard perfection. Eventually, after Josh left for work without telling Brent he loved him, they realized that the most important thing they had was each other. They seem to have it together, and I hope they do.

And anytime they want to invite me to dinner and to play with their goats, I am available. Just saying.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week!

Read Last Week:

Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie: Leftover from my Crusie Craze from two weeks ago. I felt I needed to finish this one. I read it when I needed to take a break from Z, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the idea behind the story, that these women were tired of living for or through someone, and had decided to take their own lives into their hands. Nell kind of bothered me- I felt sorry for Gabe. She was pushy and aggressive, not assertive.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann: This was our book club book, (which I write about on my other blog) and I was right, it did take up most of my concentration for reading last week. Review forthcoming on this blog hopefully today or tomorrow.

Currently Reading:

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - My mom gave me this book to read, she loved it. I read the back and it does sound like a book I would enjoy. I have this weird obsession with India, I am looking forward to reading it this week.

The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell - My friend Valerie recommended this one after we read Farm Life. I have been waiting weeks for it to come in from the library, and it finally did! I had to finish Z before I could dive into, which I plan to do very shortly.