The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a lovely book! The writing was lyrical, with gorgeous descriptions of the fictional island of Thisby, its people, and the capaill uisce. Part horse race, part awkward love story, part coming-of-age novel, you have to allow this book to draw you into the beautiful prose and just experience the story. I hesitate to share more because this book was a bit like unwrapping a present and I want you to read it for yourself.

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Line of Fire (The Corps #5)

Line Of Fire by W.E.B. Griffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 5 of our journey through World War II in the Pacific takes us on a daring rescue mission of the Coastwatchers serving as advance sentries for Guadalcanal. Less about McCoy and Pick and more about General Pickering, we see the events through their eyes as the planning and execution happens amidst the action of the war. A good read.

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Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Our book club selection for February. We pick up exactly where Divergent left off, with Tris, Four, and crew escaping after the simulation attack. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Divergent, but I am curious to see how this saga will end. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, Tris was an 8 on the annoying / bad decision scale for the majority of the book. The overarching theme of this book seems to be trust--who do you trust, and why? How does this shape your decisions and who you become? How does Tris's inability to trust impact her decisions? How does Four's decision to trust Evelyn over Marcus impact his decisions? And what will the fallout be from the revelations at the end? Looking forward to Divergent #3 this winter.

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The Inspiring Leader: Unlocking the Secrets of How Extraordinary Leaders Motivate

The Inspiring Leader: Unlocking the Secrets of How Extraordinary Leaders Motivate by John H. (Jack) Zenger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think all leaders strive to truly inspire those around them, but some do it better, and more naturally, than others. Zenger breaks down how to change how you motivate yourself and others to achieve great results. I found some really good takeaways to share with the team and some nice reflection for myself. Mainly common sense ideas for leading people, but useful for new leaders, or those leaders looking to change their styles.

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Battleground (The Corps #4)

Battleground by W.E.B. Griffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More new characters introduced as the war winds on. Time overlaps from the previous books as a result of so many characters and story lines, and the women are eye-rollingly unrealistic, as usual. But a good series and great insights into the history of World War II in the Pacific.

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Paris in Love: A Memoir

Paris in Love: A Memoir by Eloisa James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My latest armchair traveler read, Paris in Love, will take you through snippets of Eloise James's (pen name of historical romance novelist and professor Mary Bly) year-long sabbatical in Paris with her family. Originally her Facebook and Twitter posts, she weaves together the daily happenings and Parisian experiences with her musings on life, family, and her journey after breast cancer. A bit slow and disjointed at times, this allows you to step back and be a part of her life during her year of self-reflection and change. An enjoyable read.

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