The Camel Club by David Baldacci

I stumbled upon The Camel Club by David Baldacci.  I'm glad I did.  It's the first in a series, and I enjoy most of David Baldacci's work.  This one started off a little iffy.  It has several characters that are all separate in the beginning, but come together several chapters into the book.  I spent a lot of time in the first chapters trying to figure out how the people all came together.  It's a mystery situation with a murder and an even bigger plot that led to the murder.  It involves terrorism and secret service.  I think if you're a fan of David Baldacci you'll enjoy this book.  I think if you like murder mystery/espionage type stories, then you're likely to enjoy this book.  If you are not a fan of this sort of story, then just move on.  Pick a different book.  I give this book a 3 out of 5... nothing special but definitely enjoyable.

Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisom from the World's Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe

I actually got Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World's Greatest Investor by Janet Lowe for my husband to read.  He wanted some investing books.  After he didn't touch it for several days, I just picked it up myself.  It's not what my husband was looking for.  So, if you're looking for investing advice, don't bother with this one.  Don't get me wrong.  It was interesting learning about Warren Buffett.  He is quite fascinating.  I mean, he bought his first shares of stock at age 11.  However, there really isn't any real investing advice in this book.  There are generalized statements that Buffett has made such as "don't invest in something you don't understand" and "look for a company with good managers."  On the side of real investing advice, this book has nothing.  So, if you want to learn about Buffett and his philosophies in general, go for it.  If you want a book about investment strategies, keep looking.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein

I have no idea why You'll Grow Out of It by Jessie Klein made it into my "to read" queue.  I don't know who she is, but I do enjoy a good autobiography.  However, this one did not impress me much.  She's a stand up comedian but it really wasn't that funny.  She spent most of the book telling about all the stupid things she has done in her life.  I'm not sure she considered all of them stupid though.  She often prefaced something with "I'm embarrassed to say."  I just don't relate to people like her.  She's a woman who doesn't have a lot of self-esteem and just does things that I consider dumb because of it.  I will say that the end kind of saved her a little.  The parts where she talked about her problems getting pregnant made me feel like maybe she had matured and learned her lessons from all the stupid stuff and hopefully improved her feelings of self worth.  She felt more like someone I could ALMOST hang out with.  I still don't relate to the self pity banana pudding, but the fertility issues I relate to.  Overall, the book was just.... meh.  I give it a 2 out of 5 stars.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay ASher

I've read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher before and liked it.  I read it again this time after watching the Netflix television series just to see if there was anything different between the two.  There were several things different, but none of them were different enough to affect the story really.  So, if you've seen the series, then you've basically read the book.  I really liked this book.  My husband did not.  He is too logical for it.  He didn't understand why the main character, Hannah, did the things she did and reacted to things the way she did.  She was illogical in his mind.  The story is basically Hannah's explanation (or 13 reasons, a.k.a. 13 people) as to why she committed suicide.  So, it's not a lighthearted book at all.  However,  I think it's a good book for open-minded parents to read, especially if you have a teenager or an almost teenager, and realize how impressionable teenagers are.  I'm not sure where Jay Asher got his information for writing this book, but it felt very realistic to me.  There wasn't anything in the book that made me think, "There's no way that would ever happen in real life."  It's a tale of 13 people, more really, not realizing what their words and actions were doing to an already vulnerable young woman trying to find her place in the world.  I would definitely recommend this book.  I would love for every teenager to read it... not under 14 or 15 though.  Some subject matters are on the adult side of life.  Just go into it with the mindset that each person is an individual and just because you see things one way doesn't mean everyone sees it that way.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain is a somewhat of an interesting book.  I'm an introvert so I relate to most of what the author said.  However, about half of the book, or maybe more, felt as though the author was just really writing the book to justify who she is instead of to inform people about introverts.  What she said about introverts was definitely interesting, especially with respect to relationships introverts have with extroverts.  Relationships where introverts and extroverts are married to each other and how they cope with the difference.  The other most interesting part of the book were the studies about the productivity of extroverts and introverts in the work place or the studies done on babies to try to predict if they would become introverts.  This is another one of those books where if you're interested in the subject matter, then sure, give it a go.  If not, just keep looking.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.