Recently Read - Vol. 6 (March '16)

It's the second Tuesday of the month, so you know what that means.  It's time for Jana and Steph's monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.

*If you are here looking for my post on J for the Blogging A to Z Challenge, it precedes this entry.  But, hey, if you are not in a hurry, have a look around!

Overall, March was a good month for me in terms of reading.  I read, well, listened to three books that I would recommend, two that were ok and that I would recommend if you like that genre or author, and one that I did not like at all.

WORTH THE TIME - RECOMMEND

Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker
Read March 5-9
I liked this book so much that I dedicated an entire blog entry to it.  Click here to check it out.
My rating: ★★★★/★★★★★ (4.5)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Read March 12-20
I was a latecomer in reading this book.  I'm not exactly sure why.  I've had it for 2-3 years, but I just never got around to reading it until last month.  Given that this book is one of the most popular, highly rated, and well-known books that's been written in the past ten years, I don't really know what to say about it that hasn't already been said.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I listened to it on audiobook and it was more like a performance than a book narration, which added to my overall enjoyment.
My rating: ★★★★★

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Read March 28 - April 9
Crazy Rich Asians is the story of Rachel, an ABC (American Born Chinese) who goes to Singapore to spend the summer with her boyfriend, Nick.  While there, she will meet Nick's family.  What she envisions is a humble family, much like her own, but what she finds is a super rich, pedigreed family so absorbed in status, impressions, and high society life.  There are the rich and then there are the crazy rich.  

This book, despite my rating, took me a while to get through.  It was a little slow to start and part of it was due to the overabundant description of high end cars, couture French fashion, and expensive jewelry - which I found annoying.  I understand that the details of the excessiveness was necessary in order to illustrate exactly how crazy rich these people were, but, like I said, after a while it got on my nerves.  After a while, the high end product name dropping let up and the book was more enjoyable.  The description on Goodreads said it was "outrageously funny."  Although I did find it funny at times, I wouldn't say it was outrageously funny.  
My rating: ★★★★

OK - 50/50 - ADEQUATE FOR PASSING TIME OR BASIC ENTERTAINMENT

Six Days of the Condor by James Grady
Read March 1-4
I would've never, ever read this book had I not needed to read a book published the year I was born (for the bonus round of Erin's Book Challenge 4.0).  At some point during my lifetime, I had heard of the film based on the book, The Three Days of the Condor starring Robert Redford, but was unaware that the film was based on a book.

From what I've gathered, this book is considered by some as the Holy Grail of mystery/spy novels, the standard to which all Washington based spy novels have been compared over the past four decades. Although it was good, it wasn't as stellar as I expected.  If you are into spy novels, then sure, give it a shot.  If spy novels are not your thing, then I'd pass on this book.  
My rating: ★★★

One Summer by David Baldacci
Read March 21-25
I don't really have a lot to say about this book.  It was a lighthearted read and was somewhat predictable.  It was perfectly pleasant to pass the time.  It didn't make much of an overall impression on me, for I rarely thought about the book or the characters when I wasn't listening to the audiobook.  In the audiobook version, there were several parts that had accompanying music playing in the background, which was HIGHLY annoying.
My rating: ★★★/★★★★ (3.5)

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
Read March 10-12
People claim this book is funny.  Me? Not so much.  Perhaps it's because I listened to the audiobook version and missed seeing the numerous drawings that are included in the print version.  Maybe those drawings were essential to the overall understanding of the plot.  Perhaps it's because Vonnegut is an acquired taste and apparently he's not my cup of tea.  I don't know.  All I know is that I didn't laugh once during this book.  I did a lot of eyebrow furrowing, a common expression I exhibit when in the presence of weirdness.  I found the talk about beavers (not the four legged kind either), underpants, and inhabitants of a planet called Margo where they communicate by farting and tap dancing (just to name a few examples) to be odd and quite absurd.  Although I enjoyed John Malkovich's narration, I did not like the book at all.
My rating: ★★

Have you read any of these books?  What were your thoughts?  Feel free to share below.  As always, thanks for stopping by!