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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: books

  • Single Girl Reads | Winter Reading List

    Single Girl Reads | Winter Reading List

    Catherine’s Winter Reading List 2014

    winter reading list
    PHOTO: Bonnie Barton.

    It’s raining, it’s pouring… I didn’t realize until a couple weeks ago when the first rain of the season hit San Francisco just how much I love rainstorms. With cold air and longer nights, it’s the perfect weather for curling up with a good book. This season’s picks are a little deeper, a bit more emotional but, like my fall picks, will probably strike a chord. Brew your hot beverage of choice (I go with hot cocoa or apple cider), switch on your holiday lights, snuggle with your most-loved blanket, and get ready to revel in some reading.

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  • Single Girl Reads | Fall Reading List

    Single Girl Reads | Fall Reading List

    Catherine’s Fall Reading List 2014

    fall reading list
    I have a nerd confession to make: During my college years, I would visit my high school’s website for their English classes’ summer reading requirements. These along with the books I never got around to reading (though I managed to pretend I did) became part of my growing “to-read” list. For book lovers, choosing one has much to do with your atmosphere, where you are in life, and what you need from the book you choose. Perhaps it’s just me but as the temperatures start to drop (perhaps figuratively in California), I am looking for a paperback with impact—one that might change me in some way with its story or with its composition. These kind of books require undivided attention: read from your your in-home reading nook, a quiet park bench, or on your long commute. Here’s my reading list for the fall, some that have been on my list for a while, some that I’ve read before, all highly recommended.

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  • Single Girl Reads | Summer Reading List

    The Single Diaries Summer Reading List 2014

    summer reading list
    Last week I visited two historic public libraries for the first time in Boston and New York City. Aside from the beautiful architecture and the wonder I felt at being in such awesome buildings meant solely for reading and educating, these visits reminded me that I am behind on my reading goal for the year. With a little more free time on my hands, a number of cities enticing with scenic areas ideal for a quiet moment, and more than a few plane rides, I put together a list of books I plan to tackle during the summer. Whether you’re hitting the beach, jetting off on a plane, or claiming a sidewalk table in your hometown or a foreign city, here is your summer reading list. 

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  • Single Girl Reads | Mother’s Day Book Report

    Single Girl Reads | Mother’s Day Book Report

    A gift guide of books for the mothers on your list

    PHOTO: PBS.
    PHOTO: PBS.

    My love of books no doubt stems from my parents. I had my first library card before I started school (my “signature” definitely looks like I had just learned how to write my name). Some of my fondest childhood memories include my mom bringing me to the library and letting me peruse the children’s room for hours. When I started reading more substantial literature, my mom encouraged me to inscribe my name and the date I finished each book on the inside cover. What a charming way to look back years later and consider your “journey” when you first read a novel! Unfortunately, I fell out of this practice once reading for pleasure was a thing of the past (read high school and college required reading lists). I think it’s time to bring it back. Mother’s Day is such a special time to honor the women in your life, and I find there’s no better gift than just the right book. A personalized note is just as extraordinary an inscription… and a beautiful reminder of where the book came from. Here are six of the latest titles to consider for Mother’s Day.
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  • Single Girl Reads: Revenge Wears Prada

    The voice vibrated in her toes, and Andy knew it was Alex before she turned around. Her Alex. Her first love, the man she always thought she’d marry…

    Revenge-Red_final_image_982w

    As promised, I present The Single Diaries’ first book report. Released over the summer, Revenge Wears Prada is the sequel to novel-turned-film The Devil Wears Prada. I was number 30 on the waiting list at my local library and practically ran to the branch when it was ready for pick-up. (OK, so I drove… I do live in L.A.) 

    I am a fan of both the novel by Lauren Weisberger as well as the film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. I found the character of Andy to be more like her on-screen persona (i.e. Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of her) than what I remembered from the first book; that is to say she was whinier and a bit annoying. In typical screen-Andy fashion, of course she would make rash decisions based on one bump in the road. Regardless, I rather enjoyed this read for what it was: another chick-lit tale of the first year of marriage.

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