30 Day Book Challenge | Day 9 — A book that changed your opinion or completely surprised you, good or bad

Maybe I’m cheating a little bit on this one, but my answer is really more about my opinion of myself rather than a specific subject. This year, I was surprised by how much I loved books in a couple of genres I hadn’t paid much attention to in the past and for which I never thought I’d develop an interest.

I have more actively followed politics in the last year than ever before. Partly because of the election, sure, but mostly because of what has been happening in Wisconsin, my homestate. After the collective bargaining issues there in early 2011, I started listening to Rachel Maddow’s show online and when she came through Kansas City in April 2012 on her tour for Drift, her debut book, I immediately bought tickets, which included a copy of the book. I found it compelling and engrossing, and as disturbing as some of the history and events can be, I was fascinated by her research on United States militaristic and political power relating to pursuing wars. I think I’ll be hooked on political science and current events for life now. It’s so important to be informed.

After reading some blog reviews of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, I decided to check out what the fuss was all about, and I went against my normal habit of waiting for the paperback version. Historically for me, mystery/thriller is generally not a genre that catches my attention, or I have found plot summaries to be too cheesy, and in the past maybe I believed I was not the kind of girl who would like it (which I realize is naive and a ridiculous assumption about myself). In 2011 I read Tana French’s In the Woods and was not all that impressed. But I’m really glad I read Gone Girl as it captivated and entertained me throughout, even spurring me to pick up Sharp Objects. Still have to get to Dark Places too!