Friday, December 30, 2016

Year-End Wrap-Up

November

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer
Completed 11/14/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #34: A book from the library
Rating: 4 out 5

It took me awhile to get through, but I really enjoyed this book.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Completed 11/29/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #37: A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

I enjoyed this book as much as I do any short story collection, which is to say, I didn't. Don't get me wrong, it was well written, but I just don't form attachments to characters in short stories and I didn't glean anything particularly profound from it. I have no idea why this book won the Pulitzer Prize.

December

The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel (The Book of Ivy #2)
Completed 12/2/16
Rating: 4 out of 5

The conclusion to the Book of Ivy duology. I enjoyed it but not quite as much as the first book. I do appreciate that the author didn't try to stretch it into a trilogy.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
Completed 12/23/16 (audiobook)
Rating: 4 out of 5

I listened to this audiobook on a complete whim because I spent a lot of time housecleaning for the holiday and needed something to entertain me.  I loved the movie, but the book was equally good, perhaps better in its own way, as books usually are.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #1)
Completed 12/23/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #40: A book that's guaranteed to bring you joy
Rating: 5 out of 5 (obviously)

I really had forgotten just how charming J.K. Rowling's writing is.

Anticipated:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Hopefully completed 12/31/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #32: The first book you see in a bookstore

Cheating a little...I got this book from Target, but since I almost never buy physical books anywhere but online, I'm counting it.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

November TBR

For November, I plan to keep on going with the 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge (only 4 books to go!) as well as get in at least a book or two for #NonFictionNovember2016.

I'm currently reading:

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer (#34: A book from the library / also qualifies for Non-Fiction November)

Also on my potential TBR:

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (#32: The first book you see in a bookstore)
The Lost City of Z by David Grann (Non-Fiction November, possibly stretched to also cover #37: A book about a culture you're unfamiliar with)
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson (Non-Fiction November)
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin (Non-Fiction November)
The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster (Non-Fiction November)
The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel (because I HAVE TO find out how this duology ends)

I know I won't finish all 7 books, but I like options.  :)





Monday, October 31, 2016

October Wrap-Up, Part 2

As luck would have it, I finished another book today, which makes 7 for the month of October!  I'm guessing this is a personal best.

#7

The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
Completed 10/31/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #29: A dystopian novel
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I've heard very little buzz about this YA dystopian, which is first in a duology.  Unlike the more popular YA dystopian series out there, this one is character driven, as opposed to action based.  That does not mean this book drags, not by any means!


I also forgot to mention the two books I DNFed in October:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson:  I was going to read this for the R.I.P. Challenge and the #Spookathon.  I DNFed after the first chapter because I just wasn't feeling it and I didn't want to ruin my reading mojo by trying to force myself through it.  I do want to come back to it in the future.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman:  I DNFed about an hour into the audiobook.  I stopped listening because I felt I will enjoy it more in physical form.  I feel like realistic books like contemporaries or literary fiction are easier to follow in audiobook format than fantasies.

October Wrap-Up

Wow, what an amazing reading month!  

I completed 6 books this month, bringing my 2016 total to 44 books so far.  I participated in two reading challenges (R.I.P. XI and the first #Spookathon) and crossed one more Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt off my list. 

#1:

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Completed 10/3/16
Counts toward the R.I.P. Challenge
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Click here for my spoiler-free comparison between The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood.

I enjoyed this book because, like The Woman in Cabin 10, it is just so readable. The writing just flows along.

That being said, it wasn't nearly as creepy as I expected. I notice that some people have it shelved as horror. Um....why? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it isn't actually horror, but I was definitely expecting something that would give me a few goosebumps.

The characters in the book were fairly well developed, particularly Clare, who reminded me a little of Amy in Gone Girl. It drove me nuts, however, that the narrator, Lee/Nora, was supposed to have the occupation of a crime fiction writer and then the author didn't do ANYTHING at all to explore that. Missed opportunity.

I feel like it was a little too predictable and there were a few too many coincidences, but overall I enjoyed it.


#2:

Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton
Completed 10/6/16
Counts toward the R.I.P. Challenge
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #21: A book recommended by a family member
Rating: 4 out of 5

I've read a few of Beaton's Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series, so my grandma recommended that I try the Hamish MacBeth series as well.

Death of a Gossip is first in the series and was originally published in 1985. Frankly, it has a feel of being even older than that. I would have placed it in the 1970s. This isn't meant to be a criticism, just an observation.

I was really surprised how much Beaton managed to pack into such a short book - strong character development (and there were quite a few characters), good setting, some humor, and some information about fishing. I probably won't continue the series, but I enjoyed reading it. 


#3:

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
Completed 10/17/16
Counts toward the #Spookathon: A book with red on the cover
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I had heard that this graphic short story collection was seriously creepy. It was, though the stories were too short for me to really build up a major creep factor. I also didn't like the abruptness of the endings to most of them. Abrupt endings can be shocking and effective, but not if there are too many questions unanswered. I still enjoyed this book for something different, but I wish there was more to it. 

#4:

You by Caroline Kepnes
Completed 10/18/16
Counts toward the R.I.P. Challenge
Counts toward the #Spookathon: A thriller
Rating: 5 out of 5

Mind blown. 

I can honestly say I've never read a book like this. It's like you are right inside the mind of a stalker. He's at turns disturbing and disturbed, incredibly arrogant, funny (!), unreliable, and even occasionally brilliant. It's also completely unpredictable.

This isn't a book for everyone, but I appreciated it and flew through it. 


#5:

Dracula by Bram Stoker
Completed 10/22/16 (audiobook)
Counts toward the R.I.P. Challenge
Counts toward the #Spookathon: A book with a paranormal character/creature
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I've never read Dracula before and really didn't know what to expect in terms of plot. I was surprised to discover that the story is told with multiple narrators through journal entries, letters, etc. 

My favorite part by far was the first section of the book in which Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania and stays at the home of the mysterious count. This part has the best developed atmosphere, and I enjoyed the interaction between him and Dracula. Dracula himself is absent for the most of the rest of the book.

Once the book switches to England, the creep factor drops dramatically and the story becomes fairly predictable, though I did enjoy it.

I listened to this book as an audiobook with multiple narrators (including Tim Curry as Van Helsing!) which I feel was a pretty good format. My only complaint would be that some of the male voices were difficult to differentiate. Lucy and Mina were quite well done.


#6:

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
Completed 10/26/16
Counts toward the #Spookathon: A 2016 release
Rating: 2.75 out of 5
Click here for my expanded review (containing spoilers).

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I truly wish I could give it a better one, but I just had too many issues with it to rate it higher.  This is the first book in a new YA fantasy series about a family of brujas (witches) of Latin American descent.

Overall, the whole thing has the impression of being a "rough draft."  There are nuggets of potential here and the premise is super-interesting. I've never read anything dealing with Latin American folklore, and I would love to learn more since it seemed that most of the elements of the book were completely fictional.

What I liked:
* The quest plot through the magical land.
* The creative variety of magical beings with ambiguous intentions. 
* The idea of having a love triangle involving two girls and a guy. 
Character growth in Alex relative to embracing her power.

What I didn't like:
* Alex simply isn't fleshed out enough as a character and is a bit too bland to want to root strongly for her. Because of this, the love triangle aspect can't be developed enough either.  The other two main characters could use a little work as well.
* Super bland and/or cheesy dialogue. 
* Inconsistencies in terms of setting and events.


Saturday, October 29, 2016

REVIEW: Labyrinth Lost (spoilers)

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
Completed 10/26/16
Rating: 2.75 out of 5



**SPOILERS BELOW**

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I truly wish I could give it a better one, but I just had too many issues with it to rate it higher.

Overall, the whole thing has the impression of being a "rough draft." For instance, in the beginning, the main character Alex is in gym class, and just a page or two after talking about gym uniforms, she says something about "brushing off her jeans." Umm...she's supposed to be wearing gym shorts?! This is just one example of the inconsistency that is spread throughout the book, which is very annoying and/or confusing to read. At the end, Madra scratches out the Devourer's eyes, and then in a page or two, the Devourer looks at Alex with all her family standing next to her. Looks with what?! The reader doesn't just forget someone's eyes being scratched out!

There are nuggets of potential here and there, and the premise is super-interesting. I've never read anything dealing with Latin American folklore, and I would love to learn more true-to-life details since it seemed that most of the elements of the book were completely fictional.

What I liked:
* The quest plot through a unique magical land.
* The creative variety of magical beings with ambiguous intentions. The Meadowkins and avianas are developed pretty well.
* The idea of having a love triangle involving two girls and a guy. 
* Rishi has some good one-liners.
* Character growth in Alex relative to embracing her power.

What I didn't like:
* The characters simply aren't fleshed out enough.  Alex simply isn't fleshed out enough as a character and is a bit too bland to want to root strongly for her. Because of this, the love triangle aspect can't be developed enough either. Alex can clearly see that Rishi obviously has a crush on her, yet there is no processing of this by Alex AT ALL until the very end when she decides she might have feelings too. (I mean, Rishi jumps into a freaking PORTAL TO ANOTHER WORLD for her and Alex hardly pauses to consider that!)  Even so, their chemistry still feels really platonic, at least on Alex's side, like she's confusing the love of a true friendship with something else. I think her potential relationship with Nova is more interesting and complex.  Nova has the most complexity of the three, but even he could be stronger.  Beyond her sarcasm and her crush on Alex, there is no character development at all for Rishi.  
* Random nicknames. Why does Nova start calling Alex Ladybird? Why does Alex refer to Rishi as her magpie? No clue.
* Super bland and/or cheesy dialogue. When faced with the supreme villain who has Rishi ensnared, Alex comes up with the menacing "Let her go!" No wonder the Devourer doesn't taker her seriously.  Later, Nova, who is supposed to be the street-smart tough boy, responds to Alex with "As you wish." When is the last time you heard a teenage boy say "as you wish"?

I'm glad I'm done reading this book. It frustrated the heck out of me because it was just such wasted potential. 

I actually think this would have made a great middle grade book with better editing, more fleshing out of the characters, and elimination of the love triangle element. 

Finally, I understand I had an e-ARC, but there were more typographical errors in this text than I've ever seen in any book including but not limited to improper use of apostrophes, sentence fragments, and missing words. Seriously, was there no editor at all? I did not deduct any stars specifically for this issue since it was not the final published copy, but it really drove me nuts. There is no way this edition should have made it into any reader's hands without some major proofreading. 

Thursday, October 27, 2016

#Spookathon Wrap-Up

I'm a little late, but here goes!

The Spookathon was a readathon from October 17-23 hosted by Lala from Books and Lala, Paige from Paige's Pages, and Shannon from Bookerly.  They also have a Twitter:.@thespookathon.  

There were five categories:
1.  Read a thriller
2.  Read a book with red on the cover
3.  Read a book with a spooky word in the title
4.  Read a 2016 release
5.  Read a book with a paranormal character/creature

I managed to complete 3 books last week, and a 4th one this week (which I read mostly last week). 

A book with red on the cover

A thriller (also has red on the cover)

A book with a paranormal character

2016 release (also has paranormal characters)

I wasn't able to complete The Haunting of Hill House, which was my planned read for a book with a spooky word in the title, but I'm hoping to curl up with it this weekend.  All in all, however, I consider this readathon a success!

I can't wait to participate again (hopefully more fully) next year!  Thanks to Shannon, Paige, and Lala

Saturday, October 8, 2016

COMPARISON: In a Dark, Dark Wood vs. The Woman in Cabin 10

Please note:  I'm not posting any specific spoilers below, but if you want to go into the books mostly blind, you should probably not read this post.

Rarely do I read multiple works by the same author very close together unless they are part of a series, but I did pick up both In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware this fall.  In a Dark, Dark Wood (IDDW) was her 2015 debut novel, and The Woman in Cabin 10 (WC10) was released this past summer.
Slightly creepy mystery/thriller during a bachelorette party weekend

Locked room style mystery onboard a cruise ship

Similarities:

  • Both books feature potentially unreliable female narrators with some secrets and some mental health issues (more so in WC10).  Lee/Nora from IDDW suffers from amnesia with regard to a crucial point, and Lo from WC10 is a functional alcoholic.


  • Both involve a fairly random group of characters gathered in a unusual and isolated setting: a rural house made of glass (IDDW) and a small luxury cruise ship (WC10).
  • The writing flows well in both and they are quick reads.
Differences:
  • There are more suspects and a different twist in WC10.  This is both good and bad.  The characters are better developed by far in IDDW, but unfortunately, that makes the final ending more obvious.  I hope Ware will write a third novel and find a balance somewhere in between the two.
  • Lo's occupation (travel magazine writer) is significantly better developed that Nora's.  Nora is supposed to be a crime fiction writer, but Ware does not develop her occupation in any way whatsoever, which is a completely missed opportunity in my opinion.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed both books and gave The Woman in Cabin 10 a 4 out 5 stars and In a Dark, Dark Wood 3.75 out of 5 stars.  I look forward to more from this author because I feel she has tremendous potential.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

#Spookathon

How excited am I to discover that most of my October TBR meets the challenges for the Spookathon?!  The Spookathon is a readathon from October 17-23 hosted by 3 awesome Booktubers, Lala (Books and Lala), Paige (Paige's Pages), and Shannon (Bookerly).

There are 5 categories and you can count books in multiple categories.  Here's my TBR:


1.  Read a thriller:  You by Caroline Kepnes
2.  Read a book with red on the cover: You by Caroline Kepnes
3.  Read a book with a spooky word in the title: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
4.  Read a 2016 release: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
5.  Read a book with a paranormal character/creature: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Friday, September 30, 2016

September Wrap Up / October TBR

I completed 4 out of the 6 books on my September TBR.  I consider that a success.

Total Read in 2016: 38
Popsugar Reading Challenge Progress: 34 out of 40

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Completed 9/5/16
Fulfills Popsugar Reading Challenge #16: A political memoir
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

I struggle to give this book a rating. It took me FOREVER to get through - over a month. Malala as a person is truly fantastic and a voice that I hope will we hear much more from over the next 50 years. I learned a lot reading this book. However, the writing for much of the book wasn't particularly engaging (there was a journalist helping her write the book). Sometimes it did feel like an extended history lesson or news report.

I would recommend picking it up as a physical book instead of an ebook because there is a glossary that is helpful for unfamiliar terms...but since I had the ebook version I didn't realize it until I had already finished the book. 


The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Completed 9/22/16
Fulfills Popsugar Reading Challenge #27: A murder mystery
Counts toward the R.I.P. Challenge
Rating: 4 out of 5
Check out my review.


One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Completed 9/25/16
Fulfills Popsugar Reading Challenge #36: A book about a road trip
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

I've been struggling with how I feel about this book. There was a lot to like about it, but it took me quite awhile to get through and parts of it dragged a bit.

It was "deeper" than I expected, and the characters were well developed, particularly the two children.


Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Completed 9/28/18 (audiobook)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I know I'm in the extreme minority on this, but I really liked this book, perhaps because I'm not incredibly attached to To Kill a Mockingbird. The plot, such as it is, meandered a bit for the first half, but no more so than in TKAM. I liked the little anecdotes of Jean Louise/Scout's adolescence in between the times of the two stories. But most of all I could really feel her disillusionment.  


OCTOBER TBR:
Currently reading:


Also hope to complete:




Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Top 10 Tuesday: Books on My Fall TBR

Fall is possibly my favorite reading season.  I crave creepy reads, historical reads, and classics (though I don't have any on my list this year).

Without further ado, in roughly the order in which I plan to read them, here's the fall TBR:

1.  Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton

First in the Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series, this book will serve double duty by fulfilling the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt for "a book recommended by a family member" (thanks, Grandma!) and fulfilling one book in the R.I.P. (Readers Imbibing Peril) Challenge.

2.  In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

I tore through The Woman in Cabin 10 and am eager to try out another creepy read by this author.

3.  The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I've had this short supernatural/horror/Gothic classic on my TBR list for entirely too long.  I'm hoping my library hold will put me at the front of the line for a Halloween reading.  This can also give me double credit for the R.I.P. Challenge and the Popsugar Challenge ("a book from the library").

4.  Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

I had this witchy YA new release on my September TBR but just didn't get there.

5. The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

A YA dystopian to check off the "dystopian novel" prompt on the Popsugar Challenge.

6.  The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

I must admit that I remember nothing of this book's description.  I've never read anything by Cecelia Ahern (of P.S. I Love You fame).  I grabbed this book to fulfill the "first book you see in a bookstore" Popsugar prompt.  I freely admit that I steered myself to the bargain rack and picked the first book I saw there because there was absolutely no way I was going to pay for the full-price hardcovers at the front of the store.

7.  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I've heard great things about this author, and this book will satisfy the "culture you're unfamiliar with" Popsugar prompt.

8.  Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro

Humorous non-fiction from someone who isn't good with housework?  Yep, that's one I have to read.  I had optimistically placed it on my September TBR but didn't get there.

9.  Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I've never read anything by Neil Gaiman, but this book looks really interesting.

10.  Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Another author I want to try!  Some of her other works are more popular, but I found the description on this one to be the most engaging.


In case anyone besides me is interested, I have 7 books left to cross off my list for the 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge.  I am saving one for around Christmas (i.e. winter), so it doesn't appear appear on this fall TBR.  It is definitely going to feel strange to pick books entirely based on mood again in a few short months.  

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and The Bookish.  Make sure you check out the host and other participants!

Saturday, September 24, 2016

REVIEW: The Woman in Cabin 10

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Completed 9/22/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Challenge #27: A murder mystery
Counts toward the R.I.P. XI Challenge
Rating: 4 out of 5



I needed this book. It really helped me with the slump that I had fallen into this month.

I had saved this mystery to read on vacation, since I went on a cruise, and the book deals with mysterious actions aboard a small luxury cruise ship.

The narrator is an unreliable British female narrator who drinks too much. Sound familiar? I'm sure it does if you've read The Girl on the Train. Unlike Rachel, however, I actually did like Ware's narrator, Lo, and was able to sympathize more with her, perhaps because she has struggles with some of the same issues that I have had in the past on a more minor scale (mental health-wise, not alcohol-related). 

The main reason I was drawn to this book, aside from the cruise aspect, was that I had heard comparisons to Agatha Christie, who I read a lot of as a teenager after I had moved on from Nancy Drew. I think the comparison is fair for about the first two thirds of the book.

Then it takes a strange turn for the last third and goes more from mystery to thriller. Even though I finished the book quite quickly and am happy with the final resolution, I can't say that I really liked that one section of the book all that much. It just felt odd and is one of the reasons I can't give the book more than 4 stars. I wish there was another way she could have gotten to a similar conclusion.

The other reasons I can't give more than 4 stars are that (1) I feel that certain characters among the ship's passengers were not developed well enough, (2) I feel like if I really analyze it there are some plot holes (but I read this on vacation and wasn't particularly interested in analysis), and (3) I wish she would have included a some diagrams of the ship layout because it didn't really make that much sense to me.

All that being said, I still really liked this book. I thought the snippets of emails, texts, news clippings, etc. at the end of each section were really effective in building suspense. I can't wait to pick up this author's other major book, In a Dark, Dark Wood


Friday, September 23, 2016

R.I.P. Challenge XI

ripeleven400

The one reading challenge that I try to participate in with any type of yearly consistency is the Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) Challenge created by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings.  The challenge is to read books/short stories/plays (or even watch movies) over the months of September and October in the following categories:  mystery, thriller, horror, suspense, Gothic, or dark fantasy.  This is the 11th year of the challenge and I've participated probably about 5 or so times, either on my own or on now-defunct old blogs.

I'm hoping for "Peril the First," which is completion of 4 books in the above categories.

My Challenge TBR:

  1. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (not technically a TBR, since I finished it yesterday)
  2. Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton
  3. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
  4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Creepy fall reading is the best reading!  Grab a blanket and a pumpkin spice cappuccino and curl up with a good book.  :)

Thursday, September 1, 2016

August Wrap-Up and September TBR

I've discovered audiobooks!  Gotta be honest - audiobooks saved my backside in August or I would be falling behind on my Goodreads goal.

August Wrap-Up:

Cavewomen Don't Get Fat by Esther Blum
Completed 8/10/16
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #13: A self-improvement book
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

I dabbled in Paleo a little bit last year and dropped 12 pounds without even trying (about 8 of which I've kept off). This summer I've been feeling drained and eating poorly, so I picked up this book to get some motivation to get my health back on track.

I really enjoyed this book (which is half recipes) until I reached the chapter on supplements. If you took every supplement she lists, you would literally be popping pills all day long! I just can't believe that's actually beneficial to your health. I'll stick with my simple multi-vitamin each morning, thank you very much.

Some of the tips and recipes are helpful, though, and I like that she is flexible and realistic enough to understand that everyone won't eat perfectly all the time.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Completed 8/24/16 (audiobook)
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #4: A book you haven't read since high school
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I decided to listen to the audiobook version of this classic. This was my first experience with audiobooks and, while I still prefer the visual experience of reading, I did enjoy the listening experience.

I chose this book because I didn't have a strong impression of it from when I read it in high school. I can't even remember which teacher/class I read it for (and normally I always remember that). 

I feel I appreciated it much more this time around with a little more real world experience. Also, I think Sissy Spacek really nailed the voice of Scout in her reading. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz 
Completed 8/31/16 (audiobook)
Fulfills 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge #12: A book recommended by someone you just met
Rating: 5 out of 5

I have to admit that I cheated a little bit with this prompt. No one recommended this book to me specifically, but several of the Booktube channels that I've seen have had this book as a recommendation. I figured that was the closest I would get since random people don't come up to me and recommend books.

The hype for this book was justified. It really surprised me how much I enjoyed it. It was both simple and complex at the same time and made me want to read more books with male narrators (I usually gravitate towards female-driven books). It also made me realize that boys don't necessarily have an easier time growing up than girls. 

September TBR: Hoping for 2 Physical Books, 2 E-Books, and 2 Audiobooks

  1.  I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai - I want to love this book, but I'm still just slogging through it after over a month!  Hoping to have it finished this weekend.
  2. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes - I was planning to read this last month for the Popsugar "road trip" prompt but hit a slump.
  3. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - I am so taking this cruise ship murder mystery on my Royal Caribbean cruise this month.
  4. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova - The ARC of this YA witchy novel has been sitting on my Kindle unread for way too long.
  5. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee - Since I listened to the audiobook version of To Kill a Mockingbird, it's only right that I follow it up with Go Set a Watchman.  And it's read by Reese Witherspoon!
  6. Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Notaro - If I manage to squeeze in a second audiobook, it's gotta be this one.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Monthly Recommendations: 1 Year

I'm late to the Monthly Recommendations party, but better late than never.  Monthly Recommendations was started one year by two awesome Booktubers, Kayla Rayne and Trina (from Between Chapters).  This month, the topic was a new recommendation in each of the categories they featured over the past year.  I've never participated before, mainly because it was difficult to come up with multiple books in each category.  One for each I can do.  :)

An underrated book:  Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
Chick lit at its finest.  Sexy and hilarious.  Why has this book not been made into a movie yet?!

A book set in school:  Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman
A teacher's perspective in the 1960s.  Read it and discover how much things have changed and how much they haven't.

A creepy book:  And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Great if you like creepiness without horror.

A trilogy:  Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins
There are definitely other trilogies I prefer (Hunger Games, Divergent), but you've probably already read them.  Give Hex Hall a try if you like YA paranormal.

A book I think others should read ASAP:  The Progeny by Tosca Lee
Fast-paced genre-bending thriller.

A fantasy book:  Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Enjoyable graphic novel that plays with the concepts of heroes and villains.

A book with little to no romance:  Primary Colors by Anonymous
In honor of election year, check out this book not-so-loosely based on Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign.

A standalone:  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
You'll probably either love it or hate it.  Personally, I loved it.

My favorite survival story:  Night by Elie Wiesel
Memoir of a concentration camp survivor.  Amazing.

My favorite book friendship:  Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Bet you're surprised to see this one on my list, if you've read my previous comments relating to this book.  I guess this goes to show that the world needs more friendship stories as opposed to romance plots.

A book set outside the U.S.:  Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Honestly, it's been a really long time since I read this, but I remember loving it.

A book with my favorite empowering female character:  We the Living by Ayn Rand
This would definitely be Katniss in The Hunger Games, but going a bit more obscure, and probably even darker in its own way, I've gotta give props to Kira in We the Living.

Top 5 Wednesday: Books I Will Never Read

5.  Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I finally got around to reading Gone Girl last month (and loved it), but this book looks way darker.  I don't think I could stomach a read dealing with self-mutilation.

4.  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (or any of his books)

Someone gave me this book in high school and it has sat unread on a shelf ever since.  Sorry, but Tolkien's writing has just never appealed to me.  Can't say why.

3.  The Shining by Stephen King

I've never read a Stephen King book, but I wouldn't rule out picking one up in the future.  Just not this particular one.  I've made it partway through the movie 2 or 3 times and always had to turn it off because it freaked me out.  I think sharing a name with a character probably doesn't help.

2.  Jane Steele by Lindsey Faye

Re-imagining my favorite classic literary character as a serial killer?  Sacrilegious!  The book gets surprisingly decent reviews, but there's no way I will ever be picking it up.

1.  50 Shades Darker by E.L. James

I think I have mentioned in a prior post my distaste for this series on every level, and so the number one slot on my list has to go to this book.



Check out the Top 5 Wednesday group over at Goodreads to see what other people have on their lists!

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Books on My TBR for the Longest Time

So...really this week's topic for Top 10 Tuesday by The Broke and the Bookish is 10 books that have been on your bookshelf/TBR from before you started blogging that you still haven't read yet.  I haven't been blogging that long, so I'm picking the 10 books that I've wanted to read for the longest time.










Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me a Fully Loaded Gift Gard








































































































Visit the host of Top 10 Tuesday, The Broke and the Bookish, to check out other people's lists and add your own!

August TBR

5 books is ambitious for me, but I've been on a roll lately:

  • I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Popsugar Reading Challenge #16: A political memoir)

    I'm just starting this one now.  This is a book I probably would not have picked up without the motivation of completing the challenge, but I'm glad to be reading it.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Popsugar Reading Challenge #3: A book you haven't read since high school)

    I've wanted to re-read this for awhile because I don't think I fully appreciated it in high school, and I wanted to refresh my memory before I read Go Set a Watchman.
  • One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (Popsugar Reading Challenge #36: A book about a road trip)

    Again, I probably wouldn't have picked this book up without the challenge.  I've never read anything by Jojo Moyes; contemporary isn't my favorite, but I'm willing to give it a chance.
  • The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chocksi (Popsugar Reading Challenge #12: A book recommended by someone you just met)

    I just picked a video from a random Booktuber to find a book to fill this category.  This category is a fail, Popsugar.  Strangers don't generally come up and introduce themselves and recommend books.  However, if anyone wants to offer me a recommendation for this category, feel free to comment.
  • The Graces by Laure Eve (received from Netgalley)

    I haven't really been in a YA mood lately, but I should make an effort to catch up on some of the books sitting on my Netgalley shelf.  If I'm not feeling it or don't get to it this month, I'm not going to stress about it.  This is a paranormal YA that will be released 9/1/16.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Stacking the Shelves: July

What I bought in July and why I bought it...

From Amazon (Physical Books):

  • One Plus One by Jojo Moyes - because I needed a road trip book for the Popsugar Reading Challenge
  • The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - because I totally want to read a mystery/thriller set onboard a cruise ship when I go on my September cruise
From Amazon (Kindle Books):
  • The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey - because I was interested in this YA fantasy book when it came out last year and never bothered to buy it then
  • The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza - because it's a thriller and it was super-cheap
  • He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker - because I'm on a thriller/suspense kick and it has good reviews
  • Roses and Rot by Kat Howard - because it's a dark fairy tale/fantasy
  • Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton - because it's YA set in the world of elite ballet
From Barnes & Noble:
  • The Babylon Rite by Tom Knox - because I love adventure, anthropology, Indiana Jones, and The DaVinci Code and the description reminded me of all of them
  • The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern - because it was the first book I saw (in the bargain section) and I needed something to fill that prompt in the Popsugar Reading Challenge
  • Under Your Skin by Sabine Durrant - because I'm all about the thrillers lately, apparently
From Better World Books:
From Netgalley:
  • The Graces by Laure Eve - because witches are awesome
  • Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova - because Latin American witches are even more awesome