Book day is finally upon us! I honestly thought this was supposed to go live last Tuesday, so I've been even more impatient this time around. I got a bit off track with Erin's Reading Challenge because I really wanted to read The Darkest Minds before seeing the movie (which I really wanted to see in theaters), but I'm still down 5, so I'm halfway there! Here's what I got through this month.
Amazon First Reads
I'm not sure why I chose this book because I didn't really like LaBan's writing in one of her other books I read, The Restaurant Critic's Wife. But it free and it counted toward the challenge, so yay for that. This story was... fine. There was a big suspenseful thing that led up to nothing which really annoyed me. Tabitha makes so many selfish and terrible decisions that it takes a great deal of suspension of belief to even wrap my head around them all. Also, where the F are you buying pizza for $84?! The only character I liked was Toby (even though I kept imagining the one from This Is Us) but it was a quick and easy read. 3 stars.
Classic redemption story. I loved the small town feel, getting to know all the townspeople (and there were a lot of them), and all of the early 90's and book references. It took me a little while to really get "into" the story and the quirky cast of characters, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Once I understood some of the family and community dynamics, I found myself rooting for Rachel and the softball team, and truly invested in their lives. The ending broke my heart though. Like, broke it into a million little pieces, and the story as a whole stayed with me for a long time after reading it. Definitely do not read if you're looking for a perfect, tidy ending.
The Darkest Minds- Alexandra Bracken: 4 Stars
library e-book
First of all, I don't think it's fair to compare this to Hunger Games just because it's set in a dystopian environment with children and apparently was originally published around the same time. I was a little hesitant to pick this up because it's nearly 500 pages and I don't normally read books over 400, but I'm so glad I did. I hadn't even heard of this until I saw previews for the movie, and I didn't realize this was a series until I got to the end and even though I don't normally like series, I'm intrigued to read more. I've seen quite a few not-so-positive reviews of this one, but I don't understand why. It grabbed me right from the start, with a 10-year-old Ruby being ripped away from home for reasons she did not yet understand. I admired her strength as she grew in the camps, even with guards abusing them at every turn, and her eventual escape when all felt lost. The road trip part got a little tedious, but it gave insight into her new friends, Zu, Chubs, and Liam. I liked that the romance was not immediate, and Chubs was a hard-ass on her from the beginning, but their relationship and trust grew. I HATED Clancy from the get-go and feared for Ruby for getting too close. And then the ending... it was sooo sad, but I understood it. Such a great read!
Spoiler (highlight): did I just read a full-on rape scene that no one has talked about? WHAT???
This is How It Always Is- Laurie Frankel: 3 Stars
library e-book
This has been on my TBR for a very long time, and I'm glad I finally read it. The premise sounded promising, and I loved the story and the Walsh-Adams family up until Part 3 or 4. The ending felt too rushed and wrapped up too quickly which knocked it down a bit for me. A heavy and often not discussed subject matter worth the read though. 3 Stars.
Hopeless- Colleen Hoover: 4 Stars
e-book
Apparently I like books that start in the middle and then go back to the beginning and start over. I'm finding that this method works in really grabbing my attention. At first, I thought this was a fairly crappy love story, but it was so much more. I love how all the pieces came together slowly, and lies and truths were revealed and realized a bit haphazardly; just like in real life, you don't know all the answers or exactly how to explain things so that another person can understand the ins and outs and whys and motives (or just how much honesty a person can take in one fell swoop).
Spoiler (highlight): I still hadn't put together the tattoo was the names until Dean spelled it out, and I thought that was so clever! Also, I think the part where her father killed himself was glazed over waaaaay too quickly, and was surprised that Sky/Hope didn't feel it important to mention that to her "mom," but I'm willing to forgive that part.
Currently Reading: Looking for Alaska- John Green
DNF: The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao- Junot Diaz. The crude language was so overused and aggressive that it felt like an assault to my eyes every time I read one word in particular. I usually give a book 50 pages before putting it down, but I couldn't get passed page 25 on this one. Also, I have no idea how this made the PBS Great American Reads list, but then again so did 50 Shades of Grey so what do I know?
I'm not sure why I chose this book because I didn't really like LaBan's writing in one of her other books I read, The Restaurant Critic's Wife. But it free and it counted toward the challenge, so yay for that. This story was... fine. There was a big suspenseful thing that led up to nothing which really annoyed me. Tabitha makes so many selfish and terrible decisions that it takes a great deal of suspension of belief to even wrap my head around them all. Also, where the F are you buying pizza for $84?! The only character I liked was Toby (even though I kept imagining the one from This Is Us) but it was a quick and easy read. 3 stars.
"'The theme is Uranus.''As in, your anus?''Yes, Uranus.''Wait, you mean like your butt?'He smiled a slow smile. 'No, like the planet.'"
""Dare I say: 'And they lived happily ever after'?''No! Don't ever say that! ...Nobody lives completely happily ever after- haven't yu realized that by now? The pressure is too great. I don't want that pressure. How about 'And they were not perfect, and they had many things to atone for, but they had a lot of fun and could eventually afford light bulbs and everything bagels.'"
The Flood Girls- Richard Fifield: 4 Stars
library hardback
Classic redemption story. I loved the small town feel, getting to know all the townspeople (and there were a lot of them), and all of the early 90's and book references. It took me a little while to really get "into" the story and the quirky cast of characters, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Once I understood some of the family and community dynamics, I found myself rooting for Rachel and the softball team, and truly invested in their lives. The ending broke my heart though. Like, broke it into a million little pieces, and the story as a whole stayed with me for a long time after reading it. Definitely do not read if you're looking for a perfect, tidy ending.
"'It would do you some good to forgive her,' said the Chief. "It might even make you a happier person.
'You're not exactly Mr. Sunshine,' she said.
'That's because I'm still trying to forgive myself,' he said." (162)
The Darkest Minds- Alexandra Bracken: 4 Stars
library e-book
First of all, I don't think it's fair to compare this to Hunger Games just because it's set in a dystopian environment with children and apparently was originally published around the same time. I was a little hesitant to pick this up because it's nearly 500 pages and I don't normally read books over 400, but I'm so glad I did. I hadn't even heard of this until I saw previews for the movie, and I didn't realize this was a series until I got to the end and even though I don't normally like series, I'm intrigued to read more. I've seen quite a few not-so-positive reviews of this one, but I don't understand why. It grabbed me right from the start, with a 10-year-old Ruby being ripped away from home for reasons she did not yet understand. I admired her strength as she grew in the camps, even with guards abusing them at every turn, and her eventual escape when all felt lost. The road trip part got a little tedious, but it gave insight into her new friends, Zu, Chubs, and Liam. I liked that the romance was not immediate, and Chubs was a hard-ass on her from the beginning, but their relationship and trust grew. I HATED Clancy from the get-go and feared for Ruby for getting too close. And then the ending... it was sooo sad, but I understood it. Such a great read!
Spoiler (highlight): did I just read a full-on rape scene that no one has talked about? WHAT???
"Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed"- Watership Down
"That girl was gone forever, and all that was left was a product of the place that had taught her to fear the bright things inside of her heart."
"For the first time in months, I heard Sam's voice whisper in my ear: Don't be scared. Don't let them see. I turned from the window, and I didn't look back."
This is How It Always Is- Laurie Frankel: 3 Stars
library e-book
Hopeless- Colleen Hoover: 4 Stars
e-book
Apparently I like books that start in the middle and then go back to the beginning and start over. I'm finding that this method works in really grabbing my attention. At first, I thought this was a fairly crappy love story, but it was so much more. I love how all the pieces came together slowly, and lies and truths were revealed and realized a bit haphazardly; just like in real life, you don't know all the answers or exactly how to explain things so that another person can understand the ins and outs and whys and motives (or just how much honesty a person can take in one fell swoop).
Spoiler (highlight): I still hadn't put together the tattoo was the names until Dean spelled it out, and I thought that was so clever! Also, I think the part where her father killed himself was glazed over waaaaay too quickly, and was surprised that Sky/Hope didn't feel it important to mention that to her "mom," but I'm willing to forgive that part.
"The things that knock you down in life are tests, forcing you to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground or wiping the dirt off and standing up even taller than you did before you were knocked down. I'm choosing to stand up taller. I'll probably get knocked down a few more times before this life is through, but I can guarantee you I'll never stay on the ground." (399)
Currently Reading: Looking for Alaska- John Green
DNF: The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao- Junot Diaz. The crude language was so overused and aggressive that it felt like an assault to my eyes every time I read one word in particular. I usually give a book 50 pages before putting it down, but I couldn't get passed page 25 on this one. Also, I have no idea how this made the PBS Great American Reads list, but then again so did 50 Shades of Grey so what do I know?
What are you reading?
