Show Us Your Books: April Reads

I'm not sure how to start this. It's like I've completely forgotten how to write, it's been so long. Also, I feel like I read these so long ago, and had actually completely forgotten I'd read  The Girl He Used To Know even though I really enjoyed it. I really need to write these reviews right after I read the books, but I'm pretty sure I've been saying that for months now and I never do it. Sigh. Anyway, here's what I got through in April. 

Daisy Jones and the Six- Taylor Jenkins Reid: 4 Stars
Category: A Literary Feast- Someone Who Fascinates You
hardback borrowed from Michael

"Loving somebody isn’t perfection and good times and laughing and making love. Love is forgiveness and patience and faith and every once in a while, it’s a gut punch. That’s why it’s a dangerous thing, when you go loving the wrong person. When you love somebody who doesn’t deserve it. You have to be with someone that deserves your faith and you have to be deserving of someone else’s. It’s sacred."

"You have to have one person in your life that you know would never do anything to steer you wrong. They may disagree with you. They could even break your heart, from time to time. But you have to have one person, at least, who you know will always tell you the truth."

"You show up for your friends on their hardest days. And you hold their hand through the roughest parts. Life is about who is holding your hand and, I think, whose hand you commit to holding."

Finally read my first TJR novel, and I understand all the hype! This read like a VH1 "Behind The Music" biopic, and also reminded me of the real story of Fleetwood Mac. I really loved getting all of the different perspectives, I loved how real and messy all of the characters were, and finding out who the "author" was. Blue is currently reading it, and she brought up a good point- it would be awesome if they made the actual music to go along with it, since there is so much description of the songs and lyrics. Apparently Reese Witherspoon will be adapting the book for a 13-episode mini-series though (with music!). No details on when yet, but sounds good to me!

The Girl He Used To Know- Tracey Garvis Graves: 4 Stars
library e-book 

"A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water."

Annika reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant with her social anxiety. While I loved the dual perspectives, short chapters, and double timelines, I didn't love the ending. It felt much too rushed, and I really wish there was an epilogue.


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist- Rachel Cohn and David Levithan: 3 Stars
Category: BCBE Bonus Begins with "N," MMD 3 by same Author(s) 
library e-book

I think my timing might have been off for this one, but I just couldn’t feel the chemistry between Nick and Norah and the ending seemed forced. This could also be because I've read this author team's later works and they are much, much better. I still want to watch the movie though. 


Hello, Universe- Erin Estrada Kelly: 4 Stars
Category: BCBE Bonus Newbery Winner, 52 Weeks Children's Book
Kindle Unlimited

“The world looks different through newly opened eyes, Virgilio. It’s the trick of time. What you believe today, you may not believe tomorrow. Things change when you’re not looking. And then you open your eyes, and you see—”

Very sweet middle-grade book about friendship. I really liked the diverse cast (a deaf girl, two immigrant families, one feisty grandma) and they all felt like kids I would have run into at middle school.  I wanted a little more for the bully, but liked getting a clearer picture of why he was the way he was in the scenes with his father. It was a little slow but overall I really enjoyed this one, especially the ending.

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman- Lindy West: 2.5 Stars
Category: BCBE 6 Words in Title, PopSugar Recommended by a celebrity you admire (Emma Watson- Our Shared Shelf)
library hardback

"Men, you will never understand. Women, I hope I helped. Comedy, you broke my heart." 

"My little victories- trolls, rape jokes, fat people's humanity- are world-building. Fighting for diverse voices is world- building. Proclaiming the inherent value of fat people is world- building. Believing rape victims is world-building. Refusing to cave to abortion stigma is world- building. Voting is world- building. So is kindness, compassion, listening, making space, saying yes, saying no. We're all building our own worlds right now in real time."

I’ll admit that I started watching the show first, and the book started off funny and relatable, but somewhere in the middle I felt she got up on her soapbox and stayed there for the rest of the book, with less personal stories and more preaching. I really wanted to like this more, especially since I didn't really like the show but they say the book is always better. This was not the case with this one, at least not for me.


North of Beautiful- Justina Chen: 3 Stars
Category: BCBE Bonus Starts with N, 52 Weeks Challenge Teen As Main Character, PopSugar book about a hobby (art)
library hardback

"Inertia is so easy- don't fix what's not broken. Leave well enough alone. So we end up accepting what is broken, mistaking complaining for action, procrastination for deliberation."  

"'Maybe that was the problem,' Jacob said softly. 'Don't we all need to feel needed? That we'd be missed if we were gone?'" 

"Even knowing that what I was doing was wrong, I jumped off my Before and reached for my After."

The author banged the message over my head, but I really liked the relationship between Terra and Jacob, and the moms. I was sure there would be more drama with the father, but was happily surprised when he started turning things around. 

Currently reading: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want To Come- Jessica Pan

What are you reading? 

Linking up with Steph and Jana! 

Currently

This month was crazy busy with work and mom stuff. My mom fell at the beginning of the month, injuring both of her knees and cutting under her right eye socket. We were lucky it wasn't even an inch higher, so she didn't injure her eye, but it's not pretty! She fell outside running around too quickly as usual. This was a blessing in disguise because it forced her to slow down a little bit. At the same time, she's been dealing her her a-hole landlord. She was able to take some time off work to heal which she used to track down paperwork to take the landlord to court, search for a new apartment, attend court (yup, I'm not going into details but he was that bad that she's taking him to court), and enlisting me to help her pack and move her non-everyday things. Here's what else has been going on with me lately. 


Reading: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want To Come by Jessica Pan on my commute and Dear Lily by Drew Davies at home. 

Listening to: Melissa Etheridge! I got the opportunity to see her earlier this month and she was so good without even trying. Loved it. 

Watching: Avengers: End Game! So, so good (if you're into Marvel/superhero movies). Also Game of Thrones- that last episode! GAH! No spoilers here though! 

Eating/Drinking: deep fried "Ripper" hot dogs from the famous NJ no-frills establishment Rutt's Hut, and craft brews from a new local brewery called Ghost Hawk Brewery. 

Admiring: This handsome boy old man! Keebler turned 7 this month!

Playing: At LSC: After Dark, an adults only event held every third Thursday of the month at our science center. This month's theme was Whiskey in Westeros, and there were tons of whiskey-infused cocktails, $5 eats, and photo ops! It was super crowded though, so I'd like to go again when it's less crowded to actually see the exhibits. I haven't been there since I was a kid. 

Borrowing: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid from Michael. 

Finishing: Helping my mom with her move. This was just me moving things one evening of many after work. I'm SO glad it's over now!

What's new with you?

Linking up with Anne and Kristen!