Books Lately '17: December

I swear I thought I read more last month, but I actually started on books toward the end of the month but didn't finish them yet.  Oh, well.  Cheers to new reads in 2018!

 
Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn

Description from Amazon:
"Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben.

Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer."

I enjoyed reading Gone Girl and had heard this was supposed to be more thrilling and dark but it wasn't as great as I thought it would be.  Sure, there were creepy satanic references and plot twists, but it wasn't as thrilling as I had hoped.  It was a long read and the going back and forth between characters and time periods was cool, but it kinda dragged for me.


A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

Description from Amazon:
"Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont."

I listened to the Audible version of this and really enjoyed it.  It was REALLY long, but interesting.  This story was a lot different than what I usually read and it had a lot of sci-fi, magic, and mythical creatures in it along with a romance, but it was written in a way that wasn't too unbelievable or over-the-top.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to get through a romance book without rolling my eyes and this one was no exception.

Books Lately '17: October & November

The past few months have been busy and I only "read" two books in October, so instead of writing a full post about my measly 2 books, I decided to put it off an combine October and November's reads so that it looks like I accomplished more reading than I actually did.  I mean, not like anyone is keeping score or anything.  Besides myself.  Anyway, here's what I've read recently:

 OCTOBER//

We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Description from Amazon:

"The highly acclaimed, provocative New York Times bestseller—a personal, eloquently-argued essay, adapted from the much-admired TEDx talk of the same name—from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of Americanah. Here she offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness. Drawing extensively on her own experiences and her deep understanding of the often masked realities of sexual politics, here is one remarkable author’s exploration of what it means to be a woman now—and an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists."

Such an amazing and powerful book that I think everyone should read.   Though it was short, it definitely opened my eyes to things I say and do that have a negative effect on the female gender.  Being a mother with two daughters, I want them to grow up knowing that they are equal to men, despite what society may insinuate.  It's never too late to change the way we think and the way we act.

Start with Why, by Simon Sinek

Description from Amazon:

"In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, including more than 28 million who’ve watched his TED Talk based on START WITH WHY -- the third most popular TED video of all time.

Sinek starts with a fundamental question: Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?

People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers had little in common, but they all started with WHY. They realized that people won't truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. 

START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way -- and it's the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY"

I listened to the audio version of this and I didn't care much for it.  There were some strong points and I learned a lot about companies like Apple and Walmart, but the author references these companies a LOT throughout this book and it got so redundant that I started to lose interest in it.   I feel like the whole point of the book (WHY to start with why) was in the first few chapters and the rest of it was just trying to drill it in.

NOVEMBER//

Golden Son (The Red Rising Series, Book 2), by Pierce Brown

Description from Amazon:

"A New York Times Bestselling Author The Red Rising Trilogy (Book 2) As Reds, Darrow and his kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds. In the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life, Darrow becomes a Gold to destroy their privileged realm from within. On a path fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must strive not for violent revolt but hopeful rebirth, and choose to follow Eo's principles of love and justice to free his people. He must live for more."

So many crazy things happen in this book which begins a couple years after Darrow finishes at the Academy.  There were so many new characters introduced along with the old characters so it confused me just a bit in the beginning.  Also, it had been a couple months since I read the first book so my memory wasn't as clear.  In the first book, Darrow was so clear on his goal and his reason for trying to destroy the Golds.  In this second book, the lines are blurred because he considers some of them friends and sees the human side to their race since he has been living among them for so long.  The ending really surprised me and made me want to dive into the third book right away.

The Silent Child, by Sarah A. Denzil

Description from Amazon:

"In the summer of 2006, Emma Price watched helplessly as her six-year-old son’s red coat was fished out of the River Ouse. It was the tragic story of the year – a little boy, Aiden, wandered away from school during a terrible flood, fell into the river, and drowned. His body was never recovered. Ten years later, Emma has finally rediscovered the joy in life. She’s married, pregnant, and in control again... ... until Aiden returns. Too traumatized to speak, he raises endless questions and answers none. Only his body tells the story of his decade-long disappearance. The historic broken bones and injuries cast a mere glimpse into the horrors Aiden has experienced. Aiden never drowned. Aiden was taken. As Emma attempts to reconnect with her now teenage son, she must unmask the monster who took him away from her. But who, in their tiny village, could be capable of such a crime? It's Aiden who has the answers, but he cannot tell the unspeakable. This dark and disturbing psychological novel will appeal to fans of The Widow and The Butterfly Garden."

I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting.  This is one of those stories that pulls you in from the get-go and won't let you breathe until the end.  There were so many interesting twists and secrets that I could not put it down until I finished it, all the while wondering what secrets Aiden was keeping and when he would finally talk.


Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Description from Amazon:
"Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy."


I did the audiobook of this one and I enjoyed it enough.  A little woo-woo for my taste, but it was interesting to listen to.  Thinking back on it, there wasn't really one part that stuck out and inspired me but maybe it's because I listened to the audiobook instead of actually reading it.  All in all, it was an okay book.  Nothing big or magical about it, but a good way to pass the time.

Books Lately: August '17

This month has been a pretty decent one for reading.  Much better than July, where I didn't finish a book at all, but still not my best month.  I've been spending most of my nights working on my side project this month (will post about all that next week) instead of reading so I wasn't able to get through as many books as I would have liked.  I'm currently in the beginning of another book and will try to read more this month, but no promises.  Anyway, here's what I read:

Feminine Genius, by LiYana Silver

**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"What would happen if we took all the energy we spend self-bashing, self-improving, and chasing impossible standards and instead channel it into our true passions? HuffPost and Forbes writer LiYana Silver teaches how getting to know, listen, respect, and work with your body will lead you down an enlightened, powerful path to tapping into your deepest wisdom—for work, relationships, parenting, and every aspect of living. Through exercises, self-assessments, and journaling, readers learn how their “masculine” strengths are overused and how to embrace their sexuality in a way that radiantly balances their masculine and feminine strengths in order to achieve enormous effectiveness and fulfillment in life."

I'm all about Feminism, girl power, and self-love so this book intrigued me.  The first couple chapters were good but then I started to lose interest.  The author talks a lot about her life and how she found her "Feminine Genius" but it gets a little confusing when she throws in her client's stories along with hers.  And even without the client's stories, I feel like she's more than one woman because she talks about all these different experiences (standing in a river in Sedona, vacationing in Mexico, dinner party in New York, etc.) that just turned me off a bit.  The message of the book as a whole was great but wasn't really as empowering for me as I thought it would be.  Maybe it's because I started reading it and then put it away for a month before reading it again?  I'm not sure.  It was okay, just not my favorite read this month.

The Play of Death, by Oliver Potzsch

Description from Amazon:

"It is 1670 and Simon Fronwieser is in the town of Oberammergau to bring his seven-year-old son to boarding school. As he bids his boy a tearful farewell, news comes of a shocking murder: the man who was to play the part of Christ in the town’s Passion Play has been found dead, nailed to the set’s cross. As there is no doctor in town, Simon is brought in to examine the body. The chance to spend more time with his son and to investigate the murder quickly convince him to stay.

Soon he is joined by his father-in-law, Jakob Kuisl, the Schongau hangman, and the two begin piecing together the puzzle of the actor’s death. Was he murdered by a jealous rival? Are the recently arrived and unpopular immigrant workers somehow involved? Or is it a punishment from God for the villagers’ arrogance in trying to schedule the play four years earlier than prescribed by ancient custom? Once again, it looks like it is up to the Kuisls to unravel the mystery and bring a town’s dark secrets to light." 

I've been in love with The Hangman's Daughter series since the first book back in 2011 and I loved this one just as much as the others.  If you're a fan of history and mystery, you MUST read these books.  Oliver Potzsch does such an amazing job at telling a truly believable story that it's hard to discern the truth from the fiction.  There are so many different twists and turns in his stories to keep you guessing who the killers are until the very end which makes it so hard to put down!

Basic Witches, by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:
"Tap your inner sorceress and channel the magical arts with this bewitching lifestyle guide. Need to exorcise a toxic friendship? Say the right symbolic curse and banish it from your life. Want to enhance your attractiveness? Pick the right power eye-shadow color and project otherworldly glamour. Interested in boosting your self-confidence? Whip up a tasty herbal “potion” to strengthen your resolve. All that plus historical and pop culture sidebars that situate today’s witchcraft trend within a broader context. With humor, heart, and a hip modern sensibility, this charming guide dispenses witchy wisdom for the curious, the cynical, and anyone who could use a magical boost to get through the day"

This was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed the illustrations throughout and the fun, girl-power vibes I was getting while reading it.  I wouldn't particularly purchase this book for myself right now, but I could see myself purchasing it when I was in my late teens/early adulthood.  The "spells" throughout were cute and though not really magical, they seemed like a fun way to meditate and focus on or shift focus from certain issues.  All in all, not something I would particularly read for myself, but definitely something I would gift to a niece.


Real American, by Julie Lythcott-Haims

See tomorrow's post for my full review of this book.

Books Lately: June '17

June started off as a really productive reading month but my reading interest sort of fizzled out by the middle of the month.  I started three different books toward the end of June but couldn't finish any of them.  I've got a few long flights coming up so I'll probably be able to get a lot of reading done during that time.

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas

Description from Amazon:

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.


Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. 

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."

Jana from Jana Says posted about this book on IG in the beginning of the month and I immediately downloaded it to my Kindle (app).  This was one of those books that I found hard to put down.  Angie Thomas is an amazing author who writes a story that made me feel so many strong emotions throughout.  The characters are so real and down-to-earth that it makes it hard not to love them.  This is story sends a very strong political and emotional message in such a positive, constructive way, that it forces you to acknowledge the wrongdoings in the world and empowers you to join in the efforts of making a change.  I HIGHLY recommend you read this book and then share it with everyone you know.


A Woman of Integrity, by J. David Simons
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from Amazon:

"Finding herself to be on the wrong side of fifty for a female film star, Laura Scott's career is on the slide. She has an opportunity to reverse this downward spiral when she is offered the starring role in a one-woman play about the life and loves of Hollywood silent screen actress turned pioneering pilot, Georgie Hepburn. Laura jumps at the chance for Georgie is someone she has admired for her courage and integrity ever since she was a child. But as Laura discovers more about Georgie, she realises there is always a price to pay for integrity - in her own life as well as Georgie's.Acclaimed author J David Simons' fifth novel, this is a subtle and complex exploration of a creative life and the challenges faced when a person's desire to be authentic comes under pressure."

I really didn't think I'd love this book as much as I did.  It had been on my TBR list for a while and when I finally got around to reading it, I found it hard to put down.  The story of Georgie Hepburn was so fascinating and inspiring and I absolutely loved her character.  Laura Scott was quite a mess in the beginning of this book but her passion for learning about and retelling Georgie's life helped to put her on the right track.  It made me think about the choices in my life that I've made, good and bad, and how those decisions continue to shape who I am as a person.


The Recovery Letters, by James Whitley
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** 

Description from Amazon:

"In 2012, The Recovery Letters was launched to host a series of letters online written by people recovering from depression, addressed to those currently affected by a mental health condition. Addressed to 'Dear You', the inspirational and heartfelt letters provided hope and support to those experiencing depression and were testament that recovery was possible

Now for the first time, these letters have been compiled into an anthology for people living with depression and are interspersed with motivating quotes and additional resources as well as new material written specifically for the book. This powerful collection of personal letters from people with first-hand experiences of depression will serve as a comforting resource for anyone on the journey to recovery."

As a person who lives with bouts of self-diagnosed depression, I appreciated this book quite a bit.  Suicide rates on Guam have been rising and it makes me wonder how many of those people could have been helped by a book like this.  I'm currently not going through a gloomy episode but I can understand how someone who is going through it can be helped by the letters written in this book.  Depression is like living in a dark and lonely bubble, where everything else around you is muted and seems unreachable, so having people who have been in their own bubbles and know what it feels like really does give you hope that one day your bubble will burst and you'll be "normal" again.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers from and/or knows someone who suffers from depression.


Everything Reminds You of Something Else, by Elana Wolff
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** 

Description from Amazon:
"Thin is the line between dreaming and wakefulness, wellness and disorder, here and there, this and that. Elana Wolff's poems illuminate the porousness of states and relations, the connective compulsion of poetic perception, in language that blends the oracular and the everyday, the elliptical and the lucent, the playful and the heart-raking. The de- and re-constructive workings of the poems in Everything Reminds You of Something Else argue for empathy and attentiveness. At the core of this work is the belief that art is the sanest rage."

I think I've burned myself out on poetry books because I wasn't really feeling this one so much.  There were a few poems and lines that I did like, but most of her references flew over my head.

Books Lately: May '17

May was definitely not a great month for reading.  It was the last month of school before summer break and full of basketball games, baseball games, birthday parties, family events, school events, etc.  I honestly only read the first three books all the way through before the end of May.  The last book I finished last night but still counting it towards my May reads because, why not?



Piercing the Veil, by Nicole L. Taylor

**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"FAMILY SECRETS. PARALLEL WORLDS. FORBIDDEN LOVE.

Eighteen-year-old Alexa Moore has had enough of her rigid, controlled existence. Shortly after her graduation, she decides it’s time for her to make the decisions in her life, and quit letting her grandmother have the last say. But when she sees a man watching her—at her graduation, at the market, outside of where she volunteers—her excitement is snuffed out by a sense of dread she can’t shake. And that’s only the beginning…

Soon, strange things begin happening: doors opening by themselves, books falling off shelves. At first, Alexa ignores the bizarre occurrences, chalking them up to coincidence. But when things take a violent turn, she discovers that these occurrences aren’t coincidence at all. In fact, they’re all tied to one thing: her. It isn’t long before she realizes that telepathy and empathy are not the only abilities she possesses. And these new abilities—ones she cannot begin to explain—are growing in strength…becoming more and more dangerous.

Lost and confused, Alexa turns to her grandmother, the one person she trusts above all others, for help. But Gran isn’t who she appears to be, and Alexa finds herself embroiled in a family history that’s shrouded in mystery and lies, where no one, not even the young Irishman she’s fallen for, is who they seem. 

Part romance, part thriller, and part fantasy, Piercing the Veil is Nicole L. Taylor’s premiere novel that is not to be missed."

I enjoyed this book because of all the mystery and family secrets as well as the magical and paranormal parts.  I really liked Alexa because of how strong she is even with all these secrets and changes going on, she still manages to keep herself together and not fall to shit.  The fact that she has a dark backstory makes her all the more intriguing.  The romance between Alexa and Roman I could do without because it's just so predictable.  Also, the whole "Cuz" thing whenever the cousins are talking to each other was kind of annoying, but then again, the characters are teenagers so I guess.  Lastly, just warning you that this has a cliffhanger ending which irritated me.  This book left me with so many more questions than answers.  Just when I was excited to learn more about Alexa's powers, family history and Aurandia, the book ends and I have to wait until the next one comes out to find out what happens.

The Chaos of Longing, by K.Y. Robinson

Description from Amazon:
"The Chaos of Longing is a prose and poetry collection draped in raw honesty, ache, and eroticism. The book explores trauma, mental illness, love, heartbreak, and the realizations from it all."

This collection of poems told an interesting story about the author through each piece.  It was a quick read, as most poetry books are, but some of the poems were pretty provocative.  I couldn't connect with this book as much as I could with the poetry books I'd read previously so it was just okay for me.

The Ship, by Antonia Honeywell
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:
"London burned for three weeks. And then it got worse...
Lalla has grown up sheltered from the chaos amid the ruins of civilization. But things are getting more dangerous outside. People are killing each other for husks of bread, and the police are detaining anyone without an identification card. On her sixteenth birthday, Lalla's father decides it's time to use their escape route--a ship he's built that is only big enough to save five hundred people.

But the utopia her father has created isn't everything it appears. There's more food than anyone can eat, but nothing grows; more clothes than anyone can wear, but no way to mend them; and no-one can tell her where they are going"

I always get a little creeped out when I read post-apocalyptic stories and this was no different.  The way the author described the how the world began to fall apart seemed pretty realistic to me and the way the Paul family secured a ship and selected people to go with them while the rest of the world wasted away kinda reminded me of Noah's Ark.  Lalla's character annoyed me quite a bit because of how naive she was.  She lived such a sheltered life compared to everyone else so I understood how frustrated all the other characters were with her.  I liked how she finally realized things and stood her ground in the end though.


The Hour Wasp, by Jay Sheets
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:
"This poetry collection does the unspeakable.  It takes you on a journey, in three sections, through morose, sometimes tragic imagery (the ouroboros rinsed in venom / [flickering] the shape of things unshaped // no silken moments / only that which is always breaking / [something is always / breaking here]), and finds itself, in those melancholy moments of the second section some hint of a truth, of a reason, of hope, or a hope (the hour wasp awakens // & we are the things that take shape / & we let the things without shape take shape), and then, finally, we come to the final section, the send-off, the great, all-encompassing display of universal truths, using similar images, visions Mr. Sheets has experienced himself through dreams and meditations, and gives the reader the sense of understanding, almost accomplishment as she has waded through the dark along with the author and illustrator and come to find a sense of solace, one that may stand the test of time (i see the thousandth star / she looks to the thousandth star / the thousandth star is us // & i wonder if i / or anyone i  know    should be so lucky / & i light a new fire at the end of myself)."

This one was a hard no for me.  It was very short but took me a while to get through, considering how short of a book it is.  I fell asleep reading it and couldn't keep my focus.  And I'm not sure if it was meant to be that confusing or if that's just the way the proof version is, but I was lost as to where a line started and ended so it was like reading one long-ass paragraph of nonsense at a time.  There were a lot of words I didn't understand and though I did get the feeling of the mood the author was going for, it just wasn't for me.

-----------

Also, I know I haven't updated my 52 books list in a while, so I'll put the updated one in next month's book recap.

Books Lately: April '17

I've been extremely busy lately with work and haven't had much time to do anything else but read after a long day, so April has been a pretty good book month for me.  Here's what I read:

The Shadow Land, by Elizabeth Kostova

**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"THE SHADOW LAND blends history and the present in a suspenseful journey that spans three generations and reveals the dark secrets of a family’s—and a nation’s—history.

A young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, has traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, hoping that life abroad will salve the wounds left by the loss of her beloved brother. Soon after arriving in this elegant East European city, however, she helps an elderly couple into a taxi — and realises too late that she has accidentally kept one of their bags. Inside she finds an ornately carved wooden box engraved with a name: Stoyan Lazarov. Raising the hinged lid, she discovers that she is holding an urn filled with human ashes.

As Alexandra sets out to locate the family and return this precious item, she gradually uncovers the secrets of a talented musician shattered by oppression —and she will find out all too quickly that this knowledge is fraught with its own danger.

Kostova’s tale of immense scope delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories, the pull of the past, and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss."

The beginning of this book was very slow for me and it took me a while to get into the story because so much time was focused on Alexandra's back story.  Once the story picked up, it was easy for me to get lost in the book because it had a lot of my favorite elements:  history, tragedy, mystery, corruption, and strong ties of friendship.  I especially loved Stoyan Lazarov's story of being sent to work camps and the fact that he suffered it all in silence.  I also really appreciated that the author didn't give away too many hints about the bad guy, which kept me guessing until the very end.

A Spiritual Look at the 12 Signs, an Introduction to Spiritual Astrology, by Joseph Polansky

**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"A spiritual perspective on the 12 signs of the zodiac, the horoscope, healing and spirituality. People's quirks and idiosyncrasies have deep spiritual roots. The horoscope shows us what they are. What are seen as flaws are really strengths deeply disguised or not used properly. Every sign is in essence a spiritual force and function and denotes a person's deepest urges. This book explains these urges. It also contains meditations for each of the signs, and the herbs, colors, gems and reflexology points that will most benefit each sign. There are chapters on the unique spiritual path for each sign and the healing modalities that are best for each - and much more."

I used to be into Astrology, tarot cards, palm reading, etc. back in high school (who wasn't, right?) so this book really took me back and allowed me to tap into my spiritual side and get a new perspective on the different areas of my life as well as the lives of others.  Some parts of the book were repetitive, but at the same time, I can see how the author needed to reiterate certain things because some people tend to pick up books like these and only read the parts about their specific zodiac sign.  I really loved the insight I got from reading through this and am looking forward to learning more.


The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Description from Amazon:
"The Giver, the 1994 Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community."

I'd read this book in elementary school and it was one of those stories that really stuck with me throughout my life.  Finally getting the chance to reread it made me realize just how great of a story it is that it stuck with me for so long.  I've also purchased the follow-up book to it (there are actually 4 books now I think ) and can't wait to dig into that one as well...as soon as I finish reading all the other books I have on my TBR list.


Extracted, by R.R. Haywood
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from Amazon:
"In 2061, a young scientist invents a time machine to fix a tragedy in his past. But his good intentions turn catastrophic when an early test reveals something unexpected: the end of the world.

A desperate plan is formed. Recruit three heroes, ordinary humans capable of extraordinary things, and change the future.

Safa Patel is an elite police officer, on duty when Downing Street comes under terrorist attack. As armed men storm through the breach, she dispatches them all.

'Mad' Harry Madden is a legend of the Second World War. Not only did he complete an impossible mission—to plant charges on a heavily defended submarine base—but he also escaped with his life.

Ben Ryder is just an insurance investigator. But as a young man he witnessed a gang assaulting a woman and her child. He went to their rescue, and killed all five.

Can these three heroes, extracted from their timelines at the point of death, save the world?"

 
Oh, this one was good!  I've never been much of a sci-fi fan, but this one really drew me in.  It's basically a story about time travel and the apocalypse and three people are "extracted" from their place in time to save the world before it happens.  I loved getting to know the characters and their backstories but the cliffhanger ending frustrated the hell out of me!  I need to know what happens next!!  I cannot wait until the release of the second book in this trilogy!


The Man In the Lighthouse, by Erik Valeur
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from Amazon:
"All his life, Viggo Larssen has been haunted by the same troubling dream, which he calls the Omen—a vision of a woman beckoning to him from the surface of a churning sea. Now, as he broods over his shipwrecked existence in a remote lighthouse off the outermost coast of Denmark, he is about to be borne backward by the current to a past he thought he had escaped forever.

On the Danish mainland, the widowed mother of the nation’s prime minister mysteriously vanishes from her prestigious nursing home. As the police search for clues, evidence mounts that her disappearance is tied to an unsolved crime from Viggo’s childhood. Told through the eyes of multiple characters from Viggo’s old neighborhood, Erik Valeur’s dark, serpentine mystery is a profound meditation on the persistence of memory, the power of dreams, and the secrets we hide from one another—and ourselves."

 
I enjoy stories that are creepy and mysterious but in a subtle, not too over-the-top sort of way and this book was it.  So many characters with different personalities yet each has so many secrets to hide.  The mystery behind the Widow drove me crazy because there were so many suspects it was hard to pin down who was really behind her disappearance and death but I loved it.  I also really loved the Death Omen theory and how the author tied it into this story full of tragedy.  Such a good book that left me wanting to read more about the other characters and their stories.



Whiskey, Words & a Shovel I, by R.H. Sin **A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from Amazon:
"Whiskey, Words, and a Shovel, Vol. 1, is about reclaiming your power on the path to a healthy relationship. It is a testament to choosing to love yourself, even if it means heartbreak.

Originally released in 2015, this re-rerelease packs the same punch as the first version, but makes an even greater connection with the soul of the reader. Each piece has been re-seen and revamped to reflect the author’s continuing journey with his partner, Samantha King, without whom this book would not exist. Samantha is the muse, the “she” the writer speaks of; she is every woman who has felt like she wasn’t good enough, and every woman who struggles to find love."

I had been itching to read this book for months after hearing and seeing so many good things about it.  Being that the first version of this book was listed for at least $100 on Amazon, I was so excited when I found a digital copy of the revised edition on NetGalley.  I enjoyed most of the poems in this book, and though they were quite short and easy to read through, they still stirred emotion in me - which I believe is what poetry should do.  I've been reading a lot more poetry lately, which in turn motivates me to write more so I'm trying to make it a point to read at least one book of poetry each month.
 

Girl in Snow, by Danya Kukafka
 **A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from Amazon:
"When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched—not the boy who loved her too much; not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder. In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters—Cameron, Jade, and Russ—must each confront their darkest secrets in an effort to find solace, the truth, or both. In crystalline prose, Danya Kukafka offers a brilliant exploration of identity and of the razor-sharp line between love and obsession, between watching and seeing, between truth and memory."
 
Another great mystery book that kept me on the edge until the very end!  Basically, a teenage girl (blonde, popular, perfect in every way) named Lucinda is found dead on the playground of a small town and nobody knows who killed her.  The story is told from the points of view of three different people:  Cameron (main suspect, peeping Tom, weird kid that has serious issues, aka Lucinda's stalker), Jade (complete opposite of Lucinda, tried to use magic to wish Lucinda would disappear), and Russ (police officer, used to be partners with Cameron's dad).  I loved getting to know all three of the main characters and their roles in the mystery and the ending was such a great twist!  I NEVER would have guessed who the killer was!  Cannot wait to read more from this new author!

Books Lately: March '17

March is usually such a busy month for me that I don't have time to relax at all, let alone read a book.  Thankfully, I was able to finish 4 books, and am just about finished with the book I'm currently reading.   Hopefully, April is a little less chaotic and I have more time for reading!

Red Rising, by Pierce Brown

Description from Amazon:

"Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power.  He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so."

I had no idea what this book was about before I started reading it.  I read reviews that said it was similar to Hunger Games, but this was much darker than Hunger Games.  The beginning was really confusing trying to imagine the scenes and characters in my mind and then trying to figure out the different color classes (and I'm still confused about most of it) but once you get into the heart of the story and the battle between the houses, it gets a little easier to follow.  I really enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would and I cannot wait to dive into the second book so I can read what happens next!  I can see the similarities between Red Rising and The Hunger Games, but they are also very different.  Same, same...but different. ;-)

Pen Pals, by Martin S. Gore

 **A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"Jean Murgatroyd passes away in the northern industrial town of her birth, and her death re-opens old wounds surrounding the ownership of the family business. James Murgatroyd seeks to regain control of Murgatroyd Pens. Brenda Arkwright, the current Managing Director, has worked for the company all of her working life. But Brenda has secrets... 

Events from the her past that are now coming back to haunt her. She passes on a monogrammed fountain pen to her daughter, a present from Jean. Both Jean and Brenda know that there is another identical pen, and that the person now in possession of it holds the future of Murgatroyds in their hands... 

A heart warming family saga based in a Yorkshire town in the strike torn, class ridden seventies."

I really enjoyed the actual story that the author was telling in this book.  However, because of the way it was written, I found myself all sorts of confused and frustrated.  There are SO MANY characters in this book and it goes back and forth between viewpoints within the same chapter which made it harder to figure out what exactly was going on.  The chapters also go back and forth between different eras so I found myself re-reading certain parts over and over to figure out what was going on.

A Collapse of Horses, by Brian Evenson

 **A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"A stuffed bear beats with the rhythm of a dead baby’s heart; a crew on a space mission are dying of exposure to alien dust and at the hands of a killer among them; and a town keeps receding to the east as a man travels back to the father who drove him away. 

In these stories, Brian Evenson unsettles us with the everyday and the extraordinary—the terror of living with the knowledge of all we cannot know."

This book of short stories was haunting and creepy and I loved it!  It reminded me of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark which were some of my favorite books when I was a kid.  If you enjoy creepy books that make you think twice about being home alone at night, you'll enjoy this one.

 

Milk & Honey, by Rupi Kaur 

Description from Amazon:

"The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose. Deals with a different pain. Heals a different heartache. Milk and Honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look."

I had heard such great things about this book and was so excited to read it, but it kinda fell short of my expectations.  Of the whole book, only a couple poems really stood out to me and evoked the kinds of feelings that I think a poem should.   Very easy read of poetry and prose, didn't take me more than an hour to get through.

 

Books Lately: February '17

February was a good book month for me.  Being sick in the beginning of the month meant a lot of time spent curled up in bed with a book.  I also bought a few real books too because I missed the feel of having an actual book in my hands.  Ebooks are great and so convenient, but there's no comparison to holding, reading and smelling a real book in your hands.  And, since I'm still clearing out instead of collecting, my books are being housed in my office's conference room so that other people can read them and add their books to the collection as well.  It's like our own little office library - that has nothing to do with law books.

Sisters One, Two, Three, by Nancy Star

Description from Amazon:

"After a tragic accident on Martha’s Vineyard, keeping secrets becomes a way of life for the Tangle family. With memories locked away, the sisters take divergent paths. Callie disappears, Mimi keeps so busy she has no time to think, and Ginger develops a lifelong aversion to risk that threatens the relationships she holds most dear.

When a whispered comment overheard by her rebellious teenage daughter forces Ginger to reveal a long-held family secret, the Tangles’ carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. Upon the death of Glory, the family’s colorful matriarch, and the return of long-estranged Callie, Ginger resolves to return to Martha’s Vineyard and piece together what really happened on that calamitous day when a shadow fell over four sun-kissed siblings playing at the shore. Along with Ginger’s newfound understanding come the keys to reconciliation: with her mother, with her sisters, and with her daughter.

At turns heartbreaking, humorous, and hopeful, Sisters One, Two, Three explores not only the consequences of secrets—even secrets kept out of love—but also the courage it takes to speak the truth, to forgive, and to let go."

I loved this book because of all the unexpected twists and secrets uncovered!  Ginger was a very annoying character, so much so that I wanted to punch her in the face sometimes because of her constant worrying about every little thing.  Her sister Mimi was also annoying, trying to force people to do things her way.  Basically, I wanted to punch almost all of the characters at one point or another, but I realized that's how family is - you want to punch them in the face but you can't help but love them in the end.  The secrets in this book are so crazy that it's hard to understand how nobody knew the truth, but the major events happened in the '70's and that was a different time, when people weren't so open about tragedy and kept family matters quiet.  Definitely a good book to read if you like a story with a lot of unexpected twists!

A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Dugard

Description from Amazon:

"In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen. 

For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it."

This book gave me goosebumps at some parts and I literally had to take a break from the book once or twice because of the graphic retelling of her experiences.  Whether you're a parent or not, you really can't read through this thing without getting goosebumps or chills down your spine.  How she was able to survive for so long in those conditions I'll never know.  I'm so glad that the Garridos are behind bars and will remain there for a LONG time.  The death penalty would have been better, but that's just my opinion.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

Description from Amazon:

"Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. Henrietta's cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can't afford health insurance. This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew."

By far one of the most unexpectedly amazing books I've ever read.  I've had this book for quite some time but never got around to reading it partially because it had been buried under a bunch of crap on my nightstand, but mostly because I was intimidated by it since it is listed as a non-fiction book about science.  Science and math have never been my jam so I wasn't excited to read a boring book about the history of some cells.  YOU GUYS.  I was SO wrong about this book.  Though it is listed as non-fiction, the author did such an amazing job and wrote it in the first person in a way that it reads like fiction.  The characters in the book are actual people and the author portrays them honestly which makes them so relateable.  Learning about the HeLa cells and the scientific breakthroughs they caused was not confusing or frustrating at all because the author broke it down in a way that was easily understandable.  The end of this book had me wanting to learn even MORE about the HeLa cells, DNA, tissue rights and the Henrietta Lacks Foundation.



Neon Soul, by Alexandra Elle
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"In short, powerful verses, Alexandra Elle shares a hard-won message of hope.

Alexandra Elle writes frankly about her experience as a young, single mother while she celebrates her triumph over adversity and promotes resilience and self-care in her readers. This book of all-new poems from the beloved author of Words From A Wanderer and Love In My Language is a quotable companion on the road to healing."

It has been so long since I've read a book of poetry and this book was exactly what I needed.  I've followed the author on Instagram for quite some time now and the images, affirmations, poems and quotes in her feed always inspire me to write, spread love and take action.  I haven't read her first two collections but after reading this one, I'm definitely planning on getting them.



Scrappy Little Nobody, by Anna Kendrick

A hilarious autobiography by Anna Kendrick.

Celebrity autobiographies are always so fun to read, especially if that celebrity is sarcastic, funny, and down-to-earth.  Anna Kendrick is like the weird little white girl who lives up the street.  She's loud, awkward and a little pushy, but you can't help rooting for her.  Such a fun book that made me laugh out loud at certain parts (at which times I had to close the book because Chloe looked over and tried to read what was so funny - warning: this is not a book for minors).



Ensnared, by Rita Stradling
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"[This novel contains adult situations and is only suitable for readers who are 18+]

A Near Future Retelling of Beauty and the Beast

Alainn’s father is not a bad man. He’s a genius and an inventor. When he’s hired to create the robot Rose, Alainn knows taking the money is a mistake. Rose acts like a human. She looks exactly like Alainn. But something in her comes out wrong.

To save her father from a five-year prison sentence, Alainn takes Rose’s place. She says goodbye to the sun and goes to live in a tower no human is allowed to enter. She becomes the prisoner of a man no human is allowed to see.

Believing that a life of servitude lies ahead, Alainn finds a very different fate awaits her in the company of the strange, scarred recluse."

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book.  I started reading it and it was so slow and a bit confusing through the first few chapters that it took me a couple days until the story finally picked up and got me interested.  There were still a lot of parts throughout the whole thing that were confusing as hell and could have been omitted from the book altogether because it didn't add to the story and most of the time it was hard to visualize the scenes and characters, but all in all it was an interesting read for me.
 

I Love My Love, by Reyna Biddy
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Description from NetGalley:

"In short, poignant verses, Reyna Mays' poems explore pain, emotional reckoning, and the power of self-love.

The debut collection from 22-year-old poet Reyna Mays, I Love My Love tells the story of Reyna's childhood, her parents’ toxic relationship, and how, against all odds, she learned to love herself."

Oh, how I love I Love My Love!  Full of emotional and powerful (and some really short) poems that really resonated with me.  You can feel the love, anger, self-doubt and growth that the author portrays.  I loved and re-read so many of the poems contained in this book that I stopped adding bookmarks to my digital copy and decided to just buy the hard copy to keep on my nightstand.  The author, Reyna Biddy, is still pretty young and finding herself and it shows in some of her poems, but I still highly recommend this to anyone who has ever felt lonely, unloved, or taken for granted.



Love & Misadventure, by Lang Leav

Description from Amazon:

"The journey from love to heartbreak to finding love again is personal yet universal. Lang Leav's evocative poetry speaks to the soul of anyone who is on this journey.  Leav has an unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted fans from all over the world.

Lang Leav is a poet and internationally exhibiting artist. Her work expresses the intricacies of love and loss."

I enjoyed this collection of poems but not as much as the others I've been reading lately.  These poems are very short (some only two lines) and simple so if you're looking for a long, complex poem that spills emotion, you won't find it here.


 
Citizen, by Claudia Rankine 

Description from Amazon:

"Claudia Rankine's bold new book recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in twenty-first-century daily life and in the media. Some of these encounters are slights, seeming slips of the tongue, and some are intentional offensives in the classroom, at the supermarket, at home, on the tennis court with Serena Williams and the soccer field with Zinedine Zidane, online, on TV-everywhere, all the time. The accumulative stresses come to bear on a person's ability to speak, perform, and stay alive. Our addressability is tied to the state of our belonging, Rankine argues, as are our assumptions and expectations of citizenship. In essay, image, and poetry, Citizen is a powerful testament to the individual and collective effects of racism in our contemporary, often named "post-race" society."

It's hard not to feel some kind of emotion after reading this book.  I don't read the news, I don't follow politics or pay much attention to what's happening around the world but reading this made me realize how much I've been blind to.  This author really sheds light on the things I've never noticed and opened my eyes to things that we as a society need to change.  Fear, hatred, racism and oppression are real, and ignoring it or thinking it doesn't affect us and the bubble we live in only makes it harder for things to change.


Someone Always Robs the Poor
 **A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

 Description From NetGalley:  

"A long-awaited new collection of stories from one of Scotland’s most acclaimed writers.

A young man returns from London, facing the prospect of reunion with a young daughter he’s never met. A woman recounts her family’s doomed attempt to emigrate from Poland to America 70 years before. A creative writing tutor is shocked by the story of one of his students, who is connected to a past atrocity in Bosnia. A former architect fights a losing battle with alcoholism and the ghosts from his past.

Here is a new collection of brilliant stories from the multi-award winning elder statesman of Scottish literature, exploring themes of poverty, migration, alienation, accountability and alcoholism, with an impressive depth and emotional range."

I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did, but I absolutely loved it.  I started off not liking it because I got a little confused about whether or not someone was speaking and which character was speaking because the author does not use quotation marks in his stories but once I got used to his writing style, it was so easy to look past that and really get into each story.  These stories are so emotional without being overly dramatic which really surprised me because I didn't think that stories so short could be that powerful.  Definitely recommend this book!!

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Currently Reading:

Books Lately: January '17

January was a pretty good month in books for me.  I'm doing another reading challenge this year and am a book ahead of my goal of one book per week so far.  Here's what I read in January:

Everything We Keep, by Kerry Lonsdale

Aimee's fiance James disappears during a business trip to Mexico and instead of standing at the altar, she is attending a funeral for James.  She tries to move on with her life but she can't seem to grasp the fact that James is dead, especially when she is approached by a psychic who assures her that James is alive.  Aimee goes to Mexico in search of James and uncovers secrets that she wasn't prepared for.

This was half and half for me.  The beginning had a few good moments, but then it started dragging out when it took Aimee FOREVER to finally go and look for James.  It's basically a story about love lost and then found.  She goes through the whole "I'm a strong woman" phase where she opens up a cafe after her fiance's "death", finds a love interest who accompanies her to Mexico, breaks up with him and then feels guilty because she still loves her fiance.  That part was predictable to me, but all the secrets were what made it so good.  And the ending!  OMG.  The ending was great and had me wanting more!  Thankfully, I just found out that the follow-up book is set to come out in July 2017 and I've already pre-ordered it.

The Buried Book, by D.M. Pulley

Jasper is abandoned by his mother and left on his uncle's farm with a bible and an extra pair of clothes.  Jasper is only 9-years old and has so many questions as to why his mother left him and when she would be back.  He leaves the farm and sets off on his own to find her and is thrown into a world of crime and corruption and learns the dark secrets about his mother's past which have put her (and now him) in danger.

I thought it was really sad that Jasper had to grow up so quickly on his own and in the way he did.  It's heartbreaking enough that his mother left him without any explanation, then he had to see and experience so many bad things that a kid his age shouldn't have.  This was another really good book that kept me guessing at where his mother went and why and which characters were bad and which ones weren't.  So many twists and secrets uncovered and so much speculation surrounding his mother's disappearance are what kept me on the edge of my seat reading this.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo

Okay, I really don't feel the need to write a summary or review of this book because most of you already a) know what it's about; and b) know from my past few posts that I've already started using the KonMari methods.

The Original Dream, by Nukila Amal

Guys.  I tried so hard to like this book, I really did.  It is so beautifully written, poetic and lyrical.  BUT.  It was just so hard to follow.  I almost quit reading the book altogether.  In fact, I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up while I was still trying to get through this book.  The author tries to bounce in between the dream and the reality of Maya aka Maia (Maya is her real name, Maia is her dream name) and both versions are just way too hard to follow.  I get that dreams are weird and messed up and don't make sense sometimes, but after finishing this book (it took me about 2 weeks to get through just 274 pages) I'm still left scratching my head.  I gave it three stars on Goodreads just because of how beautiful some of the passages were.

 Spilled Milk, by K.L. Randis

Brooke Nolan and her siblings have been abused for as long as she can remember.  The thing is, she didn't know it was abuse until she was almost graduating high school.  How do you know something is wrong when you've never known anything different?  With the help of some very supportive adults and family members, Brooke finally speaks out to put an end to her family's misery.

This story was such an emotional read because of the sexual, emotional and physical abuse that these kids had to go through.  It is based on a true story, on the life of the author, which made me love her character even more.  The fact that she was able to suffer through and survive all of that is enough to inspire anyone to fight back against abuse and it sends such a positive message.  Even though her family wasn't very supportive or appreciative towards her for standing up to her father, she did it because she knew it was something she had to do for them.

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*P.S. If you can recommend any books that fit into those book categories above, please let me know since I have a LOT of blanks to fill!