December Reads (23)

 I might just start doing these in list form because I am lazy and it's a lot to keep up with ha ha.

*Did not like it at all

**It was okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

*Orphan Island (Young Reader, Fiction, L. Snyder)

***The Secret of Shadow Ranch (Young Reader, Fiction, C. Keene - N. Drew #5)

***The Mystery at Lilac Inn (Young Reader, Fiction, C. Keene - N. Drew #4)

***Shatter Me (YA, Fiction, S. Mafi - Shatter Me #1)

***Unravel Me (YA, Fiction, S. Mafi - Shatter Me #2)

***Wildcard (YA, Fiction, M. Lu - Wildcard #1)

***Prey (Fiction, M. Crichton)

***The Bungalow Mystery (Young Reader, Fition, C. Keene - N. Drew #3)

***The Vanishing Stair (YA, Fiction, M. Johnson - Truly Devious #2)

***The Truth About Stacey (Young Reader, Fiction, A. Martin - BSC #3)

***Legend (YA, Fiction, M. Lu - Legend #1)

***Restore Me (YA, Fiction, S. Mafi - Shatter Me #4)

***Defy Me (YA, Fiction, S. Mafi - Shatter Me #5)

***Virgin River (Fiction, Virgin River #1)

****The Strangers (Young Reader, Fiction, M. Haddix - Strangers #1)

****Cilka's Journey (Fiction, H. Morris)

****Love & Olives (YA, Fiction, J. Welch)

****Miss Iceland (Fiction, A. Olafsdattir)

****Princess Diaries (Young Reader, Fiction, M. Cabot)

****Front Desk (Young Reader, Fiction, K. Yang)

****Ignite Me (YA, Fiction, S. Mafi - Shatter Me #3)

****I Am the Messenger (YA, Fiction, M. Zusak)

****The War I Finally Won (Young Reader, Fiction, K. Bauer)

DNF:  

The Dutch Wife

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey

Total Books Read:  23 (23 Fiction, 0 Non-Fiction)

November Reads (18)

 

*Did not like it at all

**It was okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

 

1-star

 

2-stars

**Florence Adler Swims Forever (Fiction, R. Beanland)

I think if I had read this book at a different time I may have enjoyed it more.  But I just found it to be annoying.

 

**The Dead and the Gone (Fiction, YA, S. Pfeffer)

#2 of a series…I won’t be finishing.  It was exactly like the first book, just in a different location.  Pass.

 

**Home Body (Non-Fiction, R. Kaur)

I liked her first two books of poetry, but this one…definitely not for me.  And probably not for a lot of people ha ha.

 

**Pandemonium (Fiction, YA, L. Oliver)

The second book after Delirium.  It was just meh.  I won’t read the third book.

 

**Before I Fall (Fiction, YA, L. Oliver)

Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day.  I tried Lauren Oliver, I really tried.  No more!

 

3-stars

***Britt-Marie Was Here (Fiction, F. Backman)

A decent read (or listen, which is what I did), but definitely not my favorite by him.

 

***The Sun and Her Flowers (Non-Fiction, R. Kaur)

Milk and Honey is still my favorite by her, but this one was good too.  I’m just not a huge poetry fan.

 

***Truly Devious (Fiction, YA, M. Johnson)

The first in a trilogy, although I believe there’s a 4^th one that just came out.  This was very Sherlock Holmes-y, but YA. I liked it.

 

***The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Fiction, H. Morris)

Based on a true story!

 

***Delirium (Fiction, YA, L. Oliver)

I think the best part about this book is that it was narrated by Sarah Drew (April Kepner of Grey’s Anatomy)

 

***Red Rising (Fiction, Sci-Fi, P. Brown)

The first of 5 I think?  I liked this one.  Mars is colonized and the people are ranked according to their status.  So one of the Reds (the lowest rank) gets disguised and is accepted into the Golds to try to break down the system from the inside.  It’s complicated and definitely not an easy or light read, but it was intriguing.

 

***The Secret of the Old Clock (Fiction, Children’s, C. Keene)

Nancy Drew #1.  These are fun.

 

***The Hidden Staircase (Fiction, Children’s, C. Keene)

Nancy Drew #2. 

 

***The Heir (Fiction,  YA, K. Cass)

Book 4 of the Selection series.  I liked it better than I thought I would!

 

***The Crown (Fiction, YA, K. Cass)

Final book of the Selection series.  I finished!  Now I can shelf these pretty books.

  

4-stars

****Aurora Rising (Fiction, YA, A. Kaufman)

Passengers (the movie) meets Guardians of the Galaxy meets Stranger Things.  A great audio listen.

 

****Warcross (Fiction, YA, M. Lu)

The first in a duology about a massive gaming system hack and the girl responsible for it.  Very interesting!

 

****I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf (Non-Fiction, Graphic Novel, G. Snider)

Cute, although it was much more about writing than reading.

 

5-Stars

 

DNF:     

 

Total Books Read: 18 (15 Fiction, 3 Non-Fiction)

October Reads (18)

 

*Did not like it at all

**It was okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

 

1-star

*Tell Me 3 Things (Fiction,  YA, A. Buxbaum)

I remember when this book first came out it was super popular.  I don’t know why.  I found it to be ridiculous.  And for me to find a YA book to be ridiculous it has to be really bad, because I typically enjoy YA.  I had it ‘figured out’ from about page 3.  I only finished it because it was a quick audiobook.  And then I kicked myself for bothering to finish it.

 

2-stars

**When No One Is Watching (Fiction, A. Cole)

This book is labeled as a thriller, although I’m not sure why.  NOTHING HAPPENS.  Except in the last 30 pages or so.

 

**Icefall (Fiction, YA, M. Kirby)

YA – this one had such a great premise, but it just failed on many levels.  I picked it up at the library sale and am glad I didn’t pay more than $1 for it ha ha.

 

**Challenger Deep (Fiction, YA, N. Shusterman)

YA – I almost DNF’d this one multiple times, but it was a pretty short book so I kept plugging on.  I’m usually okay with books being all over the place, and books taking place in two different….how should I say this….mentalities?  It’s hard to explain.  But I just couldn’t connect with this one.  Although I applaud Neal Shusterman for writing a YA book about mental health.

 

**The Bronze Horseman (Fiction, Simons)

This book was infuriating.  There were chapters that were 5 stars and chapters that were 0 or negative stars.  And it was about 300 pages too long.  Waste of time.  (I should have really given it 1 star)

 

**The Moon is Down (Fiction, J. Steinbeck)

Great idea, poor execution.

 

3-stars

***Five Feet Apart (Fiction, YA, R. Lippincott)

Good, but it’s been done before.  Teenagers that are too sick to love each other.

 

***The Sun Is Also a Star (Fiction, YA, N. Yoon)

I liked her first book MUCH better (Everything Everything)

 

***The Toll (Fiction, YA, N. Shusterman)

Not as good as the first two, but I decent conclusion

 

4-stars

****Obsidio (Fiction, YA, A. Kaufman)

Fantastic ending to the series.  A fun one.  Especially on audio!

 

****It Ends With Us (Fiction, C. Hoover)

This is technically considered a romance novel.  But there are extremely heavy themes all throughout, particular domestic violence.  It’s a tough read, but also fluffy at the same time (a little too fluffy).  But in the acknowledgments page, the author wrote why she wrote this book and it’s based on her own experiences.  So it gets 4 stars from me, in spite of the fluff factor.

 

****Shiner (Fiction, A.J. Burns)

This was one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read, but I still loved it.  I had to keep reminding myself as I was reading it that it was modern day and not written 50+ years ago.  And I love that.

 

****Love and Gelato (Fiction, YA, J. Welch)

Well this was just a delightful little surprise.  It's not as 'fluffy' as the cover makes it look.  I mean, there's definitely SOME teenage fluff, especially at the end, but this book is mostly about grief and a teenage girl trying to figure out her mother's past.  In Italy.  While eating loads of good food.  And living in a cemetery.  Did I tell you it's surprising?

 

****Love and Luck (Fiction, YA, J. Welch)

I liked this one better than the first one!  I'm not sure if it was the Ireland setting...Amy told me about SO many things and places that were mentioned in the book after her trip to Ireland.  I'm excited for the next one!

 

****Between Burning Worlds (Fiction, YA,  J. Brody)

This is a HUGE book.  There is a lot going on, and loads of action.  I enjoyed it.  The problem I have with sequels though is that because my memory is so terrible I feel like I need to read the previous book again to understand what's going on.  In this book though there were pages in the front of the book that described each person, which was super helpful, especially because there are LOADS of characters.  I definitely want to re-read both of these before the next one comes out next year.

 

****Long Bright River (Fiction, L. Moore)

Very tough read.  Dark & gritty.  I went back and forth from hating the main character to having sympathy for her.  Then being incredibly disappointed in her again.  This is definitely not a ‘feel good’ read, but I listened to the whole audio book in one day.  It was very engaging.

 

5-Stars

*****Fable (Fiction, YA, A. Young)

Excellent…I read this in 3 settings.  It’s definitely not perfect.  The first half of the book is a slow burn.  There were a few things that happened near the end that felt very rushed.  However, I LOVED the story.  And I LOVED Fable.  She was likable in every way.  It’s also one of the most atmospheric books I’ve ever read.  I’m looking forward to the sequel!

 

*****And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer (Fiction, F. Backman)

This is a little novella by one of my favorite authors.  It’s about grief and preparing for loss.  His writing is just so good and he is the only author that makes me cry with his books.

 

*****The Pecan Man (Fiction, C. Dandridge)

I’m not sure why this book is not more well-known.  Or maybe everyone has heard of it except me.  It’s a small book.  More than a short story, but far less than a big sweeping novel.  It’s been compared to To Kill a Mockingbird and The Help.  I kind of understand the comparisons, but it’s also very much it’s own story.  I listened to it on audio and it was one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever heard.  Probably THE best.  It’s free on Hoopla audio if you have that connection through your library card.

 

DNF:     

Us (Fiction, D. Nichols) – couldn’t get into it.

 

Total Books Read: 18 (18 Fiction, 0 Non-Fiction, 1 DNF)

 

 

September Reads (7)

 *Did not like it at all

**It was okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

 

3-stars

***The Switch (Fiction, B. O’Leary)

Probably the most predictable book I’ve ever read, BUT I still really enjoyed it.  A perfect read between ‘heavier’ books.

***The Real Michael Swann (Fiction, B. Reardon)

A ‘thriller’…more like a cast of (SPOILER ALERT) mistaken identity.  I had this one figured out from the beginning, which is disappointing.  But even though I had it figured out, it was still a page turner and a quick read. (Not pictured above, I gave it to my mother-in-law.)

***The Home Edit Life (Non-Fiction, C. Shearer)

Nothing earth-shattering organizing wise but it’s a really pretty book with great pictures.

4-stars

****Illuminae (Fiction, YA, A. Kaufman and J. Kristoff)

Wow.  It took me a while to get into this 600 page book.  It's written completely in journal entries, letters, emails, interviews, illustrations, diagrams, 'Unipedia' pages, etc.  When I got to page 150 or so, I decided to switch over to audio.  And then I couldn't stop listening until I was finished. 

If at all possible, listen AND follow along in the book at the same time.  The audio is amazing.  There are 12 narrators.  Alarms.  Explosions.  Music.  Ugh it's just so good!

****Gemina (Fiction,  YA, A. Kaufman and J. Kristoff)

#2 in the Illuminae series.  This one was not quite as good as the first, but it still gets 4-stars for the creativity and plot.

5-Stars

*****The Exiles (Fiction, C. Baker Kline)

Wow.  This is a beautiful, devastating novel.  Whenever I read a book by C. Baker Kline, I always learn so much.  I don't think I've ever read an author who can write historical fiction as well as she can.  Amazing!

*****Anxious People (Fiction, F. Backman)

Here is the review I posted on Goodreads:

Yesterday we had a freakish wind storm, knocking out our power for 7 hours. I have never been so grateful for a power outage, because it allowed me to completely read this book.

Only Fredrik Backman can write a book that makes you laugh out loud on one page and then drop a passage like this on this next page:

"You can get it into your head to do some unbelievably stupid things when you run out of tears, when you can't silence the voices no one can hear, when you've never been in a room where you felt normal. In the end you get exhausted from always tensing the skin around your ribs, never letting your shoulders sink, brushing along walls all your life with white knuckles, always afraid that someone will notice you, because no one's supposed to do that."

I don't think a book has ever been more appropriately named. This book is about ANXIOUS PEOPLE all stuck in an apartment held hostage by a bank robber that botched a bank robbery. Over the course of the day, they learn more about each other and we learn more about them, particularly their anxieties, their depression, and their suicidal thoughts.

There's twists and turns and connections and now I want to read it again immediately, knowing what I know about the characters in this book. It's just SO good. Please read it. And also, please read this:

https://www.fredrikbackman.com/2018/0...

It's an essay he wrote about anxiety and it's amazing.

Also, follow him on Instagram because he's hilarious.

And READ THIS BOOK

DNF:      The Bright Forever (one of the characters creeped me out and I didn’t like where it was going)

Total Books Read: 7 (6 Fiction, 1 Non-Fiction, 1 DNF)

August Reads (10)

 

*Did not like it at all

**It was okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

 

3-stars

***The Library of Lost Things (L. Namey, Fiction)

I’m on a YA kick lately.  This one was good, but a bit lacking in some areas.  It’s about a 17-year-old who loves books and lives with a secret:  her mother is a hoarder.  The ending was rushed and didn’t make much sense, but it was still a quick and not bad read.

***Pale Rider, the Spanish Flue of 1918 (L. Spinney, Non-Fiction)

Fascinating, although VERY wordy.  I found myself skimming a lot.

 

4-stars

****The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (D. Gemeinhart, Fiction)

This is a Young Reader books that is about Coyote Sunrise and her dad (Rodeo), who live in an old converted school bus.  They travel the country trying to escape the memories of the tragic accident that killed Coyote’s mother and two sisters five years previously.  Although heartbreaking, this book made me smile many times. 

****The Flatshare (B. O’Leary, Fiction)

This was a quick easy read (or listen…I listened to it on audio).  Somewhat predictable, but not cringy.  She has a new book that just released called The Switch that I look forward to reading.

****Rules of Civility (A. Towles, Fiction)

Friendships, accidents, deceit, love.  This book moved pretty slow for me, but Amor Towles writes so wonderfully that I still gave it 4 stars.

****Kristy’s Great Idea – Babysitters Club #1 (A. Martin, Fiction)

I am going to re-read these.  They were the only thing I read in 5^th and 6^th grade.  I LOVED these books!  I’m so glad they are making a comeback (due to the Netflix series, which I’m almost 99% sure I’m not going to watch).  I am kicking myself for not keeping my collection of these books! 

****The Diary of a Bookseller (S. Bythell, Non-Fiction)

The title says it all…it’s the diary of a bookseller in Scotland.  He records the day-to-day operations of running a used bookshop.  I found it hilarious, although he seems to be a bit grumpy.

****Empty (S. Burton, Non-Fiction)

The memoir of a podcast editor that suffers from anorexia and binge eating.  And I say ‘suffers’ because she’s not really cured.  Lots of feelings about this one, lots of triggers.

****Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls – Babysitters Club #2 (A. Martin, Fiction)

Book two.  😊

 

5-Stars

*****Hamnet (M. O’Farrell, Fiction)

Ten stars.  Maggie O’Farrell has managed to do it again.  First, let me emphasize that you do NOT need to know Shakespeare AT ALL to love this book.  I know very little about Shakespeare, and what I do know….I’m not a fan.  But this is not a book about Shakespeare.  It is about his son, Hamnet (Hamlet), and his wife Agnes.  And his daughters.  And his father and mother.  And his siblings.  And his wife’s family.  And what happens to all of them when Hamnet dies from the plague at age 11.  Everyone handles grief in different ways, and this incredible book explores every one of them.  If I didn’t have so many others book to be read, I would immediately start this one again.  That’s how good it is.

 

DNF:      Pull of the Stars (storyline I didn’t feel comfortable reading)

                This is Going to Hurt (author had very unkind comments about JWs)

 

Total Books Read: 10 (7 Fiction, 3 Non-Fiction, 2 DNF)

June/July Reads (5)

I think I've FINALLY pulled out of my reading slump.  Yay!  Hopefully I'll have larger numbers in August/September.

*Did not like it at all

**It was just okay

***Liked it

****Really really liked it

*****Absolutely loved it

***This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (A. Patchett, Non-Fiction)

Almost a 4-star….this was more of a collection of non-fiction essays that were published by Ann Patchett over the years.  She is an amazing writer and I learned a lot about her.  Like how she used to work at Gourmet and 17 Magazine.  She has no kids by choice (and is fairly vocal about it), she passed all of the mental/physical exams to be a cop.  She has an obsession with her dogs.  Lots of gems.  But a few slow spots…I prefer her fiction books.

***P.S. I Still Love You (J. Han, Fiction)

Book 2 of a 3 book series.  Lots of cheese, but lots of sweetness too.  

***I Was Told It Would Get Easier (A. Waxman, Fiction)

Mother/daughter college tour trip.  There was a lot of back and forth which I didn’t mind, but it seemed that nothing really happened until the last few pages.  So I found myself skimming a lot.

****Pandemic (Y. Ventresca, Fiction)

This YA book was written in 2014, but honestly it could have been written about Covid.  Even the flu in this book was almost identical to Covid.  Lots of heavy themes though going on and the ending was a bit rushed, but I flew through it.

****Always and Forever (Fiction, J. Han)

The last of the Lara Jean trilogy.  Overall a very cute series.

Total Books Read: 5 (4 Fiction, 1 Non-Fiction, 0 DNF)

May Reads (5)

One star:             did not like it at all

Two stars:           eh, it was okay

Three stars:        liked it

Four stars:          really, really liked it

Five stars:            absolutely loved it

 

1-Star (0)

2-Star (1)

**A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Fiction, H. Jackson)

This YA book was about 150 pages too long.  I usually like YA, but this one fell short.  I was bored.

3-Star (0)

4-Star (4)

****In a Dark, Dark Wood (Fiction, R. Ware)

This was a great mystery (although dark) that didn’t require a lot of brain power.

 

****To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Fiction, J. Han)

Another YA, although this one came through.  It’s lighthearted, dramatic, centered on family and gives you all the feels!

 

****Joy At Work (Non-Fiction, M. Kondo)

Another book from the tidying expert, Marie Kondo.  Nothing majorly earth shattering here, except it did inspire me to clean out a lot of my digital clutter.

 

****The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Fiction, S. Collins)

4.5 stars…..this is a prequel to the Hunger Games series.  It is the story of Coriolanus Snow and the beginning of his rise to the top as President of Panem.  For me to give 4-stars to a book where the main character is so unlikable is pretty much unheard of.  But this book is so much more than story of Coriolanus Snow and his rise to the top.  It really gets into the history of the Hunger Games, when there was just one arena every year and before there was gambling and sponsors involved.  I found it all fascinating.  It is a bit long though (500+ pages) and it was a little slow in the middle.  It's also very dark, but no more than the other books are.  Definitely a great prequel!

 

5-Star (0)

 

Total Books Read: 5 (4 Fiction, 1 Non-Fiction)

 

DNF (0)