May Wrap-up

This is just a post where I share all of the books that I have read over the course of the month because some do not make it to the blog to be reviewed:

3 stars:
1) The Magicians by Lev Grossman

4 stars:
2) The Selection by Kierra Cass
3) The Elite by Kierra Cass
4) Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

4.5 stars:
5) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
6) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
7) Emma by Jane Austen

5 stars
8) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (read the full review here)
9) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time by Mark Haddon
10) Cress by Marissa Meyer
11) The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
12) Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
13) Things Fall Apart by Chinau Achebe (read the full review here)

I will be reviewing the books that are part of a series as a whole because I just feel that is the best way to do things. I feel that I will more to say on the subject matter of whether I liked the book if I can compare it to how the story progresses and whether or not the character development is up to my standards.

In June I will try to finish some series that I currently own but I do not like to make a TBR for the month because I just read what and when I feel like it.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: A Monster Calls

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Published: March 12, 2013
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Hardback or Paperback: Paperback
Acquired: Bought used with my own money
Pages: 206
Rating: 5 stars





Summary:
An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

Review:
I absolutely adored the book! It is one of the few books that has actually reduced me to a puddle of tears while simultaneously ripping my heart out to tear it into a thousand pieces. Only put it back together at the very end of the story. I thought about this book for so long after I read it and it still can bring tears to my eyes when I think about certain parts. I am not usually a very emotional person so this kind of reaction was not exactly expected.

The story just grips you from the very beginning and never lets you go. It is one of the most beautiful and compelling storylines that I have ever encountered and I am just mad that I put off reading the book for so long. It has been sitting on my shelves just waiting for me to get to it for over a year now. I read the entire book in one sitting and had trouble putting it down to perform basic functions such as breathing and eating. I did have to stop at one part though and come back to it later (my roommates came home and I did not want to have to explain why I was sobbing like a baby over a book).

The characters were easy to relate to, which is something that I have found is extremely important to me when reading a book. I could definitely root for the home team so to speak and all I wanted was for both the mom and son to finally be healed by whichever method the author saw fit. I loved the character development that takes place with Conner, our main character. He starts off feeling angry and alone because his entire world has been turned upside down by his mom's illness. It is easy to feel sorry for him and to understand where his anger and frustration come from. Throughout the book we see him come to terms with the gravity of the situation and search for the ultimate healing source: acceptance and forgiveness.

This book does deal with some very difficult subjects like cancer, grief, bullying, and forgiveness. Cancer is a subject that always hits close to home for me and I am sure a lot of people can relate. We have all known someone who has been affected by cancer which is a disease that leaves devastation in its wake for both the patient and the family members. Grief is also a subject that many people can relate to because everyone has dealt with things in their life that have caused them immense pain and you know that those wounds do not heal easily. Perhaps the most difficult subject touched upon is the concept of forgiveness. I know that we all struggle with the ability to forgive people who have hurt us and situations that are out of our control. I know that there are things in my life which I have had to consciously say that I am no longer going to carry their weight around with me and I need to let this pain go. That is the main thing that Conner is struggling with because he has carried the weight of the pain that his parent's splitting up and his mother's illness have caused him for so long that he has forgotten what it feels like to be free.

I highly recommend this book because not only is the writing absolute perfection but the illustrations that accompany it are breathtaking. In short this is perhaps the best book that I have read this year!

Happy Reading!

WWW Wednesday May 27 2015

This is a link-up that is hosted by Taking on a World of Words where we talk about the books that we all love.

1) What am I currently reading?

Emma by Jane Austen. I am enjoying it but it is taking me a lot longer than normal to read this. Mainly because of the wordiness that is Austen. It is a breath of fresh air in the sense that the book has substance and depth but it is hard for me to read large chunks. So I am spreading it out with a sprinkling of books that I can fly through.

2) What did you recently finish reading?

Things Fall Apart by Chinau Achebe. This was a five star read for me. It is slightly disturbing but I really enjoyed learning about another culture and people's views. You can read my review here.

3) What do you thing you'll read next?

The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I am mainly going to read this one because I went into Barnes and Noble to kill some time and low and behold I bought a book. At full price, so I need to read this one sooner rather than later. Also I have heard good things and I want to know what the hype is about.

What are you guys reading? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Things Fall Apart

Title: Things Fall Apart
Author: Chinau Achebe
Published: Anchor Canada 4/21/2009
Series or Standalone: Series (first in the series)
Hardback or paperback: Paperback
Acquired: Bought used with my own money
Pages: 209
Rating: 5 stars





Summary Via Goodreads
Things Fall Apart tells two intertwining stories, both centering on Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first, a powerful fable of the immemorial conflict between the individual and society, traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world. The second, as modern as the first is ancient, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries. These perfectly harmonized twin dramas are informed by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul.

Review
I found out about this book when I was doing my thesis for a course that I needed to take in order to graduate with my bachelor's degree. The entire premise for my paper was that the concept of the existence of magic was in integral part of the lives of the people who live in New Guinea. These ancient beliefs, practices, customs, and traditions dictate how they live their daily lives and also how they interact with other natives and with foreign entities. I did research the tribes in Africa but the information was much to vast to be able to dwindle it down for just one single paper. I have always been obsessed with magic (I was a witch for practically every Halloween ever!) so any book that can integrate magic into is a winner in my book. I am not really particular about whether the magic is in fiction form or more of a non-fiction story. I will definitely be reading more about the subject after reading this book.  

As for the actual content of the book, please know that it is quite graphic at times and if this bothers you then you might want to turn away: The writing style was phenomenal and I felt that the plotline really drew me in and kept me engaged throughout the book. While some of the words were certainly new and required me to look up the correct pronunciation I had enough background knowledge on the rituals that took place to be able to get past this minor inconvenience. However, without the native language thrown into the story the entire book would have lost it's sustenance and meaning. For me I enjoyed seeing the multiple similarities in the rituals from what I knew about New Guinea and Africa and being able to compare and contrast the two.

As far as the characters themselves go I had a hard time finding someone to root for. I did not really care for the main character, Okonkwo, though I appreciated having his back story. From his past you can at least understand why he behaves the way that he does and what is influencing his decisions. I think deep down he really does care for his family but he starts out the story a very important man in the village and is therefore bound by certain expectations and rituals. I never condone human sacrifice, cutting off people's heads to then use the skull as a means to drink out of, beating your wife (or wives in this case- polygamy is a natural thing in some cultures) or children however I can at least understand how in his case not doing so would be a sign of weakness due to the culture that he has been raised in. This brings up a whole new slew of questions and ponderings that makes me want to write another paper on that tangent just for fun (I am weird, I know, no need to point it out to me).

The fall from grace of Okonkwo (though undeserved in my very humble opinion) was a necessary part of the book. It kept the main character from being put up on a pedestal by the author to the point that none of their actions have any consequences and they can do no wrong in the eyes of the supporting characters. This is a pet peeve of mine in novels. This also helped to lead into some of the rituals and celebrations that the tribe observes and added a layer of depth to the novel.

Overall, I felt that the author did a really great job with the novel. My only concern was that it was not long enough. I don't often say that but I could have read a couple hundred more pages on the subject matter. More background story, more information about the rituals (though I did like the mystery to them, as they are mysterious and very few know what actually happens at these ceremonies), in general I just want more.

Now for the business of whether or not I would recommend this book. That is a really tough question. I gave the book 5 stars and I think that it is one of the best books that I have ever read however it is a tough read. There is a lot of flipping to the back of the book to look up the meaning of words in the appendix and I can see where it would be a little bit of a culture shock. If you enjoy novels where you get a first hand look at a different culture and set of ideals then go for it, if not then this may not be the book for you. Also if you are squeamish I would just walk away now, trust me on this one.

Excuse me while I run out and go buy the other two books in the series. I think I just found my newest obsession.

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag

I am doing this as my weekly link-up with the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish who host this little get together.

This week the topic is the top ten books that will be in my beach bag and I am excited for this topic. As a person who resembles a vampire when they meet sunlight (the real kind not the ones that sparkle) most of my beach trip is spent cowering under any type of shade that I can find. Which means that reading becomes just about the only thing that I can do. So here it goes the top ten books that I feel would find their way into my beach bag. (And by beach I mean that I will be sitting on my back porch in my lawn chair while my dog splashes in a kiddie pool. Broke as a joke people). I have kept my list to books that I actually own in an attempt to dwindle down my TBR pile.

1) Anything by Stephanie Perkins

I read Anna and the French Kiss this past month and I actually really enjoyed it. Light, funny, a little bit of romance what more could you possibly need? When I am on vacation I do not want to be reading books that will ruin my mood.

2) Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

A book about a road trip while I am on a road trip just seems like something I would be into to. Even if the road trip just consists of me walking back and forth between the kitchen and the back porch I will read this book while I walk. A dangerous game to play for sure!

3) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

I have been wanting to read this book for ages but I have been waiting for warmer weather. There is just something about sitting outside in the warm sun and reading a contemporary book that sounds like heaven on earth.

4) Legend by Marie Lu

This is probably more for the car ride there or at night when I am reading before bed. It seems like it will be a really great series and I have been wanting to read it.

5) The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place on Earth by Eric Weiner

This just seems like a really funny book and I want to laugh and just be happy when I am on vacation at my own personal back porch beach. I plan to find bliss there with a glass of ice cold Mountain Dew and maybe a peach margarita or you know like five of those.

6) This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

A book that has happy in it's name can only function to lift my mood. There will be no sad books on my vacation.

7) Any book by Rainbow Rowell

I read Fangirl last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That book documented my life and now I want to see what other wonders her novels hold.

8) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Making by Catherynne M. Valente

This is a fantasy novel but after all of the fluffy light-hearted contemporaries on my list I will be needing some fantasy in my life. No matter how I try I just can't stay away.

9) Mr. Penumbra's 24- Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

I actually just bought this book earlier in the book but it has been on my radar for a while now. There is just something about reading a book that is centered around reading, people who love reading, and bookstores that just intrigues me to no end.

10) The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare by Arliss Ryan

Shakespeare is my life! So it is only a natural progression that my obsession should extend to other members of the family. I cannot wait to read this book. Hopefully this will happen in the next month. :) I just need some Shakespeare in my life.

That is it! The top ten books that would be in my beach bag. Let me know if any of these are on your radar in the comments.

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Favorite Authors

I am doing this as my first link-up with the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish who host this little get together ever week.

This week the topic is our top ten favorite authors and I have no problem whatsoever coming up with ten of them. Just to clarify when I say my favorite authors I mean that these are auto buy people for me. To make it more interesting I am going to include a short little description of why I love them, which might help clarify why I will spend my money on them.

1) J.K. Rowling

I really don't think I need to elaborate on this one that much, do you? I grew up in the middle of pottermania, though to be clear I knew about the books before the midnight releases and movie premiers. Like so many others out there these books helped me get through some tough adolescent years and I will buy and read anything that this author puts out. Whether under her name or a pen name.

If you like someone who is a master as storytelling and world building then I recommend this person.

2) Anne Tyler

I love her writing style and her characters. It just all feels so real to me and she has ingenious insight into the inner workings of a family and what it means to be human. Her characters are so real that I often forget that they are not sitting with me as a living breathing human being. They are flawed and the author makes no illusion to the fact that anyone in her book is perfect. It is such a sigh of relief to have openly flawed characters who are genuinely good people at heart but are just slightly struggling in some aspect of their life. The families in her books are also flawed but there is an underlying theme of love and commitment to each other that brings them together as a whole in the end. I will buy and read anything that she writes forever and always to the end.

If you like someone who can weave together the inner workings of a typical family full of drama, heartache, and ultimately love then I recommend this person.

3) Amy Tan

This is another author that offers amazing insight into what it means to be human and function in a family unit, however she focuses mainly on the immigration side of this. As a descendent of immigrants who came to this country to make a better life for themselves and who struggled with the need to fit into the new environment and the desperation to hold onto their customs and traditions I can relate to the characters. My great-grandparents never learned to speak English and I saw my grandfather struggle to keep the balance between his two lives. This is a common theme in all of her books and you come to love all of her characters as they struggle to keep the balance when they are torn between two worlds.

If you like someone who focuses on trying to choose between the world of your parents and the world that you will ultimately have to function in then I recommend this author.

4) Ian McEwan

I read Atonement and then promptly went and picked up a number of other books by this author. I will admit that the story is a tad bit dry at times and not a whole lot happens in terms of excitement factor. It is mainly about the main character allowing her imagination to take hold of her and the guilt she feels when she realizes that she blamed the wrong man for a crime that happened during her childhood. The ending is a twist that I did not see coming and I cannot wait to read more from him. His characters are relatable and intriguing and his writing style is poetic.

If you like stories that do not have a lot of action but plenty of inner turmoil and a plot twist that will knock your socks off then I recommend this author.

5) Rainbow Rowell

How do I tell my love for thee Rainbow Rowell. You speak to my heart and I feel like your characters were handpicked from my life and plopped into the world that you created in your books. The story that you tell could easily be my story or that of someone that I know which is why I love your books.

If you like a really good contemporary novel with loveable characters and a funny plotline then I recommend this author.

6) Neil Shusterman

His novels are a bit darker than these previous ones and I am a little bit worried about how he ever came up with the plotlines because they are disturbing. However, as a lover of all things sci-fi I always just eat them up. I do not necessarily read his books because of characters or writing style, even though I don't have a problem with either. It is mainly for the world building, plot line, and under lying themes on society.

If you like books that have a darker side to them and are at times a little bit much to handle then I recommend this author.

7) Cassandra Clare

All I have to say on this on is haters gonna hate. I know that a lot of people either love or hate her books. I am more on the love side of this one. I think that her Mortal Instruments series was phenomenal and I cannot wait for the Infernal Devises series. I will be the first to admit that there are times when the characters get on my nerves and she is no Shakespeare as far as writing goes but hey they are enjoyable and I own all of her series.

If you like slightly sassy characters and a little bit of romance that is marred by the paranormal aspect of the book then I recommend this author.
 
8) Scott Westerfield

I think that his Uglies series is pure genius. Not only were the characters likeable and slightly badass but the book actually made me stop and think for a moment. Which is an automatic five star for me. I really enjoyed looking at what the world would be like if they made everybody "equal" because it strips away your very essence. Yes, there are times when looking like a supermodel would be awesome and very useful but if that means losing myself in the process I have to say that I would like to stay ugly. And by ugly I mean I want to stay looking like myself and not giving into society's standard of beauty.

If you like authors who make you stop and think for a moment while keeping you entertained and on the edge of your seat for the entire book then I recommend this author.

9) Lois Lowry

I cannot say enough about this author because I love the Giver series. It takes a truly gifted writer to be able to write four books that do not necessarily follow the same story line but in the end weave all of it together in a ending that not only clears up any loose ends but will warm your heart. The writing style is phenomenal and the characters will stay with you long after the book is finished. Again this author looks at what would happen if individuality were stripped away in the prospect of sameness. It really does take away the essence of who you are and in these novels the price is the ability to love. I am now so excited about the series I may have to give it a proper re-read.

If you like stories that do not follow a chronological order but are cleverly interwoven and make you think about underlying social commentary then I recommend this author.

10) Harper Lee

While she has currently only one book out there is going to be another one in July. And you know that I have pre-ordered it and am waiting with bated breath. I love To Kill a Mockingbird and have re-read it numerous times. There is a childlike innocence in the book that just makes it a magical experience. Again the book really makes you think but this time it is towards the treatment of others. No matter who you are there will be biases because that is a part of life, but you cannot let these biases interfere with your treatment of others. Everyone deserves to be treated as a worthwhile human being and this author explores what it means to be just and fair towards everyone.

Again if you like a book that makes you think and a writing style that is both childlike and eloquent then I recommend this author.

An the honorable mention goes to Phillip Pullman. Because I really enjoyed his Dark Materials series but he is not on the auto buy list so I couldn't include him in the top ten but I wanted to give a shout out to him.

That is it, that is my top ten favorite authors.

Happy Reading!

Why I Love to Read

Since Mother's day just passed and Father's day is just around the corner I figured why not talk about why I love to read. This passion stems from my parents (both of whom are avid readers themselves). Like many parents they would read to me all the time when I was young and would take me to the library so that I could pick out which books I would like to read. I guess this is where it all began. I looked around at the library and realized that I wanted nothing more than to read every book ever written. Now at the time I thought that just included the books that I saw before my eyes (only to later find out that reading every book ever written is physically impossible... but that is a story for another day). Later on in life my parents both pushed me to expand the limits of what I thought I was ready to tackle. I remember in middle school my mom introduced me to Kate Chopan, which I plan to reread soon because I feel that I will appreciate it more now that I am older. My dad taking the cue that I was ready then handed me novels from John Steinbeck and Charles Dickens, just to name a few. They both insisted (and still do to this day) that I needed to try things outside of my comfort zone but still allowed me the freedom to choose what it was that I wanted to read.

I am not saying that I haven't ever had a little slump because I did during college. I did not have any desire to read for fun during those four years and I now refer to that period of my life as the dark ages. I honestly cannot remember reading one novel for fun or because I just wanted to and that is ok. We all need breaks from things, even things that we once loved. To make up for this period of time I now buy books and read at an astounding rate. I do have four years worth of literature to make up for after all. Right now at this point in my life I crave books because I love to be to escape into another world for a few hours. I truly feel that by reading you live a thousand lives because you become attached to the characters to the point that you feel their pain and may even shed a few tears for them and are elated when things work out in the end. Through books I have traveled all over the United States and to many other countries. I have been given the opportunity to learn about other cultures and their beliefs, customs, and traditions.

I may not always get to read as much as I want to but I firmly believe that like my parents when I am older I will always have a book in my hand. Thank you mom and dad for teaching me to love reading and giving me a passion for learning. You have given me the greatest gift of all.