The Grownup

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
Published by Crown in Jun. 17, 2014
Genre(s): Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 64
Goodreads

A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan's terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan's teenage stepson, doesn't help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it.

“The Grownup,” originally appeared as “What Do You Do?” in George R. R. Martin’s Rogues anthology.

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The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls
Published by Scribner in Mar. 2005
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Adult, Memoir, Social Issues, Poverty
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Goodreads

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing--a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.

I'm not at all sure what compelled me to pick up this book, but I am so glad that I did. Jeanette Walls weaves a tale of her childhood life growing up in poverty with magical thinking parents....... I think I have found a new genre to love.

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The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian by Andy Weir
Published by Crown on Feb. 11, 2014
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Space, Adult, Thriller
Format: Paperback
Pages: 369
Goodreads

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. 

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. 

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. 

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

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Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell
Published by NAL in 1945
Genre(s): Classics, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Politics
Format: Kindle
Pages: 122
Goodreads

As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals, and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As we witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, we begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization; and in our most charismatic leaders, the souls of our cruelest oppressors.

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The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Published by Other Press in 2002
Genre(s): Historical, Romance, Fiction
Format: Kindle
Pages: 337
Goodreads

A poignant and inspirational love story set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats spans the decades between the 1950s and the present. When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be…until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader’s belief in the power of love to move mountains.

This is a beautiful story and a very compelling read. I have no idea what made me want to read this book, as even reading the description, I don't remember being particularly intrigued. However, it is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read, to date. As the description explains, the story follows a young woman to Burma as she goes on an unexpected but beautiful journey to discover her missing father's past in an attempt to find him. She ends up learning more than she bargained for about her father's childhood including an unimaginable tale of hardship and a powerful love story. This novel was an easy read, and the author does a great job of grasping the reader to truly feel the emotions on every page. I definitely recommend this story to anyone interested in a beautiful love story filled with passion, courage, and so much heart.

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Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
Published by Harper Perennial
Genre(s): Fiction, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 356
Goodreads

Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Whenever they're together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow. But apart, each is very much her own woman, dealing with her own share ofups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, juggling the many balls of work, marriage, and motherhood with expert precision, but is she as together as her datebook would have her seem? Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage -- can she bring another life into her very precarious world? And can free-spirited Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, ever hope to find lasting love?

In this wise, witty, hilarious new novel, we follow the Kettle sisters through their thirty-third-year, as they struggle to survive their divorced parents' dating each other, their technologically savvy grandmother, a cheating husband, champagne hangovers, and the fabulous, frustrating life of forever being part of a threesome. A family comedy about sibling rivalry, "Three Wishes is an assured and warmhearted debut.

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Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell

Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell
Published by Gallery Books on Jan. 13, 2015
Genre(s): Fiction/a>
Format: Paperback
Pages: 252
Goodreads

In this shockingly true-to-life novel written by an all-star team of Internet phenoms from the Total Frat Move generation, you’ll get the first true glimpse of “real” sorority life in all its f**ked up glory.

Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell is what happens when you take the creative minds behind Babe Walker (author of the New York Times bestselling White Girl Problemsseries) and add Rebecca Martinson to the mix. Rebecca Martinson—yes, that bitch—the former Delta Gamma sister responsible for the scathing, expletive-filled email that verbally assaulted her entire chapter for being “so f**king boring” at social functions, and threatened to “c*nt punt” every last one of them if their behavior didn’t shape up. Dirty Rush is a no-holds-barred look at what really happens when you “go Greek.”

Taylor Bell comes from a long line of Beta Zeta sorority sisters, who all expect her to pledge upon starting at the university. But Taylor has other plans: she’s determined to give her family the proverbial middle finger and destroy the rich tradition they hold so dear by eschewing sorority life altogether. However, Taylor’s resolve soon melts when she falls in with a group of hilarious, ultra-saucy girls, who introduce her to all things Greek and soften her to the idea of joining. Resigned to the fate the Greek gods have dealt her, Taylor pledges Beta Zeta and embarks on a collegiate career filled with the kind of carousing sure to make any sorority sister proud.

Soon, Taylor’s experience as a BZ starts to feel like a jacked-up, drug-infused, and X-rated fairy tale—especially when reality comes crashing down and a rather lewd sex tape is leaked. The girl in the video looks a lot like Taylor. Has Taylor gone off the deep end? Or is someone trying to frame her? Unless she can prove her innocence and re-ingratiate herself with the sisters who’ve accused her of leaking the video in a Kim Kardashian–style bid for attention, Taylor is at risk of losing everything she’s fought (partied) so hard for. 

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A Dance With Dragons

So I haven't been able to post in awhile-- since baseball season began, I've been super busy balancing work, school preparations, and life in general!! In all of my downtime, I have either been binge watching Criminal Minds or reading the longest/best book I've ever read.......

Which brings me to a solo post for the April edition of This Month's Reads featuring A Dance with Dragons, (Game of Thrones Book 5).

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martion
Published by Bantam on Oct. 29, 2013
Genre(s): Fiction, Fantasy, Epic
Format: Kindle
Pages: 1,125
Goodreads

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance—beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys’s claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone—a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

George R.R. Martin does it again in the fifth installment of his cult classic hit, A Song of Ice and Fire, more popularly known as the original work for the HBO series A Game of Thrones. This book, even though it was released fifth in the series, picks up after the end of the third novel, A Storm of Swords. The plot in Dance occurs parallel to the fourth novel, A Feast for Crows, profiling the lives and happenings of separate characters than those followed in Book 4. It's difficult to recommend this book if you haven't read those in the series that proceed it, but let it be known that the twists and surprises that occur prior to the beginning of this book are nothing compared to what happens inside... ALSO.... I feel obliged to warn that only 3 episodes into the current season of the HBO show, I am completely and utterly deterred and can no longer consider the two of the same entity. Read these books. They are 500 x better. (Rumor has it, Martin will release the 6th book this Fall/Winter!!! Eeeek!!)

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My Books in Lists: Wishes

{Books on my Wishlist}

I will forever have a never-ending, insanely long wish list because I love books so much that I cannot stop reading ABOUT them, let alone reading the actual books. So, I'm constantly stumbling upon new titles (and old) that strike my interest, so I add them to the growing list. I keep track of my wish list(s) using Paperbackswap.com {where I literally wish for the books and whenever a fellow user posts the title I'm wishing, I get a notification so that I can go order it from them!} and Goodreads.com {where I keep track of books I've read, want to read, like and don't like, etc. It's like Foursquare for books}. You can read more about these websites on my post about them over here.

Over the weekend, the sweetest thing happened to me. I got a message from a user on paperbackswap.com with the subject "RAOK :)" and a message stating that she wanted to send me a gift of granting one of my book wishes. I felt skeptical at first, both because nothing like this has ever happened to me on this site and because I had no idea what "RAOK" meant. So I just wrote back and  asked what this was all about. Well, "RAOK" stands for "random act of kindness" and she is part of a forum on the site that finds users and grants their book wishes whenever they have the extra cash, just to share a smile! I was so surprised and humbled! I couldn't believe it. A part of me felt awkward, but then I realized that the feeling was based on the unfortunate societal norm of that charity/pity feeling of someone doing something for you for no reason. I decided to send her my address and vowed to pay it forward! 

Two days later, I was tickled to receive not one, but TWO of my book wishes in the mail. 

I immediately messaged the woman to thank her, and asked if I could tag her on Instagram. 

Her response: 

"awww Taylor... no I don't use social media really... Thank you though.... I don't need mentioned.. Im happy knowing you are happy... Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a great Saturday night! :-)"

I cried because I was so touched by this truly random act of genuine kindness, proving the beauty and love that is present in humanity.

I have always been such a fan of paperbackswap, but now I can say with great confidence that the members undoubtably make the website what it is. If you are a reader, please take the time to check it out.  And in the meantime... here are all the books that are currently on my mind but not yet on my shelf. Click each title to learn more and/or purchase on Amazon. 

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty 

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

Miss Me When I'm Gone by Emily Arsenault

Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood by Suzanne Finstad

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Palo Alto: Stories by James Franco

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Serena by Ron Rash

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

The Wild Truth: The Untold Story of Sibling Survival by Carine McCandless

Texts From Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Lori Earl

Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen By Jane Hawking

Unbroken: A World War II Story... by Laura Hillenbrand

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Wonder by R.J. Ralacio

Wool by Hugh Howey

Written in My Own Hearts Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion

Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut


What am I missing????

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My Books in Lists: Musts

{My Lifetime Must-Reads}

Here are the books that I have read (or intend to read) in my lifetime. I've read most of them, but there are a couple that I haven't gotten to just yet. Most are literary classics, but others are novels that have stood out to me over the years as amazing for one reason or another. So... these are the books that I think everyone should read in their lifetime. What would you have me add to this list? 

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Xo.

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My Books in Lists: Favorites

{My All-Time Favorites}

The title speaks for itself, don't you think? I'm sure I'll add more books to this list in my lifetime, but for now, here are the best books I've ever had the great pleasure of stumbling upon reading. I hope that you'll consider reading them, too! :)

{Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech}

Harry Potter (the series) by J.K. Rowling

Into the Wild by John Kraukener (AMAZING story)

White Girl Problems by Babe Walker (side-cramping laugh-out-loud funny)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (sobbed like a new born baby)

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech (the first novel I ever read...made me fall in love with fiction)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I have a hard time choosing favorites of anything, so the books that made it on to this list are no joke. I've loved a lot of books in my life. But to name them a favorite is something special. It was difficult to compile this list, but the few I chose are incredibly deserving! Give them a thought!! Xo

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My Books in Lists: Upcoming

I am CONSTANTLY adding books to my TBR (to be read) pile & wish list...so much so that it's kind of becoming a problem. I mean seriously. I am making no exaggeration. I stumble upon a new book that I want to read pretty much every day. I fear that I'll die before I find enough time to read all the good books in this world. But I digress. In honor of National Reading Month, I am sharing all-things-books with you all month long. For a few posts, I want to share my many book lists. I hope that some of the many books on these lists will stand out to you, and I encourage you to read them if you have not, add them to your TBR pile if you feel so inclined, and tell me (no spoilers, please!) what you thought if you've already read!!

Here is one section of my Upcoming Reads list. There are two sections to this list because I currently own some of my TBR books, and the others I do not. So first... 

{Books on my Bookshelf}

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

The Vacationers by Emma Straub
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Paper Towns by John Green

Room by Emma Donoghue

Cum Laude by Cecily von Ziegesar

Naked by David Sedaris

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Have you read any of these? I'm thinking I'll read Joan Didion next...or maybe The Paris Wife. Thoughts? 

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Published by Three Rivers Press on Jan. 1, 2011
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Biography, Essays
Format: Paperback
Pages: 222
Goodreads

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

I became obsessed with Mindy after my friend got me quickly and easily hooked on her show, The Mindy Project. I had only seen her a couple of times when I watched The Office here and there, but I didn't know much about her. I now watch her show religiously and I've started watching The Office from Season 1 after finishing this book because that's how cool she made it (herself) sound. So far not impressed.... just kidding. Mindy is so real I can barely believe it.

I loved reading her story of growing up awkward and funny then killing it in NYC and Hollywood by just being herself. It's an excellent story of comedic perseverance in this harsh world that Mindy tells with her perfect airy tone of awesomeness. The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because I thought the book started off slow with the parts about her parents, and I wish she would have made the book much longer... Also, it was only laugh-out-loud funny at some parts, and I expected to have a side cramp from laughter by the end. Okay, maybe my expectations were too high for someone's first book...about their actual life...

Regardless of your thoughts (or lack thereof) on this book, do yourself a favor and check out The Mindy Project on Hulu or whatever. Mindy is basically an older, richer, more employed version of me. And it's seriously so funny.

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World Book Day: March 5 2015 {NRM Pt. 2}

Of course, I'm late to the World Book Day party in terms of posting, but don't worry at all- I was sure to celebrate the beautiful Thursday by listening to my audiobook while I drove around running errands, reading while I was relaxing before and after work, & I even finished a much anticipated novel: the fourth installment in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Feast for Crows. (That's HBO's Game of Thrones, y'all, and it rocked.)

Since this month of March is so special in honoring books, (and let's be real, I'm not at all concerned about the fact that I am turning this life & style blog into a bookworm blog....sorry?), I am going to write about each book I'm reading as I finish them, rather than a tell-all post at the end of the month like in my This Month's Reads series. What the heck, maybe I'll still post at the end of the month, too!

So...first up:

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast For Crows by George R. R. Martin
Published by Bantam on Oct. 17, 2005
Genre(s): Fantasy,Fiction, Epic
Format: Kindle
Pages: 1,061
Goodreads

With A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth volume of the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and stands as a modern masterpiece in the making.

After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce. But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.

Truly, there is a LOT to be said about this book....IF you've read the first three. But unfortunately, if you haven't, you wouldn't really be too interested in the crazy twists and turns Martin brings forth in this novel. What I will say (both for those of you yet to reach this book/following along with the HBO series) is that things get real in Feast. Martin's Ice and Fire books are known for the structure of character chapter viewpoints...meaning, each chapter is told from the title character's point-of-view. However, in this novel, Martin completely omits half of the series' characters (!!!), barely mentioning them, not writing in their point of view AT ALL. He writes this book focusing on characters in King's Landing, the Vale, Dorne, and Harrenhal. When the book ends, there is a note form the author begging you to relax and understand that the next book, A Dance with Dragons, Book 5, will follow all of the characters that were left out of Feast, occurring parallel in time. It's definitely making Dance an interesting read because I keep having to remind myself that certain things that I JUST read in Feast haven't actually happened, but it works because it allows for major events in each characters' stories to come full circle without the interruption of a split novel. I'm freakishly excited for the show to come back in April, where HBO will pick up with the start of Book 4, albeit in their own way with some changes.

Rating:

Five stars, no doubt, but you must read the first three. I promise they are worth the time and dedication it takes to immerse yourself in the world of Westeros!

Not four days later, I finished another book, so stay tuned for my review of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling, coming soon. xo

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March: National Reading Month!

Hi everyone!

I've had the first couple of days of the month off from work, so I’ve been working on compiling a couple different book lists for you! March is National Reading Month, and so what better way to celebrate than with book-inspired posts all month long! I'll be sharing multiple must-lists with you, including my inspiring reads, as well as my all-time favorites and current wish list. I will also post my current reads, guilty pleasures, device-musts, and more. First things first, today I want to talk about my favorite book-related websites, apps, & tools: Goodreads, Audible, PaperbackSwap, the Amazon Kindle, & the Barnes & Noble Nook.

Goodreads is a website where members can share their book reviews and recommendations, as well as catalog their book wish lists, track their current reading, and explore new titles based on their ratings. The purpose of this book-centered social network is to help members find and share books that they love. Membership is free, and the website operates similar to Facebook, where you can add friends and their status on books, as well as what they are reading, wishing, and rating appear in a news feed. There is also an app available for Android and iPhone. Click {here} to see my profile and add me as a friend! 

Audible is an Amazon owned company that opened in 1995 and was purchased by Amazon in 2003. Audible functions as a seller and producer of audio entertainment, featuring digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers. For a monthly subscription fee, beginning at $14.95 per month, members receive one credit every month to be used to purchase any audiobook on Audible that can be played from various devices. If you’re unsure about listening to a book for the first time, Audible offers a great introductory free-trial period for new users. Sign up and get the first 30 days at no charge including a free audiobook of your choice! The membership is only a monthly commitment, meaning you can cancel anytime, including before your trial ends and you will not be charged at the next billing cycle.  

PaperBackSwap (PBS) is an online marketplace for trading and purchasing books with other people across the United States. First, you choose a membership upon signing up—ranging from free (with a $0.49 fee for each trade) to $20 a year. Then, you list books that you have at home that you would like to swap to other club members. Once another club member requests your book, you simply print out an automated shipping label, apply postage, and ship it off to them. When that person receives their book, you receive a book-swapping credit that you can then use to request and receive your own book from another club member by searching by title, author, ISBN, and more in the PBS database of over 4 million hardback, paperback, audiobooks, and textbooks! Click {here} to see my profile and add me as a friend! 

The Amazon Kindle is a series of eReaders marketed by Amazon.com. Featuring the Amazon Marketplace, pretty much every book available in eReader format is available in the Kindle Store. Kindle devices allow users to shop for, download, browse, and read ebooks, newspapers, magazines, and other digital content. The Kindle Fire even has the capacity for Android apps and games, videos, music, TV shows, and more. Kindle reading apps can also be downloaded for free on a multitude of devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac. I have used three Kindle Reading Devices in my reading lifetime, but my current personal Kindle is the Kindle Paperwhite, and it has quickly and easily become my favorite. The Kindle Paperwhite can be purchased with or without “special offers” meaning advertisements can appear on the lock screen or the homepage. The Paperwhite features a special back-light that allows it to operate in bright sunlight with no glare like that of a tablet or smart phone. This light feature can also be adjusted to be dimmer or brighter so that your eyes won’t tire or feel strained while reading in the dark. The Paperwhite holds a single charge for up to two months, well over enough time to finish a single book—and on that note, another nice feature of this device is the option to see your reading speed as you go (by minutes left in chapter and time left in book). The device is thin and light weight, making it especially nice and comfortable to hold for hold periods of time as well as to take along during travel.

The Nook is an eReader device by Barnes & Noble. I have never used an actual Nook Reading Device, but I have used the free app on my iPhone and iPad. The Nook is a nice device for a fan of the popular bookstore; however, my biggest turn off is that you can only purchase Barnes & Noble books at Barnes & Noble prices. And Amazon has most titles for good deal cheaper in their Kindle Store. I’m nothing if not a die-hard bargain hunter, so that’s where the conversation ends and begins for me. As I said, I've used the available Nook reading apps on both my iPhone and iPad, and those are very nice. The operating system is also very smooth and user friendly. The Nook comes in multiple E Ink formats as well as Nook Color, comparable to the Kindle Fire. The newest Nook Device features “Glowlight,” which uses E Ink with back-light technology comparable to the Kindle Paperwhite. The price for this device is nearly $50 cheaper than the Kindle Paperwhite (ad free), but do keep in mind the cost of the content and how that will add up quickly, an important consideration when purchasing any digital content device.

Those are my must-haves when it comes to all-things-books! What are some tools you use when it comes to purchasing and reading books? Look for more posts all month long about the books I'm currently reading & craving, as well as the ones I've always loved. Thanks for reading :) !! xo

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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Published by Berkley on Jul. 29, 2014
Genre(s): Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Mystery
Format: Kindle
Pages: 458
Goodreads

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

I read this one in just three days. AMAZING! A thriller-mystery tone with a casual/suburban setting and plot made this story very intriguing. Moriarty really has a knack for keeping readers interested. I read through it so quickly because I often found myself up hours at night continuing through chapter after chapter because it never seemed like a good place to stop- I had to know what happened next!! The story reminded me of Moriarty's novel The Husband's Secret because it had an umbrella theme- little lies- and it looked at how small little lies happen in different way yet all end up tangling together and have a way of always coming full circle in the end. I loved this one. It might be my favorite of her lot thus far... a toss up with What Alice Forgot. 

To see a full list of my current and upcoming reads, join me on Goodreads! Also, check out my FAVORITE website ever, Paperback Swap- the online book-trading marketplace where I get most of my tangible books. Feel free to add me and check out my shelf here.

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#WIYP?

Happy Monday!

I've spent all morning concluding the two contests I had going on over the weekend. (Stay tuned for a results post tomorrow!!) But earlier, a blogger friend tagged me on Instagram to share what's in my purse! So here it is! Check out my original post on my Instagram, and read below to see a detailed list of what I'm carrying around each day :) 

Forever 21 bag (I borrowed this one from my sister, it's no longer available)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite in an Omoton Case. 

Sephora makeup case (actually a brush set case, no longer available, see similar)

Sephora Formula X System Quench-To-Go cuticle pen (only available in set)

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Kissed

Sakroots Daily Planner in Slate Flower Power

Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Hand Cream in Shea Cashmere & Silk

Bath & Body Works nail file (available in stores only)

Bath & Body Works PocketBac Hand Gel in Brazil Pineapple Punch

Bath & Body Works hair ties (available in stores only)

Bath & Body Works rubber owl nail clippers (available in stores only)

The Body Shop Aloe Vera Lip Care

Squirrel Brand Creme Brulee Almonds (the BEST snack, available in Starbucks stores, or here)

Apple iPhone headphones, string wrapped {check out my DIY}

Mophie Powerstation XL (because my phone doesn't do so well under 50% battery...)

Five Below iPhone charging cord in blue (available in stores only)

Paper Mate Flair in pink (buy the set here)

EOS lip balm in Summer Fruit 

So.... #WIYP? Post a pic on Instagram and tag me to share! 

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The Hypnotist's Love Story

The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
Published by Berkley on Oct. 1, 2011
Genre(s): Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Romance
Format: Paperback
Pages: 480
Goodreads

For fans of Emily Giffin, another wonderful book from the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, THE HUSBAND’S SECRET...

Ellen O’Farrell is a professional hypnotherapist who works out of the eccentric beachfront home she inherited from her grandparents. It’s a nice life, except for her tumultuous relationship history. She’s stoic about it, but at this point, Ellen wouldn’t mind a lasting one. When she meets Patrick, she’s optimistic. He’s attractive, single, employed, and best of all, he seems to like her back. Then comes that dreaded moment: He thinks they should have a talk.

Braced for the worst, Ellen is pleasantly surprised. It turns out that Patrick’s ex-girlfriend is stalking him. Ellen thinks, Actually, that’s kind of interesting. She’s dating someone worth stalking. She’s intrigued by the woman’s motives. In fact, she’d even love to meet her.

Ellen doesn’t know it, but she already has.

In this one, Moriarty writes about a Hypnotherapist, Ellen, that has fallen in love with a man with baggage- Patrick the surveyor, and he his baggage is that he has a stalker- an ex-girlfriend, Saskia, that will not leave him alone. Ellen is more intrigued and excited by the thought of Patrick's stalker than she is frightened or nervous. She even finds herself wondering what it would be like to have her own stalker, and she feels curious to meet Saskia. But what Ellen doesn't realize is that Saskia already knows Ellen, and Ellen has already met her... A definite page-turner. It didn't have me quite as spell-bound as Alice, but still just as pleasing a read. 

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What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Published by Berkley in 2009
Genre(s): Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Romance
Format: Paperback
Pages: 476
Goodreads

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.

Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

I LOVED this book. Liane Moriarty has quickly jumped to the top of my favorite authors and I cannot get enough of her novels. Moriarty is an Australian author that incorporates her quick wit and charm into her novels, making the characters and the plot totally irresistible. (Moriarty used to write children's books- Thank you so much Liane for writing adult fiction!!) My sister bought this novel for herself and me so that we could read it together, as well as with another friend of ours, but it was so good I quickly finished before my friends because I could no put it down to pace myself. Alice falls and bumps her head, losing 10 years of memories, and when she comes back to, she can't believe the state of her life! She pieces the past 10 years together, while also trying to understand why everything and everyone around her has changed...or is it her that has changed, straying too far from who she hoped to have become. A great read that really puts life into perspective and helps you to realize that sometimes, you just need to take a step back and have another look at things. 

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Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Published by iUniverse in 2005
Genre(s): Contemporary, Adult, Psychology, Fiction
Format: Kindle
Pages: 292
Goodreads

Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life--and her relationship with her family and the world--forever.

At once beautiful and terrifying, Still Alice is a moving and vivid depiction of life with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease that is as compelling as A Beautiful Mind and as unforgettable as Judith Guest's Ordinary People.

This book was recommended to me by my mother, through a recommendation that was made to her by a colleague are her University. I was anxious to read the story that tells the tale of a woman that is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease because my Grandma has the early stages of the disease herself. Then, recently, I realized that this book was made into a film starring Julianne Moore! This book was such a beautifully written description of the terrible disease that wreaks havoc on our society. Even though I felt that having experienced this disease affecting my Grandmother and others in my family I knew and understood the disease well enough, reading about the disease from an affected person's perspective was very grounding, moving, heart-wrenching, and just incredible. I very much loved the story. It made me laugh and cry. I highly recommend it.

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Current and Upcoming Reads:
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Any recommendations that I should add to my reading list?

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