Dark Matter

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Published by Random House Audio on Jul. 26, 2016
Genre(s): Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Format: Audiobook / Kindle
Time: 10:18:00

Goodreads synopsis: 

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

From the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy, Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

Seth really wanted to read this book, and I had heard good things, so we decided to get it on our Kindles and read it together. The book is definitely more his style of book, totally true to the science fiction genre. Even though these aren't the typical novel I go for, I still love a good mystery every once in awhile, and Dark Matter exceeded all expectations.

The suspense throughout the story was so engaging that I never wanted to put it down. It was so hard to stay on track so that Seth and I were reading at the same pace because I was constantly reading past our agreed upon mark. The story centers around the idea that everything that can happen will, and that our lives are not our own, but instead, our reality is based upon every choice we and others make. It was a strange story, but so engrossing and powerful.

There are a few criticisms I could make about the characters, the plot, and the timing of the various twists, but all in all, I was so satisfied with the overall flow and outcome of the story, that it doesn't even matter. I thought the author did a phenomenal job taking a complicated topic centered around astrophysics and translating it through relatable characters to create an easy and enjoyable read that didn't require turning to google in order to understand.

This is one of those rare books that keeps you thinking and wondering for days after you've finished it. In fact, I feel tempted to pick it up and read the entire thing start to finish again. My mind and my heart were both racing throughout the entirety of the book, and after finishing it, I can't help but look at the world around me and my everyday choices with a sort of skepticism and admiration. Truly a work of sci-fi art, I recommend this book to anyone interested in stepping out of their comfort zone and going on an exciting and thrilling ride through an unreal (yet somehow scarily real-feeling) story.

Rating:

Read More

Wonder

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Published by Knopf on Feb. 14, 2012
Genre(s): Fiction, Young Adult, Family, Contemporary
Format: Kindle / Audiobook
Pages: 316

Goodreads synopsis: 

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

This was a very nice story and an easy, quick read. Wonder is going to be released as a film soon, so of course I had to read it. The story was sad at times, but overall, it was really enjoyable with an uplifting message. Definitely young adult, but still suitable for all ages. In fact, this is one of those rare books that I would recommend to absolutely anyone. If everyone read this book, the world would be a better place. Especially middle schools.

Palacio does a great job detailing the atmosphere of middle school and what it's like to be a new kid. But August Pullman, the main character, isn't just any new kid. He is a medical "wonder," born with a condition that has left him looking a lot different than his peers. The novel tells the story of August's transition to middle school life: interacting with new friends and bullies, and learning that sometimes you can make a difference in others' hearts just by being yourself.

I truly enjoyed this story, and again, I would recommend it to anyone of any age. It's a great tale of love, friendship, acceptance, and kindness.

Rating:

Read More

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Published by Harper Torch in 1988
Genre(s): Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Philosophy
Format: Kindle/Audiobook
Pages: 197

Goodreads synopsis: 

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

I really enjoyed this book. It was slow at times, but it was a quick enough and interesting read. It had a pleasant overarching theme of following your dreams and I enjoyed the positive tone of the story as the main character works so hard to do so throughout the book.

This is my sister's favorite book, which is why I decided that I should read it. I felt, at times, a little lost in why characters were making certain choices...as if it didn't align properly to who they had been shaped to be in my mind. But other than that, I felt that it was a unique and enjoyable tale of being true to oneself.

Rating:

Read More

The Good Girl

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Published by Harlequin MIRA on Jul. 29, 2014
Genre(s): Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Format: Audiobook/Kindle
Pages: 352 

Goodreads synopsis: 

I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will.

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

When Colin decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota instead of delivering her to his employers, Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them. But no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter.

An addictively suspenseful and tautly written thriller, The Good Girl is a propulsive debut that reveals how even in the perfect family, nothing is as it seems.

This book was recommended to me- as it likely was to many others- preceded by the question, "did you like Gone Girl?" I decided to give it a try because I did like Gone Girl, but I also liked Gillian Flynn's other novels of the same Suspense/Thriller genre, so I guess I was kind of hoping this story would fall in line with those...It didn't.

From the moment the story started to unfold, The Good Girl was predictable in almost every way. The mystery genre was lost on this one when nearly nothing was surprising. The characters had depth, but in a very far-fetched way such that the author described many of them to be one way, yet in their actions, they appeared completely- almost unbelievably- different. This definitely added to the unreliability of the suspense and shock-factor. Characters were doing and not doing things that just plain didn't fit to the point where it wasn't surprising because apparently anything goes.

The pace of the novel was slow, which also didn't help the suspense factor. On the other hand, the slow pace might have been the only reason I kept reading. Even though the story was boring at times, chapters were short, making it easy to keep going. Before I knew it, the book was over. I read a portion of the book on my kindle, which shows percentage in the bottom corner. At about 91%, I could tell things were wrapping up, and there was still so much unexplained. However, by the time the book ended, those explanations were somehow thrown in. Needless to say, the last 9% of the book is where things got a bit fuzzy for me. For how much was supposedly going on in between pages, trying to thoughtfully explain the plot from the beginning in one last chapter just didn't work out. I found myself rereading sentences because it was that unbelievable-- not the explanation itself, that I did see coming, but the way the author wrote it off in a few short paragraphs.

Overall, the story was highly predictable for me, but because it was short with quick chapters, it was still an enjoyable read. With more nuanced characters and plot details, I think it could have been a lot better.

Rating:

Read More

The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Published by Doubleday in Sep. 13, 2011
Genre(s): Historical, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction
Format: Audiobook/Kindle
Pages: 400

Goodreads synopsis: 

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air.

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves.

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.
The premise of this novel is captivating, and definitely keeps you interested; however, the author incorporates tedious detail throughout the story, making for a very long read. The plot unfolds rather slowly, as well, threatening to be boring at times, but I never wanted to stop reading- I had to know what would happen next. Because of the intricate aforementioned details involved in the magic and fantasy of The Night Circus world, the events that occur are hard to understand at times. I found myself flipping back to earlier chapters to comprehend something being discussed pages later. Even at the end, I found the way things concluded to be complex and a bit far-fetched, even by magical standards.

There are a lot of story lines entwined within each other, and the organization of the novel was hard to follow at times, as well, as subsequent chapters often occur years before and after one another, rather than in chronological order. This definitely added to the suspense of the tale, but again, if you aren't mindful of the date of the chapter you are currently reading the entire time reading it, a lot of backflipping occurs, here, too.

If you like a story about magic, fantasy, and romance, and don't mind working a little to stay focused on the complex plot lines, you'll love it. Suspenseful and surprising at times, The Night Circus was definitely interesting and overall, an enjoyable read.

Rating:

Read More

South and West by Joan Didion

South and West by Joan Didion
Published by Knopf Publishing Group on Mar. 7, 2017
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Essays, Memoir, Travel
Format: Kindle
Pages: 160

Goodreads synopsis: 

From the best-selling author of the National Book Award-winning The Year of Magical Thinking two extended excerpts from her never-before-seen notebooks--writings that offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of a legendary writer.

Joan Didion has always kept notebooks: of overheard dialogue, observations, interviews, drafts of essays and articles--and here is one such draft that traces a road trip she took with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, in June 1970, through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. She interviews prominent local figures, describes motels, diners, a deserted reptile farm, a visit with Walker Percy, a ladies' brunch at the Mississippi Broadcasters' Convention. She writes about the stifling heat, the almost viscous pace of life, the sulfurous light, and the preoccupation with race, class, and heritage she finds in the small towns they pass through. 

And from a different notebook: the "California Notes" that began as an assignment from Rolling Stone on the Patty Hearst trial of 1976. Though Didion never wrote the piece, watching the trial and being in San Francisco triggered thoughts about the city, its social hierarchy, the Hearsts, and her own upbringing in Sacramento. Here, too, is the beginning of her thinking about the West, its landscape, the western women who were heroic for her, and her own lineage, all of which would appear later in her acclaimed 2003 book, Where I Was From. 

This book is an intimate look into Joan Didion’s thought process during her time spent traveling in the South in the 70s. Joan spends a month traveling through Lousiana, Missisippi, and Alabama in the hopes that gaining a further understanding of the South will help her to better understand the West and her place amongst it.

The style of the book is a sort of collection of essays, or notes, from the notebook Joan kept while she moved through her journey. Only a last ¼ of the book is devoted to the West, centering around Joan’s involvement with the Patty Hearst trial.

As she does in all of her writing, Joan is a perfect craftsman of words, capturing every detail- spoken and unspoken- to truly place the reader within the story. Her writing is effortless, making the art of story-telling seem easy. It’s always enjoyable to read her words and this piece of work was a unique glimpse at how her brilliant mind works.

Rating:

Read More

Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
Published by Harper on Jun. 28, 2016
Genre(s): , Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Social Issues, Poverty,
Format: Kindle/Audiobook
Pages: 272
Goodreads synopsis: 

From a former Marine and Yale Law School Graduate, a poignant account of growing up in a poor Appalachian town, that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class. Part memoir, part historical and social analysis, J. D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy is a fascinating consideration of class, culture, and the American dream.

Vance’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love.” They got married and moved north from Kentucky to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. Their grandchild (the author) graduated from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving upward mobility for their family. But Vance cautions that is only the short version. The slightly longer version is that his grandparents, aunt, uncle, and mother struggled to varying degrees with the demands of their new middle class life and they, and Vance himself, still carry around the demons of their chaotic family history. 

Delving into his own personal story and drawing on a wide array of sociological studies, Vance takes us deep into working class life in the Appalachian region. This demographic of our country has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, and Vance provides a searching and clear-eyed attempt to understand when and how “hillbillies” lost faith in any hope of upward mobility, and in opportunities to come.

At times funny, disturbing, and deeply moving, this is a family history that is also a troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large portion of this country.

A friend recommended this to me after I told him how much I enjoy reading memoirs, and I was so glad that he did. I went to Miami University, so I was more than familiar with the area in which much of the story takes place. This gave me a little perspective and a way to visualize and understand the scenes JD Vance was painting; however, even if I had never even heard of the small Ohio town, his descriptive writing made it easy to feel as if I had known it all my life.

The unique thing about the way that Vance writes is that in describing the hardships of his life and town, I could see my own town, family, and friends in the same way. While his story is unique, it is not the only one of it's kind. I don't think that Vance was trying to insinuate this, but instead the exact opposite- that so many American families experience life in poverty with varying hardships and if other Americans can take time to see and understand this, it will add value to how we connect and form relationships with those that are different from us.

This book was enlightening to read post-election, as well, after so many differences were brought up from each opposing party. I would recommend this memoir to everyone as a way to take a step back and appreciate another culture. I'm a sucker for memoirs, but this was without a doubt one of my favorites I've read, and I believe it will remain in my top 5 for years to come.

Rating:

Read More

Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Published by Spiegel & Grau in Jun. 2015
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Race, Memoir, Social Issues, Social Justice,
Format: Kindle
Pages: 152
Goodreads

In a series of essays, written as a letter to his son, Coates confronts the notion of race in America and how it has shaped American history, many times at the cost of black bodies and lives. Thoughtfully exploring personal and historical events, from his time at Howard University to the Civil War, the author poignantly asks and attempts to answer difficult questions that plague modern society. In this short memoir, the "Atlantic" writer explains that the tragic examples of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and those killed in South Carolina are the results of a systematically constructed and maintained assault to black people--a structure that includes slavery, mass incarceration, and police brutality as part of its foundation. From his passionate and deliberate breakdown of the concept of race itself to the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement, Coates powerfully sums up the terrible history of the subjugation of black people in the United States. A timely work, this title will resonate with all teens--those who have experienced racism as well as those who have followed the recent news coverage on violence against people of color.

Rating:

Read More

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue
Published by Little, Brown and Company on Sep. 13, 2010
Genre(s): Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Drama, Crime
Format: Kindle
Pages: 321
Goodreads

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

Rating:

Read More

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.

Rating:

Read More

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.

Rating:

Read More

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.

Rating:

Read More

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!!)

Rating:

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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.

Rating:

Read More