November 08, 2018

LONG TIME NO SEE, READING BLOG! Gosh it's been so long since I've updated anything on here. Well, here's to hopefully starting it up again, and with such a good title! I'm really intrigued by this book. It was given to me by a coworker of mine, and supposedly it's made for "millennials." So far I like it. It's an eye opening, relatable, slightly hippie-ish book. I'm only a few pages in but it's got me going. I will do my best to keep this updated! I'm back!

December 22, 2017

It's been a hectic week with my Semester one finals, but I'm almost done with this book!

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Finals and studying plus getting ready for Christmas has been putting me on hold as far as reading goes, but my goal is to get this book totally read in the next couple days... Plus, I have even more motivation because I've already got my next book picked out.

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It's in the TBR List, but can you guess which one? I'll give you a hint, but only those who have read the book will get it:

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Life is bullshit.

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Have fun guessing, and I'll have fun finishing "One of Us is Lying," then writing a review. :)

December 18, 2017

I'm officially halfway done with this book (read that much in about 8 broken up hours) and honestly, I'm pretty intrigued.

I can see why this book gets a lot of praise, it really is interesting, and I love that each character is almost a "Breakfast Club" stereotype. You've got the brain, the criminal, the athlete, the beauty, it's literally like a modern-day "Breakfast Club" that just so happens to involve a murder...and not be totally told at detention...okay, it's not "Breakfast Club," but you see what I'm getting at.

I'm really excited to know the ending of this book. So far I'd give it a 4/5, but being that it's Karen McManus's FIRST novel, I might bump it up to a 4.5/5, because it really is written quite well.

Not to mention, I actually did a bit of research on McManus because she was using school names and district names of places that I live near, so I thought hey! Maybe she's from Iowa!

Turns out she isn't, but still, very weird, and very cool.

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December 15, 2017

Choosing this book was actually not all that interesting, someone in my class spoke highly of it so I decided to give it a shot.

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I will say, I'm only about 20 pages in and the book wastes NO time, it gets right into the story and introducing you to each character. It's well done, too. The book flows nicely and you're not really left thinking you've missed some big chunk of story.

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This book is larger compared to the last ones I've read, and again, I'm only about 20 pages in, so I'll keep you all updated as I continue to read!

December 14, 2017

I've officially abandoned this title. If you'd like to read into more about why I made my decision, please feel free to navigate to the bottom of the "Currently Reading" page. :)

December 08, 2017

And when I say "Drag," I mean this book is dragging. But not in the conventional sense.

I am quite enjoying the content of this book, and it's very interesting to me on many levels: learning of the time, learning how people lived during the 60's and 70's, how "rock critic" as a term came around, how some of the best known band members (Jim Morrison, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones) really acted as far as their fame went, and also self discovery of the author.

However, I've gotta say I'm struggling to get through it based on how the book is set up. It's not long as far as the number of pages, but each page is a giant wall of text in about a size 11 font. What you are reading now is a size 20. This is size 11.

So, you can't make a ton of progress quickly. In a half hour, I read maybe 10 pages.

We'll see how this progresses, but I sense I may be abandoning it soon.

December 01, 2017

I selected this book based on pure interest when I picked it up at the book store (originally $26.00, I got it for $3.00). I figured, after reading Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half, maybe I could give a more serious type of autobiography a go.

This story is about Richard Goldstein, one of the most popular and first music critics of the 1960s, a time of sex, drugs, and most importantly, Rock n' Roll.

I'm not that far into it yet, but so far it has held my interest. So we shall see how this one goes. As always, I will keep you all updated.

November 29, 2017

I chose this book via teacher recommendation, and honestly I didn't know what exactly to expect.

The story is written in verse. Poetry. It's a very quick read, but it's also excruciatingly powerful.

I read this 306 page book in less than one day, which I definitely wasn't expecting to do, but in all honesty it was hard to put down.

The book is written in verse, making it a poetry book. It's the first story that author, Jason Reynolds, has written this way, but I do hope he writes more in this style.

Its story follows 15 year old Will, whose brother, Shawn, was just shot and killed in front of his low-down apartment that he shares with his mother. This family lives in the low-income area of town where there is a lot of theft, adolescent pregnancy, drugs, and gang violence. 

He discusses "The Rules:"

Don't Cry.

Don't Snitch.

Kill whoever killed your loved one.

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Will sets out to kill the man who he believes to be the shooter in his brother's attack, and he enters the elevator of his 7-floor apartment complex with his brother's gun in hand.

At each floor, a ghost from Will's past enters the elevator. They ask him, Why are you doing this? Do you have the guts? Is it what Shawn wants? How exactly will you do this?

Each time the elevator stops, the ghosts each light up a cigarette, clouding the elevator with smoke, as the next one enters.

I won't spoil the ending, but I will say it's quite up to interpretation.

The book focuses on his internal battle, and his discerning of what he's setting out to do. The ghosts of his past force him to ask himself questions that he hadn't thought about, and I'm sure you can guess who the last ghost is.

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I HIGHLY recommend this book. It was a 4/5 star read. It's very easy to finish in one sitting, I finished it in less than an hour which is why it's only got one entry on this page. :)

November 28, 2017

I've not got much to say here, aside from I had mixed feelings about this book.

The overall plot: 3/5 stars

Writing style: 5/5

I wrote most of my feelings out in my latest blog entry, so be sure to go check it out!

Overall, this book was kind of stereotypical in my opinion, but I liked the ending. It was "okay."

Not exactly something I'd read again, however I do admire some of how it was written. I guess I'm just not a huge John Green fan, but that's okay. :)

November 24, 2017

I've heard people raving about this book on the internet and in my classes. A local bookstore, Half Price Books, was having a black friday deal, and since I was one of the first hundred customers (the 100th, to be exact.), I got a $5 gift card to redeem in store. I used it to put an even bigger discount on this book, and figured I'd give it a go. 

I've always been skeptical to read John Green books, because they seem to be the most spoiled books by the internet's standards. Meaning people talk about them so much, there's no point in really reading because there won't be a surprise factor. This is why I will probably never read The Fault in Our Stars or Paper Towns. 

Another reason I'm skeptical is because from what I've heard, a lot of Green's writing is the same story, just re-hashed. A very angsty teen couple with issues that they help each other overcome. Plus, he's extremely mainstream, and not to sound like a hipster, but I've always preferred darker and/or less known novels.

However, part of creating this blog and taking my Strategic Reading class is getting outside my comfort zones and my initial reactions to attempt to find out more about what I like to read, and so far, I'm doing a pretty decent job.

So here goes, my first John Green novel.

Let's hope I didn't waste $11.12

November 23, 2017

Well, I've finished this story, and I am in tears.

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I was correct about this book having potential - it's an amazing read, but a hard one to say the least.

The book his home for me in many senses. The anxiety of graduating, and the fear of losing someone that you're totally in love with, to name a couple. It was a strange book in the beginning, but as I read on I was totally engulfed and read the majority of it in two days.

I'm glad this was recommended to me, and I do think it's an important book to read. There's a character for everyone to relate to.

I'll be posting a more in depth review on the Blog within the next week, but all I can really say about completing this book is "wow." It's truly original and unlike anything I've ever read.

I almost stopped reading toward the end at least twice, because I related myself so closely within the story, that when bad things started to happen, I didn't want to know about them. I've never emotionally struggled this much with a story before.

But alas, onward to the next story. Not to say this one hasn't skyrocketed its way up my "favorite books" list.

November 20, 2017

This was recommended to me by a friend, and surprisingly, looking back I noticed that is was on my TBR (To be read) List!

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The beginning has been a bit confusing as I'm not sure of what's entirely going on, and each chapter is actually told by a different person. So, I have no solid opinions on the book yet.

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I will say that I do look forward to reading this due to being the same age as the characters, and it's classified as a mystery/thriller, so it's naturally intriguing.

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I did have one bout of almost crying in the beginning because Alex, the character that the book starts off with (and I think is the main character) talks about how, working at an animal shelter, dogs who are "put to sleep" actually feel pain and kick and whine before their system fails.

I had a dog who we had to put down, and up until this point I had in my head that he felt no pain.

Thanks, Mindy McGinnis.

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I also got a little bit angry with the character of Jack, mainly due to his douchey attitude and talking down on people who "take a year off" before starting college. That's what I intend to do, and according to this character that makes me a failure. :)

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I am overall intrigued by this book and as I said before, I don't have any set opinions quite yet, but I think it has great potential to be amazing.

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We shall see.

November 16, 2017

Hands down, the FUNNIEST book I have ever read.

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Allie Brosh's crude artwork throughout this entire book is what makes the written parts so incredibly hilarious. I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times while reading it. 

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I'm not even a huge fan of Autobiographies, but this one I finished in two days. I couldn't put it down, and it put me in a great mood.

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10/10 would recommend this book to anyone who needs a good pick me up or wants a book that will legitimately make them laugh. Go pick up a copy!  

November 15, 2017

During "Depression Part 2" in this book, Allie Brosh illustrates the moment she was able to laugh again after a long time stuck in hatred or sadness.

She explains that she had to learn how to feel other emotions again, but they came in a strange order.

Happiness came last.

The moment she started to be able to laugh again was not some fru-fru support group where she felt so loved,

but during a crying fit she had, sitting in her kitchen floor. She glances underneath her fridge, and boom.

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A tiny, old, shriveled piece of corn.

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She bursts into uncontrollable laughter, and as she illustrates the occurrence, I begin laughing too, just reading it. 

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Now, Brosh describes that telling people about her corn will be difficult and probably won't be hilarious to anyone else, but it's absolutely hysterical to her.

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As she illustrates this awkwardness, I experience it myself.

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I turn to a friend and try to elaborate. 

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"SHE'S TALKING ABOUT HER DEPRESSION AND WHEN SHE STARTS TO FEEL HAPPY AGAIN IT'S BECAUSE OF A STUPID PIECE OF CORN UNDER HER FRIDGE." I say as I laugh, seemingly way too hard.

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Saying it, I realized it's not that funny just said. But Brosh makes you truly experience what happened with her, and I must say.

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That corn...is hilarious.

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November 15, 2017

This book was book talked to me by my Strategic Reading teacher, Mr. Hall.

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It may be the funniest book I've ever started to read.

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The entire book is illustrated by comedian, Allie Brosh, and is set up similarly to a comic book, illustrating the embarassingly horrible mishaps she's endured throughout her life, including, but not limited to:

- Her mentally challenged dog, "Simple Dog"

- Her addiction to sugar, and the long day in her childhood where she plotted to eat an entire cake out of spite

- Her second dog, who creepily stares at her during the night, and hates other dogs with a devilish passion

- Her freakish ability to ingest vast amounts of hot sauce as a child, which stemmed from showing off, but resulted in a years long family joke

- And her letter, written to her by her ten year old self, begging for a reply, and obsessing over dogs.

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I read to page 110 in one sitting, during my school day, and I found myself laughing out loud many times.

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I'm excited to finish this one.

November 15, 2017

This book is a five star read.

I finished it, and the last page is just as emotional as the movie's ending.

It's a tear jerker.

It's an amazing story, and I can't help but say thank you to Emily Donoghue for writing just a powerful and moving novel, that is so original.

While the content is hard to read, as I've said before, it's an important one to read. Go check out my formal review in the blog. :)

November 14, 2017

This book has shown its differences to the film much more toward the end.

I won't spoil anything, don't worry!

But even the setting is different!

Jack and Ma are much more in depth characters in the book, and the book really does get into the psychological toll that their captivity has taken on them much more.

I have less than 50 pages left in the novel, and my goal is to finish it this week.

I recommend this title to any and everyone, I think it's definitely important to mull over, as this type of situation has unfortunately happened to real people.

October 25, 2017

I watched this movie for my sociology class, and bawled my eyes out.

It follows the story of a young woman "Ma," and her son, Jack, who is five. Ma has been kidnapped and kept in "Room" for seven years.

According to the book, since she was 19. She gives birth to Jack in "Room"

She is abused, repeatedly raped and kept as a pet, but she does her best to keep Jack healthy and cared for.

Halfway through the story, they devise a nerve-racking plan to escape, which involves Jack playing dead, then hopping out of "Old Nick's" (Their captor's) truck, to go find help.

Jack succeeds and they are both rescued.

From that point on, the story takes place outside of "Room," in a hospital, and in Ma's parents' house.

I don't want to give away too much, but essentially it's an uphill battle for both of them, due to their development and being removed from the real world for so long, in Ma's case.

Jack has never eaten pancakes, worn shoes, or even felt wind on his face.

Ma is a young mother who has obvious mental trauma, and is very protective of her son.

Both struggle to fit in out in the world, and the story goes through their riveting coping story, that does have a happy ending.

I'm excited to read this book and find out what all was left out of the movie, especially due to the fact that I LOVE psychology and sociology.