The Truth About Forever

September 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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The Dream-Maker’s Magic by Sharon Shinn
(Safe-Keepers, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 3 – 6
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Kellen’s time at the Parmer Arms.
Least Favorite Thing:  Frederick can choke.

Man I’m so glad I decided to go through this series because this book was so worth it. I will definitely be reading this book again!

My Posts About The Dream-Maker’s Magic

I Don’t Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer
Rating:  N/A
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  That one quote I pulled?
Least Favorite Thing:  So boring!

I really wish I could have liked this book, but I just couldn’t find it interesting…

My Posts About I Don’t Know What You Know Me From

The Bling Ring by Nancy Jo Sales
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 8 – 9
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The bizarre-ness of the case.
Least Favorite Thing:  There wasn’t really anything I didn’t like.

I feel like this was a strange book to like, but I really did like it.

My Posts About The Bling Ring

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 10 – 11
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The writing style.
Least Favorite Thing:  I did not like Lyle even when I was meant to.

Read this book! Read this book! Read it! It is so good I’m going to buy it first chance I get.

My Posts About The Half Life of Molly Pierce

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 14 – 19
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Living Room Theater
Least Favorite Thing:  Skeevy Sam gave me the creeps…

It took about half the book before the pace picked up and I could really get into it, but I think that might just be that I don’t read contemporary as often. I did enjoy it once I got into it though.

My Posts About Since You’ve Been Gone

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 20 – 22
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Hannah’s extreme thirst for Finny Boone lol No, I’m kidding, it’s the homemade Ouija board.
Least Favorite Thing:  Hannah’s friends all suck.

This is not even a little bit the sort of book I usually read. It’s a mystery, a murder one at that, and a little bit spooky which for me is a lot spooky because I’m paranoid as hell…. So I was surprised at how much I liked this story. The beginning seemed a little slow, but it picked up soon and then I couldn’t put it down. I definitely recommend this book.

My Posts About Paper Valentine

Orfe by Cynthia Voigt
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The descriptions of how Enny felt listening to the music.
Least Favorite Thing:  All the boyfriends were garbagio.

I read this book for bibliophilicwitch‘s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon.

My Posts About Orfe

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook & Print
Reading Dates:  September 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Carrie’s poems.
Least Favorite Thing:  I can’t think of anything…

I read along and listened to this book for bibliophilicwitch‘s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. And I loved her journal entries, I wish I was that eloquent at 18!

My Posts About The Princess Diarist

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 18 – September 25
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  The chaos of the Wish catering gigs.
Least Favorite Thing:  My fear of being too old to relate to these books, and therefore not enjoying them quite as much, has officially been realized.

It took me forever to finish this, my goodness! But I finally did it and even mini-review’d it.

My Posts About The Truth About Forever

Need by Carrie Jones
Rating:  ★☆☆☆☆ – did not like it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  September 26
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  I too would like to leave a trail of glitter wherever I go.
Least Favorite Thing:  The entire premise.

Welp, looks like I’ll be donating this book… But at least I can cross one more off my TBR Shame List.

My Posts About Need

In Progress

Mini-Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

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Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it

For me personally this book was just “ok”, but I had to rate it three stars because it is a good book, I just find myself unable to relate to it as much as I did when I was younger. If you’re still of an age where you can relate to YA Coming-of-Age novels, you are likely to enjoy this book more than I did.

It’s not Dessen’s best novel, in my opinion, but it’s a solidly good, satisfying novel and I do recommend it.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon Wrap-Up

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Welp, I’m cutting out a little early because I have to keep to a schedule or I get all out of wack.

I’m pretty satisfied with how I did today because I’ve been reading more slowly lately. As some of you know I wasn’t able to do Paper Valentine for this Read-A-Thon because I went and finished the whole thing yesterday by accident… But I managed to read 2 books cover-to-cover and got some pages in on two of the books I’ve been reading for like MONTHS.

Book one was a novella, Orfe by Cynthia Voigt, that I have been meaning to read for years. It’s pretty much the only Voigt novel I hadn’t gotten to yet. It was strange, I could hear Voigt’s voice in there but it was different from all the others in a way I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m glad I read it though.

Book two was The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher. I actually listened to the audiobook that Carrie read herself, while following along occasionally with the print version. I think my new favorite way to enjoy memoirs is when the author reads it to me. I can’t believe I hadn’t tried this before this year.

I didn’t get a lot of pages on the books I’ve been stuck on (Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell & The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen), just 3-5 each, but it’s better than nothing. And I’m hopeful I’ll be able to keep up on The Truth About Forever. As for Wives and Daughters, I think I’m going to have to do that thing where I make myself read a chapter a week. If that doesn’t help I’m going to DNF it, as much as I hate to.

I’m so glad I did this Read-A-Thon, it was a great motivator! Thanks BibliophilicWitch!

24 Hour Read-A-Thon Goals

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Most importantly, I’m hoping to finish the book I’m currently reading: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff. After that I plan to read Orfe by Cynthia Voigt, and it would be really cool if I could finish that too, but I won’t get my heart set on that since Paper Valentine has been slow going.

If I get stuck during PV or Orfe, I’ve also got a couple other books I’m currently working on, Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell and The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, which I can read a bit on as a palette cleanser.

Wish me luck!

August 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 28 – August 14
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The cat, obviously.
Least Favorite Thing:  Those damn button eyes are so creepy…

This book managed to simultaneously creep me out more than I expected and less than I expected. Either way it was good and I recommend it.

My Posts About Coraline

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
(Enchanted Forest Chronicles, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  August 1 – 17
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Cimorene does not have time for your nonsense.
Least Favorite Thing:  Telemain is actually pretty annoying?

Man this series is great! I already got book 3 from the library because I have to know what happens next. If you haven’t read these books yet, get on that ASAP!

My Posts About Searching for Dragons

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Ratings:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 20
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  I really like the cadence of their speech in this book.
Least Favorite Thing:  Nobody knocked T. Ray out… Disappointing.

I was worried I’d be disappointed in this book, but I really wasn’t. The writing style really suited me and the subject matter was a good combination of light and heavy.

My Posts About The Secret Life of Bees

The Safe Keeper’s Secret by Sharon Shinn
(Safe-Keepers, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 21 – 24
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The Truth-Teller
Least Favorite Thing:  The romance-ish thing…

I read this book because I had read the second book in the series a long time ago without realizing it was part of a series at all. I remember liking it so I figure it’s time to go through the series. Especially since these books are on my list of books I own, but never managed to read!

My Posts About The Safe-Keeper’s Secret

The Truth-Teller’s Tale by Sharon Shinn
(Safe-Keepers, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  August 25 – 31
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Roelynn, I think.
Least Favorite Thing:  All the damn secrets intentionally kept from the protag by people who said they cared for her and she’s just supposed to be fine with it…?

I remembered some of this, but not much, mostly I remembered thinking it was a cute story and it was. I preferred the first book though I think.

My Posts About The Truth-Teller’s Tale

In Progress

 

July 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  June 26 – July 1
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Halley being like “she has my eyes” to that completely unrelated-to-her baby. Perfect.
Least Favorite Thing:  Pushy boyfriend is pushy…

I’m actually starting to worry that I don’t like these books as much as I used to. Not that they aren’t the same quality, just that I think I’ve aged out of them.

My Posts About Someone Like You

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 2 – 3
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Norman’s art cave.
Least Favorite Thing:  Mark, obviously.

Oh I’m so relieved that I still liked this book. After the first two of my Sarah Dessen reread that I didn’t like as much, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of them as much as I used to. I’d say I can see some differences by being older when I reread this one, but it was just as good as it used to be. Plus there was a whole nostalgia factor.

My Posts About Keeping the Moon

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  July 3 – 9
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  The fact that no one ever blames Caitlin or questions that she needs professional help after what happens to her.
Least Favorite Thing:  I mean, I should probably say Rogerson, but honestly it’s the mean girls on the cheerleading squad…

So far so good on the Dessen Reread front! I am relieved to find I still like this one as well. Once again I found myself seeing things from a different perspective now that I’m older and have more life experience.

My Posts About Dreamland

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  July 9 – July 14
Read Count:  3
Favorite Thing:  Remy’s constant planning and sorting things out was somehow fun to experience.
Least Favorite Thing:  A weird amount of fat shaming in this book…

I think I like this one a little less than I used to. Not the story itself, that’s pretty much the same as I remember, but because of the constant fat shaming. The second anyone was the least bit bigger in this book there was some weird comment about it.

My Posts About This Lullaby

Locked in Time by Lois Duncan
Rating:  ★★☆☆☆ – it was ok
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 23 – 28
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  There’s a little bit at the end that I like but it’s majorly spoilery…
Least Favorite Thing:  Oblivious Protagonist Syndrome

My problem with this book wasn’t so much that it was bad, just that it was a little boring to me. I think it’s just not my style. And as with all Duncan’s books it’s a little slow till three quarters through then it all wraps up quite quickly.

My Posts About Locked in Time

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
(Enchanted Forest Chronicles, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  July 28 – 31
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  HOW CAN I PICK JUST ONE, no I’m lying it’s the female friendships in this book.
Least Favorite Thing:  Um…. There is no least favorite thing. I loved this book.

Oh man guys I loved this book so much! Thank you, tumblr, for recommending this to me! I can’t wait to get the next book!

My Posts About Dealing with Dragons

In Progress

Musing Monday: August 6, 2018

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Musing Mondays is a weekly meme, hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker, that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ____, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Have you ever had an argument over a book?

I’m currently reading… So many books lol
I’m still occasionally reading chapters of Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, but not as much as I ought to be. Then there’s The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen which I started as part of my Dessen Reread then realized I needed a break from YA Contemporary. With my friend Ono I am reading They Never Came Back (Caroline B. Cooney) so that one will take a little while since we are going a few chapters at a time. There’s a similar situation with Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, since my mother wanted to read it with me and stopped me at chapter 3. Mainly I’m reading Searching for Dragons, the second novel in Patricia C. Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles. I’m loving it almost as much as the first one so I’ll probably move on to the third one soon.

Have you ever had an argument over a book?
I can’t really think of one? I mean, I have had a few men try to “teach” me about the classics and such and those conversations certainly had the antagonistic feeling of arguments, but they weren’t really. I guess the readers I know are pretty laid back.

The closest I’ve come to a real argument, I guess, was convincing my mother to let me read Harry Potter in middle school. She was afraid it would make me turn to witchcraft or something because some church ladies told her inaccurate things about the series.

QuoteLeeLeave a comment
But here in the present, my mother and I had no choice but to move ahead. We worked hard, me at school, her at outselling all the other builders. We parted our hair cleanly and stood up straight, greeting company — and the world — with the smiles we practiced in the quiet of our now-too-big dream house full of mirrors that showed the smiles back. But under it all, our grief remained. Sometimes she took more of it, sometimes I did. But always, it was there.

– Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever, page 21