That Summer

June 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

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Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  May 24 – June 14
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The descriptions of the set design. This book has made me look at movies and tv shows with a whole new eye, sometimes pausing to take it all in, because the character’s love just shines through in a contagious way.
Least Favorite Thing:  I mean… I kinda hate the cover art on this version…

Honestly, everyone should read a book by Nina LaCour, she’s really becoming a real favorite of mine.

My Posts About Everything Leads to You

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  June 14
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Biracial family in a picture book!
Least Favorite Thing:  No one has managed to bottle the smell of a picture book for me yet so I had to pause after every page to sniff the book.

I don’t know what inspired me to read a picture book, of all things, but I really enjoyed this cute little book. If you are looking for children’s books this would be a great one.

My Posts About The Hello, Goodbye Window

That Summer by Sarah Dessen
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  June 13 – 26
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  The descriptions of all the tall girls in the book.
Least Favorite Thing:  The use of the r-slur that one time.

I am working on a Sarah Dessen reread and I prefer to read them in published order, so obviously this one is first. I liked it a little less this time around, but I’m not sure if that’s due to my outgrowing the books or something else. I suppose I’ll figure it out soon enough.

My Posts About That Summer

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Rating:  ★★★★★ – loved it
Review:  Yes
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  May 16 – June 28
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  SO PUNNY
Least Favorite Thing:  The Humbug annoys me, but only vaguely.

I haven’t read this since I was a kid and I remembered loving it, so I read it again. And I loved it again! Honestly, I know I’ve said this over and over, but everyone should read this book.

My Posts About The Phantom Tollbooth

QuoteLeeLeave a comment
It was a feeling I’d woken up with one morning, a kind of whirring in my ears and an instability to the world, like things were coming to a head. I faced myself in the bathroom mirror and looked into my eyes, wondering if I would see something new in them, something crackling and different. I felt strong, as if every muscle in my body was taut and lean, not creaky and bony anymore.

– Sarah Dessen, That Summer

QuoteLeeLeave a comment
He moved through our house now with the ease of someone who no longer considered himself a guest, no sidestepping knickknacks and perching on the edges of furniture but walking easily across the floors as if he belonged there.

– Sarah Dessen, That Summer

Friday 56: June 15, 2018

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The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda’s Voice and the rules are simple:

  • Grab a book, any book (I, personally, prefer to use my current read.)
  • Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
  • Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it)
  • Post it

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

I tuned Lorna out, instead watching her gesture her way across the fifty states, sweeping her arm over the map as if she could create showers or drought on a whim.

 

Thursday Quotables: June 14, 2018

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This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week; whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written.

It was as if I was attached to her with a tether, her every movement yanking at me, my own hands reaching to shield her from the dangers of her waving arms.

Summary:

The more things change…

For fifteen-year-old Haven, there’s just too much going on.

First, there’s her father’s wedding to Lorna Queen, the local television “Weather Pet.” Then her sister Ashley’s wedding to boring Lewis Warsher, who doesn’t seem to suit Ashley at all. And Haven can’t ignore the fact that she’s nearly six feet tall and still growing. Haven can barely figure out who she is anymore or where she fits in.

Then Ashley’s old boyfriend, Sumner Lee, shows up and sparks Haven’s memories of the summer when her parents were happy, her sister was plucky and carefree, and everything was perfect…or so it seemed.

Thank you Bookshelf Fantasies for this fun book meme!