Reading

April 2020 Reading Wrap-Up

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Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins
(The Underland Chronicles, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  March 31 – April 1
Read Count:  4
Favorite Thing:  I love that the ones people pay the least attention to when it comes to ideas and problem solving are the ones who solve the whole prophecy.
Least Favorite Thing:  I can’t think of anything…

I can’t believe how I sped through this book. I just couldn’t put it down even thought it’s my fourth time reading it.

My Posts About Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods

Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins
(The Underland Chronicles, book 4)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  April 1 – 2
Read Count:  4
Favorite Thing:  The humans being so shook at the fact that they are referred to as “killers” throughout the Underland. Like what did you expect?
Least Favorite Thing:  Sweet little Boots had to learn what death is and I’m still crying about “where does [character] go when she doesn’t wake up?”…

God I’ve said this before, but these are not kids books. I know they are classified as middle grade, but just…if you’re not reading them because you think they are kids books, they aren’t.

My Posts About Gregor and the Marks of Secret

Gregor and the Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins
(The Underland Chronicles, book 5)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  April 2 – 3
Read Count:  4
Favorite Thing:  Nerd happy dance!
Least Favorite Thing:  So do we believe in the prophecies or not now?

I always forget that Sandwich was a piece of shit human and then I reread this book and I get mad about it all over again lol Whatever I’m just glad Lizzie got her moment in the sun (so to speak, because obviously…there isn’t any sun…underground…)

My Posts About Gregor and the Code of Claw

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  April 5 – 7
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  Amy is so devious!
Least Favorite Thing:  At one point I was listening to this at work and of course it would have to go to a scene where they are talking in the shower lol

I already knew I loved the story of Gone Girl, but also the audiobook narrator was pretty good so I’m glad I decided to reread it this way.

My Posts About Gone Girl

Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt
Rating:  ★★★★★ – it was amazing
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  April 6 – 14
Read Count:  6
Favorite Thing:  The oh-so-subtle background romance that you barely notice unless you pay attention and then when you do it’s just so presh…
Least Favorite Thing:  I mean…the only thing that could improve this series is more characters of color, so we will go with that as a least fave.

I was going to try to wait until later in the year to do my yearly reread of these books, but I was feeling so slumpy last month and bummed about it that I couldn’t resist picking up my favorite book series again.

My Posts About Jackaroo

To the Boys Who Wear Pink by Revan Badingham III
Rating:  ★★☆☆☆ – it was ok
Review:  Yes
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  April 11 – 17
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Soooo much LGBTQ+ representation!
Least Favorite Thing:  Twincest…

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I desperately wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. I didn’t hate it by any means, but unfortunately I have to admit to some disappointment…

My Posts About To the Boys Who Wear Pink

The Anti-Virginity Pact by Katie Wismer
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  Yes Video / Written
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  April 18 – 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Really well written.
Least Favorite Thing:  I can’t even think of anything.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a little while since I’ve really connected to a YA novel, but this one grabbed me right away. Totally recommend this book.

My Posts About The Anti-Virginity Pact

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  April 28
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Probably the thing about how to catch frogs…
Least Favorite Thing:  Nothing.

This was a cute, quick read about…something? Reese talks about her experience of the South and gives some life advice from a Southern woman.

My Posts About Whiskey in a Teacup

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
(Rizzoli & Isles, book 1)
Rating:  ★★☆☆☆ – it was ok
Review:  No
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  April 23 – May 1
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  There was a woman who started as a total victim, but as the story progressed she sort of got back to a stronger self.
Least Favorite Thing:  “He cuts out the one thing that makes them women.”

Man the tv show was way better than the books…

My Posts About The Surgeon

First Lines Fridays: May 1, 2020

LeeLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

Did the quote pique your interest? View this book on Goodreads!

 

First Lines Fridays: April 24, 2020

LeeLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

This fairy tale begins in 1968 during a garbage strike.

Did the quote pique your interest? View this book on Goodreads!

 

First Lines Fridays: April 17, 2020

LeeLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

The second time I saw my dead aunt Rosaria, she was dancing.

Did the quote pique your interest? View this book on Goodreads!

 

First Lines Fridays: April 10, 2020

LeeLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

Fame was bequeathed to me by the lips of an angel.
After all my years of rancid endeavour, I was granted fame by Kate Moss’s kiss.

Did the quote pique your interest? View this book on Goodreads!

First Lines Fridays: April 3, 2020

LeeLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

First Lines:

On the morning of April Fools’ Day, 2005, I woke up in a sexual addiction treatment center in a suburb of Philadelphia.

Did the quote pique your interest? View this book on Goodreads!

March 2020 Reading Wrap-Up

LeeLeave a comment

Failure to Appear by Emily L. Quint Freeman
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  Yes
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  February 17 – March 1
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  LGBTQ+ history from a first-hand perspective
Least Favorite Thing:  Wish she would have acknowledged her privilege?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My Posts About Failure to Appear

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  March 1 – 2
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Tony is presh
Least Favorite Thing:  She’s so selfish!

I mean…. What do I even say? I preferred the movie… They softened Eilis, made her more sympathetic where the romance is concerned. When you watch the movie you understand how she might wind up torn between the two men and the two lives, but in the book she just seems so selfish and calculating…

My Posts About Brooklyn

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
(The Underland Chronicles, book 1)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  March 4 – 5
Read Count:  4
Favorite Thing:  Oh man there’s so many scenes I love how can I pick just one! Probably the root beer scene or the sandwich scene lol
Least Favorite Thing:  Fuck a least fave, I love this book.

I have been craving a reread of these books for a minute, and they are on the list of books I recommended to my boyfriend to try out, so I figured I might as well give it a listen as well.

My Posts About Gregor the Overlander

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins
(The Underland Chronicles, book 2)
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  March 5 – 8
Read Count:  4
Favorite Thing:  Twitchtip!
Least Favorite Thing:  I know what I should say, but it’s probably still just the fireflies… They are even more annoying in audiobook form lol

Everyone calling Photos Glo-Glo “Fo-Fo” cracked me up though.

My Posts About Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
(Princess Academy, book 2)
Rating:  N/A
Review:  DNF
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  February 26 – March 10
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Quarry-speaking in the palace.
Least Favorite Thing:  Alternately boring and stressful…

Like the little intrigue with the whole “will there be a revolution lets meet at my house to secretly discuss the king” thing was stressful and then the rest was boring so…

My Posts About Palace of Stone

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
Rating:  ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review:  Yes
Format:  eBook
Reading Dates:  March 5 – 23
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  The writing style
Least Favorite Thing:  Literally all the men?

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley.

I am so glad I requested this book! It was so good! If you want my full thoughts, please read my review (link above), but the short version is:  Excellent look at the struggles of women both within South Korea and without. Definitely recommend to all women.

My Posts About Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
(A Song of Ice and Fire, book 3)
Rating:  ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review:  No
Format:  Audiobook
Reading Dates:  March 9 – 25
Read Count:  1
Favorite Thing:  Are all the Starks just casually wargs then? (At least where their wolves are concerned?)
Least Favorite Thing:  Men are gross in this series.

Ugh can someone please just protect the Starks?? Is that too much to ask???

My Posts About A Storm of Swords

Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer
(Twilight, book 1.75)
Rating:  ★☆☆☆☆ – did not like it
Review:  Yes
Format:  Print
Reading Dates:  February 19 – March 31
Read Count:  2
Favorite Thing:  The ending was different?
Least Favorite Thing:  SO BORING

I’ve never been so bored in my life, fuck this book honestly. I hope I never get it into my head to reread Twilight again…

My Posts About Life and Death

Mini-Review: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Lee2 Comments

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 was simultaneously the best and most infuriating book I have read so far this year.

By best I mean:

The writing style was super interesting and something I’d never read before. The story was compelling and I didn’t want to put it down once I picked it up. And the characters were (sometimes unfortunately) completely believable.

By most infuriating I mean:

Men suck and women should have more rights.

This book may be primarily geared towards the South Korean woman, but I maintain this has something that will speak to every woman and I’m so glad it’s been translated to English.

Click to Purchase Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo