Hello Again....

I will be the first to admit I have been unmotivated to blog. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been reading; I have been doing plenty of that. A couple of weekends back I finished one book and read a whole other one as well. I have been so busy with work/life changes that when it came to my “down time” all I wanted to do was curl up with a book. I felt like that was the only way to get out of my own head and dive into someone else’s story. So for this blog I decided to write short, little blogs on a variety of books I have read lately. I promise to be better at writing from now on!

A Wedding in Great Neck

By: Yona Zeldis McDonough

Synopsis/My Thoughts: I recommend this book for an easy summer read. It is about a family getting together in Great Neck, Long Island for one of the daughter’s wedding, and it is filled with misunderstandings, second chances, fighting, heart ache and love. The book jumps back and forth each chapter so the reader is able to get a glimpse of the day through various characters. I enjoyed the fact that I knew what was going on with Gretchen and dealing with her marital problems, while her dad was coming up with the courage to be there for Angelica on her wedding day while also not breaking his sobriety. It is a book that reminds us that all families have their wild and crazy moments, even when everything is supposed to go right. At points I felt irritated with some of the characters and their decisions, but I think that it just shows how well the author created the characters because you feel invested in them. The grandmother, Lenore, was by far my favorite character. She was definitely a ball-buster who decided to make it her priority to get everyone in check.

Glaciers

By: Alexis M. Smith

Synopsis/My Thoughts: This is a very quick read. It is a short book that revolves around a young, twentysomething woman. Isabel works in a library working on damaged books and is in love with Spoke, a young man recently back from the war and working in technology at the library. This book is about Isabel’s love for Alaska, her childhood hobby of collecting postcards, and how to find a way to portray how she feels to Spoke.

To be honest, I just didn’t relate a lot to Isabel and her journey. I almost felt guilty about this, really. The author clearly was opening Isabel up and putting her out there in a vulnerable situation, but there was just no connect for me. The author did a good job with portraying Isabel, but I think that at the time of my reading this, maybe I just wanted something more exciting. The book revolves around one day in her life, and I wanted to speed things up.

The Passage

By: Justin Cronin

Synopsis/My Thoughts: This book was great! To be honest, I am not always into futuristic/post-apocalyptic books. I was captivated with this one though. It revolves around a project being done by the U.S. government and what happens when things do not go as planned. The U.S. is never the same and those who survive are left to figure out how to save the remaining few. I need to warn you that it is a long one. And it is one book in a three part series. So when you get to the end don’t wonder why so much is left unsaid with so many loose ends. The author did a great job with coming to a point to end the book, but also keep the reader wondering what was going to happen. He put in a great amount of detail and the book is broken down from many different viewpoints. Definitely a fun read for the summer. It is, for the most part, fast paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat!!

Me Before You

By: Jojo Meyers

Synopsis/My Thoughts: If anyone was to ask me which one of the books they should read, if they only could read one, this book would be it! I LOVED this book! It was so powerful, and impacted me on so many different levels! The protagonist, Louisa, is out of a job and finds herself applying for a job that will involve being a companion to a quadriplegic during the day. Will used to be a powerhouse, adventurist, and lived life completely. After an unfortunate accident he is bound to a wheelchair and has to depend on someone else for everything- eating, drinking, changing, MOVING! When Louisa comes to meet him and finds him moody, depressed, and rude she doesn’t know if she will last the week. Over time though the two of them become inseparable and share a bond that many people probably don’t experience.

I read this book in a day. I kid you not; I stayed up way past my bedtime because I just had to finish it. I fell in love with these characters and was almost upset with myself for reading this in one day. I wanted the book to keep going so I could stay with the characters. By the end of the book I was balling almost uncontrollably and knew that this was one of the best books I have ever read. The author found this way to subtly get the reader to be invested in the characters and make you able to relate to some of the struggles they were going through. I think one of the things that I appreciated the most about this book actually was reading about the struggles and difficulties Will goes through. Being quadriplegic makes someone so extremely vulnerable, and reading about how long it took them to dress him or take him to the races was so eye opening for me. I learned appreciation for having the use of my body and be able to do things that I have always taken for granted! This is a MUST READ! I will be telling everyone I know about this book.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

This is a weekly feature that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For this week, the topic was "Top ten favorite book covers of books I have read." Hope that you enjoy, and let me know some of your own choices!

 

Love how a heart was created out of words used in the book!

 

Really any cover in the Harry Potter series, but I chose this one because this was one of my favorites of the series!

 

The cover is simple, takes the but very powerful and eye-catching. It definitely drew me to pick the book up.

 

This cover is beautiful!! Actually, even this picture of it doesn't do it justice. holding the book in your hands shows the beautiful vibrancy and details gone into the cover.

 

I love, love, loved this book. And whenever I see orange and yellow on a cover, my mind immediately goes to this book.

 

This cover literally makes me want to call in sick on the next beautiful day and find a field to pick wildflowers from. 

 

The magic of this cover caught my eye at BandN one day, and I didn't even need to read the back, I knew I wanted it. (PS. Amazing book!)

 

This woman is hysterical! I started laughing out loud when I saw this cover with her and Chuey.

 

Okay, I think that is it for me this week. I only made it to 8, but it was so hard for me to pick them for some reason! Enjoy!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

This is a weekly feature that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For this week, the topic was "Top ten books when you need something light and fun." Hope that you enjoy, and let me know some of your own choices of light and fun reads!

 

Jemima J- This book brought me into the wonderful world of Jane Green. I have been disappointed with her recent stuff, but loved Bookends and Mr. Maybe as well!

Bossypants- Tina Fey is hysterical. I remember reading this on a plane coming back from California and was literally laughing out loud. I could have cared less if others thought I was the weird passenger laughing with herself.

Anything by Chelsea Handler- She is inappropriate, extremely witty, and a definite good read. Everyone of her books has made me laugh until I cried. I really can't believe she has done half the things she has. I live vicariously through her in the books!

Where'd you Go, Bernadette- I just finished reading this book (review below). It was nothing like I had read in awhile and was just so quirky. I found myself flying through the book pretending like I didn't have other things to do.

Harry Potter series- Come on.....magic, adventure, and danger? Count me in. Every book is a fast read, and although some of the books are sad or a little dark, I can't not put this on the list! I think everyone should read these books!

Ten Girls to Watch- This is another easy read. About a girl trying to make it in NYC and she gets to interview all these awesome women.

Anything by Rachel Gibson- The thing I love about her books is they are fast paced and always have romance in them. Actually, it's predominantly about romance. Yes, they can be cheesy at times, but sometimes you need a little cheesy in your life.

Seriously...I'm Kidding- Ellen....oh my word, how I idolize this women. She can make you laugh without having to be dirty or inappropriate. Her humor is just so addicting and it seems like it comes so easily to her. Love her book! And it is really quick. Works for a time when maybe you need a pick me up!

Stupid and Contagious- The protagonist in this book is quirky and ironic. She is definitely contradicting herself and confusing everyone around her. You think you have bad luck? Hers is probably worse. But that just means their is always something to laugh about.

Well, here are my picks for the week! What are some books that you like that are a light and fun read!?

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

By: Maria Semple

Rating: 5 Stars

Who Should Read This Book: Satire anyone? Looking for a book that will make you laugh, cringe, and have your mouth drop open from shocking, hysterical scenes? This one is for you!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

My Thoughts:
I thought this book to be hysterical. The satire jumps out at the reader within minutes of reading, and the author, Semple, did an amazing job at never losing the clear understanding of what she was trying to accomplish. Bernadette is this quirky, neurotic, brilliant mother living in "horrible" Seattle. She just can't seem to shake the hate for the city she resides in, and is constantly telling everyone she emails just how awful it really is. Her life used to consist of creating wonderful works of architecture and is now dwindled to dropping and picking her daughter up from school, emailing a woman in India to do her errands for her, and criticizing the "gnats" that keep bothering her, from her daughter's school. The author brilliantly shaped and molded this book from various viewpoints including, Bee, the smart, lovable daughter of Bernadette, and Audrey, who from the first encounter is so clearly uptight the reader will want to give her a Xanax and tell her to stop letting what society says is "right" to dictate her life! Even Soo-Lin, Audrey's friend that the reader meets through emails and also through her interaction at Microsoft with Bernadette's husband, is unaware of her surroundings. She lives life in a fairy tale until it comes shattering down and she realizes that she has been manipulating things in her head to fit to the standard that makes her happy.

This book is so full of misunderstanding that it made me take a second to look at myself. I wondered if I sounded as ridiculous or paranoid in my daily life as some of the characters in the book did. Bee seems to be the most sane of all, and she is in middle school. Although, the relationship that she shares with her mother is endearing and reminds me so much of my relationship with my own mother. They understand each other, and aren't afraid to be completely honest with one another. When everyone else assumes that Bee is too young still to be told exactly what is going on, Bernadette makes sure that her daughter gets the full, unbelievable story. Even with all of her flaws, Bernadette can definitely be a level headed women whose intelligence really shines.

I think what really makes this book great is the realization that everyone comes to. Each character learns a valuable lesson and starts to come to the realization that there is no perfect mold to fit your life into. Through each of the characters, whether it be through email, one-on-one conversations, itinerary sheets, or from the viewpoint of Bee and her mom, the author did an amazing job of tying everyone together. You will definitely see how human the characters really are, and even though some of the missteps each one has is over the top, completely hysterical and unfathomable, there is still this realism to the situation. It was very easy to put myself into their shoes; to picture it really happening. I felt better about all the quirks I have because each of the characters had at least a couple; at least!

This book is extremely entertaining and will definitely be passed around to a lot of my friends. I hope others to get as much enjoyment out of it as I did. This was a book I raced through due to the overwhelming funny, intense, and flawed characters. It would be a great summer read actually, and one you will be so disappointed to finish.

Enjoy!

In the Woods

By: Tana French

Rating: 2.5 stars

Who Should Read This: Readers who are into mystery and suspense books.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

My Thoughts:
I really  wanted to like this book. I am big into thrillers and find usually that any mystery that brings up the past with it is always a nail biting, on the edge of your seat book. I actually have also been wanting to read this for awhile and when I found it one day at a used bookstore in Dupont I was extremely excited. There is a good chance I got my hopes to high for this one. It started out good. I liked the dynamic between Rob and Cassie as partners. They knew the ins and outs of each other, and they reminded me slightly of me and my guy friend how they were able to tell the mood the other was in by the look on their face.

The story started out good and dramatic. Child found in an archaeological dig on the edge of the woods where Rob was found when he was twelve, without his two friends, who were never found. Plenty of suspects and the author went back and forth from what little memories Rob had from the day he lost his two friends. As the story went on though I wanted to cut out huge chunks of the book that I felt was being reiterated too many times. I just felt that it dragged on and the author could have made it a tad more concise to keep the readers attention and the suspense raised. Furthermore, I found the ending extremely depressing. I know that this doesn't make a book good or bad, there are plenty of books with a depressing ending that I have loved. It just seemed to me that not only was it very sad, I also felt that lose ends weren't tied up as well as I thought they should have been.

Before I steer all readers away from this book I want to point out that their was good character development. The reader really gets to know the characters and I found myself sometimes with the sense that I was one of the group and wanted to join the nightly dinners the detectives had to discuss the case. Furthermore, I was really surprised by the ending. No matter how much it depressed me, I can definitely say I wasn't expecting it. I would love to hear others' thoughts on the book as well! I am wondering what I missed that others seemed to enjoy so much! Let me hear your thoughts!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. 

Since I am new to blogging I had a lot of options to choose from for this freebie week. I love movies (nowhere near my love for books though) and I thought it would be fun to choose the topic of: Books You Want to See be Made Into a Movie. Some of these books have actually started the process of being made into a movie, but they are still a long way off, and even though I know movies are rarely as good as the book, I can barely contain my excitement for how great I think the movies could or will be for these books. 

The Language of  Flowers: I think this movie can be done beautifully!! And imagine all the amazing flowers!

Unbroken: This book has the ability to make a powerful movie! I want this book to be made into a movie just so people that don't read know who Louie is! He deserves the recognition and for people to see what individuals in the military sacrifice for our freedom!

The Bakers Daughter: This empowering and enriching novel has the ability to show individuals how even decades later, the world still deals with its past.

 

The Night Circus: This movie would be beautiful. Utterly and unimaginably beautiful. It is as simple as that.

The Shadow of the Wind: Ummm mystery and romance set with a backdrop of Barcelona....yes, please!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society: This book made me appreciate small communities again, and the value there is in the power of friendship. Definite potential to make an amazing movie!

Jemima J: Total rom com that would be just so fun to watch!

The Giver: Every young adult should see this. This was the dystopian book of my childhood.

The Book Thief: This book would make such a great movie of portraying the lives of those during World War II. The love and compassion shown is undeniable!

The 500: Suspense and thrills! This book would make a roller coaster ride of a movie! Combining the power and greed of DC into a movie? Definite action packed thrill!

 

The Kitchen House

By: Kathleen Grissom

Rating: 5 stars

Who Should Read This: Anyone who is interested in or wants to try a historical fiction. If you liked The Help or The Baker's Daughter, I think this book will definitely pique your interest!

Synopsis (By Goodreads):
When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family. Orphaned while on-board ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin.

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

My Thoughts:
Loved this book!! This was one of the books that I had on my shelf that I discussed in my Spring TBR list for Top Ten Tuesday. I just HAD to buy this at Christmas and only just got around to starting it this past Thursday night. Even though I planned to read this while I was home for the holidays (I always think I will get more reading done than I do) I am actually happy that I never got around to reading it at the time. Lately, I have been trying to start books on my reading shelf and have just been uninspired. I find myself going and buying books for my Kindle or buying new books at the bookstore even though I have tons on my shelf. So this past Thursday I finally looked at my shelf determined to make a dent.

By Friday night at about 12:30 I had finished the book. I started this on Thursday night, and even though I had only gotten about 7-8 hours of sleep combined for the previous 2 nights, I could not go to bed on Friday without finishing this book. That was how much I loved it! I fell in love with the protagonist of the story, Lavinia, by page 5 or 6 for her naivety, her acceptance and love for those around her, and her persistence in hoping that everything will work out for the best. She comes to the plantation as a white indentured servant and after awhile becomes deeply attached to the other servants she lives with and who take care of her. They become her adopted family as she struggles coming of age and not understanding why she has to be white, why she can't stay and live with them always, and why some treat her better than the others. Lavinia does not understand how the master and his family see her differently then the rest of her adopted family.

The author did an amazing job with showing the struggles that went on in rural Virginia in the late 1700's between the master family and their servants. She painted a vivid picture of the tobacco plantation and it was so easy to be engulfed by this story. I couldn't help but look up to Mama Mae and Papa George or root for Ben and Belle. My heart even ached for Miss Martha who suffered from multiple tragedies. Throughout the book you realized how much everyone on the plantation relied and leaned on each other, regardless of race, but still struggled with their roles. As Lavinia grows up, the reader sees her transition into a sophisticated young woman, yet still always puts her adopted family first. She falls in love, believing that this will take her back to the adopted family she has been separated from, only to find that life is no longer the easy, carefree one she remembers from childhood.

This book will pull at your heart strings, and I found myself entranced by these families. I definitely fell into the book head first and enveloped myself in it. It was the same feeling I got when I read The Help and was so disappointed when it was finished. I wanted to keep on living on the plantation and be surrounded by the people in the book that I had come to admire. It may sound sappy, but the author definitely did a wonderful job in creating characters that you fall in love with! Either way, I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did. It is definitely one I will be insistently giving to my friends to enjoy and hopefully be enraptured by. I would love to hear what others who have read this novel thought!