American Wife: Love, War, Faith, and Renewal ~ Taya Kyle with Jim DeFelice

The widow of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle shares their private story: an unforgettable testament to the power of love and faith in the face of war and unimaginable loss - and a moving tribute to a man whose true heroism ran even deeper than the legend.

In early 2013, Taya Kyle and her husband, Chris, were the happiest they ever had been. Their decade-long marriage had survived years of war that took Chris, a U.S. Navy Seal, away from Taya and their two children for agonizingly long stretches while he put his life on the line in many major battles of the Iraq War. After struggling to readjust to life out of the military, Chris had found new purpose in redirecting his lifelong dedication to service toward supporting veterans and their families. Their love had deepened, and their family was whole, finally.

Then, the unthinkable. On February 2, 2013, Chris and his friend Chad Littlefield were killed while attempting to help a troubled vet. The life Chris and Taya fought so hard to build was shattered. In an instant, Taya became a single parents of two. A widow. A young woman facing the rest of her life without the man she loved.

Chris and Taya's remarkable story has captivated millions through Clint Eastwood's blockbuster Academy Award-winning film American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris and Sienna Miller as Taya, and because of Chris's bestselling memoir, in which Taya contributed passages that formed the book's emotional core. Taya writes in never-before-told detail about the hours,, days, and months after Chris's shocking death when grief threatened to overwhelm her. 

And yet throughout, friendship, family, and deepening faith were lifelines that sustained her and the kids when the sorrow became too much. Two years after er husband's tragic death, Taya has found renewed meaning and connection to Chris by advancing their shared mission of "serving those who serve others,"particularly military and first-responder families. She and the children are now embracing a new future, one that honors the past but also looks forward with hope, gratitude, and joy. 

American Wife is one of the most remarkable memoirs of the year - a universal chronicle of love and heartbreak, service and sacrifice, faith and purpose that will inspire every reader.

Book Review:

I read American Sniper last year, before I started this blog, and it tore me to shreds. I have many people in my family that have served. I have friends or kids that I have known my entire life who are serving or currently in the process of enlisting. Though I may not be their spouse or child, I care for all of them and fear what can happen. I know many of the emotions that Taya describes in this memoir and reading Chris's memoir, I now have a new found knowledge of what those I care about may go through, even though none of them are SEALs.

I cried when I read Chris's words in American Sniper; I cried when I watched the movie adaption with Bradley Cooper, and I once again cried as I read Taya's pain. I think what hit me the most is hearing Taya talk about how her daughter, Angel, dealt with her father's death. I am a very big daddy's girl and I don't know what I would do without my father.  In all honesty, I don't think that I would ever be able to talk about him the way Angel does. She hears him. She feels him. And she keeps on going. I think that if I were to have that sort of connection with my deceased father, I wouldn't be able to move on. Then again, maybe it would help me move on. I don't know. 

I really feel for all of those who have had to move on without Chris. He seems like the type of person that I would want to spend every minute of my life with and it kills me that Taya can't. He was such a strong and patriotic person. He seemed very humble and loving. I wish that I could have met him. 

Taya's strength is inspiring. She raised her children through the toughest moments of her life. She finished Chris's project and continues to pay tribute to him.  She told the good and the bad of their marriage. Everything about her words, were heartbreaking, fulfilling, and strengthening. 

Pages: 329                                                                                Rate: 5/5

Favorite Quote:

“Sometime after Chris died, one of his friends said something offhanded about us having to leave our house. I was shocked, and demanded to know why.

“Because a ghost lives there,” he said.

He was speaking metaphorically about all of our memories. But that was exactly why I did not want to leave. I still felt Chris very strongly there, and I didn’t want to lose that.

By the fall of 2014, I realized that I feel Chris strongly everywhere I go. He’s so much a part of me that I can’t lose him. Physical places may suggest memories, but that’s all they do: suggest. The experiences are already deeply embedded in my brain and soul.”   

I have lost a lot of people in my life and I have felt like I would never be able to move from my bed again. I have known that lost. But because I have known that loss, I have also known the beautiful feel that Taya describes above. Feeling a deceased loved one's presence is sometimes the only way that I have been able to get out of bed and move forward. I highly recommend that you read this memoir, not because their lives are interesting, but because their strength and the way she describes her thought process is truly knowledgeable. You may just learn something about yourself. 

Let It Snow ~ Maureen Johnson, John Green, & Lauren Myracle

An ill-timed storm on Christmas Eve buries the residents of Gracetown under multiple feet of snow and causes quite a bit of chaos. One brave soul ventures out into the storm from her stranded train and sets of a chain of events that will change quite a few lives. Over the next three days one girl takes a risky shortcut with an adorable stranger, three friends set out to a win a race to the Waffle House (and the hash brown spoils), and the fate of a teacup pig falls into the hands of a lovesick barista. 

A trio of today's bestselling authors - John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle - brings all the magic of the holidays to life in three hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and kisses that will steal your breath away. 

Book Review:

I will be giving a review for each of the stories individually and then the novel as a whole.

The Jubilee Express ~ Maureen Johnson

 This was the first work of writing that I have ever read by Johnson and it certainly won't be the last. I loved every second of it. I loved how our main character, Jubilee, introduced herself in the beginning, how she described events in such a blunt manner, and how even though she knew something wasn't going to work she had to try anyway. I loved how she was just a normal girl, because sometimes in stories, the main character has to have some extraordinary detail about them, Jubilee doesn't. 

Rate: 5/5

A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle ~ John Green

This was not a bad story, but I have come to expect so much more from John's writing that it wasn't my favorite. I expected more raw emotion and more depth. One thing that I have come to love from his writing was still very evident throughout and it's this strange humor. It's a humor that isn't outwardly funny unless you are a bit nerdier and profound when it comes to your comedy. I love it. It's something that I really began to notice in Looking For Alaska and have been able to find in everything that he writes since then. I did like the character development in this story, though.

Rate: 3/5

The Patron Saint of Pigs ~ Lauren Myracle

I had never read anything by Myracle before this story and in all honesty, it wasn't my favorite. Her writing style was okay and the story was interesting and funny, but it didn't have that extra something that I was hoping for. The constant bickering between the main character and one of her 'friends' really irritated me. All I could think was, "why don't you drop this bimbo from your friends list? She disrespects you, invalidates your feelings, and complains that you make everything about you when she is doing that very same thing. Ugh." It just wasn't great.  

  Rate: 3/5

Full Book:     Pages:352                                                    Rate: 4/5

Unravel Me ~ Tahereh Mafi

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Book Review:

I find this trilogy and it's novellas to be so intriguing. This world is very dystopian  but when you throw in the gifts that some of these people have, it's very fantasy.  It reminds me of a mix of the Divergent series and any Marvel series ever. 

The characters in this book developed so much more, especially Juliette who finds a strength in herself but is still so very vulnerable and Warner towards the end when we learn more of his back story. Also some of the secrets that come out in this book are just unreal!!!

The only downside is that I wish we got to see more of the brotherly love between Adam and his little brother, like we did in the Shatter Me. I felt that without that, I kind of lost touch with Adam in a way.

Pages: 480                                                                           Rate: 4/5

Book Discussion: SPOILERS:

I need to finish this series for a few reasons:

1) I need to know what is going on with this strange love triangle.

2) WHO DOES JULIETTE END UP WITH?

3) Does Adam ever tell Warner that they are half brothers?

4) What is that story? Is his little brother Warner's half brother too?

5) Can someone please finally kill Anderson?

So as mentioned, this whole half brother thing is really taking me for a loop. Just, WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK!?!?! Oh and if that isn't enough, Juliette has feelings for both of them! This entire situation is just screwed up!

The Great Gatsby ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

Book Review:

I finished this novel a couple of days ago but haven't been sure what my exact thoughts were in a coherent manner. My thoughts have been just as jumbled as the novel's story. 

I thought that the premise of the book was great. I also really loved reading about the Jazz Age in a fun way being as that time period has always intrigued me; yet, there was just something about this novel that I couldn't get into. It may have been that our main character jumped around in his own thoughts as he recollected the story to us. Or it may have been that the details just weren't that interesting. 

I really wanted to love this book with everything that I had, but I couldn't. Therefore, there is no discussion because I feel that it is a book that needs to be read a few times to have a decently written and thought out discussion and in all honesty, I do not want to read it again.

Pages: 180                                                                                                       Rate: 2/5

It's Kind Of A Funny Story ~ Ned Vizzini

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself. 

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety. 

Book Review:

Going in to this book I was expecting a valid portrayal of mental illness because I knew that Vizzini suffered from mental illness himself. I was not wrong. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have yet to really pinpoint the exact triggers or how to cope in certain situations but I feel that I am in a good place, not that I have every been in as bad of a place as our main character, Craig. I was really happy with the mental conflicts within Craig. I loved the backstory, where we learn how his illness developed. 

Vizzini's writing style is incomparable to anyone else. I have yet to read a story with a character suffering, at this extent, from mental illness, that is so raw and emotionally draining and impactful. It really was just an amazing read. 

Pages: 444                                                                                    Rate: 5/5

Book Discussion: SPOILERS!!!

The friendships that Craig had before admitting himself into the hospital, in my opinion, were his greatest downfall. He thought that he was in love or at least had the biggest crush on his best friends girlfriend. His best friend barely had parents and threw parties and did drugs all of the time. Yes, all of these people were smart, but sometimes, intellectual abilities don't make the best people. 

The friendships that he made in the hospital, though strange and probably not life long, were good for him. They allowed him to heal. He was able to face his "tentacles," find his "anchor," and finally eat without being sick. That may be because of the environment and the being back on his medications, but either way, he was able to manage his mental illness, which is all that you can do. 

His family was also really sweet. His mother was a little overbearing. His father was a bit cynical. They both really loved him though and really would do anything to help him. His little sister was great. I loved that relationship. They knew each other so well 

Carry On ~ Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. 

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his hand work, and the other hand, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here - it's their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother tbaz waso show up. 

Book Review:

For those of you who don't know, my favorite book this year, so far, was Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I really resonated with Cath, the main character. The life she was living throughout the story, though full of turmoil and confusion, was beautiful in so many other ways. Her struggle with anxiety and lack of relationship experience was all too real for me, as well. 

I was skeptical when contemplating if I wanted to read Carry On or not. This book is the fanfiction book that Cath writes in Fangirl. I loved the little snipets of it that we are able to read throughout Fangirl but I wasn't sure that a full novel surrounding it would be worth my time, in all honesty.

I loved it!! I loved that there were parallels to the Harry Potter series; yet, there was a complete new world of magic.  I don't that I would want 7 books and 8 movies with this story but I loved it either way. It was just a really fun read.

Book Discussion; SPOILERS!!!!

I have never read a story with a homosexual main character, not for any particular reason, it just never happened. Baz was outwardly gay from his introduction all of the way until the end. Simon on the other hand never seemed to portray any homosexual desires until farther into the book. I speculate that he may be Bisexual because I do think that he really cared for Agatha, his previous girlfriend, but it never was definitively stated. In all honesty, I love his relationship with Baz. They hated each other for so long but when it comes down to it they know that they can completely trust the other. They are just way to cute!!

I also really loved Simon and Penelope's friendship. They have known each other since they both started at Watford. She spends the night in his room, they tell each other everything, it would seem like they would make the perfect couple, but that isn't what it is about for them. They don't even have an inkling of romantic infatuation for one another They really are the best of friends and I hope that one day I can find a male friend like that, one whom I trust that completely but have no romantic feelings for.

Favorite Quote:

"At Watford, Magic is just the air that we breathe. It's not what separates us from each other; it's what keeps us together."

  

Book Tag Tuesday: Would You Rather?

I do not plan on doing a book tag every Tuesday. When I find a tag that I find interesting, I will do it, and post it for the next available Tuesday. Do not expect one every Tuesday!!!

Would you rather read only a series or stand-alone books?

This is difficult for me to answer because I love so many of both. If I had to choose... I think that I would choose to read series, mainly because I get so attached to characters and worlds and series allow me to live in them longer. 

Would you rather read a book whose main character is male or female?

I usually gravitate towards a book with a female protagonist because I can more readily relate to a female, as I am one myself. But don't get me wrong, some of m favorite books have male protagonists. For example one of my favorite stand-alones, Looking For Alaska by John Green, has a male main character. My all time favorite series, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, has a male main character.

Would you rather shop at only Barnes & Nobel (or other actual book store) or Amazon?

There is no doubt in my mind that I would choose Barnes & Nobel (or other actual book store). I love being in a book store surrounded by others who love books. 

Would you rather all books become movies or TV shows?

Movies. With TV shows there is so much more of a chance for the story to be messed with, for the beauty of the book to be lost.

Would you rather read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

If I had the time to read 5 books per week my life would be amazing!!! Lately, I barely have time to read 5 pages per week with the amount of homework that I have.

Would you rather be a professional book reviewer or author?

Author. I haven't found my voice in my writing yet, but author definitely.

Would you rather read the same 20 books over and over or read a new book every 6 months?

This one is probably the toughest question on here.... a new book every 6 months. Even though I read quickly, I would just reread that book a couple of times. LOOPHOLES!!!!

Would you rather be a librarian or own a book store?

This one was easy for me. I have wanted to own a book store for as long as I can remember. I even have the layout in my head. 

Would you rather only read your favorite genre or favorite author?

Favorite genre because then I could discover new favorite authors. 

Would you rather only read physical books or ebooks?

I love both so much but if I had to choose I would definitely pick physical books because there is just something about holding a book in your hand that makes your day so much better.

R?

The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire ~ Dan Howell and Phil Lester

In your hands is a book created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the Internet.

We are Dan and Phil, and we invite you on a behind-the-scenes journey into our world!

In here you will discover:

+ Stories from Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail

+ Advice on how to make YouTube videos

+ How to draw the perfect cat whiskers

+ Which of our dining room chairs represents you emotionally

+ The story of the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas...

This is THE AMAZING BOOK IS NOT ON FIRE

(Even if you never read this, it's a cool-looking coaster, right?)

Book Review:

I finished this book a few days ago but have been unable to write a review because I couldn't even put my thoughts into coherent sentences due to the amazing voice of the two authors, Dan Howell and Phil Lester. I have watched their YouTube videos for a few years now and I feel like their voices and attitudes transferred in such a spot on way in this book! I really loved that it was a continuous dialogue between the two of them, just like a "Phil is not on fire" video. 

Now, besides the voice of the book, I loved so much more!! For example, the construction of this book is great!!! Yes, I do know how nerdy that just sounded! Do not judge me! But really though, the pages are beautifully structured with amazing backgrounds, photographs, and the color is impeccable. I love it when I can get a book like this and just think, "it's an adult picture book!" Maybe I am so appreciative of this construction because I watched their behind the scenes video from making it, and I saw all of the hard work that they put into it, but in all honesty, it truly is amazing!

I also really enjoyed the fun elements that they put into it, like the chair quiz or the Going Deep With Dan and Phil sections. I have to admit though, my favorite page was the Existential Crisis page of Dan's. Being as it is senior year for me, I am having about 100 existential crisis a day!!!! Seriously, I need help!!

Pages: 224                                                                               Rate: 5/5

Book Discussion:

There will be no discussion for this book because writing a discussion for any type of memoir is so hard for me. 

Favorite Quote:

"The Existential Crisis Hallway. Why do we exist? What is existence? What is the point of anything? Why? Does my life really matter outside of myself? Death is inevitable. We are all alone. The privilege of freedom is overwhelming. Ignorance is bliss. Consciousness is merely a biological process. Time extends before and after my life. Purposes are distractions and vice versa. What's forr lunch? Infinity is incomprehensible. Help."

Conquering Chaos ~ Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra

Since Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Batltierra shared their story of teen pregnancy and adoption on MTV's 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom, they've been known for their inspiring commitment to growing up right. How did two trouble making kids from the trailer park turn into positive role models? How did two childhood sweethearts build a long lasting relationship? How did placing their first child up for adoption teach them how to break away from bad influences? What really happened when the cameras weren't there? In their debut book, Catelynn and Tyler leave out nothing. From their wild behavior before appearing on MTV to their experiences with adoption, Catelynn and Tyler lay it all out on the table. 

Open, honest, raw, and real, Conquering Chaos is an incredible look at two young people who beat the odds and took the right path. 

Book Review: 

I was not an avid viewer of 16 & Pregnant or Teen Mom, but like most teenagers I am an avid internet kid; therefore, I knew of them all. I have watched a few episodes here and there, enough to understand each of the couples' and children's stories, but the only ones that really resonated with me were Catelynn and Tyler. Part of this is because I have seen people get pregnant young and keep their children, so the other stories just didn't have the same sense of wonder and mystery as Cate and Tyler's. I knew the struggle that came with it. The adoption process and the choice to get there really intrigued me, plus Cate and Tyler are so cute together that who can resist loving them?

I loved hearing about their terrifying upbringings, full of addiction, loss, trouble, drugs, alcohol, sex, single parents, etc in this book. I also really loved that they each gave their own account of the situations that they were discussing. Reading their stories, I had a further understanding of why they made the decision to place Carly in adoption (this is how you are supposed to say it!) I have so much respect for their courageousness, their selflessness, and their determination in such a terrifying and emotional time of their lives. They made the only decision that they thought that they could for Carly. It's really a beautiful and emotional story. 

I also love that throughout this novel they were able to educate us on the different bits of the adoption process, like the types of adoption, the interviews with parents, and so on. I'm so glad that they use their story to inspire and help others through their speaking engagements (if I ever get the chance I would love to see one) and I also can not be more inspired by Catelynn than when I found out that she has also been the adoption/birthing coaches for so many other young girls. I love that she does that!

The only thing that I felt was missing from this book were pictures. It didn't take away from the book at all, but I really do love memoirs with pictures, then again I could just stalk their social medias. 

Pages: 150                                                                        Rate: 5/5

Book Discussion: 

I don't really have anything in mind for a book discussion but if you want to know more of my thoughts, feel free to leave comments.

Favorite Quote:

“Children and babies are the most innocent, vulnerable, helpless creatures on the planet. They’re relying on you for everything. Their lives will be defined by the choices made by the adults around them.” 

ARC: Hemingway In Love: his own story ~ A.E. Hotchner

IT IS FINALLY OUT IN STORES!!!!

Ernest Hemingway always held a few of his best stories back; kept them off the page as writer's insurance against a dry-up of ideas. But after surviving two back-to-back plane crashes, he resolved to share his most meaningful tale with his best friend, A.E. Hotchner. Over the course of almost a decade, Hemingway narrated the full story of his formative years, but the details were sensitive, apt to hurt the feelings of Ernest's wide, Mary, and arouse controversy among the involved parties who were still alive at the time. For half a century, Hotchner was obliged to keep these conversations to himself. Now, he tells the story as Hemingway told it to him. Hemingway in Love is the poignant and frank account of a legend living with his mistakes. It takes you from the Key West to the bohemian world of 1920s Paris, and from Cold War Cuba to bullfights in Spain. It places you across the table from Hemingway himself as he recalls days spent drinking with Fitzgerald and sparring with Gertrude Stein; as he reflects on the affair that destroyed his first marriage. This is the story of how Hemingway lost his great love, and the life he pursued after - one of sweeping adventure and quiet regret. 

Book Discussion: Spoilers

I posted my review on this a few weeks ago but not that the book is in stores I thought that it would be a good time for me to post a discussion. 

A.E. Hotchner was best friends with the late literary legend known as Ernest Hemingway. He previously wrote Papa Hemingway, which I have not read (do not yell at me)! In this story though he tells us things that he could not tells us in his previous memoir on Hemingway. 

He wanted to keep certain things out of the public eye while Hemingway's 3rd wife Mary was still alive and while other parties involved were still alive. This is because the story is about Hemingway's first love and first wife, Hadley, and how he always regretted having the affair that ended their marriage. Many intimate details were revealed on his marriage with Hadley and how he felt about her. The arguments and ultimate demise of his relationship with his second wife Pauline is revealed, as well as how it affected his relationship with his 2nd and 3rd sons. We also see snippets of his relationship with his last wife, the one that was with him until the end, Mary. 

Many details were revealed about Hemingway's depression and paranoia which eventually led to his tragic suicide. We also learn about his institutionalization as well. 

Go Set A Watchman ~ Harper Lee

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch - "Scout" - returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town, and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past - a journey that can only be guided by one's own conscience.

Book Review:

I read Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, last year, during my Junior Year of High School. Now normally, this would have been read during middle school, but we never got around to it. Thankfully, reading it in Junior Year, at 16 years old, makes the experience so much better, I think. I was able to really understand the age of society that she was living in, the issues that arose, and so on. After finishing To Kill a Mockingbird I read an article in my local newspaper (because those still exist) that told me about Harper Lee's soon to be novel Go Set a Watchman. I was so excited for it and it did not disappoint.

I do understand why many were upset about parts of the novel. It does bring a completely new personality to the beloved character Atticus Finch, Scout's dad. But in all fairness, Scout, our narrator, is twenty years older than she was in the original novel, she notices and understands so much more than she would have originally. 

As in the first novel, racial conflict is a huge issue. To Kill a Mockingbird, was set in the 1930s, making this novel set in the 1950s. That was a huge time period of racism, the midst of the Civil Rights movement, the KKK, the NAACP, and the list goes on. The novel also does an amazing job at portraying the family dynamics of a southern, tight-knit, Christian family at the time. 

Book Discussion: SPOILERS:

There was one thing that really hit me, that really upset me; Jem's death. I loved he and Scout's relationship during the first novel and couldn't wait to see how it developed into their adulthood. So learning that he died at a young age, of the same issue that their mom died of, made me really upset. 

I loved how Scout's personality was practically the same as the first novel. And that she still idolized her father, even though that was kind of the downfall for part of the book. Her father's thoughts on the African Americans really was a shock to me. From the first novel, it's not what I would have expected, and I understand why the realization upset Scout the way it did. 

Another thing that really angered me was about the ending. In the book, Scout goes to see Calpurnia once, and she is rude and nasty to Scout. I loved that Cal was always there for Scout and the fact that this issue wasn't resolved in the end irritated me. 

Favorite Quote: 

"Remember this also: it’s always easy to look back and see what we were, yesterday, ten years ago. It is hard to see what we are. If you can master that trick, you’ll get along." 

The Longest Ride ~ Nicholas Sparks

Ira Levinson is in trouble. Ninety-one years old and stranded and injured after a car crash, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes beside him: his beloved wife, Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by reminiscing about their lifetime together. Ira knows that Ruth can't possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories. 

A few miles away, at a local bull-riding event, university senior Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes are high: Reward and ruin - and even life and death - loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans - if the secret Luke's keeping doesn't destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys. 

Book Review:

Every time that I have read a book by Nicholas Sparks, I have cried. I reread A Walk to Remember often and every time I ball like a little baby. I've done the same with The Lucky One, Dear John, The Last Song, etc. He has been one of my favorite  authors for years and I have loved every book of his that I have read and this one was no exception. 

I wasn't as big of a fan of Ira's chapters as I was Sophia's and Luke's but I believe that that may be because I was scared of reading the moment that we discover if he lives or dies in the car. Also, because Sophia reminds me a lot of myself (even though I have grown up in a remote area I feel that I would be better off in a city) I really loved her relationship with Luke, whose character is exactly the type of person I am interested in.

I loved that for the majority of the novel there really isn't any conflict between the couples. Ira and Ruth argue a bit about the past, but other than that they are just happy to be together again. Sophia and Luke don't really have any problems but the one that comes up later in the book and is resolved a couple of chapters later. I like when novels are like that because it doesn't cause me to scream and yell at my book from all of the frustration that these fictional worlds inflict upon me.

Overall, I really loved the romance (that wasn't sappy at all) and how the main characters kind of discover bits of themselves through their relationships together, I also am really freaking happy with the ending.

Pages: 398                                                                                           Rate: 5/5

Book Discussion: SPOILERS:

Brian, Sophia's ex, makes me really uncomfortable. I mean, I think that that was the point, but he just makes me want to curl up in a ball. He is so demanding and controlling and violent just from the few scenes that he is in. His entire character and that relationship was really unsettling to me.

I loved how Luke and Sophia were flirting from the moment he saved her from Brian and how they were both realizing that what they were saying and doing was something that they would never normally do. I feel that that is what a relationship is actually supposed to do to you, if you are with the right person anyway. You are supposed to feel and do things completely out of the ordinary for you but that somehow make you feel like whatever you're doing is perfectly right.

Ira and Ruth, they are the couple that I have always loved hearing stories about. The couple who knew from the second that they saw each other that they'd be together forever, even with the ups and downs. The couple who married young just because they were so in love and knew that no one else would ever compare. I wish that Ira and Ruth were able to have children because they would have been amazing parents. But the story that they were able to create out of their childless lives was amazing. The artwork and the people they affected left an impact on the future. Certainly on Luke and Sophia.

When Luke bought that painting in the end I was so excited. Even if him acquiring the whole estate didn't happen, I would have loved it because of what the story meant. But the actual ending made my day. I truly loved how it changed everything for Luke, Sophia, and Luke's mom. They were able to save the ranch and figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. I wish that there was a sequel to this book, which I don't say about many of Spark's books (because normally I'm super content with the endings), just so we could know what happens to Luke and Sophia after they fix up the ranch and get married.

Do they have kids? Where do they move? What does Luke end up doing now that he isn't bull-riding? How is Luke's mom?

Favorite Quote:

"I understand Ira."

Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian ~ Rick Riordan

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Book Review:

Riordan draws you in from the very first page with action. This book doesn't have one slow paced moment, not even for a split moment. It had me on the edge of my seat through the entire thing. There was one moment in the book that I have been waiting for throughout the entire series that I was anticipating from the beginning which drew me in even closer (talk about in discussion).

This was such a good read that when it ended I was so upset. I really do want to know more and will definitely be continuing with this world by reading The Heroes of Olympus series, Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. 

Pages: 432                                                                                                Rate: 5/5 

Book Discussion: SPOILERS:

What!! What just happened!?! Annabeth, Percy, and Grover once again saved the world with the help of some other campers like Clarisse, Chriss, Chiron, and more. Percy had some really fucking cute moments with his dad and Tyson, who both contributed to saving the god damned world. Luke died by mentally defeating Kronos and killing himself because apparently part of the prophecy was about him but no one knew that.  Oh, and Annabeth and Percy are finally Percabeth!!! 

Favorite Quote:

"The wold was collapsing, and the only thing that really mattered to me was that she was alive."

ARC: Hemingway in Love: his own story - A.E. Hotchner

THIS IS NOT IN STORES UNTIL OCTOBER 2015! THE PUBLISHER SENT ME AN ADVANCED READERS COPY. MY DISCUSSION OF THE BOOK WILL BE POSTED ONCE IT IS IN STORES!

Ernest Hemingway always held a few of his best stories back; kept them off the page as writer's insurance against a dry-up of ideas. But after surviving two back-to-back plane crashes, he resolved to share his most meaningful tale with his best friend, A.E. Hotchner. Over the course of almost a decade, Hemingway narrated the full story of his formative years, but the details were sensitive, apt to hurt the feelings of Ernest's wide, Mary, and arouse controversy among the involved parties who were still alive at the time. For half a century, Hotchner was obliged to keep these conversations to himself. Now, he tells the story as Hemingway told it to him. Hemingway in Love is the poignant and frank account of a legend living with his mistakes. It takes you from the Key West to the bohemian world of 1920s Paris, and from Cold War Cuba to bullfights in Spain. It places you across the table from Hemingway himself as he recalls days spent drinking with Fitzgerald and sparring with Gertrude Stein; as he reflects on the affair that destroyed his first marriage. This is the story of how Hemingway lost his great love, and the life he pursued after - one of sweeping adventure and quiet regret. 

Book Review:

A.E. Hotchner was lucky enough to be best friends with the literary legend that is Ernest Hemingway. He was able to ask the man himself some of the toughest and most sincere questions. Through all of the joy that they had together, which is wonderfully portrayed throughout the memoir, come the pains that come with all lives but especially those that end in the tragedy that is suicide. 

We learn more about Hemingway's struggle with depression and anxiety through Hotchner's point of view of seeing his best friend lose his sanity and himself. We learn of how Hemingway ruined his first marriage and lost the love of his life. Then we follow him as he leads a satisfactory life after that with loves that could barely compare to his first love, his first wife, the mother of his first child, Hadley. 

It is beautifully written with sincere emotion. No detail was left undeveloped, unexplained, or unrecognized. It truly is my favorite memoir at the moment. 

Pages: 154                                                                                                          Rate: 5/5

Destroy Me ~ Tahereh Mafi

Set after Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me and before Unravel Me, the spellbinding sequel, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner - and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she'll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of...

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner's father, the Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son's mistakes, it's clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Book Review:

 Destroy Me has made me even more excited for Unravel Me. 

Even though this novella is supposed to make you feel sympathy for Warner, I just cant. I hate Warner. I still can't get passed how he treated Juliette and his soldiers in Shatter Me. Even though we learn of his childhood, I can't feel for him. The only person in this series so far that I hate more than Warner is his father who I hate as much as Umbridge (nasty, rude, feline loving monstrosity, worse than the villain of the series, Voldemort) in the Harry Potter series. 

I really enjoyed that this novel was told from Warner's perspective though. I enjoyed seeing what is going on at Sector 45 since Juliette has escaped. I also enjoyed the fact that Warner's life was so completely disrupted because as I said before I hate him, and therefore like to see him lose control and struggle. What I really enjoyed about this is that he is feeling something that he has never experienced before and his reaction to it is king of laughable.

Pages: 109                                                                                                  Rate: 4/5

Book Discussion: SPOILERS:

How can Warner be in love with Juliette? She has only ever expressed hatred, fear, and anger in his presence. To really be in love with someone don't you have to see them experience joy and love themselves. Plus she has blatantly told him that she hates him and all that he stands for. Also, before this he was an unfeeling bastard.

I do feel bad that Warner was abused emotionally and physically as a child by his parents, that he didn't have a loving home but neither did Juliette and she would never purposefully do anything to hurt anyone. That would be like saying all children of abuse grow up to be abusers. That simply isn't true. And I am so glad that Mafi made that distinction in her own way,  with her story. 

Now Warner's father is a complete ass. He is a horrible human being. He killed a women and her three children because her husband and their father was a traitor. What kind of person does that?! He's always played mind games with his son and those below him. And he blatantly tells his son, who almost died, that he is a disappointment. I HATE HIM!!

Favorite Quote:

  "And I've fallen.

So hard.

I've hit the ground. Gone right through it. Never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I've felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I've known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I've seen things that cannot be unseen. 

And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.

Love is a heartless bastard."

  

Thank You Loey Lane

Thank you Loey so much. Every video you have made has inspired me, your hauls, your vlogs, your lookbooks,  your Q&As, all of them. You are so confident and the video you posted today made me cry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tniQEabFJW8

I have never had an eating disorder but I know what it feels like to be body shamed from a very young age. My earliest memory of it is when I was 6 or 7. I was in a summer program and we were at the beach when one of my "friends" told me that I was fat and shouldn't wear a bathing suit. 

 Until this day what that little girl said continues to creep into my mind, so thank you for reminding me that anyone, no matter their size, can look this amazing in a bathing suit. 

Another memory that happens to punch me in the gut every time I have a crush is being in 7th grade gym class. I was always so insecure in gym, still am, because of my asthma and my boobs, they've always been bigger than everyone else's my age. Every gym class, no matter how hot it was, I would wear a big purple sweatshirt. One day I didn't catch the ball and a classmate of mine called me a "purple hippo" and said that "no boy would ever like me." At 17, a senior in high school, I have never asked a guy out because every time I think that I'm going to that memory jumps into my head. 

Thank you so much Loey and Tyler for showing me that even thicker girls can find the loves of their loves and that they will be loved back. 

Loey, you have no idea what your videos have done for me. I found your channel this summer and my self esteem since then has skyrocketed. Out of a scale from 1-10 I'm probably a 5 and coming from someone who was probably a -100 before, that is amazing. Your videos have shown me that even though I am a bigger girl, I am beautiful and the outside really isn't what matters anyway.

THANK YOU LOEY LANE!!! <3 <3 <3 

Whatever Wednesday: 2016 Study Tips

If you are anything like me then you tend to do whatever you can to get really good grades and because of that you happen to love stationary. In this post I will give you the types of music I listen to while I do my homework, where/when to do your homework, mandatory bits and bobs to have for high school. 

I am currently a senior in high school and through my previous years I have discovered what works best for me and how my teachers work, how they give assignments and tests. I have also developed pretty good study habits, yes they could be approved, but so could absolutely everything in my life. 

MUSIC:

 I tend to listen to playlists on Spotify while I do my homework because I find that it really is easy to use and quite convenient. I have the app on my laptop but you could also just use the website or the app on your phone. I have found that the best music for me to listen to is something that has a really nice tempo and beat, not too many words, and also not something I listen to often. If I listen to something that I know the lyrics to or that reminds me of something, I get quite distracted. I listen to New Orleans Jazz music or Decade music. When I refer to Decade music, I mean that I choose a decade in between the 1920s-1980s and listen to that music. There are playlists on Spotify for all of the music I have mentioned.

WHERE/WHEN TO DO HW:

I do my homework about an hour after I get home. As soon as I get home I take off my makeup and my jewlery because it makes me seem more relaxed. Then I make my bed if I didn't have time to do so in the morning. Then I might get a snack while I check my social media. But an hour after I get home I always begin my homework. 

Because I have two very cuddly dogs and parents at home when I do my homework, I usually seclude myself to my room while I do it. If I'm in the kitchen or the living room I tend to get very distracted. Being as my room is so small I also have to do my homework on my bed. I do not recommend this if you have a desk. But for those of you who have to do your homework on your bed, like myself, do it at the opposite end of your bed than where you put your head at night. I use my two body pillows and a couple of decorative pillows to make myself a seat so that I do not lay down as well.

THINGS YOU NEED:

If you're like me you need an agenda. I use one from bluesky.com. I picked it up at WalMart, so you may be able to find it in stores near you but if not the website is very easy to use. They have so many pretty and functional planners. I use one that is the size of an average notebook. 

I also use an extendable folder. In all of my classes I use binders that are fairly bulky and I don't want to have to take them all home every time I have homework. So instead of taking them home I use a 13 file extendable folder. I have each of my pockets labeled by class and then I have room for a book, random papers, my planner. In the front is a little pencil case. 

In that pencil case I keep a few pencils that I decorated with washi tape some nice G-2 Pilot refillable pens, one thick yellow highlighter, one skinny yellow highlighter, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, sticky notes, sticky tabs, and a single whole punch.  

I use a big bag to go in between classes. In that bag I carry a smaller makeup bag, with my face powder, my favorite lipstick (Rimmel London Lipstick by Kate in the color 104), a retractable Kabuki brush, a nail file, headphones by KOSS, eos chapstick, my inhaler, makeup wipes, feminine hygiene products, ibruprofen, hair ties, bobby pins, and life savers. Also in the big bag I carry a book and my water bottle. 

I would also highly recommend a lunch pale to bring your own lunch because in my experience school lunches suck.   

You Deserve A Drink: Boozy Misadventures and Tales of Debauchery ~ Mamie Hart

Mamrie Hart is a drinking star with a YouTube problem. As host of the bady cult hit You Deserve A Drink. Hart has been entertaining viewers with her signature concoction of tasty libations and raunchy puns since 2011. Finally, Hart has compiled her best drinking stories - and worst hangovers - into one hilarious volume. From the spring break where she and her girlfriends avoided tan lines by staying at an all-male gay nudist resort, to the bachelorette party where she accidentally hired a sixty-year-old meth head to teach the group pole dancing, to the time she lit herself on fire during a Flaming Lips concert. Hart accompanies each story with an original cocktail recipe, ensuring that You Deserve A Drink is as useful as it is entertaining. 

Book Review:

I have been really into memoirs of those that I love for about the past year. Now out of all of the memoirs that I have read this year, Mamrie's is the TMI (To Much Information) of all memoirs. I love it so much because it is hilarious and honest with horrible puns that are so horrible they are hilarious. So hilarious that your cheeks hurt from smiling so much and your abs hurt from laughing so hard! 

Now I am 17 so it is not legal for me to dink but believe me when I can I plan on trying out these recipes and playing the drinking game that is the entire book! I don't plan on being a heavy drinker or anything but there are times where you just need to let loose and have some fun that you won't remember the next morning. 

Now, her writing was impeccable. It felt like I was watching her videos. She would cross out words and say something different (more appropriate), had a safe word to have her family stop reading, and had her signature jokes. Ay-Oh! I also loved that she included pictures, even though they were black and white. It really was just an amazing read!

Pages: 274                                                                                               Rate: 5/5

Favorite Quotes:

"I spent my days spread-eagle in front of a fan, with bright pink calamine lotion slathered all over my undercarriage. If you walked into my room, you'd think I was giving birth to a Pepto-Bismol baby."

I couldn't stop laughing when I read this line! It reminded me so much of Camp Takota (which you should watch if you haven't, it's on Netflix).