Favorite Reads of 2017

Some of these, I am sure you will be able to guess because they were extremely hyped but here goes nothing. Also, I will link the ones that I have already reviewed and look forward to seeing others.

The Hate You Give ~ Angie Thomas

There was a lot of hype surrounding this book but it was so well deserved. She put out an incredible debut novel with social justice filling the pages. It was amazing. 

milk and honey ~ Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur's debut poetry collection got me back into poetry. I'm currently reading her second one and I am loving it so very much. I really love that she includes sketches, as well.

American Street ~ Ibi Zoboi

This is a novel that I read right after I read The Hate You Give and I was pleasantly surprised that it had just as many social justice messages in it, but those messages were pertaining to very different issues. It gave amazing insight to immigration. 

Moxie ~ Jennifer Mathieu

I just finished this and have yet to write a review on it. Once it is published I will try and remember to link it to this post. However, this book is incredible. The main character reminds me a lot of myself and the messages that she and those who participated in Moxie were making, were incredible for young feminists to read.

Girls Like Us ~ Rachel Lloyd

I was assigned this reading for my class at University focusing on Human Trafficking and I am so glad that I read it. Rachel was a victim, who became a survivor, who became a surviving leader and she is helping others do the same. She gives amazing insight to her experiences and the mindset of those in the life as well. 

What Happened ~ Hillary Clinton

I was nervous to read this for many reasons but I am so glad that I listened to it. It gave great insight to her life and she gave a great perspective on the campaign and the first few months afterwards as well. 

Everything, Everything ~ Nicola Yoon

This was such an intriguing young adult contemporary novel. It dealt with family lies, love, fear, dreaming. It was just beautifully written. I really want to watch the movie. 

Turtles All The Way Down ~ John Green

This is John Green's best book yet!! He presents mental illness in such a real and raw fashion that I actually felt like I was experiencing some of my own anxieties as I read it. I cried when it was over just because I didn't want it to end. 

Movie Review: The Greatest Showman

First movie review on my blog, I think. Going to see this movie was my Christmas present from my best friend. We always go see movies together and the last time we went, the trailer for this one came up. I was beyond excited. One, Hugh Jackman. Two, Zac Efron. Three, Zendaya. 

Four, Circus.

We heard some mixed ideas about it. Some said that it wasn't historically accurate. That Barnum wasn't enough of a douchebag. Others were angery at the weak plot. The rest, raved about the incredible music. Well, going into this movie, I didn't care about the historical inaccuracies or even the weak plot as long as the music was good and the movie made me feel something great. Well, it did that. 

The music was obviously incredible and I think much of what I felt came from the music itself. "This Is Me," being sung by Keala Settle who is a powerhouse in herself, but the emotion on her face, in her voice, and in how she led the others was incredible. This was the point where she and the others decided not to care how they looked, not to care about their pasts, not to care what others thought of them anymore!

Another one of my favorite songs was the duet between Zac Efron and Zendaya's characters. The entire scene was gorgeous, so visually stimulating. It starts due to their fears of a relationship between a white boy and black girl. That's obvious from the minute they meet. This song develops their fears and their wants. The actors that play on those fears and those wants do it so well, that I felt their pain.  Zendaya is a strong badass flying all over the place whilst singing beautifully. Zac is just trying to get the girl, even jumping off of a balcony and onto the trapeze with her, all while singing. By the way, this is the first time that I have really heard him sing since High School Musical, and I am loving it. 

Beyond the music, I just loved that it told the story of a man bringing together so many outcasts. This part may be inaccurate historically, but in this movie, Barnum finds all of the outcasts, all of the people who couldn't live their lives out in the open without being laughed at or hated. He made them a family and created the circus, their home.

The movie was worth seeing. Especially if you love great musicals. 

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis ~ J.D. Vance

From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class

Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck.

The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love,” and moved north from Kentucky’s Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually their grandchild (the author) would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving generational upward mobility.

But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Vance’s grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother, struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, and were never able to fully escape the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. Vance piercingly shows how he himself still carries around the demons of their chaotic family history.

Book Review:

I was recommended this book by one of my high school teachers and mentors months ago but it never peeked my interest until I was looking for audiobooks to listen to over the course of two 5 hour bus rides one weekend. I found that Vance spoke to the truth that I lived as well. I grew up in a lower middle class family that fits the class of Hillbillies that he describes, but where I come from we call them Rednecks. He had a harder upbringing than I did. His father was only in the picture sporadically, his mother was addicted to drugs and the wrong type of men. His sister was his only constant for the majority of his life and most people, including himself, didn't believe that he would make it very far in life. Somehow, he defeated those odds and became a marine, went to Yale Law School, became a prominent lawyer, had a family of his own. 

I've had to overcome my own list of obstacles and his story of self-discovery, self-sabotage, and determination to grow depicts my story as well. He knows that he wouldn't have made it without his determination and work-ethic instilled in him by the Hillbilly culture but also knows that he wouldn't have made it without the various people who took an interest in him. I read this book at a time where I needed to feel like I wasn't alone in my story and this did that for me. 

Pages: 272                                                                                                                             Rate: 4/5

Favorite Quote:

“Today people look at me, at my job and my Ivy League credentials, and assume that I’m some sort of genius, that only a truly extraordinary person could have made it to where I am today. With all due respect to those people, I think that theory is a load of bullshit. Whatever” 

A Study in Scarlet ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

'There's a scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.' From the moment Dr John Watson takes lodgings in Baker Street with the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, he becomes intimately acquainted with the bloody violence and frightening ingenuity of the criminal mind. In A Study in Scarlet , Holmes and Watson's first mystery, the pair are summoned to a south London house where they find a dead man whose contorted face is a twisted mask of horror. The body is unmarked by violence but on the wall a mysterious word has been written in blood. The police are baffled by the crime and its circumstances. But when Sherlock Holmes applies his brilliantly logical mind to the problem he uncovers a tragic tale of love and deadly revenge . . .

Book Review:

I've always had an interest in Sherlock Holmes and even more so after watching the show by BBC and then reading A Study in Charlotte, which I reviewed here. I finally decided that it was time to pick up the original Sherlock Holmes stories, so when I found a bindup e-book version for a good price on Amazon, I snagged it. I have the four main stories in this bindup, the first obviously being A Study in Scarlet. 

I read the story, which isn't very long anyway, in about two days. I immediately fell in love with Conan Doyle's writing style. For having written these stories so long ago, the story didn't have the same dullness to it that I find in many other books written at the same time. I loved the characters right off of the bat, especially Sherlock. He is just so unapologetically strange. I hope that John has a bit more character development because I could see that his time overseas left neverending effects on him but I would like that to be developed more. As well as more conversations and interactions between him and Sherlock in general, not just John listening to Sherlock's explanations. 

Overall, the story was amazing and I can't wait to jump into another, but I am going to put other books in between each Sherlock book so that I can prolong the enjoyment.  

Pages: 116                                                                                                                                 Rate: 4/5

Favorite Quote:

“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.” 

What Happened ~ Hillary Rodham Clinton

For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet.

In these pages, she describes what it was like to run against Donald Trump, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up afterward. With humor and candor, she tells readers what it took to get back on her feet—the rituals, relationships, and reading that got her through, and what the experience has taught her about life. She speaks about the challenges of being a strong woman in the public eye, the criticism over her voice, age, and appearance, and the double standard confronting women in politics.

She lays out how the 2016 election was marked by an unprecedented assault on our democracy by a foreign adversary. By analyzing the evidence and connecting the dots, Hillary shows just how dangerous the forces are that shaped the outcome, and why Americans need to understand them to protect our values and our democracy in the future.

Book Review:

I listened to the audiobook version of this, read by Hillary Rodham Clinton herself. I wish I was able to call her Madam President Clinton at this point but that would be inaccurate. Even through the unfortunate political climate that has occured since the election, she remains strong, stoic, and gives insight that I feel was necessary for me to read. I supported her throughout the campaign and throughout the book you can tell that she is grateful for each and every individual, including myself, that did support her and continue to support her. She remains hopeful for the future but is not afraid to be critical of the current situation either. 

She discusses everything from her early childhood, being told by her parents that she could do anything she wanted; to law school, where she began to see more of the gender indifferences and had to work twice as hard as her male counterparts; to her early marriage with Bill Clinton, where her choice to keep her Maiden name may be one of the reasons that he lost an election; to the birth of her daughter, who is the one who keeps her strong; to her first presidential campaign that she lost to Barak Obama; to the most recent and devastating presidential election; and finally to her current fight for our country and the many young girls who look up to her. Listening to all her personal stories and revelations gave me hope. So much has changed since she was a child, and although we agree that under the current Presidency we are falling backwards a bit, we will eventually break all of the glass ceilings and as long as we keep fighting, Trump will not break us. 

Beyond the hope that she instills in me, she also discusses every potential mistake, thoughout her entire life, that she credits with potentially allowing for her defeat in the past election. She doesn't only blame herself though, she does recoognize that Russia's interference, Comey's letter days before the election, and the media only portraying the controversy around her eventhough she had many amazing policy ideas, all had a part in her defeat. This was important to me. It was important to me that she recognized her own faults but that she also knew that there was nothing more she could have done because other factors still would have been there and they still would have led to her defeat. 

She also does an an incredible job at explaining the differences that she experienced on the campaign due to her gender, things that Trump never had to deal with. She was accused of being too emotional, not emotional enough. She was told to be polite even though Trump was congratulated for being ruthless. She had to do hair and makeup every day. She had to remain feminine but not too delicate. She felt fear of Trump as he loomed over her on the stage after he basically congratualted sexual assault on the public stage. I feel that all women can relation to her experiences that may have been influenced by her gender in some way shape or form. 

Overall, I would listen to this book a hundred more times. Thank you, (Madam President) Hillary Rodham Clinton. 

Update

College has been keeping me very busy recently and I haven't been able to do much reading for fun. I am currently 1/2 way through the second GoT book, after about a month of reading it. I am listening to What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton. I have read two pages of a Sherlock Holmes novel.

Most of the reading that I have been doing has been textbooks and boring novels for classes. I am attempting to get back into the swing of things and make more time for reading. I have so many books staring me in the face, saying "READ ME!!!!" As soon as I am done with the audiobook, I will post a review and same when I finish this book of Got.

Sorry for the lack of posts. I am really trying though!!

Game of Thrones ~ George R.R. Martin

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones. 

Book Review:

I bought the box set to this series about two years ago but I never got around to it. I finally decided to pick it up and I don't know why because I am busier than ever, but nevertheless, I am glad that I did. I loved this book and cannot wait to continue on with the series. 

Martin has created such a complex world with complicated politics and family drama, as well as an element of the supernatural without it being overwhelming. When I picked up the book, I was kind of terrified by the size. It is so long and the font is not big. I was worried that it would be full of too much filler and not enough action. Well, that is certainly not the case. There is barely any filler and it is all action. 

I enjoy that the book is told in multiple perspectives, chapter by chapter. I believe that it adds to the complexity but that it also allows for the reader to get a deeper understanding of the world and its politics. My favorite perspectives to read from are Jon, the bastard, Daenerys, the warrior princess, and Eddard, who is just so moral. I am not really a fan of reading the chapters in the perspectives of Catelyn, Eddard's wife, or Tyrion, the "Imp." The other perspectives of Bran, Sansa, and Arya I don't mind. They are not boring to read but they aren't as amazing as Jon's either. I feel like they give a bit of youth and naivete to the story though, which is important when so much of the rest of the story is dark and full of intricate details. 

I will say that I have developed a pure hatred from some characters (Cersei, Joffrey, Jaime) but I also really love some as well (Jon and Daenerys, especially). I have really enjoyed reading as Jon progressed and vowed to take the Black. I love his relationship with Ghost, his direwolf. I have also loved reading as Daenerys has found her strength. She started out as such a whisper of a character, afraid of her aggravating and abusive brother, but once she married Khal Drogo, something in her changed. 

I will say, I do not remember much from the beginning of the story, just the main plot points as the book is so long and things are constantly changing. I don't really consider that a downfall, though. Also, the end, threw me for a loop. I mean she gave birth to dragons, that had been extinct for centuries prior. A human woman gave birth to three dragons and walked out of a fire with no wounds and then it ends! What?! I am so excited to continue on with the series and figure out this whole story with the dragons too. 

Favorite Quote:

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” 

Piecing Me Together ~

Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.

Book Review:

This book is another YA novel that has taken on a stronger meaning by highlighting the plot with social injustices. In this incident, Jade, is being given all of these opportunities but they seem to be more about pitty than trying to really help her. It seems as though these people believe that she can't overcome her own circumstances on her own. I really resonated with that part of the story. Now the reason behind these people giving her these opportunities is because she is a young black girl from the ghetto. For me, it's been about my low income and anxiety. No matter the circumstances, I really believe that many people will resonate with her feelings and even if they haven't experienced those feelings themselves, they may be able to recognize when they have perpetrated those feelings onto someone else. 

The book was fairly slow moving and kind of hard to get into at first. If I were to compare it some of the other YA novels that have used forms of social injustice or inequality recently, I would probably rate this behind all of them. Jade was kind of annoying as the main character, the family dynamics probably could have been discussed more thoroughly, etc. Nevertheless it was still a decent book. 

Pages: 272                                                                                                                            Rate: 2.75/5

Favorite Quote:

“Makes me feel like no matter how dressed up we are, no matter how respectful we are, some people will only see what they want to see.” 

The One Memory of Flora Banks ~ Emily Barr

Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora’s brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend's boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora's fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So, when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world—in Svalbard, Norway—Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life.
 
But will following Drake be the key to unlocking Flora’s memory? Or will the journey reveal that nothing is quite as it seems?

Book Review:

I picked up this book as a part of BookTube-A-Thon 2017 for the hyped book challenge. I have seen it all over BookTube and it is even one of the books on the Zoella and Friends Book Club list. I figured that it was a good time to give it a try and I am glad I did. 

When I first started reading it, it felt and read like any contemporary novel with a bit of a twist coming in the form of Flora's short-term memory, over protective parents, and one confusing evening. As I continued to read it, I began to get similar feelings to when I was reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. 

I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat as I read the story. I wanted Flora and her best friend to work things out. I wanted Flora to get answers for the confusion that continued after her kiss with Drake. Eventually we find out the truth about that night and that kiss that Flora seems to remember. It is not as sweet as Flora remembers it to be. I wont divulge to much of the truth because it would completely ruin the impact of the novel, but let's just say, it was completely unexpected.

After the truth is revealed, Flora has to deal with figuring out who is with the help of some friends and her dead brother through his boyfriend. Thankfully, it seems as though everything is going to work out for Flora and she is going to be able to live the life that her brother wanted for her. 

Pages:298                                                                                                                                  Rate: 4/5

Favorite Quote:

“Although I don't know much about anything, I know that I have a story. I know that it is not over. There are shades and shadows of adventures and people and wild new places."

A Study in Charlotte ~ Brittany Cavallaro

The first book in a witty, suspenseful new trilogy about a brilliant new crime-solving duo: the teen descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. This clever page-turner will appeal to fans of Maureen Johnson and Ally Carter.

Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices—and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends.

But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

Book Review:

I started this book without any real expectations. I love the BBC adaptation "Sherlock Holmes," but I have never read the original series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although I had no real expectation, I was nervous that the dynamic between Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson wouldn't be the same as it is between the actors in the BBC television show. I was pleasantly surprised to have Charlotte be just as perturbed, easily aggravated, blatant, and intelligent as the original Holmes. Jamie wasn't as similar to the Watson that I have come to love, but his character still had that undeniable devotion and loyalty to Charlotte like the original Watson had for his Holmes. 

I found the setting to be rather interesting as both of the characters were far removed from their connections, but especially Charlotte, who even though she seems so independent could have gotten things done much more efficiently if she had her colleagues from Scotland Yard. I felt that this separation and the fact that familial relationships weren't able to completely participate in the dynamic between Charlotte and Jamie was valuable to their appeal. I loved that the story did not focus on a romantic relationship and that the brains of the operation was female. 

Now, although this book was great and I am excited to continue with the trilogy, it was hard to get into at first. It really took me a while to find my groove with the story. Maybe it is the writing. Maybe it was my preconceived notions of Holmes and Watson. I don't really know, but I do know that as soon as I was hooked, I could not put it down. 

Pages: 341                                                                                                                                 Rate: 3/5

Favorite Quote:

“I began wondering if there was some kind of Watsonian guide for the care and keeping of Holmeses.” 

Final BTAT17 Update (Days 3-7)

BTAT started out so well for me but it didn't end as strong, mainly because of life!

Day 3: I read nothing!
Day 4: I read nothing!
Day 5: I started reading Jessica Jones: Alias: Vol. 2 for my outside book. I also started reading Feminist Fight Club as my book for the bought only because of the cover challenge.
Day 6: Finished reading Jessica Jones: Alias: Vol. 2. It was so good and I am so excited to continue reading the series. I might really be getting into comics because of this.
Day 7: Read a little bit more of Feminist Fight Club. 

Total Pages Read for BTAT17: 1,112

Be on the lookout for reviews every Monday!

Once And For All ~ Sarah Dessen

Is it really better to have loved and lost?  Louna's summer job is to help brides plan their perfect day, even though she stopped believing in happily-ever-after when her first love ended tragically.  But charming girl-magnet Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged now that he's met the one he really  wants.  Maybe Louna's second chance is standing right in front of her.

Book Review:

Not my favorite Sarah Dessen novel but it definetly wasn't bad. Louna did feel a bit isolated from the readers though. Ambrose was funny and sweet and Louna kind of had a personality that seemed to be distorted by her mother's life, but at the same time, the depiction of her mental illness (anxiety) was very touching. I love when authors step into that realm and force readers to realize that it is not strange and abnormal to have a mental illness. 

Louna's relationships were very sweet. Her mother was her one and only but she was never bitter about her father, it was more of a "matter of fact" situation. William, her mother's friend and business partner took on the male role model for Louna and he was a hilarious Gay. I was very proud that Dessen included and LGBTQIA+ character. Louna's best friend was hilarious and reminded me of my own crazy adventurous best friend. Louna's first love, Ethan, seemed so perfect and left an everlasting impact on her even though their relationship was short-lived due to unfortunate circumstances. 

The aforementioned unfortunate circumstances, that I will not specify in this review, was perfect for the current social and political climate. I feel that even people who haven't been directly impacted by a similar situation would still understand it as they are on the news more often than they really should be. It also spoke to the leading causes of said issue, such as bullying etc. 

Wonderfully written. I cried. I want a guy like Ambrose, as I constantly fall in love with all of Dessen's main men. 

Pages: 363                                                                                                                                 Rate: 4/5

BookTube-A-Thon Day 2 Update

As you can see, I have changed one of the books on my TBR. I added Jessica Jones: Alias: Vol. 2 for the reading outside challenge, I'm just not feeling another poetry collection this week.
I had to work this morning so I wasn't able to read until later today.
2:00pm: Continuing with Piecing Me Together.
3:45pm: Had to take a break. A friend needed to talk! Friends first!
4:30pm: Continuing with Piecing Me Together.
5:00pm: Just finished Piecing Me Together and it was incredible. I can not wait to write a review on it. Even though, myself and Jade have a lot of similarities, we are also very different. Our differences stem from where we have grown up and our races. It took a while for Jade to find her voice and be comfortable with who she is, similar to myself; but, Jade struggled with this due to the historical and current injustices and stereotypes placed on African Americans and Woman, but especially African American Woman, different from me.

Total # of Pages Read Today: 228
Total # of Pages Read for BTAT17 So Far: 899

BookTube-A-Thon Day 1 Update

8:30am: Started reading Jessica Jones: Alias: Vol. 1.
10:30am: Finished Jessica Jones: Alias: Vol. 1. I loved it. I might actually be getting into comic books if the other 3 volumes are this good. The artwork was great and I just love Jessica Jones as a character. Her job is so quirky and I can never figure out where her head is. Completed Reading Challenge 1, read a book with a person on the cover!
11:00am: Started reading The One Memory of Flora Banks.
12:10pm: Participating in my first reading sprint with the BookTube-A-Thon twitter.
12:30pm: Finished the reading sprint. My monster hunting squad is called Arctic Brave.
1:30pm: Just finished The One Memory of Flora Banks. I was sucked right into this book!  It is suspensful, kind of confusing, and utterly compelling. The ending was perfect!
2:10pm: Started reading The Chaos of Longing. 
3:30pm: Finished reading The Chaos of Longing. It was really good. The poems were dark and socially conscious while telling the story of the author, the way all good poetry should be!
4:45pm: Started reading Piecing Me Together.
5:30pm: Had to put Piecing Me Together down. So far it is really good. Hopefully, I will finish it tomorrow.

I was really upset this morning when I found out that work was canceled for the day, as I am a camp counselor and the weather was bad. But then I remembered that today was the start of BookTube-A-Thon and I got really excited; therefore, instead of going back to bed when I received the news, I made my breakfast smoothie and started reading. I have a really busy week ahead of me between work, helping backstage at a friend's play, house sitting, and spending time with family that I don't see often. When I originally decided to do this, yesterday, I never thought that I would be able to finish 7 books this week and I might not, but today was a great start. Three books down and Four to go.

It is currently 6pm and I don't think that I will be reading anymore today. I leave for rehearsal soon and when I get back all I am going to want to do is watch Youtube and go to bed. So happy first day of BTAT everyone and wish me luck for the rest of my TBR.

All of the books that I have finished today will have book reviews coming soon, always on Mondays.

Follow me on Twitter for consistent updates @abookishtweet

Total # of Pages Read today: 668 pages

whiskey words & a shovel I ~ r.h. Sin

Originally released in 2015, this re-rerelease packs the same punch as the first version, but makes an even greater connection with the soul of the reader. Each piece has been re-seen and revamped to reflect the author’s continuing journey with his partner, Samantha King, without whom this book would not exist. Samantha is the muse, the “she” the writer speaks of; she is every woman who has felt like she wasn’t good enough, and every woman who struggles to find love.  

Book Review:

In a previous blog post, I said that I wanted to start reading more modern poetry; therefore, I bought a few books full of modern poetry. I bought all 3 from r.h. Sin's whiskey words & a shovel set as well as a few more. At first, I was skeptical of reading poetry by a man. I didn't believe that his words would be able to resonate with me. How wrong was I? At least, in this case, I was 100% wrong. I felt something ethereal in every poem. This may be due to the fact that the poetry is inspired by the relationships his current partner has experienced as well as her feelings of inadequacy, but nevertheless, many of the poems spoke to my feminity. 

If you are trying to get into more modern poetry that really speaks to the current social climate, I would start here. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this set. Personally, I find it very hard to review these books, as there is no true plot or characters to discuss, but just know that everyone will resonate with these poems for one reason or another. I truly feel that anyone above 16 years of age should be reading these poems. 

Pages: 306                                                                                                                                 Rate: 5/5

BookTube-A-Thon TBR ~ July 24th-July 30th

So, I am going to attempt to participate in this year's BookTube-A-Thon hosted by Ariel Bissett on Youtube. There are 7 reading challenges and I have chosen 7 books to complete said reading challenges. Now, I do not know what order that I will read these in or if I will even be able to complete all 7. I am going to try my best to read as much as I can inbetween work and rehearsal. The above picture is my current reading station. Wish me luck!!

Read a book with a person on the cover: I chose Alias Vol. 1 by Bill Sienkiewickz and David Mack. I have wanted to get into comic books for a while now and since I loved the Netflix series based off of Alias, Jessica Jones, I figured  I would give this a go.

Read about a character who is very different from you: I chose Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. This is about an African American teen named Jade. Her personality, based on the synopsis, seems to be determined, like myself, but for very different reasons. We have experienced very different lifestyles, some due to our race, others due to where we have grown up. I am really looking forward to picking this up. Plus, the cover is beautiful. 

Read a book completely outside: I chose whisky words & a shovel II by r.h. Sin. This is a collection of  poems, so I feel that it should be a quick and easy read outside.  I have already read the first one and I really enjoyed it. 

Read a hyped book: I chose The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr. I have seen this book all over booktube and it is one of the picks for the Zoella and Friends Summer 2017 bookclub. 

Read a book that you bough because of the cover: I chose Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual by Jessica Bennet. It is supposed to be a self-help-esque book about surviving the demeaning comments and gestures in the office experienced by woman from men. I am not working in an office yet, but I will be one day and I am a Feminist. 

Finish a book in one day: I chose The Chaos of Longing by K.Y. Robinson. It's another collection of poems. 

Read 7 books: For my seventh book, I chose The Last of August Brittany Cavallaro. I ust finished the first book in this trilogy, A Study in Charlotte, and I loved it so much. It is a series about the great-great-great-great grandkids of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and it is amazing!

I hope you enjoy this TBR. Follow me on Twitter @abookishtweet for updates!

Big Little Lies ~ Liane Moriarty

A murder...A tragic accident...Or just parents behaving badly? What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and a sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can turn lethal.

Book Review:

The only way to describe Big Little Lies is by saying it's a contemporary thriller. It has all of the wonderous tropes that we love in a good contemporary: relationships, friendships, frenemies, bitchy kindergarten moms, etc. It also has that "keep you on the edge of your seat" feeling as you try to figure out what the hell is actually going on, which you don't figure out until the very end and it's absolutely unexpected. 

The characters are so easy to love and hate. Jane, my favorite, is a single mom who is just trying to figure out how to not screw her kid up. She makes friends and enemies with the other characters. Madeline is spunky and still so in love with her husband. Celeste has some issues but you can see that she means well. I hate Renata and Harper, no more to say there. The small coastal community gives the book a cozy feeling with darker elements based on the plot. While reading it, I could actually see this little town in my head, like a map was in my hands. 

Although there was so much to love about the book, I did feel that it was a slower read. It took me a while to actually care about picking it up. I am excited to watch the HBO series based off of the book though. 

Pages: 458                                                                                                                                Rate:4/5

Note to Self ~ Connor Franta

In his New York Times bestselling memoir, A Work in Progress, Connor Franta shared his journey from small-town Midwestern boy to full-fledged Internet sensation. Exploring his past with humor and astounding insight, Connor reminded his fans of why they first fell in love with him on YouTube—and revealed to newcomers how he relates to his millions of dedicated followers.

Now, two years later, Connor is ready to bring to light a side of himself he’s rarely shown on or off camera. In this diary-like look at his life since A Work In Progress, Connor talks about his battles with clinical depression, social anxiety, self-love, and acceptance; his desire to maintain an authentic self in a world that values shares and likes over true connections; his struggles with love and loss; and his renewed efforts to be in the moment—with others and himself.

Told through short essays, letters to his past and future selves, poetry, and original photography, Note to Self is a raw, in-the-moment look at the fascinating interior life of a young creator turning inward in order to move forward.

Book Review:

Connor Franta has done it again! He let us, the readers (mainly the FrantaFam), into his life. He doesn't go into the specifics of many of the situations that he discusses, such as his broken heart and 2 year relationship; but, he does vividly describe his feelings through gorgeous poetry, essays, and photography. I felt closer to him, as a fan and as a human. 

I really loved his first memoir, A Work in Progress, and I had a good feeling about this one. He went a different route with his writing style than the first one but I think that it really paid off. His first memoir focused on telling us the details of the stories that made him who he is. It almost felt like a bunch of college application essays with some really cool photography. This new memoir was taking experiences from the past few years and without giving many details, explaining his innermost feelings and thoughts through poetry, essays, and gorgeous photography. It felt like a tumblr page in best possible way. 

His work inspired me to start reading more modern, contemporary, free verse poetry again, which is my favorite type of poetry. I truly credit him with pulling me out of my most recent reading slump.

Pages: 320                                                                                                                             Rate: 5/5

American Street ~ Ibi Zoboi

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Book Review:

After reading The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas (my last post), I really wanted to read something else that had a strong sociopolitical plot. American Street was a great choice. It deals with a US born daughter being split from her Haiti-born mother as they attempt to move back into the US. Fabiola has to live in a new city, in a new country, with family that she barely knows, while her mother is held in detention. She starts school, faces a dangerous situation, and even falls in love. 

With the current political climate, immigration is very up in the air, no one can predict where the process is headed, good or bad. I felt that this gave a unique perspective on the situation and still included those YA tropes that I believe still make a novel interesting. What I really enjoyed is that the main character, who happened to be born in the US but was raised in Haiti, is rediscovering herself through this new land but does not stray from her culture and values. I love that we, as readers, get to watch as she discovers love and fear. 

I also really enjoyed that Zoboi chose to write such a profound immigration story from a non-Spanish speaking nation. I feel that it is important, especially at this point in time, to remind people that not all immigrants come from Mexico or are terrorists. 

Pages: 336                                                                                                                                Rate: 4/5 

Favorite Quote:

"When she turns on the light, the first thing to greet me are the shelves and shelves of books and more books. I want to stop and hug her and give her a big kiss on the cheek. With this many books I can make this place my home." 

8

The Hate You Give ~ Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Book Review

There is a lot of hype around this book right now, much of it due to our current Political Climate and the Black Lives Matter Movement that this book gives an interesting and new perspective on; therefore, I was hesitant to pick it up. Usually when there is such a hype around books, I get nervous about reading them. Are they going to live up to the expectations that social media has planted into my head? Are they going to have those same tropes like other YA novels that have become boring to me? Is it going to be as mindblowing as I need it to be? Although, I was nervous, I was also very excited. This is a debut novel by Angie Thomas and personally, I find debut novels to be a great incite into the talent of an author. Also, the plot line has such a strong sociopolitical dynamic to it that I just couldn't resist. 

I took an immediate liking to Starr. She is so strong even though she has a lot of internal conflicts. Her relationships with her family is so realistic but sweet at the same time. Throughout the book, she has to come to terms with who she is while living two different lives. On one hand, she is an ex-gangster's daughter in the middle of the ghetto. On the other hand, she is one of the very few black kids at a very prestigious school in a ritzy neighborhood. Her friends and boyfriend from school don't understand her life at home, they don't understand the culture, and they really do not understand how racism impacts her and her family on a daily basis. 

Now, as if the internal identity issues weren't enough, you throw in the fact that she watched a police officer kill her unarmed friend in front of her. She has to deal with the uprising in her community due to his death, as well as a gang war, and having to make an eye witness testimony against a police officer. Throughout this novel we watch Starr stick to her morals and values, which I find to be very empowering. In a lot of YA novels, we deal with a character who is struggling with doing what his or her peers are doing or going their own way, but this gave that trope a very realistic, powerful, current, and new outlook.   

After I finished reading this novel I wanted to pick up something similar. This happens a lot of me. For example, in middle school, after I finished the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer I began reading the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. But this style of writing is very unique. The plot is very unique. Trying to find another YA novel with a strong sociopolitical plot is and was difficult. But Angie Thomas has made this style a new favorite for me.

Pages: 464                                                                                                                                 Rate: 5/5

Favorite Quote:

“At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them.”