February Wrap Up

Did you read a lot of books in February? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! 

Check out my February wrap up video on my YouTube channel. The books I mentioned are below with links to purchase at three major book outlets. On a budget? Check out your local library or Half-Price Books to see what you can find on the cheap. Thrift stores are also a great place to find books for cheap, although the selection is not as large as a bookstore.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at Barnes and Noble
• Get it at Books-A-Million

Other books by Nicola Yoon:

• Everything Everything

The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at Barnes and Noble
• Get it at Books-A-Million

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at Barnes and Noble
• Get it at Books-A-Million

Other books by Jojo Moyes:

• Me Before You
• After You
• Silver Bay
• Sheltering Rain
• One Plus One

Check out Jojo's website to see her full list of works.

The March Trilogy by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at Barnes and Noble
• Get it at Books-A-Million

CONTINUE READING

February Book Haul

Happy (end of) February friends!

My February Book Haul is up on my YouTube channel. Find all the books I mentioned in the video below. On a budget? Be sure to check out your local Half Price Books. Is there a book I should keep on my radar? Let me know in the comments! Be sure to subscribe to my channel!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Also by Fredrik Backman:

• My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
• Britt-Marie Was Here
• And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
• Bear Town

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly 

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Want more information on Hidden Figures - check out Margot's website.

The Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

• Get it from Amazon
• Get it from Barnes and Noble
• Get it from Books-A-Million

Also by Ken Follett:

• Fall of Giants
• Winter of the World
• The Pillars of the Earth
• World Without End

Be sure to check out Ken's website for a complete listing of his novels.

Complete Plays by William Shakespeare

• Get it from Barnes and Noble

Only interested in a specific play? Most book stores carry Shakespeare's works!

CONTINUE READING

Blogging, Vlogging and BookTube...Oh My!

Hello everyone! To compliment my blog, I thought I'd start a YouTube channel. I felt like it would be easier to convey what I'm thinking about a book through spoken word versus written word. This way my sarcasm and tone are easier to understand than left up to interpretation. Take a look at my introductory video below!

I'm excited to join the BookTube community!

Be sure to like and subscribe over on YouTube! Happy reading!

CONTINUE READING

"The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer" - A Little Bit Paranormal

Sometimes when I go to Books a Million or Barnes and Noble I impulse buy books. For any book obsessed human being, this really shouldn't come as a surprise. There was a sale going on with these books (that I bought legitimately months ago) for a buy two get the third free. How could I pass this up? Plus the summary for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was intriguing.

Hodkin, Michelle. 2011.

You wake up with no memory of the last few days. Your friends were killed in an accident that you miraculously survived. Your family has to move to another state to escape the fallout. You meet a mysterious boy who seems to know more about your past than you do. You start seeing things that can't possibly be there. You are afraid you are losing your mind. Can you keep it together? Mara Dyer is about to find out.

I devoured this book! There are so many cliff hangers in it, and I felt like I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. As you can imagine, when you wake up with no memory over a traumatic accident, typically your brain is shielding you from the trauma. Over time, you start to remember what happened. Based on that fact, Mara starts to remember more and more of what happened to her and her friends that tragic night. But basically everyone in her life thinks that she is suffering from PTSD and is seeing things that aren't really there. And there are times when she thinks that she's seeing things that aren't there too. As the story goes on, you really start to feel for and empathize with Mara because there are times when it seems like no one is on her side despite what you as the reader no about Mara and the storyline.

Let's talk characters for a minute - because there are so many great ones! You have the obvious one: Mara - she's a good one, but not my favorite. I love Noah Shaw (aka the love interest). And Daniel (the older brother) and Joseph (the younger brother). Jamie (Mara's friend from school - he's hilarious). Hodkin really created a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed their interactions with each other and with Mara.

As soon as I finished this book, I luckily had the second book in the trilogy sitting around (The Evolution of Mara Dyer) that I could jump right into. Which is what happens when a book ends on a cliff hanger and you need to know what happens next.

Have you read this book? I'd love to know your thoughts!

CONTINUE READING

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" - Reading a Play and Other Thoughts

I'm not sure if this has come across at all, but I am OBSESSED with Harry Potter. My series is starting to fall apart from re-reading over and over again. I'm in the process of designing canvasses to paint for my room, and I'm planning and designing a Harry Potter themed tattoo. Why am I sharing this? To show that I do love this series with my whole heart.

Rowling, Tiffany, Thorne. 2016.

It took my a few weeks to start this one - but only because I didn't want it to end. Once I started this one, I definitely finished it in a short period of time. So let's talk about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne.

First, I want to talk format. I absolutely loved reading this as a script. I felt like it makes the story move along and was easier to read. Add in the stage directions to the lines and it's way easier to visualize the story and the stage than when reading a book (that isn't a script). Although I will say, that I didn't feel like I had to use my imagination much with it - especially since I've seen images of the cast, etc.

Now - let's talk story. I really enjoyed reading and learning more about the next generation of Harry Potter characters. However, it probably isn't my favorite thing that I've ever read by Rowling. I am a huge fan of her work (all of her work - not only HP). It felt like some of the plot was grasping at straws for a storyline and it didn't feel as natural and flowing.

Don't get me wrong - I did really enjoy reading this and I'm not bashing it in any way, shape or form. All I'm saying is that it's not my #1 thing I've read by Rowling. Is it because two additional authors are in play for this? Maybe - there's no way for me to know that for sure.

Love or hate it - I'd love to know your thoughts (without spoilers please)! Please share in the comments section or connect with me on social media to chat further.

CONTINUE READING

"Daring Greatly" - How Important Vulnerability Is

If you've read my blog at all or have browsed through my Goodreads profile, you may have picked up on the types of books I like to read: fiction, mystery, suspense, fantasy, young adult, etc. Notice that nowhere have I mentioned non-fiction. I'll be honest - it can be difficult for me to get into non-fiction works. So reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown was completely outside of my comfort zone of reading (you could say that it fits in with the theme of the book).

Daring Greatly focuses on what vulnerability is, how to be vulnerable and the importance of it. Brown defines vulnerability as "uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure". Check out this quote from the book summary:

Brown, Brené, 2012.

But Brené Brown explains that when we shut ourselves off from vulnerability, we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives, and that nothing is as dangerous, uncomfortable, or hurtful as standing on the outside looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena.

This book really opened my eyes to the importance of vulnerability and what we, as human beings, do to protect ourselves from it. If there's anything I've learned from Daring Greatly it's that putting yourself in a vulnerable position is a good thing - when done appropriately. Brown shares that "vulnerability is based on mutuality and requires boundaries and trust". Basically, vulnerability is not oversharing and purging information to anyone who will listen. It is sharing feelings and experiences with people who have earned the right to hear them (aka you trust them).

When I heard of this book my first thought was "who is Brené Brown" - I wanted to be sure that I was reading a book by someone who is well-respected in the field. Brown is definitely that! She is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Her research over the past 13 years includes the studying of vulnerability, courage, shame and worthiness. She's given multiple TED talks - the vulnerability video below is one of the top 5 most viewed TED talks. Check it out - it's definitely a great view and a segue way into Daring Greatly.

Being vulnerable opens the door to transform the ways in which we live our lives and interact with others. If you're looking for a book that will help you grow in both your personal and professional lives, this is the one to read.

CONTINUE READING

Checking In and Books

Hello internet! It has definitely been awhile since I've blogged. To be honest, it has been a crazy few months with work, various nonprofit organization I'm involved with and getting into some reading ruts. Not to mention, traveling multiple weekends in a row. To the point that when I have a hot second, all I want to do is watch Netflix and not think (read as either watching Criminal Minds, Psych or Friends). So today I'm checking in and sharing a few books with all of you!

First - I have my copy of The Cursed Child. I have not read it yet - only because I know that I will crush it in a few hours and I'm not ready for it to be over. It is my next read (after the current book I'm reading).

Brown, Brene. 2012.

Current read - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Yes this is different than most books I typically read. I'm part of an organization called thrive, and we're creating a few different experiences at the Cuyahoga County Public Library starting in September. The first book on our list is this one. So far it is a great read regarding courage and vulnerability - getting us to think of it in a different way. I definitely recommend it (also shameless plug to check on the library's social media for information on our upcoming events).

The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner - this was most definitely an Amazon recommendation. But since Amazon hasn't disappointed me thus far, I'm excited for this read. Tess ends up putting her husband behind bars for murdering ten women. Oh did I mention that her husband is a decorated cop? After vowing that he would make her pay for putting him behind bars, he has escaped. Tess teams up with an ex-marine and an FBI profiler to fight back and catch this guy. She knows it is kill or be killed.

I really want to start reading True Crime novels. Yes they'd be totally creepy, but I love those types of shows so I can imagine that I would enjoy the books. Anyone have any recommendations on a good one to start with? I'd love to hear it!

CONTINUE READING

Harry Potter Series Rankings

Happy March my friends! Spring is almost here - and I seriously cannot wait until we have consistently warmer weather. The freeze baby in me is not a big fan of the winter coldness. This month I'm spending some time chatting about my absolute favorite book series of all time - Harry Potter.

I totally understand if this series wasn't for you. But I highly encourage everyone to at least try and read it - especially if you've only watched the movies (a fraction of the content is in the movies). Every time I read this series I focus on something new and I get something new out of it. Just thinking about this month's posts makes me want to read the series over again.

Today, I'm going to rank the books in the series for all of you. This is seriously difficult for me to do since I love aspects of literally every single one. When I read certain ones when I was younger I didn't like them. Reading them again as an adult completely changed my perspective. Just because your favorite might be last on my list, doesn't mean I don't love it and that it isn't an amazing book. So let's give this a try:

1. The Prisoner of Azkaban - this is one is without a doubt my absolute favorite. My copy is beginning to fall apart. This is the last book where there is really any innocence left in the characters. The next in the series makes the characters begin to actually fight one on one with pure evil and takes that innocence away. And if you think about it, it's really the only book where no one dies.

2. The Sorcerer's Stone - the one that started it all. I love reading about Harry finding out that he's a wizard and all of his first experiences at Hogwarts.

3. The Order of the Phoenix - I struggled deciding if this was a good place for the fifth book of the series. However, the more I read this one, the more I love the story and everything in it - except Umbridge. Umbridge is worse than Voldemort in my opinion, but that's a different post for a different time. There are so many things that happened during this book that are essential to the remainder of the series (like the DA and learning about the Order itself). At the same time, I will never get over the ending of this book.

4. The Deathly Hallows - there is so much happening in this one, that I don't know where to begin. It's written perfectly and I swear you feel every emotion possible while reading it. Don't believe me - then you should probably read it.

5. The Half-Blood Prince - I go back on forth on the placement of this one as well. But I loved learning more about Voldemort's past and why he is the way that he is, as well as how Harry needs to move forward to defeat him.

6. The Goblet of Fire - this is the book where I really learned that Harry is sometimes a complete idiot. Regardless though, I still enjoyed reading about the tournament. My only question is why is a tournament that is completely dangerous to students okay for them to do and promote. Literally something I'll never understand.

7. The Chamber of Secrets - the only reason this one is here is because the spiders and snake creep me out literally every time I read it. Thinking about the series as a whole, this book is essential. It's when we first come into contact with a Horcrux - not that we even know what it is at this point.

And there you have it! I'd love to hear what you're favorite is. Let me know in the comments below.

CONTINUE READING

50 Shades of Grey - Love it/Hate it

To continue with the February's theme of Romance, we're going to spend some time comparing the 50 Shades of Grey book by E.L. James with the movie. Here's some quick facts about both the book and movie:

Book
Book 1 of the 3 book series (+ Grey)
Publisher: Vintage Books (2012)
Page Count: 514 (paperback)

Movie
Release date (USA): February 2015
Starring: Dakota Johnson (Ana Steele) and Jaime Dornan (Christian Grey)

Now that we have those quick facts out of the way, let's get down to it. The movie itself wasn't terrible. When I heard they were making a movie I was intrigued with how they were going to do it. After all, there's a lot of scenes that wouldn't be appropriate for movies that aren't, you know, X rated.

I wasn't let down with how they went about all the sex scenes in the book. However, I was disappointed with a lot of all pieces. I recently read Grey and it brought me back to why I enjoyed the book in the first place. 50 Shades of Grey, contrary to what may be talked about most, actually has a lot of innocent flirting between Christina and Ana. And that is what I like most about the book! I loved seeing how the characters developed and grew as individuals, but also as a couple. I felt that the movie skipped over most of these pieces, which, I think, played an important role to the story line.

If you've only seen the movie, I ask that you give the book a chance. You might be surprised by the characters. And if you haven't read Grey, I recommend that one too. I enjoyed learning more about Christian and understanding the first book from his perspective. I helped me understand the dynamic between Christian and Ana.

What did you think of these books and the movie? Let me know in the comments below.

CONTINUE READING

My Favorite Romance Novels

Happy February friends! Most people think February and think "love", since Valentine's Day is mid-month. I am no exception to that rule. So this month, our topic focus is Romance. There are so many different types of romance novels that it can be difficult to know which direction you want to go in. You can have the ones by Nicholas Sparks to the ones similar in nature to 50 Shades of Grey.


Today, however, we're going to take a look at some of my favorite romance novels thus far in life (in no particular order). I have a soft spot for cliche romance novels (reminder: this is a judgment free zone!), so I'm excited to share this list with you. Have you read any (or all) of these? Let me know in the comments!

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

Sparks, Nicholas. 2011

Two small-town form high school sweethearts are now middle aged and called back to home for a funeral of mentor of both of theirs. They revisit the choices they've made and their past wondering if love can rewrite their past.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Gabaldon, Diana. 2005.

Former combat nurse, Claire Randall, finds herself thrown back in time about 200 years. She finds herself falling for the young Scots warrior James Fraser.  She becomes torn between her husband in 1945 and the warrior in 1743.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Niffenegger, Audrey. 2013.

Henry suffers from Chrono-Displacement Disorder, which causes his genetic clock to randomly reset. He ends up at different places in time that case emotional gravity at any point during time. Henry and Clare are in love and are married when Clare is 23 and Henry 31. They attempt to live a normal life, but this is threatened by something that is outside of both of their control.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

McGuire, Jamie. 2011

Abby Abernathy is a typical good girl who finally believes that the darkness of her past is behind her. Travis Maddox is the complete opposite ands someone that Abby strives to avoid. The two make a bet: Travis has to remain abstinent for one month or Abby has to move in with Travis for one month. Regardless of the outcome, Travis has no idea what he's up against with Abby.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Moyes, Jojo. 2012.

Will Trainer and Lou Clark are an unlikely pair with an incredible story. When will is in an accident that takes away his desire to live. Lou takes it upon herself to show him how incredible life can be. She brings color into his otherwise dark days.

CONTINUE READING

Books on My 2016 to Read List

There is no way that I can outline the entire list of books I plan to read in 2016. Between this post and today's I'm hoping to tackle at least half of my goal of 50 books. How many books are you trying to read this year?

Without listing every book I plan to read, I want to start working on finishing series that I've started (i.e. Outlander and The Mortal Instruments). But who knows if I'll actually get to that this year. Here are some other books I plan to read in 2016.

Orwell, George. 1949.

1984 by George Orwell
A negative utopian novel that creates a convincing imaginary world that Orwell envisioned when he wrote this book in 1949. The novel focuses on the imaginations of whole generations and a power that grows with the passage of time.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. 1850.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Set in a Puritan community in the 17th century, Hester Prynne is publicly disgraced and ostracized when she engages in adulterous behavior. She has to draw on her strength and spirit to emerge as a heroine in this one.

Cupeco, Rin. 2014.

The Girl from the Well by Rin Cupeco
A girl was thrown down a well by a man 300 years ago. Now she walks the streets hunting murderers. She befriends a young boy who has moved in the neighborhood. Both begin to participate in doll rituals and Shinto exorcisms that take these two from a suburb in America to Aomori, Japan. The boy has a terrifying secret that would kill to be released.

Hodkin, Michelle. 2011.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Mara Dyer wakes in up in a hospital with no recollection of how she got there or what happened. She knows there was an accident, but she thinks that there is more to it that she can't remember. After all, all of her friends are dead, and she is unharmed. To top it all off, she's falling in love too.

Hodkin, Michelle. 2012.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Mara no longer believes that she can run from her past or that her problems are only in her head. The boy she's in love with is still keeping secrets from her. What's going to happen to her?

Brown, Jennifer. 2009.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Valerie was injured trying to stop Nick, and ended up saving the life of a classmate. However, she is still implicated in the shooting because of the list she and Nick created of things and people they hated. Which happened to be how Nick chose his targets. Valerie is forced to face her guilt by returning to school after a summer of seclusion. She is haunted by the memory of Nick and trying to navigate rocky relationships. In order for Valerie to move on with her life, she has to come to terms with her role in the shooting.

Bergin, Virginia. 2014.

H2O by Virginia Bergin
Ruby is at a party where frantic parents are trying to quickly get everyone in the house as it starts to rain because the rain will kill you. Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Everyone else has died fro being touched by the water. The only drinkable water is running out and she only has one chance for survival: hike across the country to find her father. At this point, Ruby doesn't even know if her father is alive.

Evans, Richard Paul. 2011.

Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
Alan Christoffersen lost his wife, his home and his business. Leaving everything behind, he sets off with only a backpack to walk to Key West. A roadside stabbing leaves him confined to a hospital bed. With no where to turn, a mysterious woman named Angel enters Alan's life. In order for Alan to continue on his own journey, he must first help Angel with hers.

Gregory, Philippa. 2014.

The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory
Margaret Pole is married off to Sir Richard Pole who is entrusted with the governorship of Wales. Margaret's life is changed by the arrival of the Prince of Wales and his bride. Margaret hides her connections to the Tudors and becomes an advisor and friend to the couple. The bride, Katherine, fulfills the Prince's wishes of marrying his brother Henry VIII. Margaret becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to the Queen. Her charmed life of being of high stature within England only lasts until the rise of Anne Boleyn and the falling of the Tudor court. Margaret has to make a decision on what is most important to her and where her allegiance lies.

CONTINUE READING

My 2016 TBR List

Every year I add an absurd amount of books to my "to read" list. So much, that sometimes its nearly impossible for me to read all of them. Please tell me that other people do this too. From those random finds at the bookstore to anticipated releases - my list just grows and grows.

My goal in 2016 is to read 50 books. That boils down to about a book a week. Here are some of the books that I'm looking forward to tackling in 2016.

Austen, Jane. 1811

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Marianne Dashwood falls for the unsuitable John Willoughby. Her sister Elinor warns her that she will be open to gossip and innuendo do to her rash behavior. Elinor struggles to hide her feelings of love from those around her. The sisters learn that mixing sense and sensibility is a must if they want to find happiness in a society where rules of love are governed by status and money.

Austen, Jane. 1815.

Emma by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse is content with her life without love and marriage, but finds great delight interfering with others romantic lives. She attempts to set up Harriet Smith, but her plan unravels with unexpected consequences.

Austen, Jane. 1818.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot is betrothed to marry Frederick Wentworth, a naval officer. Due to Lady Russell's advice, Anne breaks off her engagement. Wentworth returns from sea as a rich successful captain. Anne's family is struggling financially, and there is tension between everyone wondering if Anne and Wentworth will be reunited.

Bronte, Charlotte. 1847.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre emerges from living as an orphan that has been subject to cruel behavior at the Lowood charity school. She has integrity and an unbroken spirit. Jane becomes the governess at Thornfield and falls love. Jane has a passion for a greater life than what is traditionally allowed Victorian society.

Moriarty, Liane. 2005.

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Sophie Honeywell dumped Thomas Gordan, the man she believes is the one who got away. Gordan is now married and back in Sophie's life as she inherit's Gordan's aunt's house on Scribbly Gum Island. Sophie moves to the island to begin her life with this family, an unconventional one at that. Sophie's life becomes more and more complicated due to everyone's secrets, and she soon learns that sometimes you have to create you're own happy ending.

Baldacci, David. 2013.

The Hit by David Baldacci
Will Robie is a trained assassin working for the U.S. government. When they call on him to bring in Jessica Reel (a fellow assassin), Robie learns that there is more to her betrayal than what he's seen thus far. Reel's attacks conceal a larger threat that could be detrimental to the U.S. government.

Baladacci, David. 2014.

The Escape by David Baldacci
Robert Puller has escaped from prison. The government believes that only John Puller, his younger brother, can successfully bring Robert back in to face justice for treason and national security crimes. But John isn't the only one searching for Robert. John is soon working with another agent to uncover what happened and to find Robert. As they dig deeper, John learns troubling details of Robert's conviction. He soon fears for the safety of himself and his brother.

Preston, Natasha. 2014.

The Cellar by Natasha Preston
Sixteen year old Sumer Robinson goes missing from the town of Long Thorpe. Those close to her are devastated, but the whole community is suffering - this type of stuff doesn't happen in Long Thorpe. Hopes of finding her quickly fade as there isn't any evidence for police to find Summer. Thirty year old Colin Brown  has no sense of right and wrong due to his abusive childhood. He is desperate for the perfect family and will stop at nothing to achieve it, including referring to himself as Clover.

King, Stephen. 2014.

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
The first book in the trilogy, Bill Hodges is a retired cop haunted by an unsolved crime involving innocent people being run over by a Mercedes months earlier. Hodges receives a letter from the criminal pushing him out of retirement to prevent any more tragedies. Brady Hartfield is eager to feel the same rush he felt from the Mercedes killings. This time it'll injury thousands. Hodges and his allies are the only ones who can stop Hartfield.

Riggs, Ransom. 2011.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Sixteen year old Jacob travels to a remote island off the coast of Wales. There he discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Jacob explores the ruins and soon discovers that the children may have been dangerous, not just peculiar - and they may still be alive.

CONTINUE READING

Fiction Friday - "You Should Have Known" Book Review

I feel like I've had issues reading lately. I just haven't been motivated too and after getting home from some crazy weeks at work - the last thing I wanted to do was read. But I finally put my nose in You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz and oh my goodness! I really enjoyed this novel!

General information
Paperback: 464 pages
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Grand Central Publisher
Series: No
Amazon
Goodreads

What it's about
Grace Reinhart Sachs is living the only life she ever wanted for herself, devoted to her husband, a pediatric oncologist at a major hospital, their young son Henry, and the patients she sees  in her therapy practice. Grace is also the author of the forthcoming You Should Have Known, a book in which she castigates women for not valuing their intuition and calls upon them to pay attention to heir first impressions of men.

But weeks before the book is published, a chasm opens in her own life: a violent death, a missing husband, and, in the place of a man Grace thought she knew, only a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster, and horrified by the ways in high she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and herself.

Why I loved it

CONTINUE READING

Top Ten Tuesday - 10 Classics on My "To-Read" List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish. This week we were given a freebie topic - aka make up you're own topic! So I decided to list out the top 10 classics that are on my "to-read" list. I love reading the classics (Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, The Scarlet Pimpernel, etc.)! Its so cool that these novels have been around for as long as they have - and they're still so widely read! Here are my top 10 "to-read" classics, in no particular order:

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I bought this within the last few months, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf since then. The sheer size of this book is sort of intimidating, but I'm looking forward to reading it.

2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Much like Jane Eyre, I bought this within the last few months, and it's been chilling on my bookshelf ever since then. Honestly, I've wanted to read this ever since I watched "Easy A" - it plays such a large role in that movie. It has intrigued me since that moment.

3. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

CONTINUE READING

Fiction Friday - "13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

Happy Fiction Friday! The week is over and I'm ready to start a fun filled weekend with some friends. Plus, Penn State plays this weekend and I have some time to curl up with a book (normal things right?!). Today, I'm going to be reviewing 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. So, let's go ahead and get started.

Asher, Jay. 2007.

General information

Paperback: 336 pages

Genre: Young adult, contemporary

Publisher: Razorbill

Series: No

Amazon

Goodreads

What it's about

Clay Jenson returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Why I loved it

I had heard that this was a great read, but other than that I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. Oh.My.God. This was an emotionally charged read. For me, it was very eye-opening and I'm very happy I read this book. It's a reminder that we don't always see each other's battles AND that we all play a part in each other's stories, both good and bad. Everything we say and do has an impact on the lives of people around us. I think that this is an important book for everyone to read. We know that outcome of the book, but as readers we learn Hannah's story - and that is so important. I cannot say enough good things about this book!

Why you should read it

I honestly think that everyone should have to read this book. It's a reminder that how we treat each other does matter and has an impact on everyone's lives around us. It doesn't matter that this is a young adult book - it's one of those where I think everyone can get something out of it. Seriously, everyone needs to read this. 

My rating

5/5 stars - this book brings up a topic that is not easy to talk about (suicide) and presents it in a way that is eye-opening and shows the emotions and story of the individual. It's such an important message and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was able to get so much out of it.

Have you read this one? Share your thoughts below.

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Miscellaneous Monday - Top 5 Movie Adaptations of Books

Happy Monday friends! Welcome to the first installment of Miscellaneous Monday! Miscellaneous Monday has been created to post about anything related to books. So this week, I'm posting about my top 5 movies from books. These are movies that I believe really captured the essence of the book and without removing too much of the storyline. What movies have you seen adapted from books that you've enjoyed? Let me know in the comments below.


1. The Help

I loved reading The Help, so I was a little apprehensive about seeing the movie. However, I was very presently surprised, and to this day, it remains as one of my favorite adaptations. Obviously, movies cannot contain every detail that the book talks about - the movie would be incredibly too long at that point. From what I remembered about watching it, there was only maybe one or two things that did not appear in the movie. As a whole, I was incredibly impressed with how this movie turned out.

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2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

This book was amazing! Although longer in nature, so much happened and I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. When watching the movie, I was shocked by how much I remembered from the book. It followed the storyline very well and I thought the director's interpretation was spot on. Plus the actor's did an amazing job portraying each of the characters.

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