The A to Z Challenge

 So my bookish work friend asked me to join another challenge.  I LOVE her!   Of course I said yes.  This time, it is reading through the alphabet in a year.  I am not going to plan this one out too much.  Just fill in as I go along.  Feel free to follow along or even to join!

A-  The Awakening by Nora Roberts

B

C

D- Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in 15 suggestions.

E-  Every Last Secret - RA Torre

F  - Furyborn by Claire Legrand

G

H  Hawthorne and Heathcliff by RK Ryals

I - In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

J- Josh and Hazel 's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

K

L- Layla by Colleen Hoover

M- Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Cohen and Levithan

N- The Notorious RBG by Carmon and Khiznick 

O - The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy

P

Q

R- Restorative Yoga by Julia Clarke

S-  Sweet Water by Cara Reinard

T-  The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Cohen and Levithan.

U -  The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauran 

V -  A Vow so Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

W -  The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

X

Y - You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

Z

The Kiss Quotient

 

This was a really cute story that kept me engaged in reading.  Stella thinks that she is bad at relationships and bad at all that involves because she is somewhere on the autistic spectrum.   So what's a girl to do?  She hires and escort to teach her how to do things correctly.   Enter Michael.  He's handsome, talented and in a lot of trouble with money because of some family problems.  Maybe they will both be the answer for all one another's problems.

So to be honest, the book is borderline porn.  But it reads well for what it is.  I enjoyed it and found it highly entertaining.  It certainly didn't hurt that Stella drives a Model S.  Sometimes you just need something fun and frivolous and this book completely fit the bill.  No, it won't win the Pulitzer but it was a fun way to spend a rainy day. 

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarland

 

Georgina gets fired from the worst pub in town and just when she thinks her day can't get any worse, she finds her boyfriend in bed with his assistant.  I'm not giving anything away, that all happens in the first chapter.  I call days like that 'quicksand".  One thing after another just isn't going your way.

Georgina is in need of a new job, so her brother in law sets her up with a "on time deal" for a wake at a new pub opening in town.  She loves the job but there is just one problem.... the boy that got away in highschool is the boss's brother.  

I really enjoyed this story because it wasn't the obvious let's pick right back up where we left off story. In fact, Lucas, acts like he doesn't even remember Georgina from high school and she believes him ( which was the most incredible part of the story)This book really is more about Georgina finding her stride than it is about her finding a way to get together with Lucas.  It was cute... slow in some parts.  I gave it three out of  five stars. 

The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindburgh and the Epic Age of Flight by Winston Groom

  My dad is a pilot, so when I was growing up, he often told me the stories of great pilots - like these and others.  Rickenbacker was a particular favorite of mine - America's Ace of Aces from the 94th Hat in the Ring squadron.  This book had a lot of details that weren't in my dad's stories though.  Fascinating details

Here's just few - Rickenbacker was told by the Army that he was too old to fly, so he had to work around.  He started as a race car driver but eventually became interested in flying.  He  survived being shot down in a B-17 for 24 days at sea with 6 other men.   He went on to become the founder of Eastern airlines.

Jimmy Doolittle was one crazy Mick.   Who else would agree to a one way trip to bomb mainland Japan - taking off in a bomber from the decks of a Naval ship?  He also went to MIT and went on to receive the first PhD in Aeronautics from the school.   His work as a test pilot helped improve instrumentation on planes and solve many problems facing pilots in the early days of flying - like fog and storms.   

I don't think anything really needs to be added about Charles Lindburgh and he's my least favorite of the trio, for whatever reason.  But there is so much interesting information about him, too for those who are interested in learning more about his story and the many ways he contributed to flying.

This is a nonfiction that reads like a page turner.  I loved it.  Every minute was fascinating!  5 out of 5 stars.

Mask by Andrea Fink

    I found this one on kindle unlimited for free.  Emily was busy leading a quiet life when a strange man shows up at her home with a young woman who appears unconscious.  He pushes his way into her apartment, tells her the young woman is her sister and that she's been cursed and only Emily can help. 

Further, both this man and Emily's sister live in another world where magic is very real and both Emily and her twin are part human, part demon and therefor have magic.  Apparently, her sisters gifts are somewhat limited by Emily's are not.  She was exiled as a baby to the human world with her mother because she was the second born and her father didn't want her to be a danger to her sister.

So Emily is thrust into unfamiliar circumstances forced to pretend to be someone she's not.  She faces a lot of challenges along the way, not the least of which is her attraction for a vampire named Wit, who is NOT her sister's fiance.

This is part of a series.  It was engaging, not sure how I feel about continuing.  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. 

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia

     I mean, look at this cover!  I had to read it.  It's so lush my curiosity was immediately peaked.  This is the story of Noemi, a young socialite who receives a frantic letter from her newly married cousin that things are very wrong and she must come rescue her.

This had a Bram Stocker's Dracula meets Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca kind of feel to it to me.  And yet, the story was remarkably unique.   Noemi makes her way to the far away manor of High Point to ascertain for herself what is going on with her cousin.  She finds a nearly abandoned manner - almost like that which Ms. Havisham lives in within the pages of Great Expectations.  There is definitely a mystery that Noemi will need to unravel.  Will she be able to rescue her cousin and herself?  Gotta say,  I just thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Even though it is branded as horror - I wouldn't say that is really accurate.  I don't like horror, but gave this one a try anyway because I enjoy the author's writing.  She also wrote Gods of Jade and Shadow.   I would say it's more suspenseful with some aspects of horror mixed it.  I gave it four stars.  I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Atomic Love by Jennie Fields

    I chose this one for my book of the month.  Seriously, if you are an avid reader and don't do book of the month, you really should.  It's 14.99 for one book - hardcover.  Sometimes they even do pre-releases so that's very exciting.  All add on hardcovers are 9.99.  The best thing about it is you choose your book.  Don't like that month's offerings?  That's ok.  Skip a month and keep your credit. 

At any rate, this was my book of the month choice and I loved everything about it.  From the cover, to the story, the character development, the plot twists.... everything.  

Rosalind was a female scientist working with Dr. Fermi on the Manhatten Project.  She became romantically involved with an associate on the project who turned out to be a married man.  It nearly destroyed her.  Now, after she has finally gotten over Weaver and starting to move on with her life, she is approached by the FBI.  They think that Weaver will be back in touch and that he may have something to confess.  

I love a good spy novel and a strong female lead.  This book had both.  Parts of it may have been a little convenient, but it still works.   I gave it 5 out of 5 stars for being an original story that was very enjoyable to read. 

Rewire Your Brain by Daniel Robert

    I found this book on Kindle unlimited and, as I have been dealing with anxiety a lot recently,  I thought I'd give it a try.  There was so much interesting information in this book, I was really surprised.  I learned so much about the brain's biological flight and fight response and how anxiety is part of that.

For example, did you know that when you are having an anxiety attack, your temperature will actually increase and may even show a slight fever?  Yeah because the hormones get your heart pumping and your blood moving and that can actually elevate your temperature. I can run anywhere from 97.8 to 99.2 on any given day.  This book wasn't as much about controlling your anxiety as it was recognizing it, the causes, and then some techniques you can use to help deal with it. 

It started me on the path of discovery and looking for natural ways to deal with my anxiety.  Medicine is not for me ( I've tried).  Now, I am looking into journaling, 2dialectic behavior therapy, nature remedies like sage tea and I even ditched the caffeine.  I'm happy to report that I am starting to see some improvement. 

This book had great information but it was poorly edited.  Probably self published.  Without those glaring errors that I came across while reading, i would have ranked it higher.  As it is, only a 3 out of 5 because the errors were distracting.  Still if you suffer from anxiety, this is a good place to start.  

Midnight sun by Stephanie Meyer

     Ok I can't believe I got sucked into this again.  They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  Well, this fits.  I really didn't like Twilight.  Yes,  I read them.  All of them.  I hated Bella Swann and personally believe that she is the poster child for codependency.  Still,  I was talking to a friend who loved the series and I thought, maybe it will be different from Edward's perspective. 

It was and it wasn't.  So I didn't hate Bella as much as I did the first time around.  In fact, I found her relatable and almost endearing. This time Edward was the annoying, whiny one.  Maybe it has to do with being the character that Stephanie Meyer chooses to move the story.  At any rate.   I still loved Alice and Carlisle and Jasper.  Rosalie, Jessica and Mike?  Still annoying as shit.  Charlie barely mattered and Bellas mom was relegated to being an irresponsible, selfish parent.  In fact, Bella is often portrayed as the mature one.  

The best thing about the book is the same thing that was the best thing about the original series- Jacob Black.   Three stars and it's a gift. 

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

    This is the story of a very posh wedding taking place on a private Irish island.  They say the island is haunted but that doesn't stop the beautiful bride to plan her exclusive wedding to a famous tv personality there.

I loved this book because it has a huge cast of characters.  All of them have something going on- some reason why they don't really want this wedding to happen.  When the book opens you know something has happened but you don't know what or to who.   It goes through all the characters and develops them.

From the bride, groom, wedding planner, plus one, best man, ushers, and more... they all have a motive.  They all have some reason that they might have been willing to commit an act of violence.  This one kept me guessing.  I'm really glad I chose it as my Book of the Month.  Enjoyed it thoroughly.   4 out of 5 stars. 

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

   Claire Cook has the seemingly perfect life.  She is married to the handsome Rory Cook - heir to a fortune, son of a former Senator and promising politician.  The thing is, things are rarely as perfect as they seen and it turns out that Rory has a bit of a temper.  He also has a girlfriend in his past who died mysteriously.   

Claire has been carefully planning her exit from her life for sometime.  She has been squirreling away money, getting the proper documentation in place.  But the day she is to execute her plan something goes awry.   This brings Eva into her life.  The two women agree to switch plan tickets and help one another escape from their lives.   Nothing turns out the way you think it's going to.

This one was a real page turner that kept me guessing and came together in a lot of unexpected ways.  I really enjoy when a book keeps me up at night and this one did.   If you enjoy thrillers that are a real page turner, you may want to check this one out!  

Not Light but Fire by Matthew R. Kay Chapter 3

Three types of in class discussion

Whole group

Small learning community

One on one.

Small learning communities- he calls them PODS.  He gave an example where Einstein and a small group of friends got together to discuss physics, drink, play practical jokes and discuss the issues of the day.  Why shouldn't our students have these kinds of communities?  Mr. Kay randomly selected the members of his PODS when first setting them up.  As the year goes along, membership in the PODS can change.  For these communities to work, teachers must accept and make peace with student distractibility.  They will get distracted. 

In small groups, it's good for students to speak their own language - not necessarily academic language that they would use with the teacher to better express themselves naturally to their peers.  Teachers should only intervene in a pod if absolutely necessary.  

One to one conversations can be between teacher and student or two students. The conversations allow for the deepest exploration of ideas. 

It is a great idea to mix up all three types of conversations in the classroom.  I can see how we use whole group discussion and one on one ( turn and talk partners, student/teacher, but how might we incorporate pods?  

Notable quote - "Between me and the other world there is ever an unasked question; unasked by some through feelings of delicacy; by others through the difficulty of rightly framing it.  All, nevertheless, flutter around it... How does it feel to be a problem?  - WEB DuBois

*Why are minority cultures always discussed as a problem?  In relation to white oppression?  How can I make room for discussion to explore all facets of culture?

We should make sure that the struggle against white oppression aren't the only stories that we tell and discuss.  

Themes to consider - gender, religion, recreation and play and identity, aspiration and relationships, the prevalence of white saviors.  

What kind of citizenship do I hope to encourage through these discussions?  To that I add what kind of personal growth do I want to engage in?

- reasonable discussion - willing to honor fair principles of social cooperation even when not in personal best interest.

- realize that sometimes when people disagree it doesn't mean that others are biased, ignorant or selfish.

- deliberative - able to construct sound arguments and willing to change views when confronted with better ones.

Some ideas for themes outside of music, food, gender, spirituality:

how does the environment effect me? 

how are systems created and defined?

how do systems shape the world?

what is the role of individuals in systems?

what causes systemic and individual change?

what is the role of the individual in creating and sustaining change?

what is the relationship between self and changing world?

Race issues are human issues Women's/ Black/ LGBTQ rights are human rights  Animals matter. 

How did a dominant culture become so blind to the suffering they inflict all around them?Why do humans play at their own destruction?  So much to think about.  Freedom Writers, 12 Years a Slave, Octavia Butler, Americanah, Half of a yellow sun, Raisin in the sun, Fences. 

Not Light but Fire by Matthew R. Kay Take Aways chapter 2.

This chapter was really useful because it talks about the HOW of actually starting to have these conversations.  White people often don't acknowledge their racial experiences or privilege so often they are mistrusted by minorities who often don't verbally acknowledge this mistrust.   Not a great way to start, right?  

So in order to have these conversations - first we have to set the tone of having conversations, being active listeners.  Before we have these discussions, we need to orientate our students to the fact that these conversations are going to happen.  In this case, where the topic is delicate, surprises may not be good ones. 

To talk straight teachers need to qualify their beliefs as beliefs and not facts.  We can assign why we believe the way they do but if there is no room for differences, courageous conversations can't happen. 

*Great ideas can be volitile!

Does this idea hold water?  When questioning discussions, students learn

1. criticism should be humbly sought

2. that it's ok to disagree with someone with perceived authority

3. that we can express ideas before they are fully formed.

Destrictive conflict arises when both parties perceive that their interests are incompatible - I win, you lose.  When students continually lose, what they often lose is confidence and the desire to engage.  

4 types of conflict:

1. facts or data driven

2. process or methods

3. purposes

4. values

When someone is proven factually incorrect, they will either escalate or shut down. Remember, GROWTH is the goal and growth can not happen when the conversation shuts down.  

Favorite quote - we teach STUDENTS not subjects.  IE.  you don't teach english literature, you teach 10th grade students english literature. 

Not Light, But Fire by Matthew R. Kay take aways chapter 1

   These are my take aways from chapter 1.  First of all,,  I will say that I was lucky enough to attend a Professional Development session with Mr. Kay at the beginning of the summer coordinated by my school district.  It was fabulous and made me really want to read his book.  So here I am.   It takes a little longer for me to read a book like this because I really like to read, then parse my thoughts and then read some more. 

What is a "safe space"?   Well, it really depends on who you are.  For some, it's a place where you literally don't get beat up for an hour.  For others, it's a place where you can quietly learn.  But for this conversation, a safe space is where we can have conversations that challenge our ideologies .

Teachers must BUILD the conversational space.  The most important aspect of doing this is listening - actively listening.   We can show we are listening by making eye contact- using patience to allow a person to finish their thoughts and to be engaged.   This is how we build a place where courageous conversations can happen.  We have to build trust and relationships. 

One of my favorite quotes from chapter one is " We must instruct where we use to admonish, encourage where we use to excoriate and carefully track what we use to ignore."   Very powerful and this really spoke to me.

To be a good listener we must: listen patiently - don't interrupt.  Listen actively - not by thinking of what we will say when it's our turn, but by really listening.  And finally we must police our own voice. 

We don't interrupt because ideas are important - they should be heard and built upon.  

This was also a really big one for me - policing your voice isn't just about tone but also about how much time you are taking up.  Have you ever had a conversation with a person who took up all the air in the room?  It's discouraging and exhausting.  Don't be that person. 

Listening and talking are really hard but they are even more challenging when your conversational partners don't have the same senstitivities, values, investment or cultural background.  This makes minorities want to keep quite versus engaging in such energy sapping ways.   

* It's sometimes hard to look a white person in the face, even when that person is smiling.

We can't invite ourselves to the dinner table because we are tolerated at the water cooler.  We have to EARN our seats! 

To preserve emotional well being we show vulnerability to those we trust - who show we are a priority - so as educators we need to do the work with ALL of our students, but especially those students who may look different from us.  We have to EARN it.  

Good news - start class with students sharing what's going good.

High grade compliments - focus on who you see a person as being.  Not your pretty or I like that color or even you worked hard on that.   More.

The Kissing Booth and Rolling Dice by Beth Reekles

   So I saw this adorable movie on Netflix and then I realized that it was based on a book.  Then I heard the story BEHIND the book - written by a 17 year old girl on Wattpad - the winner of a contest which included the netflix movie.   I wanted to check it out to see if the book closely followed the movie.  

Here's what I found.   It didn't.   All the best aspects of the movie - the rules, the background stories,  etc  were added to the  movie.  In fact, in my opinion, the book had a lot of other things that actually detracted from the way I felt about the story.   

I wondered if seeing the movie colored the way I felt about the writing, so I decided to check out Roll the Dice.   It confirmed everything I thought before though, I will say, it was better than the Kissing Booth. 

Here's what's clear - they are very clearly written by a 17 year old girl.  The stories are simplistic and flat - again with the Dice book having much more depth than the first.   I guess if I were 12, i would probably feel differently about the books, but I'm not.   

S.E. Hinton was 16 when she wrote the Outsiders.  It basically created a new genre of novels.  It changed people.  So age doesn't determine someone's ability or inability to write well.   Still Beth Reekles has done something I haven't - written a book.  But unfortunately, I think her age  gave her a lot of leeway and forgiveness that it shouldn't have necessarily.   

Cute movie.  The book - both of them were a pass for one dimensional, simplistic writing.  Just my opinion.  Two stars.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

 So you all may have noticed, but I've been reading a lot of romance novels lately.  This one was referred to me by one of my book club friends, so I decided to check it out.  It is both exactly what I expected and also somehow more.  

This is the story of Thea and Gavin - a couple who are struggling to find their way.  Gavin is a major league baseball player and he and Thea have been married for three years.  Things definitely aren't as perfect as they seem and after a serious fight with a lot of hurt feelings, they marriage is on the ropes.  Not knowing what to do, Gavin has hit rock bottom when his friends decide to intervene.  They welcome him into their secret book club - the bromance book club.  They read exclusively romance novels and they claim that they have used these books to heal their relationships   Will it work for Gavin and Thea?

The premise behind this book alone was enough to get me laughing.  If you really think about it, romance novels can be a relationship guide in some respects.  I loved how the men pointed out how feminist  romance books actually tend to be and it even gave me some things to think about.

This book was light, fun, a great diversion with characters that I wanted to root for.  At times it got to be just a bit much, but for the most part, very enjoyable.   

Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty

  This was the third and final installment of the Daevabad trilogy.  I greatly enjoyed this series because I thought it was a completely original way to incorporate so many wonderful, familiar stories together.  This is the Djinn in an entirely new light.

This story follows Nahri and Ali as they find themselves back in Cairo after unintentionally escaping from Daeveabad.  They face a whole new set of problems now that Ali has the seal and it was never intended to leave Daevabad.   They find themselves looking for a way to find allies, return to their beloved city and face Dara and Nahri's mother once and for all. 

I loved how the story went through a complete redemption arc, especially for some of my favorite characters.  I loved the development of all - even some of the subsidiary characters like Jamshid.  The only thing I would have changed - maybe - about this book is that while the ending was satisfying, I wanted the bigger happy.  But now that I think about it, the characters got the ended they wanted.  

I gave it four out of five stars and I'm really glad I read this series.  Will definitely read this author again. 

Sissy by Jacob Tobia

  I read this book for Pride month and let me just say, that it is the best book that I have read in a LONG time.  If I could have given it ten stars, I totally would have.  I would say that I loved every minute but that wouldn't be right, but this book is life changing.

It's real and it's honest.  I love that it doesn't place blame but just sees things in a real and honest way.   Jacob had a very challenging  time coming into  their own, and this book just spells it all out.  From their earliest memories of being told which toys they could and could not play with - being teased for being feminine - and repressed.... all through their teens years, experiences in Church and life in college and onward.  

I was surprised at how much a role the Church played in Jacob's life and I was very moved with how they portrayed both the good and the bad in that relationship.   It gave me a sense of hope, but also served as a reminder that we have a long way to go.

I cheered when Jacob ran the Brooklyn Bridge,  I wanted to hold their hand and sit with them during Christmas Eve mass.  I felt their pain at losing a beloved Grandmother. The letter to his parents at the end?  I balled like a baby. 

As a parent, you hope you're not THAT parent,  but none of us are given manuals on how to raise our children, how to respond.  All we can do is hope we don't fuck up too badly and when we do, that we can apologize and learn from our mistakes.  This book is a wonderful reminder that we all have ways we can grow. 

 This book just spoke to me on every single level and I can't recommend it highly enough.  Like Jacob, it's FABULOUS.   

Blood and Bone and The Rise of Magicks by Nora Roberts.

  Both of these are from the Year One trilogy. I decided to review them together because that just makes my life easier and hey, sometimes that should be a thing, right?   

So as I stated in my review of Year One, this series is about a pandemic, not unlike our own.  The Doom.   In the wake of the Doom, people survive and some develop "abilities" - magic.   Both light and dark.  The rest of the series is about The One - Fallon Swift - who is destined to defeat the dark.

This is your standard battle between good and evil, with very strong The Stand undertones.  Maybe because of that it was comforting to read.  Plus, since there is the magical aspect it was a pleasant diversion that sort of restores your faith in people and the ability of love and light to conquer all.  Definitely what I need more of in my life when that doesn't always seem to be my current reality. 

I really enjoyed it.  I mean, it isn't great literature but it is engaging, diverting, entertaining and more of what I needed right now.  So I gave this one four stars and I'm glad I read it. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

  I read this book for my book club's July theme - a book you read by the water.  It was the perfect poolside ( in my case)  book.  The book is full of secrets (none too terribly shocking) and trite montages, as January would say, leading ultimately to a mostly happily ever after.  No surprise there. 

 This is the story of January and Augustus.  January is a writer.  She writes happily ever afters.   Gus is also a writer - not of the happily ever after variety.  Through a course of events that happen in January's life, she unexpectedly finds herself the owner of a lake house in Michigan.   Turns out, her new neighbor is  a man that she had some experience with back in college - her writing nemesis of sorts.

As the events of the book unfolds, January and Gus become friends and enter into a challenge of sorts.  She will write a more serious, fiction book and he will undertake a happily ever after.  To that end, they agree to spend time together, each learning the other's processes.   The  challenge - the first one to sell their new book wins.  

It was a great diversion - easy pool side book that I enjoyed.   Not life shattering, but not everything you read needs to be.  Sometimes it's ok to just enjoy something to float away with.  I gave it four stars. 

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

  This was a middle grade book that I read for my coronacation challenge.  It is a beautiful book - a coming of age story about the love of a boy and his pet.  But it was also so much more than that.  It's like the modern day equivalent of the Yearling, but simpler perhaps.

Peter lives with his father.  His mother has passed from cancer.   Along the way, Peter finds a young fox whose family has been killed by coyotes.   He takes in the young kit, names it Pax and raises it.    Eventually, his father enlists in the military and Peter must go live with his Grandfather 300 miles away.  Part of the relocation involves releasing Pax back into the wild.

Once Peter gets to his father's, he realizes that he's made a terrible mistake and he plans a 300 mile journey to find his friend and bring him home.   Most of the story is about the journey and what happens to both Peter and Pax along the way.   They both grow and change. 

I spent a lot of time talking to my husband about this book.  I thought that the father's perspective wasn't well explained or developed.  Perhaps that was purposeful.  Peter has a naive, heroic view of his father that evolves through the course of the story.   Ending ultimately with "sometimes the apple falls very far from the tree."   This book gave me a lot to think about.  I gave it 5 stars and think it would be a great discussion for any middle grade class.  

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

   I read this one for the coronacation reading challenge, although, to be honest, it had been sitting on my TBR pile for a while just waiting for something to compel me to pick it up.   Holocaust stories are hard, and in these times it was especially so.  But also, it was even more inspiring if that is possible.  This isn't the first time in history that bad things have happened to large groups of people.  We have gotten through bad things before and we will get through this.  Honestly, sitting in my house doesn't really compare to the horrors that Lale and Gita faced.

I loved Lale's character but agree that the story didn't come off feeling "real" but more of an amalgamation of stories told through one character for ease of story telling.   That said,  I admired Lale's sacrifice for his family, his absolute fortitude in the face of so much horror.  The part in the story where the gypsies are rounded up and then the ash on Lale's face-  I cried and cried. 

It was amazing to me how, in the face of so much horror, Lale and Gita still managed to find one another.  Through it all, they kept their promises to one another.  That certainly is what real love, in my opinion, looks like.

I thought this book was a beautiful love story and more than that, a tribute to the triumph of the human spirit. It presents both the best and absolute worst in all of us. I was really interested in Cilke's story and was interested to learn that there is more about her in another book.  Put that one on my TBR list too. 

I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. 

Reap by Casey L. Bond.

Are you guys starting to notice a pattern yet?  Apparently, Casey L Bond is my recent go -to author for dealing with this Pandemic.  Her stories are well written and engrossing.  The perfect mix of story and romance to get away from the overwhelming reality that is 2020. 

This is the story of Abby.  She is a Lesser who lives and works in the Village of Orchard.  The Lessers are ruled over by the Greaters, and the Greaters benefit from the work of the villages and reap and harvest what the villages provide.  Every year, the Greaters  watch over the harvest, but this year, things are just a little bit different.  Are they only hear for the Apples?

This book felt a little like the Hunger Games meets Matched, but at the same time, is a completely original story.  I love that way that Bond questions what makes a "greater" and a "lesser" and what things really have value.   I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series - there are three books in this one.   4 out of 5 stars. 

Brutal Curse by Casey L. Bond.

   I will tell you that I am a crazy fool for two things - epic fantasy and fairy tale retellings.  This one is the later - it's sort of an epic Alice in Wonderland meets Beauty and the Beast.  It was a great, entertaining and original retelling.  Loved every minute of it. 

This is the story of Prince Carden,  a prince who has lost everything and Arabella, a girl barely getting by.  Their chance encounter leads to involvement with Queen Couer and one of her infamous games.  Couer is a Fae Queen who likes to play with mortals and show them how fickle their human hearts are.   The only person more dangerous than Couer is her son, Rule.

This is Alice in Wonderland as you have never seen it before and it was completely wonderful.  I don't want to say too much because I fear to do so would reveal more of the plot than I would like.  I will say that if you enjoy fairy tales - this one really is a must.  

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light.

  This book is exactly what it looks like.  A cute, feel-good story that is slightly more complicated than it appears. 

Becca is a girl who doesn't believe in love.  She watched her family be torn apart by infidelity and now she thinks that all loves are a tragedy.   She spends her life in books.  Until one day, Brett walks into her life and bam - next thing she knows they are in a fake relationship?

Brett lives his life to please his father.  Impressive football accomplishments - check.  College prospects - check.  Big plans for the future - check.  Girlfriend?   Not so much.  So Brett decides that Becca is the perfect candidate to check girlfriend off his list without too much strain and effort.

You can imagine how the story goes, but along the way, there are some great lessons about friendship, family and real love.  I read it in a sitting.  It was the distraction I needed.  Like Becca. 

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

   I just read this one for my book club.  WOW.   I'm really glad I did.  It was the hardest book to put down since I read the Silent Patient.  Loved it.  So many twists and turns - all REALLY well done. 

This is the story of Emma,  a young 14 year old girl who goes away to camp for the first time.  It is a well known camp for girls of the affluent.   While there she meets Vivienne, Natalie and Allison.   Vivienne especially takes Emma under her wing, treats her like a little sister.  But one night, the three girls sneak out of their cabin and never return.

This story takes place in the past ( 15 years ago) but also in the present.  Camp Nightengale has just reopened and Emma, now a famous artist, has been invited back to teach the girls art.   

The author does a wonderful job of carefully weaving the stories together, revealing just enough of the past and mixing it - at just the right moment- with the present.  This book really grabbed me and kept me reading.  I usually have a book for the pool, the tub and bedtime.  This book was so engrossing that it superseded everything else I was reading because it had to.  

5 stars.  

Unlocked by Casey L. Bond

 Free on Kindle unlimited and sometimes I'm just looking for that little bit of escapism.   A princess whose entire country is lost to a plague, saved by a witch who takes her to an abandoned light house on a deserted island.  A prince looking for a bride, lost in a storm and washed ashore.  It' doesn't take a brain trust to see where this one is going.

Great for the preteen early YA crowd. It's a clever retelling on Raphunzel, except the witch is good.  I loved that Raya had an albatross as a pet.  I think he was my favorite character.

Entertaining but as I said, really for a young crowd.  3 stars.

The Outsider by Stephen King

   I read this one for the Coronacation Challenge.  Where to start?  First of all, I am a fan of Stephen King.  Even though he writes predominantly horror, he's an incredibly talented writer.  My favorites- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and The Stand. Both of those are books that will stay with me forever.

So, on to this book. The pacing in the beginning is incredibly slow.  One step at a time, and one step forward compounded by conflicting evidence resulting in two steps back.  This is the story of a popular teacher and little league coach who is accused of a horrible child murder.  Did he do it?  Could he have done it?  It also evaluates how a crime of this nature doesn't just impact the victims' family, but the entire community.  It shows how fear and hatred spread and run rampant, if left unchecked.  

I loved the character of Holly.   When she appears on the scene things start to fall together and the pacing picks up a little too.  She's a delight.  A dear friend told me that she is a character in another series.  Let's be clear, while I am a fan of King he isn't my usual fare and I doubt I will be reading that other series, but I am really glad that I got to meet Holly.  And just for her, I still may....Time will tell.

After I finished I also started watching the show.  So far - 3 episodes in- the show is doing a really good job of being true to the book.  I gave it four stars.  Very well written and worth the read.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

  This was one of my book of the month choices.  If you aren't a member of book of the month yet, but you are an avid reader, I highly recommend it.  I love that unlike other book boxes, you actually get to choose which books you want.  That month not your cup of tea?  Just skip.  No problem.  I will say that I have read several titles - like A Woman is No Man - that I may not have read otherwise and I went on to absolutely love.

But on to the review of this book.  This is the story of Lydia who is living a perfect life.  She's engaged to her one true love and they are about to be married.  Until he dies in a car accident on the way to her birthday.  Not giving anything away here, that's all on the dust jacket. Growing up, Lydia, Freddie and Jonah were best friends - inseparable.  Then, the accident.  Freddie and Jonah were both in the accident and only Jonah makes it back.  Now Lydia and Jonah are left to pick up the pieces.

Lydia has a hard time sleeping.  So she goes to the doctor who gives her a new medicine to help.  While she's asleep - she sees Freddie.  And he's still alive and well, there lives going on as they were meant to. While she is awake, her real life goes on without him.  

The dreams allow Lydia to work through her life without Freddie.  To grow and move past it.  There were some really crazy thing that happened - her inexplicable trip and her romance at the end - that I thought were unnecessary and trite.  I gave it 3 stars.  A cute idea, but just didn't really cut it for me. 

Love Story by Erich Segal

    I read this one for the coronacation challenge.  The category was a book written the year you were born.  I was going to read some obscure Sc-fi title but I just couldn't get into it.  All the books from 1970  seemed a little iffy,  I'm not sure it was a great year for literature, so I decided to go with a best seller.  Enter Love Story.

So, if you are my age or older,  you definitely know the story.  "Love means never having to say you're sorry".  And even knowing going in exactly what I was going to get,  I STILL ugly cried.  I didn't love it, but it is a moving story about what it really means to love another person.

Some thoughts on the characters - Oliver, of course, was completely predictable.  A man's man.  A Jock.  Jenny calls him "preppy".  Big money but he is also more than he appears.  He leaves all that his family can provide for a chance at love - with Jenny.  Let's talk about her though.  Were women really like this in the 70's?  Or is she just a man trying to write a female character?  I really couldn't figure it out.  There were things about her I loved, but she seemed like the "cool" girl working too hard at times.  

Either way,  it's a beautiful, short and meaningful story and I'm glad I read it. 

Salt for AIr by MC Frank

    Ok, so first of all - look at that cover!  I mean, I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover but this one?  I had to have it.   I ran across the author on twitter and I was just intrigued.  So glad I decided to check this one out!   It's currently available on Kindle Unlimited, so if you have a Kindle, check that out.

I loved the world building in this story.  Mermaids and mermen were presented in a way that I had never heard of before.  Imagine that, a completely unique take on a very old story.   

Lizzie lives in Greece.  She is being raised by friends, she has lost both of her parents.   She meets Ky at school - sort of.  You can discover that part of the story for yourself.   I am not going to say too much about the plot, other than I really enjoyed most of it.  I had my issues with some parts - typical teenage angst and all - but for the most part I thought it was so well done!

And that ending?  Breathtaking.   It was oth totally out of the blue and comfortingly familiar all at the same time.  It had a Chronicles of Narnia feel to it.  I was delighted to discover this is not her only book and am currently busy checking out the others.  This was the perfect escape story for me.  Loved it.  Four stars. 

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

  I got this one in my book of the month box.   I have read other books by this author and usually enjoy her storytelling.   She is full of unpredictable twists and turns and this book is no exception.

Lizzie is a lawyer.  She used to work in the States Attorney's office, but she gave up her dream job to take a position in a private firm for more money, in order to get her family out of financial trouble.  One night, she gets a collect call from Rikers.  An old law school friend has been arrested and accused of murdering his wife.   He begs Lizzie to take his case.

This story has a lot going on.  We have the relationship between Lizzie and her husband, Sam  The story of Amanda, the dead wife,  as the story goes back and forth in time to tell us about the events leading up to her death.  We have the added stressors of the complicated relationship of Lizzie and Zach ( the friend in Rikers).   And add to all of that an unreliable narrator.

The book was fun, and like always, full of twists and turns.  The problem with this one was that there almost seemed to be too many and they really depended on your suspending belief of what was possible.  I gave it three stars.  It kept me turning pages and entertained.  But not her best work, in my opinion. 

The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds by Suzanne Collins

   I have been waiting to read this one since they announced she was writing a prequel.   I guess my first commentary is that it wasn't the book I wanted.  I don't enjoy Coriolanus Snow - before or now.  I was sort of hoping for a book about Finnick and Annie or even Hamitch.  But Snow?  Not so much.

Still every villain has their origin story and the same is definitely true for Snow.  This is his.  Now,  I don't usually like to post spoilers but this book simply can not be discussed without them.  So if you haven't read it, stop reading.  If you are looking for a "should I read this"?  All I can say is I am a fan and didn't love it.   For those who read it and want to hear my thoughts, enter.....

SPOILERS!!!!!!

Ok.  So Coriolanus becomes a mentor.  Not that big of a shocker and I guess if it was going to happen, a girl from district 12 seems oddly appropriate. I was shocked at the beginning of the book at the different ways that the tributes were treated.  The description of the train and then the trip to the zoo was reminiscent of the Holocaust and I'm certain that was intentional.   Collins appeared to be making a lot of political arguments throughout the book and that was part of the downside for me.  Instead of letting the story tell itself, it was, in my opinion, somewhat preachy.

So, miracle of miracle, Coriolanus gets his girl, Lucy,  through the Games.  With a lot of help and machinations, it looks as if the love birds will actually be able to be together in the Capitol.  But then, Coriolanus is caught cheating and made to become a Peacekeeper.  Who would have ever seen that one coming?

Ultimately we know how Snow's story ends.  But still, you think there must be some intervening action that made him such a shit.  The long and short answer is no.  He really just is a selfish sot and even when he had the chance to really make a change in his life, he chooses power, money,  and comfort over love.  What a sad commentary.  Though I am not sure Lucy really loved him either.  Neither of them were particularly like- able but she was at least a character that I could relate to.  I'm almost sorry I read it. I gave it 3 stars.  It's well written, I just didn't care. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

  This was part of my work coronacation challenge.  This was for the category "a book you should have read in school but didn't".   Technically I did read it.  In 8th grade; however, it just wasn't my cup of tea so I sped read through just to get the gist and pass the test. 

Oddly enough, I was in Catholic school at the time.  This book was recommended - required - by one of the nuns.  Sister Eileen.  She hated me.  At any rate, as I was reading it this time,  I found it oddly hilarious that she recommended this book.  She must have missed the scene where the boys go to the outdoor "theater"  which turns out to be a house that leaves it's shades open - and watch the entertainment there, which is described.  LOL.    It was brief but definitely there.  I nearly fell out of my bed at that part, I was laughing so hard.

Strangely enough, I don't know why I didn't care for the book the first time.  I mean, true, it isn't my usual fare, but it is beautifully written.  Almost lyrical really.   I found myself to be very tense while reading it.  The scene where the boys are hiding in the storm grate as the fair has a parade through the town looking for them?  I think I held my breath for that entire chapter. '

This book is very much about the battle of good and evil, so in that sense, and through all the talk about souls - I guess I could see why Sister Eileen was so keen.   Still my take away from the book was that Bradbury didn't think a single act determined the darkness or light within - though it can start us down a path - but the culmination of little events rolled together that decide our fate.  I enjoyed it.  I'm glad I went back and actually read it, but it still isn't as good as Fahrenheit 451.  Just my opinion.  I gave it four stars.

Year One by Nora Roberts

   So, what do you read during a pandemic?  A book about a pandemic, of course! All that aside, there was something eerily comforting about this book.  Maybe because their pandemic is so much worse than ours?   Or the fact that it reminded me SO MUCH of the Stand?  Not sure.

I started this book a while back, when life was still normal.  It didn't hold my attention but I picked it up again about a week ago and here we are.  It's the perfect case of the right book at the right time.  The story is about a collection of individuals who are going through a world wide episode.  The Doom.  The disease is highly contagious - passing quickly and wipes out about 1/2 of the world's population.   Of those that remain, some are what are called "uncanny" - people who have powers. 

The camps of survivors, like in the Stand, seem to quickly evolve into those that are good and those who aren't.  The book follows different groups of survivors at different times, with most of them ultimately coming together at some point.

At the end, Roberts kind of strays away from the Stand feel with the birth of "The One".   I'm not sure how I feel about this development or how it will play out in future books, but I definitely enjoyed this one.  I could really relate to what so many of the characters were going through that it was somehow oddly comforting.  Worth a read.  5 stars.

Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

 This was my book clubs selection for the month of May.  What a genius pick!  It was just exactly what I needed during the ongoing coronacation.  This book is laugh out loud hysterical, especially if you have ever been a class mom or a teacher.  Absolutely priceless. 

Jen sowed her wild oats in her younger years.  She had two daughters, raised them and then fell in love.  After a few years together, Ron decided he would like a child.  So now Jen has two adult daughters and Max, a 6 year old just entering kindergarten.

Of course, Jen was involved with school while both of her older daughters were there.  She has a been there- done that - got the t-shirt kind of attitude.   Her friend, Nina, who is head of the PTA asks her to take on the role of Class Mom for Max's kindergarten.   Hilarity ensues.  From her class e-mails to a flirtation gone wrong to the occasional digs at Curves - this book has it all.

If you are looking for a feel good, laugh out loud escape from the zombie apocalypse this book is for you.  I gave it 4 stars. 

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

 So, this book is not my usual fare.  Still, when I was browsing the possibilities for my book of the month, something about it spoke to me, and here we are.

This book is about a young woman, Annabelle, who is the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar.  She is left to the charity of her male relative when her father dies. She convinced him to send her to Oxford, which has just been opened for women.  She tells him that she has received a scholarship, which in fact, she has.  What she doesn't mention is that it is for the suffragettes league. 

The plan when she gets to London is to help the suffragettes change the laws regarding women and their ability to inherit.  Along the way, she predictably meets a titled gentleman of money and affluence, who becomes her "target"  to help change his vote.

From this point on, the book was completely predictable, yet somehow still utterly delightful.  I usually don't enjoy romances.  But at this point in time, there is something to be said for a guaranteed happy ending. I gave it four stars.

The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth

   This one just showed up on my interest guide on amazon one day and it looked appealing.   I mean, who hasn't had ups and downs with their mother in law?

Lucy's relationship with her mother in law has been troubled from the start.  Still , Lucy loves her husband, her father in law and the rest of the family.  Is it really as bad as it seems?

I really enjoyed the character development of Lucy, Tom and Diana.   I thought that Ollie was a little lacking but maybe he was only meant to be a bit character anyway.  I could relate to his sister Nettie and her troubles throughout the book. 

Sometimes I don't enjoy the back and forth between past and present in addition to character point of view.  In this case though, I think the technique works well to allow the author to develop both Lucy and Diana's character while telling their stories and back stories as she moves the plot forward.  The character development was well thought out -even if some of the "twists"  weren't much of a surprise.

I gave this one a three and I enjoyed reading it.  Entertaining but lacking the depth that I usually reserve for higher rated books.

Incendiary by Zoraida Cordoa

   I cam across this book by chance.  It just seemed like something that would appeal to me.  The synopsis: Renata was just a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice.  She was born with the rarest of all magical gifts - the ability to steal memories.   Later she is rescued by the Whispers and fights to save the land from the King.   But are her own memories really what they appear to be?

I enjoyed Renata because of the character development that she undergoes throughout the story.  She starts out as kind of weak - defining herself by the way that others see her.  But she undergoes a lot of changes throughout the story and comes into her own.

The book had some surprises in store and that really pleased me.  Usually with this kind of book, I can see all the plot twists early on.  I was happy to be surprised.   The book had a bit of a slow start, but definitely worth delving in as the story develops more later.  I am very intrigued to see where this story will go in the future. 
I gave it four stars and will definitely read more of the series.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

   I got this one in my book of the month box.  The premise was so intriguing.  It is about a young woman of color who works for an affluent white family as a babysitter.   She is out with the child  at a grocery store late in the evening.  While there, she is approached by security and asked if this is her child.  A whole scene ensues.  I thought that the book was going to be about this scenario and what happens after.  Not quite.

Amira is 25, about to turn 26, and she doesn't know which way her life is going.  She is about to be dropped off her parents insurance and she needs a real job with benefits, instead, she is busy babysitting for a little girl that she just adores and her rather troubled family.

During the course of the traumatic events described in the first paragraph,  Amira meets Kelley - a man who happened to witness the events described.   The people in Amira's life have a very tangled and interwoven relationships.  I was really surprised by the plot turns that happened in this book and how it didn't evolve in the ways that I expected at all. 

I thought that "Such a Fun Age"  was in reference to the child, but in retrospect, I think it was really in reference to Amira with allusions to others in the story, too.  Not what I was expecting and if I were to give it a brief synopsis it would be "how fucked up white people try to mess up young woman of color's life".   I gave it a three.  It was enough to keep the pages turning.

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

   I was reading this book for part of professional development during this crazy time.  It was referred to me by a friend.  I wasn't sure how this would relate to my life, but I wanted to give it a try.

I have seen lots of Brene Brown on Ted talks about motivational videos.  She's amazing in person and good in the written word too, but I think part of her personality is lost in translation.  And let me be clear, while parts of this book are very concise  and relevant, some of it definitely requires translation.

Let's start with her over use of the word Rumble..   To Brene, Rumble means to have these courageous conversations where we share our vulnerability with others.  The problem with using the word in such a way, is that to many readers, "rumble"  already has a connotation and every time she uses it, I just see Ponyboy in his leather jacket getting ready to get even with the Socs for Johnny.  You know what I'm talking about.   If you want to be clear, use words that make sense, don't just take words and try to assign your own meaning.  It doesn't work.

Also, don't talk in anagrams and trite phrases  - B.R.A.V.I.N.G.  and such   No, I am not going to remember what every aspect of braving is and yes, I will probably have to look it up every time I go to relay this story.  Don't talk in trite, overused phrases - like "clear hearts, "painting done" etc.  What the hell is that every supposed to mean?   I agree with the ideas expressed - yes, it is important to be brave and have honest conversations especially at work.  But to do that, you need to be clear and you need to be using a vocabulary that is mutually understood.  If I tell my boss that I want to rumble, well that may not end well. 

So, long and short, I enjoyed the gist and would like to have less banal examples to go from.  I think Brene is genius, I just think she is better in person.  I am more likely to listen than I am to read another book.   3 stars.

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

  I ordered this one as my book of the month selection for April.  It just looked so appealing!   It is written in the genre of magical realism which means that there are real elements mixed in with magical creatures and such.

The story is about a very old set of books, called The Library of Legends, which contains much of China's cultural myths and legends.  The library was kept at a University in Nanking, but during World War 2, it became necessary to evacuate the University and move the books.   While their wasn't a "library of legends" per se, the evacuations of Chinese literary treasure during the war was very real.  This was the aspect of the book that I enjoyed the most.

I had no idea that young adults in China had undertaken such a thing to preserve their cultural heritage.  A massive undertaking under any circumstances.

The book also poses some great philosophical questions like what is relevant to a culture and why?  Also what is the role of legends and myths and why are they important? 

But in addition to the historical backdrop and, of course, the  magical aspects of supernatural beings, there is at the base of this story a rich and complex story about what it means to really love someone.  And what it means to live a purpose filled life - a life worthy of Ascension.   I really enjoyed reading this book and it was great to travel to a distant place and time and just experience it for a while.  I gave it four stars.  Oh, and this one is a pre-release.  It goes on sale May 12th.  Just one more thing I love about book of the month  early access. 

No Time to Spare by Ursula le Guin

     so I have read books by Ursula le Guin in the past and I believe that she is an extremely gifted writer; however, she was never particularly my special cup of tea.  I enjoyed the uniqueness of her story lines - especially in books like The Left Hand of Darkness,  but, when it came to fantasy writing, there were just others I preferred.

Still,  I recently came across this gem on kindle unlimited and something about it resonated with me.  Maybe it was the title, maybe it was because the cover was blue, but whatever the reason, it was definitely a case of the right book at the right time.

This work is just a collection of blog entries basically of the author ruminating about everything in her life from current events to finding a cat at the humane society.  It was brilliant.  I enjoyed every entry especially because it gave me a glimpse into this brilliant woman's mind and how it worked - why she thought some of the things that she did.  I couldn't go through it quickly because in some cases, the essay has to be read and processed before moving on in order to truly do it justice.  If you  are a le Guin fan or simply looking for the right book at the right time,  this book may be for you.  I gave it five out of five stars and would recommend to like minded readers.

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Munro.

   I took a break from my quarantine work challenge and read this book for my themed book club discussion.  Our theme was weather, so this was a bit of a stretch, but it was exactly what I needed.  I'm looking to escape my current reality, not read about a different type of perfect storm.

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite beach is in South Carolina.  I love the low country - the sweet tea, the slow pace, the drawl of the locals.  I love it.  I miss it.   So this book brought me right back there in my mind, definitely in a good way.

This is the story about three half sisters who have grown apart and a grandmother desperate to reunite them.  Mamaw is celebrating her 80th birthday and she invites her summer girls for one last summer before they have to sell their beloved family home, SeaBreeze.

Dora has been struggling with dealing with her impeding divorce,  how to handle her autistic son, Nate, and how she has lost herself over the years.   The youngest sister, Hannah,  has spent her time with her mother's family in New York.  She's lost her way and her self respect.  And finally Carson ( the sister that this book in the series is about) is jobless, homeless and looking for a fresh start.  A momentous run in with a shark and a wild dolphin turn her world around.

How could I not love a book with a dolphin as a character?  I also really enjoyed reading about Mamaw and Dora's son, Nate.   This book was full of colorful characters - as expected.  It was a great escape to one of my favorite places.  I don't think I will carry on with the series, but who knows?  If the quarantine goes on long enough, I just might.   I gave it four stars.

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

  So even after Allegiant,  I picked this book up and was curious enough about the premise to read it.

The story: a Dark One arises.  He brings terror and death everywhere with him.  Magic has been unleashed on this world.  A prophecy is made and 5 Chosen Ones are named.  They join together and defeat the Dark One.  This all happens in the first chapter because this book takes place 10 years after the defeat of the Dark one.

Only now, the government is messing with magic.  Trying to weaponize it.  Because we all know that is something that the government would totally do that. 

Here's where anyone who doesn't want spoilers should stop reading, because I can't express my feelings and thoughts on this book without them.








Ok, so if you are still with me - our chosen ones get taken to another connected/ adjacent universe where magic is common place and where another Dark one exists.  He raises whole armies from the dead.  Their job?  To find him and defeat him thereby saving both worlds. 

The one thing that I did like about this book is the genius way that Veronica Roth turns the trope of the good guy always looks like the good guy on his head.   Sometimes the good guy doesn't wear a white hat and things aren't always what they seem.  I thought this part of the story was very cleverly done and I really enjoyed that.

Honestly, I think I am still pissed off about Allegiant and I don't know if I will ever really be ready for another Veronica Roth book.  This one certainly didn't help.  I gave it three stars because parts of it are well written and the story engaged me enough to continue.  Other than that, I was just glad to finish it. For someone who loves to read, ,that is the ultimate sad commentary.

Work Friends Coronacation Reading Challenge

So my work friends and I are doing a reading challenge to help get us through our down time.  I'm excited because I love to read, but sometimes i need motivation - like going to the gym.   I am hopeful that this will help with that.  I am making a plan here so that I will remember which books I have for which categories.  Those in bold  are ones I have completed

A book you own but haven't read.


A Book you can finish in one day.  


A book chosen for it's cover:



A book that celebrates diversity



a historical fiction


a book based on a true story


a book written in the year you were born.



A book from the library


a banned book


a graphic novel


A book you loved as a child


a book with a number in the title



a book on your to be read list.



a book set somewhere you have always wanted to visit.



a book you wouldn't normally read


a book everyone has read


a debut


a book by an author you have never read


a book for middle graders


a book assigned in school but never read


a book for young adults


a book about time travel


a book from an independent bookshop


a book set in a different country



a book made into a movie