What? We get to link-up and talk about books today with our illustrious leaders Jana & Steph? Awesome! I had a really, really great month of reading (except the first book). Let's do this.
1. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith - After reading the first book in this series (The Cuckoo's Calling), I really liked Strike (the lead character), and I tolerated Robin (his assistant). By the end of this book, I just don't care. I don't care about the characters or "whodunnit". Nothing about this book worked for me, and truly, I hate talking so negatively because I love books. I fell asleep while reading this book more times than I can count. I kept wanting to quit it, but I persevered. I should've quit it. 1/5
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2. Night by Elie Wiesel - Apparently, this book is required reading for some school
curriculums. It should be. To read the words from a Holocaust
survivor, a survivor of labor and extermination camps, there isn't
anything that I can adequately "review". It's 115 pages. Read it. The
atrocities that man can inflict on other members of the human race is
something that we are still witnessing today. We must learn from
history.
3. Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin
- I first heard about this book from this link-up...yet again, another
solid recommendation from you bloggy-reader-linker-uppers! I'm pretty
sure it was Dani and Kristen,
and I don't remember either mentioning it was based in Texas (because
why would they? Neither have a connection to Texas that I know
of.)...but for me, this was a pleasant surprise. The book gives a
different and interesting perspective to dealing with trauma and capital
punishment. 4/5
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4. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
- Heavy subject matter but written in a somewhat simplistic way that it
doesn't feel too heavy or burdensome. The author is able to describe
two types of severe depression - one brought on by trauma, and one that
seemingly is hereditary (but amped by trauma) in a painful, yet sweet
and heartfelt way. 4.5/5
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5. Private Vegas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
- I've probably read 100 James Patterson books. I'm not even kidding.
I don't read every one of them, but I read a lot. This is the 9th in
the Private series. If you haven't read them yet, you're probably not
going to, so you can skip this. If you do like JP, his characters, and
his formulas...this will not disappoint. 4/5
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6. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Sometimes, you read something and think about social advances and how
far we have come in society. Other times, you read a story that was
written in 1999, and you are ashamed, the fact that inexcusable acts
amongst teenagers are still so prevalent, and a story like this still
rings so painfully true. 4.5/5
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7. The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt
- Simplistic writing but effective at times; Three close friends share a
coming of age road trip, learning life lessons, and we learn of each of
their own turmoils. 3.5/5
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8. Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
- Devastating. Gut-wrenching. Beautiful. One of those books that
tells various stories through the eyes of various characters that are
all connected in some way. 4.5/5
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Now, I've shown you mine............you show me yours!
I've read Speak a couple of times and loved it. Until Kristen Stewart came along and ruined the movie (it was on Lifetime years ago).
ReplyDeleteI've picked up the Silkworm on multiple occasions. Never started it and now I know not to bother :)
I am going to join your book challenge as soon as I get a chance to pick all my books for it!! :) I am halfway through the Silkworm but I haven't read it in a month...so it is close to getting abandoned but then I'll have to pick something else for the Winter Book Challenge with Semi-Charmed Kinda Life...so I am undecided. I heard the third one was way better but I am not going near it anytime too soon...Did You Ever Have a Family sounds like a good book!
ReplyDeleteOhh no, about The Silkworm. It's on my list to read hopefully soon since I'm using it for the SCWBC. I liked the first one, though I found it a bit slow at times. I'm so intrigued by Did You Ever Have a Family, now! Going to check out your reading challenge too.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm using Speak on my SCWBC15, so I'm glad you liked it and Kristin ^^ likes it. Great review- bummer on the Galbraith book =/
ReplyDeletefour and six are added to my list. both seem awesome and i'm drawn to them. great recaps girl!
ReplyDeletexoxo cheshire kat
I think Kate from Another Clean Slate was the first Susans reader, I know I put that on my list from her.
ReplyDeleteI have Speak on my kindle to read.
Added the Clegg book!
You had me at "gut wrenching" for that one book.
ReplyDeleteI like to read about the Holocaust just to learn for history's sake of knowledge, but man, it hurts my heart every time.
Did You Ever Have a Family is just one of those books that breaks you. I mean that in a good way.
ReplyDeleteA few of these are already on my TBR (of course) and I think I need to add that depression book. And Night is one of those books I know I need to read, it's been on my bookshelf for years, but Holocaust stuff is generally too hard for me to read. I think I was the last Jew in America to see Schindler's List, if that puts it into perspective.
I read Night in high school, and I loved it. I mean, that's weird to say, because of course I didn't love the subject matter, but the retelling of such horror was masterful and moving. I'm glad it's required reading for so many, and think it should be so for all mankind.
ReplyDeleteSpeak is another on that has stuck with me since I read it in high school. I was glad I read it then, and glad I read it again a few years later with hindsight on my side. Another moving book that should be more widely read.
Did You Ever Have a Family is on my list and I'm really looking forward to it. I read his memoir and know he's a fantastic storyteller (I was absolutely ENTHRALLED in his memoir). Glad to see a great review for it!
Did You Ever Have a Family has been on my TBR list. I loved Night after reading it as an Oprah's book pic. I'll probably read the Patterson book. I read his books for a quick, supsenseful read fix.
ReplyDeleteWe had to read Night my sophomore year in high school then we had a field trip to D.C. for the Holocaust museum. It was such an experience. I added the last three books, they sound amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love James Patterson books because they hold my attention and are usually fast reads, but like my mom says, they're kind of like junk food because there's no real substance to them. We both still read them though! What's your favorite James Patterson series? And Black Eyed Susans sounds really interesting! I think that I'm going to have to add that one to my TBR list, especially since it's set in Texas!
ReplyDeleteAlways love your recommendations! A few of these were already on my list, but I added "My Heart and Other Black Holes."
ReplyDeleteI'm finalizing my list for your book challenge, yayyy!
Speak is on my list! so is black eyed susans. isn't it fun when you find a book set in your home city / country / state? it's a pleasant surprise. i'm not sure if i can handle the family one right now, i think you have to be in one of those moods.
ReplyDeleteI agree that The Silworm wasn't very good, but the 3rd book is so so so good. Better than the first. But if you don't like Robin you might not like it as it goes into her personal life a lot.
ReplyDeleteI have Black-Eyed Susan's on my to read list, it keeps catching my eye but I keep bypassing it. I think next trip to the library I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteYou never read Night before? We had to read it for Junior year English. I remember it being an excellent book.
ReplyDeleteSpeak was such a painful book. I'm always amazed just how cruel people can be. I really need to read Night. My sister, who hates reading, had to read it for some class and has mentioned how great it is. Just added Black-Eyed Susan's to my to-read!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding Night and Speak! I listened to about a third of Did You Ever Have A Family and could not get into it. I think I need to read it instead.
ReplyDeletewow we really do have similar book tastes, haha! first, I keep hearing great things about Did You Ever Have a Family and Black Eyed Susans. I think I'm going to put both of them on hold at the library ASAP. Second, I read My Heart and Other Black Holes and really liked it. It's a touchy subject matter to write about but I thought the author pulled it off. Shortly after I read 13 Reasons Why, (which I heard so many people rave about) and I was very disappointed. I thought the author almost glamorized suicide, which I don't feel is ever ok.
ReplyDeleteAdded Black-Eyed Susans to my TBR. It sounds good.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't me who recommended Black Eyed Susans, but I did add it to me (ever-growing) TBR list. I had also recently heard about Night and Speak, and will most likely read both of them. Love stories like #8- definitely adding, and it will probably trump everything else. Great list!
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks for the shoutout! I don't think I was the original Black-Eyed Susans reader/recommender, but I'm glad you really liked it. The capital punishment tie-in was definitely an interesting element.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how Night hasn't managed to make it onto my "To Read" list, but I'm definitely adding it now. It's so difficult to read and watch things relating to the Holocaust, but I also think it's so important. As you said, we must learn from history.
My Heart and Other Black Holes and Did You Ever Have a Family are already on my "To Read" list, but I'm also going to add Speak. I've actually had Speak (the movie) on my Netflix DVD queue for years (even though it stars Kristen Stewart haha), but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
I'm glad you had a (mostly) awesome reading month! Mine was exactly 50/50 ... 50% really good and enjoyable and 50% "why am I still reading this terrible book?"
I still need to make my book list for your challenge. I'm so behind on everything lately!
I have not read any of these book!! I do have Black-eyed Susans on my hold list. I can't read any more Holocaust or World War books this year, I have to space out my depressing books. I still remember reading A Day In A Life of Ivan Denisovich in Middle School, those types of books really stick with you.
ReplyDeleteI am so behind on comments this go around! I need to get on the book challenge but yet again I am behind. I will have to check out Speak!
ReplyDeleteSad to hear that the JKR book was kinda a flop! I've had Cuckoo's Calling on my to-read shelf for ages but just haven't gotten to it yet!
ReplyDeleteI never read Night in school, but other classes had to. I'm pumped to see that you rated Clegg's book so high since it's on my challenge list.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated, I love to load the links in a new tab to potentially add to my TBR list and see how many other people on my list have rated or marked the book TBR. Small things bring me such joy.
I absolutely loved My Heart And Other Black Holes. Usually not even the kind of book I pick of but I did not regret it. Need to re-read it at some point. Now I want to check out Did You Ever Have a Family.
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