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Tuesday, April 14, 2020

I'll show you my books, you show me yours 2020 v.1

I have not blogged in over 2 years, but I can't think of anything better to pull me out of a blogging hibernation than a Show Us Your Books link-up!  So, here I am.  The beauty of Steph and Jana (and all the other SUYB gang) is I know you all will welcome me back.  Thanks, readers.

What's been happening in my life for the last two years?  I suppose that's content for another post to get myself back into the blogging game.  But for now, I'm "stood down" meaning I still have a job but have no idea when I will be back to work.  So, a SUYB link-up is perfect stimulation and escapism for me right now.

Will I continue blogging?  Don't know?  Will I read every SUYB link this month?   Yep. Can't wait to see/read some familiar faces I interacted with years ago, those that still participate in my book challenge, and new book-lovin' peeps too.


Life According to Steph


Uhmmmm...how do I start? Let's see last link up was the 10th of March, 2020...so these are the books I've read since then.  That's how this works, correct?



1.  Dropped Third Strike by Micah K. Chaplin - What a great way to jump back into the blogging game...promoting a blogger's book.  (Does Micah still blog?  Let me go check.  Yes! Here's her blog: Unabashedly Me)  We participated in a book swap years ago, and Micah kindly sent a copy of her book to me.  I'm pretty awful about reading the books I own because I love going to the library so much, so it sat on my shelf.  Welllll, fast forward to now and no baseball.  I thought it was finally the perfect time to read a book that baseball plays such an important role.  But, this book is more than baseball.  There's a strong female lead and characters that I became invested in.  I enjoyed the writing style and how it smoothly transitioned from one character's voice to another's.
If you are missing baseball like I am, I recommend this book.  4/5


2.  Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - due to so many rave reviews telling me to read this book, I finally did.  What a life.  What a story.  What a man.  What a mom who helped shape the man.  5/5


3.  Heaven, My Home by Attica Lake - This is a follow-up book to Bluebird, Bluebird...a book I enjoyed so much I put in my reservation for this one immediately after finishing it. This one was...fine...but not nearly as rich as the first.  Would I recommend it to others that read Bluebird, Bluebird?  Yes.  Do I think you need to rush to do so?  No. 3.5/5

4.  Sadie by Courtney Summers - Sometimes a book has so much hype surrounding it that my expectations are too high.  I think that happened with this one.  Or, maybe it's because I don't listen to podcasts, so I just missed that connection entirely.  But, I had to push myself through the first half of this book because of the rave reviews I'd seen.  I just wasn't feeling it.  I actually enjoyed the ending (which some readers loved the book but were unsatisfied with the ending), so I'm just sitting in the minority on this one.  2.5/5


5.  A Lesson in Violence by Jordan Harper - Sometimes, Australia likes to confuse me and release books with a different title here than in the U.S.  This is one of those.  I'm pretty sure it's called She Rides Shotgun in America. This book is brutal and brilliant.  Some of the writing seemed simple, but I found that added to its brilliance because the subject matter and character development was so far from simple.  5/5

I did it!  I wrote a blog post again!  Go me!  I hope my blog email still works...….



25 comments:

  1. I have never clicked a link so fast! So excited to see you posting again.

    Born a Crime is so good! His mum is truly amazing.

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  2. I agree with Bev!! How excited was I to click on that link?!?! That baseball book does sound really good! And I loved Born a Crime :)

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  3. Book posts are always a good excuse to return to blogland! We started Born a Crime on audio last summer for a road trip and loved it, but didn't get very far and haven't had a chance to listen to it again, but I definitely want to finish it.

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  4. Glad you're back! :))

    I really enjoyed the fast-paced format of Sadie. I liked the story, but it was so sad. It wasn't a 5-star book but I did like it a lot.

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  5. I was like, new phone, WHO DIS, OMGGG YYAYYY!!!
    I've read for a total of 20 minutes since all this chaos started and only listened to my audiobook when I've run alone, which hasn't been frequently, so I haven't even finished 2 books I was in the middle of in the last month. I'm not really embarrassed by that. But mostly I missed you, even if I see you on the Snaps. :)

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  6. Yay, welcome back! I really loved Sadie, but we agree that the ending is good. I know some people hate it, but I think it works. And I want to read Born a Crime - I've seen him live, and he's just amazing.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  7. YAY HI ERIN!!! missed your face, I was so excited when I saw your link! I just read Trevor Noah's book too, so good! Did you read or listen to Sadie? I enjoyed listening to it, not sure I would have liked it if I had actualyl read it, due to the format. I was on the fence about the ending. WELCOME BACK :)

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  8. YAYYYY welcome back! We've missed you! I have Sadie on my physical bookshelf, and like you despite the rave reviews I wasn't sure I'd like it because I just don't "do" podcasts. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. Born A Crime is another one I've read rave reviews on, and oddly enough I know absolutely nothing about him. Happy to see another positive review for it!

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  9. Happy to see you linking up with everyone!! Born A Crime is on my list, and even with all the hype reviews, I still think it will be worth it. He's a pretty cool guy from what clips I see of The Daily Show.

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  10. Welcome back! Like you, I tend to avoid reading the books that I actually own, because newer library books always win. But, without physical library books I've resorted to kindle reading and reading books off my own shelf! I really enjoyed Born a Crime and Sadie. I can see how Sadie isn't for everyone.

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  11. First of all, yay!! so happy you're back.

    I loved Sadie but could understand why someone wouldnt love it, if that makes sense. Its not for everyone.

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  12. Sadie was one of my favorite books the year I read it (2018 maybe? 2019? Who knows anymore).

    I had no idea there was another in the Bluebird Bluebird series which is odd because I LOVE that book.

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  13. Welcome back!

    The second Attica Lake book is on my list but I haven't gotten to it yet.

    I'm going to check out the last one!

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  14. Loved Trevor Noah!!! Heard he has a new one coming??!!??

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  15. Sounds like some good books! I'm relatively new to the link-up, so nice to meet you :) The Trevor Noah sounds most intriguing to me. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Yay! You're back! I'm currently reading Bluebird, Bluebird, and I loved Trevor Noah's book! I still need to check out Micah's books, too.

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  17. Welcome back to blogging - I love this link up every month! I have the Trevor Noah book on my TBR, can't wait to read it!

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  18. welcome back!!!!! i loved trevor noah's and then was super bummed when i realized HE reads it for the audiobook hahah. but like, how badass was his mom?

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  19. ERIN!!! It's so good to see (so to speak) again. I've missed you and wish I was better at doing challenges. I hope all is well (well, as well as can be) with you. She Rides Shotgun (that's the title it was for me) was one of my favorite books. I think, if I am remembering correctly, you are a SOA fan too and the dad always reminded me of Jax or at least that's how I picture him. Sadie is on my TBR but I've put off reading it because of the whole pedestal thing you mentioned and I'm also one of the few people who have zero interest in podcasts, so I'm not sure if that will affect my overall enjoyment either. Trevor's memoir is on my TBR and it's sadly been sitting there for a long time. Eventually, I'll get to it!

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  20. I can't believe I still haven't read Born A Crime.

    Welcome back!

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  21. Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed Born a Crime. I totally agree with you on Heaven My Home. It was decent, but nowhere near as compelling as Bluebird, Bluebird. I want the next book to focus on Darrin! Something shady is going on with him.

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  22. Welcome back to blogging land, hope you stick around! ;) Now I'm curious about Heaven My Home... And A Lesson in Violence sounds amazing!

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  23. I have Bluebird Bluebird on my list, I hope to read it eventually. Bummer about Sadie, that's another one I've been wanting to read as well. And I definitely must get to Born a Crime soon.

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  24. I listened to Sadie and thought it was really good!

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  25. All these giddy comments of welcome, Erin, mean you HAVE to start blogging again. :]

    I, too, was pleased to see this link in my sidebar. HUZZAH!!

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I love comments, and I enjoy our interactions. I respond via email, but if you're a "no reply blogger", I can't. Don't think I'm ignoring you!