Wednesday, July 12, 2017

I'll show you my books...you show me yours...vol.30


Yep.  I'm late to the party.  Yep, I didn't participate as much as I'd like in the previous link-up.  But, I need to forgive myself instead of beat myself up over that fact.  I probably won't interact as much as I'd like this go-around either, but why should I allow that to stop me from talking about one of my favorite topics to talk about - books!?  Plus, I know our hosts Jana & Steph wouldn't want me to be hard on myself or skip this link-up because I may not be reading and posting as often as I used to.  I read some really great books this month, and I really shouldn't deprive you from me sharing them.

What I've read since the last link up:

1.  All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood - I picked up this book at the campus bookstore when we visited Stanford.  I'd heard many things prior to reading it, yet I didn't really know what to expect.  It was written really, really well.  The story and the characters' experiences are disturbing, intense, thought-provoking, and emotional.  It deserves all the attention it has received.  5/5


2.  Violent Ends edited by Shaun David Hutchison - Another book I purchased in America.  Another book that I didn't know what to expect.  All I knew is it was about a school shooting, and Jana highly recommended it.  I didn't realize that it read like short stories, and each chapter was written by a different author, yet they all examined the same school shooting in a different perspective.  Super different and interesting way to read about a topic that I've read about before.  4/5

3.  Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulus - It is not uncommon for me to read a book in which I despise all the characters but love the book.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen this time.  My frustration and annoyance at almost every single character in this book overpowered my enjoyment factor.  Ruth saved it for me.  She is a badass.  2.5/5

4.  The Cleaner by Paul Cleave - I love reading a thriller author that is new to me whose book I picked up at a secondhand bookstore just because.  I will definitely read more from this author.  There are some messed up scenes and fucked up characters in this book.  4/5

5.  The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - One of the reasons that I am a self-professed book challenge junkie is that I am encouraged to read books that I've been intending to read but haven't made time for.  When Bev picked the category for my challenge to "read a book with a non-human main character", I knew that I wanted to read this one.  Finally.  And, I am thankful I did.  My emotions were all over the place, and I cried big, ugly, sloppy tears.  4.5/5 
SPOILER ALERT!  PLEASE MOVE ALONG IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ONE ASPECT OF THIS BOOK...okay, I knew the book would be about a dog and its full life and that the dog would most likely die.  BUT, for someone who had a loved one (my stepmother who entered my life when I was 15 and left it when I was 30) die after a heart-breaking battle with brain cancer, well, I wasn't expecting that part of the storyline, so I was crying big, ugly, sloppy tears a whole helluva a lot while reading this one. 

6.  Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - What an impressive debut book from a young author!  This book tells the stories of generations from a family tree whose origins began in 18th century Ghana. It was fascinating and heart-breaking, devastating and beautiful.  The Sociology major in me especially enjoyed the final chapter.  4.5/5

Let me know if you decide to add any of these to your "to read" list, or if you've read them before, what did you think?

23 comments:

  1. I started Homegoing last month on audio from the library and just found that I wasn't that into it - but I think I need to give it more of a chance and I think it would be easier to follow in print because of all of the different characters. I've heard amazing things!!!

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  2. I'm with you on Summering. It was a struggle to get through. If the other two aren't on my list already (I think they are!), I'm definitely adding them. Happy to see you post again!

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  3. sweet, i found all the ugly and wonderful things at my library (it's on order) and i'm #1 in line!

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  4. I'm glad you decided to join in because now I really want to read Violent Ends!

    Also, I read the spoiler for The Art of Racing even though I haven't read the book and I did not expect that to be in there. My step-mum died of a brain tumour too (she actually had breast cancer, but it spread to her head and it was the brain tumour that ultimately killed her). I didn't have mine in my life for as long as you though - I was about 6 when she married my dad and 12 when when she passed away (she was only 29 - on my birthday I will have officially been older than her for 5 years). Thanks for the warning!

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  5. I really enjoyed All the Ugly and Wonderful Things and the Art of Racing in the Rain. Homegoing sounds like an interesting read!

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  6. The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of my all time favorites. All the heart eyes for that book!

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  7. I can't read dog books. I will just cry. In fact, it's better if I read books without animals in them...

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  8. You've read some great books! Violent Ends is one that I really hope to read soon. I'm happy to see you enjoyed it.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  9. Summerlong wasn't enjoyable for me either. It was one of the first audiobooks I listened to and it's a good thing, otherwise I would have walked away. I just felt so meh about the whole thing. I don't like feeling meh about how I'm spending my time.

    I really need to reread The Art of Racing in the Rain. I read it many years ago and lurrrvved it and bawlllleeeeddddd. I'm worried about my non-human choice since I selected Dog's Purpose (or whatever the 2nd book is) and with the Phil situation, I'm sure I'm going to be a hot-fucking-mess.

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  10. I'm definitely going to check out the Paul Cleave book. I read Trust No One by him a couple months ago and it was fantastic. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is on my TBR as is Homegoing. After my beloved Emeril passed away, I cannot do books like The Art of Racing in the Rain. Hurts too much. Maybe, someday.

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  11. I love that we read 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' at the same time. The chapter where she begged Enzo to stay with her and protect her through the night (and that bitch of a nurse and Eve rescuing Zo from the garage)... that part KILLED me. I'm crying right now typing this because of it. Gosh... that book just slayed me. And it didn't help one bit that my baby Enzo is as devoted and in-tune to my needs as book-Enzo.
    And now I'm sobbing again. AHhhhhh.

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  12. Bummer that I have summerlong on my kindle waiting to read and I was deliberating reading it next. Some good recs (as usual) Erin!

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  13. Violent Ends sounds like a really interesting way to discuss a horrible event! I'm definitely adding it to my list! And All The Ugly and Wonderful Things has been on my list for forever! I need to read it soon because of how it good it sounds. And I'm so glad that you liked Homegoing! It was one of my favorite books that I've read in a long time, and I think that's because of how the author managed to weave everything together, especially at the end. And I say don't beat yourself up about not getting to participate at times. Things happen with work and life in general that take you away from blogging, but eventually you'll figure everything out.

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  14. i have not commented on any posts from last link up, though i'm getting through yesterdays and then hopefully last months. honestly, i am so behind on blog reading in general and i'd rather read book posts vs normal posts.. jk jk.
    all the ugly and wonderful things is on my list! i have not read the art of racing in the rain, so i skipped your spoiler, though i do not know if i will ever read it. homegoing is on my list, i've gotten it from the library like twice and never got around to it before i returned it, oops. one day!

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  15. Yes to everything you said about All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. I just can't read dog books, but The Art of Dancing in the Rain sounds beautiful.

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  16. This list basically reads like a list of Jana's greatest hits. I haven't read that one by Paul Cleave but I have read others by him and he's quite enjoyable. I'm sad you didn't like Summerlong but I get it. I really do despite my overwhelming love for Dean B.

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  17. I have had All The Ugly & Wonderful things on my hold list at the library FOREVER. Seems like the rest of the city wants to read it too, haha. I'm so glad that you thought it was good! Violent Ends sounds so interesting & just added it to my list on Goodreads!

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  18. I've never heard of Homegoing - I'm adding it to my list, sounds fascinating. I read The Art of Racing in the Rain years ago and enjoyed it but I've forgotten the story. Also adding All the Ugly and Wonderful Things to my list.

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  19. I have All the Ugly... on my TBR. Not sure when I put it on there, but it was within the past month or so. I'm more intrigued now having read your thoughts about it.

    I read The Art... last week (but you know that already) LOL! Oh, my goodness! What a book! It definitely made me feel "all the feels."

    Violent Ends. Oh, boy. I haven't read it nor do I think I will. I attempted a school shooting book back in the winter, This is Where it Ends, and I just couldn't. Because a school is my workplace, those kind of books just hit too close to home.

    Exactly! You have every right to share your thoughts on the books you read and there are many of us out here who enjoy reading what you have to say. Yes, your time for blogging is limited, so you might not get to be as interactive as you have been in the past, but you can still participate. :)

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  20. I have All the Ugly and Wonderful Things on my TBR so glad to see you liked it. I just added Homegoing. And omg Art of Racing in the Rain!!!!! THAT BOOK! It took my two years to recover from it and then I read A Dog's Purpose this past month and am broken all over again.

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  21. I read All the Ugly this month and it was so flipping good. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year. I thought it was going to be more disturbing based on other reviews I'd see but to me, it was so well written and such a good story, the age thing didn't play a factor for me.

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  22. All the Ugly... is one I've heard mention of so often, and heard it's worth the read, but I haven't actually read any synopsis. But your endorsement is good enough for me -- added!

    I just checked out Summerlong after finishing up Please Don't Come Back From the Moon. Can't wait to dive in!

    Homegoing is on my list too.

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  23. I cried buckets at The Art of Racing in the Rain.

    Loved All the Ugly and Wonderful things.

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