Why I picked itI got Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee for Christmas, but I hadn't read To Kill a Mockingbird yet. So, when I decided that I wanted to read Go Set a Watchman as my Potions OWL choice (a sequel), I thought it would be good to use To Kill a Mockingbird as my adult novel to read and give me the setup/background needed to read its sequel! I picked up the audiobook and it was the first audiobook I completed this month! summaryYou follow Jean Louise "Scout" Finch for a few early years of her life. Her mom died when she was little, so it's just her, Jim, and dad (Atticus). You follow her through school years of learning about the people in their community, and summers with friends, dreaming and pretending that they'd be able to see the local recluse one day. As the book goes on, Atticus, a lawyer, takes on a major and controversial court case one summer and it brings adversity to their family. Through this adversity, the kids learn about the social status and injustice in their small Alabama community. what I likedI think that Harper Lee did a good job of addressing the social issues of the time as well: racism, social classes, etc. It was done delicately yet still confronted the issues. I like the character development of Scout and Jim, and the story was fun to follow. I never quite knew what was going to happen next, and I like that. Though it's an older novel, it was written in a way that was still easy to understand. Sometimes with the older novels, I struggle through, but this was easy to listen to and understand. I also loved the character of Scout. She's cute, independent, smart, and stubborn. The relationships in this book are also a lot of fun. Scout and Jim are a perfect picture of a brother and sister. Atticus does a great job as a single father. Even when their aunt Alexandra came to live with them, it added another relationship and depth to the book that I loved. This is another historical fiction that actually helped me a lot. I hate learning history, and I'm SOOOOO bad at remembering pretty much anything historical. But reading historical fiction books helps me to remember things better, mainly social issues. This also gives me a better idea of the time that things were happening. Harper Lee did a great job of helping me learn more about what was happening in the South in the era of segregation! what I didn't likeAt times, because the book covered a wide time range, there was some jumping that happened. Often, she did a pretty good job of giving a smooth and understandable transition, but sometimes it seemed like we either could have skipped a time period or we went too far ahead. overall impression 🌟🌟🌟🌟4/5 stars. I really enjoyed this classic, but it didn't totally blow me away (if you haven't learned already, I reserve 5 stars for the books that really impress me). I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this book, but I truly loved it. I was laughing at some times, and it was just done so well! If you haven't already gotten around to reading this, I recommend it!
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Why I picked itMy boss gave me this book for Christmas because he absolutely loved it. I liked the idea of picking up another "self-improvement" book, and since it has nature and plants on the cover, I thought it would be a good pick for herbology for #OWLsReadathon2019! summaryJonathan David Golden talks through how to find your purpose in life. He discusses how to realize where your passions lie, how to surround yourself with the right people to make those passions a reality, and he does it all while reminding Christians that you need to follow God's plan and timing rather than forcing your own. what I likedWow. This book took very little time for me to read. I loved it. I think that Golden brought up a ton of great topics. Through I'm pretty young, I've already started to learn that God's timing truly is perfect, and I need to watch and listen. Golden brings this up a lot in his writing. He also helped confirm that a lot of times you just need to pay attention to the inklings you have and intuitions. A lot of times, this may be how God speaks to you: through your thoughts, passions, and talents. God has created you for a reason, and you just need to pay attention to see what it is and follow it. what I didn't likeThis book is mostly opinion, I think. Though I agree with a majority of it, it really isn't based in scripture, which is where I like to base a lot of my decisions if possible. So, I'm not saying Golden is wrong, but I'm also not saying he's totally right. I know that the devil also likes to speak to us, and sometimes he can do a good job of making us think that his voice is really God's. I also know that sometimes our own desires go before God's in our brains, and so we may think that an inkling is happening, when really that isn't God's plan for us. overall impression🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5/5 stars.
I really did love this book. It confirmed a lot of my own thoughts on the subject, which was nice. I also really liked the various story about Golden's journey so far as well.
summaryMice are such small and defenseless creatures that their society has to be so careful. That is why the Mouse Guard was created. In this book, we follow a few members of the Mouse Guard as they go after some traitors to the guard. what I likedThe illustrations were very good! This was only my second fully graphic novel, and I liked these illustrations a lot. I also thought the storyline was alright. I loved the concept of the Mouse Guard more than the story itself. I think the idea of following mice as they try to survive, creating towns and civilizations for themselves, and traveling between those towns, trying to stay away from the many predators and dangers out in the world. what I didn't likeLike I said, the concept was more interesting than the story. There were a couple of parts that the storyline jumped around and I couldn't follow it as easily as I would have liked. Not only that, but the book was a little more graphic and violent than I was expecting. Not that it was that bad, but I just wasn't prepared for it, I guess. overall impression 🌟🌟2/5 stars - I didn't think that this book was great. However, I will fully admit that maybe graphic novels are just not for me. I think I will try another series or two to see if any others work better for me. Do you have a manga or graphic novel recommendation that I should try? I'd like to keep exploring this side of literature!why I picked itI finished the Lunar Chronicles and wanted to wrap it up with Stars Above, a collection of short stories that support the series. I am always for background information (or a little more information after the series). This book also counted for Ancient Runes for my April OWLs Readathon! summary
what I likedI was able to read this book in a matter of a few days. It's helpful that I've been babysitting in the evenings, so I just take a book with me so if the kids are playing or in bed, I can sit and read in quiet for a while! Regardless, it was a very quick and fun read. I love the extra information that helps tie up some loose ends that the rest of the series left hanging. I'm a person who loves closure, and this just gave a little bit more of that as well. And, I really liked seeing background stories on some of the lesser-known characters like Scarlet's grandmother and Wolf. I also complained in the first couple of Lunar Chronicles books that there wasn't quite enough world building, but this helps fill some of that too. what I didn't likeThere wasn't anything! overall impression 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5 stars! This was a good addition to the series and helps give great information on other parts of the Lunar Chronicles universe and characters.
Why I picked it
summaryWinter is the step daughter of Queen Levana. She refuses to use her Lunar gift, cursing her with the Lunar sickness. Through this book, she helps Cinder and the rest of the crew to fight back against the evil Levana to reclaim Luna and Earth. The character of Winter is a retelling of Snow White, and you can definitely see the connections between the classic fairytale and this book!! what I likedWinter is such a great character! Her illness makes her more fragile, yet she is still such a strong character. She also is very stubborn, and very intelligent (it's just hidden by crazy). Winter and Jacin's relationship is ADORABLE. I ship them hard. They're so sweet, and yet there's the classic social status trope where she is unattainable because she is royalty and he is a measly guard. Meyer once again did a great job of creating a brand new retelling of a classic fairytale (Snow White). Sometimes I forgot that it was a retelling, but then I'd think about it and start really seeing the connections. She does such a great job of disguising the classic into her story that you can see it if you're looking, yet it's still a whole new story! Along with Winter's story, the whole Lunar series is starting to wrap up, and it was really cool to see how the fight would end. I think that Meyer did a pretty good job with keeping suspense high, writing a good sequence of events (especially from different POVs), and wrapping up the story. Sometimes I'm left wanting more, but this ending was actually pretty satisfactory (not that I won't take more stories about the characters' lives as they get older). what I didn't likeThere was not a lot that I didn't like. It had a good balance of sad and happy and suspenseful and fast-moving action. overall impression🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟5/5 stars, it was a good wrap up to the series. Now, just to finish Stars Above, the collection of short stories giving background on the other books and supporting characters!
Getting to know you, getting to know all about you! 🎼I've been watching a lot of Booktube lately, and there were some videos of Booktuber friends playing the "Who knows me better??" game. (Check out some by the Bookmarked team: @readbyzoe, @haileyinbookland, and @aclockworkreader and by the Booksplosion team: @polandbananasbooks, @jessethereader, and @Katytastic)
I also just want to post something so you can get to know me better! Then maybe as you read my other posts, you'll understand my thought processes a little better. A lot of these questions are based off of ones I saw in the booktube videos. Others, I made up!
I want to get to know you too! Drop a comment below with three bookish facts about you! "You're Not a complete idiot."Why I picked itA Man Called Ove intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis. I was skimming through available audiobooks for download, and saw this one. I wanted to read about this old, curmudgeon-y man. I have been reading a lot of fantasy lately, so I wanted a more contemporary piece to listen to. summaryOve is an old man, stuck in his ways. He doesn't understand why people can't obey the rules and the signs and the "correct" way to do everything. It should be common knowledge, but instead Ove finds himself surrounded by idiots. Ove is ready to die, yet, when a young family moves in next door, he is forced into learning more about the meaning of life and the joy that was left in it. Throughout this book, you get to know Ove, both presently and in the past. what I likedOve is amazing. I feel as if he is on the autism spectrum, because he takes rules so literally, he has OCD-like tendencies (apparently, in order to make sure a door is latched and locked correctly, you should tug on the handle exactly three times), and he doesn't like his routines to be interrupted. I loved the two different points of view, looking at the present (Chapters that started "A Man Called Ove ____") and looking at the past ("A Man Who Was Ove _____"). You would get glimpses into his past from the present chapters, then you'd read a past chapter and get the other details about what exactly happened. The details of his life get filled in from both sides, and it was an interesting way to read about it. Also. The cat! There's this stray cat that Ove tolerates, but when something happens to it, his neighbors trick him into caring for it. The relationship that the cat and Ove have is perfect and had me literally laughing out loud. Maybe this is because I have a cat, and I could see her looking at me in the same ways this cat was described when she isn't having my nonsense. what I didn't likeThere really wasn't much I didn't like. I thought it was just so interesting, and I could kind of see what was going to happen, yet it wasn't too predictable. overall impression 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟A Man Called Ove is a BEAUTIFUL story that helps show the joy that can be had in life if you look for it. Not everything is always as cut and dry as it seems. And even when we aren't in the happiest places in our lives doesn't mean we can't help others and make their lives better.
Why I picked itThe Tea Dragon Society came in my February OwlCrate that I won in a giveaway by @SaraEllaWrites on Bookstagram. I was so excited for this cute little graphic novel because tea? aAnd dragons? Together? It's a dream come true for me! And just looking at the art on the cover intrigued me. The characters were adorable, and the illustration was beautiful. I couldn't wait for a lazy Sunday to curl up with a cup of tea and this graphic novel! summaryA young blacksmith finds a tea dragon near her home and returns it to its rightful caretaker. There, she learns what tea dragons are and how special they are. She learns from her new friends how to take care of tea dragons, and helps them restart a society that had started falling apart. She also learns about how sometimes certain practices or professions may go out of "style" but how important they can still be. what I likedOMGosh, it was just so cute! The illustrations? Perfection. Gorgeous and adorable. The storyline? Cute. The tea dragons? My absolute favorite! The guide in the back of the book showed the cute little dragons and told all about them. (I've decided if I had a tea dragon, I'd have a hibiscus tea dragon.) what I didn't likeI just want more. That is all :) overall impression 🌟🌟🌟🌟4/5 stars! I loved it! It didn't totally blow me away, but it was still really great. I do feel like there was a lot hidden between the lines (and the pictures) to try and read into. Either that, or I was trying to read TOO much into it. But overall: Great!
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AuthorJust sharing my passion of reading through my passion of writing. Archives
May 2020
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