What I liked I loved that each treasure he talked about, he gave as much backstory he could. He talked about how the treasure came to the U.S., whether mined, stolen by pirates, or just lost by someone. He also often explained why it hasn't been recovered yet as well as information about major tries at finding them. Each story was fairly short, making the reading go very fast, which was what I was looking for this week. I also still learned a lot. What I didn't like There wasn't much I didn't like about the book. Jameson did a good job of keeping me reading, as well as giving me reliable and interesting information. He gave me just enough information without boring me with too many details. Overall impression 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Because this book was just what I wanted this week, I give it four of five stars. I loved the learning that came with this book, and it was a very interesting and fun read!
I know it was a short review, but there wasn't a storyline for the whole book, and honestly it's just something you need to read for yourself! If you are interested in U.S. History and stories of hidden treasures, this book would be great for you!!!
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Unorthodox Reading and Writing
Why I chose this book I love Jodi Picoult's writing. She always does such a great job of creating deep characters with major internal and external struggles that a lot of people don't normally think about. I had picked up this book at a Goodwill (where I pick up a majority of books in my library!), and couldn't wait to read it! I love music, so whenever there are books that involve music, I get interested very quickly. Not only is it about a music therapist, but Picoult created a playlist to show Summary In this book, you mainly follow a middle-aged couple, Max and Zoe, through the end of their marriage and beginning of their new lives. It all starts when yet another effort to have a child together fails. Max gives into an old vice and finds faith. Zoe becomes great friends with a woman named Vanessa and decides she wants to try one last time to use the remaining frozen embryos she and Max had. When she goes to get legal permissions to do so from Max, he isn't sure about it. This leads to a long and difficult court case for both sides. Through many trials, strong-willed attorneys, and new loves for both, Zoe and Max finally find a solution that fits them. Likes I loved the completely opposite points of view that the two main characters had. Going back and forth and hearing from both sides, Picoult made me seriously consider a lot. My own point of view as well as how others would conflict with it. Not only that, but she really made me feel invested in the characters and guessing at what would happen next in their lives (classic Picoult…). She took some very current topics and created a wide open discussion about them. Dislikes My biggest problem was that there was a small fact problem I noticed. When talking about a couple of brothers who had a reproductive problem, that makes sense. But when two women who are unrelated both have a miscarriage, that shouldn’t be a connection of the brothers. Anyway, it's a minor detail that just bothered me. The other major thing I didn’t like (yet I still liked it because it added a great depth to the storyline and problem) is that the two opposing sides were so very extremely opposite, and neither one really even tried to understand the other side or compromise. However, I know that a lot of people are like that as well, and it still added the great depth and conflict that made the story amazing. Overall 🌟🌟🌟🌟 It gave me what I was expecting and more. Jodi Picoult delivered as always! I give it a 4 out of 5 stars and strongly recommended reading it if you love conflict, real people who make mistakes, and unexpected turns!
I'm a strong believer that parents who read to their children before going to bed create a lifelong love of reading. My mom would read to me almost every night until I was old enough to read for myself (and there were plenty of nights I had to quickly turn off my lamp when I heard mom coming up the stairs because I knew I was reading too late…). Even a family member of mine loves listening to books, even though he struggles reading them himself. He sits and plays video games and listens to audio books in the background. I've noticed the same thing with my nieces and nephews. When I spend nights with them, I'm normally expected to read to them before they go to bed, and they absolutely love books. I remember learning how to read on one of my favorite childhood books: Tigger: King of the Beasties. I'm pretty sure I made my mom read it to me so much that I practically memorized it, and then made the connection between the words on the page and the story I knew so well. As time went on and I got older, my parents and sisters would buy me books for my birthday. One year, one of my sisters had gotten me an entire box full of books from The Boxcar Children series from a garage sale. Another of my sisters was in college when Harry Potter became popular in the U.S., so she bought me the first two books and my mom and I started reading them together right away. Of course I then became a huge HP and JK Rowling fan, and as I got older I started reading the Harry Potter books on my own (and trying to write very similar stories myself!). Thinking back, I was always one to pretend and imagine I was in another world entirely. I have 5 siblings, but all are much older than me, so I grew up in a house with just my parents, practically an only child. Being alone on a farm meant playing alone and finding ways to entertain myself, so for years I would play pretend and have imaginary friends to talk to. Books gave me another way to entertain myself and immerse myself into new worlds. Not only that, but they gave me ideas for my own imaginary worlds. Even now, as I sit writing this in my apartment (I'm all alone…There's no one here beside me…) I see the book sitting beside me and long to start reading to escape this world. Books give me a place to turn when nothing else can distract me. As I read, I realize that I'm not the only person who goes through that certain emotion I'm feeling. I'm not the only one who worries about this or that. Knowing that others experience my same grief, sadness, anger, and joy comforts me. That's also why I have the urge to write. I've always been an emotional person, and having a pen and paper (or a keyboard and computer screen) helps me to release the emotions that I try to hold in a majority of the time. Reading and writing are my escapes from reality, and the only other thing that can come close to that same feeling is what comes when I listen to music or watch a theatre production (Music student here! Saying music comes close to literature is a big deal!). So that's why I love books and reading. What about you? Did your parents read to you when you were a kid? Do you have similar reasons for your love of books, or are your reasons completely different from mine? Please, share your story! I'd love to read about you!
All through college, I've kept myself busy. From being involved in the fine arts, to being a Resident Assistant, and making sure I still did well in my studies and got my degree, really the only reading I've been able to do is textbooks for class. So, now that I'm an adult (scary, I know), I'm taking advantage of the amount of free time I have. Even between my job and planning for a wedding, I still have a lot more time than I used to. So, since reading and writing are some of my passions, I decided that it is time to really hone in on those passions and spend the free time I have now to do just that: read and write. To really get started with this, I have decided to do a Summer Reading Bucket List of a variety of genres and pieces of writing for me to read and make sure I get back into a good habit of reading rather than always sitting around and watching TV or Netflix (though I do enjoy bingeing Grey's Anatomy once in a while). After finishing (about the last half) of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper my first few relaxation days after moving, I created this list to keep myself motivated. Here is the list I have for myself that I want to share with you! Each week, I have decided on a little different genre to make sure I give myself a nice variety of styles (and so that I don't read only romance novels all summer…). For some weeks, I only have a genre in mind, some I have already decided on a specific book from checking out the library in the town I just moved to, and others, I have gathered a few different titles to choose from when the time comes. So, without further ado, here is my 10-Week Summer Reading Bucket List! Week 1: Nonfiction - Career Builder For my first week, I decided to read a book I got for free a couple of weeks ago called Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. Since I just finished a fiction novel and have only a week before my new big-girl job starts, I chose to start strong with something that will help me develop my ideas and learn about what new ideas seem to stick, and which ones don't. I know in my new position, I will have some great creative and entrepreneurial freedom, so I want to educate myself on how to develop my ideas and make them stick in people's minds. Week 2: Realistic Fiction I don't think I'll ever get enough of Jodi Picoult's writing. Between her multi-dimensional characters to her surprise endings, I just get immersed in her books. I picked up another one of her books at Goodwill awhile back, and have decided to work through Sing You Home during Week 2. Week 3: Nonfiction - Learning This is a week that I plan to find a slightly shorter book than some of the other weeks. That way, if I don't get through a complete book in a week or get busy, I can do a little catch-up through reading a shorter, but still interesting, choice. I'm pretty sure that in Week 3, I will be picking out a shorter nonfiction book about a specific animal like tigers or tapirs (2 of my specific favorites) to learn more about yet another of my passions (I used to love reading Ranger Rick magazines, watching Zaboomafoo, and last year I did a marketing internship at a zoo…you might say I like animals just a little). Week 4: Christian Fiction My faith is something I hold near and dear to me, and I've found quite a few amazing Christian authors that I love (Ted Dekker, C.S. Lewis, and Dee Henderson to name a few). While browsing the library the other day, I noticed a series by Neta Jackson called The Yadda Yadda Prayer Group, and was immediately interested. I'll have to let you know whether my interest pays off in Week 4! Week 5: Biography (or autobiography) Once again, I'm trying to mix in some nonfiction books I can really learn from and gain motivation. So, here's a list of people I'll be sorting through to decide on what I will be reading in Week 5: Julie Andrews, Steve Jobs, Katharine Hepbern, A Dog Called Hope (did I mention I love animals?), and Audrey Munson (The Curse of Beauty by James Bone). Week 6: Blogs Another catch-up week, I'm going to find some blogs to follow throughout Week 6 so that I can read a variety of different styles, and on a variety of different subjects. The plan is to read at least one new blog post each day, but if I find more, I'll definitely dig deeper! Week 7: Romance Novel I am a die-hard romantic. All my life, I've made up stories about Prince Charming sweeping in to save a girl from a bad boyfriend or even herself (cliché, I know). But love is something that can overcome almost anything, and this genre is one of my favorites. I have not decided what I will pick yet, so let me know if you have any suggestions! Week 8: Nonfiction - Career Builder Another Goodwill book I have is Social Media for Direct Selling Representatives by Karen Clark. This is a book that will help me develop my social media skills and knowledge to be better in my career. Week 9: Historical fiction I haven't read a lot of historical fiction lately, though I used to when I was younger. Some titles I've looked at for Week 9 so far include Let Freedom Ring (Al Lacy), All Rivers to the Sea (Bodie Theone), The Secret Chord (Geraldine Brooks), and The Turner House (Angela Flournoy). Week 10: Mystery or Fantasy I couldn't decide which of these genres to choose, so I might find a book that is a combination of the two, or I may fall back to one of my absolute favorite mystery/comedy writers (Harlan Coben). We will see! Both of these genres really intrigue me, and I love trying to determine the ending of a mystery, or diving deep into an entirely new world. Maybe if l finish the other 9 books early, I'll add an 11th book to my 10 weeks of summer reading and get both of these genres!
This list should definitely get me through the summer. Who knows if I'll even make it through! What matters is me getting back into the habit of reading at least every night, if not taking my book down to the park so I can sit and soak up some sun while I enjoy my favorite past time. If you have any suggestions on books I should read, authors to investigate, or genres to try, please leave a comment here, or connect with me on any of my social media networks! |
AuthorJust sharing my passion of reading through my passion of writing. Archives
May 2020
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