Book Reviews: July 2019
Books upon Books upon Books. I think I'm up to 25 now..
I can get a little carried away but only when I have time. And right now I have a LOT of time. I am a really picky reader, I have to be in the right mood at the right time for reading. Thankfully I have the LA Library system as well as a month free of amazon kindle unlimited which I'm taking advantage of. Here are a few of the ones that stood out this past month
Where the Crawdads Sing - I ended up buying this one. It was a sad (thankfully fictional) story, the main character raises herself in the marsh outside of town from childhood. Being an outsider has helped and hurt her. I felt a lot of loneliness while reading this book despite reading this sitting in a crowded Starbucks. I saw Reese Witherspoon had it on her book club list and she is producing it as a movie as well so I look forward to watching it. I even got my mom to suggest it to her book club.
Rebecca - I never read this in school like others did and I actually thought it took place further back in history than the 1930s. Overall, the main characters' insecurity in her marriage as a 2nd wife, and in society as someone that wasn't raised in the upper class, really had my heart breaking for her. I am glad I read it. I was a little put off by the narrator having no name. Daphne du Maurier said that she just couldn't think of one but a lot of book reviewers believed it was intentional because of how young and insecure the main character was. I like to take an author at their word and hate when people try to put metaphorical meanings where it isn't necessary. If you like the Upstairs/Downstairs Downton Abbey and fish out of water stories, I highly suggest this if you skipped it in school.
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe - I think I saw this one recommended in a Bustle.com book list. I got it digitally through the library right away and read it quickly. A young teenager is the only one of her family left on a space ship headed to the nearest planet to colonize. The suspense created by a spaceship coming after her so she won't be alone and her growing paranoia is well written. However, I found the climax of the book a bit weak/trope-y. I enjoy the genre of the future/living on a spaceship, even if some of the space travel science explanations didn't make sense. I really try let go of those things since it's Sci-fi and YA as well but if you like more actual science of space stuff, The Martian is still my favorite.
On Dublin Street - This was on a GoodReads.com list of books with the "Best Book Boyfriends". Unfortunately it's also on the "alpha male romance" list and "intense and angsty romance" list. The main character happens to start falling for her new roommates' older brother.. She's got a dark past, he's got control issues and he's possessive.. some of it was problematic (relationship red flags) at times but when it was straightforward romance it was well written. At least it was better than Fifty Shades of Grey. This also lead me to read a couple more books by the same author Samantha Young. She definitely knows how to create angst but she's also good at writing a steamy romance (when it's good).
The Circle of Ceridwen Saga (6 Books)- This was recommended to me by a family member. Definite Historical Fiction. It's set in 9th Century England when Vikings were raiding and fighting the Saxons for land and control. I read a lot of historical fiction but the middle ages was a new time period for me. The series has a very distinct writing style because during this time period English was barely English.. it took me about half the first book to get used to but once I got into the flow it was fine. I really like being able to read on a kindle so I can select words and go to google for images or wikipedia for some more insight on what's being referred to. The series follows Ceridwen (sounds like Kerry-dwen) as she grows up in the uncertainty of the late 800s, following actual historical events, she gets caught up in life with Saxons and Danes. I learned a lot about viking culture and way of life in the middle ages and I liked her strength as a woman in the time.
many more book reviews to come..
I can get a little carried away but only when I have time. And right now I have a LOT of time. I am a really picky reader, I have to be in the right mood at the right time for reading. Thankfully I have the LA Library system as well as a month free of amazon kindle unlimited which I'm taking advantage of. Here are a few of the ones that stood out this past month
Where the Crawdads Sing - I ended up buying this one. It was a sad (thankfully fictional) story, the main character raises herself in the marsh outside of town from childhood. Being an outsider has helped and hurt her. I felt a lot of loneliness while reading this book despite reading this sitting in a crowded Starbucks. I saw Reese Witherspoon had it on her book club list and she is producing it as a movie as well so I look forward to watching it. I even got my mom to suggest it to her book club.
Rebecca - I never read this in school like others did and I actually thought it took place further back in history than the 1930s. Overall, the main characters' insecurity in her marriage as a 2nd wife, and in society as someone that wasn't raised in the upper class, really had my heart breaking for her. I am glad I read it. I was a little put off by the narrator having no name. Daphne du Maurier said that she just couldn't think of one but a lot of book reviewers believed it was intentional because of how young and insecure the main character was. I like to take an author at their word and hate when people try to put metaphorical meanings where it isn't necessary. If you like the Upstairs/Downstairs Downton Abbey and fish out of water stories, I highly suggest this if you skipped it in school.
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe - I think I saw this one recommended in a Bustle.com book list. I got it digitally through the library right away and read it quickly. A young teenager is the only one of her family left on a space ship headed to the nearest planet to colonize. The suspense created by a spaceship coming after her so she won't be alone and her growing paranoia is well written. However, I found the climax of the book a bit weak/trope-y. I enjoy the genre of the future/living on a spaceship, even if some of the space travel science explanations didn't make sense. I really try let go of those things since it's Sci-fi and YA as well but if you like more actual science of space stuff, The Martian is still my favorite.
On Dublin Street - This was on a GoodReads.com list of books with the "Best Book Boyfriends". Unfortunately it's also on the "alpha male romance" list and "intense and angsty romance" list. The main character happens to start falling for her new roommates' older brother.. She's got a dark past, he's got control issues and he's possessive.. some of it was problematic (relationship red flags) at times but when it was straightforward romance it was well written. At least it was better than Fifty Shades of Grey. This also lead me to read a couple more books by the same author Samantha Young. She definitely knows how to create angst but she's also good at writing a steamy romance (when it's good).
The Circle of Ceridwen Saga (6 Books)- This was recommended to me by a family member. Definite Historical Fiction. It's set in 9th Century England when Vikings were raiding and fighting the Saxons for land and control. I read a lot of historical fiction but the middle ages was a new time period for me. The series has a very distinct writing style because during this time period English was barely English.. it took me about half the first book to get used to but once I got into the flow it was fine. I really like being able to read on a kindle so I can select words and go to google for images or wikipedia for some more insight on what's being referred to. The series follows Ceridwen (sounds like Kerry-dwen) as she grows up in the uncertainty of the late 800s, following actual historical events, she gets caught up in life with Saxons and Danes. I learned a lot about viking culture and way of life in the middle ages and I liked her strength as a woman in the time.
many more book reviews to come..
