Well I have been out of commission for a while. I have still been reading, but I just haven’t had tome to write up. So For March/April/May you are getting a summary of the month, and I’m going to try and get back on track in June.
In the Shadow of the Sun by E. M. Castellated - 5 Stars (Read 3/4 to 3/8)
This is the February OUABC selection, it was wonderful as usual. I really enjoyed the writing and the story and the magical twists. I didn't know much about the Louis XIV and his reign, I found myself googling like a mad woman throughout the book. I love it.
This is the February OUABC selection, it was wonderful as usual. I really enjoyed the writing and the story and the magical twists. I didn't know much about the Louis XIV and his reign, I found myself googling like a mad woman throughout the book. I love it.
The Dragon of Lonely Island by Rebecca Rupp - 3 Star (Read 3/8 to 3/9)
This was a book my son requested me to read.
Fafnyr Goldenwings, a three-headed dragon that sleeps deep inside a cave on Drake's Hill. Because their mother needs a quiet place to finish her novel, the three Davis children find themselves spending the summer on Drake's hill. They meet Fafnyr and each head tells a story.
This was an ok book. it was a quick read and it made my son happy for me to read it.
This was a book my son requested me to read.
Fafnyr Goldenwings, a three-headed dragon that sleeps deep inside a cave on Drake's Hill. Because their mother needs a quiet place to finish her novel, the three Davis children find themselves spending the summer on Drake's hill. They meet Fafnyr and each head tells a story.
This was an ok book. it was a quick read and it made my son happy for me to read it.
The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan - 3 Star (Read 3/10 to 3/11)
This was the final book from my Quarterly Book Exchange. This is a follow The Bookshop on the Corner, which wasn't a real problem it was fine as a stand alone book. A single mother Zoe takes her 4 year old son to Scotland, and is hired to help Nina while she is on maternity leave.
I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was super predictable, and the characters were flat. I really hated Jaz though! This was a light read for me, but I probably won't read the book that came before this.
This was the final book from my Quarterly Book Exchange. This is a follow The Bookshop on the Corner, which wasn't a real problem it was fine as a stand alone book. A single mother Zoe takes her 4 year old son to Scotland, and is hired to help Nina while she is on maternity leave.
I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was super predictable, and the characters were flat. I really hated Jaz though! This was a light read for me, but I probably won't read the book that came before this.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert - 3 Star (Listened to 2/29 to 3/14)
This was an audio book I listened to. It is the story of a woman finding herself in the 1930's, she was promiscuous and wild. She found and lost love. I didn't love it, the story was slow for me, I wonder if I would have liked it better if I had read it.
This was an audio book I listened to. It is the story of a woman finding herself in the 1930's, she was promiscuous and wild. She found and lost love. I didn't love it, the story was slow for me, I wonder if I would have liked it better if I had read it.
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry - 3 Star (Read 3/12 to 3/16)
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
There are four Torres girls, Ana (18), Jessica (16), Iridian (15), and Rosa (12). One summer night they run away from home, the 15 year old teenage boys across the street see them, Hector, Peter, Luis, Jimmy, Calvin and the narrator. However the boys chase after the girls and when they leave their house Hector’s mom figures out what has happened and alerts the Torres sisters dad, Rafe. Rafe comes and gets them and takes them home. The narrator blames himself and his friends for messing up the girls escape. And also because they didn’t escape, for Ana’s death 2 months later. We come back on the Anniversary of Ana’s death, and the story follows how the sisters are surviving in the wake of their tragedy.Lots of sensitive material: death, teenage promiscuity, domestic violence, alcoholism. But all in a pg light, yeah it is there and life is messy but it’s not over the top or rated R. This was an ok book. It had some really slow parts, but the last 3rd really picked up. I’m not sure I cared for the story arc, there are a lot of unanswered questions. But it was ok.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
There are four Torres girls, Ana (18), Jessica (16), Iridian (15), and Rosa (12). One summer night they run away from home, the 15 year old teenage boys across the street see them, Hector, Peter, Luis, Jimmy, Calvin and the narrator. However the boys chase after the girls and when they leave their house Hector’s mom figures out what has happened and alerts the Torres sisters dad, Rafe. Rafe comes and gets them and takes them home. The narrator blames himself and his friends for messing up the girls escape. And also because they didn’t escape, for Ana’s death 2 months later. We come back on the Anniversary of Ana’s death, and the story follows how the sisters are surviving in the wake of their tragedy.Lots of sensitive material: death, teenage promiscuity, domestic violence, alcoholism. But all in a pg light, yeah it is there and life is messy but it’s not over the top or rated R. This was an ok book. It had some really slow parts, but the last 3rd really picked up. I’m not sure I cared for the story arc, there are a lot of unanswered questions. But it was ok.
Willa’s Grove by Laura Munson - 5 Star (Read 3/17 to 3/22)
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
Three women received an invitation to Montana to Willa’s Grove. Willa Silvester lives in Willa, Montana population 32. Willa is a 46 year old widow. She seems to be on the outs with most of the residents of the town, they are angry at Willa for choosing to move away after living there for 20 years. Willa has invited three friends to her cabin before she leaves; Bliss, Harriet, and Jane. Each is going through her own life changing experience, and the women form a community to help each other through.This book is now on my favorites list. It is a heartbreaking but relatable story about 4 women in their late 30’s to early 40’s whose lives have all been turned upside down one way or another. And they have come together to support each other to determine what’s next. I’m not sure how to explain how this book is speaking to me on so many emotional levels. It is putting into words so many things that I felt and felt with during and right after the divorce, of finding out who am I, my supposed to be didn’t turn out the way it was planned to, what does my future look like how? I get it, I get where they are and what that place looks like in retrospect, even if you aren’t in the middle of a life’s crisis the raw beauty and message of this book is absolutely worth the read.Spent the last 10% crying, just wow!
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
Three women received an invitation to Montana to Willa’s Grove. Willa Silvester lives in Willa, Montana population 32. Willa is a 46 year old widow. She seems to be on the outs with most of the residents of the town, they are angry at Willa for choosing to move away after living there for 20 years. Willa has invited three friends to her cabin before she leaves; Bliss, Harriet, and Jane. Each is going through her own life changing experience, and the women form a community to help each other through.This book is now on my favorites list. It is a heartbreaking but relatable story about 4 women in their late 30’s to early 40’s whose lives have all been turned upside down one way or another. And they have come together to support each other to determine what’s next. I’m not sure how to explain how this book is speaking to me on so many emotional levels. It is putting into words so many things that I felt and felt with during and right after the divorce, of finding out who am I, my supposed to be didn’t turn out the way it was planned to, what does my future look like how? I get it, I get where they are and what that place looks like in retrospect, even if you aren’t in the middle of a life’s crisis the raw beauty and message of this book is absolutely worth the read.Spent the last 10% crying, just wow!
The Mother’s Promise by Sally Hepworth - 5 Star (Read 3/24 to 3/25)
Once again OUABC knocked it out of the park. I had received this last year in the Mother’s Day box, and just hadn’t gotten around to it for some reason. Man I should have. The characters are great and so relatable, the story was heart breaking but in a good way. I’m not going to lie it’s a tear jerker of a book, but that is how you know it is good.
Once again OUABC knocked it out of the park. I had received this last year in the Mother’s Day box, and just hadn’t gotten around to it for some reason. Man I should have. The characters are great and so relatable, the story was heart breaking but in a good way. I’m not going to lie it’s a tear jerker of a book, but that is how you know it is good.
Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
Underliving by Celeste Headlee - 3 Star (Read 3/22 to 3/27)
Not at all what I expected, it was more or of a history of how we became so focused on productivity and multi-tasking than about how to do nothing. I don’t know now that I have read it that it is self-help, I feel like it is more encouraging the reader to self-evaluate, to remember to breathe and take moments to enjoy the life they built. That it isn’t a competition of who is busiest, that family and work can and should be separate spheres.
Underliving by Celeste Headlee - 3 Star (Read 3/22 to 3/27)
Not at all what I expected, it was more or of a history of how we became so focused on productivity and multi-tasking than about how to do nothing. I don’t know now that I have read it that it is self-help, I feel like it is more encouraging the reader to self-evaluate, to remember to breathe and take moments to enjoy the life they built. That it isn’t a competition of who is busiest, that family and work can and should be separate spheres.
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead - 3 Star (Read 3/27 to 3/30)
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
When Bea was 8, her parents told her they were getting a divorce and notebook to record the things that were not changing. This is the story her Dad’s wedding and what lead up to it. It was good, little convoluted as to what the story was really about.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
When Bea was 8, her parents told her they were getting a divorce and notebook to record the things that were not changing. This is the story her Dad’s wedding and what lead up to it. It was good, little convoluted as to what the story was really about.
Willa’s Grove & The Mother’s Promise just went to the top of my TBR list! Thank you for your helpful reviews. :)
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