Different as Night and Day

Hello everyone!

The books I had read this week were really not that much different.  I would like to call them as different as night and day.  You will understand my meaning when you read the brief critiques below.

(Night) A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

I found this book to be really amazing.  I read it in maybe about 2 days.  I just could not stop reading it.  It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  Rhen has been cursed to turn into this beast every autumn, until he meets a girl to break the curse.  The reason for his curse is explained further in the story, but I will say it was all about revenge.

Harper enters his life, who has had her own struggles from her family.  Her father had walked away from her family, because his involvement with bad guys (Mob, maybe?).  And due to his leaving his family, Harper's brother must now complete where their father left off.  Aside from her family troubles, Harper is taken to this place called Emberfall, and it really is not that much different from where she was from.  She arrives to this place not on her own free will, but realizes that in order to leave she must help the town, to which includes breaking Rhen's curse.


(Day) Circe by Madeline Miller

I was a little hesitant for a while to read Circe.  The synopsis did not really grab my attention.  My mind changed when I was watching a couple of Book Tubers talk about this book, and I thought I'll give it a shot.  I am actually glad I did.  This is a story about Circe, who is an outcast among the gods.  She gets into some trouble with her magical powers, and is exiled to another island.  However, Circe is able to create creatures using her magic.  People in her family and life take advantage of her powers, to which often times makes her alone. 

As I was reading these books, I was able to come to the realization that Rhen and Circe are really not that much different.  They are both outcasts, must overcome their obstacles, and both characters are wanting to find love.  The reason I considered both of these books different as night and day is, because Rhen is made into a creature by an enchantress, while Circe makes creatures as she is a witch.

The "Woah" factor can be that what if Circe is a descendant of the enchantress, who turned Rhen into the beast.  What if in order to get revenge for what was done to Circe a curse is placed upon Rhen?

Of course, I could be completely wrong, but wouldn't that be insane?  Do you have any books that can be considered as Different as Night and Day?  Please feel free to comment below. 

March TBR

Hello everyone,

Another month is upon us, and new book titles must be selected.  I have so many books that I would like to get through by the end of the year, and of course, I keep on adding on to that pile.  Below you will find 10 books that I hope to complete in the month of March.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid I have been waiting for this book ever since I heard that Taylor Jenkins Reid was writing about the 1970s rock scene.  I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I think I will certainly enjoy this next book.  It actually won’t be released until March 5, so I apologize for it not being in the picture above.  But, I will certainly do a picture for my wrap of the month.  My fingers are just itching to get my hands on it.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo This is actually one of my choices for Book of the Month.  I was really drawn in by the cover of the book.  I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but there are some book covers that immediately draw me in and I want to read them.  All I know about this book is that there is a lot of mystery and magic involved, to which I love in a book. 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while, and I have been meaning to read it.  I know that it is a story about fairies and a lot of Book Tubers review the book.  So I will definitely check it out.

Circe by Madeline Miller Another one of my book choices for the Book of the Month.  I was drawn to read this book because I heard it is a retelling of a mythology story, something that is not done quite often.

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning Of course based on the title, you might know what this is about.  It is basically a retelling of The Little Mermaid, except for it is from the perspective the Sea Witch.  I know that with every villain there is a back story, and to hear what they go through makes you start to sympathize with them.

The Star Machine by Jeanine Basinger I have been in the mood to learn about classic Hollywood.  I have been listening to You Must Remember This podcast a lot lately, and I am just so intrigued by how much dark history is in Hollywood.  I decided to choose this as one of my TBRs, because it is the backstory of film studios and how much pressure they placed on movie stars, especially females.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Nagan Again, another book where I was drawn in by the cover.  All I know about the book that it has a lot of fantasy elements.  Humans living among wild creatures. Demons.  Magic.  It just as everything that I love in a book, so I will definitely check it out.  Also, I noticed that James Patterson has hand in this book.  I did the same thing for Stalking Jack the Ripper, to which I enjoyed.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer This is another retelling of a classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast.  I noticed that this is a little bit different as the male character turns human only for the length of autumn, and the rest of the year is a beast.  It was a curse that was placed upon him until he meets someone to break the curse.

The Girl in the Tower by Katharine Arden I immediately bought the rest of the Winternight Trilogy after reading The Bear and the Nightingale.  I just felt that there was more to this story and really want to see how it ends.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman Another book that has been sitting on my shelf that needs to be read.  This book is about death, but it is placed in the heads of two teenagers.  Something really difficult to decide, right?  I have heard good things about this book, and that it is part of a series, so I'm a little worried that I might be sucked in and buy the rest of the series.

There you have it.  10 books for my TBR in the month of March.  I am hoping to read these books within this month, and not get bogged down by school and work. 

I have been having a few people ask me on how I choose the books out of my TBR list.  Well, I lay my books down into 2 rows, and then I use a deck of cards to decide what I am going to read.  Whichever has the lowest card, it is taken out of circulation.  This is down until I only have 1 left and that is the book I am going to read.  I find this a little bit easier and less judgmental, because it allows me to read something that completely surprises me.

What ways do you choose your books?  What is on your March TBR?  Please feel free to comment down below.

February Wrap Up

Hello everyone,

Another month has passed, and boy was it quick.  I had to take a few weeks there to catch on my reading, as according to Goodreads, I was behind on 3 books.  I literally had 1 day where all I did was read.  So below you will find the books that I head in the month of February.

Slayer by Kiersten White

This book is definitely for fans of the Buffy the Vampire Slaver universe.  Kiersten White’s previous book, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, gives an alternate perspective into the retelling of Frankenstein.  She follows same the format with Slayer by allowing readers to follow the lives of people in the Watcher’ Academy, after Buffy had saved the world from its end.  I really loved this story as I am huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the way White was able to continue on in the same universe.

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

Warning: Read this book when there is light outside.  I was completely terrified by this book.  The Chalk Man is somewhat similar to Stephen King’s IT.  Switching between two different time periods, there is a mystery as who had killed and dismembered this body that a group of friends came across in their childhood.  In the present time, the friends receive these letters with a chalk figure, something that they have seen in their childhood.  I got this for my Book of the Month choice last year, and finally decided to read the book.  While I did enjoy reading the book, I felt that it kind of dragged in certain areas.  However, I keep on wanting to find out who the Chalk Man was and why he was going after these group of friends.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

I love witch stories, and this certainly can be on the top of my favorite books about witches list.  I am starting to become a fan of Shea Ernshaw. I ordered her next book Winterwood, which comes out this year in November. This is about a small town in Oregon that has a dark history.  Two centuries ago, the town had executed three sisters who were accused of witchcraft.  The sisters haunt this town and inhabit the bodies of three girls, to which they drag boys out to the sea and they drown in an act of revenge for what was done to them.  I really enjoyed this book for its dark mystery telling with a hint of romance.  I had actually read this book in two days and it was definitely worth it.   

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

As a librarian, I knew I had to read this book.  Susan Orlean does extensive research on the history of the Los Angeles Public Library fire in the 1980s, library evolution, and background information on the suspect.  I was intrigued from the moment I read the synopsis, and it was definitely worth the time.  There are places that were a bit slow, but it really keeps you on your toes on if the suspect was ever charged, and what had happened to them after.  I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn library history and the duties of libraries from day to day.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I love classic fairy tales, and to read about one from a different culture is very intriguing to me.  I had heard about this book from a couple of Book Tubes.  It sounded really interesting, and I thought I would give it a shot.  The Bear and the Nightingale is the first book in a trilogy that Katherine Arden has written that centers around a young girl named, Vasilisa.  Taking place in Russia, our main character has grown up listening to all these fairy tales not knowing that they were actually true.  Everything changes when her father marries someone new, who becomes her step-mother.  Vailisa’s step-mother decides to forbid the family from their fairy telling and traditions, causing Vasilisa to rebel.  I really enjoyed this book, even though I did struggle in the beginning.  Half way through the book I was really engaged and loved all the action sequences.

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 

I love fairy tales, especially when they are retold.  It gives you a fresh take on these tales, and makes you fall in the love with the characters.  To Kill a Kingdom is about Lira and Eilan, who are facing challenges in their kingdoms.  Lira in the ocean world, and Eilan in the land world.  These two are drawn together as enemies as they fight to protect their people, but they soon realize that they are not much different.  There is a lot of fantasy elements and little bits of romance.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes retellings of fairy tales.





So these are the books I read in the month of February.  What were your books that you read?  Which one surprised you the most?  Please feel free to comment below.

Overcoming a Reading Slump

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a while since I posted, but I found myself to be in a reading slump last month.  From school and work, I was just a little bit too busy.  However, I seem to have accomplished in getting out of it.  Here are some tips below on how to overcome the dreaded slump:

1. Limit yourself in front of the t.v., computer, or mobile devices.  I found myself being consumed by videos on YouTube or playing hours of The Sims.  To avoid this habit, I decided to limit myself to at least 2 hours of t.v. or 1 hour and half of playing The Sims.  
2. Read when you have the free time if this is during your lunch break at work, or an hour before going to bed.  I have actually started reading when I get up in the morning when I am not in the mood to watch the morning news.  Or, when I am scrolling through the t.v. and nothing catches my eye on what to watch, I go ahead and read instead.
3. Set a goal for the day or week.  My Goodreads goal is read 52 books.  That makes 1 book a week.  In order to accomplish this goal, I look to see how many pages are in the book.  I then set my goal for each day on how many pages I need to read in order make sure I reach my goal.
4. Listen to audiobooks.  Audiobooks do count as reading, even though you are listening.  This can be on your morning commute, or while you are doing chores.  I found myself listening to an audiobook while I was cleaning.  It not only made the task go by quickly, but it also made me not want to stop listening.

I hope these tips help you get out of your reading slump.  If you have any recommendations on your own ways to make sure you reach your reading goals, please feel free to share below.

Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground and start over.

Happy New Year!  Of course with the start of the New Year comes new resolutions.  One of my many year goals involves reading more books from a variety of genres and authors.  I would like to start with the first post of the year with a book that was very intriguing and the power of secrets.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

I had started reading this book about a month ago after having read Everything I Never Told You.  I loved the way Ng depicts family dynamics that are interracial.  She was able to demonstrate that even if those that are from different cultures will still have their struggles.

With Little Fires Everywhere, Ng engulfs the reader into the lives of two families who are dominated by women.  Mia Warren is a struggling single mother raising her teenage daughter, Pearl by travelling the country.  It is not until they reach Shaker Heights that Mia and Pearl begin to settle in.  Pearl begins to become part of Elena Richardson’s family, and she starts to notice the importance of family.  However, suspicions begin to arise when a custody battle involving a Chinese American baby puts Mia and Elena on opposite sides of who can be defined as a true parent.  Ng is able to demonstrate that running from the past and keeping secrets can certainly impact how children view their own parents.

I would recommend this book for anyone that is interested in a little drama, mystery, and the power of motherhood.  If you enjoy reading this book, I also recommend Everything I Never Told You, to which has a somewhat similar premise.

Have any recommendations for books to start the New Year? Please feel free to comment below with any suggestions.   

Hitchcock’s Rear Window Told from a Female Point of View

For this week’s book review, I feel like I am taken back to my love of Hitchcock films.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

I had chosen this book as a Book of Month choice a few months ago.  I seem to find myself having a difficult time in escaping the suspense genre.

A suspenseful novel similar to Hitchcock’s Rear Window, but told from a female’s point of view.  Anna Fox has not be able to leave her house for quite some time.  While being isolated, she has made a habit of  drinking wine and watching old movies daily.  She also spies on her neighbors as they step out into world, something that she is unable to do herself.  It is not until the Russell’s move across the street that she begins to take an interest in getting to know those that are outside her house.  After she witnesses a horrific scene, Anna realizes that looks can be deceiving and she really does not know the people that she has familiarized herself with.  

Filled with huge amounts of suspense,  Finn is able to take the reader into dark places that they could no imagine.

What is your favorite Hitchcock film?  Have you read any books that draw inspiration from any media or real life events?  Leave a comment below with your own thoughts.

Colleen Hoover's Verity-Book Review

For this week’s book review, I had actually read the book pretty quickly since was just released yesterday.  It is a new book by the author that I had done a previous post for.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I have been a fan of Colleen Hoover’s books since reading Ugly Love.  Verity is a departure from her other books as they contain really dark moments and it is her first suspense novel.

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer, who is given the chance to co-author Verity Crawford’s last few books in her successful series.  She is given the task from her husband, Jeremy Crawford, while Verity has been unable to write from an injury that left her immobile.  As Lowen begins to place herself in Jeremy and Verity’s life, she begins to learn the truth about the death of the couple’s twin daughters from Verity’s unpublished and unseen autobiography.  Not only does Lowen find out what happened, but she is given the difficult decision if she should show this to Jeremy, or have it remain hidden as she starts to develop feelings toward the grieving husband.

I enjoyed reading Verity as it is completely different than her other books, and the suspense had kept me on edge as I was wanting to find out what happens to these characters.  I did find the ending a little bit predictable, which has been different from other books.  And I felt that it was more sexually graphic than her other books.  So, word of caution to younger Hoovers fans that this is very explicit.

Let me know your thoughts by place a comment below.