Wrap Up

A Week in Review | September 23th-30th

a week in review

This month has been a roller coaster of reading. Some weeks I read next to nothing and other weeks I finished  more than one book. I am happy to say that I feel like I am ending this month on a good note. If you want to go through all of the wrap ups for this month I will link them for you to explore.

A Week in Review | September 16th-22ndA Week in Review | September 9th-15th, and A Week in Review | September 1st-8th

Books I Finished

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

This book was so beautiful and yet so heart breaking. I think this is going to be a book I think about from time to time in the future and it may even be one of my favorites from this year. This novel brings you through a very interesting time of history through the eyes of a man and his mother. There were references to WWII, the AIDS epidemic and the stigma that came with it, and much more. I felt raw emotions while reading this and I really cannot recommend it enough. I truly wanted to take the main character in and take care of him.

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson

HangsamanShirley Jackson is one of my favorite writers, she wrote one of my all times favorite books, The Haunting of Hill House. This book is very different from that. It follows a young lady that is a very unreliable narrator during her first few months of college. Now I will say I was not blown away by this book and I cannot pin point the exact reason. I don’t know if it was due to the story line not living up to the description or is it just not a great story written. All authors have a book here and there that is not as great as their others. I will admit I did really enjoy the fact I felt that at times I was reading something akin to The Yellow Wallpaper and the atmosphere at times. I also found myself really disliking a character so much I wanted someone to throw an encyclopedia at them, ahem Jenna.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also a Star

I found myself enjoying this book for the most part, but I also felt that a lot more could have been done. I am not sure if this is because I was mad at a particular character, I may have yelled a bit, or because I just did not like the insta love so much. I have not read YA in a long time and I think that is part of the reason why I don’t. A lot of YA has a lot of tropes I just am sick of. But, I will say that the over arching or underlying, depending on how you look it, theme is an important one to have seen.

The Navigator’s Touch by Julia Ember

The Navigator's Touch (The Seafarer's Kiss, #2)

Now, I don’t want to go into too much detail here because I wrote an entire review, REVIEW | The Navigator’s Touch by Julia Ember. But, I will say that I really enjoyed this retelling that pulled from Norse mythology and Peter Pan. It was unique, had flawed unreliable characters, and the world that Ember created had just the right amount of magic. Also, I want to add that I received this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. DividerI am Still Reading

The Outsider by Stephen King

The Outsider

I have 50 pages left and I need to type this and then go to sleep. So be prepared to see this book cover one more time with my full thoughts. I will say I am loving this book so much more than I thought it would. I loved seeing past characters from King’s other books pop up and the mixture of our world with a little bit other is just great in this one.

 

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NEXT BOOK

To Be Determined!

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What did you read this week?

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Wrap Up

A Week in Review | September 16th-22nd

a week in review

This week I surprisingly finished 2 books. I am not sure how I was able to do that with all of the personal things that happened to me this weekend. I did not think I would be able to concentrate on anything or really find time to get on the computer, but it actually really helped me a lot in the few min. here and there that I found I needed to fill up.

Books I Finished

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)

I was partially surprised that I liked this novel as much as I did, I also put the second book on hold at my library already. Oops! With all of the hype surrounding this book when it first came out I was a little worried. While, I have always enjoyed Blacks writing, when a book is hyped I always become suspicious. I am happy to say that in my eyes this book deserves the hype. I enjoyed that the character was not “saving the world” like a typical YA politically driven novel. Honestly, I hate when novels are like that now. Might be why I have moved away from reading YA. I also loved the use of myths and other folklore that was used to develop this world. Also, the ending make my head spin, I really came to care for and respect the main character and how human she felt.

A Fierce Glory by Justin Martin

A Fierce Glory: Antietam--The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery

This past week I started and finished A Fierce Glory, overall I really liked it. I thought it was a well written and unique way to look at the Battle of Antietam. If you want more information and a full review you can find that here, REVIEW | A Fierce Glory by Justin Martin. I recommend this book to those who want to read more nonfiction because it is not a detailed account of troop movements, it focuses on the people and the big picture.

I am Still Reading

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

I am officially 74% through this novel and I am heart broken! This book has been such an emotional rollercoaster, I just want to take the main character and protect him from everything. Sadly, I can’t and I need to watch him make life decisions, some I agree with and others I did not and the unplanned happen. There are a few times where I cheered for the by chance things that happened while others I wanted to throw the book. John Boyne has written a great novel and if you are looking for something that is beautifully written and heartfelt I am already recommending this book, just get some tissues if books make you cry.

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson

HangsamanShirley Jackson’s Hangsaman has been such a great read, as I have said the past few weeks. Sadly, I did not get a chance to read more of it this week because I really wanted to. Life got in the way, but I really want to know what happens to the main character because of the description I know something will happen to her, but they don’t tell you what! It is like waiting for the shoe to drop and that really is adding to the story in my opinion.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also a Star

I only just started this book, but so far I am really enjoying the novel. I really like the family so far and I like the formatting of the book. Also, can we just look at that cover? It is beautiful. Also, I wanted to yell already, why do people have to be so harsh and cruel for no reason at all? Nicola Yoon is great at writing novels that make you feel.

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Under the Dome by Stephen King

Under the Dome

So last week, or a few weeks ago I posted on twitter to ask what Stephen King book I should read and those that voted for the most part picked Under the Dome. I am very excited to get to this novel because I want to watch the adaptation and that fact that I have heard so many great things. I remember when I saw this in the bookstore and I needed to have it. The small little town looking peaceful and strikingly beautiful, while contrasting with the eerie dome over it.

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*A Fierce Glory by Justin Martin was given to myself by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and honest.

What did you read this week?

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Wrap Up

A Week in Review | September 9th-15th

a week in review

This week has been very busy, but for a lot of great reasons. I started a new adventure, a few family celebrations are coming up, and a few other things that took up a lot of my time this week. Even with all that I was able to finish one book this week and I continue to make progress on the other three books I am reading.

Books I Finished

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

The Tommyknockers

Finishing this long novel had me feeling like I conquered something huge. I will openly admit that if I did not have the audiobook I would never have finished this novel. While I love a lot of King’s writing, this one is a bit of a bust for me. I did a bit of researching to see if I was the only one or not, but it seems I am not. I have to admit that this article [link] explains my feelings as well as says my thoughts on this novel very clearly.

It is all over the place, longer than it needs to be by a lot, and just seems to loose the king flair that I enjoy.

I am Still Reading

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

I will say I have read another 100 pages of this novel and it is still hurting my heart, but it so good as well. It is funny to say something is so wonderful when it truly makes your heart ache. Also, that fact that it can affect me so emotionally is a true testament to this novel. I don’t find myself to be this affect by books often. I will be continuing to read this novel and I hope to give you all a small review soon.

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson

HangsamanShirley Jackson’s Hangsaman has been such a great read, this novel is different than the others I have read by her. But, because it is different and still wonderful it truly is a testament to her writing and story telling ability. I also really enjoy that the setting, at least up until about 50% into the book, is a college/university setting.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)

This week I have finally picked up The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. At this time I am about 41% through the novel and I have really been enjoying it. I am really enjoying the political and social structure of this novel and I find that I really enjoy the main character. Normally with these types of novels I find the main characters annoying, but I find I can relate on some level as well as see that her motivation is more realistic in a sense.

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The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also a Star

I was lucky enough to meet Nicola Yoon at bookcon this past year. Since then I have been wanting to read The Sun is Also a Star. A long time ago I remember hearing about this story, two young people meeting and having a budding friendship or more. Sadly, one is being deported. I found just that part of the description really intriguing because I can only imagine the impact of finding someone and then having them ripped away. Let alone, the stress of leaving a county, not because they want to, with your entire family when that is all that you know.

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Wrap Up

A Week in Review | September 1st-8th

a week in review

This week I did not finish a single book, but I did do a great deal of reading. I started three different books, two are buddy reads so I will be reading those all month long. The last one I plan on finishing early next week. Anyway, even though I didn’t finish any books, but I did read a total of 607 pages.

I am Still Reading

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

I have been wanting to read this for about a year and I am so glad that I started reading it. So many people have told me that they have really enjoyed this novel, but it is heart breaking. Even though I am only 150 pages in, I can already see what they all mean. I am loving it so much, but it really and truly hurts my heart. I am looking forward to see where this story is going and to see if my predictions come true.

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

The Tommyknockers

This book has been on my owned TBR shelf the longest of all of my books for a few reasons. The first being that it is one of the largest I have yet to read by Stephen King. The second reason being I was kinda on the fence if I would like it. The description of this novel leaves me intrigued, but I was not really drawn to read it right away. Now that I am 400 pages into it, I can safely say that I am enjoying it and I wish I did not put it off this long. I still have hundreds of pages left, but I do see myself continuing to enjoy it.

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson

Hangsaman

I am about a fourth of the way through this novel and so far I am really enjoying it. I only picked this up recently, with about 4 other works by her. I just love her work. So far this is not letting me down in any shape, way, or form. I am enjoying her plot and I can’t wait to read even more. Also, may I add that I love the covers of Penguin Modern Classics?

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NEXT BOOK

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)

I recently received this audiobook from my Library after being on hold since it released earlier in the year. I have about another week and a half to listen to it before it returns itself so I want to get to it ASAP, but I wanted to finish The Tommyknockers first. I am really looking forward to reading another book by Holly Black. I have enjoyed her writing very much in the past and I don’t see how this one could be any different. Fingers crossed!

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To Be Read

September TBR | 2018

ToBeRead12:17

Hello September! I don’t know about you, but September marks my favorite time of the year. I can start wearing sweatshirts and I have more of an excuse to stay inside and read instead of going outside to be social. It also is the time of year I feel more relaxed and comfortable. Not sure why, but this is just my time of the year and I always get excited about it.

Anyway, this month I am going to focus on reading a few of the biggest books that remain on my TBR. I was going to read these in August, but the NEWTs readathon was announced and that plan went out the window so fast. So without more of my ramblings here are the books I am determined to read in September.

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The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies

This books I read the first chapter of a few months ago when I did a try a chapter tag. I LOVED the beginning and wanted to read it, but I didn’t have a ton of time to dedicate to it so I kept putting it off. Here is the post if you want my initial reaction: Let’s Talk | Try a Chapter April 2018.  Also, another bonus is I am reading this with my friend Amy.

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery or at least that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn’t a real Avery, then who is he?

Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead.

At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from – and over his three score years and ten, will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country and much more.

In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit. –goodreads.com

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Under the Dome by Stephen King

Under the Dome

This is one of the last over 1000 page Stephen King books I own and need to read. I have been reading my smaller ones the last few months as well as his short story collections because I have been doing a bunch of readathons and such so I am excited to finally read one of his larger novels again. I also want to watch this show badly so I need to hurry up and read this already.

Just down Route 119 in Chester’s Mill, Maine, all hell is about to break loose…

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day, a small town is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and rain down flaming wreckage. A gardener’s hand is severed as the dome descends. Cars explode on impact. Families are separated and panic mounts. No one can fathom what the barrier is, where it came from, and when—or if— it will go away. Now a few intrepid citizens, led by an Iraq vet turned short-order cook, face down a ruthless politician dead set on seizing the reins of power under the dome. but their main adversary is the dome itself. Because time isn’t just running short, it’s running out. –goodreads.com

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)

So, this one I am very iffy about. I tried to read this a year or so ago and ended up unhauling it. When I recently went through my owned audiobooks in my post Lists | Un-listened to Audiobooks I realized I had this still in my possession so I should give it another go. I am hoping that I end up liking it as much as I enjoyed the trilogy.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. goodreads.com

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The Stand

This has been on my radar for a longtime and I finally got a copy of it a month or two ago I think. Maybe even three? I am not 100% sure, but I have been putting this off due to the size so I figured, now was a great time!

First came the days of the plague…
After the days of the plague came the dreams.

Dark dreams that warned of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil.

His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms…

When a man escapes from a biological testing facility, he sets in motion a deadly domino effect, spreading a mutated strain of the flu that will wipe out 99 percent of humanity within a few weeks. The survivors who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge–Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious “Dark Man,” who delights in chaos and violence. –goodreads.com

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The Tommyknockers

Like all of the other Stephen King books on this list, I have had them for some time and I really just want to read them and I am sick of putting them off. I think that really sold me I was watching a show about mining and the one man was talking about tommyknockers and how they are known to warn miners about a cave in. I am not saying that this is the same spirit of being, It just sparked me wanting to read to see if there was any connection between the two.

On a beautiful June day, while walking deep in the woods on her property in Haven, Maine, Bobbi Anderson quite literally stumbles over her own destiny and that of the entire town. For the dull gray metal protrusion she discovers in the ground is part of a mysterious and massive metal object, one that may have been buried there for millennia. Bobbi can’t help but become obsessed and try to dig it out…the consequences of which will affect and transmute every citizen of Haven, young and old. It means unleashing extraordinary powers beyond those of mere mortals—and certain death for any and all outsiders. An alien hell has now invaded this small New England town…an aggressive and violent malignancy devoid of any mercy or sanity… –goodreads.com

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Hangsaman

So if you are new here, this year I have found a new favorite author, Shirley Jackson. This month I am buddy reading this novel by her with my friends Amy, Jenna, and Reg. I am really looking forward to it, especially since it was inspired by a real event.

Natalie Waite, daughter of a mediocre writer and a neurotic housewife, is increasingly unsure of her place in the world. In the midst of adolescence she senses a creeping darkness in her life, which will spread among nightmarish parties, poisonous college cliques and the manipulations of the intellectual men who surround her, as her identity gradually crumbles.

Inspired by the unsolved disappearance of a female college student near Shirley Jackson’s home, Hangsaman is a story of lurking disquiet and haunting disorientation. –goodreads.com

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