Wrap Up

Wrap Up | Spookathon/October 2019

October 30, 2019October 20, 2019 bookishluna5 Comments

Monthly Wrap Up

Hello and welcome! This month I decided to put my readathon wrap up and my monthly wrap up together for a couple of reasons. The first being I didn’t want to post two wrap ups so close together and the second is that I don’t think I would have had enough in my posts on their own. But, either way I am going to fill you in on all of the reads I have read this month for general reading and readathon reading!

-Spookathon-

Read a thriller– The Institute by Stephen King
Read a book with red on the cover– Mapping the Interior, might I add this is a beautiful cover and an amazing story?
Read a book with a spooky word in the title– Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories
Read a book with a spooky setting – The Institute by Stephen King
Read something you wouldn’t normally read– Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, not halloween like at all so I wouldn’t normally read it this time of the year.

I might have used a few books to cover more than one prompt, but I did it! Not against the rules in my opinion!

Read 2
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell by Robert W. Sands Jr.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite nonfiction series of sorts and this one was no exception. Images used and their accompanying descriptions and stories added to a wonderfully framed narrative of both Independence Hall and the Library Bell.

View all my reviews

Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an eerie atmospheric read, I can really see why it is compared to The Haunting of Hill House, but it is very much its own unique story as well. Even though this was such a sort story, I was attached to the main character very early on. Since this is so short I don’t want to say much, but if you enjoy horror I think you will really enjoy this.

View all my reviews

The Institute by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another wonderful King novel. It is different from his other works, but it is just as creepy. It did not take me too long to feel for the young main characters. The horrors that they saw and had to live through is just heart wrenching. There were quite a few times my heart sunk when I thought something bad was going to happen or if I thought something wasn’t going to work out.

I don’t want to say to much because I feel like this novel is best read when you don’t know too much. It is well written and the plot is a roller coaster and unique. I also felt true emotion while reading this.

View all my reviews

Moby-Dick: or, The Whale by Herman Melville

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very dense book, it was not 100% what I expected. I felt like it was going to be more of a tall tale, but it ended up being so much more explanatory of the progress of whaling. At times I just wanted it to get to the action, if that makes sense.

Other than this I can see why this book is a classic, it is an interesting tale, but keep in mind it is a product of its time.

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Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so I was really excited to read some more by this author. I was really happy with my reread, I enjoyed the story as much as I have in the past. The other short stories varied, but overall I enjoyed them as well. If you enjoy Jekyll and Hyde, I think you will enjoy the rest of these stories.

View all my reviews

Middle Mark Books 2

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill, 5 of 5 stars
The Overstory by Richard Powers, 3 of 5 stars
In the Tall Grass by Stephen King, 4 of 5 stars
The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book by Neil Gaiman, 5 of 5 stars

Beat the Backlist 2

Current TBR: 33

Backlist TBR: 0

I FINALLY FINISHED ALL OF THE BOOK I BOUGHT BEFORE 2019 STARTED!

Did you have any 5 star read this month?

Were you surprised by anything you read?

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Wrap Up

Middle Mark | October 2019

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019 bookishluna1 Comment

Middle Mark

Hello and welcome to my mid month check in! I am so excited to share some of these books with you. I have read a few five star reads, which is all I can ask for while reading!

I will say that this month I do have one book I technically read in September, but I finished it on the last day of the month and it did not make into my wrap up.

Read 2
The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was so nice to read this script. I am a huge fan of the original novel by Gaiman and Pratchett and I have to say that Gaiman did a wonderful job with this adaptation along with all the cast a crew involved. It was such fun visiting this story for third time this year.

If you enjoy reading scripts and enjoy this story, I suggest you give this a go as well.

View all my reviews

In the Tall Grass by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very imaginative, gruesome novella. It was so vivid in my mind while I read it and I can see the influence of both Stephen King and Joe Hill. It is very dark and twisted and if gore doesn’t bother you, I suggest this quick read.

View all my reviews

The Overstory by Richard Powers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting read for sure, I can see why it has won awards and shortlisted for others. The idea is very thought provoking, involving individuals who have a very strong with nature and more specifically the trees. At first all these stories seem unconnected, more like a short story collection, then slowly they start to come together as the need to protect the forest grows larger.

I have to say, I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half. The first half has so much of a personal connection with nature and trees and it was great learning about all of these families and individuals. For me it started to get less interesting when things got mushed together. I am not sure if it is because it seemed to be more “preachy” or the individual stories that drew me in kinda for the most part fell to the side and were only a plot device instead of the story. It seemed to loose the magic and the soul of the story.

With that aside the writing was done very well, I am curious to get into other works of this author.

View all my reviews

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was once again another wonderful graphic novel by Katie O’Neill. I love the artwork, but the story is beautiful as well. I always want more after reading her works, this is no exception. I really loved the fact that sign language was used in this book, how everyone was so different, but everyone cared so much.

View all my reviews

Currently Reading 2

Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2) I am about 45% through this book, I am enjoying it so far and I am curious how it is going to progress and end. I have to say I really loved this nighttime edition from Barns and Nobel. It makes it seem much more dark especially since one of the main characters is a vampire.

The Institute

I am exactly 50% though this book and I am loving it so much. I am really excited and worried about what it to come because I stopped reading at such a cliff hanger part. Also, I really love this edition and I am learning more and more of what is represented on the cover.

Mapping the Interior

I am about 32% through this short story. It is a very eerie story so far and I am LOVING the atmosphere so much. I am also really enjoying the story being written by a Native American and having those ties within it. I am very much looking forward to seeing how this author is going to finish this book and honestly, I hope this author has more works because I want to read them.

What has been your favorite read so far this month?

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Wrap Up

Wrap Up | September 2019

September 29, 2019September 23, 2019 bookishluna15 Comments

Monthly Wrap Up

Hello and welcome to my monthly wrap up! This month was a bit overwhelming, but I read a lot more than I thought I would be able to read and I even read a few 5 star reads! I still cannot believe we are now officially into fall and within the last three months of 2019. It is time to make sure all of these yearly goals done, but before that I need to share what I have read, on to the books!

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story line was very cute and adorable. I might have audibly said awe a few times while reading this. The illustrations were great, I loved the color choices for the story as well. This was a great start to the autumn seasons.

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The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a brutal one, but it added a lot to the story. I am moving on to the next one right away.

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Night Journey by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am moving on the the next one right away, I need to know how this story ends!

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Coffey on the Mile by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This finally installment really had me feeling for the characters a lot more than I had when I first started reading this serialized novel. It came full circle in a way I did not see coming and had an element I did not see coming either, but a very good choice in my opinion. This was a great story even though I hated a few characters with a passion.

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The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The main reason I personally did not enjoy this was due to the narrator. I could not take more than a half an hour at a time listening to her. I am not really sure what to say, the idea is really interesting, but for me this is a case of a really annoying narrator.

View all my reviews

Middle Mark Books 2

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tin Man by Sarah Winman My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Coffey’s Hands by Stephen King My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Aquicorn Cove by Katie O’Neill My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beat the Backlist 2

Current TBR: 30

Backlist TBR: 1

What was your favorite book you read this month?

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Wrap Up

Middle Mark | September 2019

September 15, 2019September 13, 2019 bookishluna7 Comments

Middle Mark

Hello again and welcome to my Middle Mark post where I give mini reviews of the books I have read in the first half of the month. This one is actually going to include a book I finished on the last day of August as well since I didn’t finish it in time for my wrap up post. Anyway, here are the books I have read so far in September!

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

* I received this book from publisher via netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.*

This is my parcial overall review, if you want to see all of my thoughts please see my post: REVIEW | The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Overall, I think this is a fantastic thriller. It has the atmosphere, the setting, an unreliable narrator, and wonderful characters in addition to a wonderful plot. If you enjoy thrillers or any of the things I mentioned in this post, I really think you should give it a try. I will also add, that I liked it so much I bought a final copy of this book so I can tell more people about it.

View all my reviews

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tin Man was a story I kept walking away from and coming back to. I unhauled it thinking it couldn’t live up to its description only to buy it again a year later and actually reading it within the month after purchasing it. I am happy to say that I enjoyed this story. It is a mixture of heart breaking and heart warming. I really liked how the author touched on some pretty hard topics and it had a bit of a historical fiction feel to it and gave me a look into society only a few decades ago. I have to say, this book gave me the bug to view more of van Gogh’s work as well.

I feel like if you like the description, this book will not disappoint you.

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The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very cute graphic novel with a very sweet message to it. On top of the wonderfully cute story, the illustration style was beautiful and just perfect for this story. If you enjoy happy feeling, cute, and wholesome stories I feel like you would really enjoy this graphic novel. The only downside was I think it was kinda rushed and I would have loved to know more about the lessons and the society.

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The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up last month and read it already, I don’t know who I am anymore. Anyway, the main reason I read it so quickly is due to the fact that this was such an interesting sounding memoir. I have to say I really enjoyed learning about Raynor and Moth and their journey and following along with the hard time and the victories.

While I did like this book and I feel like it is a beautiful memoir and I am glad I read it. I just felt that the last 4th for some reason dragged for me. It might be the pacing or my mood changed in general, but I did enjoy this book and if you like nature, adventure, and want to read a memoir I suggest it.

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Coffey’s Hands by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 3rd one was emotional as hell. I was sad, horrified and completely irate at times. Since this is the 3rd one, that is all I am going to say. Well, maybe I will tell you to read this.

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Aquicorn Cove by Katie O’Neill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very cute graphic novel with a very good message. Also, when I call it cute I am referring to both the illustrations, but also the story. While it does have a dark element I found myself thinking or saying awe. Wonderful graphic novel.

View all my reviews

Currently Reading 2

Coffey on the Mile (The Green Mile #6) by Stephen King. I am currently working my way through my serialized editions of The Green Mile. I am really enjoying my experience so far, but this is the last one so I am really excited to finish because I am curious about how the ending will go.

Also, can I just point out that this is cute mouse on the cover, if you have read any of this you will know the significance of this adorable critter.

What has been your favorite read so far this month?

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Wrap Up

Wrap Up | July 2019

July 31, 2019July 28, 2019 bookishluna12 Comments

Monthly Wrap Up

Another month, more books read! I have to say I read a lot more this month than I thought I was going to. I think the main reason for this was the #24in48 readathon I took part in. I had such a blast spending two days just dedicated to reading and relaxing. I ended up reading a total of 10 books this month. I have not read that much in a while, so I am super excited. Following the #24in48 I took reading a little slower due to the fact I did not want to put myself into a slump right before #NEWTsReadathon2019! Anyway, here are the books that I have read this month and a few mini reviews.

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is quite long, but I laughed a ton. I had no idea how funny and goofy this story was before reading it. I wish someone told me this sooner because I would have read it a long time ago. I will say the audiobook really saved this book for me. While I did enjoy the story and the adventure reading it physically was a bit slower and blah. When I downloaded the audiobook from my library and followed along it really came to life. I am also surprised at how this book held up, I really was expecting it to be more of a relic and distant.

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Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book made me laugh, tear up, grunt in frustration, and even sing some Panic at the Disco. This was a really enjoyable novel that is in fantasy land, but also showcases the hard discussions that people sometimes have to make. I was rooting the entire time for our main characters and for reelection.

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The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am so excited to have finally starting reading The Chronicles of Narnia series in its entirely. This is a great place to start and to see the birth of this magical world and story. The writing flows and I love that it is to the point and not dragged on. I am very much going to continue reading.

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Death in the Air: The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City by Kate Winkler Dawson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting account of both a serial killer and the great London Smog. Both of which, were killers. This was a very sad time for London and I think the author handled this topic very well. It gave equal attention to the effects of the fog on the health, safety, and the political climate. It also went into great detail of a serial killer who was targeting women at the same time. The book covered the crimes as well as the court cases, which I think she did a great job with.

Another thing I really liked was that the author really summed up the book. She noted how things changed after the fog and the murders. She followed how things changed decades later as a direct result on the families, political thought, and energy resources.

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is really interesting how I have forgotten so much of the story since the last time I read this book, but it felt like I was going home to an adventure. It was great great fun to annotate my feelings this time around being in my 20s and being so many years after publication. While there were parts I can for sure see the time period very clearly in this book, I still very much enjoyed the adventure.

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The Mouse on the Mile by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I have to say that I have enjoyed this second part of The Green Mile. I can also say that this book truly ends the build up and world building. At the very end things truly start to happen and I can’t wait to jump into part 3 to see what is going to happen on E-Block.

View all my reviews

Middle Mark Books 2

The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine by Lindsey Fitzharris, 4 stars
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, 3 stars
Mort by Terry Pratchett, 5 stars
The Two Dead Girls by Stephen King, 4 stars

Beat the Backlist 2

Current TBR: 38

Backlist TBR: 2

What was your favorite book you read this month?

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Hauls

Read 5, Buy 1 | June 2019

July 10, 2019June 26, 2019 bookishluna23 Comments

Read 5 Buy 1.jpg

Hello and welcome to another kind of blog post series I am adding to my blog. Nearly a year ago I shared by Read 5, Buy 1 Challenge, you can find that here: Lets Talk | My Read 5, Buy 1 Challenge. In this post I explain how I challenge myself when I feel that my Owned TBR has gotten a bit out of hand. Well, This past month with Book Con I decided that having nearly 50 books at one point was way to high for me to be comfortable with. So, I decided to reinstate the Read 5, Buy 1 Challenge. In the linked post it goes into detail of what it is and what it entails, but I will give you a little summary.

Pretty much for every 5 books you read, you get to buy 1 book. No book buying bans needed with this, but it does help you cull your TBR and get it under control. I have used it quite a few times over the year. My last run of it I got my TBR down to the high teens, which is within my happy place of owned TBR. Anyway, each month I am going to give a little summary of how it is going and share the books I read and the book I bought.

Read

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage
Much Adu About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Buy

Everything Under by Daisy Johnson

Since I started this in the middle of the month I only have one book hauled through this challenge. Now, I need to get reading so I can get my TBR down and buy some books! Any questions about this challenge I am happy to answer.

What does your TBR look like?

Have you ever done a book buying ban?

SignOff12:17

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Wrap Up

Wrap Up | June 2019

June 30, 2019June 28, 2019 bookishluna15 Comments

WrapUp12:17

June was a very crazy month for me, I am so I am very surprised at how much I ended up reading this month. I was expecting to read maybe only 4 books, but I ended up reading much more than that.

I will say this month I was very bad about sticking to my TBR, June TBR | 2019, I ended up only reading 1 book on that list until the 24th of the month. Then, I kinda tried to binge the rest of the list. The main reason I did not do to well with sticking my my TBR was my mood reading and the books that became available from my library. Library books always take precedence with me because I can’t keep them and I might not be able to extend my time with it if someone else is in line.

Anyway, I overall liked a lot of the books I read this month, but below is some more details about the books themselves and my thoughts.

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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really liked the time period this was set in and how it was true to that time period. It showed the hardships that African Americans faced and the horrible treatments that were thrust upon them. I enjoyed the writing style and the theme of bees throughout the story.

I think I have come to realize though, that I do not like stories about young girls who lose their mothers at a young age. I think it is because I have read it so many times or what, but I am just not in the mood or enjoy stories with that plot line.

View all my reviews

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have not read a lot of books or comics or anything in a while that dealt with HS aged people. But, I am very happy that I read this. I started reading this as a preview from the publisher on their website, when the preview ended I needed more and got it from my library that thankfully had it. I finished it in one sitting.

The story line was heart wrenching, but heart warming at others. I loved that the characters were raw at times, but the issues that were hinted at and full on explored are real issues that are dealt with every day. I really enjoyed reading this.

On top of the storyline/plot being amazing, the art work was beautiful. I enjoy the style that is used and the color pallet and use of color to highlight certain aspects of the story. You can clearly see a lot of time and hard work went into this graphic novel.

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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started to read this I started to feel like I was mislead by the title of this book, but that quickly turned around for me when I was about 70 odd pages in. This story had me really engaged for a few reasons. The first being the time period, how can you not want to hear a story about a rock and roll group in the 1970? The second being the format of this novel.

I didn’t know that this was set up as an interview the entire book and I think it really lent itself to the story. I feel like the story would not have been as powerful and I would not have felt as much as I did if it was written another way. Also, if you are into audiobooks, I think this is one of the best I have ever listened to. They have an entire cast and it makes the voices so much more distinct, even through they would be without the audio.

This story talks about a lot of different struggles and it really is a roller coaster, but not the one you would expect from a rock group.

View all my reviews

The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I am kind of struggling to pin point why this book didn’t blow me out of the water. I think the main reason is because I was able to predict a lot of what happened from very early in the book. I think once I made an assumption and it started to be proven correct I was just kinda meh about it.

I think if you have not read a lot of thrillers this is a great place to start. It is shocking and has quite layers to it. The writing style itself is good and it flowed for sure. One thing I really liked is the fact that I was debating throughout that maybe this is actually happening or it isn’t happening at all. What is reality?

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Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I still don’t like Shakespeare, I am not sure why I keep trying at this point.

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The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great reread and adventure! Not really much to say other than I love this book and this story. It is filled with quirky wonderful characters and takes place in a very imaginative world.

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Middle Mark Books 2

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 4 Stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, 5 stars
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, 5 stars (NEW FAVORITE BOOK)

Beat the Backlist 2

Current TBR: 45

Backlist TBR: 6

Divider 2

What was your favorite book you read this month?

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Wrap Up

Middle Mark | June 2019

June 16, 2019June 11, 2019 bookishluna14 Comments

Middle Mark

I have to say that June is off to a wonderful start. I was a little bit worried on how my reading would go because at the end of May I powered through The Stand. I really feared it was going to put me into a slump, but that was not the case! So far, I have not done such a great job at sticking to me June TBR, which you can view here:June TBR | 2019, but I am really enjoying the books I picked up. I even found a new favorite and might just end up in my top books of 2019. Only time will tell. Anyway, here are the books I have read so far this month!

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Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish I had read this sooner. The characters were fun, the story thought provoking in a way, and all around a great read I read within 3 days. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the works of the two authors, but also someone looking for an end of the world story with some interesting characters.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

re-read May 29th-June 8th/Spoilers Ahead

Just as intense as the first time I read it, things are starting to get very real and dangerous. The one thing that really stands out to me in this book is how each character reacts to the news at the end of the book. How The Order just jumps back into their ways so seamlessly. I also love that Harry gave the twins that money to start their shop, seriously heart warming after all the bad that has happened.

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The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I did not have very high hopes for this book. The main reason being I read The Scarlet Letter and hated it. I thought it was the writing style. Turns out it was just the story itself. I felt like this was very well written and I really enjoyed a bit of a peek into life during this time period, but also a look into a family and their home with a bit of a mystery at some points and a curse thrown in for good measure.

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Currently Reading 2

So I just started reading The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage, which is my buddy read this month. I am really excited to see how dark this thriller/mystery gets. I feel like it has the potential to be a psychological thriller, but maybe also a ghost story of sorts? I am really looking forward to read more of it. Also, can I just say. I know we are not meant to judge a book by its cover, but that cover just makes me want to know what in the world is going on in this house!

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What are you currently reading?

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Wrap Up

Wrap Up | May 2019

May 29, 2019May 27, 2019 bookishluna9 Comments

This month has been a really interesting reading month for me. I feel like my reading was all over the place, but at the same time not. I have read a lot of non-fiction or very large books the past few weeks, with only a sprinkling of thrillers from a buddy read and a novel from one of my 2019 reading challenges.

I am not quite sure why I tended to read a lot about Russian history or Russian influenced books, but I think I was really craving non-fiction and historical fiction. As to the big books, I think I have been in a mood to just pick up a book and just dedicate myself to reading it and really absorbing it, not just reading something and flying through it. Either way, I am really happy with the books I have read this month, without more of my ramblings and reflection, here are the books I read!

Stalin’s Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva by Rosemary Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderfully written non-fiction account of the daughter of one of the worlds most notorious men. It was really enlightening to read about her relationship with her father for a few reasons. The first being it really gave insight into Soviet Russian elite, which to me seemed to not be so different with how the elite lived under the tsars, and how Stalin was as a husband and a father.

I also liked how this novel tracked her life following the death of her father and beyond. I think it was a very good nod to her because it seemed like she tried hard to be seen as her own person and this novel really does just that.

As I said earlier, this is well written. The style of writing is story like with a great deal of information, I think this is great for those who want to read more non-fiction but are intimidated by books being to “academic”. In addition to this, the organization and execution of this biography is wonderful. The flow was very natural and I never felt like I was jumping around in her story, even though we cover an entire lifetime in a single book.

This book also inspired me to look into Svetlana’s own books about her story and also read more from this author.

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Becoming by Michelle Obama

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her story in her own words. If you have any interest, I highly recommend.

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Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very thought out thriller and I can really appreciate that. I just wish one aspect of the story was more explored throughout the novel. While this was a well planned thriller, it is by no means bad, but it also isn’t one of my top ones.

The story will keep you on your toes and just like the dust jacket says, if you think you can guess the ending. I think your guess most likely will be wrong.

View all my reviews

The Stand by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am still surprised I was able to finish this book in a single month, but I am so happy that I read it. While it was long, I was not once bored and I never wanted to skip a particular part.

Overall, I really liked the wide array of characters in this novel. I was expecting to get them all confused and turned around, but they are so distinct and their motives for their actions are always true to them so I did not have a problem keeping them all straight. There were characters in here that I cried for and I cheered for. There were those I did not care for in the slightest. It really is interesting to see all the different ways humans deal with something like this.

I really enjoy this type of story from king, it is a mixture of ghosts, monsters, but also human nature and what it could be. Making is just enough real to make you uneasy. Also, whenever anyone sneezed I got anxious. I had to laugh at myself a bit, but according to the Stephen King subreddit, I am not the only one who this happened to.

View all my reviews

If you want to read my review of the following books, please see my post; Middle Mark | May 2019.

Ask Baba Yaga by Taisia Kitaiskaia, Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Literary Witches by Taisia Kitaiskaia, Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Current TBR: 38

Current Backlist TBR: 9

What was your favorite book you read this month?

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Wrap Up

Middle Mark | May 2019

May 14, 2019May 14, 2019 bookishluna7 Comments

Middle Mark

So, this month I am reading big books, but also reading some smaller books in-between to keep up my momentum. I always need to pause a big book and finish a quick read or I end up getting bogged down, am I the only one who feels this way from time to time?

Anyway, this Middle Mark is mainly going to be a few of the small books, hopfully my monthly wrap up will have some of the larger books. Fingers crossed.

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Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Everyday Troubles by Taisia Kitaiskaia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very adorable and helpful book. This advice centered book is a mixture of fun, thoughtfulness, and folklore. I plan on reading more from this author because the writing was lyrical, but not annoying. The advice was useful, but not full of itself.

I see myself picking it up again from time to time.

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Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers by Taisia Kitaiskaia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very cute and quick read. I really enjoyed how each section was set up. A little story create by the author, a little non-fiction blurb about the “literary witch” and then recommenced reading for each one. This truly is a wonderful celebration of women writers from a wide array of backgrounds and time.

This little blurb and short little story really gets you in the mood to explore these women and it is so wonderful that she gives you 3 or more recommendations. On top of that the illustrator, Katy Horon, has a wonderful style and you can see how individualized and meaningful each of the pieces are.

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Currently Reading 2

Stalin’s Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan

Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva

I picked up this novel while at my local indie bookstore. I am ashamed to say and admit I never knew Stalin has a daughter. I honestly just through he was so evil that I cannot fathom that he could be a father. I am currently about 74 pages into the book and I think is he is a horrible husband, horrible person, and I think he was a messed up dad already. Mainly because of foreshadowing and some comments here and there, but I am interested in seeing just how low he goes in his personal life.

The Stand by Stephen King

The Stand

I have finally started this huge book, I am not too far into it, but I can already see why it is a beloved book of his. It has a very interesting start and I normally don’t like apocalyptic dystopian writings, mainly because YA was/is just pushed them way to much for me, but I will say that this one seems very different and I am curious to see how he pictures a world after our world collapses.

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What are you currently reading?

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