Human love can be wonderful. It can also be a fucking mess.
Book love is much less complicated.
Happy Galentine's Day to my rock solid ladies
happy book love day to books and the authors responsible for them...
but every day is book love day
just like
every day is the day to smother your pets with affection
every day is the day to show and tell people you love that you love them.
If you only do those things on certain days, you might be a douche.
tra la la
Linkup Guidelines:
2. Display the button and/or link back to us on your blog post
2. Visit other blogs who've linked up and talk books as booknerds are wont to do
Engrossing Reads
Vanishing Girls (Detective Josie Quinn #1) by Lisa Regan - I had not read a Regan novel before, and apparently she has quite a few. I was totally into this one. I'm not sure how she'll top it with a Josie Quinn #2 but I'll tune in to find out, and that should be out in April. I know this because I tweeted the author and she was kind enough to reply. This was recently on Amazon for $1.99 if you're a kindle person. Free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander: There is no way anyone can read this book and continue to spout a favorite - black people are ruining their own communities/what about black on black crime etc. If you read this and you cannot see how every institution most of us hold dear (United States Supreme Court, I am appalled) and presidents on both sides of the aisle have been complicit in this, you need to return to school and learn critical thinking. Although I'm not sure if they're allowed to teach that these days? I couldn't stop thinking about this and fretting about how big this is and how deep it goes. I didn't really pay attention to another book until five days later. I started one the day after but couldn't concentrate on it. Paperback, own
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah - Something about this book grabbed me and squeezed. I liked some of the characters, but none more than the character of Alaska itself and life there in the 1970s and 1980s. I wish more time was spent on the events of the last 50 pages at the expense of some of the front end of the story, but nevertheless I sped through it and enjoyed it. Free ARC e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez - Julia is raw and real and I loved her. Family, frustration, desire for independence. I enjoyed the story and sped through it. That title too, though. Amazon kindle e-copy
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - This gutted me in a great way, just like The Piper's Son and to a slightly lesser extent when I compare all three, Saving Francesca. These Marchetta teen novels get to me. When I read them I can't help wondering if they are over the heads of a lot of teens because there is some yearning realness and sadness and hope to them that is so adult. I think of the reader I was in my teen years, and some books I got then that I probably shouldn't have, so maybe I'm wrong.This took me a little to get into but once I did I could not put it down. I was glad because the last one of hers I attempted, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil, I couldn't finish. Philly library paperback
Passed the Time Just Fine
We Are Okay by Nina La Cour - This book was beautiful in the particular way that only YA books can be - it reminds me of a time when everything feels fleeting but also somehow forever and like everything that happens or doesn't is a line in the sand. Reading it required me to swallow a lump in my throat a few times. Philly library hardback
Dear Martin by Nic Stone - The subject is important. The writing style was not for me. This is a YA book covering a hugely important topic in our world right now, just like The Hate U Give is doing. In my opinion, The Hate U Give had more to offer adults and Dear Martin is more YA, you know what i mean? Check this one out, it won't take you long, and definitely pass it on to your teens and talk about it together, but don't expect what you got from The Hate U Give if you read and loved that as an adult. Awesome cover. Philly library hardback
The Burning (Maeve Kerrigan #1) by Jane Casey - Is everyone trying to do a series? It took me forever to read this book. Not because it sucked, but because it followed The New Jim Crow and my mind was elsewhere. When I finally latched on, I finished it quickly, but it took me a while to get there. The author attempted a case within a case and it worked in some parts but not in others. Paperback, own
The Silent Girls (Detective Anna Gwynne #1) by Dylan Young - It was fine. I would not run to read this. I am happy to see more thrillers based on women detectives. Lots of them are coming out of the UK. Well done. Free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The Woman Before Me (Cate Austin #1) by Ruth Dugdall - I sped right through this little jobby. Solid quick read. Very seriously don't see how this can be a series - are they putting #1 on the covers of these things just for fun now? Philly library hardback
The Crush by Sandra Brown - I think this is only my second Sandra Brown novel? It was fine. I love sinking in with a mystery-ish book in paperback form bending the spine every which way and reading it in 24 hours. This fit the bill. paperback, own
Not Worth It
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall - I love reading about the crazies but this lacked direction and made no fucking sense. I am not one to comment on endings because I believe authors live with a book and it's up to them, not me. I absolutely hated this one though, and not because of HOW it ended. More for reasons that are difficult to discuss without spoiling but I strenuously objected to serious themes being injected into the end chapters and sort of glossed over. It made me angry because I felt like the author was trying to slip a commentary on the state of women in the world today in in a flip manner that didn't fit. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The next linkup is March 13, 2018. A mere two days before my birthday.
Please:
1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & mePlease:
2. Display the button and/or link back to us on your blog post
2. Visit other blogs who've linked up and talk books as booknerds are wont to do
Here's what I've been reading since the last linkup.
Engrossing Reads
Vanishing Girls (Detective Josie Quinn #1) by Lisa Regan - I had not read a Regan novel before, and apparently she has quite a few. I was totally into this one. I'm not sure how she'll top it with a Josie Quinn #2 but I'll tune in to find out, and that should be out in April. I know this because I tweeted the author and she was kind enough to reply. This was recently on Amazon for $1.99 if you're a kindle person. Free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander: There is no way anyone can read this book and continue to spout a favorite - black people are ruining their own communities/what about black on black crime etc. If you read this and you cannot see how every institution most of us hold dear (United States Supreme Court, I am appalled) and presidents on both sides of the aisle have been complicit in this, you need to return to school and learn critical thinking. Although I'm not sure if they're allowed to teach that these days? I couldn't stop thinking about this and fretting about how big this is and how deep it goes. I didn't really pay attention to another book until five days later. I started one the day after but couldn't concentrate on it. Paperback, own
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah - Something about this book grabbed me and squeezed. I liked some of the characters, but none more than the character of Alaska itself and life there in the 1970s and 1980s. I wish more time was spent on the events of the last 50 pages at the expense of some of the front end of the story, but nevertheless I sped through it and enjoyed it. Free ARC e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez - Julia is raw and real and I loved her. Family, frustration, desire for independence. I enjoyed the story and sped through it. That title too, though. Amazon kindle e-copy
Passed the Time Just Fine
We Are Okay by Nina La Cour - This book was beautiful in the particular way that only YA books can be - it reminds me of a time when everything feels fleeting but also somehow forever and like everything that happens or doesn't is a line in the sand. Reading it required me to swallow a lump in my throat a few times. Philly library hardback
Dear Martin by Nic Stone - The subject is important. The writing style was not for me. This is a YA book covering a hugely important topic in our world right now, just like The Hate U Give is doing. In my opinion, The Hate U Give had more to offer adults and Dear Martin is more YA, you know what i mean? Check this one out, it won't take you long, and definitely pass it on to your teens and talk about it together, but don't expect what you got from The Hate U Give if you read and loved that as an adult. Awesome cover. Philly library hardback
The Burning (Maeve Kerrigan #1) by Jane Casey - Is everyone trying to do a series? It took me forever to read this book. Not because it sucked, but because it followed The New Jim Crow and my mind was elsewhere. When I finally latched on, I finished it quickly, but it took me a while to get there. The author attempted a case within a case and it worked in some parts but not in others. Paperback, own
The Silent Girls (Detective Anna Gwynne #1) by Dylan Young - It was fine. I would not run to read this. I am happy to see more thrillers based on women detectives. Lots of them are coming out of the UK. Well done. Free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The Woman Before Me (Cate Austin #1) by Ruth Dugdall - I sped right through this little jobby. Solid quick read. Very seriously don't see how this can be a series - are they putting #1 on the covers of these things just for fun now? Philly library hardback
The Crush by Sandra Brown - I think this is only my second Sandra Brown novel? It was fine. I love sinking in with a mystery-ish book in paperback form bending the spine every which way and reading it in 24 hours. This fit the bill. paperback, own
When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen - While I liked this book, I feel like it was poised on the edge of being something much better than it was. The author almost went all the way. Still a good read with parts being almost lyrical. Amazon kindle e-copy
Not Worth It
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall - I love reading about the crazies but this lacked direction and made no fucking sense. I am not one to comment on endings because I believe authors live with a book and it's up to them, not me. I absolutely hated this one though, and not because of HOW it ended. More for reasons that are difficult to discuss without spoiling but I strenuously objected to serious themes being injected into the end chapters and sort of glossed over. It made me angry because I felt like the author was trying to slip a commentary on the state of women in the world today in in a flip manner that didn't fit. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen - I have read and enjoyed many Anna Quindlen books. I could not get through half of this one - mundane and tired. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What have you been reading?
