Most important thing in life is learning how to fall.
Jeannette Walls does it again with a really great depiction of true resilience and strength. WhilMost important thing in life is learning how to fall.
Jeannette Walls does it again with a really great depiction of true resilience and strength. While this is technically considered a "novel," it details the true life of Lily Casey Smith, and nearly serves as a "prequel" to Walls' most well-known work The Glass Castle.
I honestly don't really know what to say when it comes to her books, because I feel like she says it all so much better. The stories of those in her family, and her outlook on them, are truly astonishing. I admire her and Smith for their demeanors and perseverance. They remind me to feel so much more grateful about everything in my current situation. Even sad things can hold happiness.
The voice in each of her books resonates with me because I believe in so many of the same values as she does. Her books make me have more faith in myself and my place in this vast world, because they show that one has the power to get things done if they just try hard enough. Even when you are at the complete and total rock bottom (in the cases of Walls and Smith, this is quite literal), there is always something you can do. There is always something to live for, and something to try. You just might need to get a little crafty.
Hope for the best and plan for the worst.
A mantra I already live by, and one that was beautifully stated within this book....more
~Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me an early copy of this book~
I'm truly at a loss for words. This book has every element that a b~Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me an early copy of this book~
I'm truly at a loss for words. This book has every element that a book needs and delivers on them flawlessly. From the moment I read the first page, I was hooked. Despite what you might think based on how many books I read, I'm actually not typically able to read for long periods of time. I'm someone who consistently reads in little bits, usually an hour being the longest consecutive amount of time in a day. Only books that are truly captivating or addicting allow me to read for longer than this at once. The God Game was one of those books.
I love books about games, and I love stories about AI (for example, Illuminae, or Black Mirror), so naturally, I hoped that I would enjoy this book. What I wasn't expecting was to be so totally blown away.
Danny Tobey manages to write fleshed out characters while simultaneously driving the plot at a thrilling pace. He packs moments of despair in the spaces between the terror and desperation. I can honestly say that there wasn't one character that I didn't understand, and that is the beauty of The God Game. How could there be one version of morality when everyone experiences a situation differently?
There is so much commentary within the highly entertaining, but still horrifying, pages of this book. I don't know how Tobey managed it all.
There is legitimately so much I have to say about this book that I think I'd be unable to explain it. I don't even know how to start discussing the ending, so I think I'm just gonna say that you need to experience it for yourself (in the context of the whole book, of course).
If you're in need for books to read in 2020, I beg of you, give this one a try. You will not regret it.
2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for sending me an early copy for review!
Right, so as much as I adored The Start of Me & You, this 2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for sending me an early copy for review!
Right, so as much as I adored The Start of Me & You, this sequel was not it. It's not that I necessarily hated the experience of reading it, I just felt like it brought nothing new to the table after the end of the previous book.
Of course, some of the stuff I loved from book one was still in this one, like the anxiety rep, and the overall relatability of Paige. The rest of it though, wasn't very compelling.
I love romance books about the start of relationships, and I like ones about the middle when they are going well. I don't mind a few chapters of fighting or miscommunication because it adds tension and excitement, but in this book, the amount of unnecessary conflict just became annoying.
Another element to this book that I thought I would enjoy was its content surrounding college decisions. However, its portrayal of the process wasn't very realistic, and (view spoiler)[ in the end, you never even get to find out where she is going to go. (hide spoiler)] I was just personally hoping for a lot more resolution. This book essentially ends in the same place it begins.
While I was disappointed by this book, I'm definitely still excited to check out some of Emery Lord's other works!...more
I never read this book in elementary school, and I really can’t tell you why. I think I was already experiencing the desire to not like what everyone I never read this book in elementary school, and I really can’t tell you why. I think I was already experiencing the desire to not like what everyone else loved. While now I understand how stupid that idea is, I feel like that could be what stopped me from reading this sooner.
However, after seeing the gorgeous 30th anniversary edition of this book at the bookstore, I just had to pick it up. From the first page alone, I immediately became engrossed in the determination of Brian.
I could feel every thought he had and I could experience every effect that nature had on him. I was hit by every blow of anger and frustration at each setback. I was hollowed out by the disappointment he felt from each passing day. But most importantly, I learned the importance of resilience and the stupidity of feelings when it comes to survival.
Paulsen’s writing style is very repetitive, and I understand why some people don’t like it, but it just so happened to click for me. My mind followed the exact same train of thought as Brian, and Paulsen’s writing made me feel like I was stranded in the woods as well.
I’ve found a new overly-specific genre that I enjoy: survival in solitude. I don’t like survival stories that involve fighting and miscommunication; I enjoy survival stories in which one must learn one’s own limits. A person can accomplish much more than they can ever anticipate.
So, thank you, Hatchet, for teaching me that I am capable of so much more than I thought. If Brian can do it by simply taking a step back, then so could I. And, most importantly, so could you....more
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?
Stephen King never disappoints. Even though this is a short stoI never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?
Stephen King never disappoints. Even though this is a short story, I felt like I knew the characters just as well as I would have in one of King's novels, and better than some characters in other authors' novels.
At the heart of this novella lies a story of youth. A story that can only occur when one is a child. A story that can never be relived. There is an adventurous sense of wonder within the pages of this book, and it is one that no adult can ever achieve naturally. Only four kids would get bored one day and ask, "You guys wanna see a dead body?"
This is a tale of friendship, innocence, heartbreak, and reality. It is not one to be missed. ...more
3.5 stars. At the heart of this series, there is something amazing. Unfortunately, for me, it is masked by hundreds of pages of unnecessary scenes. If3.5 stars. At the heart of this series, there is something amazing. Unfortunately, for me, it is masked by hundreds of pages of unnecessary scenes. If there's one thing for certain, it's that Sarah J. Maas can write, and she can do it extremely well.
Images are always vivid, and characters are usually well-developed. I understand the motives of every person, but I feel like the emphasis on this became a little repetitive. There were scenes upon scenes and dialogues upon dialogues describing exactly why one character felt the way they did when merely one or two scenes describing this would have sufficed.
However, while I did find myself bored for some large chunks, the story at the heart of this series is incredible. At first, I didn't really like Feyre and couldn't relate to what she considered to be struggles. But, by the end of this book I was able to see her as a strong and selfless woman. She is also amazingly cunning and performs impressively under pressure. Those are aspects that I look up to in her, and seeing that come out at the end makes me want to continue reading and root for her in the third book.
My thoughts on Rhys are complicated. At first, I didn't get the hype around him at all, and to be honest, I still don't feel it. However, I do understand why others love him. He has a great redemption arc, and the details revealed about his perspective from the first book show a whole new side of him. He's basically the model partner, especially after Feyre's experience with Tamlin, but that made his character feel a little unrealistic.
The action scenes, and scenes with plot in this book were some of the best I've ever read, and that's typical for me and SJM's books. I wish more of this book focused on that, and that the few hundred pages of nothing happening were cut. Now that I have an appreciation for Feyre, however, I'm hoping that even if there are these pages in the next installment, I'll have more reason to enjoy them....more
**spoiler alert** Right. So here’s the thing. The ending is stupid. I appreciate the sentiment, but so much just doesn’t add up.
1. Why was there mud **spoiler alert** Right. So here’s the thing. The ending is stupid. I appreciate the sentiment, but so much just doesn’t add up.
1. Why was there mud and dirt on their sheets the first day? This led me to believe that some sort of crime happened to them, or something more interesting than “fate.�
2. Why did Cora’s mom call Charlie “Sammy� when they took her in? Who were the nurses? Why did they have a hospital style basement with concrete bathrooms? It all legitimately makes no sense.
I never became connected to any characters, so once the plot went downhill, so did my enjoyment. Overall this series was entertaining, but built to a disappointing ending. ...more
This installment was better than the first because I was already invested in the story. I was utterly addicted to it, as you can see by my read dates.This installment was better than the first because I was already invested in the story. I was utterly addicted to it, as you can see by my read dates.
I am very confused as to why this series was not published as one book, because that would make a lot more sense. It lacks a little depth because of this.
To add on, this sequel showcases another perfect cliffhanger and I’m left needing to know more yet again. The characters are still just “eh� for me, but the plot truly stands out. I’m scared to read the next on because nearly everyone is disappointed by the ending. On I go!...more
The only thing crueler than a cage so small that a bird can’t fly is a cage so large that a bird thinks it can fly.
3.5 stars. This book managed to doThe only thing crueler than a cage so small that a bird can’t fly is a cage so large that a bird thinks it can fly.
3.5 stars. This book managed to do so many great things, and I am thoroughly impressed. The prose is incredibly well written, and the details and metaphors used carry throughout the entire novel in a fashion reminiscent of Stephen King.
Speaking of King, this book is definitely scary. I would even dare to say horrifying at times. Was it horrifying because of the stalking and murder? No. That’s what was scary. It was horrifying that, at times, Joe seemed logical. I could see why he felt the need to do some of the things he did, and it is horrifying to know that a “normal� person could become what he became.
He also provided commentary about today’s society and... it’s hard to disagree with him about a lot of it.
The idea for this book is extremely unique, but I could see it being executed immaturely. Fortunately, Caroline Kepnes executed it incredibly. I am in awe of how well she managed to write in the mind of Joe. The narration never sounded like it could have been coming from anyone other than him.
Not only did she flesh out the character of Joe, but she did so for Beck as well. I loved that Beck was nearly as flawed as Joe, and it made my head spin as I tried to decide whose fault everything was. It was both alarming and exciting that the decision wasn’t obvious. A wonderful layer added on top of it all.
Overall, this was a great thriller and I can’t wait to watch the show on Netflix....more
Let me be clear about why I'm giving this book 4 stars. If I were someone who rated my books objectively and by how much literary merit it deserves, tLet me be clear about why I'm giving this book 4 stars. If I were someone who rated my books objectively and by how much literary merit it deserves, this would almost definitely get 5 stars. However, I rate my books based on my enjoyment of them. Sure, sometimes I take objective quality into account, but oftentimes my enjoyment of the book does not match this.
The two main reasons why I sometimes felt as though reading this book was like a chore were that I read this book for school, and also because I have already read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This book is in no way the same story as Stevenson's but the themes and ideas are incredibly similar, and reading this so soon after made it feel a bit repetitive. And, while I am aware that it's almost insensitive to say that about an issue that deserves infinite attention, I just have to be honest about how my enjoyment was affected while reading.
While I did not necessarily agree with every single idea that Hinton presents in this book, I appreciated how consistent he kept his arguments and how honest he was. He revealed thoughts that he had that could really put him in a bad position if he was arguing against someone. I admired his bravery for including all of these thoughts.
Overall, Hinton's writing and structure was very impressive, and his story is absolutely heartbreaking but also uplifting. It will not be one that I soon forget, and the same is true for that of Walter MacMillian from Stevenson's book. ...more
Thank you to Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 28%. I reallThank you to Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 28%. I really hate to say it, but I had to put this down. The idea was so great, but the execution was lacking.
At first, I was really enjoying the writing, as it discussed a lot of topics that I'm currently learning about in school and I found that to be especially engaging. However, once that part ended I was left with disappointment.
Each story became more boring than the previous (the first one was very strong), and while I applaud the author for putting as much time and effort into this book as he did, I don't applaud him for the oversexualized descriptions of women and some of the commentary against the validity of cultural appropriation.
After both of those offenses, I decided that I couldn't continue. It's truly a shame, as I was very excited about the release of this book. You win some, you lose some, I suppose....more
**spoiler alert** Thank you so much to Alonquin Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this for review as part of the blog tour!
I think that t**spoiler alert** Thank you so much to Alonquin Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this for review as part of the blog tour!
I think that this is a perfectly good book for a middle-grade reader. Was I particularly blown away by it? No, I can't say that I was. However, that does not mean that there weren't any aspects that I particularly appreciated.
Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the fateful night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted from his task of laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Not knowing which to return to the goblin horde, he leaves both babies behind.
Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. When a mysterious message arrives calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic, the boys must leave behind their sleepy town of Endsborough and risk their lives in the Wild Wood to discover who they truly are.
I loved Ritter's discussion of identity throughout this novel. Both Cole and Tinn struggle with their own identity and what potentially being part goblin could mean for them. I found this to be particularly applicable to children split between two cultures in today's world. I could see many kids relating to the feelings of Cole and Tinn as they try to fit in to the many identities that they believe they must embody.
His whole life, he had only ever been a reflection of his brother. Tinn's stomach turned. He had no idea who he really was.
The bond between brothers was also something I really enjoyed in this story. They stood by each other through thick and thin no matter which one of them wasn't fully human. They always considered themselves fully brothers.
To add on to this, Annie Burton, their mother, was my absolute favorite character. She never once doubted the legitimacy of either of her sons, even though she knew one of them wasn't biologically hers, or even fully human. She also never gave up on finding either of them, and really gave off some strong Joyce Byers vibes.
"Stop it," Annie said. Her jaw set and she drew a long, determined breath. "You're all talking as if my son is gone, but he's not! He's in there! He is right in front of us!" She jabbed her finger at the bramble. "Tinn is alive in there somewhere, and he needs me, and I am not leaving this forest without him!"
She was an incredibly strong single mother, and so was the so-called 'Queen of the Deep Dark.' I loved the underlying connection between them as they both dealt with the abandonment of their husbands.
Besides these two characters, I felt like the others could have been fleshed out a bit more. The only things I really knew about them were that Cole is the troublemaker and outgoing, while Tinn has always wanted to be more brave. I never felt very connected to the boys in this story, which is unfortunate considering they are the protagonists. I understand that it is a middle-grade book, and that they usually don't require a huge amount of character-building, but I do feel like it was missing a little something.
To sum everything up, I thought this story was charming, and a good pick for a typical middle-schooler, but I don't think it was anything groundbreaking....more
Where do I even begin? I honestly don't know. Th**spoiler alert** 4.75 heart shattered stars.
I’ll find you�
Keep calling for me, Viola�
Cuz here I come.
Where do I even begin? I honestly don't know. This book was incredible in so many ways.
Since book one of the series, I've been adamant about how Patrick Ness does not hold back. He has no mercy for his readers and does not fear too much emotional wreckage. I had a feeling he might be one of those authors who pulls a Veronica Roth on us, and he did. He really did. Except, he did it better.
Todd was not killed by the Mayor, for that would have been much too simple. Todd was killed by accident by the very Spackle who had wanted to kill him during every moment in the book... up until that one. Not only did he die, but his death is what allowed Viola to save the planet. And, his resilience within his Noise at the end made perfect sense and was truly beautiful, especially in its connection to what Ben went through before.
Speaking of which, Ness did something CRAZY here. He killed off Ben in book one, for us to mourn for a good chunk of time in book two. Then he brings him back. And we are like phewwww Todd can be happy once again. But, no. He had to KILL HIM AGAIN. And, as heartbreaking as it is, that's a classic move. But, you know what isn't? BRINGING HIM BACK AGAIN IN BOOK THREE. And the worst part of it all is that it made sense. Damn you, Patrick Ness for managing to pull off something so cruel.
Also, lets take a second to talk about the Mayor. His character is crazy complicated. In book one he is clearly a villain, and in book two he even kills his own freaking son (who, btw, Ness SOMEHOW got me to like... smh). In this book, however, the Mayor becomes somewhat likable as Todd gains his trust, and Mistress Coyle falls farther off her rocker. The reader is somewhat forced to like the Mayor, at least a little bit, as Todd is persuaded to do the same. But then, as Ness mentions a few buzzes and hums, things start to become more suspicious. In the end, it is revealed that the Mayor just desperately wants to escape the Noise. He became too powerful, just like Ben, but he internalized things the wrong way. He doesn't let Todd become him, even though he wishes that he was his real son, and, in the end, kind of dies a valiant death. Who knew THAT was possible from how things started in book one?
With all of this genius, you might be wondering why I had to dock 0.25 stars. It is simply because this book is CHUNKY and some parts of it were harder to get through. I found the chapters written from the perspective of 1017 to be the most boring and repetitive, even though I do understand why they had to be included. There is a reason that this book is huge, because it truly does all pay off in the end, but since I rate my books mostly based on enjoyment, I have to reflect that in my rating.
This series is a wild ride, and I legitimately cannot wait for the movie to come out. I'm a little sad that it will become so mainstream because of Tom Holland (don't we all secretly hope our favorite books can just stay ours?), but I am also equally excited that this story will gain more exposure. We will just have to hope the movie does it justice...
I am so sad to be leaving New World and all of the people (and Spackle) on it, but the time has come and it is right. Ness ends this tale in its natural place, and I have full confidence in Viola (and WILF! My king. His arc is also amazing), and Todd one day, to manage this planet the way they should....more
It's hard to say that I loved this book when it's about such horrible experiences. Usually, if a book is sad I can easily tell myself this isn't real,It's hard to say that I loved this book when it's about such horrible experiences. Usually, if a book is sad I can easily tell myself this isn't real, but every time that I was tempted to do that, this memoir reminded me that it was.
The story of Jeannette Walls and her family is both something to learn from and something to reflect on. Some of her takeaways in life might no longer be possible in today's world, but who knows, I've never had that experience and maybe they are.
This book would definitely give a lot of people hope and the courage to work hard to escape the cycle of poverty they are stuck in. By no means is it all about mindset, but there is no way to escape the cycle with the wrong one. The right mindset won't be what gets you out, but the wrong one could be what keeps you in.
I was shocked by how brave and strong Jeannette was as a young girl, and I also found the dualities of the people in her life to be incredibly interesting. Her family was horrible to her, but mostly because they were horrible to themselves. They still loved her and wished her the best, but their vision of the best was distorted.
Overall, this was a heartbreaking yet triumphant read, and I think everyone should give it a try....more
I used this for research for a paper I’m writing and it was pretty good! It had some good unique details for me to add to my argument.
Thanks to the aI used this for research for a paper I’m writing and it was pretty good! It had some good unique details for me to add to my argument.
Thanks to the author for writing this so I could have enough secondary source information lol...more
I AM FULL OF SO MANY EMOTIONS IT IS GETTING HARD TO HANDLE.
I'm at a loss for words besides:
frustration denial desperation depression rage
While it may seemI AM FULL OF SO MANY EMOTIONS IT IS GETTING HARD TO HANDLE.
I'm at a loss for words besides:
frustration denial desperation depression rage
While it may seem concerning that a book made me feel all of these things, fear not! I loved this book from cover to cover. Even if it did incite a burning fury within me.
Patrick Ness is a ruthless man. He does not hold back. I mean this in two main ways. The most obvious one is in character deaths and utter heartbreak that he seems to enjoy inducing in his readers. A true sadist. I love it. (view spoiler)[While there were tons of deaths in this book that made me sad, the death of Davy really hit me the hardest. I have no idea how Ness got me to like this character, but man was I warming up to Davy. I really cared about him and found his fondness for Todd charming. His growth from an evil follower to a son who simply wanted his father's approval was heartbreaking. Especially when it was his own father who killed him. I will never get over it. I truly hope that he knew that Todd forgave him in his final moments. (hide spoiler)]
The other way that Ness does not hold back is in his social commentary. This book blurs the line between revolutionaries and terrorists and it was fascinating to realize that maybe there isn't just a good side and a bad side. Maybe violence is needed, but maybe it's not.
With that, comes the plot twists, which were more than plentiful. I guessed a few (and the major one) coming, but they were still great nonetheless. Figuring them out beforehand definitely did not hinder my experience, and the ones that I did not guess still blew me away (view spoiler)[the bomb in the backpack omg (hide spoiler)].
All in all, I am terrified to read the final book in this trilogy, but I also can't wait. I need Todd and Viola to be safe, but that seems to be nearly impossible based on where this book left off...
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