2019: Week 18 Reading Roundup

 Sunday.April.28 – Saturday.May.4

AKA: Another good reading week!

FINISHED READING: 5

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

​Love Morgan Matson!!! Her books are just so feel-good reads. In this story, we have Charlie, the youngest of 5 trying to get her older sister’s wedding back on track after disaster after disaster threaten to ruin the day. Family dysfunction and family love take center stage in this book. It’s unbelievably hectic, and wild and I enjoyed every second of it (even if Charlie did annoy me sometimes). [4*]

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (read by Jim Dale)

​A beautiful and magical tale. One of my absolute favorites. Loved the audiobook! [5*]

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

​A coming-of-age story told through various short stories/vignettes. It’s a beautifully written, quick read. Esperanza (the MC) reminded me of a young me. [4*]

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

​OMG!! This book is so damn HILARIOUS!! The stories are ridiculous, and Lawson’s recounting is the best thing ever. I really enjoyed everything she had to say about mental illness. Recommend the audiobook!! [5*]

The Wrong Mother (Spilling CID #3) by Sophie Hannah

​Do not read this as a standalone! You’ll just be as confused as I was. I had no idea it was part of a series. So while I was trying to solve the main mystery, I was also trying to figure out what was going on between all these detectives. The mystery itself is actually really well done. I was a little shocked by the denouement (in a good way). [3.5*]

CURRENTLY READING: 2

Farewell, My Lovely (Philip Marlowe #2) by Raymond Chandler

My goal is to read the whole Philip Marlowe series. I’m about a quarter of the way through this read and while I am enjoying it, it feels a bit… different from The Big Sleep. 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Okay, I barely started this book last night so I’m not that far into it yet. But first impression: the MC runs a blog!!! #relatable haha

UPCOMING READ: 1

Audiobook! Which one? Idk. Nothing is really calling to me right now…

IN OTHER NEWS: 

Today is Cinco de Mayo. So if you want to go and get drunk? Go ahead! Just don’t use this “holiday” as an excuse (especially if it has absolutely nothing to do with your culture i.e. non-Mexican). Seriously. Don’t wear fake mustaches. Don’t wear a sombrero. It’s just plain wrong. Stop appropriating a historical event that has nothing to do with you. For the record, I’m Latina, not Mexican. So I will not be celebrating the Battle of Puebla. Because again, I am not Mexican. And if you’re not either, then you know what NOT to do. 

HAPPY BLOGGING EVERYONE! 😀

Mini-Reviews: Anna Kendrick, Road Trips, Music, and Nicholas Sparks

More mini-reviews! Yay! This is what happens when you hunker down in your home to escape the heat outside. Honestly, I think all this reading is starting to burn me out haha. 

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

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I listened to the audiobook version and I must say, listening to these celebrities narrate their essays and memoirs has been amazing so far. A bit of their personalities shine through. Anna Kendrick’s is no exception. 

I think Anna Kendrick has been the realest. She holds absolutely nothing back when talking about her life. And I could relate to her in a way I didn’t think would be possible. She’s an anxious oddball! Was I a huge fan of hers before? Eh, not really, sort of? I can watch the Pitch Perfect movies on repeat all day though haha. Now I think I’ll see her a little differently. She let her crazy out and I really enjoyed it.

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
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Amy has been left home alone for a month. Her twin brother is at a “summer enrichment program” (aka rehab), her mother is setting up their new home in Connecticut, and her father? Well, her father died 3 months before in a car accident; Amy was the driver. Now Amy’s mother needs her to get the family car from California to Connecticut. Enter Roger, an old family friend. He has to get to the East Coast and is willing to do the drive with Amy. An amazing road trip ensues.

Roger and Amy go on the greatest cross-country road trip ever. Her mom had planned out the trip’s original route but Amy and Roger decide to take detours. Loved it. As they’re stuck spending hours together they get to know each other and help one another out. 

When you’re trying to read but your dog won’t let you lol

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Throughout the book, there are pictures and receipts from the trip scattered around which I liked. Plus music playlists! It made Amy’s scrapbook seem real. And they come across so many people that help them on their personal journeys. Besides, they actually go to some pretty cool places!

I want to go on a road trip! Haven’t been on one in what seems like forever. Sigh. Morgan Matson is definitely one of my new favorite authors.

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce

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Frank is a vinyl record store owner in 1980’s England. One day a strange woman faints outside his shop. A tentative friendship springs up between him and Ilse. 

So vinyl records. Frank is an old soul, and refuses to sell tapes, cd’s and whatnot. He has a knack for finding people the music they need. Just by listening to your story, he knows what it is you should listen to. Now because he only sells vinyl, his store begins to suffer as people flock to pick up the new shiny tech. Actually, the whole street is suffering. Then Ilse appears and things are okay for Frank for a while. Then flash forward to 2009 and Frank has been dealt many blows. His shop is no more, his old shop neighbors have all either died or moved on, Ilse hasn’t been seen in so long.

Sigh. This book was an all-around downer. I picked it up thinking it would be like The Little Paris Bookshop but with music. In a way it was. Frank is very passionate about music and it’s all extremely interesting. Everything outside that is a bit of a bummer though. I dreaded picking this book up. It ends on a relatively happy note but getting there was a depressing read.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

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Erin is in an abusive marriage. Her husband Kevin, a detective in Boston, is extremely controlling and beats Erin for absolutely zero reason. She manages to escape to Southport, a small beachside town. There, she is finally safe, living a life of her own, and falling for Alex, a widower with two young children. But Kevin is desperate to find her.

Okay. This is my first Nicholas Sparks book and it wasn’t that bad. I’ve seen the movie adaptation before so all of the plot twists weren’t surprising to me. 

I think my biggest problem is the writing style. It kept telling me all these things, but not really showing it. Plus, some things were completely unbelievable. And oh my goodness, if Erin’s beauty was discussed one more time I was going to scream. Seriously. Her good looks were always mentioned. I’m sure she has other attributes! Ugh. 

Anyway, it was an okay read. 

If you made it this far, you’re a trouper haha

Happy blogging everyone! 🙂

Tag: Me in Book Characters

Thank you Sophia Ismaa for tagging me! I thought long and hard about doing this tag because most of the characters I relate to are pretty depressing. So while this post starts off that way, I think it picks up lol. 

RULES:

• Thank the creators of the tag – Thank you, Windowsill Book Blog
• Thank whoever tagged you – Thank you, Sophia Ismaa
• List 5 characters who you are most like and explain why
• Tag other bloggers

1. Charlie 

I found my book!!!

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Sigh. Okay, 4 years ago I was in a really dark place and I wound up in the hospital. This is the first book I read afterwards and getting to know Charlie helped me cope with what was going on in my life. Never have I related to a character so much. It’s depressing but I love him. And when I met Stephen Chbosky all I could do was stand there like an idiot while he signed my book. I said absolutely nothing to the man. So, I’ll do it right now. Thank you Stephen Chbosky for creating Charlie and giving a voice to all wallflowers in the world. Thank you for writing a book that has had such a great impact on my life. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!

2. Anne Elliot

​Like Anne, I am the middle child. And like Anne, I’ve had to learn to not put aside my own feelings. To not be completed swayed by the opinions of others. 

3. Emily

​​Her best friend is a social butterfly that is always trying to get her out of her comfort zone. Hence the lists. I am Emily. And like her, I too have a friend that is always getting me to go out and try new things. She makes my life so much more interesting. And she puts up with me, so how can I not love her? ❤

4. Lane Kim

I’m kind of cheating with this one lol

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I loved Rory and while I could obviously relate to her book obsession, it was her best friend Lane that I could see myself in. Lane grew up with a strict mother (same!), has an alternative music taste (same!) and a best friend that her mom doesn’t really approve of (same girl, same!). 

 

 5. Bess Marvin

Tag yourself! I’m Bess, the one on the left

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I like to think I’m the voice of reason amongst my friends haha. And like Bess, when push comes to shove, I set aside my fears and help my friends out.

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So… I’m a mess. Thanks Sophski 😛 I’m crying and laughing over here haha. Kind of cathartic though. Not gonna lie. I realize this post was a little depressing. So no one worry, I’m fine. Seriously 🙂

I TAG:

MY WORLD OF BOOKS 

PUFFLEHUFFLE KITTEH READS

READER OF TALES

VELVET SPADE READS

VICKIETHEREADER

AND ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE! 

As always, no pressure on anyone to do this tag! 

Happy blogging! 😀

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!! Friendships and all their nuances. A shy girl coming into her own. I’m such a sucker for these types of stories.

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Sloane and Emily are best friends. When summer arrives, Sloane and her family have disappeared. Emily has no idea where her friend might be, but then Sloane mails her a to-do list. Hoping that completing the list will lead her to her friend, Emily embarks on an unexpected summer adventure.

I listened to the audiobook version and was enthralled. Suzy Jackson did a wonderful job emoting Emily’s feelings. I could feel her loneliness and understand where she was coming from. It’s difficult to fill a void when you’ve made your friend your world. And I know what it’s like to let fear consume your life. But Emily, with a little help from her friends (ha!), manages to come out of her bubble. 

This book made me incredibly happy. The story is predictable. (I could foresee the ending miles away). But I enjoyed listening to Emily tackle Sloane’s list. One thing I didn’t like, is how everything Emily says starts with “oh, um…”. I understand that she doesn’t have the best social skills. But really? I have yet to meet a shy person that begins almost every sentence that way.  

Okay, it is a perfect light summer read. Now I really want to go on a roadtrip, so there’s that. Maybe I should make my own list… Oh! And hello Frank Porter! 😉 

In a well-ordered universe, I would spend my summer rereading this book!!!

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2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Challenge update: 26/40(*50)

Prompt: a book with song lyrics in the title 

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