Reading

Ruth Ware’s “In a Dark, Dark Wood” & “The Lying Game”

I don’t know what to say about Ruth Ware’s books. After reading The Woman in Cabin 10, I was excited to read her other books: In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Lying Game.

I have to say, I was disappointed in finishing these books. The Lying Game read like Pretty Little Liars. There were lots of trivial side story lines and it  was anti-climatic. The last 20 pages were probably the most interesting part of the novel, while the rest was rather boring.

The Lying Game

The Lying Game follows four friends with a secret they swore they would never talk about. They met at an all girls boarding school where they would play “The Lying Game.” Points were awarded based on how well they told a  lie depending on the circumstance they were in. The most important rule of the The Lying Game was that they would never lie to each other – until several years later when the secret that binds them is on the brink of being discovered.

In a Dark, Dark Wood

In a Dark, Dark Wood follows Nora who is invited to a hen party, for someone she has not seen in ten years. Nora abruptly leaves school losing touch with her past life. This premise offers more mystery because there are less characters offering the author more room for character development.

Overall, if you are having to choose your next read In a Dark, Dark Wood reads better than The Lying Game.

Ashley Graham “A New Model”

The full title of this book is called “A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like”

I have struggled with body confidence since grade five when I hit depression in school. From there it didn’t help in grade 6-8 when the boy you liked called you “a piece of blubber.” Since then, I have been learning to care for my body and realize that: yes. I am beautiful.

Ashley Graham presents a wonderful, insightful read on her confidence growing up and let’s the reader know that beauty is beyond size.

Well done.

Arianna Huffington “On Becoming Fearless”

You know those reviews that are like “praise so-and-so for that awesome title?” And you think to yourself “wow okay calm down big-shot reviewer.” *clears throat* Well. I now understand that statement.

This will be an honest review, with personal confessions *gasps.*.

I have had existential crises in the past, but it’s been clear that my past few months have been a fog. And it’s something that you just can’t put into words. I don’t know why I’m short-tempered, on-edge and unhappy. I’m trying to get better, just give me time. I recognize it, just let me sift through it.

Which may be one of the reasons why I decided it was time to read Arianna Huffington’s book On Becoming Fearless… In Love, Work, and Life. Because gaining confidence is one area I need to work on.

Her book does help the reader reach a certain calmness. Am I perfect? No. But am I trying? Yes. Can I be fearless? Heck yeah.

The Book.

So thank you Arianna Huffington for reminding me that I am human. I may not know what’s in store

for me, but as long as I keep putting myself out there, good things will come my way. I have to seize these opportunities, make the best of the situation, and tell myself: I can do this.

“Have you noticed that worrying doesn’t stop it from happening? And indeed, that we worry about many things that never happen?” (Huffington, 43).

 

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Sady Doyle “Trainwreck”

The full title of this book is “”Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear… and Why””

http://www.instagram.com/p/BSXfb6xlWbs/

 

This was an excellent read! Insightful, witty, and easy to read, Sady Doyle does an amazing job illustrating how women do so little to be critiqued immensely.

I was having these thoughts before picking up a copy. I thought to myself, as one would, why do I hate Miley Cyrus? Has she truly done anything to upset me so much? And then I came to the conclusion, no. In fact. I envy her. How can she live life so true to herself? Sure there are parts of Miley Cyrus’ character that I cannot relate to, but she is living her life how she wants to live her life. Why should I mock her for her own life choices?
10/10 would recommend this book. It’s important to build ourselves up, and this book sparks the conversation.

Amy Schumer “The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo”

I was beginning to grow tired of Amy Schumer (ooo maybe not a way to open up a review?) But only because she was using the same material at each thing I saw her at. I saw her at the Oddball Festival Summer 2015, and when she was on SNL, it was the same material! I was pretty surprised about this decision on Schumer’s part, because, it’s SNL?

But — after reading her book, it was a nice break from her comedy, because she was actually real and open.  She is able to laugh at herself, accept herself as she is -flaws and all-, ignore the negative feedback and able to make a name of her own.

Kudos Schumer.

As for the title of the book? I think it’s a title that only makes sense once you get to the end of the book. When I initially started, the title was off-putting and made me think “oh so funny, ‘the girl with the dragon-tattoo'” .
But after reading the final chapter it made me change my opinion and realize, “right on! what a fitting title.”

Ya feel?

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JoJo Moyes “After You”

After You definitely took longer to read than I would have preferred; it’s chick lit so it doesn’t require much attention.

This is the follow-up novel to Me Before You, and despite taking too long to read the book, I actually enjoyed it more than the first book.

The novel follows the life of Louisa Clark after losing Will Traynor. She struggles to move on after a part of Will’s past shows up at her door one night, pulling her life into another direction she is fighting to avoid.

I enjoyed this book because it teaches you to live your life, which is definitely important. Questions I always have are, “Why is it that I feel obligated to post this photo on Instagram? Is it to prove I have an active social life? Why can’t I enjoy the moment without posting it?”

With another birthday coming up in my own life, I’m learning I need to do things for myself. Yes it’s okay to do things for others – but if it’s not being returned, you need to learn how to let go.

“You don’t ask, you don’t get.”

My review of JoJo Moyes’ Me Before You..

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

20160820_171904Finally made enough time to finish this book! It was quite enjoyable, albeit makes you wish it was an actual novel and not a performance script.

From the first 30 pages I felt for Albus Potter, and could relate to his character. I thought they did a good job with the storyline, and it does have some twists to keep you guessing.

Really, the only critique is that it’s a performance script, so most of the writing is cheesy. I feel that this is more suitable to see on stage, so that it provides the reader with the intended effect.

Maybe, just maybe, J.K. Rowling will make it into a full-fledged novel?

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Susie Steiner “Missing, Presumed”

missing

Demolished this book in last two days at the cottage. The first few chapters are a tad slow, but only to establish the plot. Roughly 50 pages in, you will become hooked, so stay with it! I could not put the book down until I was done!

Missing, Presumed is a literary-crime novel written by Susie Steiner. Although the plot is based on the search for Edith Hind – a twenty-something graduate student at Cambridge whose father is surgeon to the Royal Family – the novel is more of a character analysis of DS Manon Bradshaw who struggles with her work & being lonely. In addition to Bradshaw’s development, the novel also takes place from many different viewpoints, which is a nice touch.

Overall, this is a brilliant novel with beautiful writing, many twists, and good character development.

“I sometimes think I don’t actually like anyone that much. That all I ever want is to be on my own. And then I can’t cope with it — with myself, just myself all the time, and it’s like I become the worst company of all 00 and there’s this awful realization that I need people and it’s almost humiliating,” – pg. 164 **big nod from me**

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Jojo Moyes “Me Before You”

Since my last few books have been rather – intense – I decided a chick lit read would be a good idea. Well. This book just broke my heart, so I don’t think that’s good.

Besides the heartbreaking feel, what a lovely read that messed with my feelings and thoughts. We should be living boldly, trying new things. Thank you Will Traynor for pushing us as readers to realize this.

Quotes I am quite fond of:

“The Thing about being catapulted into a whole new life – or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else’s life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window – is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.”

 

“But to live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle.”

Dean Koontz “Saint Odd”

My favourite series is complete, and I don’t know where I go from here. I absolutely love Odd Thomas as a character. He has wit, humour, emotion, and just a sense of realness.

Alas, it is time for me to say goodbye to Odd Thomas as his adventures are complete. The final book in the series is brilliant, and brings us back to the first book, finally sealing the horrors that we as readers witnessed in Odd Thomas.

There really is nothing else to say about this series, except that it is fantastic. I think this is Dean Koontz best series and his best character. Aside from maybe a few other novels (The Husband, Intensity and Velocity) Odd Thomas beats the rest.

The writing flows, is real, and is a page-turner. Just look at how long it took me to read Tick, Tock compared to Saint Odd, and you can see that you should pick this series up!

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