Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I am trying to come up with some thing to say at the beginning of this post and my mind is a complete blank. It is hard to come up with something new and fresh and not the same old thing. Talk about weather, talk about books, talk about family. I have sort of been there, done that, got the t-shirt. What to say, what to say. This is probably what authors struggle with sometimes. They know that there is something extraordinary that they can put on the page but they got nothing or just don't know how to funnel it down onto the page.

Hopefully something will come to me for the next time. But for now, this is it.

Synopsis

Louisa Clark tries to help Quadriplegic Will feel good about life again.

My Thoughts

This is a book that has been getting a lot of attention. The movie came out this past summer and so a lot of people started reading it. It has been on my to read list for a while and I decided to finally read it because the movie was coming out. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie.

Well, I now have one less movie to watch because after reading this book I have no desire to see it. I really don't know what all the fuss was about.

The whole book was cliche. The characters are the same as you find in a lot of British pop lit. The older successful man who is having to adjust to a new life, the mother hovering at the edges, the crazy girl who has no ambitions and dresses interesting, getting a job she might not really be qualified for, who also has a weird relationship that everyone else can see is a disaster but her. Those characters sound familiar?

I found the character of Will to be annoying. He is asking Louisa to stretch and do things she hadn't tried before, yet he was unwilling to stretch and do the same for himself.

On the cover and from different reviews they said we would need our tissues and that is was super romantic. I am not sure what they were talking about. I kept waiting for the romance but to me it wasn't there (and I like chick flick romances as much as the next person). I just didn't get it and didn't care.

The one positive that can come from this book is opening up a discussion of euthanasia, about allowing ourselves and others the choice to live and die as we choose. It helps us think about our lives and if we are stuck in a rut or if we are willing to try something that might turn out wonderful. Are we making the most out of our lives? It shows how we can feel constricted in our lives in a lot different ways, whether it be physical limitations or emotional ones.

In the end, I didn't really enjoy this book. It is not one I would recommend and I don't care enough to read the sequel. While it does give the reader some serious issues to think about it is not enough to make it the ultimate romantic read.

The Crown by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

This week was fun. We went to Centre Island in Toronto. They have a small amusement park there that the girls had a blast at. We had a blast at it too. We went the day after the long weekend so it was not super crowded. A lot of rides barely had any line ups. And most of the rides were nestled amongst trees so the shade was super duper fantastic. My pale skin thanked it.

When we started feeling a bit hot we walked over to the beach and cooled off with a short swim and then went right back to the fun. While at the beach we saw people riding these really awesome bikes. They looked like mini golf carts and could have two people pedalling or four people pedalling. And what I thought was just a big basket in the front was actually a seat for young children. So my whole big family of six would have been able to fit in it! I think I know what we will be doing next year, riding around Centre Island in style!!

Synopsis

This is the concluding instalment of the Selection Series. Princess Eadlyn makes her choice.

My Thoughts

I did not like the book that came before this. The main character Eadlyn was really unlikeable and I didn't like how America was portrayed, I felt she had changed too much. So I was reading this book purely to know how it wrapped up, not because I really cared about the characters. But man, was I pleasantly surprised.

This was a very satisfying end to the series. Eadlyn came across in a way more likeable way. You actually are cheering her on and are hoping good things for her.

I liked the different twists and how Eadlyn did things her way. She did things I totally thought her parents would have done before her and I am still at a loss to why things hadn't changed as much between book three and four.

I wished I had reread book four because I forgot who some of the characters were and it took a bit of time to play catch up.

This, as with the other books in the series, is the perfect summer fluff reading. It is romance with a little political intrigue thrown in. If you are looking for more action and girl power read a different dystopian. This series is perfect in its simplicity and romance. It doesn't pretend to be more than what it is which means you can read and not think too hard about it and that type of book is definitely needed.

Matched Series by AllyCondie

from goodreads

3 stars

The end of school is two weeks away. Lately I have been researching different programs at our library, different books to keep the girls entertained and figuring out my own summer reading list. What I am discovering is there is so much choice. Everything looks good, and it is hard to pare things down. I want to read everything now, which would be an awesome super power, but is not a realistic option. Trying to find the perfect summer read, or the next great book for the kids is a hard undertaking. I have to be careful not to build up my expectations too much or else it will be a let down. Oh the horror of too many books and too little time!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Synopsis

Cassia lives in a society that seems perfect. But when a glitch happens she realizes that there are limits to what she can do, what she can learn, and who she can love. The fabric of her society starts to unravel as she tries to figure things out and save/be with the person she loves.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty average series. The premise had a lot of potential and seemed interesting, but I don't think it lived up to its hype. It had parts that I liked and parts that just seemed meh. The first book did have a Giver vibe. Condie gave us a detailed society with things really thought out.

As the series progressed the story went in directions I wasn't expecting. I found the last two books to be such a contrast from the first book that it was hard to make the leap at first. I found that it dealt with too many abstracts. I wish I knew more about who lived on the fringes. It was confusing to know how they fit into the society. Not all of them were hiding from the society but, they weren't part of it either. It was confusing. I think it would have been helpful to have a map of the country as well. They talked about different provinces and cities, but it was hard to picture.

I found Cassia and Ky's relationship to be a bit hard to believe at first. She talked about her best friend Xander and how she was glad she was matched with him. But when she starts to think that Ky was an option all of the sudden he is all she wants. How could she fall so fast and so deeply? It seemed that Ky was always on the fringe of her radar. How could they be so intense? It just didn't seem believable.

While I liked how the series ended, and I liked it wasn't like all the other dystopians with lots of guns and violence, by the end I was reading just to finish it. I really didn't care about the characters and the society. I just found it dull. All the references to art work and poems and how those things were commodities got confusing and abstract.

This series would be good for getting your feet wet in YA dystopians but it was not my favourite series. It was just a bit dull for my liking.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

The expression "when it rains it pours" definitely describes my life the past week. It seemed that if one more thing was thrown at me I was going to go crazy. I had to have extra appointments, and those needed to be squeezed in around Miss G's spooky tea birthday party and a day off school. My hip started acting up which meant walking sucked and since walking sucked I didn't get done all I wanted to in Miss G's new room. This week is looking up a bit but I feel so behind and I don't have time to fall behind.

What got me through this? Having some good things to read. Thank goodness for books. They truly are an escape and sunshine on our rainy days. Now it is time to breath easy, get caught up and continue to read.

Synopsis

Kahlen was rescued in a drowning accident and became one of the ocean's sirens. These girls are beautiful but their voice is deadly. They must serve the ocean for a hundred years, luring ships for the ocean to consume. When they aren't doing that they live their lives how they please, but they cannot talk to regular humans.

Kahlen is almost done her time when she falls in love with a mortal. Will she be able to risk it all for love?

My Thoughts
This was a really interesting take on the whole idea of sirens and the ocean, the inter-connectivity of people and the strength of love.

Kahlen was an interesting character in the fact that the deaths that her voice caused on the ocean affected her so much, where as the others were more immune. It is kind of a morbid thought. The ocean needing to feed and the way it does that is through drowning victims. The premise, I grant you, is a bit weird, yet it worked.

I liked the story. I liked how Kahlen made things worked. I liked how the siren's were there for each other. I liked how this wasn't just a sappy romance but showed how people really can feel connections and work around perceived obstacles. I liked how it showed the power that love really can be.

This book is nothing like Cass's Selection series. This has a deeper feel to it and a bit of a darker tone. It is still a great book "fluff" book. One you can read without making your brain work too much. But the characters were more real and relatable, it was not silly, it was just a great story to be a part of.

Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

from goodreads

4 stars

In February it was my library's customer appreciation month. They had different activities and contests. One was a selfie contest, where you took a selfie in one of the branches and then tweeted it or emailed it. Well, since I have a twitter account (I really don't use it) and had my phone with me I decided to make my first tweet for the contest. And guess what! I won a prize.  They clearly weren't judging for technique as it is probably the worst selfie ever, (there was sun shining on the screen which made it hard to figure things out) but I was super excited. And what a prize! I got a free library bag, the best mug in the world (I have been using it every day), an interesting book about local history, a funky notebook, beautiful cards, a pen that works, a heart eraser and two zipper pulls that say "read". It was definitely more than I was expecting that's for sure. What a generous library!

I definitely value my library. I love my local branch. I love that my kids are so excited to go to the library. I love that my kids consider the employees their friends. I love that I can read so many books for free. If it wasn't for my library, there would be less blog posts, because I wouldn't be able to buy all these books! I love my library!

Synopsis

Years after the break in her engagement to Edward, and after a near fatal illness, Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr is at a loss of what to do with her life. She is in her late twenties, which means her prospects are non-existent, and at the moment she feels like her life has no real purpose.

With her parents permission she decides to go study art in Paris, living with an eccentric aunt. There she meets a variety of people, makes real friends including an American reporter, Sam Howard.

My Thoughts

This is the latest Robson installment. I love how her books can stand alone, yet are connected by the characters.

Helena was a character that popped up in Somewhere in France and After the War is Over, but you never really got to learn much about her. She was always someone I wanted to know more about so I am glad that this book is about her.

I really liked the characters in this book. I felt that they were fleshed out, they complemented each other and they were interesting. I also liked how we got to really see Helena transform from a tentative person, unsure in her life, to a confident woman willing to stand up for herself and break the mould.

It was fun to see Paris in the 20s. It really was the place to be. It seemed anyone who was anyone in the art/literary world was there then. Robson did a good job of showing that without it being a list of famous people at a party.

If you are looking for a steamy romance you won't get it. It is kind of slow. And while you can tell that these people have feelings for each other it is not front and centre. I kind of wished we could see more of their relationship and their blossoming friendship instead of all the talk about art. I am not a big art person and so the talk of art really didn't interest me.

All and all I did enjoy this book. I think I will compare everything that Robson writes with the brilliance of Somewhere in France. And while there is that comparison I don't know if I will enjoy any of her other books as much.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

from goodreads

4 stars

So, this post was supposed to be done on Christmas Eve and totally wasn't. It seemed to be a pretty crammed day and I didn't even touch a computer until today. Our weekend didn't go as planned to do an unforeseen family circumstance, so it changed our Christmas plans slightly.

While I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked I had a great Christmas and I am looking forward to a great New Year of reading and other fun things. The next big project is renovating part of our basement to become our new office and then our old office will become a bedroom for Miss G. We'll see how that goes.

I will do my best to do my regular Thursday post tomorrow. It might be a bit tight as we are going to watch Star Wars tomorrow morning! Very excited. But, if for some reason I don't get around to it, have a very Happy New Year!

Synopsis

This is the conclusion of the Lunar Chronicles Cinder and her friends infiltrate Luna in the hopes of bringing down the evil Queen Levana. This chapter of the Lunar Chronicles is loosely based off of Snow White.

My Thoughts

When it comes to an end of a series, especially one as fun and awesome as the Lunar Chronicles, either you will feel satisfied or you won't. There have been many endings where you are left feeling a bit jipped really and you feel a bit disappointed, or a lot disappointed. This was not the case at all with Winter. While it was not my favourite book of the series, I felt satisfied with how it ended. Everything got wrapped up in a way that made sense and stayed true to the series. It had romance, adventure, battles, deception, humour, the perfect blend of sci-fi and fairy tales. It was great!

The book is long. It is double the length of previous installments. The length came in part because of multiple/simultaneous story lines that caused some repetitiveness. It was helpful to help keep everything straight, but it did add to the length of the book. And we get it. Princess Winter is beautiful...you don't need to beat us over the head with it!

I found the last battle a bit drawn out and melodramatic. And, the fight was really intense and then just seemed to end which felt a bit anti-climatic.

I appreciated how well thought out the society of Luna was. It was interesting to learn of the different sectors and how things are labeled and what people do. This helped the characters become memorable and real.

My one other beef has nothing to do with the story it is more of the construction of the book. I get that 800+ pages is a lot of pages and that using normal paper would cause it to be super thick, but, the pages were almost too flimsy and I found it quite difficult sometimes to turn the pages as the paper would sometimes stick/turn together. I am not sure what they could do differently, but it was bit frustrating.

All in all, if you liked the rest of the series you will like Winter. While it is a bit more serious in tone there is still a playfulness that sets this series apart from all other dystopians. While it won't leave you in breathless awe it will not leave you disappointed. Now I think I will have to find the time and reread the series... I think I have my summer planned out!

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

from goodreads

5 stars

Well school started. Miss G was a bit nervous. She started grade one today and was worried that she would only get to play at recess. I told her that she would be singing songs and playing games to help learn things especially the french language, as she is in french immersion. When I left her this morning she was holding hands with one of her friends and gave me a big smile to let me know everything was going to be okay. I can't wait for her to tell me about her day.

It still feels like summer here so this review is for you if you are looking for a late summer read.

Synopsis

Lilly, aka Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford feels fenced in her life. She would love to travel, gain skills, learn science and shocker, perhaps go to university. But her mother has different plans which involves finding an eligible match, marriage and children.

With the outbreak of WWI and the meeting of one of her brother's friends, Robert, a scottish doctor from humble beginnings, Lilly find the strength she needs to break from her mothers hold and go on her own adventure, perhaps finding love along the way.

My Thoughts

I loved this book. I totally met it at the right time and just loved it. It has the perfect blend of history, adventure and romance. Seriously what more could you ask for in a book. If you are looking for a great summer read this is it. It is not too heavy but there is enough happening to keep your interest. I stayed up till one in the morning reading it (which any busy mom knows is really dumb). I could not put it down.

I liked that the story didn't concentrate on the horrors of the trenches but dealt with the wounded and medics. It was great way to talk about what was happening in the war to these men without having to go through graphic battle scenes.

I liked that the characters showed a bit of restraint for most of the book. And when they finally got together, though it was a bit longish of a sex scene, it seemed sweet and lovely. It showed kindness and true intimacy. Lilly was completely naive to the sexual side of relationships and I loved how Robbie took his time and explained things to her so that she didn't feel dumb or confused. It felt that they were truly in a relationship where both partners were equal and looked out for each other. We need more examples of that I think.

The ending was a bit abrupt and left me with a few questions. Like did Edward and Charlotte have some sort of a past? There are other questions but they would give some of the book away and I wouldn't want to do that.

So to sum up, while this is essential a romance novel it is not your standard chick lit, shirtless guy with rock hard abs kind of story. It is a war story, with great historical details, a romance that is so nice to see unfolding  and just a great story to fall into. It was the kind of book I needed this summer, maybe you do too.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

3 stars

I seem to be the type of reader that once I start a series I want to see it through to completion even if some of the books are sub par. There is a feeling of being incomplete that just irks me. I need to know what happens. The worst is when you have to wait for the next to be published. Sometimes it is nicer discovering a series once most of the books are already out. Then you can go through the series at your own pace without having to wait for the next ones.

Right now there are a few books that I'm waiting to be published. Since I have such a long list of other books I want to get through I don't feel the impatience I might ordinarily feel while waiting. Now I just need to make sure I remember the plot line once they are finally out!

Synopsis

This is a continuation of The Selection series. Fast forward 20 years in the future and it is now Maxim's and America's daughter Eadlyn's turn to be part of the selection.

My Thoughts

This was okay. While this series is in no way high brow and adventure packed there was something about the original series that sucked me in. I definitely considered it to be my guilty pleasure read. This addition to the series did not suck me in at all.

I found it really hard to like the main character, Eadlyn. I found her whiney and rather clueless. You would think with parents like America and Maxim she would be way more down to earth, but nope. She seemed to use her "power" to threaten people instead of help. I also didn't like how America seemed to change into being more in line with royal thinking instead of being her usual rebellious self. I know that as you grow older you tend not to rebel as much but I would still expect some boundaries to be pushed.

I also found it weird that America and Maxim's kids didn't know more about their parents story and their selection experience. You would have thought it was common knowledge.

I think it would have been nice if there was a book that bridged the two series. I would have liked to know more about how they dealt with the rebels and made change in their kingdom.

So this book was definitely not as fun to read as the others but it hasn't prevented me from wanting to read the next one when it comes out.

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

from fantasticfiction.co.uk

3.75 stars

January was such a book reading month. I feel like those log chutes, where there are so many logs waiting to be sent through that they are jamming up because there is only room for one. I am trying to go in the order I finish them, but then I don't because for whatever reason I feel like talking about a different book and then boom, I realize I forgot one.

This is a series I read during Christmas, and I am finally getting to them now. Oh well. Better late than never!

Synopsis

It is the world after world war four. The North American continent is now on big country called Illea. Illea is in conflict with New Asia, and society is set in a caste system with 8 castes.

America Singer is in one of lower castes, a five. When a chance comes for her to enter a contest to marry the prince, soon to be king of Illea, her mother convinces her this is a great opportunity to advance. America isn't that sure. Why? Her heart is already given to another.

My Thoughts

When I think of how to describe this series I think, Hunger Games meets the Bachelor, only with way better accessories. I'm not sure why I picked the first book up but I am glad I did. I read the entire series during Christmas. While most of it is just fluff, there is still some substance in there. And reading these books made me so happy that I don't have to be a teenager again with the whole does he like me or not dilemma.

I think I liked this series the most because of the world that the author created. While the main crux of the story is the "Selection" and the love triangle between Prince Maxon, America and Aspen, Cass created a world that was very layered and seemingly well thought out. This is a society that was turned on its head to nothing that we recognize today. We learn that the first King of this new country was not as altruistic as he is remembered. The whole idea of two different kinds of rebels was interesting and I would have loved to learn more about them. The Northern rebels, who want information, and want to make a better society that is more just and fair. And the Southern rebels who just want to be elevated so they can squash those who squashed them. Those types of dynamics are part of life to day. The whole justice vs. revenge take on the ills of our lives/world. Very interesting. Perhaps she could do a spin off story that looked at the different rebel camps. (She has written a few spin off novellas available in ebook format.) There are also wars going on, but I don't think everything is truly on the up and up there. So many questions that just don't really get answered merely, teased at. Perhaps a longer book and one not written in the first person would have allowed her to focus on that a bit more too. It would be interesting to know more.

Near the end of the third book The One something is revealed about her father, and then that's all you hear about it. More answers and explanantions would have been nice. Why mention it or reveal it if it's not going to be explained later or bear any meaning after. It does connect one minor plot thing, but that's it. It would have been nice to know more and know if her father held some other role than just being an artist.

These are not books you want to read if you are looking for a serious book. But if you don't mind a little bit of teenage romantic fun once in a while this would be good a great pick. I think your teenage girls will like it, while you might be yelling at it saying "Just tell him/her how you feel!" "Be honest!!!" "Geez, just believe him already." I also found that some of the lines were a bit repetitive. 

I did like the characters. While sometimes I found America a little annoying, I liked her. She is not as strong as Catniss but she is not quite so foppish as Bella. America sticks to her moral character and does things she knows is right.

There is a fourth book coming out this year called The Heir.  It takes place many years after this series ends. I wonder if it will cover any of the changes of the society and delve more deeply in the rebellion stuff.

There was so much that was cool about this series, I just wanted a bit more substance and less "does he like me or not? Who to choose, Maxon or Aspen?" I wanted to know more about the world and society outside of the Selection. It seemed there was more going on, yet we never got to explore it.  I wonder if a movie or mini-series would be a good platform to address some of the questions I have about the society at large.

So, if you are into the YA book scene, I definitely recommend this series. It was a fun read.

The White Russian by Vanora Bennett

from goodreads

3 stars

I know I have talked about this a bit before, but the cover has a lot to do with whether I will pick up a book or not. If someone recommends the book then the cover doesn't really matter. It is more for the books I have never heard of before where the cover is essential.

For example this current book. I read a copy that had a different cover. Goodreads doesn't have it as one of its images and amazon and chapters had other things added to it so I couldn't use it, but here is a link to the cover here. (I am in no way endorsing this company or asking you to buy a copy of the book. I just want you to see the cover.) Now that cover has intrigue and excitement all over it. I saw that cover on my library's homepage where they have a section of their new books scrolling through. When I saw it I thought "that book looks intriguing. I'll put it on hold", which is precisely what I did. I do not think that would have been the case if the cover that I am using was the one on my library's website. While I like things from the the thirties and most things black and white, this cover seems to sell a completely different kind of book. This almost has a weird silent movie tragedy look to it. Intriguing is not a word I would use. And now, after reading the book, I would be expecting a completely different kind of story. I'm not saying this cover is bad, it just doesn't reflect the type of story I think the book is.

It is the same for when I see recommendations on goodreads. Quite often I won't even see the book description unless either the title is really catching or the cover is really catching, and sometimes both need to be. I wonder why that is? Perhaps I am more visual that what I thought I was. How about you? Are covers of books essential to you wanting to pick them up?

Synopsis

Evie, has never known her maternal grandmother. There was a parting of ways many years back between her mother and grandmother. After returning from college (which the grandmother paid for) Evie does not want to return to her stifling life with her mother. Instead she books voyage to Paris to meet her Grandmother and ends up being entwined in a plot between the White and Red Russians.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty interesting read, but I wanted more. I found the love connection a bit weird. It wasn't love at first sight, yet there wasn't enough to make the deep connection they had seem real. Some of the characters seemed a bit too one dimensional for me and it left me lacking.

What I did enjoy was the history of the story and how this event really occurred. I never really thought about what happened to the people who fought against the Reds in the Russian civil war. I guess I just naively assumed that once they were beaten they just admitted defeat and went on their way making a new life under a new system. Obviously that didn't happen, but I just never thought about it before. It was interesting to learn about this whole Russian sub-culture that existed in Paris. It was also interesting to get some of the Parisian take on this Russian immigration.

I also liked seeing the generational gap between Jean and Yevgeny. Jean is trying to move away from his Russian past and trying to embrace the new life in France. Yevgeny is holding on to the hold ways and hopes to return to Russian someday and still hopes that he can defeat the Reds. It makes for a very interesting juxtapostition.

While this book peaked my interest I simply wanted more. There were so many cool plot twists and turns and possibilities, yet I found it simplistic and a bit flat. It is hard to explain. I guess it needed a bit more humph for me.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Happy New Year!

It is crazy that it is 2015. I feel I did all this New Year stuff not that long ago and now it is upon me again. I guess that is what happens when you get older. As a kid days seem to go on forever. When we went to school the school day seemed so long. Now as a parent I feel the days fly by and that I just dropped the kids off and now I am having to pick them up. It is funny what age, experiences and priorities do to time perception.

While I enjoyed 2014 I am looking forward to 2015. My family and I have some exciting excursions and trips planned for this year. I am excited by some of the financial goals we have planned this year and am looking forward to doing my part in making those plans a reality. I am also looking forward to some of my personal goals too. While I don't make resolutions at the New Year I do like to take this time to reflect on how I am doing with my goals and seeing if there is any tweaking that needs to be done or a redistribution of energy. It is exciting. How do you celebrate your New Year? Do you make goals or resolutions?

Synopsis

Claire Randall and her husband Frank are in Scotland rekindling their relationship after being apart during WWII. While Frank is learning about his geneaology, Claire is learning about botany and is enjoying her time in the highlands. When Claire goes to a local stone circle she is suddenly flung back roughly two hundred years. There she meets Jaime a charming highlander. Claire needs to make a decision. Go back to Frank and the modern world, or do what she can do help her new friends and make a life with Jamie?

My Thoughts

Before reading this book I knew nothing about it except that it took place in Scotland. I only knew that because I caught a bit about the the t.v. series and they happened to be in scottish kit. I didn't know it was a huge hit or anything.

I don't know what the big fuss is about it. While I do think it is well written, there was so much sex, and almost rape, and more sex. While sex is part of the adult experience and is an important aspect in our lives, I was like, get on with it already. We get it, they are both horny. Let's move on. I like a good romance as much as the next person, but seriously, leave some room for the imagination. Though, you  might pick up some new tips. Just saying.

Because there was such a focus on the sex aspect of their life I found the story did not flow as quickly as I would have expected. When there was more action it was a really good read and intriguing. I guess going into the book I was expecting more of the action part and less of the romance side of things.

What also was time consuming was Claire's back and forth struggle about fidelity with her husband from the 20th century and that of the one in the 18th. Was she still being faithful if her husband didn't really exist? Was it okay to stay with this new love? While the moral dilemma is an interesting issue to explore, I found it went on too long. It seemed she, for almost the full 600 pages of her being in the 18th century, was always questioning it. While it is important not to be light about it the constant flip flopping and guilt was kind of crazy.

I also wish we found out more about Geillis Duncan. I don't want to give anything away so I will be really obscure here. We find out something, I would say rather pivotal about her, but then that's it. We don't know if there are more like her or how she came to be one or anything. It's like why bring it up if you aren't going to do anything with it. Perhaps it plays more of a role or theme later on in the series. I don't know.

There are seven more books in this series. I don't know if I am in a rush to read them. While the ending left me slightly intrigued as to what the characters were going to do I'm not sure if I am interested in knowing more. I hear that the t.v. series follows the story pretty well. Maybe I will just watch them if I want to learn more.

I think I might have liked this book if I was in a more racy mood, but I was not and so it was just meh, to me. Maybe in a different and time and season I would like it better. It has a ridiculously high goodreads rating, but I just didn't get it.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

from goodreads

4 stars

I have come to the conclusion, which most readers eventually come to I'm sure, that I will never get around to reading every book I want to. There are just so many books that are published everyday. Even when I think I am doing well at whittling down my to read list more just keep on getting added. And forget about trying to stay current with the literary world. Quite often by the time I get around to a book it almost seems passe.

But coming to that conclusion has lead me to other insights. Such as knowing when a book is just not worth my time to continue with it. Because I have so many other books on my list, why would I bother keeping on reading something that is just not doing it for me. I still will keep those on "the list", because maybe they would be better if I read them later, or didn't feel the pressure of my holds list at the library. But I have definitely become more picky about which books I will slog through and which ones are not worth the effort. It has become freeing in a way. Giving myself permission to say "I fought the good fight to try to be interested, but it's just not to be". And you know what, that's okay.

Synopsis
Hazel knows that she is going to die, sooner rather than later. She has cancer, but thanks to a miracle drug she has lasted longer than what her parents and doctors thought possible. At a support group she meets Augustus another cancer kid. This is a book about their love story, their adventure, and what it means to be human.

My Thoughts

What a great book. What a wonderful and heart-wrenching story. It is funny, poetic, lovely, sad and hopeful. It gives an insight into the cancer teen world that you don't think about. While the story focused mostly on Hazel and Augustus, you catch glimpses of how it effects friends, parents, and the relationships with the cancer patient and those people.

I love how Green talks about the complexities of what it means to "fight cancer". Of course the patients would love to keep on living and experiencing life, but there is also feelings of guilt, frustration, humiliation, concerns  and fears.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book, or at least I didn't find it as believable, was the intensity of the love connection between Hazel and Augustus. Supposedly they had this crazy super in love connection, a love that changed them, redefined them, and would go down in history as the best love ever. I just didn't get that. I felt I was only getting mere glimpses into their lives. Supposedly they spent a lot of time together, but to me it was like they knew each other for a day and then bam, they were in love and inseparable. I guess it was just the time line that seemed funny and was hard for me to really picture their crazy in love status.

There is a bit of a plot twist which kept up some of the suspense and drama. It was cool and heartbreaking all at once.

I think this is a great book for all ages, well teen and up. This is a book that I think adults will like and learn from just as much as their teen counterparts. John Green, you did good with this!

An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James

from goodreads

4.5 stars

Here we are. The last post of summer vacation. I can't believe the summer has already gone by but... I am ready for the kids to be back to school. I found last year's summer went super fast and I was not ready for school to start. This year, though it did go by quickly, I felt we accomplished and did so much that it will be nice for school to start so I can have a bit of a break!

This weekend we don't have any plans but I am sure we will be up to something. I am excited with what we are going to do. We might have a pyjama day, we might go hiking, we might do a thorough deep clean! Who knows. I am kind of excited about all the possibilities.
Synopsis

Jillian Leigh, is a a twenty something year old at Oxford, one of the first women at Oxford. She is called to meet with a lawyer and is informed that her Uncle Toby is dead (due to mysterious circumstances), and, as her parents are away, she has to go and identify his body and collect his belongings. Jillian reluctantly obliges. While at the small seaside village where her uncle was last residing she ends up with more questions than answers. And, with the arrival of a handsome detective from Scotland Yard her whole world is turned upside down.

My Thoughts

This book had a bit of everything. There was a ghost story, a history lesson, a romance, and, really, a coming of age story. And despite having so many genre's in it it was a really great story. It had me hooked from the beginning and I was thinking about the story for a few days afterwards. And that doesn't happen to me very often.

The book is told in the first person from the perspective of Jillian. She is an interesting character. She is one of the first women to be educated at Oxford and doesn't feel that she has to be searching for a husband to get fulfillment from life, yet she still feels conflicted about this as the rest of society has yet to catch up to this form of thinking. This conflict gives her much depth and allowed me to explore what I think about the conflicts we as women sometimes face in our lives.

All the characters were well fleshed out and believable. Even if their part in the story took less than a page we knew what type of person they were and could picture them easily.

Some of the romance stuff seemed a bit rushed. Jillian and Drew, the dective, just met and then they became attached at the hip. It just seemed a bit forced. But then other romance scenes seemed to drag on a bit too much. Maybe I am just too hard to please.

I liked how the plot threw in some twists and you really weren't sure what was going to happen at the end. Everything gets wrapped up nicely at the end. There are no loose ends and everything that happens seems believable. It is not all too convenient. I also liked that even though it was a ghost story, it wasn't creepy or scary. My imagination can get quite carried away so I was a bit nervous when I started the book. But, I could handle it so that's good.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book was the big "F" bomb that was dropped in the middle. I understand that sometimes swearing is appropriate with the character. It wouldn't be believable otherwise. In this case, I didn't think it was necessary. It was the only swear word in the book and I don't know how it enhanced the understanding of the character. I know that he is a veteran of WWI and he was rough around the edges, but still. I found the use of it to take the book down a couple of notches. It was really good up to that point, and good after that point. Maybe to other readers it wouldn't matter and they wouldn't notice. I don't know.

I think you will really enjoy this book. It has something that everyone can enjoy.

The Steady Running of the Hour by Justin Go

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Have you ever wanted to read a book but you couldn't remember the title, you could only remember what the cover looked like. That's what happened to me with this book except, this isn't actually the book I wanted to read, the covers just look really similar. Luckily it worked out and I got to read a fairly interesting story.

That can also happen with book titles, you think you are getting one book but then it ends up not being the book you are thinking. When my book club was doing Between Shades of Gray there was quite a hold list on it. Then I realized that others probably thought it was part of the Fifty Shades of Grey series, which it most definitely is not. I guess it always pays to double check your titles, authors, and covers. You never know what craziness might happen.

Synopsis

This is a story with two timelines. The modern day timeline deals with a young man named Tristan. He just found out that he might possibly be a direct descendant of a woman named Imogen Soames-Andersson who has a large fortune owing to her. He is to fly to Europe to search for clues to see if there is any evidence that he is directly related to her or not.

The early 20th century time line is about mountain climber Ashley Walsingham and Imogen Soames-Andersson and their love story.

This book has locations from California to Sweden to Mount Everest. It deals with love, deception and secrets.

My Thoughts

This is a book that I have mixed thoughts about. In some ways I loved it and thought it was so riveting. In others I found it hard to read, annoying and something I was simply plowing through to get to my reading goal on goodreads.

I loved the modern day story line. I liked the characters, I liked the different places Tristan went to and his thoughts on things. I like his struggle between wanting to know what happened and come up with a conclusion, but not wanting to focus on the possibility of lots of money at the end. I also liked how he was struggling with what he wanted from his life. He had just graduated from school and was trying to figure out how he fit into the world.

Go's descriptions were wonderful, the relationships intense. He has made me want to go and visit these places in Europe, especially Iceland. He created this believable character that you wanted to root for.

I did not like the earlier timeline. It started off okay but then the Imogen character got so annoying that it made it hard to read. I only did because I wanted to get back to the modern day stuff. I found Imogen to be absurdly self-centred, crazy, flighty, and a pain. I could not figure out what Ashley found remarkable about her. She seemed so shallow and immature I just wanted to swat her on the head and say "get a clue you crazy girl". I guess that could be what girls in her social station and at that time might have been like, but good grief, it was ridiculous. And Ashley should have just cut his losses with her and moved on. I really couldn't stand it.

One thing that was interesting about the earlier timeline was how he described the trenches in WWI and how he described the mountain climbing and early expeditions to Mount Everest. Since people climb Mount Everest every year with relative ease we sometimes forget that the first people trying to do it did not have the same kind of conditions or knowledge. Does it make me want to climb Mount Everest. Nope. But I have a new found respect for the early climbers who tried.

This is truly a book that I would call an all-rounder, as it has something that almost anyone could enjoy. It has travel, mystery, romance, war, mountains, adventure, trains, plane, and automobiles. It has an easy to navigate dual timeline thing happening. Some of these things are better than others. There are a few plot holes or areas that could have been fleshed out a bit better but on the whole, I'm glad I read it and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber

from goodreads

3 stars

When I think of Debbie Macomber, I think of a warm summers day lazing on the beach, the sun starting to set. Pure and utter relaxation. You don't have to think much, you can just read the story and know that there is going to be a happy ending. Sometimes it is nice just to have a happy ending story.

Synopsis

Susannah is back in her hometown. Her mother has been moved into a nursing home leaving Susannah to pack up the house. Susannah has also been dreaming about her high school boyfriend and wondering what his life is like. As she goes through her parents things she gets more questions than answers. Susannah has to decide if the risks outweigh the benefits of knowing the all the answers.

My Thoughts

I found this book to be well written and very readable. Macomber seems to understand human emotions and how we all feel at one time or another. I found there was enough detail you understood the situation but was not so detailed you felt bogged down. While reading this book it made me want to visit Washington state. I love the landscape there and would love to hike through the forests.

As for the actual characters themselves, well, I did not find Susannah or her daughter Chrissie all that likeable. I felt that they were both immature and frankly, a bit whinny. I felt that Susannah came across to be younger than what she was. I think she was supposed to be in her late forties early fifties. To me she came across as being more in her thirties. The lack of trust Susannah had in her husband, whom she supposedly loved and thought was the best, was a bit disturbing. If the story teaches you anything it is trust your partner, they are probably more understanding than you give them credit for.

As for her daughter Chrissie, she was self-absorbed and ridiculous. She kept on saying that her parents couldn't tell her what to do because she was an adult now. Well if you are such an adult, get a job, stop thinking your parents are going to pay for everything, be a bit grateful and get over yourself!

I did like some of the secondary characters. They were pretty cool, and Susannah's husband. What a stand up guy, considering all the craziness he has to put up with.

So to me this was a fluff book. I have read a few other Macomber books, main characters were a bit more likeable, and they were all lighthearted and just fine. These are basically books that will make you feel good and makes you think about your relationships a little, but are definitely not intellectually stimulating.