July 2021 Reading Wrap up

July was an awesome reading month for me! I think it was because of me having a 1 week off work that had made me read a lot of books this month! Also, that the same time, there are a couple of audiobooks that I have finished that have helped me increased the books that I have read this month.

1. A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet – follows 12 children who are forced to go to a vacation with their families at a lakeside mansion. A storm came and these children decided to leave their parents. It was both apocalyptic and I enjoyed finding these little nuggets similar to the Bible.
2. How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa (audiobook)- these are collection of short stories that focuses stories of immigrant’s struggle in America. Not only it shows or tells story of sorrow, sadness and tragedy but it was funny, smart and unexpected. Almost of the stories for me are great and I loved that it told a story from different immigrants and way of life. I listed to this in audiobook and highly recommend but I have bought my own copy to reread soon!
3. Elevation by Stephen King (audiobook)- this book is about a man who slowly loses weight day by day mysteriously but it doesn’t show in his appearance. It is a fairly short book and I forgot why I borrowed this book in the first place. I hated this book and I didn’t know why I picked it up. I honestly didnt know that Stephen King writes book that are not horror? It has this preachy tone throughout the book telling us not to judge a person based on their sexual preferences and the found family aspect feels very forced that I kept rolling my eyes.
4. Conjure Women by Afia Atakora – this book tells a story at the South what had happened before and after the Civil War. The story follows 3 women – Miss May Belle, a healer and Rue’s mother, Rue and Varina, the daughter of the plantation owner and their secrets. It was at times magical or mythical and some times it was a bit slow.
5. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (audiobook)- this book has been one of the people’s favorite books in 2020 and I can see why this book was well loved by many. Linus Baker is a caseworker at the Department In Charge of Magical Youth, been living a simple and quiet life until he has been assigned to a very special, secret and might be a dangerous case. Most reviews that I have read about this book tells me how the book made them feel and I agree! This is a warm hug, lighthearted and whimsy. I love the newfound family aspect and the characters are charming.
6. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (Binti bk 1) – Binti was first of her people who is invited to attend the Oomza university, the finest university in the whole galaxy. This first book tells her travel to the university and how she left her family and gave up her place in the family in exchange of the knowledge. It was my first time reading a sci-fi outerspace in a long time and I enjoyed it. It was action and suspense packed and I was not expecting the things that happened in the book. Excited to read the next of the series.
7. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager(audiobook) – I was intrigued with this book as this is about Maggie who inherited her childhood house in which they have only lived 20-ish days and escaped. His dad wrote a horror/non fiction book about their experience and has become famous. And now she owns this house and would like to renovate/flip it and resell it. Throughout the book, she wanted to discover if what had happened to his dad’s book really happened in real life. The first parts of the book was great, I thought it reminded me of The Amityville Horror movie and the American Horror Stories Season 1. The book is told in 2 perspectives – Maggie’s and her dad’s and I was more interested in the dad’s perspective. I am still quite not sure if the parts of her dad perspective are excerpts of the book or what actually had happened (70% me thinking that they are excerpts of the book). For me, the first plot twist was… expected? Or maybe not original or the first that I have read. Maggie is very unlikeable as a character and I just wished that the book stopped at the first plot twist.
8. The Empress of Salt and Fortune (Singing Hills Cycle bk 1) (audiobook) – even at this point, I was not sure what I had read and cannot describe the plot to you. It tells about the story of the Empress who was taken as a bride from the North. It is fable-like story and is great on audio. To be honest though, I need to reread it again in print.
9. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (audiobook) – this thriller is about Alicia who is a painter and convicted in murdering her husband. She had not spoke since the murder and was convicted and she was sent in to a mental institution. Come Theo who is a psychotherapist who learned about Alicia’s case and was interested in helping her. I read this on audiobook and it was good. The thing though, I think I have predicted the plot twist and was not surprised about how the book was written. It’s something about the book that tells me that everything seems related. While I did not predict the whole plot point 100%, I still did not feel like I was surprised/entertained on the plot twist. It was entertaining but yeah, predictable.
10. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor bk 2) / Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor bk 3) – I want to talk about these 2 books combined just because these are part of the series. Nevermoor follows a girl named Morrigan Crow who all her life she is treated as someone who is cursed and bad luck. The first book follows her that she has escaped her death when she is destined to die on her 11th birthday. She was swooped away by Jupiter North and she has to face the challenges to join the Wondrous Society for to be able to live. These 2 books is the sequel after what had happened in the first book. I haven’t read any middle grade series that’s this good. The story shows great friendship, courage and found family. Highly recommend and can’t wait for the next book.
11. The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht (audiobook) – this is one of Sara from Fictionmatters book club pick and I was interested on reading. I read this through audiobook and I felt like the audiobook was well done. It tells about the story of Natalia who found out that her grandfather recently died all of a sudden. Natalia was on her way to an orphanage to the enemy’s territory when she found out about her grandfather’s dead. Throughout the book, she remembers her grandfather’s story about the Tiger’s Wife and the Deathless man. I got to say, I would not have read this book if I didnt listen this on audiobook. At times it can be very slow and I do not care of the Natalia’s plot but her grandfather stories are lovely. It feels so mythological and magical.

Back to it and what I read

Hi Everyone!

It’s been so long since I posted something in this blog as I have been busy, distracted and not motivated with writing anything. But here we are. I am currently in sabbatical since I am currently waiting for my work authorization to come in. I cannot work on any job, so that means… I have a lot of things that I can do and so many free time! I was thinking of what I can do in my free time and thought that it would be a good idea to bring this blog alive.

I am not really the best at blogging and I am not really quite sure yet what this site/blog will be. But I am thinking I will continue on writing everything that I like – from reading, journaling, sharing my love of plants and my life until I find something that I really am passionate about. I think it will be great for me doing something creative in the mean time. No pressure!

Also, this break gives me a perfect opportunity not just to pursue anything creative, but also, I have all of the free time to read! So far, I am having luck with my reading and have read and finished some books on the first week of August. Yes, so far, my reading life in August has been good and I hope it will continue all throughout my break.

What have I have read this week:

• The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson – this is a suspense thriller where Ted met Lily in the airport and Ted has open up to Lily that he knew that his wife cheated on her and wanted to kill her. From there, they have plotted how to kill Ted’s wife and the story goes from there. The story is told in perspectives but I honestly was not a fan of this book mainly because both of the characters are very unlikeable and most of the things that had happened are unrealistic? I felt like the women are written in a way that is not believable and a little bit misogynistic? The first plot twist took me by surprise but other than that, it slowly become too sloppy.
• Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb (Farseer Trilogy bk 1) – this is the first book of the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb which is one of the beloved and must read high fantasy books. This is a reread for me as I set my journey in finishing the series and start the rest of Robin Hobb’s book. This is a story about Fitz, who is born a bastard of Chivalry, the king in waiting. Fitz grew up within the Keep as the king kept him under his wing and was trained as a assassin. As I said, this was a reread for me and this time, I paid attention and writing things down and tabbing my copy to make sure that I keep my attention. This book is great the second time around and have enjoyed my second read as I paid more attention to the book.
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – this book is about a house that has many halls and statues in which Piranesi lived. This house is vast that houses an ocean and the sky at the first and third levels. This book honestly was a doozy. I didnt expect what had happened and the books and I was honestly let down. It was interesting that the plot turned into mystery but I was disappointed that I didnt care for the house itself which I think what people have loved from this book.

This week has not been good in terms of ratings but I do hope that in the coming weeks, it will become better!

Things I learned from The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

One of my resolutions for this 2019 is to lessen my spending and do the KonMari method by Marie Kondo (inspired by the her book). I have also watched her Netflix series Tidying up which is an inspiration and gave me a good push to Konmari everything that I own. I have picked up this audio book because it is somewhat related to my journey on decluttering.

Synopsis:
In her late twenties, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumerism cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even after she worked her way out of nearly $30,000 of consumer debt, her old habits took hold again. When she realized that nothing she was doing or buying was making her happy—only keeping her from meeting her goals—she decided to set herself a challenge: she would not shop for an entire year.

What interest me in the book is how she shared her journey on her 1 year shopping ban and how she saved money from it. She also had shared her life lessons from her experience and has given me an inspiration to not only declutter everything that does not spark joy in me but to also challenge myself to do a shopping ban. (though maybe I would not do it for a year.. I can do it for a quarter or for a month)

Here are the things that I learned:

• Make rules – I love this because it tells me what I am allowed to shop for and what I am not allowed to. She learned from her book towards the end was that she was able to be more discerning on buying the things she is allowed to purchase during the year. I also loved that within her journey, she also mentioned that she is giving up buying take out coffee (I am looking at you Starbucks) whenever she is stressed at work
• Confronting the triggers that make you want to shop and change on how you react – all throughout her journey, she was faced with different triggers that made her want to buy and purchase. Not only did she shared the different triggers that want her to buy but also different triggers that made her want to drink and binge eat
• Pausing and asking myself why am I making the purchase
• Learned that when I am letting go of something negative, I can fill it with something positive – during her journey, she had let go of the bad/negative habits, things she does not want to read and made space for positive things
• Being accountable through different means – her means was sharing her journey through her blog and I think tracking it was a good way to be accountable for her actions and being honest to her self
• Having an accountable partner – this helped her to talk her through whenever she has the urge to spend or going crazy. Having an accountable partner towards the journey has helped her through her downs and encouraged her all the way

Overall rating: 4/5 stars!

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner Review

I wouldnt let myself not read any Manbooker nominee or winner before the year ends right? I picked up The Mars Room as an extra book in my Book of the Month pick for October. This book is one of the 2018 nominees for the Manbooker Prize. 

The story is about women who are in prison. This book shows us about life in prison which to me is very interesting to read. It seems to me that this book shows and opens us to the life of the people in the prison, on what goes in there and how they were able to survive. What I liked about this book is that it tells a story of all of the characters and how they got into prison and how they live in prison. The story has the right paced and told the story for each of the characters carefully.

Its always interesting to read about how people live differently. This book in particular describes how life will be for women who live in poverty and to women in prison. This book shows you how women in prison get by in living and many ways on how they survive. It shows a different side of the prisoners – that they can have something that is kind and positive. 

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton review

For my October’s book of the month pick, I have selected this book because it has a fantasy like element into it and the premise hooked me up.  I have such high hopes on  this book because it is very interesting. It has this dark – autumny vibes that I really liked.

Book of the Month’s Quick Take

A satchel, a sketchbook, and a photograph connect the lives of a present-day archivist and a mysterious Victorian woman in this sweeping tale told across a century.

Book of the MonthSynopsis:In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

What I love: I love the beginning of the book. I love how it connects the present day characters to the past. I love Elodie’s work as someone who works as an archivist in London. I love when she was uncovering the truths about the items that she has uncovered and somehow it is linked to her family. I love how the author connects the stories and histories of characters together. It has a good beginning. I was intrigued as to the story and how it will unfold. I love Lily’s story at the beginning. I noticed that some of the elements are darker and these are a perfect theme on a cold, rainy nights.

Unfortunately those are not enough for me to sustain my interest. Suddenly, there are too many characters and names to keep track off. I got lost and confused as to why there are so many characters and dont know how to keep up with the story. Personally, in my opinion, the stroylines are too many and not all of them are important to the main story. Towards the middle and through the end, I find the book slow, confusing and uninteresting. I wasnt sure that the author will be able to tie all of them together. All in all, it was a book that is not for me. I gave it 2/5 stars in Goodreads.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

I am new to listening books through an audiobook and have thought that listening a novel is maybe not a good idea because I might dose off, not pay attention too much and get lost in the story.

Finishing up Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was a surprise for me. I listened all through out through my libby app and towards the end, I was happy that I have listened to it. This is one of those books that took me by surprise – in a good way.

About the book:

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. 

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

The reason why I like the book is because Eleanor is such a funny narrator. She is awkward person who does not know how to act in social situations which makes me laugh everytime. Her thoughts on why people some things are witty and funny at the same time. Sometimes, I thought ‘yeah, she makes sense’. I love that she is very honest and does not hesitate to tell people how it is.

 “These days, loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.”

What I love about the book is that it tells about effects of loneliness. Loneliness is a dangerous thing. I can relate in some way on what Eleanor had encountered. When one is lonely, you tend to focus your attention to the wrong person who gives you some attention. You tend to be blinded of the things that should be a red flag about the person and in turn can be a dangerous thing. I remembered a few years ago, I have felt and experienced the same thing. I realized that I go after people who gave little attention and gave my thoughts and energy towards them but in the end, they turn out a completely different person than what your idea of that person is. I get it. Sometimes loneliness and being lonely is not something people talk about freely especially to younger people. This book shows how important it is that people connect with other people.

“People don’t like these facts, but I can’t help that. If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn’t spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.”

Another thing that I like about the book is this quote. I have learned living in the US is that people like to ask how you are.  You should always answer, you are fine, or anything positive. No one answers that they are not okay. That is not a social norm. I guess when you think about it, it’s pretty messed up, because most people doesnt really want to know how you are doing. All the more reason that this book gives the importance of human connection and interaction.

Also, its very relatable because Eleanor is very socially awkward. I can somewhat relate to her in not knowing what to do in work parties and tends to avoid these as much as I can.

But through the book, I havent sensed that Eleanor is weak. Even though she has these quirks, she is doing ‘completely fine’, she does things the best as she could and should I say more confidently than me. A good unexpected book that’s heart warming and funny. 5/5 stars!

Lilian Boxfish Takes a Walk

It has been a long time since I was taken by the book. This book just blew my mind and just made me smile all through out reading this. I know that I must read this book after my short trip to New York last year and it was about an old lady walking on her way to her dinner on New Year’s Eve.

Short synopsis:

It’s the last day of 1984, and 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish is about to take a walk.

As she traverses a grittier Manhattan, a city anxious after an attack by a still-at-large subway vigilante, she encounters bartenders, bodega clerks, chauffeurs, security guards, bohemians, criminals, children, parents, and parents-to-be—in surprising moments of generosity and grace. While she strolls, Lillian recalls a long and eventful life that included a brief reign as the highest-paid advertising woman in America—a career cut short by marriage, motherhood, divorce, and a breakdown.

This book is light hearted and at times it just kept me smiling when I was reading this. Lilian is a strong woman who knows what she wants – what she wants to wear, what she wants for her make up and what she wants to eat and what she wants to be in her career. When I was reading her walking through Manhattan – it reminded me of my short trip in New York and inspires me to walk and to walk more. I love that walking to her gave her perspective. I love her for being herself and just different. She is a unique individual and her story resonates me. This is one of these books  that I will always pick up whenever.

The Silence of the Girls Review

I have read two of the my  first Book of the Month’s books that I have picked (see here for the my review of The Dinner List). My September main book of the month pick is The Silence of the Girls by Pat Baker. This has been well received and well reviewed so I wanted to read it. Plus this was a retelling of the Iliad and thought it is due for me to read a historical fiction (ancient history).

Synopsis at a glance:

The ancient city of Troy has withstood a decade under siege of the powerful Greek army, who continue to wage bloody war over a stolen woman—Helen. In the Greek camp, another woman watches and waits for the war’s outcome: Briseis. She was queen of one of Troy’s neighboring kingdoms, until Achilles, Greece’s greatest warrior, sacked her city and murdered her husband and brothers. Briseis becomes Achilles’s concubine, a prize of battle, and must adjust quickly in order to survive a radically different life, as one of the many conquered women who serve the Greek army.

Review:

This book was really well received in good reads but I was disappointed that in the end, I wasnt one of the readers who liked this book. It was such a let down because I was expecting that this retelling would tell a story about the women who rises during the war between the Greek and the Trojans. Also, I guess I have been expecting it to be a good ancient geek mythology style story.

The first part of the book is good – honestly, my favorite part of the book. It was strong – it had elements of mythology on it. I am excited on what’s going to happen. But then, after that – it was nothing. The second volume threw me off because it switched from Briseis’ perspective to Achilles!! I mean, i thought this is going to be perspectives of women who are caught between the war? Why do we need to hear it from Achilles perspective if the title of the book is ‘The Silence of Girls’? I dont know. I was hoping more from it.

Though I appreciate that it was accurate – i think the book at the later part (second and third) was just half baked. The book has a lot of potential but it fall short in the middle and into the end. The author tried to make it very accurate that it forgot the premise of the book – the women, the girls who are caught between the war. The story has spent so much time with Agammemnon and Achilles, Achilles and his relationship with his mother and Achilles mourning on the death of Patroclus. It was just disappointing. Towards the end, I was really sad that it lost my interest and I dragged my way in to finishing it. A sad thing.

The main character and her POV is flat – I dont think she has anything in her – her thoughts, desires, cares. It lacks fire or oompf  to me. The women in the story are flat – too many of them and too many the same flat characters and they’re not very memorable.

I also think that the writing is a bit confusing? I dont think it was written with thought? I just think that there are dashes and sentences that does not necessarily make sense to me.

Truly, the title was fitting – The Silence of the Girls because even in this book, the women did not have any voice.

Thoughts on The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

It was an age old hypothetical question – if you could have dinner with five people – dead or alive, who would they be?

This was the premise of the book which caught my attention in one of Book of the Month’s choice in August. It was a lovely concept – a magical realism genre which always a treat to read for me.

This was the premise of the book, The Dinner List.

Synopsis: When Sabrina arrives at her 30th birthday dinner, she finds at the table not just her best friend, but also three significant people from her past and, well, Audrey Hepburn. As the appetizers are served, wine poured, and dinner table conversation begins, it becomes clear that there’s a reason these six people have been gathered together.

I have finished this book in 2 nights – but almost in 1 sitting and I am disappointed and annoyed. I haven’t felt so annoyed and frustrated at this book in a long time. It was surprising that I have finished this and now I wanted to share my thoughts on this. (Spoiler alert below! If you would like to read ahead, be warned. I will try to be more general and not too spoiler-y)

What I like about the book: The premise and the choices that Sabrina has for her dinner guests. I liked the people she chose and it helped me in keeping me from reading and finishing the book. The story kept back in forth between past and present which explained the time of the dinner. I like how easy it is to read.

But sadly, the things I dont like about this book weighs more than what I like about it. Bear with me on this.

What annoyed me and make this book so frustrating to me is that Sabrina’s relationship with her best friend, Jesse,  and her fiance/ex boyfriend is very irritating. It was childish and selfish. I kept thinking to myself – how old are they? Why do they act like very childish and not their age. What makes me angry is that they are 30. 30. Thirty. Even me who is younger doesnt act like that. Everything is selfish. I dont like how  they kept scores. I dont like that they are selfish.

Jesse is annoying all throughout the dinner. How she interjects and reacts in the dinner is very disrespectful. I dont like how she speaks whats on her mind and then she will say “but its your dinner and its all about you”. It seems to me that she wants it to be her and then she’s just saying that oh wait what do you care its your dinner making it all about her. And then it was revealed that she felt that Sabrina wasnt there for her and got tired from fixing Sabrina’s problem/ I understand that some people can be like this – making other people’s problems theirs, sometimes I do that. She also kept like pushing her opinion and choices to other people. What kind of friend is this? I cant stand it.

.. And how Sabrina deals with her? It was unhealthy! Sabrina said that she felt abandoned and bore a grudge against Jesse, and she said she wanted saving to? Look I understand some stuff like not being there because Jesse was always with her boyfriend. Its just too much, its not what friends are its not like this.

Tobias – ugh. Her relationship with him is exhausting. They try to one up each other who loves the other most or more. What is this? This is not how relationship work. they want the other to be happy but they dont know how to listen. Especially him. Its like every single thing that they clashed their heads they argue. No compromise. He also worst of all just escapes – he just escapes from reality and doesnt deal with it. Towards the end of the book, these 3 characters got worse and worse. And people they are 30.

What I dont like also is the cheating part of the story. Sabrina got into a relationship with Paul – which was described as the most vanilla-y guy there is. And when Tobias came back, she just cheated and broke up with him. Later on, she was comparing them and noting that Paul was seamless and easy. it sounds to me that they get along (aside from the fact that she doesnt love him back which I personally felt that she used  him as a warm body). The more I read about Paul – the more I like him. He seems like the most normal, mature and understanding person from the story.

Overall, it was exhausting and frustrating. Very selfish people who got into dinner together. The other invitees – the professor, Audrey Hepburn and the dad was okay but nothing interesting as to why they are there. Maybe this book was not for me and I felt that it was let down.

I rated this 2/5 stars – 2 because I think the premise is good. But it fell short and it was childish overall.

Big Magic Review

Recently, I finished this book in one sitting. I have not read a book in one sitting for some time and it was a good feeling. It was good to take break and I feel like my it is curing my reading slump a little bit.

It tells how creativity manifest itself not only through art but through life. It was a good practical book and I love how positive and encouraging it is.  Tt is a good reminder that living a life of curiosity instead of fear

“Big Magic” is broken into six sections: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust and Divinity.  I personally love enchantment, permission and persistence part of the books because it tells something about how the universe or some unknown force or ideas can manifest or comes to you (enchantment). It is a conscious and knows when its a perfect time that you are ready. Sometimes it comes to you and then it leaves you when you dont put enough time to it. It has a magical part of it and have . The next two are a little bit more practical to it – giving yourself permission to fail and persist on doing what you love. The last part, persistence is one of my favorite because it tells us to keep going and keep doing what you love doing without asking anything for return.

A good reminder and a good read when you need a little nudge on a slump.