Friday Spotlight: Harry Potter

I’m kind of phoning it in with this week’s Friday Spotlight. But I think I have a pretty decent reason.  I’ve mentioned before that I live in San Antonio, Texas, and while San Antonio thankfully did not get hit by Hurricane Harvey, my hometown of Corpus Christi did. Luckily, my mom was able to drive up from Corpus to San Antonio last Thursday night. She stayed with me until Monday night, and fortunately my home wasn’t damaged too badly. My mom and I could not stop watching the news for updates as Harvey made landfall and I didn’t know if I was going to be called in to work, so I didn’t read at all over the weekend. And then when I did go to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was a bit crazy as my hospital is taking care of evacuees from Corpus and other areas hit by Harvey on top of the patients we usually have from San Antonio. So I have been a little bit exhausted. I want to shout out all of the other healthcare workers and first responders who have been absolute angels during Harvey. I am also sending thoughts and prayers to all of those who have been affected.

I didn’t want to completely miss out on posting this week, though. I am trying to keep Friday Spotlights as reviews of my recent reads, but since I haven’t read anything new that I haven’t already recently posted about, I was thinking about what I could write about. And then I realized that today is September 1st, aka the day all young witches and wizards go back to Hogwarts. And it is also officially 19 years later, aka the day that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins. So I figured it would be the perfect Friday Spotlight.

I have written on here previously about Harry Potter when I did my reviews last year during my yearly re-read of the series. But I don’t think I really went into my love for the series and exactly what it has meant to me these past 18 or so years.

I have always been a slow reader and because of that, I despised reading when I was younger. I only picked up Sorcerer’s Stone because a) my sister had read it and loved it (and I wanted to be cool like my sister) and b) it was worth a lot of AR (accelerated reader) points and I needed them for school. Lo and behold, my life was changed. I still wasn’t the biggest fan of reading unless it was Harry Potter but it did set up the stage for me to pick up other books like A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Clique series, and Gossip Girl as I got older.  I really think that Harry Potter is the reason that I am the reader that I am today.

And while admittedly I don’t have that many memories of reading Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, or Prisoner of Azkaban for the first time, I vividly remember reading Goblet of Fire during Latchkey after school while listening to the end credits song to Moulin Rouge! on repeat on my walkman. Even today, when I hear that song, I am back in the cafeteria of my elementary school reading about the Quidditch World Cup. This memory is just one of many that I have attached to Harry Potter.

I don’t remember exactly when this occurred, but at one point, my sister, her friend, and I had created “character” profiles for ourselves that included what our wands were made of, what house we were in (we were all Gryffindors, which I would identify as until about two-ish years ago when I realized that I am very much a Ravenclaw), what our schedules were going to be, and for my sister and her friend, what Quidditch position they played (in our scenario, I was just a first year and therefore ineligible). It was my earliest engagement in RPG and still my favorite, to be honest. I’m like 99% positive that if I were to go back home and look in my guest room, I’d find the book where we had everything printed (on awesome galaxy paper). We also made our wands using the rods from old hangers and took turns wearing my mom’s college graduation robe. We got these awesome bottles from Pier 1 Imports and filled them with water and food coloring to make potions. Those days were some of my absolute favorite from my childhood.

I also remember going to midnight release at my local Barnes and Noble for Deathly Hallows. I hadn’t gone to the previous ones because either my mom would or she had our books shipped directly to the house. It was so much fun to just wander around the store and interact with other Harry Potter fans, see all of the different costumes, and do the different activities that the store had set up. I didn’t get my book until later that day (as we had opted for the shipping rather than the actual picking up) but I remember staying up and tearing through the book. My sister got to the part where Mrs. Weasley kills Bellatrix and screamed out “GO MRS. WEASLEY” so loud that I heard it in my room through a closed door. Which made me want to read even faster because I just HAD to know what Mrs. Weasley did. And then I proceeded to scream out, too. I’m pretty sure my mom had a good laugh at the two of us.

The first HP movie that I saw at midnight was Half-Blood Prince. I spent the week leading up to the movie hanging out with my sister in Austin and her roommate. We got to the theater ridiculously early because we were just so excited. We took silly pictures as we waited and when the movie was over, we proceeded to stay up and have a lengthy discussion about what we liked and didn’t like about the movie. I also proceeded to proclaim on Facebook that Half-Blood Prince was my favorite Harry Potter movie.

When I was done with my AP exams my senior year, my teachers didn’t really have us doing anything in class. So that meant I had two weeks of half of my days being blow-off classes. So I toted around a bag full of arts and crafts supplies as I was working on a scrapbook for my best friend (who was also graduating high school) and a Harry Potter present for my sister (who was just about to finish her first year of law school). I made her her own Potter Puppet Pals, replicas of some of the props from A Very Potter Musical (which she had introduced to me), and a book full of recipes and lore from the books. It was seriously the best way to end my senior year.

Deathly Hallows Part Two came out the summer before I went to college and my best friend, sister, and I splurged and got tickets for the double feature of Part One and Part Two that my theater was offering. We got dressed up, took pictures, went to Chick-Fil-A, and then made it to the movie theater. Part One went perfectly and then there was about a thirty minute break before Part Two was supposed to start. Only, it started to play almost right after Part One finished. Except, it was green and pink, almost like a watermelon. And then it stopped. And then the actual movie started playing for about three minutes. Only to stop again with a theater employee coming in to explain that legally they couldn’t start the movie until midnight. Everyone in the theater was crushed, but we knew that there was only about 20 more minutes until the movie would start for real. When Fred died, someone in the theater who was dressed up as him actually got up and left. That night is still one of my favorite nights that I’ve ever had.

For Christmas my freshman year of college, my sister got me my very own wand. And what made it so special is that she chose one that was meant for healers, and as I eventually went on to become a registered nurse, it was one of the most thoughtful presents I’ve ever received. Along with the acceptance letter to Hogwarts that my best friend got for me for my 21st birthday. I literally cried when I opened both of them.

I joined UT Austin’s chapter of The Harry Potter Alliance, Keep Austin Wizard, my freshman year of college. It was one of the first places that I felt like I truly belonged once I got to college. I am forever grateful for the friendships I made, the nerdy discussions we had, and the campaigns that we participated in. It was also through HPA that I tried my first butterbeer, played Muggles and Wizards (our version of Sharks and Minows), went to my first Yule Ball, and watched Quidditch for the first time.

There are countless other memories I have related to Harry Potter but I’ve hit the ones that stick out the most to me. However, I haven’t even touched why the story itself is so important to me.

I grew up feeling like I was friends with Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Luna and like I wasn’t alone. I felt like McGonagall, Sirius, Lupin, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Hagrid would take care of me if I was in the wizarding world. I learned that good always wins. I learned that friendships can be messy but that you are always there for your true friends. I learned the meaning of bravery. I learned the meaning of sacrifice. I learned that society can treat others poorly (through the treatment of house elves and the whole ideal of being pure-blood). I learned that even a teenager can change the world. My first fictional crush was Oliver Wood (and let’s be honest, I still have a crush on him). Hermione Granger was my first role model. I wanted to be her when I grew up. It meant so much to read about a girl who was not only smart, but kind, brave, and incredibly loyal. When we were introduced to Luna, I saw that it was okay to be different. I just, I have a lot of feelings toward this series and I’m having a really hard time putting them into words.

I will always be a Harry Potter fangirl. And I will always add to my Harry Potter collection. To date, I have four complete copies of the series (my original paperbacks + hardcover of Deathly Hallows, the U.K. paperbacks, the French paperbacks, and the audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale), and two complete copies of the Hogwarts library (the originals and the newest editions that came out earlier this year). I am also working on completing the French audiobooks and the illustrated editions. I have quite a few pieces of memorabilia, including my wand, a full sized Marauders’ Map, a laptop case, fan art, and several Funko Pops, to name a few.

No matter how old I get, Harry Potter will always be a huge part of my life. My sister and I are going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in February as a (extremely late) nursing school graduation present for me and a birthday present for her (we’re going the week of her 30th). Harry Potter connected us in ways we never could have imagined and so it seemed only right that we would take our first “sisters only” trip and go there.

I’m getting super emotional just thinking about all of my memories connected with this series and what all it means to me, so I think I’m going to leave it here.

I would love to hear everyone’s memories/favorite moments related to Harry Potter.

And happy first day at Hogwarts!

 

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #81-85

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab – 4 stars

I really really enjoyed this! This was my first Victoria Schwab book and I am definitely looking forward to picking up her other works.

Schwab does a fantastic job of world building. It was so easy to keep track of the different kinds of monsters and to know who was on what team. I thought the concept of acts of violence creating monsters was just pure genius.

And I really appreciate that Schwab didn’t include a romance between Kate and August. I loved watching them grow to respect each other as the story progressed. And I liked seeing each of them when they were on their own, as well. The idea of the human girl who wants to be a monster and the monster who wants to be human could have been a little cliche, but I thought that Schwab handled it excellently.

And I really really adore the character, Ilsa. She was probably my favorite.

I thought that this was a really strong beginning to the duology and look forward to picking up Our Dark Duet!

Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab – 4.5 stars

This is everything I wanted in a finale. There was a war that was built up and major characters actually died. Victoria Schwab was not afraid to actually kill her characters and I truly appreciate that.

The main reason I took a half a star off was the pacing. The beginning was a little slow for me and then verses 3 and 4 just exploded. I wish the beginning had been a little bit more succinct. I also wish that we got a little bit more closure with some of the characters from Kate’s time in Prosperity.

But overall this was just wonderful. I still love the characters. And I really enjoyed the two new characters, the Malchai Alice and the Sunai Soro. Alice was just downright blood-thirsty crazy and exactly how I want a monster to be written. And I really appreciate that Schwab made Soro genderless. The explanation made perfect sense and in my opinion, was handled really well. Schwab just writes fantastic characters in my opinion.

I cannot wait to read more by Victoria/V.E. Schwab.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee – 4.5 stars

Check out my Friday Spotlight for more in-depth thoughts.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia – 4 stars

Probably unpopular opinion: I wasn’t really wowed by this until the last 100 pages or so, to be honest. I had put it down for a couple of weeks and picked it back up last night and was just completely sucked in.

I thought that Zappia did a great job capturing the feeling of panic attacks and how it is when you feel pressure to complete something for other people rather than yourself. I also highly appreciate that Zappia had Eliza go to a therapist and go on medication. I know I’ve said it before, but we really need more representation of getting help in young adult literature. There were times that I completely identified with Eliza and other times that I didn’t. I liked Wallace well enough. I appreciated that Eliza’s brothers were really supportive of her after all. I wish that the friends got a little bit more development, but it wasn’t like they got none.

The pictures throughout the book were great and I would definitely read Monstrous Sea should it ever become a real comic. I did appreciate the discussion of fandom, online negativity, and online friendships. It was a fun read and did feel like it was written by someone who is a part of fandom.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – 3.5 stars

This was really cute, and I appreciate how all of the different types of relationships were portrayed.

I actually really liked that Andie’s plans were completely messed up. I know that sounds mean, but just hear me out. I think that it’s great that high schoolers are getting involved over the summers, but this idea that you have to go to the best internship during your high school summers is just a little ridiculous to me. I know that when I was in high school, a lot of my fellow students would take dual credit classes just so that they could raise their GPAs, and therefore their rank. I personally chose to do ballet summer intensives because it was something that I love and honestly I thought it was more beneficial. As someone who ended up having to do summer courses throughout college, I can tell you that taking a break is really important for your sanity. But I digress and will get off of my soapbox.

But I really did like that she was able to see that there was something else that she is passionate about. Another one of my pet peeves is this idea that we’re supposed to know at the age of 17/18 what we want to do with our lives. I sure as hell didn’t. I went in to college as a biochem pre-med major and graduated as a human development and family sciences: early childhood/pre-nursing major. Again, I digress. I just really liked that a YA novel showed that it’s okay to change your mind on what you want to do. It’s okay to explore options.

I was honestly really worried at the beginning that this was going to be another YA novel with an absent parent. And while for a good chunk of the book it was, I was really pleased with the relationship that developed between Andie and her father. And I absolutely adored how involved with the scavenger hunt her father was. By the end of the novel, I was happy with where Andie and her father ended up.

And I liked that Andie and Clark’s relationship developed over time. And that it wasn’t a picture perfect romance. There was an awkward beginning and it was a complex relationship. I loved reading about them walking Bertie and working on their story together.

The main friend group of Andie, Toby, Palmer, and Bri was cute. And again, I appreciate that it was a picture perfect friendship. There are times that you have to take a break to figure out who you are on your own. However, I didn’t like how predictable the cause of the conflict was. SPOILER: I predicted from before even the scavenger hunt that Bri and Wyatt were hooking up. And I really thought that Andie’s solution was really really stupid. It was messy and that’s where the majority of where my “eh” rating is coming from. 

Toby was really annoying to me. Bri was just eh. Palmer was pretty cool. Andie wasn’t my favorite at times, but I did see where she was coming from in certain instances, like when she still wasn’t ready to open about her mother. Clark was a precious cinnamon roll and I loved him to death. Tom was also pretty adorable. I didn’t really have any feelings toward Wyatt and Topher was just kinda “eh” to me like Bri.

Overall, it was a cute read and made me want to pick up other books by Morgan Matson.

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #76-80

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern – 3.5 stars

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Flawed to begin with, but I was curious to see how the story ended up. I did think this was slightly better than Flawed, but it still missed the mark for me.

It still bothered me how many times Celestine repeated herself. Especially about being Flawed and having six brands and all of that jazz. It felt like I was being hit of the head with that information a couple of times.

I still don’t see the chemistry between Celestine and Carrick. I also don’t see the chemistry between Celestine and Art. I would have rather there was no romance at all, to be honest.

But it was nice to see Celestine’s family come back and play a bigger role. I especially liked Celestine’s grandfather. I felt like he was one of the only characters that really had any substance to him. There were still times that I was incredibly frustrated with Celestine. But she did grow from the first book and she did learn from her mistakes. I was going to be really disappointed if she hadn’t made some of the choices that she did because then it would have been just a repeat of the first one where she trusted everyone.

I feel like this was a decent conclusion to the duology and I’m glad I read it. It just didn’t wow me.

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon – 4 stars

I seriously love Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

And I absolutely loved reading about her life and how she fought for what she believes in. She has accomplished so much and it really was inspiring to read about her accomplishments.

My biggest complaint is that the structure was a little sloppy. I kind of wish it had gone in a linear fashion to get a better, more complete picture of RBG’s life.

However, I love how easy this was to read. It felt conversational and yet it was chock-full of information.

I want to be Ruth Bader Ginsburg when I grow up.

When Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi – 5 stars

I absolutely flew through this book.

Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s writing is so beautiful and lyrical and it makes you not want to put the book down.

I love that while as the reader, you can feel the sense of urgency in the tone because of the deadline of Kalanithi’s impending death, you also can feel the sense of living he had. It was so interesting to see how someone who was used to being on the other side of the hospital bed ended up where he was. And to just read about how he managed to get back to neurosurgery out of sheer determination while fighting his cancer was so inspiring.

I’m not really doing Kalanithi justice in this review. But I just loved reading his words and his story. It was definitely one of my favorite reads of this year, if not of all time.

Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis – 3 stars

It breaks my heart that I only gave this 3-stars because all of the other books by McGinnis that I have read have been so wonderful.

She definitely tackles some hard-hitting topics with this one and I appreciate that she was able to do so in a fantasy story. She built a world that is full of racism, sexism, and ableism and does do a fairly good job at trying to combat each of these. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the world building, but I thought it was pretty easy to follow. I guess I just wish there was a little more to it.

One of my big issues was the 2 of the 4 POVs were in third person while the other 2 were in first person. I don’t mind multiple POVs, but switching between first and third was a little jolting. I do understand the need for Witt’s POV, but I kind of wish McGinnis had just stayed in first person for all of them. Dara was a cool character, but I didn’t much care for her chapters. I wish that there were more of Khosa’s background and that we got to see her life a little bit more.

I’m not that interested in any of the relationships that have developed throughout the story and honestly don’t see the chemistry between some of them. There was a love square that was going on that I wasn’t really a big fan of, but it kind of played out by the end of the book.

I am definitely interested in reading Given to the Earth to see how the story pans out because I wasn’t exactly sold on the ending of this one. I want to see what is going to happen with the rising sea and to find out what happened to Witt’s army and what not. It was an overall good book, but I definitely prefer her other works.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur – 4 stars

This wasn’t what I was expecting, especially when it came to the writing. But then again, I’m still a newbie to poetry, so I don’t know if it’s just my inexperience or if I just don’t care for the style of writing Kaur utilizes.

However, the content of this collection of poetry was powerful. I think my favorite chapter was ‘the healing’ – it was so empowering to read. It was beautiful to read the words of Kaur – especially since she was so open and raw with what she put onto paper.

There were a couple of times that the poems felt a little repetitive – especially when it came to talking about not needing a man and also allowing hair to grow on our bodies. But even with those couple of repetitions, I still really enjoyed this.

Friday Spotlight: Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman

This was a fun little book full of super relatable comics about being a lady. I had seen some of them before on the Internet, but there were quite a few that were new to me. I definitely agreed with a lot of the comics and found myself saying “yaaaas” in my head more than once.

Some of the comics that I connected with where the ones that had to do with being on my period, messing up when it comes to having equal eyeliner, becoming one with my bed, freaking out at the first sign of fall, well, pretty much, the entire “Self-Care” section, to be honest. The other sections had comics that were funny, but the “Self-Care” just really resonated with me.

There were a few instances of inclusivity, such as “Not all ladies have periods” but I wish there was a little more. It seemed like a wasted opportunity to me, to be honest.

However, if you’re looking for a quick, entertaining book, I’d definitely recommend picking this up.

I ended up giving Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman by Loryn Brantz 4 stars.

Expected publishing date is September 26, 2017.

I received an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing. All opinions are my own .

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #71-75

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – 4 stars

I’m not sure if I can adequately put my thoughts about this novel into words because I still don’t quite know how I feel about it.

It was definitely hard to read about a world in which women have lost all of their rights in the name of their “safety.” There were times that I had a little bit of trouble keeping track of the different roles of women in this society, but that’s just me. I knew who the Handmaids were, but I kept confusing the Marthas and the Aunties and by the end still didn’t quite understand where the Wives fit into everything.

I also thought that Offred was really unreliable and the amount of jumping between flashbacks and present was a little distracting to me. Of course, it did make sense when I got to the epilogue, but while I was reading, it didn’t.

This book definitely made me sit back and reflect on how if things continue to go as they are in the country, this book may not be a work of fiction. And that is a very scary thought indeed.

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket – 4 stars

I forgot just how much I love Lemony Snicket’s writing.

Especially since I have already read the series, I love picking up on little things that seem insignificant now, but come back into play later on.

And I love how Snicket uses big words and explains them so that younger readers can expand their knowledge/vocabulary.

I love reading about the relationship between the Baudelaires and it always kills me that whenever they are close to getting their happy ending, Olaf has to come in and ruin everything.

But as I read this now that I am older, it really frustrates me that in this society, it is left to a banker to find suitable guardians for these children. Are you telling me that in this world, there is no Child Protective Services? Just a thought. Lol.

I can’t wait to finish re-reading the rest of this series.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – 4 stars

I honestly knew very little about the conflict between Japan and Korea until I read this. I thought that Min Jin Lee did a fantastic job of painting the story of the family and their struggles and also their triumphs.

I appreciated that Lee did not shy away from the horrible treatment the Koreans faced at the hands of the Japanese. I was sucked into the story and felt like I had to know what happened to each of the characters.

My biggest reason for taking off a star is that the pacing seemed off. There were some weird time jumps that took me a second to realize were time jumps. And towards the end, it felt a little rushed and I lost track of some of the characters.

However, I was fully invested and was glad I read this because I was painfully unaware of the history that was woven into this novel.

Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman by Anne Helen Petersen – 4 stars

I definitely liked the structure of this book and how each chapter focused on a specific gender norm and a celebrity that defied that norm. I also appreciate that from the beginning in the opening, Anne Helen Petersen acknowledges how many white women were focused on in the book because “the prevalence of straight white women serves to highlight an ugly truth: that the difference between cute, acceptable unruliness and unruliness that results in ire is often as simple as the color of a woman’s skin, whom she prefers to sleep with, and her proximity to traditional femininity.”

I also liked that while I had heard of almost all of the celebrities that Petersen wrote about, there were a couple that I was not as familiar with (namely, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, and Jennifer Weiner).

I thought that each essay did a good job of painting as complete a picture of each celebrity as possible. I enjoyed reading about each of the women’s backgrounds and how those backgrounds affected them once they were in the spotlight.

There were a couple of chapters that I thought were kind of weak (Madonna’s mainly) and I thought it was interesting that when it came to Caitlyn Jenner, Petersen did seem more critical than in any of the other chapters.

Overall, it was a good read. And despite what the opening says, I thought Petersen did a good job of showing off diverse women.

The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Elio M. Garcia Jr., and Linda Antonsson – 4 stars

First off, the art in this is freaking gorgeous. Like, dang.

It was definitely interesting to read through the history of Westeros and all of the different kings and queens who were in power. And it was interesting to read about those kingdoms that are not part of Westeros.

I thought the writing was a bit dry, though. There were a couple of parts where I had to go back and re-read/re-listen because I zoned out. It was also a little hard to keep track of all of the different Targaeryns, but that’s just me.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the series who wants more background on the histories and legends that pop up throughout the books.

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #66-70

Marlena by Julie Buntin – 3.5 stars

I really liked the premise of this book. I just felt like the execution left a lot to be desired.

There were a lot of weird time jumps that did not always make sense to me. And there were times that it was hard to distinguish what was present day and what was a flashback.

I also didn’t really care for the main character, Cat. I don’t know why. She just didn’t really stand out for me and I never really felt connected to her. She also seemed to be a contraindication of herself. There were times where she was extremely self destructive. But then there were other times that she was oddly self-aware. It just didn’t quite match up.

Marlena as a character was interesting. I almost wish that the story was from her point of view rather than Cat’s. I think it would have been fascinating to be inside her head.

The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives by Theresa Brown, RN – 4.5 stars

I absolutely loved reading this. It is clear from the beginning that Theresa cares deeply for her profession and her patients. Nursing can be rough. Things go wrong when you least expect them. People receive the worst news of their life on your watch sometimes, especially when you are on an oncology unit like Theresa.

Theresa’s thorough walkthrough of her day was fascinating to read. I loved seeing her work through all of the obstacles that came her way. I loved the team aspect of her unit and how each of them were each others’ support. I just really liked this. I read it right after I found out I had passed my NCLEX and it was just what I needed. I truly hope that one day I can be as dedicated, compassionate, and knowledgeable as Theresa.

Chemistry by Weike Wang – 4 stars

The amount that I identified with the unnamed narrator when it came to the pressure of succeeding in school is kind of scary. I haven’t dropped out like she ended up doing, but there were several times throughout my college career that I truly questioned what I was doing and whether or not I wanted to continue doing so.

It was interesting to read about the narrator’s life moving to America from China when she was 6 years old, and how there was an extra added pressure to her life due to the tension in her family as a result of the family’s immigration.

I also thought it was interesting to see how the narrator wasn’t just facing pressure in one aspect of her life. Nearly all aspects were in shambles and she was really having to grapple with that.

I appreciate that Wang had the narrator going to see a counselor. I am a huge supporter of more of this representation in works of fiction. It’s okay to need to go out and seek help. There is nothing wrong with that, especially when you feel like everything is going wrong.

At first, I was a little annoyed by how much the book jumped around. But once I got used to it, I realized that it made complete sense to have the book structured this way.

I really ended up enjoying this book.

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan – 4.5 stars

I still really really love the cast of characters in this series. I love how diverse of a group they are and also just how funny they are. I especially loved the new character, Alex. She is just so freaking sarcastic and badass.

And I really like that there continues to be no romance between the main characters. I just really like that they are just a group of friends. Though I really do like the relationship between Sam and her fiancee.

I also really liked Riordan’s interpretation of the Norse gods.

It was just a fun, whimsy, hilarious journey of the heroes trying to get Thor’s hammer back.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – 4.5 stars

I grew up watching the movie with Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, etc. And I loved it growing up. I just never really felt the urge to read the book. But I’m glad I did.

Yes, this is a sweet book. Yes, the characters can be overly annoyingly perfect. But that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of it at all.

Jo is definitely my favorite character. She’s not perfect and she is stubborn and she just wants what is best for her family.

Amy is my least favorite because she honestly always came off as a spoiled brat to me and I never really saw any growth in her.

I was always pretty ambivalent towards Meg and Beth just because they didn’t really grow as characters, but they also never really annoyed me like Amy did. Though I did tear up a little bit when Beth died.

I do appreciate the life lessons that come out of this book and I honestly think that I enjoyed the movie just as much as the book.

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #61-65

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – 5 stars

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is easily becoming one of my favorite writers. I loved We Should All Be Feminists and this was no different.

I love Adichie’s command of language. It’s conversational and yet, so powerful. I also love that she is able to put so much into such short snippets.

I think what made me really like this is that since the letter was written in response to a friend asking her how to raise a feminist, Adichie’s suggestions can be applied to any stage of life. Adichie tackles the concepts of gender roles, language, and equality with grace and ease. I just really loved reading this and it made me realize that I still have a long way to go in my own feminism.

Oh Sh*t, I Almost Killed You! A Little Book of Big Things Nursing School Forgot to Teach You by Sonja Schwartzbach, BSN, RN, CCRN – 3 stars

I read this since I had just graduated from nursing school and wanted a break from studying for my NCLEX. I was feeling defeated and like no matter what I did, I was nowhere near ready for what was to come.

There were parts of this book that really resonated with me and made me feel confident that I would be successful. There were other parts that I didn’t particularly care for. It felt a little repetitive at times and there wasn’t really that much new information from other books that I have read.

It’s always nice to read that others are scared about what they are about to go into and that others make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect and we all start off as newbie “baby” nurses. As long as we put in the work and have a fantastic team surrounding us, we’ll all be okay.

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan – 5 stars

Have I mentioned how much I really like Apollo? Like, normally the character traits that he has would be annoying to me. But because he is a god trapped in a teenager body, the traits just make sense. Of course he’s a narcissist full of himself. He’s had Millenia to build that ego. But I also enjoyed that he did grow in character over the course of the novel.

And I just absolutely love the relationships forged in this book. Leo was one of my favorite characters from The Heroes of Olympus series and I was so freaking excited that he was a main character in this one. Also, he’s just too freaking cute with Calypso! And my precious daughter Meg was back. Josephine and Hemithea were just pure goodness and I loved their loving relationship. I just really thought that the characters and their relationships were the strongest part of this book.

Riordan’s plots are honestly not my favorite. I’ve mentioned it in a couple of other reviews, but they feel pretty generic and formulaic. There were a few twists here and there, but overall I wasn’t blown away by it.

But between the characters and the humor, I couldn’t help but love this book.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire – 5 stars

I honestly think I love this more than I loved Every Heart A Doorway.

McGuire is a master when it comes to dismantling the idea of gender roles. I absolutely loved how McGuire showed from the beginning what happens when parents put too much pressure on their children to conform to preconceived norms. I can’t even put into words all of my thoughts when it comes to this aspect of the story.

Jack was honestly one of my favorite characters in Every Heart A Doorway and so I was so excited that she was going to be one of the main characters in the companion. I didn’t much care for Jill in either book, but that’s okay.

McGuire has such a fairytale-esque style to her writing that was just magical. I’m kind of sad we only got a glimpse of the Moors. But what we did see was just fantastic.

I am in absolute love with this series. I cannot wait to read about even more portals.

Windwitch by Susan Dennard – 4 stars

I’m actually kind of surprised at how much I ended up loving Aeduan. Like, I’m so excited that the next book is called Bloodwitch. Sign me the eff up. I can’t even explain why I love him. I just do.

I’m also surprised by how much Merik’s sister grew on me. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of her arc.

Merik was kind of annoying in this one. But at least by the end of the book, I felt like there was some character development. But I really enjoyed reading about Cam! Cam was the saving grace to any of Merik’s chapters, to be honest.

I’m so sad that Safi and Iseult aren’t together in this one. I really missed seeing their friendship. Yes, we get to see them worried about each other since they are separated, but they weren’t there to have each other’s backs like they were in Truthwitch.

I still really enjoy this world and these characters and cannot wait to read Bloodwitch.

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #56-60

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West – 4.5 stars

I definitely laughed out loud while reading this book. And I connected with so much of what West was saying, it wasn’t even funny. I really loved that West didn’t shy away from hard hitting topics and that she interspersed her own experiences throughout the essays.

West’s writing is smart, funny, and unapologetically raw. I felt like this collection of essays was what I was hoping How to Be a Woman would be. I realize that these are two completely different women with different life stories, but I just felt like West wrote about topics such as abortion, marriage, and feminism more maturely.

A lot of what Lindy wrote about made me sit back and reflect. I just really enjoyed this and am glad that I picked it up.

The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner – 3 stars

This isn’t the absolute worst thing I’ve ever read, but it was really predictable.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of any of the characters and really didn’t feel compelled to care about them. The writing wasn’t the best, either. I’m not quite sure I would call this a psychological thriller, but I’m not sure what I would classify it as, either.

However, it was a quick read and though it was predictable and I didn’t really care for the characters, I still did enjoy reading the story unfold. I think it was partially because I wanted to see if I was right or not.

So yeah. I’m glad I didn’t pay for this since I got it through Kindle First. But still, it was a quick, fun read.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard – 4 stars

There were times where I was a little confused and had a hard time keeping track of some of the characters. I could keep track of the four main characters, but some of the side characters really started to blend together. And the world-building could have been a little bit stronger, but it wasn’t the worst world-building I’ve ever read.

I absolutely adore the friendship between Safi and Iseult. Give me all the powerful female friendships, please. I loved some of the hijinks that Safi and Iseult got into. You could tell that they really cared for each other and where there for each other no matter what. Just. Yes.

And I didn’t completely hate the romance that brews between two of the characters. I like that it didn’t become the main plotline once it was established.

I am so curious to see how the rest of the series plays out!

Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay – 4.5 stars

My favorite essays were definitely the ones that addressed rape and rape culture. And I truly appreciate that Gay addressed racism, sexism, and culture.

My least favorite essay was about the Scrabble competitions that Gay competed in. It’s not to say that this essay wasn’t enjoyable. I guess I just didn’t quite understand where it came into play with the overall feel of the book.

I really thought that Gay blended her own personal experiences well with the more critical aspects of her essays.

It is really clear that Gay is an intelligent woman. There were times that I laughed. There were times that I cried. And there were time that I had to take several seats and reflect on not only today’s society but my worldview.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon – 3 stars

I wasn’t the biggest fan of how Maddy’s disease was handled in this book. I cannot speak for others, but I personally saw a lot wrong with the entire situation. Especially when it comes to Maddy’s mom (who is a doctor) and Carla (who is a nurse). I can only speak from a nurse’s perspective, but I personally wouldn’t just take on an assignment for home health based on what the parent tells me, even if the parent is a doctor. I would want some diagnostic proof given to me either by the agency that I work for or the child’s doctor. I don’t know. It just bothered me that Carla just went a long with everything.

And I thought there was a missed opportunity to discuss what was wrong with Maddy’s mom. Munchausen by proxy is a real disease and it would have been interesting if that was explored more.

I’m still trying to figure out how Maddy, as a teenager, had a credit card and was able to afford tickets to Hawaii. I sure as hell couldn’t. And I guess part of it may be that her family was wealthy. But still. She doesn’t have a job or any credit lines, so getting a credit card should have been nearly impossible.

There is more I could say, but I think that there are enough other reviews out there that I don’t know what I could add. Especially since I am an able-bodied person and therefore can only say so much with regards to the premise of the book.

Overall, this was definitely a quick, fun read. Despite my problems, I did enjoy Nicola Yoon’s writing and look forward to read The Sun Is Also A Star.

2017 Reading Wrap-Up: Books #51-55

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz – 3 stars

I read this back in the day (I honestly can’t remember when) and I remember loving it so much. It was back when I was in my vampire high and I thought that this world was fresh and new.

However, on re-read, this was just okay. I thought the characters were pretty two-dimensional and the plot was pretty standard. I also thought the writing wasn’t the best – the pacing isn’t very good and there’s a whole lot of telling rather than showing.

I do still enjoy that the three main focuses are females. I also appreciate that Mimi isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. I’m not saying that she always goes about it in an appropriate manner or that I condone all of her actions, but she is so sure of herself and it was really nice to read.

I do still think that the idea of the vampires originally being Angels is intriguing. I just wish it was a little bit more developed. And I know that there are other books, but there just could have been a little bit more world building in this one for my taste.

The first time I read the series, I only got through the first three or so books, so I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see how the mythology gets developed.

Hemingway Didn’t Say That: The Truth Behind Familiar Quotes by Garson O’Toole – 2.5 stars

I don’t really know what I was expecting from this book, but what I got definitely wasn’t close to it.

It was clear that O’Toole did his research when it came to the quotes that were presented in this book. But there were times where it felt like it just dragged on. And for the most part, it was just boring. It was kind of interesting to read about the history of each quote, but overall, it wasn’t that enjoyable or anything that I’ll remember any time soon.

One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul – 4 stars

This was a really wonderful collection of essays reflecting on Scaachi’s life. It was funnier than I expected but also tackled some serious topics such as racism, body image, and sexual assault with grace.

I really enjoyed reading about Scaachi’s life growing up in Canada as the daughter of immigrants. I especially loved Koul’s description of being Indian in Canada vs. when she would go home to India.

I loved how there were parts where I absolutely identified with the struggles Scaachi faced, but there were way more where I learned through her experiences. I would definitely read anything else that Scaachi writes.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West – 3 stars

This was just an okay book for me.

There were parts that were decently cute, but overall, I was kind of bored. I figured out who Lily’s secret pen pal was pretty quickly. I honestly didn’t see the attraction between the two of them. I wish that there was more focus on Lily and her best friend rather than just having the best friend be there as support.

I normally love the trope that this story plays with, but it just didn’t do it for me.

With that said, I would be willing to read more books by Kasie West, especially when I’m in the mood for fluffy contemporaries.

Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?: Stories by Kathleen Collins – 3 stars

I really really wanted to love this book. But unfortunately, it just didn’t quite do it for me.

There were a couple of essays that were so powerful. But the majority of them weren’t my favorite.

I did love reading Kathleen’s take on what it means to be black, a woman, and especially a black woman. Especially since it is not something I will ever experience.

I think part of this book missing the mark for me is that I’m not the biggest fan of Collins’ writing style. There were times where it felt like a stream of consciousness that wasn’t my favorite. Her writing also felt unpolished and several of the stories ended and I was like “that’s it?”

I guess I was just hoping for some more.

Weekend Reads: August 18th – 20th

Hi Everyone!

I was off yesterday, am at work today, and am off again tomorrow. I figured I’d jump in on the Weekend Reads train and update y’all on what I’m reading this weekend.

• Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb – my audiobook is due back to the library, so hopefully I’ll be able to finish it before it expires.
• If I finish that, I’m going to be continuing with Blankets and The Unexpected Everything.
• I also want to watch at least a couple episodes of Marvel’s The Defenders. Though, to be honest, I’m still trying to decide if I want to watch Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Marvel’s The Defenders in order or not. So I may actually end up watching Luke Cage instead.

So between work, all the reading I have planned, and the TV shows I want to watch, I have a pretty busy weekend ahead of me!

I hope you are having a restful weekend!