beartown – GoodeyReads

This is such a fun week! I’m excited about this topic and dove right into my TBR to find some books.

I found a list of books that I’m definitely hiding from for a myriad of reasons. Check them out below!

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

WHY – I have heard great things about this middle grade series, but it’s also a LONG series and LONG books. And I just haven’t hit the mood of wanting to read them yet. I can get them all digitally from my library though which is a huge plus.

Eidolon (Wraith Kings #2) by Grace Draven

WHY – I really loved the first book, Radiance, and thought I’d dive right into the next one but never got the chance. Now I’m afraid I’ve waited too long and won’t love it like I want to. So there it sits on my TBR.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

WHY – I have seen SO MANY CONFLICTING REVIEWS Y’ALL. Everything from 1 star I hated this, to 5 star this was amazing. Which is why I stare at it on my shelf and have yet to pick it up.

Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury

WHY – I am a mood reader. And I haven’t really been in the mood for a non-fiction. I picked this up for super cheap on Book Outlet and I really hope to get to this soon. It sounds interesting!

Hunting Prince Dracula & Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

WHY – I’m including these together since they’re by the same author. I have wanted to continue this series and binge the last two before Capturing the Devil came out. My library hasn’t gotten EFH yet though. And I’ve requested a few times without getting anywhere. They have the first two so I thought they would be cool with getting the third? UGH.

The Fallen Kingdom (The Falconer #3) by Elizabeth May

WHY – I’m not loving this series as much as I’ve seen other people. And since I’ve been reading it through the library it’s turned into an out of sight, out of mind book. I might eventually get to it, we’ll see.

Vortex Visions (Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles #1) by Elise Kova

WHY – Okay, it’s no secret around here. I LOVE THE AIR AWAKENS SERIES WITH MY WHOLE BOOKISH HEART. This is the next series and is a spin-off. Oh how I want to read it. Oh how I’m frightened to meet new characters and know I will compare it to Air Awakens.

The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician #2) by Lisa Maxwell

WHY – After super enjoying The Last Magician, I was excited to get to The Devil’s Thief. Then I saw some reviews and people seem to hate the second book?! WHY. This makes me want to pick it up, and also hide from it.

Us Against You (Beartown #2) by Fredrik Backman

WHY – I LOVED BEARTOWN. And thought I would pick up book two immediately. I spoke to a Bookstagram friend about why she DNF this one. She mentioned that it was a bit repetitive if you read it right after Beartown (they go over everything that happens in book one). So for now I’m putting this away until I can’t remember Beartown quite enough to really love this one.

What books are you hiding from on your TBR? Are any of these on your list? Lets talk in the comments! Happy Top Ten Tuesday!

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Book Review

Book Review: Beartown (Beartown #1) by Fredrik Backman

July 18, 2019July 2, 2019 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Fiction + Sports
Length: 432 pages
Author: Fredrik Backman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: April 25th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Overeturns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.

AN IMPORTANT NOVEL.

This left me awestruck. What an amazing and poignant story that brought to life so many things wrong with our culture.

I connected a lot with the life emphasis on hockey. As someone who knows the depths of Southern football, it can rule your life. The pressure to win, be the best, and always do right can be intensely overwhelming. These boys are under way too much stress from parents and other adults who care a bit too much about hockey.

Because I swear, if I heard one more character mention “putting the club before anything else.” I was going to through my Kindle through a window. HOW DARE THEY. Oh I was so angry. Which I’m sure was the intention, which is also why I loved this book so much. I felt so many feelings and reevaluations run through my mind.

As a parent I feel like the story itself hit me on an even more emotional level. I can’t even began to fathom this happening and knowing what to do about it. The strength and courage that some of these characters exhibited in a horrid and disgusting situation was stirring.

I could not put this book down. The rotation of the point of views throughout the story allowed an insight into so many character minds and rounded out the effects this type of story has on an entire town. Each character responded uniquely and while I didn’t love some responses I appreciated the importance of seeing all sides.

Note: contains strong subject manner that is detailed and hard to read, please read at your own discretion

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary fiction + sports
Language: a lot of strong language (one of the only things I would change)
Romance: none
Violence: physical & verbal assaults – see Trigger warnings for more details
Trigger warnings: aggravated rape, teenage drug & alcohol use, off & on screen domestic abuse, sexual harassment, suicide, suicide ideation, depression, homophobia

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Monthly Wrap-Up

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: June 2019

July 6, 2019July 2, 2019 GoodeyReads

It was another month with 16 books! I couldn’t believe it when I counted at the end. I don’t count during the month at all. That’s not the point. It’s nice to get through so many of the summer books I’ve been interested in though.

Would anyone be interested in a post about how I read so fast? I know some of it is purely some people are faster readers than others (which isn’t a bad thing at all — some people read 20+ books a month and that blows my mind). But, I do have some tips for choosing reading and how it helps you get further during the day.

Anywho, here is what I read this month:

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson –
The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles #1) by Laurie Forest
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen (RTC – ☆☆☆☆)
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreryrou (RTC – ☆☆☆☆)
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco (RTC – ☆☆☆ 1/2)
The Vanishing Throne (The Falconer #2) by Elizabeth May (RTC – ☆☆☆ 1/2)
The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom #1) by Danielle L. Jensen (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & The Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
Age of Swords (The Legends of the First Empire #2) by Michael J. Sullivan (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
Beartown (Beartown #1) by Fredrik Backman (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2) by William Ritter (RTC – ☆☆☆☆)
Air Awakens (Air Awakens #1) by Elise Kova (RTC – ☆☆☆☆)
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & The Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan (RTC – ☆☆☆☆)

Number of 5 stars: Five

Number of 4 stars: Seven

I would call that a good reading month having that many highly rated books! My favorite this month was WITHOUT A DOUBT AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT: THE BRIDGE KINGDOM.

My not so favorite this month would be Normal People.

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Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Rainy Day Reads

April 16, 2019April 15, 2019 GoodeyReads

Alright, after the week break we are right back at it with another Top Ten Tuesday!

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not even sure what qualifies for a rainy day read. Whenever it rains I want to read in general. Doesn’t really matter, whatever book I’m currently reading is the one I want.

So in light of that struggle, I instead have decided to twirl this as Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want to Read Soon, If it’s Raining That Day, AWESOME (which, because of where I live it rains a few times a week).

All weather is good weather to read. My only rule is that these books have to be out already so I could theoretically pick them up immediately.

The Traitor’s Ruin (The Traitor’s Circle #1) by Erin Beaty

Y’all, I LOVED the first book. Can’t help it. So I need book two, STAT. It had some elements that I absolutely adore in YA romance/fantasy books. I have high hopes for the series.

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews

I’ve been impatiently waiting for this book to make it to me from Australia. COME ON BOOK DEPOSITORY. YOU CAN DO THIS.

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson

This is going to be my next audible pick! I’m really into everything Sanderson does this year. My goal is to finish most of them by the end of 2019.

The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

I’m listening to this actually as I type. Y’all, this book is taking a bit to get into, but I’ve heard such good things so I’m going to keep going. I need to catch up with my husband who’s a couple hours ahead of me.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

Adventurous, wild romance in Alaska? YOU BETCHA I BOUGHT THIS. It was also on sale for 6 bucks. I can’t pass that up.

Kingdom of Exiles (The Beast Charmer #1) by Maxym M. Martineau

My next Netgalley read! I really want to read this. I might have to make it my very next read. It sounds so interesting.

More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A SECOND BOOK? BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW. Now I do, now I need to remedy this situation. I absolutely loved Letters to the Lost.

Beartown (Beartown #1) by Fredrik Backman

I have only read A Man Called Ove by Backman but I have heard so many good things about this series that I really want to pick it up soon.

Age of Swords (The Legends of the First Empire #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Mmmm. High fantasy. ALWAYS GOOD TO READ.

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

I had to order the UK hardcover because I couldn’t find a US one I was willing to purchase (price + out of stock + wanting hardcover = hard time). So now it’s in my possession and now I need to read this. Getting on that hype train.