April 2019 Wrap-Up

This month I read 23 books! I expected that since I read 4 more books than last month, that would mean they were a lot smaller. However, the pages/book for April was 337 compared to 339 in March, so the books were not on average that much shorter. I read a lot more this month, in terms of pages, coming in at 7750 pages for the month. My most read genre was contemporary, which has been a trend this year. I've mentioned before (and I maintain) that this is because I'm reading so many books that have been recommended to me, and the majority of the books that are recommended to me are contemporary. Overall though, I had a much better reading month. My average rating was a 3.8 compared to the 3.1 of last month, a major jump. I had quite a few five-star books this month and not a single one-star!  🎉🎉🎉Here are the books I finished in the month of April:

#1: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Rating: ★★★☆☆
I recommend this book, especially for people who don't know much about being an immigrant to America or about African society and customs because that was interesting to learn about, but just put it down after chapter 44 because that's when it gets real bad. To find out what I mean by that, read my full review HERE.

#2: Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Rating: ★★★★★
Dark and creepy... opposite of my normal reading preferences, but I was wrapped up in this one. Yes, I did decide to read this because of the hype/memes from the Netflix adaptation, and depending on how brave I am I may go on to watch it. I knocked this book out in 1 day, and I really enjoyed it. Read my full review HERE.

#3: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
I'm sorry but I don't know how people don't find "classic" literature absolutely insufferable... oops.

#4: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black

Rating: ★★★★☆
I was impressed with this book. I liked the characters, the writing, and the plot. I didn't ever think it was boring, and I definitely recommend this to people who like fantasy, high fantasy, and Fae-centered storylines. To read my full review, click HERE.

#5: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) by Holly Black

Rating: ★★★☆☆
I didn't dislike this book, but I can't think of a single reason I would want to reread it, which really makes me not want to reread The Cruel Prince, which was much better. This sequel was fine, but not near as compelling as the first one. Check out my full review HERE.

#6: Norse Gods by Johan Egerkrans (translated by Susan Beard)

Rating: ★★★★☆
I definitely bought this book because it was beautiful and just begging for me from the museum gift shop shelf to give it a good home.  The stories are really accessible and interesting, and the illustrations are beautiful. -1 star for the editing. I don't know if it had something to do with the process of translating, but there were several typos in the book.

#7: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Rating: ★★★★☆
I finally got to read this one! It only took two years to get to it... I really think this story is important and beautiful and infuriating. Read my full review HERE.

#8: Patina (Track, #2) by Jason Reynolds

Rating: ★★★★☆
This series is very special to me. There isn't anything shocking, there aren't any amazing and intriguing plot points, there isn't any real drama, the book is just so real. It's a window into the lives of kids just trying to be normal. It's emotional and accessible, and I think all middle grade kids should read it.

#9: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Rating: ★★★★☆
This is such a good feminist book for people to read, not in spite of the fact that it's set in the 18th century but because of it. In the first book, we got the perspective of being LGBT in that setting, and now it's the perspective of being an ambitious woman in the same time period. The characters are brilliant, and there are so many beautiful precious moments in this book. Check out my full review HERE.

#10: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Rating: ★★★☆☆
This book is an important read to get a perspective on a) the role and activities of geisha, and b) Japan in the 1930-40's. These are two topics I was not familiar with before reading this book, and I really appreciate getting to learn about Japanese history and customs through this story. Check out my full review HERE.

#11: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Rating: ★★★★★
What an honest to God ICON. Read my full review HERE.

#12: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Rating: ★★★★☆
This is a fresh twist on the traditional Beauty and the Beast retelling. If you ever found yourself wondering what a Beauty and the Beast story would be like if it had less romance, this is the book for you. I know it sounds counterintuitive because breaking the curse is supposed to be based on love/romance, but this one really did work. Check out my full review HERE.

#13: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Rating: ★★☆☆☆
So. I read this as a part of my America's Best Loved Novels Reading Challenge and because I'm currently studying in Spain and I've learned about Sanfermines in Pamplona so I thought it would be fun. It was not fun. In addition to just not being interested by the story, I found the narration of this book is infuriating. “I went downstairs. I ordered a coffee. I sat down at a table. Then I read the newspaper.” Just bad writing.

#14: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Rating: ★★★☆☆
I heard a lot of people call this their guilty pleasure read, so I picked it up. I thought the story and character were just fine. They kept my attention, and I wasn't bored. I liked how there was the mystery of who is the assassin and who is the prince, and with that I liked the triple perspectives. Still, there was no wow factor. Nothing super original or interesting. The introduction and progression of the one fantastical element, the "Gift", was vague and should've been more interesting than it was. The ending was one of the most bland and forgettable endings I've read in a first book. The conflict wasn't exactly solved, leaving the book open to sequels, but there wasn't really an interesting or surprising ending event. The triple perspective ruined any twist that might have come out at the end. The book was good and fine, just not amazing.

#15: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Rating: ★★★★★
I can't say this story is shocking (after you read the poem you kind of can guess how the story is going to happen), but Agatha Christie truly was the first of her kind. The story was creepy and intriguing and I loved how we got backstories and flashbacks, and how with the third person omniscient viewpoint we could see everyone's thoughts. I read this book as a part of my America's Best Loved Novels Reading Challenge. This was an excellent classic thriller.

#16: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Rating: ★★★★★
Such a timeless classic. This was my childhood story. Still so good as I go back and read it at 20 years old.

#17: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Rating: ★★★★☆
I don't even know if I should count this as a book since is 52 pages and really just an extended essay, but Goodreads does so I will. I'll just read some really big books later to make up for it! I wanted to read this because I saw a Ted Talk the author gave, and then I read her book Americanah. I didn't love Americanah, but I love Adichie's forward thinking ideas on feminism and intersectionality. I like seeing her perspective on feminism, which is so heavily influenced by her home, Nigeria, which instills in its girls ideals and values so different than the US does.

#18: Sunny (Track, #3) by Jason Reynolds

Rating:★★★★★
These books are just so cute, and I don't mean that in a demeaning way. Jason Reynolds just nails the inner workings of a (grieving) middle schooler's mind. Read my full review HERE.

#19: El Libro de Los Americanos Desconocidos by Cristina Henriquez

Rating: ★★★★☆
This book was so beautiful and sad. While it was originally published in English, I wrote my review in Spanish since I read the book in Spanish. If you're interested, you can find my full review HERE.

#20: Lu (Track, #4) by Jason Reynolds

Rating: ★★★★☆
A wonderful little wrap-up to one of my newly crowned favorite middle grade series. This whole series is just fun and hard-hitting at different moments. It's wonderfully balanced, and the characters are so relatable, realistic, and emotive. Didn't rate this one as high as the first or third in the series because it just lacked that emotional climax, where it really hits home, but I think the way the book ended served in place of that and it was just the perfect way to wrap up the quartet.

#21: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Rating: ★★★☆☆
I really liked reading a book from this perspective, the perspective of a person that falls on the spectrum. I found myself really charmed by Christopher, and I really ended up admiring his bravery and the unique way his mind worked. The book just didn't bring the emotion that I needed it to to rank this higher than three stars. Overall, it's an easy, quick read, and I really enjoyed the graphs and pictures throughout. If you are at all interesting by the premise I suggest you check this one out.

#22: The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

Rating: ★★★★☆
This was a pleasant surprise! Upon reading some reviews and seeing the ratings before reading the book, I really expected to dislike this book based on what people were saying. But I think people are wrong about this one. Read my full review to find out why HERE.

#23: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Rating: ★★★☆☆
While I can understand why many people love this book, this book is not for me. I would recommend this book to people who love stories that are really complicated and convoluted, told in bits and pieces by many different interviews. There was just a lot going on, and for how much was going on, I didn't ever really feel drawn in. So, for me, this book was good, but not amazing by any stretch.

Reseña de "El Libro de Los Americanos Desconocidos" por Cristina Henríquez

Somos los americanos desconocidos, los que nadie quiere conocer porque les han dicho que deben temernos y porque tal vez, si se tomaron la molestia de conocernos, se darían cuenta de que no somos tan malos, tal vez incluso de que somos muy parecidos a ellos. ¿Y a quién odiarían entonces? 



Rating: ★★★★☆

Voy a intentar a hacer mi reseña en español porque lo he leído en español así que parece adecuado. Después de pensar en este libro durante unos días he subido mi rating de 3 estrellas a 4. No leí el libro continuamente así que no comprendí las emociones y la historia hasta después. Esta historia es triste, y entonces inspiradora, y entonces conmovedora, y entonces triste otra vez.

"Debes creer que tienes derecho a ser feliz."

La historia se contaba principalmente por Alma y Mayor. Alma Rivera y su marido, Arturo, decide a mudarse a los estados unidos para que mejore la vida de su hija, Maribel, que tenía un accidente recientemente y ahora tiene problemas mentales. Mayor es un adolescente, abusado por chicos en la escuela y por su padre en casa, y no puede evitar enamorarse con Maribel. También, el libro incluye muchos perspectivas de otras miembros de la comunidad hispanohablante en el edificio de apartamentos de los Rivera.

En primer lugar, creo que fue muy divertido a ver las perspectivas y historias de todas las personas en el apartamento. Primero, vemos estas personas como las ve Alma, una vecina nueva, y entonces vemos estas personas como las ve Mayor, un chico que ha conocido estas personas la mayoría (jaja) de su vida. Y entonces, conseguimos las perspectivas de las personas las mismas. Me ha gustado mucho esto.

Los sentidos y emociones de Alma fueron muy auténticos y era fácil a identificar con sus problemas. Obviamente, ella tiene problemas que no puedo entender completamente, pero todavía creo que esta personaje se escribió muy bien. Fui menos interesado/impresionado con las partes de Mayor. El libro se describe como una "historia de amor", presumiblemente entre de Mayor y Maribel. Pero no vi este amor tanto que la autora probablemente quería que viéramos. No sentí la conexión a Mayor como la sentí a Alma, y como él es un narrador principal, esto fue el problema principal que tuve con el libro.

Además, ojalá que hubiéramos recibido mas información sobre cómo es la condición de Maribel ahora. Parece que después de la accidente tenía muchos problemas cognitivos, pero cuando está en los estados unidos parece que está mejorando. Como alguien en el campo medical, yo estaba curiosa sobre la condición médica.

A pesar de mis críticas, el fin del libro absolutamente hizo este libro 4 estrellas. Es muy triste y desgarrador, pero a la vez es precioso y una buena manera a poner punto final al libro.

Review for "The Cerulean" by Amy Ewing

"You are alive," Sera said. "You are here. You have free will. There is nothing that is keeping you from choosing to be the right kind of person."



Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sera Lighthaven comes from the City Above the Sky, inhabited by a non-human species known as the Cerulean. In order to save her city, Sera sacrifices herself by falling to the planet below and spilling her blood. But, it doesn't quite work out. Instead of dying, Sera survives the fall and must navigate this new world with the help of two humans, trying to make her way back to the City Above the Sky.

She wanted to feel like herself, to remember who she was. She was Sera Lighthaven and she was not meant to be chained. 

This was a really fun read! I want to start out by saying that I think people are judging this book way too harshly. Upon reading some reviews and seeing the ratings before reading the book, I really expected to dislike this book based on what people were saying. But I think people are wrong about this one.

First, I'll address why I think people got this book wrong and then I'll go into my actual thoughts on the book as a whole. So, the race of people that Sera comes from, the Cerulean, are a polyamorous Sapphic society. Each girl is born to a throuple (a group of three women who are all married to each other) through parthenogenesis, a gift given by the Mother Sun, the goddess the Cerulean worship. However, it is essential that we note that while this society is all women, the Cerulean still know and understand that men exist. Sera has never seen a man before, but she understands the concepts of genders and the fact that in other species of people, men do exist. She comes off as asexual because she's not attracted to women. I don't see why her living in an all-female society means that her loving men is off-limits. This is literally like the main complaint that people are bringing up about this book, that it makes no sense for Sera to be straight because she's from an all-female world. But she still knows that genders and men are a thing, and I think it makes absolute sense for the reason she's not attracted to women to be because she's straight.

The second thing, going along with that, that annoys me about people's reviews is that the Sera-being-straight part of the book is maybe 2%, and the discussing sexuality part of the book overall, with any characters, is probably 5%. Romance and sex is so so so little of the book. There aren't even any sex scenes or pairings, just potential pairings for future books, and Sera isn't even in one of the potential pairings. She finds out she's attracted to men because of one random guy, and then they drop the romantic/sexual thing with her. The only romance that is slightly there happens between Agnes and another minor character, and it's really just hinting at attraction and a possible future relationship. And honestly, I ship it. The main plot of the book is about escaping captivity, forming friendships, finding a way back to the City, and the mystery going on in the City itself.

So yes, I'm a little annoyed that everyone is hating all over this book because of Sera's sexuality because a) it can make sense because of her comprehensive education and b) it's barely a part of the plot. I will point out that the book never gets close to reverse homophobia/heterophobia, and I appreciate that most reviewers also pointed this out in their rants.

Now onto my actual opinions on the book. I liked the plot, although at first it was a bit slow. I understand why all the backstory and events in the first Kaolin part are necessary, but I was bored during them. I much more enjoyed the parts that happened in the City Above the Sky, and I started to get especially intrigued when Kandra and Leela started to realize something wonky was going on with the High Priestess. I really hope the author continues with this series because there are so many questions I need answered about the events from the City Above the Sky, not to mention how the Kaolin storyline left off without a real ending (presumably because there were plans for a second book). Because honestly, man, that cliffhanger in the last Leela chapter!! Wow!

As for the characters, I didn't love or hate them. I really loved how Sera contrasted so deeply from the humans because she is literally a different species. I thought it was a lot of fun to see her interact with the humans, like with the blood bonding. I also really liked Sera's interactions with the other creatures in captivity, like Boris/Tree and Errol. I was, like many other readers, annoyed by Agnes's use of the phrase "no I'm not like other girls", but I didn't actually hate her as a character. I liked that we got to see her as a queer girl in a heteronormative society, and again it just hightlighted the differences between the humans and the Cerulean. I appreciated how Leo's redemption arc was carried out, and I look forward to see it continuing in the next book.

World building: interesting concept but not the best execution. I liked that there was like an earth, but it clearly wasn't earth as we know it because the geography is completely different and it's conducive to magical life. I just wanted to know more about how this world functioned and came about. I'm confused because the characters mention a lot of things that specific references to earth life, like driving and the use of the calendar year (they mention September in chapter 29). So I'm wondering if maybe this planet is the remnants of an earth after some cataclysmic geographical shifting, and the characters in the book would have ancestors from earth as we know it. Maybe I'm stretching it, I just want to know why there are so many earth-like activities and terms but it seems to take place on a different planet.

Another small detail: I did cringe a bit at the names of some of the mystical elements. Mainly, "the Great Sadness" and "Seek Me If You Dare." The names seemed like afterthoughts and they just weren't very creative, like the author just thought, "hmm what would be another way to say the Great Depression and Hide and Seek?". Still, I thought a lot of things about these aspects (i.e. the Great Sadness) were intriguing, even if the names themselves were not.

I thought the third person POV worked much better in this book than I've seen in recent YA fantasy series. I felt like I got enough of everyone's different perspectives, but the chapters still remained mostly focused on whichever character it was supposed to, as it was a shifting spotlight third person perspective. At first I didn't think we needed a Leo POV, like it would've been fine with just Sera, Agnes, and Leela, but towards the end I understood why Leo was included and I started to like him more. Still, I could have done with only female perspectives. I think it would have been fitting, but still I understand why, with the topics in this book, a male perspective could've been beneficial from a storytelling viewpoint.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down and I am now anxiously awaiting the second book. I hope the second book will bring character development, relationship development, self-discovery, and more enlightenment on the world, both with the City Above the Sky and the planet below.

Review for "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds

Do you know what it feels like to feel like a murderer? I do. Do you know what it's like for something to be wrong with you. To be born incorrect. To be born a hurricane. I do. 



Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WHAT A LINE. I AM SHOOK. This book is packed with the emotion of a 12-year-old boy who's a little bit lost, a little bit sad, and a little bit scared.

I'm so scared. And scared don't sound like eek. Or gasp. Scared sounds like glass. Shattering. Scared sounds like glass shattering. 

No, these aren't ground-breaking, profound, quotes that someone's going to paste on their foyer wall over the front door. These are the real thoughts and feelings of a middle schooler. I think we can all agree that middle school is/was a dumpster fire, and every kid has something going on, but for Sunny, he just wants a mom that's alive and a dad that cares that he is.

Because this book is written in a diary format, we get to see all the thoughts that a normal narrative wouldn't be able to show us. We also get to see the raw emotion Sunny feels in real time. There are charts, drawings, and strikethroughs to show how Sunny is feeling and growing and reacting to his situation. Jason Reynolds just nails the inner workings of a (grieving) middle schooler's mind.

Yeah, Sunny is scared and lonely, but he's also weird. Without a doubt, the most compelling part of Sunny as a character is his weirdness. I am 100% on board with the trend of making kids (elementary-high school age) as immature and quirky as their young age dictates. Yes, it's cringey. Yes, it's annoying at times. But this is real life. I, personally, am tired of the perfect, idealized middle grade aged main character. The middle school kid who is the chosen one, the perfect kid, and who never has any baggage. I stand behind the kids who have pieces of their lives missing, like Sunny who literally puts puzzle pieces of his mom together, and who are weird and beautiful because of it.

She wanted to dance, even though she could barely move because of her belly. Aurelia said my mother wanted me to know what happiness felt like, no matter what, from the inside out. 

Stay happy, Sunny. And stay weird.

Favorite Books by Genre

I realized I haven't actually done a post just talking about my favorite books of all time. It is so hard for me to choose, so I have a hard time narrowing down the list and then ranking the books in the list. To make it a little bit easier, I'm going to give a favorite book from a bunch of different genres. My categorization for what is considered a genre has no real formula, but some genres are broken into age groups and some aren't based on if I like that genre more, etc.

Genre #1: YA Fantasy
This is probably my most read/favorite genre. My pick for YA fantasy is A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas

This book gave me so many feels, and I was just completely shook at the beginning, and then the middle, and the ENDING. I can't even. I love this series overall, but the second book really kills me. Disclaimer: I like romance in my fantasy, including heavy romance, so if that's not your thing this is probably NOT the series for you. (Unfortunately.)

Genre #2: Middle Grade Fantasy
I include this category because I think you have to approach middle grade fantasy very differently than YA or adult fantasy, and that can make these books completely incomparable to other books on this list. My choice for favorite middle grade fantasy is The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan.

This book was complete magic for me when I was 9 years old. This series is what started everything. Notice I used the original cover here - the new covers just make Percy look so old. I think that due in large part to the movies (yiiiiiiikes), people forget that Percy was only 12 years old in the first book. This is a middle grade series through and through, and it is extremely well done. I have such a craving to go back and read these books soon, which I hope to start by the end of this summer.

Genre #3: Adult Fantasy
Getting a little bit predictable, but I couldn't make this list without including The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The amount of detail in this world is mind blowing, a key reason they were able to make just the prelude into three 2-and-a-half hour long movies. And no, I cannot pick a favorite book out of the series!

Genre #4: Science Fiction
While very closely related to fantasy, science fiction is definitely a league of its own. Sci-Fi is unique because it can include both dystopian sagas and space-based novels, which aren't super close in nature. For this genre, I'm choosing The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

This book was just so original when it came out, and I devoured every part of it. There are plenty of redos and spin-offs nowadays, but this is an OG YA dystopian series, and it is so good.

Genre #5: YA Contemporary
I have only recently started reading YA contemporary, and that's because many recommendations that are given to me belong to this genre. While I'm reading it more now, it's still not my favorite and the books herein tend to be hit or miss more me. A definite hit was It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.

This is one of those books where the main character is odd. And not like weird in a cute or funny or charming way, but weird in a way that kind of makes you cringe. And I think it's brilliant. Contemporary books are full of idealized teenage protagonists, and it makes the book fake and implausible and cheesy. This book is real, and it deals with mental illness in a way that so accurately describes the quality of life people who have depression/anxiety live with. Brilliant. One of my absolute favorites and I recommend to everyone.

Genre #6: Adult Fiction
Contemporary for the big kids! I only recently got really into reading again, so adult fiction was not even in my sights until about two years ago. Needless to say, I have a lot of catching up to do. So far, my favorite adult fiction book is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

There is so much going on in this book, it's never boring, and it's constantly funny and mysterious and endearing. I loved the Pretty Little Liars books when I was in middle school, and this book is essentially PLL for PTA moms. 10/10 would recommend. I also recommend the audiobook for this one.

Genre #7: Nonfantasy Middle Grade
This is a genre I devoured back in the middle school days, and while I wouldn't read as many these days, I still have distinct favorites, such as Ghost (Track #1) by Jason Reynolds.

This is an important book for middle school kids to read. It has so many important lessons, especially for people who come from privileged families and might not know the struggles of not being white and upper class in America. Also shoutout to Sunny (Track #3), because I just finished it and it's another one of those books that just captures the weirdness of kids, that authors so often want to overlook when writing their perfect characters, perfectly.

Genre #8: Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, and Horror (SMTH)
This is not my genre. Also, it's four different genres. But because I so rarely read books from any of these genres, and they're related, I smoosh them into one category. My favorite for SMTH books is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

If I'm not going to read a lot of this genre, it seems fitting that the books I do read from it are Agatha Christie, the queen of mystery. This was creepy and crawly and captivating and I liked it. Most SMTH books fail to impress me because I either see the twist coming or the twist just didn't blow my mind. This book didn't have to worry about that because you essentially know how the book ends in the beginning. Sounds confusing? Read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Genre #9: Mythology/Retellings
I love mythology and retellings!!! It's hard for me to categorize books of this genre into any preexisting categories. Too fantastical to be historical fiction, too historical to be fantasy. Plus I really like retellings of classics fairy tales, so I made up this genre of mythology (Greek, Roman, Norse, etc.) and classic retellings (Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood, The Wizard of Oz, etc.). My pick for this category is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, no contest.

This book is......... stunning. So beautiful. This may be my favorite love story book of all. Maybe it's slow, maybe it's historical, but all I need to Achilles and Patroclus. I love them. This book is everything. Definitely on my list of all time favorite books.

Genre #10: Classics
Definitely not my favorite genre, but like almost every other reader out there, I suffer through them! I also tend to categorize books here when I don't know where else to shelve them and they are generally well-loved. My favorite classic book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Like every other 9th grader, I had to read this as a part of my high school curiculum. Unlike some others who Sparknoted the whole thing, I did actually read it back then, but did not appreciate it until I was well past graduated. I have a preference for books that take place during things that are really heavy and serious and are narrated by someone too young and innocent to understand them, such as Scout's struggle to understand racial injustice. More on that in future genres.

Genre #11: Memoir
I like reading memoirs for sure. It's hard to rate a person's life, but there are definitely standouts in this genre. For my, my favorite memoir is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

If the circumstances of this book alone are not enough to draw you in, allow me to persuade you. This book is one of the saddest and at the same time most uplifting books I've ever read. It honestly makes me want to do what I love, be a better person, and work harder for my dreams. It is truly an inspiration.

Genre #12: Historical Fiction
While historical fiction is still not one of my favorite genres, I'm drawn to WWII books. I really loved Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, but as that is a biographical narrative and not fictional, my favorite historical fiction book has to be The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

I told you we would come back to it! There is something so captivating about Bruno's inability to physically comprehend the injustice of Nazi concentration camps, and his friendship with a little Jewish boy is so compelling. It's not perfect, but it's real. And I threw this book at a wall when I read that ending.

Genre #13: Nonfiction
Not my most read genre, but I definitely wish I read it more. The thing is, this genre heavily overlaps with the Science category. However, the author made it clear that this book was not written by a scientist and is meant more as a common man's curiosity quelcher than a presentation of research, so for that reason my favorite nonfiction book is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach.

This book is fascinating, funny, and super accessible. I love the organization and facts presented here, and I like the fact that Mary Roach wasn't a scientist and was able to break things down to a really understandable level for the common reader.

Genre #14: Science
I study science in school, so this genre feels like a requisite. I study cell biology, but I am really interested in evolutionary biology as well, so in my leisure reading I like to pick up books about anthropology, herpetology, and evolution. My favorite science book is Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal

This book started my fascination in evolutionary biology. I read this book as a senior and high school and it was just so. darn. fascinating. de Waal's use of anecdotes, research, and illustration really sold this book for me. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in this field of science.

Genre #15: Romance
I usually just include romance books under the categories of contemporary or fiction, but there are some love stories that just need to be shared with the world. One of these love stories is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

I know, I know, how typical. But in all seriousness, I think this book is written beautifully. I also have a weird reading preference for terminally ill star-crossed lovers (yikes) and this was the beginning of that obsession for me. I didn't sob over the book like I know many people did, but writing about it now is making me want to go back and read it again!

Review for "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere, or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving. A way to reach continuously toward a better self.



Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Michelle Obama is absolutely one of my idols. I think it’s so important to have someone like her in a position of power like FLOTUS. She has so many positive characteristics and ideals to share with young people. Her outreach with children’s health and safety is really impressive, and her obvious respect and empathy for people is admirable.

As for this memoir specifically, this is so full of candor and humility that it was hard for me not to get worked up about how good the Obama family was (is) and what our nation is facing now. Michelle narrates her life by speaking her truth and she encourages other people to do the same. She covers her childhood, her early career, her relationship with Obama and her family, and how these aspects of her life were altered when Barack Obama ran for and won the US presidency. She tells us the absolute truth of her feelings, even if they’re not completely flattering to her and/or her husband. She does a really excellent job at defending her actions without coming off as too defensive/accusatory.

Many of us go through life with our stories hidden, feeling ashamed or afraid when our whole truth doesn’t live up to some established ideal. We grow up with messages that tell us that’s there only one way to be American. That if our skin is dark, or our hips are wide, or if we don’t experience love a particular way, if we speak another language or come from another country, then we don’t belong. That is, until someone dares to start telling that story differently.

As a powerful, admirable black woman who defeated the odds and rose up to one of the highest positions you can hold in this country, I think Michelle’s story is really important for POC and young women to read. There is hope that change is coming, and Michelle is living proof of that.

Review for "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" by Brigid Kemmerer

This was never a curse to be broken. This is a death sentence. 



Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although I'm not so charmed by the original story, I do have a weird preference toward Beauty and the Beast retellings. This one takes place in Emberfall, a fantastical land that exists parallel to the world as we know it. In a twist of fate, Harper finds herself taken captive by a prince who is trying desperately to break the curse bestowed on him by an evil enchantress - either for himself or to save his kingdom.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. I liked Harper as a female lead. I thought she was interesting, and she had values that weren't just forgotten about because of her attraction to a man. I also liked that BEGIN SPOILER she didn't end up falling in love with him. Too often I think these stories make the romance too strong too fast, and this slow buildup gives the series an opportunity to grow that romance slowly END SPOILER. I appreciated the dual perspectives, and I really liked how we got some of the monster's perspective. I am a big MCU fan, so I couldn't help comparing Harper, Rhen, and the Monster to Black Widow, Bruce Banner and the Hulk. I also got some Asgardian vibes in the beginning, with Rhen as Thor, Grey as Loki, and Lilith as Hela. But again, I'm just a huge fan of the MCU, so I am constantly looking for connections like these.

I think it's interesting that this is one Beauty and the Beast retelling where the romance isn't the main plot point. Most of the story revolves around the coming war, saving the kingdom, and fooling enemies of the throne using espionage and deceit. I struggle between whether to say this is a loose retelling or not. The curse and enchantress part of the storyline is very strong and drives most of the plot. But the banter/romance between Rhen and Harper is not near pronounced enough for this to be a true Beauty and the Beast retelling.

The critiques I have for this book are small but many. There are just a lot of little specific details that were incongruous or frustrating to me. For example, the whole thing with Harper wanting to meet with Lilith. Rhen and Grey literally both tell her multiple times, "hey that's a really bad idea and she's horrible and she won't cooperate with you and it'll end badly." But Harper ignores them and meets with Lilith anyway, and then she has the audacity to say, "I had no idea she would be like this." Like they hadn't just told her! I liked Harper as a character for the most part, and I hate it when there's just one thing a character does that makes you lose faith in their competence. The second detail that didn't sit well with me is how Rhen, Harper and Grey all swear that Rhen really does care about Emberfall when all evidence points to the contrary. Pretty much the whole time he doesn't extend any help to the people, claiming that there's no use and it won't help, so he just sits up in his super nice castle trying to get women to fall in love with him. He has no faith in his abilities to fend off the attacking armies, and with good reason, since he hasn't even tried to do anything for the defense of Emberfall in the past century. The last thing that was contradictory was how Grey, Rhen, and Harper all claim that Rhen is constantly 20 moves ahead of his opponents in anything he does, but then we don't really see that. He's maybe one move ahead sometimes. I can't help just think of Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows. There's a character who is always 20 steps ahead, and that's what I was expecting when Rhen was described that way and then it was just a let-down.

4 stars for an interesting, new take on Beauty and the Beast. It left off on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I can't say that by the time the second book is released I will still be invested enough in the story to read it.

Review for "The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy" by Mackenzi Lee

I am a wildflower and will stand against the gales. Rare and uncultivated, difficult to find, impossible to forget. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me just rest for a second, and try to find my breath before I explain the reasons this is such a great book.

Felicity Montague wants nothing more to be trained as a doctor. Like literally, that's it. And it's denied her because of her sex. In her desperation to know about the world, Felicity makes a risky bargain with a pirate and heads off on a quest to obtain the one thing she's told she can't have: a place in a world among men.

"You're trying to play a game designed by men. You'll never win, because the deck is stacked and marked, and also you've been blindfolded and set on fire. You can work hard and believe in yourself and be the smartest person in the room and you'll still get beat by the boys who haven't two cents to rub together." 

The Patriarchy
So, this is interesting because most of the books I read that I would consider to have feminist messages are modern, so I understand more or less the view and expectations of women. This is a feminist novel that takes place in the 18th century, so there had to be a balance between the historical accuracy of what the societal role of a woman was and the conventional view of that role versus making Felicity a BA feminist. I think this was achieved. Mackenzi Lee even mentions in the Author's Note that many people have the assumption that just because women were repressed in the 1700's that means they also accepted their societal role without question. This is not the case, and I like the exploration of rebellious women in this novel. The patriarchal scenes were absolutely infuriating, but that contextualization was really important to understand how brave and important Felicity's defiance really is.

In the company of women like this--sharp-edged as raw diamonds but with soft hands and hearts, not strong in spite of anything but powerful because of everything--I feel invincible. 

Girls Supporting Girls
This is absolutely one of my favorite aspects of the way feminism is presented in this book. You've got three female characters, who express their strength and individuality in completely different ways, and support each other despite those differences. Felicity's our middle ground: a girl who dresses plainly and is super ambitious and wants to join a career field made up entirely of men, and persists despite setbacks. She has a sense of self-righteousness throughout the novel, the kind of "I'm different than other girls" mindset that is set right by the end. Then you have Sim, who is smart and intimidating and quiet, who Felicity originally judges as dangerous because of her lack of femininity. And finally, sweet, wonderful Johanna, who Felicity believes cannot possibly be a proponent for women's independence because she loves femininity. One of the most memorable parts of the book is when Johanna and Felicity sit and talk about where their friendship went wrong, and Johanna calls Felicity out for thinking she's frilly and silly just because she enjoys wearing dresses. Felicity has to face her own egotism and realize that her brand of feminism is not the only valid one out there. And by the end of the book, they're all supportive and friends and it's just something really beautiful, if a bit idealistic.

You deserve to be here. You deserve to exist. You deserve to take up space in this world of men. 

Felicity's Self-Worth
I think this is an important book for girls to read because of Felicity's character development. From the beginning of the novel she's strong-willed and persistent, but she really gets to know herself throughout the book and comes to understand what she wants in life. She's not unrealistically tenacious; she still doubts herself throughout the book because of the patriarchal society she's been raised in. But by the end, she decides that if she can't win the game, she'll change the rules. If she can't fit into the doctor mold that's required in conventional hospitals and universities, she'll have to branch out. She steps outside her comfort-zone at the same time as she finally gets to do the one thing she's most comfortable and happy doing: discovering the world.

I don't give this book the full five stars because it just didn't hold my attention like the first one did. I think it's because the story is not completely original. It's essentially the same plot as the first book, but replace some character names, the names of the cities they stop in, and the supernatural aspect. I just felt the plot was too similar to Book 1, so I wasn't as impressed the second time around. One other thing I want to mention is that some of the writing is confusing at times. I love the quotes in the book (obviously, because I include like 5 in one review), so I can see how much emotion the author writes with. But sometimes it just goes a bit too far, and comprehensibility is lost in an attempt to be artistic.

This is such a good feminist book for people to read, not in spite of the fact that it's set in the 18th century but because of it. In the first book, we got the perspective of being LGBT in that setting, and now it's the perspective of being an ambitious woman in the same time period. The characters are brilliant, and there are so many beautiful precious moments in this book. It makes me not want to forget the opportunities I'm afforded as a woman in the 21st century (acknowledging that breaking down barriers that never should have existed in the first place shouldn't have to be an accomplishment). THANK YOU MACKENZI LEE for this book.

Everyone has heard stories of woman like us, and now we will make more of them.

Review for "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden

We don't become geisha because we want our lives to be happy; we become geisha because we have no choice. 




Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Chiyo's life, told in retrospect, is incomprehensible to almost all 21st century girls. Chiyo, who later becomes known as Sayuri, was kidnapped, sold into slavery, orphaned, abandoned by her one remaining family member, and abused, all before the age of 12. Chiyo's life depends on survival, and in the okiyas of 1940's Japan, survival depends on becoming a successful geisha.

This book is an important read to get a perspective on a) the role and activities of geisha, and b) Japan in the 1930-40's. These are two topics I was not familiar with before reading this book, and I really appreciate getting to learn about Japanese history and customs through this story. Yes, I realize it's fictional, but it was so extensively researched that I don't think I can discount its accuracy out-of-hand.

A note on the aforementioned accuracy: I've heard the allegations against Arthur Golden, about how he released the name of the geisha who he interviewed for the book even though he agreed to protect her privacy. I don't know if that was ever confirmed, but honestly it's really not my business. I'm rating and reviewing this book for the quality of the work, not for some legal controversies that may or may not be twisted up in it.

I suppose it has something to do with the way the story is being told by future Sayuri in retrospect, but I didn't get as much emotion out of the characters as I would have expected, given the horrors they went through. The events are told very matter-of-factly, and the emotions are more told than shown. I attribute this to 1. the retrospective POV (Sayuri even admits that it's easier to talk about pain after one is no longer suffering, in the end of the novel), 2. the fact that Chiyo had abuse, machismo, and inferiority engrained into her head from a young age, so she may have been less affected by it than if she had had a normal childhood, and 3. the narrator.

I listened to this book on audio, and I didn't love the narration. The voices were fine in terms of dialogue, but the Chiyo perspective was monotone and gave Chiyo a sense of indifference. I think the book would have had more of an emotional effect on me if I had read it instead of listening to the audiobook.

This book was way too long. There were so many stories and events in the book that made me think, "Wait, hasn't this happened already?" I found my mind wandering off because the plot dragged at certain parts or rushed through other parts way too quickly.

I still enjoyed reading this book though, because it isn't just a window in Chiyo/Sayuri's life as a geisha, but into Chiyo/Sayuri's life as a whole. We get to hear her entire perspective on life, from before she was a geisha to her time during it and afterward. I like that it was set during both the Great Depression and WWII, I think that really allowed for some important contextualization. And I liked how culture shock was included in the book, both for Sayuri about American men (soldiers) and for Americans about traditional Japanese customs.

I read this book as a part of America's Best Loved Novels Reading Challenge, and if you're interesting in great American novels I recommend you read it too!

Review for "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that is becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be? 



Rating: 4 stars

This such an important, powerful book. It discusses one of the most politically charged topics that we face today, and it really simplifies the issue by calling it what it is: people shouldn't kill people, and when someone does kill someone, the FIRST someone should be responsible for the killing, not the second person responsible for dying. The reason I liked this book was because of the characters. I think they each provide an interesting perspective on the issues of class and race.

Starr
Oh Starr, my star. You are so amazing. Starr is caught up between two sides of herself. First, there's Williamson Starr, the Starr she pretends to be at her private school surrounded by white people who refer to the area she lives as the "ghetto". She find it easier to hide behind a fake version of herself than to really show who she is and be judged for it. Then, there's the true Starr, who is proud of her family and her community, and isn't afraid to use slang or curse someone out. Starr struggles with her identity, and it becomes a burden for her when she decides whether or not to speak out against the injustice of Khalil's murder. I love the anger that Starr feels in the book, at the situation itself and the injustice following it. Her feelings represent what so many oppressed people feel every day after yet another unarmed black person is shot. People need to read this book, just so they can understand and share that anger.

He's been a cop for as long as Khalil was alive, and I wonder if in some sick twist of fate Khalil was only born for this man to kill. 

Khalil
Khalil is representative of the problems that face black communities everywhere, and I'm not just talking about the fact that he was shot just for being black. Khalil makes a decision to risk his freedom in order to give his grandmother and younger brother shelter, food, heat, electricity, etc. As he puts it, "I got tired of choosing between lights and food." And in their community, no one could've or would've helped him out of his situation, so he took it upon himself. No matter what his reasons or intentions were, the media singles Khalil out for the fact that he was a drug dealer as a way to invalidate his life and give the police officer who shot him an excuse for taking his life. People who live outside "the ghetto" want to blame Khalil for doing what he had to do, but none of them wanted to extend a hand and help him out before he got to that point, and they certainly don't want to understand his intentions now.

Chris
I think I identify most with Chris in this story. He cares so much about Starr, but since he's not part of a minority, he can't understand the issues she has to deal with. He wants Starr to let him in, but she's not ready to do that and he can't wrap his head around it. Chris's intentions are good. But he literally cannot comprehend what Starr is going through. The great thing about Chris is that he was willing to try. He doesn't jump to defend white people just because he's white, and he eventually becomes someone Starr can trust with her feelings about what happened with Khalil and the aftermath.

There's Them and then there's Us. Sometimes They look like Us and don't realize They are Us. 

Hailey
Ooooooooooooooooh girl. I'm about to go off. Hailey encompasses everything that is wrong with upper/upper-middle class white people everywhere. She comes in with that "the cop's life matters too" as if there was ever a threat on the cop's life. She tells Starr and Maya to "get over" her racist jokes. She apologizes to Starr, stating that she was sorry Starr reacted the way she did when Hailey was completely out-of-line. And the thing is, I live in Missouri. I know a thousand Haileys. I bout wanna smack every one of them. Of course I don't need to rant now, if you read this book you'll get the gist of what I'd say. But I think Hailey was an important addition in this book, to show why it's so important to keep fighting. Yeah, there are systematic issues in police forces and the justice system, but they would be much easier to change if it weren't for the general White mindset that Hailey and so many other people have.

There are so many other characters I want to give shoutouts to. Starr's parents are both amazing. They struggle between protecting their family and supporting their community. Seven was great, and I think he represents another grim truth of low-income families, the responsibility older siblings feel to protect their younger siblings from parents under the influence of drugs and gangs. Kenya helped show the shame that Starr feels about where she comes from. The characters of this book just made it so real, so personable, and so moving.

They can easily grab their guns and leave us like Khalil. All the blood in our bodies pooling on the street for everybody to see. Our mouths wide open. Our eyes staring at the sky, searching for God. 

The best part about this book is that it is real. Starr isn't automatically become the leader of the movement just because she's the witness and the protagonist. She's afraid of the police every single time they cross paths after Khalil's death, which is how so many black people have to spend their lives: afraid the cops with literally kill them just for the color of their skin and their assumptions based on it. The decision of the case is the exact same as it is in 99% of real cases: no justice served.  There are good police officers and bad police officers, good white people and bad white people, good black people and bad black people. The topics of how race and class have shaped these people is obvious, but told through Starr's eyes, and it makes for a really stunning story.

Review for "The Wicked King" by Holly Black

If you're the sickness, I suppose you can't also be the cure. 



Rating: 3 stars

Jude Duarte has fought her way to power, and power over the throne of Faerie no less. Now she has to... do a bunch of stuff that I don't really remember. And that just about sums up my reading experience with this one. I can't even force myself to put much effort into writing this review, so it will be short and (probably not) sweet.

I found this book unmemorable. None of the plot really grabbed my attention, and I didn't feel ANY character development in Jude, or in fact any of the characters. I wasn't ever really bored while reading, but I just didn't really get the point of the book. The end of The Cruel Prince was so shocking that this book really should've just coasted off of that momentum, but I felt very "eh" about the final product.

Probably the grievance I feel most strongly about is the world building. I mentioned this in my review of the first book, about how I didn't understand the coexistence of Faerie and the mortal realm. My problems with the world building have since evolved. I just, to be frank, don't like the world. I don't find it whimsical or fantastical or intriguing. Even just the map of the world I find boring, and I feel like its style doesn't match the tone of the story. Also, I just need to say how much I hate the Royal Palace. The idea that it is built into a giant hill does not make any sense to me, and the drawing of it on the map is absolutely ridiculous.

There a few more things in this book I disliked. First, the introduction of characters that should've had more impact than they did. The author introduced characters in a way that made it seem like they'd be super important and interesting, and then it fell completely flat. The main example: Cardan's mother. I was so let down by the story surrounding this character and where she ended up in the end. It just felt like the author wanted a bombshell in the middle of the book, and then didn't want to deal with actually following through with it. Another example is Nicasia. Everyone kind of makes a big deal over Orlagh wanting Nicasia to marry Cardan, but then Nicasia is barely in the novel at all.

One very nit-picky thing I have to say is that I was annoyed by the constant restating previous quotes in italics. A character would say something with interesting implications/foreshadowing, and then later in Jude's internal monologue the statement is said again, verbatim and italicized. It just drove me crazy.

I liked some of the Cardan-Jude banter. I think if any character showed character development in the book, it was Cardan, although I'm not entirely sure if that's true given the twist at the end. I liked that the author set up some side-stories to revisit in future books, like the one about the Roach and the Bomb. I liked the scheming, and the out-maneuvering and some of the politics involved with that.

The book wasn't terrible. There were still some things I liked about it, but there are more aspects of the book that were worsened from Book 1 to Book 2 than aspects that were improved. I didn't dislike it, but I can't think of a single reason I would want to reread it, which really makes me not want to reread The Cruel Prince, which was much better. This sequel was fine, but not near as compelling as the first one.

As for continuing the series... if I even remember that this book exists in 10 months (when book 3 comes out), I might pick it up.

Review for "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

I do not yearn to be their equal. In my heart, I yearn to best them. 



Rating: 4 stars

Going into The Cruel Prince I had a very conflicted bias. I knew that this book was split down the middle, half of the readers absolutely loving it, and half thinking it was terrible. I tried very hard not to let that affect my opinions while reading, but I still found myself struggling. In hindsight, I think my opinions on the book are very much my own, and I very much enjoyed it. It isn't my favorite Fae-centered YA series (yes, my heart was stolen by ACOTAR and it is now the standard against which all other Fae stories are measured), but I thought it was original and well-written.

Our main character, Jude, is in a strange predicament. She was raised by her parents' murderer, after he murdered her parents in front of her. She was whisked away at the age of seven to Faerie, a land outside the mortal realm where Faeries rule and humans are at best used as overcompliant servants. Jude spends the next decade of her life training to be a knight so as to be accepted by the Fae, and lashing out at her worst bully, Prince Cardan. No one is more surprised than Jude herself when she must enlist Cardan's help to save the kingdom from a tyrannical ruler.

Let's start with the positives of this book.

What they don't realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. 

#1: Jude
I thought Jude was a very good female lead. She was strong and defiant, but she was also constantly aware of fear. I think a common mistake is to make female protagonists too strong and brave to the point that they implausibly have no fears and can beat everyone at everything. Jude understands her fear, she looks it in the face and then crawls over it. She uses it as fuel and motivation. Jude's emotional awareness on the whole makes her more personable and realistic. She shows and understands her anger, fear, and sadness. Another thing I love is that she uses what is supposed to be her biggest weakness, her humanness, as an advantage. She becomes sneaky, deceptive, and is always one step ahead of the competition, and she embraces it as her identity and her responsibility.

#2: The plot
This seems like a stupid thing to include as a positive aspect of the book, but I just really enjoyed how the events unfolded. There were distinct parts of the book, so that no matter where you were, there was always something happening, some goal in the process of being achieved. There is very little white space (pages spent on only explaining things and not moving the plot along) in the novel. I am a plot driven reader so I really enjoyed this aspect. There were twists and turns, and the plot also served to develop the characters and their relationships.

Only in my dreams has Cardan ever been like this. Begging. Miserable. Powerless. 

#3: The Jude/Cardan relationship
This was not something I thought I would like in the beginning of the book. Here you have Cardan, a horribly mean bully with the posse to back him up, who is constantly belittling and physically hurting Jude for being human, a race that has been systematically reinforced as inferior. I knew from the title that there would probably end up being a romance between the main character and the Cruel Prince, but I was dreading it. But then, it wasn't so bad. I appreciate how the author didn't throw all of it into our faces at once, like Cardan admits his attraction and Jude is suddenly and irrevocably in love with him. In general, the book is very light on the romance. It fixes some of the truly horrible things Cardan has done and sets up a future romance, but Jude still remains skeptical, malicious, and vindictive in her treatment of Cardan, which is highly preferable IMO.

I do have a couple of critiques for this book.

#1: World building
I really liked the concept of this world. There's a Faerie kingdom, which exists alongside the mortal world, but the mortal world is our modern world, with fish sticks and Target and girls with dyed-pink hair. Unfortunately, the author didn't really do justice to this idea. How the two worlds coexist is unclear. The humans don't know where Faerie is, so clearly it's hidden, but the response to the question of "where" is a glossed-over half-answer. The relationship between Faerie and the mortal world is also unclear. Hopefully this will be more thoroughly satisfied in future books of the series.

#2: Lack of companionship
Jude doesn't really have a "sidekick" through the book, and I don't really see her having any kinsmanship with anyone throughout the book. And the thing is, there was ample opportunity. Jude is inducted into a super-secret spy group, and still they have really professional, non-friendly relationships. She doesn't have kinship with her twin sister, who like kind of betrays her, and she doesn't spend enough time with her older sister to feel friendship with her. Basically, Jude doesn't have any friends. To me, friendships are a very important part of fantasy series, so I hope this is amended in the next book.

I was impressed with this book. I liked the characters, the writing, and the plot. I didn't ever think it was boring, and I definitely recommend this to people who like fantasy, high fantasy, and Fae-centered storylines.

Review for "Bird Box" by Josh Malerman

"The streets aren't what they used to be, Tom. We're not in suburbia anymore. We're in chaos." 



Rating: 5 stars

Dark and creepy... opposite of my normal reading preferences, but I was wrapped up in this one. Yes, I did decide to read this because of the hype/memes from the Netflix adaptation, and depending on how brave I am I may go on to watch it. I knocked this book out in 1 day, and I really enjoyed it.

The story is based on a dystopian/post-apocalyptic America. There's a thing out in the world, that drives people into madness and causes them to murder those around them and ultimately commit suicide in the most gruesome ways. No one really knows what the things are since no one who sees one survives to tell about it, the most prevailing theories say that they are "creatures" that are so far beyond human comprehension that it drives humans into madness. Our story focuses on Malorie, a young mother surviving in this world 4 years after the apocalypse begins.

There are a lot of elements of this book that just really worked for me. The first is the alternating timelines. I've learned recently that I really love alternating timelines. It's really intriguing to be in the character's present while they reference their past, knowing that later in the book you're going to find out about those references and be able to complete the entire picture. In this case, the story alternates between Malorie's present, 4 years after the "things" started showing up, when her two children are 4 years old and she's trying to escape to a safer area, and Malorie's past, basically just the story of the events starting 4 years before and how Malorie got to where she is. There is a really intricate layering of the memories and nostalgia throughout the book.

The creatures of her mind walk horizonless, open fields. They stand outside the windows of former homes and gaze curiously at the glass. They study. They examine. They observe. They do the one thing Malorie isn't allowed to do. They look.

The second thing I enjoyed about this book is the depth of the characters. Now, I'll admit that not all the characters were profound. I felt that Cheryl, Felix, and Jules definitely could have been more developed. But I loved reading about Malorie and Tom and Don and Gary (I mean, screw Gary, but his bits were still interesting) and Olympia. I've found that I usually feel disappointed with third person POVs; I just haven't found a lot of books lately that do it well, but this was really impressive. I loved how we saw Malorie as an outsider, but the narration still included her internal monologue, plus the third person POV allowed us to see other characters when it was relevant. The storytelling format just really worked for me.

The last main thing I want to praise in this book is the horror/creepy/mystery factor. Basically, how much this book gave me the "heebie-jeebies". Disclaimer: I actively avoid horror books/movies; I do not think getting scared is fun so I don't torture myself with them. This book did creep me out at a lot of points because I thought it was very realistic. Not maybe in the actual supernatural aspect, but in the way the world was affected and how inhuman humans became, I could definitely see that happening in a post-apocalyptic future. Another thing that really kept me going was the mystery factor. We're set up with so many questions, and I just wanted them answered. Why does Malorie have two children? What happens in between her pregnancy and the 4 years later? What are those things??? There were just a lot of questions that made me want to keep reading, both relating to the world and to the character's personal life. I will say that I was not 100% satisfied with the answer to the last question (what were the "creatures"?), but I definitely see where the author was coming from. The book kind of turns into a "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" story, and I can appreciate that metaphorical significance, plus with how much I liked the other parts of the book it was something I was willing to overlook in my overall rating of the book.

This is a good book to read if you don't normally read horror/suspense but would like to try it out. It is creepy, but not absolutely horrifying like I know some horror books and movies are. This is also just a good book if you like dystopian science fiction.

Review for "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu wanted, suddenly and desperately, to be from the country of people who gave and not those who received, to be one of those who had and could therefore bask in the grace of having given, to be among those who could afford copious pity and empathy. 



Rating: 3 stars

This review will be brief, and unfortunately my opinion will probably be controversial. Buckle in!I read Americanah as a part of my 100 Best-Loved Novels Reading Challenge. I am really glad I read the book, though I did nit-pick at some things.

The story alternates between two main characters - Ifemelu, a strong-willed, brutally honest, and intensely unapologetic young woman who grows up in Nigeria and then moves to America for 13 years, and Obinze, Ifemelu's first love, who makes his own name for himself in Lagos. The story tackles the events of Ifemelu's Nigerian childhood through university, and then migration to America and her experiences there, and finally her return and resettling in Nigeria. We also read about Obinze's experiences during the same time span, including his immigration to and deportation from England.

I really liked the set-up of this story, both with the alternating viewpoints and the alternating timelines. We start the book as Ifemelu's about to leave America to move back to Nigeria. Things from her American experience are referenced but we don't yet know what they really are, and we can see how America has changed Ifemelu based on how she is judging other African women living in the US. I'm torn between whether or not I liked Ifemelu's character development. On one hand, it was really interesting to see her deal with assimilating in America while not losing her roots, and then assimilating back into Nigeria as a long-term American resident. She really struggles with her two identities - the African woman and the American immigrant. The reason I can't say I love her development is because to me, Ifemelu seemed to mature backwards. I felt that she was much less mature in the end of the novel when she's back in Nigeria and is somewhere in her thirties than she is in the beginning of the novel when she's a university student. I thought her composure and responses to American ignorance were very poised and articulate during the time that she was in America, and when she returned to Nigeria she was very unreasonable, whiny, and just immature.

I don't have much to say about Obinze's side of the story. Overall it felt more boring, and I didn't see as much development from him in any capacity. The main function of Obinze seems to be to show how much he's still in love with Ifemelu throughout her time in America, so he's more of a prop to show her personality than he is his own character.

Here's where it gets controversial: I thought Ifemelu's view of America was very one-sided. Put down your pitchforks and hear me out real quick! I understand that the author is a well-known advocate for racial equality/feminism/human rights, and I really enjoy her Ted Talks, her ideas, and the outreach that she does. That is why I found the portrayal of American ignorance so disappointing. I feel like Chimamanda could have used the opportunity to talk about the systemic issues with race in America and why those contribute to American ignorance on race. For example, I couldn't honestly say that I knew the official language of Nigeria was English and that I wouldn't have asked a person like Ifemelu if we met what her native language was, and perhaps that's considered "ignorant", but my public education system did not put value on understanding different countries and cultures. I think the root of a lot of Ifemelu's frustrations and confusion are the lack of education about these things, and it is a shame but I think it would be oversimplifying to say that Americans are ignorant on their own account.

I was willing to get over this minor detail and was ready to give this book a solid 4 stars, probably rounded down from a 4.25-4.5. But then I read the last 15% of the book. This goes back to the characters maturing backwards. Here's Obinze, who as soon as his ex-girlfriend from college, literally over a decade ago, comes back into town he drops his entire family to be with her. The cheating used as a plot device was just... absolutely deplorable. And the thing was--we were supposed to "side" with Ifemelu and Obinze! We were supposed to think that they should be together and Obinze should just divorce his wife already because clearly Ifem and Obinze are soulmates. I was so so so uncomfortable reading it. I kept thinking of Kosi, Obinze's wife of 5 years, and Buchi, Obinze's daughter with Kosi, and thinking that you can't just throw them out because you got married "because you were restless" and "it was a mistake". NO. What kind of trash human does that? And yeah, Obinze does spend some time thinking of his wife and daughter and feeling guilty because of them, but in the end he does it anyway because ~true love~. I would say "screw your true love", but evidently he already was. So yeah, just not a fan of this ending. If this book had ended right after Ifemelu returned to Africa, without the year in Africa taped onto the ending, my overall view of the book would be much different.

So overall, I recommend this book, especially for people who don't know much about being an immigrant to America or about African society and customs because that was interesting to learn about, but just put it down after chapter 44 because that's when it gets real bad.