Bookish Weekly Wrap-Up: 3/5 – 3/11/18

Happy Sunday Bookworms!

I’ve gotta tell you, I’m over this winter thing.  Where the heck is Spring?  I guess I shouldn’t complain too much since the sun has been out a lot more, but I’d rather it be a tad warmer than 28°.

Anyways!  I attended an exciting author event this week and finished up 3 books… It was a good week 🙂

*Bookish Weekly Wrap-Up is a weekly post where I feature what posts were published on the blog for the past week, any bookish/blog happenings, what I recently finished reading, what I am currently reading, what I will be reading next, noteworthy posts around the bookish blogosphere, and any interesting bookish articles I came across.

February 2018 Bookish Wrap-Up + Book Haul

March 2018 TBR

» This week I was able to cross off a HUGE author from my Author Bucket list – Neil Gaiman.  On Thusday, I attended An Evening with Neil Gaiman in Cincinatti.  All I can say was it was everything I’ve ever imagined and more.  He did a few readings, answered audience questions, and kept us laughing all evening.  No worries, there will be an entire post about this event up in the next week or so.

Recently Finished Reading:

» As Good As True by Cheryl Reid

Feelings in a few thoughts:

• This book took me longer than normal to get through, which I attribute to the heavy tone throughout the book
• The writing was really good
• Explores complex themes like segregation, dysfunctional family dynamics, race issues, motherhood, etc.
• I struggled with the main character, Anna.  On one hand I respected her strength, but on the other I was frustrated with her weakness.  I also struggled with her neediness in regards to her daughter
• There was just something “off” about this book – possibly the lack of balance.  There needed to be some lighter-hearted moments to balance out Anna’s life
• Content/Trigger warning: domestic violence & rape

» Warcross by Marie Lu

Feelings in a few thoughts:

• I’m so glad I decided to give this one a go – it was definitely outside of my comfort zone
• The concept behind this book was absolutely fascinating – loved the world building
• You don’t need to be avid gamer to enjoy this book – I’m sure not – but I feel like those who are into gaming will appreciate this book even more
• It did include some of the typical YA tropes: orphaned main character – Why do parents always have to be killed off or abandon their kids in YA books?  and the rich guy/poor girl trope – which here it didn’t overly bother me because the rich guy wasn’t showering her with lavish gifts, so I guess it was ok.
• I enjoyed the plotline – I saw one of the big twists coming, but did not expect the other one.
• Loved the chemistry between Emika & her love interest
• My one hang up is that I wanted to see more inside the Warcross Games & the training.  We get to see the first round of the games & the training for the first match, but the 2nd round is glazed over… I just wanted a little more about the rest of the competition.  The book needed to be longer.

» Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Feelings in a few thoughts:

• The concept for this one is so clever & unique – very Gaiman (who came up with the original idea from what I understand)
• Good vs. Evil
• I adored the quirky characters.  My favorites would be Aziraphale, Crowley, Shadwell, & Madame Tracy
• Aspects of this book felt like Gaiman, while others did not – I felt like this book went off on tangents quit a bit that hindered the flow of the story for me – I’ve never read any of Terry Pratchett’s work, so I wonder if this was more his style
• Despite the intriguing plot line & great characters, my attention tended to wander
• I listened to the audiobook format (which was wonderfully narrated) but maybe this (paired with the random tangents) was why I had a hard time concentrating
• Will possibly revisit in print form – will not rate until then
• Possibly too many perspectives – I could have done without Newt & Anathema’s perspectives
• Adam’s perspective felt off in the story
• Can’t wait to see how this translates to a TV mini-series

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Currently Reading:

» Eligible (The Austen Project #4) by Curtis Sittenfeld

Status: Just Started

» Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

 Status: 15%

I’m reading this in honor of Women’s History Month, but so far it doesn’t seem to include many feminist thoughts aside from the introduction?  There’s been some thoughts about race… but so far it just seems to be about her life.  I’m hoping she is leading up to some more feminist themes.

» Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzie Lee

Status: 20%

Another book I’m reading in honor of Women’s History Month, and I must say what a perfect book to do so!  This is probably the funniest “history book” I’ve ever read.

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What I’m Reading Next:

» The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti

A father protects his daughter from the legacy of his past and the truth about her mother’s death in this thrilling new novel from the prize-winning author of The Good Thief.

After years spent living on the run, Samuel Hawley moves with his teenage daughter, Loo, to Olympus, Massachusetts. There, in his late wife’s hometown, Hawley finds work as a fisherman, while Loo struggles to fit in at school and grows curious about her mother’s mysterious death. Haunting them both are twelve scars Hawley carries on his body, from twelve bullets in his criminal past; a past that eventually spills over into his daughter’s present, until together they must face a reckoning yet to come. This father-daughter epic weaves back and forth through time and across America, from Alaska to the Adirondacks.

Both a coming-of-age novel and a literary thriller, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley explores what it means to be a hero, and the cost we pay to protect the people we love most.

» Rachel @Life of a Female Bibliophile shares some book recommendations for #WomensHistoryMonth → Reading Recommendations: Women’s History Month

» Marie @Drizzle & Hurricane Books talks about supporting book bloggers → Why and how you should support book bloggers

» Melanie @Grab the Lapels talks about her issues with the “like” button → The Muther-Lovin’ “Like” Button

» 8 YA Series Worth Binge-Reading Before Their Big Finales

*I’m most excited for Bright We Burn!

» 8 Great Adult Books for Teens Ready to Move On from YA

» Seven Librarians Share the Reasons They Love Libraries

» 11 Women to Watch in 2018

» Spring 2018 Fiction Preview: Feminism, First Love, and a Women’s Prison

» Who Runs the World? Bookish Girls: A Literary Collage for Women’s History Month

*Spoiler Alert: It’s awesome!

» Spring 2018 Mysteries & Thrillers: Birding, Murder, and a Mommy Group

» Authors Share Their Favorite Kids’ Books About Girls, Written by Women

 

What are you currently reading?

What will you read next?

Have a wonderful week & happy reading