Middlemarch

I read Middlemarch by George Eliot for book club. The book description says, "George Eliot's most ambitious novel is a masterly evocation of diverse lives and changing fortunes in a provincial community. Peopling its landscape are Dorothea Brooke, a young idealist whose search for intellectual fulfillment leads her into a disastrous marriage to the pedantic scholar Casaubon; the charming but tactless Dr Lydgate, whose marriage to the spendthrift beauty Rosamund and pioneering medical methods threaten to undermine his career; and the religious hypocrite Bulstrode, hiding scandalous crimes from his past. As their stories interweave, George Eliot creates a richly nuanced and moving drama."

This book was probably the longest book I've ever read (30+ hours on audiobook) and one I would never have finished (or even started) if it weren't for book club. But I'm proud of myself for reading it, and I actually liked it better than I expected. Like it wasn't painful to push myself through the whole thing like I expected--rather, I was interested in how things would turn out for certain characters all the way to the end. Overall, the book had some memorable lines, some deep characters (my favorite was Dorothea), some engaging stories, and parts that made me laugh. I think it'll be fun to discuss at book club. This is a book that is probably in between "it was okay" and "liked it," so I'll round up to a "liked it."

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Johnny, the Sea, and Me

I saw Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar on the ALA youth media awards this year as a Batchelder Honor book (an outstanding children's book that originated in a country outside of the US and a language other than English), so I got it from the library. The book description says, "Pedro is dealing with a lot for a ten-year-old kid, both at school and at home. So he's overjoyed when his mom surprises him with a trip to see the ocean—an experience he's been dreaming about for a long time! Maybe this trip will make everything better. Maybe it will make his dad come back to him and his mom. Maybe he will stop being bullied at school, once he's seen the ocean! But things go wrong right from the start between Pedro and his mom, and all seems lost, until Pedro is found and taken in by a gruff old sea dog who has something magical about him."

This was a fun read. It made me smile and chuckle and had great illustrations. It was a pretty short chapter book (I read it in under an hour), and I think it'd be a fun read aloud with my kids. I particularly enjoyed the long story told by the parrot, Victoria. The book was originally written in Spanish, but I feel like the translator did a great job because the book seemed to have a great voice.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Enchanted Hacienda

I read The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes for my newer book club with younger friends at church.  The book description says, "When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home—the enchanted Hacienda Estrada. The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams—but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she’s far more powerful than she imagined."

This was an ok read for me. I don't read a lot of romance type books and felt like a lot of it was kinda cheesy, and there was also quite a bit of language and some sketchier content I had to skip over. I liked the magical realism genre, and the premise was kinda fun (except for the fact that it almost seemed like an Encanto copycat at the beginning in some ways). I did like the message of the book in that our difficulties in life lead us to where we need to be and give us experiences we need to grow. 

* (1/3 = It was okay)

The One and Only Family

I was excited to see that Katherine Applegate had written another book in the One and Only Ivan series, so I got The One and Only Family from the library. The book description says, "Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin."

I really enjoyed this book. This is a great series with characters I really like, so it was fun to follow up with them again. I thought this one had a fun plot to follow as Ivan becomes a father and sorts through the trauma of his past. I definitely got teared up toward the end (during a tense situation when Ivan remembers the third rule for a silverback, and he steps up and saves the day). Great characters, great series. I definitely recommend this one if you've enjoyed the first three.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Rock, Paper, Scissors

I read Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney for my newer book club with friends from church. The book description says, "Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts--paper, cotton, pottery, tin--and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget."

This was an interesting read. The story kept me reading to see what was going to happen, and it definitely had some crazy and shocking twists and turns as the book went on. For a lot of the book (at least the first half), I was kinda confused trying to figure out where the book was going and even what genre it was. (Is this book realistic or fantasy? Is it turning into a horror book or is the character just paranoid?) I also didn't love this type of book where the narrators are unreliable and you're not really sure who to trust. I did think the unexpected twists were fun to follow in the end, but I was also just left with a lot of questions about how things came together. It was fun to talk about at book club.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho has been on my to-read list for awhile. (I saw someone recommend it one time on social media, and then I found it at the thrift store and so had it on my shelf. Then at my last book club, a friend recommended it.) Originally written in Portuguese, this book is the story of "an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way, he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles in his path. But what starts out as a journey to find world goods turns into a discover of the treasure found within."

This was SUCH a good book! I was surprised how quickly it engaged me, and I just loved the story and each adventure Santiago went on and the people he met. I also just loved how the story ended and the deeper message the book taught. As soon as I finished the book, I kind of wanted to re-read it, which like never happens to me. I just think it was an interesting and thought-provoking book and an excellent story. Great read!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The One and Only Ruby

I saw that The One and Only Ruby (the newest book in the One and Only Ivan series) came out, so I got it from the library. The story picks up after The One and Only Bob and follows Ruby in her life in a wildlife sanctuary. After Ruby sees the caretaker from the elephant orphanage where she lived in Africa, she starts remembering the beginnings of her life in Africa and begins telling her story to Ivan and Bob.

This was a great read. It was a super quick read that I finished in just a morning, so I feel like I wasn't as engulfed in the story like I am with some books. But it was engaging and sweet, and I loved getting the backstory on Ruby's life and also remembering how wonderful Stella the elephant (from book 1) was. I also liked the message throughout the book and at the end about reflecting each day on two questions: What gifts did the world give you today? and What gifts did you give to the world? I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has been reading this series. It's a great continuation.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

When You Trap a Tiger

I got When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller from the library after seeing it won the Newbery medal this year. I'm getting lazy with writing my own summaries, so here's the description from Amazon: "When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger."

This was a great read. I was sobbing by the end and was also left with a lot of questions about what was real and what wasn't--which maybe was left unclear on purpose. I loved the main character, Lily, and worried about what was going to happen as she tried to navigate the cirumstances she was facing. It was a unique book, but it definitely caught my interest and made me want to keep reading. It was also kind of deep at the end, and I probably need to do some pondering to really understand all of the lessons the book teaches in the end.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Light between Oceans

I got The Light between Oceans by M.L. Stedman from the library after a friend in my book club recommended it as one of the most meaningful books she's read. The book is about Tom Sherbourne and his wife Isabel who live on an isolated island where Tom serves as a lighthouse keeper. Here's the rest of the summary from the book jacket: "Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a gift from God, and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them."

This was a good book that I couldn't put down, but it was seriously a terrible, heart-wrenching read. I don't know if I'd really recommend it. It was just so terrible with situations that couldn't possibly end well. I didn't even know who to root for most of the time because there was no happy ending possible. I spent the last chapter sobbing, and then I tried to tell Connor the summary of the book and kept crying before I could finish. Anyway, I don't even know what to say about this book. It was super good and engaging but also just terrible. Maybe don't read it?

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Turnabout

I needed a good, short book to read so wandered the chapter books in the children's section of the library looking for authors I've liked in the past. I found Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix. (I enjoyed her book Running Out of Time and the Among the Hidden series when I was a kid/teen.) Turnabout is about Amelia, an old woman in a nursing home who (along with a bunch of other elderly people) is given an injection meant to reverse the aging process. She soon begins to un-age and eventually realizes that at some point she will be too young to care for herself.

This was a fun read. It was a slow start for me because it was switching between two different times in Amelia's life, but once I got into it, I was interested and enjoyed it. I didn't feel like it was a super strong book with character development per se, but it was a clever story.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Crown

I've been excited to read the last book in The Selection series: The Crown by Kiera Cass. This book concludes what was started in book 4--the selection to find Eadlyn's husband. As Eadlyn deals with family difficulties and whittles down the contestants, she also has to come to terms with her own flaws and weaknesses.

I really enjoyed this book. All the books in this series are super engaging and addicting, and I love reading them. I re-read The Heir (book 4) right before reading this one (since I have a terrible memory), but while I really loved book 4, book 5 didn't quite measure up. I'll be vague so I don't give anything away, but I just felt like it was lacking some character development that would have made the story more believable and the ending more likable. But I was still happy with how it ended. Great series. I wouldn't object if the author came out with more of these. :)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Fractured

I got Fractured, book 2 in the Slated series by Teri Terry, from the library. This book follows Kyla as she is caught between two dangerous adversaries and must decide where she stands. I won't elaborate further as to not give away more of the story, but you can look at the post below for my summary of the first book.

This was another super addicting book. Once I got into it, it was hard to stop reading. This was one of those books I should never read alone--I was completely freaked out by the end and was glad I wasn't home alone. I love Kyla as a character and felt so involved in her life and confused alongside her as she tried to figure out who to trust. I like how the book slowly uncovers more and more unanswered questions, but it has still left much to be discovered in book 3. Sidenote: I also really like this series because the books are pretty clean, though this one did have two swear words as well as a lot of bloodiness. Not for the faint of heart. :)

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Slated

I had a friend recommend Slated by Teri Terry, so I got it from the library. This book is about 16-year-old Kyla who is re-entering society after being slated--having her memory and personality wiped blank. (The government in this futuristic society takes care of young criminals by slating them.) But as Kyla starts getting used to life with her new family and new school, she finds herself with some memories she shouldn't have and realizes there is another side to everything--and she has to decide whether it's safe to get involved.

This was a super good book. It was extremely addicting and suspenseful, so I was kind of freaking out at times while reading it. I just thought the plot was very unique and clever, and I really loved the main characters, Kyla and Ben. It was fun to follow all of the side characters in the book and to figure out how things were going to play out. The book didn't have a satisfying ending, so I am anxiously awaiting books 2 and 3, which I have on hold at the library. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Queen

I've been reading The Selection series by Kiera Cass and found she wrote another novella--a short story from the perspective of another character in the series. The Queen is about Maxon's mom Amberly when she was in the selection (years before) to complete for Maxon's dad.

This was a quick but fun read. It was interesting to see another side of the story and get to know Amberly and her background and how she came to be queen.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Heir

I've been anxiously awaiting The Heir by Kiera Cass--the fourth book in The Selection series (which was originally only supposed to be a trilogy). I was going to be on hold at the library for forever, but luckily a friend who I recommended the books to last year bought this new one--so I borrowed it. :) This book follows King Maxon and his wife's oldest child--a daughter Eadlyn who is next in line to the throne. In this book, Eadlyn reluctantly holds her own Selection to find a husband.

This was another great read. I just love this series--the books are both entertaining/funny and charming/chick-flick-y. I thought the author did a really good job in the book presenting the different characters and making me like (or dislike) them. I liked how she made Eadlyn come across as a likable main character but with obvious flaws that I noticed between the lines as the book went on. The author also kept me guessing on how things were going to turn out, so I liked that it wasn't predictable. This was a great book, and my only unhappiness with it is how it was very inconclusive at the end. Book 5 better come soon!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Son

I've been aiming to read Son by Lois Lowry for forever and finally got to it.  This is the conclusion to the books that go along with The Giver, and it brings together the other three.  It tells the story of Claire, a young girl who was assigned to be a Birth Mother in her community until things went very wrong.  Later she finds herself outside of the community with no memory except a yearning for her son.

This was a really neat book.  I loved reading it as it pulled together the characters and worlds in the The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger.  Claire was such a lovable character, and I loved watching her transformation and her relationship with Einar.  I also just loved how everything concluded and wished there was more to the ending.  I think this series by Lois Lowry is just really fun--they are unique stories that keep me interested and wanting to read more throughout every book.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Messenger

I've been meaning to read the rest of The Giver companion books for awhile but finally got around to it and read Messenger by Lois Lowry.  (Connor and I read The Giver and Gathering Blue together months ago but never got to the last two, so I'm just reading them on my own.)  Messenger follows Matty from Gathering Blue in his new village, which accepts the outsiders from villages everywhere else.  The community is a happy, welcoming place, but suddenly things start to change--people are trading away the deepest parts of themselves, and the forest is thickening.  While Matty notices all of this, he also notices a new, powerful gift in himself.

This was a really good read.  It was a quick read--I finished the entire book while Emmeline was at preschool.  I was very interested in the story and characters and didn't want to stop reading.  The end was getting so intense that I kept wanting to peek ahead to see what was going to happen (but I didn't).  I thought it was a beautiful story of sacrifice while also being heart-breaking.  I also loved how the book connected back to the characters from The Giver.  I'm now really excited to read the fourth companion book, The Son.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Elite

The Elite by Kiera Cass is the sequel to The Selection, which I read a few weeks ago.  This book follows 17-year-old America, one of the 8 remaining girls in the Selection, the competition to be Prince Maxon's wife.

This was another really fun and addicting book....kind of a light, fluff read, but a great one. It was almost not a good book to read because I had a lot of trouble stopping when I needed to stop reading.  I loved following the characters and reading to see how things would turn out.  The book was a little too gushy at times, but I can't complain too much about a chick flick. I am hoping the series turns out how I want it to, but I will have to wait until book 3 (which doesn't come out until next spring).  I'm excited for it!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Reached

I got Reached at the library to finish up the Ally Condie series. It follows Cassia and her friends as the Rising rebellion begins.

This was my least favorite in the series. It was a little slower of a read, and the conclusion seemed to drag on. It was also a little unnecessarily sophisticated at times (like describing medical things in a complicated way). I also was not happy with how the book ended. But, of course I wanted to finish the series, and I liked how things came together plot-wise. There were some clever twists and turns and fun surprises, so it was still a fun read.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

Crossed

I picked up Crossed by Ally Condie (book 2 in the Matched trilogy) at the library and finished it in a day and a half. It continues Cassia's story, but this time, the book also follows Ky's point of view. As they both travel through the outer provinces, they search for each other and try to find out more about the Rising, the organization of rebels.

This was another super addicting book. I just had to keep reading constantly to figure out what happened. Again, though, I didn't 100% love it. It might have been the believability thing again--I often was interrupted in my reading by my own questions about whether it would have happened that way. I also think this book just had a lot of sad, negative things happening. There wasn't enough happiness to help me really love the book. But it was still a good book that I enjoyed reading. The plot and details about the Society and how it works are very engaging. And of course I already have book 3 from the library and will probably be finished very soon.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)