END of Summer Reading 2017

It's come and gone and every public library can take a deep sigh of relief. Summer Reading is finally over and I don't have to worry about entering all my entry forms online. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait to see if I won.

Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree 
3 STAR RATING

I remember completely relating with Tracy. She seemed just as confused and lost about boys as I was. I thought she was such a great character for a young black girl to read about and see herself in. I still think this is a great urban classic but Tracy isn't really the best role model. I found her to be irksome and stupid in my second reading. This book is very dated with the slang and descriptions of wardrobe but it does an amazing job of showing that nothing really changes. A coming of age tale is relevant no matter the era.













The Whole30 by Melissa Hartwig
5 STAR RATING

I heard about this lifestyle change through the grapevine and I decided to check it out. It's a very interesting read and after studying it for the past three weeks, I've decided to complete it. My start date isn't until October because of upcoming vacations but I've already invested in some new pots and pans. I'm going to be cooking like crazy. I am very excited to see how this will impact my life. I wonder what I will miss and what I won't. I will say this; the very first item I'll be reintroducing to my diet will be red wine.











The Girls by Emma Cline
1 STAR RATING

I felt like this book was trying too hard. I found Evie's relationship with Suzanne to be very interesting but the book buried it under metaphors, similes, and adjectives galore. Every thing that the author could describe, she did. It made the listening experience tedious. The voice actor used a breathy voice and it annoyed me so much. I hated to hear her speak character's dialogue. Her narration wasn't as bad. This book could have been better executed but there's nothing to do about it now. I can only hope that her next novel tones it down with the exaggerated style of writing.
















Soul Eater Vol 10 by Atsushi Ohkubo
4 STAR RATING

Do I really believe BJ has been murdered? I don't want to. He was a great new addition to the story and I liked his interactions with Marie. I wanted them to get back together. I have no idea what's going on with Black Star but seeing him get his ass kicked was much appreciated. He's becoming my least favorite character.








Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
5 STAR RATING


And now I see why this is a classic. Dan Stevens does an excellent job of bringing this novel to life. His voices for each character weren't muddled or forgettable. He makes sure you know exactly who's talking and listening for every little detail. Detective Poirot is a completely engaging protagonist. He's smart, quick witted, and likable. The ending had me clenching my fists in eagerness to find out who killed Ratchett on the train. It was a satisfying conclusion and has me heavily considering reading the entire Hercule Poirot series. 














The Regulars by Georgia Clark
2 STAR RATING


I really wanted to like this book. I was in the mood for a lighthearted read, something funny and quick to read through. This book felt like I was getting a lobotomy. It was just so boring. I didn't like any of the protagonists and didn't care about any of their issues. The style of writing and plot progression felt very juvenile. I've been told this is a great beach book but if I was reading it on a beach, I'd be tempted to throw it into the water. This is the author's first adult novel and I feel like it shows. I won't be looking for her other work but am hopeful that her next adult novel will build on her talents and have the right tone that she's looking for.

Summer Reading Part 3

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure
1 STAR RATING

So I was recommended this book by my boyfriend and I'm offended that he thought I'd like this. To be fair, I am a huge erotic fan and an even bigger fan of retellings of classic stories. This particular one did nothing for me. I was put into a bad mood from the very first chapter, when Sleeping Beauty isn't even awake for her deflowering. That colored the rest of my reading experience. I didn't care for the Prince and felt his arrogance unwarranted. I felt that he didn't heard the right to be making Beauty into his sex slave. Her Stockholm syndrome did nothing to endear me to her. I found her inner narrative annoying and tedious. The spanking scenes all felt repetitive and not sexually appealing at all. I just didn't like this book.










Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
4 STAR RATING

I had listened to parts of this memoir last year but never fully through. I'm glad I came back to it because it's a great collection of essays. Lawson is beyond relatable. I hear her life stories and find little pieces of myself reflected back at me. She read her own audio book and her voice really brings the book to life. There was even a bonus chapter at the end, after the epilogue. I am excited to go back and read her first book.














A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
2 STAR RATING

I was so close to giving this book 1 star but the ending pulled it through for me. I hated the voice of CJ and Gloria. Their character arcs were annoying and I found it hard to care about them. CJ had so many problems in her life, many self inflicted that it felt hard to have sympathy for her. The last few chapters were the saving grace of this novel. It finally comes full circle for the dog and he completely understands his purpose. I was not surprised to find myself crying when the dog's soul or conscious or whatever finally moved on. It was such a touching ending to the book series.









Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5 STAR RATING

This was where the story picked up for me. I'm fully invested in Harry's journey to defeat Voldemort. The audio book does a fantastic job of sucking me into the book. Harry is a bit more likable and the absence of Hermione was almost agonizing. It's so obvious to be now that Rowling was setting up the romance between her and Ron. He was the most the most distraught when she was petrified. The battle between Harry and Tom was epic. I wish he was the final villain instead of the damaged and freakish present Voldemort. It's always nice when the villain is handsome and charming. Makes you love to hate him.