It's All About The Books - Vol. 16

I wasn't sure I was going to get this post together but I realized I had such a great reading month I should share. Finding books others love is one of the great things about this link up.

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub - I loved this story, we'll call it a coming of middle age story. Straub has created characters that have traits and feelings you can identify with. Do you remember the moment you realized I'm a grown up, the things I use to think were a big deal really weren't in the grand scheme of things, and adult friendships are so much different than the friendships of our youth? Straub does a great job of capturing all these feelings. 5/5

The Never Open Desert Diner by James Anderson - Full review here. 4/5

Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich - The characters in the Stephanie Plum series are some of my all time favorites and they didn't disappoint in the twenty-second book in the Plum series. I started laughing out loud on page 4 of this book and kept laughing all the way through. This is my second favorite book in the series so far, I can't wait to see what Stephanie, Joe, Ranger, Lula, and Grandma Mazur gt into next time. 4/5

The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andews - At 464 pages this is a little long for what I usually consider a good beach read but a good beach read it is. It has all the ingriedients of a beach read; romance, mystery, a hurricane, and of course the beach. Good for reading while you people watch on the sand. 3/5

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - First, I always wonder how two people write a book? Team work in book writing seems like it would be complicated. Second, I really adored this story. I wouldn't call myself a royal watching more of a sometimes interested in the stories of the royals. The author's did a great job of pulling pieces of gossip from the Will and Kate story and building a what might have happened around them. I really enjoyed the read and found myself wondering if any of the real royals found it entertaining. 5/5

What did you read last month?

The Never-Open Desert Diner: A Book Review

I received the Never-Open Desert Diner from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. This book was weird but I loved it! I love finding a book that surprises you in such a way that you don't want to put it down.

Ben, Claire, and Walt are all fascinating well-developed characters that keep you reading because you want to know more about their story but also more this remote section of desert where people live anonymously without mailboxes and don't can't get cell phone signals.

The missing chello mystery and Ginny the pregnant daughter of Ben's ex both added additional reasons to keep reading the book. I do wish we'd have found out more about Ginny and her story since I was just as fascinating as those told by the main characters.

If you're looking for something just a little bit different and wacky but still believable and completely entertaining you should add this book to your to-read list.

It's All About The Books - Vol. 15

// Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer - A light summer beach read when you're looking for something easy and happy. Not my favorite Nancy Thayer book but worth a read if you're in the market for a beach book. 3/5

// The Island by Heather Graham - This book has a ton of one and two-star ratings on Goodreads but I like a good Heather Graham mystery now and then so I thought I'd give it a try. It's not a literary work of genius and the main character was a little annoying at times, heavy on the romance light on the mystery this book won't be for everyone. 3/5

// Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys - I love historical fiction and I like books set in New Orleans so I thought I'd give this book a try. I loved Josie's character but I'd have liked to see more of the Josie/Jess plotline. I felt those two characters belonged together despite Josie's obvious attraction to Patrick. Overall a good book but it could have had a stronger ending. 3/5

// The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton - I had high hopes for this book, I've read some other" what if you could change your life books" and loved them but this one left me wanting. Even though the characters were on the precipice of turning 40 I didn't really identify with them in a way that made me feel like we were the same age.  What this book does do a good job of showing is that life can be hard no matter what decisions are made when. 3/5

// Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight - The premise of this book sounded interesting and I wasn't disappointed. I had to purposely not let myself this book several times when I was dying to because I knew I wouldn't have time for more than a few pages and there was no way I could read just a few pages. Written from a mother's POV after her daughter's death/suicide and from the POV of the daughter before her death/suicide by the end we get the entire story that will make you wish you didn't have to let your kids grow up. 4/5

// The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman - This was a strange and interesting little book, if you're looking for a quick quirky read this might be your book. I loved the strong female characters and the magical element, at 170ish pages, this is a quick weekend read. 3/5

// Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King - It pains me to say this book was a DNF for me. Probably the worst piece of writing I've ever read by Stephen King. From his elementary foreshadowing to his downright boring play by play of what was going on. I've never been more disappointed in a book by Stephen King. DNF

// Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler - I adored this book! For me this book was about feelings it evoked, feelings I've felt before which led me to identify with "the new girl" (Tess) in a way I don't identify with many book characters. I found the sometimes love isn't enough storyline fascinating as much as I did the relationship between Tess, Jake, and Simone. A very accurate portrayal of restaurant life and the things that go on after the guest have been served. 5/5

What did you read last month?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 14

Well, this post will be short and sweet, but the good news is I'm back to reading and next months post should be full of books you might want to read.

// F*ck That: An Honest Meditation by Jason Headley - I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion. Headley started by releasing this wildly popular meditation video, watch it you won't regret it. Next came the book which is a written version of the meditation and the perfect book of words to keep on my desk daily. With quotes like, "Here you can not be ensnared by anyone's dumbassery" and "Leaving all the flightless shitbirds behind" how can you go wrong? A short read that will have you saying F*ck That in no time!

// Bikini Season by Shelia Roberts - I decided that if I wanted to read I needed to read something light and fluffy that required little thought. Enter Bikini Season which had been on my to-read pile since last spring. A group of women transform their monthly cooking club meeting into a dieting support group. A perfect book to the pass the time and not bad as a beach read either.

Those are my April reads, what have you been reading?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 12

It's book day, it's book day! In case you're new around here or only stop by on book day you should know I've made Tuesday's book day every week on this blog in case you need more book posts in your life. This 2nd Tuesday of the month is still my favorite bookish Tuesday though so let's talk books.

// The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne - My mom gave me this book with no real explanation except that I should read it (she picked it up in Germany when she was visiting my sister hence the weird spelling of Pajamas in the version I read).  I was hesitant because the description on the back gave nothing about the story away, not even a little bit. The book is about the family of a Nazi Commandant living at Auschiwitz in Poland during WWII. I can't say I liked this book and I didn't hate this book, the storyline and point of view were unique which made it a very interesting read. I will say your choices always have consequences and there were some tough consequences in this book. 5/5

// A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark - This was my final book challenge book from the category a book from your birth year. I'd never read any Mary Higgins Clark before although I knew who she was. This book was exactly what I expected, a formulaic easy read yet also a fun and entertaining suspense story that kept me entertained from start to finish. I won't be rushing out to pick up another of her books but I'll keep her in mind when I'm looking for a fun easy read to keep me busy. 3/5

// The Flood Girls By Richard Fifield - I added this book to my TR list from a description off of an online post about the best books of spring and was one of the first in line on the libraries hold list because I'm a book stalker like that. I've had hit and miss success with books off those lists but this book was a success by far. I could relate to all of the characters and coming from a small southern town could think of someone to represent almost every one of them. I laughed out loud at some parts and I cried at the very end, all markers of a great read. The book left me mad at Krystal like I want to punch you in the fucking face mad but she was written realistically so I couldn't take away from the book rating for that. 5/5 

// Last One Home by Debbie McComber - I read this book after realizing I had the second in the series already on my to-read list. From the beginning of this book I hated Karen and Nichole the main characters sisters, they were completed and total bitches to their sister Cassie. After finishing the book I think I understand why but I feel like the author could have done more in the beginning to explain why they were being so bitchy to their down and out sister. I'll give book two a try but if the sister's don't redeem themselves fully within the first 100 pages I'm out. 3/5

// The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkings - You can see my full Blogging for Books review post here.

// The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeny - I added this book to my to-read list in January when I first saw it on a spring must read book list. As spring went on I saw it on more and more must-read spring book lists. So I was really excited to be first in line for it on the hold list at my library (book stalking in action folks). It was an okay book, I didn't get lost in the story which is always disappointing for me. For the first 2/3's of the book I wonder what in the world everyone was raving about, it was an okay book but nothing spectacular that would keep me reading long past bedtime. Then I got to the last 1/3 of the book and I started to really identify with characters I had previously found selfish and somewhat greedy. If we're being honest I wish the book were about Stephanie who is a secondary character to the story. I identified heavily with her life outlook and I really wanted more of her story. 3.5/5

Did you read anything good in March?

Book Review: The Library At Mount Char

*I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Most of the time I feel like the 2-star rating is unnecessary, either a book is 1-star and I DNF it or it's a 3-star and I enjoyed it enough to keep going. As a matter of fact in 2015, I only rated three books on Goodreads with 2 stars.

The Library At Mount Char was the first book in 2016 to earn a 2-star rating from me. The first 100 or so pages of this book made very little sense, I kept reading back over what I'd read to make sure I hadn't missed part of the story. I almost stopped reading but since I received this book free for an honest review I pushed on. About the middle of the book, I started to see where the story was going and I was actually enjoying myself and wondering where this weird little book was going to take me.

Unfortunately, the true ending of the story came about 100 pages too early for me and the last 100 pages turned out to be the back story I thought I had missed at the beginning of the book. By the time I had gotten this far I was over the complex way the story read and didn't care about the back story anymore. I skimmed the last 100 pages but didn't fully read them, which is why this book earned only a 2-star review from me.

How many times do you use the 2-star rating for books?

Beach Reads

In case you haven't noticed, I've decided to make Tuesday's book day here at Kellibeans, I will do my best each Tuesday to come up with a new book related post. Since it's spring break here on The Grand Strand I decided it was the perfect opportunity to share my favorite beach reads. Don't worry if you're too old to spring break like me, just add these books to your list anyway because your summer vacation is just around the corner.

Sullivan's Island by Dorthea Benton Frank - The first in the Low Country Tales series this is some of Frank's best work. I fell in love with the idea of the South Carolina Low Country reading this book and the one's that follow. Low on romance high on coming of age and family drama this book switches between Susan the main characters past in the 60's and present in the 90's connecting the two in sometimes sad while at other times humorous ways.

The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux - In this book three long time friends get to go back to a pivotal moment in their lives and change the decisions they made to answer that always present question "what if"? They then get to choose to keep their old lives or move forward from the current point in time with their changed lives. This book is such a fun and unique read and I love the three different POV's to answer the what if question even if it's a little formulaic.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah - This story takes me back to the summers of my childhood and a simpler time. The story follows the friendship of Tully and Kate over three decades of triumph and heartbreak. This book does include some romance but it's not a fluffy romance where the boy rescues the girl and everyone lives happily ever after, this romance is a little more gritty and real. If you long for the summer's of your youth this book will get you there in no time.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume - Okay so almost everyone in the world has read this book but for those of you who haven't I highly recommend it. Blume is known for her YA books and subject matters but in my opinion, this doesn't qualify as YA. There are some YA sections at the beginning but the ending deals with some very adult situations. Another great friendship/coming of age story spanning several years however if you're looking for the Judy Blume of your younger years this might be a skip for you.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells - After reading this book my life goal was to have friends like the Ya-Ya's. Friends who raise their kids together, talk about their family struggles, and guard each other's secrets viciously. What I didn't want is the kind of  mother/daughter relationship the story focuses on. I love the focus on friendship and family dynamics in this book and the stories about summers with the Ya-Ya's.

Lowcountry Boil by Susan M. Boyer - This was my first cozy mystery, the lightness of the read is perfect for the beach. This book deals with no heavy topics, has an awesome female private eye for the main character, and is set on the beach. If you're looking for a light interesting read without having to think too much this book is for you.

Hurricane Bay by Heather Graham - When I first started blogging I took part in a monthly book club called the Literary Ladies, which I see is now defunct. This was one of the book selections, at first, I was hesitant but I was glad I read it. A good who done it that isn't easily solved while reading.

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews - Can you have a beach books post without a Mary Kay Andrews book? Probably not. As far as I can tell this is the first book Andrews published that wasn't a collection of stories with other authors. I laughed out loud several times at the antics of Weezie and her and her best friend Bebe, I also loved that Weezie's job was junk picker/antiques dealer. There's nothing better than a character with a job that's interesting. An easy read full of interesting characters that will have you laughing on the beach.

The Island by Elin Hilderband - When I think of summer beach reads I think of Elin Hilderbrand, every year in the summer season she puts out a book set on or near the island of Nantucket and so far I have not been disappointed. Of all her books I'd say The Island is my favorite simply because the main cast of characters is made up of sisters. A book about a technology-free family getaway, see how these sisters make out technology free amid the family drama they've brought with them.

The Scandalous Summer of Sissie LeBlanc by Loraine Despres - An interesting read about a woman who feels trapped in her marriage and has had it up to here with small town life. Not the fluffy read the summary, the cover, and Goodreads make it out to be, this book deals with some pretty serious topics for the 1950's setting including race and religion. Not your average fluff this book has an edgy tone that will have you hooked.

What are your favorite beach books?

A Very Bookish Dinner Party

Let's all pretend for a minute that book characters are real, now let's also pretend I can invite 5 of them to have dinner with me at the best seafood restaurant on The Grand Strand. Of course, they will come, who turns down a dinner invitation that takes place at the beach right. Also, since it's my post and my rules these character's can be dead in the books or book series they were a part of.

Severus Snape  - Is he a good guy or a bad guy? If I have dinner with him I'll pick his brain and read his body language then let you know my opinion. Either way, I kind of admire a person with a touch of bad in them. Also who else can give me information about Hogwarts AND He Who Must Not Be Named?

Lisbeth Salander - I like girls who kick ass and Lisbeth Salander from Millennium Trilogy kicked some major ass. I want to learn how to hack computers like she does and I especially need to know how to ride a motorcycle without running into something. If she'd open up I'd talk to her a little bit about her past her back story is fascinating.

Eleanor Douglas - When I read Elanor & Park I had such a personal connection with Eleanor. I want to tell her things will be okay and that she's so lucky she found a guy as nice as Park and not some other asshole that wouldn't have appreciated her situation. I want to ask her how her new life is and if it's everything she ever dreamed it would be.

Tom Booker - Okay so he probably can't teach me to be a Horse Whisperer but you never know. I love horses and actually grew up around them growing up until we moved to North Carolina. I like to think if we hadn't moved I'd have been an actual horse whisperer.

Cheryl Strayed - Okay so she's not fictional but my post my rules. This lady decided she needed to get her shit together and then she did it out in the middle of nowhere. I admire her grit and determination, I also admire that before she moved on with her life after leaving something huge she took some time to really get to know herself.

This post was harder than I thought it was going to be to write, I couldn't choose characters from some of my favorite books because if you invite one you have to invite them all and I didn't want my dinner party to get out of hand. The only caveat is my Harry Potter character, I'm not passing up the chance to meet even one of those guys.

Which book characters would you have dinner with?

Old Books, New Reads - Vol. 1

During the Show Us Your Books link up this month with Jana and Steph I saw Lauren mention we all review a lot of the same books  (which is true and likely to happen with all of us reading the same recommendations every month). Steph addressed it in her post the next day and just like that a blog series idea was born.  I've always been an avid reader so I should have a lot of material to share, I just wish there was a way to get a list of my pre-Goodreads reads.

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish -  Annie Freeman's last wish is that the most important women in her life carry her ashes to the most important places from her life and spread them. If you love books about women's friendships minus the heavy romance this book might be for you. It's hard to believe a book about a funeral could be fun but when I was done all I wanted was to be as awesome as Annie Freeman must have been to have such a unique idea.

The Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier - This work of fiction is based on a painting of the same name by Johannes Vermeer. My sister read this book first and suggested it to me while I don't remember a lot of the specifics I remember feeling a connection with Griet the books main character. If you're into historical fiction and/or art this book is an enthralling read.

Three Junes by Julia Glass - Another book read and recommended to me by my sister and a 2002 National Book Award for Fiction winner Three Junes starts out in June of 1989 following a family over a decade through Greece, Scotland, and the United States. I think what I enjoyed most about this read was how the story ended up finally connecting all three Junes.

Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt - The only non-fiction book you'll find on my list, I'm not a huge non-fiction fan but when I enjoy non-fiction it's probably of the true crime variety. If you're into books that take you to a place this book is for you, you'll be in Savannah, GA in no time flat getting to know a cast of quirky characters. Don't write this book off because it's non-fiction, with a setting like Savannah and real life characters that could be from any fiction story even fiction lovers will enjoy this read.

The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney - I'm not going to lie if you don't want to read a book that's going to make you cry don't read this one. However, if you want to read a book about long lasting enduring female friendship this is it. Another female friendship book light on the romance but not a light read.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr -  Dr. Laszlo Kreizler a psychologist is asked to a help solve a crime by police commissioner Teddy Roosevelt in New York City in 1896. Dr. Kreizler and his team must keep their work under wraps because the use of psychology or profiling as we often think of it to solve a crime is still a relatively new and at the time viewed with skepticism by the general public. If you like historical fiction, crime, and psychology this is a great read.

Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill - Calling all Stephen King fans, Joe Hill is the pen name used by Stephen Kings son Joseph King to write his books. The story goes he wanted his books to succeed on their own merit and because of his name. A thriller eerily reminiscent of a Stephen King novel rocker Judas Coyne buys a haunted heart shaped box to add to his collection of macabre items, unfortunately for Judas the ghost inside the box knows and doesn't like him. Good for those who love a twisted horror story.

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice - I've read this book so many times my copy is almost falling apart and will soon need to be replaced. Two things about this book keep me reading, the vivid descriptions of New Orleans and the story of the Mayfair Witches. The book is LONG but engrossing enough so that you barely notice.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg - The best description of this book would be southern historical fiction. Old Mrs. Threadgoode tells her story to has let her life get her down, the story she tells is of two women bonded by a secret. Laugh out loud funny in places while sad and serious in others an easy and enjoyable read.

I hope you found a new read in an "old book" today, what "old book" would you suggest to me?

All About The Books - Vol. 11

Welcome to the month of 3's, I'm hoping for something better for March! I have one more book challenge selection to go before I'm done with Erin's challenge, I feel like I've already accomplished something based on the fact I suck at challenges in general.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - As with all Rowell books I've read so far I enjoyed this read, unfortunately, it's my least favorite off all her books I've read too. I loved that it was set around the time I graduated from high school and that Jennifer and Beth conduct their office friendship via email for us to read. I found Lincoln a little weird and creepy, try as I might I didn't get the mother/son relationship. 3/5

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler - I'm not sure what I was expecting this book to be about but it wasn't what I got. I enjoyed the story although I felt like some places lacked the detail I wanted while other places had more than I thought I needed. The switching between past and present annoyed me at first until I figured out how it worked with the plot. Kip was my least favorite character and I feel like I could have spent a little more time getting to know Beth. 3/5

The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman - This book was just okay for me, I had not previously read any Kellerman books although if you have this book is connected to his Alex Delaware series. The last 1/4 of the book felt long and overwritten if you're looking for a likable non-psychotic main character this book probably isn't for you. 3/5 (Book Challenge Selection)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - This book was on my to-read list forever, unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It took me a really long time to get into the story, about half the book which is more of a chance than I give most books. After I finally got involved with the story and the characters I found myself flipping back to get dates and events in the correct order since there were several things going on at several different dates throughout the book. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending although it could have been much worst. 3/5 (Book Challenge Selection)

Private India: City On Fire by James Patterson - I'd read the first few Private books so I had a frame of reference when reading this one. There were a few moments where I thought to myself well that didn't make sense but they weren't central to the plot line so I didn't have a problem moving past them. The book was fast and easy the story was mostly enjoyable. 3/5 (Book Challenge Selection).

PS - You can now find my all of my previous book recommendation posts and other bookish posts on the Biblio-Files Page!

It's All About The Books - Vol. 10

Pines by Blake Crouch - I really enjoyed this book, it reminded me of a cross between Dean Koontz (author of my first favorite adult books) and Stephen Kind. My only complaint is my library doesn't have books 2 or 3 in the series so until/unless I buy the book or wait for an intra-library loan I'm stuck not know. 4/5

Under a Dark Summer Sky by Vanessa Lafaye - I chose this book because Erin recommended it and because when I joined Erin's book challenge I had to choose a book with a season in the title. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this book fit the bill perfectly. The author was able to bring me into the story so much that I could feel the monster hurricane in the same way her characters did. The only complaint I had was I felt like on the story lines was left unfinished, it didn't need to be finished to complete the story but I was left wondering what happened anyway. 4/5

Be The Pack Leader by Cesar Millan - When we thought about adding a puppy to our pack I knew I needed to review some basic dog training ideas. With Salem not being 2 yet and Marina under the age of 1 I was going to have two puppies on my hands. I'd read some online article by the "dog whisperer" and decided to check out one of his books. I'll admit I thought the guy was a little hokey but with some of his techniques and the right dog treats (dogs will work for food) I've got Salem and Marina both in a good place training wise. There was a LOT of repetition which had me skimming in quite a few places. 3/4

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper - Another book for Erin's book challenge, this one from the category a book that will make you laugh. I already had this book on my to-read list so it was a win/win. The book didn't necessarily make me laugh but I'm a sucker for any book with a family more dysfunctional than my own. 4/5

American Housewife: Stories by Helen Ellis - This book wasn't for me, the summary of the short stories within had me hooked but after story 1 and half of story 2 I realized the summary was better than the book. I hate when that happens, DNF. 1/5

Dumplin' By Julie Murphey - This book was also for Erin's book challenge (told you I was killing it), the category was a book with a title that starts with "D". I really enjoyed the be who you are and be proud of it message this book delivered. What I didn't enjoy so much was the teen angst especially when it came to relationships with the opposite sex. I'm so far past that in my life it was hard to read without wanting to give the characters some sage advice. 3/5

Cinder by Marrissa Meyer - This book has been on my to-read list forever but for some reason, I kept passing it by. Then one of the categories in Erin's book challenge was read a book from the Amazon Most Popular author's ranking that you've never read before. Then as I was reading I kept kicking myself for not reading sooner, no wonder this author is in the most popular author's ranking. I love the futuristic take on Cinderella and look forward to seeing how she ties the other fairy tales in. 4/5

The Marauders by Tom Cooper - I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. See full review here. 3/5

The Sound of Glass by Karen White - I finished this book at 12:01 AM on February first so I'm counting as a January read. This was the last book challenge book I was able to squeeze in this month, the category was a book with a 4-word title. If you are looking ahead to summer and pre-planning your beach reads this is a must add. Set in Beaufort, SC around the sites and sounds of the South Carolina marsh I felt instantly at home with this book. The only thing I found a little odd was the switch from first person POV to third person POV when changing character stories. 4/5

What did you read last month? Have you joined Erin's book challenge? You might not be able to win but you could still have some reading fun!

Book Review: The Marauders

*I received this copy of The Marauders free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads: When the BP oil spill devastates the Gulf coast, those who made a living by shrimping find themselves in dire straits. For the oddballs and lowlifes who inhabit the sleepy, working class bayou town of Jeannette,  these desperate circumstances serve as the catalyst that pushes them to enact whatever risky schemes they can dream up to reverse their fortunes. At the center of it all is Gus Lindquist, a pill-addicted, one armed treasure hunter obsessed with finding the lost treasure of pirate Jean Lafitte. His quest brings him into contact with a wide array of memorable characters, ranging from a couple of small time criminal potheads prone to hysterical banter, to the smooth-talking Oil company middleman out to bamboozle his own mother, to some drug smuggling psychopath twins, to a young man estranged from his father since his mother died in Hurricane Katrina. As the story progresses, these characters find themselves on a collision course with each other, and as the tension and action ramp up, it becomes clear that not all of them will survive these events.

My Thoughts: It took me a while to get the characters straight since they didn't seem related in any way at the beginning of the story. As the story progresses  you come to understand that everyone is connected to everyone else in the story whether they know it or not. The one-armed man and the criminal potheads cracked me up which was a nice surprise since I wasn't expecting any humor. The story line with Wes and his father really touched me, I'm sure many families lost loved one's during Katrina in a similar fashion. I went with three stars on this because of the character confusion on my part at the beginning of the story, otherwise, this book is  A wonderful portrayal of what life was like on the Gulf Coast after the devastation caused by Katrina and the BP oil spill. 

What I Read In 2015 the Real Numbers

One of my favorite Goodreads features when I first joined in 2012 was tracking the number of books I read each year. With the specific help of Goodreads and my blog I've become more varied in my reading choices, unfortunately, Goodreads hasn't paid as much attention to their stats or my stats specifically as I would like. So today I'm breaking down my 2015 number for myself you.

Goodreads says I read 115 books in 2016 but that number is a misrepresentation of actual books read. It includes my one star DNF books if I marked it DNF I didn't read it but if I don't move it to my read shelf it just kind of floats on my to read or reading shelf. Goodreads also doesn't allow for me to separate books I read to Little K, okay I read the books yes I did but I don't think they count as part of my 115 books read to date. I like to put Little K books on my shelves so Goodreads will give me suggestions of other books we may like but I don't want them counted in my yearly read total.

The REAL Numbers:

Adult Books Completed - 69

5 Star books - 7
4 Star Books - 27
3 Star Books - 22
2 Star Books - 2

Adult Books DNF - 18*
*These books also received a one start Goodreads rating

Kids Books Completed - 28

So if we're being technical I didn't read 115 books last year, I read 69. I'm great with that number and it's a little closer to my original goal of reading 50 books in 2015. I'm not setting a Goodreads goal this year but personally, I would love to read at least 52 books this year and every year.

What is your personal book goal for 2016? Do you wish Goodreads would let you dig deeper into your reading?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 9

Hey it's book time, of all the things I missed the most while writing reading and talking about books was the biggest. My November reads, in the order I read them as always.

Homicide In Hardcover by Kate Carlisle - I wanted to re-enter the reading world with something light and easy on my brain. While this fit the bill it's not a book I recommend you rush out and read today, the characters are all a little wacky and the story is just eh. It was a fun read but I'm not interested in reading the second book in this series anytime soon. 3/5

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - Written as a series of letters it took me a few letters to get into the swing of things. When I finally got the hang of what was going on I adored the story and most of the characters. My only complaint was the character Mark Reynolds, he was a complete ass and Juliet put up with his shenanigans much to long. 4/5

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool - I loved this book from page 1, Abilene's character and a part of my younger self clicked. Although diviners perspective was a little weird I got so into the story it was easy to overlook. The other characters living in Manifest, KS captured my heart as the story continued and the ending was as satisfying as I hoped it would be once I solved the mystery. 5/5

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby - I wanted to like this book, the plot summary had me intrigued and I'd seen it on a few recommendation lists around the web. Sadly to say by part two about a third of the way through the book I just didn't care where it was going. I didn't connect with the story or the characters in this one so I stopped reading and moved on to the next book on my list. 1/5

What did you read last month?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 8

Oh hey there, remember me? I've been off dream chasing but I thought I should take a break to link up with Steph and Jana for the anniversary edition of Show Us Your Books. Here's what I read in September and October, I'm not reading while I'm dream chasing so hopefully I won't see you for a couple of months.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman - I couldn't finish this book, maybe if I had seen the movie I would understand it's appeal but as far as books go this one wasn't for me. 1/5

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - I really enjoyed this book, I was looking for something new to fill my Harry Potter void, while this book wasn't Harry Potterish at all it was a great story. 4/5

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith - I'd been putting off reading this mystery by J.K. Rowling under the pen name Robert Galbraith and I'm sorry I did. The main character Cormoran Strike is as smart as a detective should be, he see's the little details that even a reader looking for them misses. A mystery that will have you asking who did it all the way until the end. 4/5

The Lightening Theif by Rick Riordan - I LOVED this book, if you're into Greek mythology even a little bit this book is for you. I did have to Google a few mythology related things but for me that was half the fun. I like to learn knew things all the time and this book was a fun read that taught me a little more about Greek mythology than I knew before. 4/5

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart - I like historical fiction and I like books with kick ass women, this book had both. If I had lived during the time period that this book was set in I could see myself being much like the main character. 4/5

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith - I unfortunately did not enjoy the follow up to The Cuckoo's Calling, the plot about a novelist and his book being the reason for the crime was confusing and sometimes totally out of left field. I did finish just to see what would happen with Cormoran and Robin but I was disappointed on that front too. It won't stop me from reading book 3 in hopes the mystery will be more my speed. 2/5

Some Luck by Jane Smiley - Chapter one of this book was written from the POV of a pre-talking, pre-teething child. It was so unbelievable I didn't even bother with Chapter 2. 1/5

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - I really connected with this book on a personal level, finished it in less than 24 hours, recommended it to my sister, who also finished in less than 24 hours. If you haven't read it, that is all. 5/5

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear - by Elizabeth Gilbert - Do you have a creative dream that you have put off or aren't following for one reason or another? Read this book. It's like a big pep talk or a kick in the creative pants if you will. Elizabeth Gilbert is insightful as always and the glimpse into her creative process was interesting.

What did you read last month?

It's All About The Books - Recent Kid Favorites

So most of you don't have kids and you're wondering why you should read a post about kids books, chances are you know kids. You probably have nieces or nephews who have birthday's and Christmas. You don't always have to give kids toys, in fact most parents would probably feel grateful not to have to find a place to put another non educational noise maker.

This is what Little K and I have read recently that we both really loved, for adult September reads come back next Tuesday when I link up with Steph and Jana.

Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann - Little K loved this story, anytime someone can turn a fun color is a good time in her world. I wished they hadn't made green foods sound so yucky because we all know green food can be delicious. Overall a fun read.

Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke - Little K is a pirate lover so this book about a little girl kidnapped by pirates did not disappoint. When Molly is kidnapped she warns the evil pirates that they are making a terrible mistake and when Molly's mother shows up they soon find out why.

The True Story of The Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka - The story of the three little pigs as told from the wolves perspective. Little K says it has to be right because the title says "true", we'll have to work on believing everything you read.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback - Little K was very impressed that she predicted the old ladies death, I was impressed with the art work in this particular version of the story. Each page had a cut out so that the you could see the item the old lady ate floating around in her stomach.

Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch - Little K has recently taken an interest in books about people standing up to bullies and this is no exception. I'm not sure why this subject interest her as she tells me all the time her school has no bullies. From my perspective a great book about what bullies are really like on the inside in most cases.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell - Another stand up for yourself book that Little K loved, she had already read it in class by the time we got it from the public library but she still wanted to read it several more times. Molly does a great job loving herself flaws and all, when a mean kid picks on her Molly knows just what to do.

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen - This was a fun book to read and by the second time through K was reading right along with me. The pout-pout fish has a pretty sad attitude until something unexpected happens.

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems - I briefly mentioned this book in my How To Raise A Reader post last week but wanted to tell you a little more about it. This book was a hit from about page 4, the bus driver steps out and his only request is that you watch the bus and don't let the pigeon drive it. The pigeon begs and pleads much like a child would and all the time my child was telling the book pigeon "no" and thoroughly enjoying herself. It's not often the tables turn and the kid gets to say no.

What are some of your childhood favorites? What do you read to your kids, nieces, nephews, or friends kids?

How To Raise A Reader

If you've been around any amount of time you know I love to read. One of the things I want to teach my daughter is a love and appreciation for books. Books have gotten me through some of the worst times in my life, yes I confess I use books to ignore reality when reality is too much to take. Books have saved me from heartbreak and sometimes even from myself.

How do you raise a reader though? Not everyone is a reader or wants to be although I cannot fathom the why of that. I've done my best since before Little K was born to encourage her reading, depending on her age my encouragement has taken on different forms.

1. Before Little K was even born she owned books. Not just board books for babies but other books I considered some of my childhood favorite's too. When she came home from the hospital she was already the proud owner of a shelf full of books.

2. I read to Little K, if she asks we read. Very rarely do I say no to a request for a story, last night I put down my book during the best part 10 pages from the end because Little K wanted to read.

3. I pick out age appropriate books about subjects she's interested in. I use to let Little K pick out her own books when we went to the library until I figured out we were coming home with 5 books she didn't even care to read more than once if we even read them at all. That doesn't encourage reading, no one wants to read a book they're not interested in. So now before each library visit I spend several hours online exploring the realm of kids book lists and picking out books that suit her interests and imagination.

4. We discuss the stories we read. Talking about books you love with others who have read the same books is always a wonderful experience. We talk about her favorite parts and which characters were her favorite and why.

5. I check her favorite books out from the library over and over again. Little K has books she absolutely loves including The Day the Crayons Quit, Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, and Good Thing You're Not an Octopus, I do my best to make sure we have one of these books in our house at least once during the month. I've read these books to her so many times she now chooses to read them to me or sometimes even to herself.

6. I let her see me reading for my own enjoyment. Kids learn by example and recently I've noticed her start to follow my example. Twice in the last few weeks while I've been comfortably enjoying a book in my reading chair I've watched her pick out books of her own and begin reading to herself on the other side of the room. Nothing makes me more proud!

What tips do you have for raising a reader?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 7

It's time to talk about books, I got into kind of a reading slump in August so this post should be short and sweet. I'm going to do better for September though because I've hopped back on the reading train, whoo whoo.

Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman - Here's the thing I read a lot of reviews calling Piper Kerman a privileged white lady who's life was all roses until she got caught and then she used her situation to write a book and make money. So what and good for her, she turned a bad situation into a money making venture. To me none of that matters because the important thing that Piper Kerman did was accurately depict what life in prison is like for everyone. Not just privileged white ladies who made mistakes. If you want to know what daily prison life is like read this book, she doesn't exaggerate in any way that I could find. I offer this review in my professional opinion after spending two years working at a prison.  4 out of 5 stars.

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams - I've loved A Hundred Summers and The Secret Life of Violet Grant so I had high hopes for Tiny Little Things. Unfortunately the story idea couldn't keep me interested. The writing was stellar and the setting fabulous but the wife of a politician in love with her husbands war hero cousin held no interest for me. It's not the authors fault and I would recommend this book to any friend who was interested in politics and historical fiction, I'm just not that person. I did not finish this book, so although I rated it 1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads because there is no DNF rating I am not going to rate it anything in this post. Like I said if you politics and historical fiction this might just be a winner for you.

The House On Mermaid Point by Wendy Wax - The final book in the Ten Beach Road Trilogy this book did not disappoint. While the second book followed a very similar formula to book one this book took it's own direction. I  appreciated the Florida Keys setting and the ending which wrapped up the story in a neat little bow. Another great light easy beach read. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy - I saw this book listed on a literary map as one of the most famous books set in South Carolina so I put it on my to read list. I had read a Conroy book before and really liked it a lot so I was looking forward to an interesting read. Unfortunately I found this book to be overwritten and I started skimming before I hit page 100. I considered the fact that the book had 600+ pages and gave it up by page 100. I think this would have been a great book if I could have gotten past paragraphs full of flowery unnecessary writing. 1 out of 5 stars.

Where'd You Go Burnadette by Maria Semple - I'd had this book on my to read list since March but kept passing it over for other books that sounded more interesting. Then I read an article that listed it as a book that could make you laugh out loud. While I did not laugh out loud, I did giggle quietly a couple of times. I ended up really enjoying this book, it was a quick read in a unique format. 4 out of 5 stars.

What did you read last month?

It's All About The Books - Vol. 6

Time for every book lovers favorite day of the month, show us your books with Steph and Jana. The day we all cruise around finding new reads and blowing up Goodreads with adds to our to read lists. I  had a couple of really great reads this month which is all a bookworm can ask for.

// Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky - An okay read, light an easy. I found the characters somewhat annoying especially Caroline who should learn to age gracefully instead of getting all upset about it. I'm sure their are aging women out their who can identify with her character, I just don't happen to be one of them. 3 out of 5 stars.

// Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax - The sequel to Ten Beach Road which I really enjoyed a while back I was expecting a little more story and character development from this book but what I found was an author who had taken the plot formula from her first book and reworked it with new details for book two. I still enjoyed the book and am hoping book three adds a little something more to the story. 3 out of 5 stars.

// Driving With The Top Down by Beth Harbison - I won this book from Goodreads although I almost bought it the week before I won it. Good thing I convinced myself I didn't really need another book in my to read pile. A fun read with characters from different generations, I found that I could identify with Tamara the troubled youth and really liked her character. Bitty's character on the other hand seemed a little flat and her fairy tale ending was far beyond realistic in any way. 3 out of 5 stars.

// Meditation to Go by Chris Rodenbeck - (not pictured) I happened to find this book at Goodwill while browsing their shelves. Great meditation exercises to get your started, the author did have a my way is the right and only way attitude at times. 3 out of 5 stars.

// The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - I am always hesitant to read books set in WWII but I always end up loving them. It took me about 200 pages to really get into this book and I almost put it down a couple of different times. I am so glad I didn't, this story really picks up. A great story about the power and strength of women this book is a must read. 4 out of 5 stars.

// All The Single Ladies by Dorthea Benton Frank - Another Frank Flop I am sad to report, I really loved her early works but her last few books have all left something to be desired. I appreciate where she was trying to go with this book but this book just didn't get me there. I did not finish this book, stopped on page 100. 100 pages of people sitting around talking is more than I can handle, at least have someone wash some dishes or something. 1 out of 5 stars.

// A Blue Spool of Thread by Anne Tyler - Another did not finish for this month, I read to page 112 and still couldn't find the hook. I couldn't determined the point of the book or where the plot was attempting to go. 1 our  of 5 stars.

// The Last Days of California by Mary Miller - By the time I got to this book and did not finish I figured out what all the books I did not finish this month had been missing. Action. Yes you spend a lot of time in characters heads during books but there needs to be some action too. This book follows Jess and her thoughts on her parents and the rapture which they are going to meet in California. Stopped reading  on page 93. 1 out of 5 stars.

// The Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe -  The third book in the Low Country Summer trilogy ended predictably but I didn't enjoy the books any less. Interesting characters, lots of setting changes, a book that kept me interested from beginning to end. Sometimes books for me are more about character and setting than they are plot and this was one of those books. 4 out of 5 stars.

// She Jane Write: A Girl's Guide To Chick Lit by Sarah Mlynowski - I saw this book on a list of books about writing and I had my doubts. Just look at the title! I checked the Goodreads reviews and even the lone guy reviewer had great things to stay so I picked this book up from the library. I finished it in less than 24 hours and ordered my own copy from half.com. This book address everything from tone and plot to getting over whatever hang ups that keep you from writing. If you are a writer or you want to be a writer of any genre you should really not judge this book by it's cover or it's title. 4 out of 5 stars.

What did you read last month?  Did you really enjoy something that surprised you?