These Books Are My Friends

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

Gawky: Tales of an Extra Long Awkward Phase - Margot Leitman

I got this book from NetGalley.

The author writes about her life growing up as a tall, awkward person in New Jersey. Leitman uses humor to communicate her struggles and experiences trying to fit in to a world that isn't quite sure what to make of her. I was hoping for more laugh out loud moments when instead I merely found myself smiling on occasion and wondering when/if the poor girl was going to catch a break. All in all, this was a quick read but not one of the more enjoyable memoirs I've come across.

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet - John W.S. Bradshaw

As a full fledged on her way to be certifiable crazy cat person, I was really excited to learn more about cats. Reading this book definitely opened my eyes to things I didn't know about before and changed the way I look/think about my cat's behaviors. I think my favorite part was learning more about black cats and how they came to be as they have a special place in my heart. All in all, I really learned a lot from this book and have been spouting facts at anyone who will listen (and even some people who don't want to).

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

Nate and Emily have been in Newport for 5 minutes and their Jeep gets stolen with almost everything they own along with it. The story unfolds as the author takes you through the first three days of the couple's life in their new town. Both Nate and Emily have a secret that they are keeping from the other. Of course, the secrets come out but instead of running from the troubles, the author shows us how Nate and Emily work together to solve their issues. Usually I'm not a big fan of books that are more of a character study than anything else but this one managed to keep me interested. Plus there were no affairs or anything so that's a plus given the books I've read lately!

I received this from Net Galley.

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury

Creepy book. I felt vaguely unsettled the entire way through.

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

Terrorscape (Horrorscape, #3) - Nenia Campbell

Damn these books messed with my head. The author is amazing and I'm so glad I've come across her stuff. My favorite part about Kindle is the independent authors I've discovered!

3:00 pm 7 October 2013

I really never knew anything about the "West Memphis 3" case until I heard about the men getting out of prison. I picked up this memoir because I was curious what Mr. Echols had to say about his time in prison. While I didn't think the book would be a walk through the park, I expected it to be different than I found it. It was very slow, slightly disjointed and at times didn't make much sense. I can't even imagine what Mr. Echols was going through nor do I presume his guilt or innocence but I struggled with a lot of this book. Between his stories about his treatment in jail and his relationship with his family and the law, I definitely feel like there was a lot of trauma in Mr. Echols' life but I still have so many questions. It also made me wonder about the involvement of celebrities in his case and how much that had to do with him being set free. And that just makes me sad. I'm not saying that everyone on Death Row or in prison is innocent but if celebrities are involved it seems to make it easier for someone to go free and that's what makes me sad. I don't even want to think about how many people are incarcerated for something they didn't do and how many people are still walking free because they didn't get caught or what have you. I don't know. This book did not sit well with me but at least it got me thinking and for that I am always thankful.

8:00 pm 6 October 2013

Oh authors. I am so tired of this plot twist you keep using when you need a big earth shattering moment. I was really enjoying this book up until the last couple of chapters. The book centers around a pair of twins who have "senses" and how they deal with it in very different ways. After reading many books about identical twins who are portrayed as the same person, it was nice to read about two sisters who had individual lives, characteristics and personalities that just happened to be twins. The book is still worth a read even with the twist I despise so.

I received this from NetGalley.

8:00 pm 4 October 2013

Oh too many typos in this book. IT'S MANNER NOT MANOR! At least in the way they meant it in the book. GAH! Also, I'm pretty sure that a paragraph or two got left out of one of the chapters because I read the same thing about 5 times and it never made any sense. Just jumped ahead. Anyway, cute story. A little predictable but cute.

8:00 pm 3 October 2013

The Invisible Girls: A Memoir - Sarah Thebarge

I'm still trying to figure out what I thought about this book. I did like it but I wish it had tied together a little more. At times I felt like I was reading two separate memoirs. Usually I shy away from books that make a lot of references to God but I think it was powerful to read about Sarah's experiences. All in all, a good read but not one I will read again and again and again.

We All Sleep in the Same Room

8:00 pm 25 September 2013

I kept passing by this one on my kindle making excuses for why I didn't feel like starting it yet. I should have listened to my instincts. This book has resulted in my confusion and also in the new shelf I created just for it called "WTF was that?" I need a mind cleanser now.

What We've Lost Is Nothing: A Novel

8:00 pm 23 September 2013

What We've Lost is Nothing - Rachel Louise Snyder

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review.

What We've Lost is Nothing tells the story of a neighborhood in Chicago that is hit with a series of break-ins. The book keeps switching the characters being focused on so you see how everyone is impacted.

I really just felt like this was one big boring lecture about race and money and cultures. I don't read to be lectured. I also really felt like a lot of the story was left untold which may have been on purpose but it didn't work for me.

8:00 pm 7 September 2013

Fearscape (Horrorscape, #1) - Nenia Campbell

Oh holy crap this book. Gave me the creeps and when I finished it, I immediately started the next one. I think I will have them all finished by this afternoon because I have to know how this ends.

8:00 pm 5 September 2013

The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers, #1) - David Estes

Good book. Solid story! I'm not sure if I will pick up the other 2 in the series quite yet but David Estes is a mighty fine storyteller.

8:00 pm 8 August 2013

Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety - Daniel B. Smith

I'm still trying to figure out what the message of this book was. Between having to look up every other word (once again leading me to feel stupid) and never really going anywhere with his story, this was not my cup of tea. I get that the writer had a traumatic experience at a young age (several actually) but I don't really get a sense of him doing anything about it. I think I missed something but regardless this isn't a book I will recommend.

8:00 pm 7 August 2013

The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard: 1 - Robert Bryndza

Save yourself from being bored. Don't get this book. DNF

8:00 pm 7 August 2013

Pretty sure my heart just broke into about a million pieces. Should not have finished this one at work.

These Books Are My Friends

We All Sleep in the Same Room

What We've Lost Is Nothing: A Novel

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