April Wrap-Up 2020 + May Goals

I finished The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence (review here), listened to the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for my HP reread, and two new books:  The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (read for unshelving project, also gifted - review here) and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (audiobook was fantastic). There's been a few false starts with various audiobooks. May go back to them, we'll see.

I joined this movie community called Letterboxd the later half of this month where I've been logging my quest to catch up on all the horror flicks I've missed. Still catching up on some reviews there, but if you watch a lot of movies and wanna join, here's my profile - add me!

Won some more books, received some gifts (see pic above) - thus the unshelving project never ends. Tried to do the Dewey 24-hr redaction, but only managed to read an hour. Spent a lot of time playing Sims 4 (since I don't have a Switch for Animal Crossing). Still laid off.

Day 04 - Family #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

The fourth prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is family. The book I chose for this prompt I actually recently read (ha!) the 13th to the 22nd of this month. I had An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir on my radar for a while, but a friend asking me about it as she'd just started prompted me to see if the library had it available and it did on audiobook!

This book is a lot of things and I had my issues with it (that I won't really get into here) but what little family relationships here were strong.

Laia's relationship with her brother Darin is really the catalyst of this story. They are both Scholars living with their grandparents after their parents were killed when they were little, in Serra under Martial rule. They are treated as second-class citizens. A Mask, basically the elite soldiers of this world, captures her brother and murders her grandparents, thus starting her journey to try and rescue him. She goes through literal hell for him and learns some surprising things about him that really endeared him, to me at least. Her parents leave huge shoes to fill, her constantly told she doesn't live up to her mother's name (Lioness).

There is a sort of love square here with the two characters (Laia and Elias) who alternate POVs. Laia bounces between the Mask, Elias (who's not like other Masks) and a Resistance fighter and her handler, Kenan. While Elias has his old friend Helene that he's unsure if he has feelings for and Laia, who really just throws his whole life out of wack. These emotions, I think, are a little more realistic than most love triangles/squares/whatever.

Helene and Elias have just graduated and are two of four chosen as aspirant, the winner becoming new emperor (even though the current one is still alive) and the second becoming their blood shrike (which is a pretty cool title) while the other two die. These events feel very YA and pull the plot forward for Elias as Laia is tasked by the Resistance to spy on these trials by becoming the Commandant's new slave girl.

I think the opposite side of the coin of Laia's devotion to her brother, is Elias's relationship with his mother, the Commandant (which adds a nice layer of tension). She's cruel, mercilessly so, and loathes her son, even leaving him to die in the desert just after his birth and she actively wants him dead throughout the whole book. It's a little over the top, we get a little feel as to why towards the end, but definitely nothing that spawns sympathy. She's just evil and seeing her end will likely be very satisfying. Elias's grandfather and him have a surprisingly loyal relationship though, which was refreshing.

The other two Aspirants, Marcus and his twin Zac seemed to balance each other out in a way. Marcus is a piece of work while his brother is very subdued. There was a lot going on there.

I don't know, there was just a lot going on here in general! When this first book was published, Sabaa Tahir made it sound as though it was going to be a stand-alone (which with that ending... no!) but it's actually getting it's fourth and final book sometime this year. I've started the 2nd... here's hoping I can get caught up!

'The Girl and the Stars' ARC review

I got this ARC for review from Berkley and Penguin Random House - thank you!

Picture of The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence

Set in the same world as the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, The Girl and the Stars tells the story of Yaz, a girl with unique powers in a very inhospitable environment - above and below the seemingly never ending ice.

This story had an absolutely breakneck pace that took some time to get used to. Things just happened and happened without much breathing room. Yaz was an enjoyable narrator and handled all the craziness much better than I would've lol ... really, there's not a whole lot I can go into about this without there being spoilers. I in particular really liked Erris, too. Hope to see more of him in the second book, which looks like it's going to be coming out April 2021.

I gave this four out of five stars and look forward to looking to Lawrence's other books (especially Red Sister) while I wait for the rest of this trilogy.

I'm also sharing this copy with a reading group, and will have additional thoughts in 3-4 months or so. Will link everything there and here whenever that happens. Probably with an updated copy as this book travels across the country to three other people before getting back to me (hopefully - lol).

Day 03 - Golden Classic #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

The third prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is Golden Classics, basically anything published before 1995. I don't think I consider myself a 'golden classic' but there ya go.

The book I chose is Pet Sematary by Stephen King. This was published in 1983 and I read it back in 2017. This was my first King book. I've read a few after this one, but so far none have been as good. As some of you may know, I'm planning on trying to read IT this year. Right now though, it's collecting dust on my shelf with my other chunksters. We'll see.

Pet Sematary is one of those taunt horrors where you know what's going to happen and no amount of yelling makes the characters stop, but still you just can't put it down. I gave this four out of five stars on Goodreads. I've seen the movies, too. The 1989 version I think is superior (though not better than the book) to the 2019 one, which I think relied too much on jump scares and adding in creepy things that just didn't exist in the book - the book is more psychological than anything with King's typical character study type to it. Both movies lack on that, but alas.

I'm a bit later on posting this than I wanted, but today's been cut between a very tired baby (she woke me up before I'd even planned to wake up at 4:50AM), trying to catch up with where I should be for Camp NaNoWriMo, and participating in Dewey's 24-Hr Readathon.

What's your favorite Stephen King book? Pre-1995, if you can. What's your weekend plans?

Day 02 - Travel & Vacation #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

And you can still sign up until the 25th here.

The second prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads is travel/vacation. Don't we all wish we could be traveling and on vacation? I'm dreaming of white sands and the pitter patter of rain on my tent. Hopefully, things start settling down soon so that we're able to do some camping this summer.

But anyway, the book I chose is Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon by Chuck Palahniuk. This was the very first book I bought with my own money a good 12 or so years ago. It fueled my obsession with the Pacific Northwest. It was a fascinating look at a seedy place I didn't think I'd ever get to see. I gave it four out of five stars. The info in the book, being 17 years old at this point, is a bit dated and it's definitely leaning to the more grungy underground part of Portland, so it's not for everyone.

I grew up in Texas, spent some time in my teens living in North Carolina and then moved back to Texas. Texas has SO much to see and visit, but damn does it take some time to get there. I missed the quick trips out to the shore when we lived in North Carolina, the day trips up to DC or down to Myrtle Beach (this could be another post in of itself).

Four years ago, without any plan or net, we had the opportunity to move to Portland. It felt like some sort of bizarre dream and so, we did. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but it's been pretty amazing. I've seen quite a few things mentioned in this book (the bubblers, the U.S.S. Blueback, the amazingness that is Powell's). And from here, we've done a lot of traveling, up into Washington and all around the state.

It's a unique place and while it isn't quite how it was back in the 90s, early 2000s when I first fell in love with the dumpsterfire of a city, it still has it's charm and we may move again, but I'll always want to come back and it's crazy to me how this little book changed the course of my life.

Thanks, Chuck!

Day 01 - Dreams & Ambitions #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here. Keep up with prompts here.

And you can still sign up until the 25th here. 

My copy of Frankenstein

The first official prompt for the Book Review Blog Challenge hosted by Ann over at Great New Reads, is dreams and ambitions. I know a few people are probably going to pick self-help books or memoirs of people achieving their dreams/ambitions, but those aren't typically my jam (and I honestly couldn't think of any I actually own that would fit the bill).

So, if you couldn't tell, I'm using Frankenstein for this prompt. Victor Frankenstein had a dark dream and enough ambition to fulfill it. Didn't really work out for him in the end, and he knew it, but boy is it a trip.

I read this waaay back in high school. Gave it a four out of five stars. I loved it - it's truly a masterpiece and Mary Shelley was one of the original mothers of horror. Though, I'd argue this has more sci-fi elements than true horror, but another Ted talk, another day.

"For when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion, which afterwards ruled my destiny, I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys."

Without Victor's ambition, there is no story. He put aside health and family and happiness in his pursuit of this other, perverse form of life. It destroyed him and pretty much everyone he loved. I like how the story is relayed, being told to other people. It's a cool format that can be done poorly, but is done well here. You don't see it too often.

A fun tidbit: the whole lightening bring to life thing that most people associate with the monster... that's not how it's written in the book at all. It's pretty ambiguous actually. Some sorta science-y stuff that he's studying. The first movie in 1910 (which most people haven't actually seen - it's 13 or so minutes, watch it here) has a pretty good vague interpretation of how he pulled it off. This short film is really interesting! The practical effects on how they filmed creating the monster are really cool! The 'it's alive!' moment is more associated with the 1931 movie, which is pretty great in its own right.

This is due for a reread (I actually started reading it when I pulled it down for the picture) but man, I have too much on the docket now so it'll have to wait.

Have you read this one? What's your favorite classic?

Welcome! #BookReviewBlogChallenge

Find info about this challenge here.

Sign up if you want to participate (before April 25th) here. 

Bullet journal page for challenge

Basically, you'll be reading books that match up to the 8 prompts and making blog posts about them with pictures. You can use books you've already read/reviewed, just will need to make a new post linking to it explaining why you chose that one, but you cannot use the same book for multiple prompts. There's a prize for most points accrued, but I'm pretty sure I won't get close to first place haha .. it just sounds fun!

A book that sparks joy

A book of mine that sparks joy is this upside down bound book. It's a very cute story that I've read to my kiddos a few times. Having to flip it over to read it really cracks them up! (Find the welcome post here.)

But anyway, just posting my intentions of trying (we'll see if I'll get any done during April due to Camp Nano) and good luck to everyone participating! ❤️

Quarantine Update

The boredom is real.

We've reorganized our bedroom, deep cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, reorganized/cleaned the back patio and front space. Even attempted to organize the board/video game shelf (in progress project with that). I fixed up my little writing area.

Using old filing cabinet for writing space

The TV is getting a workout. Caught up to everything I give a shit about catching up on. It's been endless B-rate horror or YouTube nonsense anytime I'm actually watching anything now.

I've managed to actually keep up with writing daily for camp NaNoWriMo (with the exception of one day). Which for me is a goddamn miracle I'm pretty proud of.

I restarted Fallout 4. We're still playing Borderlands 3. We bought The Outer World. It's fun, would recommend.

I shaved half my head. 😬

Going on family walks way more than usual (social distancing of course) which has been nice.

Big old tree from a walk

Everyone's going a little stir crazy, but we'll be OK I think. Just you know, work on your projects or binge watch the shows or clean that junk you've been avoiding or if you just can't even... napping is fine. It's ok to nap or just sit on your couch and read or whatever. And if you have to work, be careful out there. 💚

Arcs

OK, I'm bad at reading these, but sure are quick to ask for them. So one of my goals for this year was to read (some of them long overdue) all the arcs or otherwise free books I've been sent for review. I'm reading two right now, on and off (one I'm having a hard time getting into), but they're not priority compared to the book swap read that I was supposed to have done and sent off by the end of this month though that's likely not going to happen. This one is also an arc, so two bird one stone right? Ahem.

I guess I'm just going to list them here and will cross off/link when done. With the libraries closed for now, I have very few books that need read immediately, so hopefully I can jump on this? I'm going to list from the oldest to newest to the best of my knowledge.

Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley
Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore
Deep Roots by Ruthanna Emrys
Woman No 17 by Edan Lepucki
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
The Last of the Stanfields by Marc Levy (translator Daniel Wasserman)
American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by KAte Winkler Dawson (current read)
The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence (review)
Mermaid Moon by Susann Cokal
The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
Stolen by Shadows by Evelyn Avery

I also have about 15 or so that were gifts that I don't necessarily want to include on this list, but would really like to try and get to if I can get all these read soonish. This ties into my spring cleaning as I'm wanting to try and get as many of my physical books read so I can determine if I want to keep or purge. I have so many books and a vast majority of them sit pretty, collecting dust, unread. Also, I'd be nice if at some point in the future, I'm able to not have 10+ boxes of books while moving. Not that we're planning on moving, but positive thoughts?

Anyway, if I receive anymore, I'll add them to this.

Camp Nanowrimo

Posting my intentions to try this year. I figure, I have time and I have an idea, so why not? Not liking the new layout of the website, but whatever.

Always a pantster, but this year I did make a page in my bullet journal to try and keep track of this. 

bullet journal page with calendar

I haven't done nano in a while and haven't actually completed it since being a teenager when I had way more time (I'm bad at managing my "free" time). That story is actually on a final draft? Maybe? Everytime I look it over, I find issues and want to rewrite or ditch all together. It's been in progress for over a decade. It's a YA fantasy and I've pretty much left behind YA so I don't know.

The idea I have for camp is primarily going to be a roadtrip to scatter some remains. Fantasy, always. Social issues, always. I'm toying with multiple POVs, which typically isn't how I do it but I've got a lot of personal issues with a lot of the characters I want to explore. I may be terrible at it as sorta karmic retribution for hating on many of the multiple POV books I've read.

Anyway, are you doing camp this year?