Breathe To Read

Breathe To Read

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Book: Wayward

 Book: Wayward

Author: Chuck Wendig

Pages: 816


This is my 100th read for the year and the last one for 2022!

This is book two in the Wanderers duology.  It is 5 years in the future - 5 years after almost the total population of the earth was eliminated by a pandemic.  Those who are left are trying to establish communities and start life over.  The sleepwalkers and the shepherds who became sleepwalkers have been asleep this whole time, and suddenly they are awake in Ouray.  The people of Ouray have looked out for the sleepwalkers wondering if they would ever wake and what would happen when they did.  Once they are awake, the town quickly becomes divided.  The sleepwalkers, still controlled by Black Swan, are being very secretive of their activites and what their true mission is.  Meanwhile, the white supremicist who was about to be electice president before the whole fell apart is alive and well and plotting his next move.  When his group and the Ouray group and Black Swan finally meet, the real trouble begins.

This was an okay book. It was really long.  I usually love these dystopian future type books, but this author takes the politics too far.  I completely get it, and I do agree, but like most readers - we read fiction to escape the realities of our world right now.  It was just overdone and after awhile I found myself struggling to finish the book.  I liked the idea of this world, but the story just got lost.  It was a shame.

Stars: 3


Friday, December 23, 2022

Book: Baby Sitters Club - Jessie's Secret Language

 Book: Baby Sitters Club - Jessie's Secret Language

Author: Ann Martin

Pages: 144


This is my 99th read for the year

The newest installment in the graphic novel series of the Baby Sitters Club.  Jessie - one of the junior members, takes a job taking care of a little boy who is deaf.  She works hard to learn sign language so that she can better care for him.  She even schedules a surprise and the other kids from his school for the deaf at her big dance recital.

Another great BSC book.  I read these with my youngest daughter, and she still loves them all these year's later.  We also get the newest one when they come out and tackle it together.  They are short and sweet and fun to read.

For all of those late elementary/early middle school readers in your life - these are great.

Stars: 4.5


Thursday, December 22, 2022

Book Challenge: 2022: A Book About A Band or Musical Group: Will

 Book: Will

Author: Will Smith

Pages: 432


This is my 98th read for the year

This is the story of Will Smith by Will Smith.  Starting from his childhood to his 50th birthday - he recounts his life as a poor boy from Philly to becoming on of the most famous people in the world.  His tales of his start in rap music to movie star was not without struggles and need for self reflection.  As he learns how his fame affects those he loves most, he paints a picture of what it is like for him at the top.

This was a pretty good book.  I know he is in hot water, personally, right now, but I had this on my hold list at the library since before that whole scene.  I have heard good things about the book, so I decided to go ahead and read it.  I learned a lot about his childhood and how one lucky stroke after another made him who he is today.  One of my favorite quotes from the book - and it was his grandmother's was - "Be kind to those you pass on your way up, because you just might have to pass them on your way down". Words to live by

The only issue with this book would probably be that he really does think highly of himself.  He mentions a few times that he is humble, but.....he's not.  He is filthy rich and incredibly successful, and he mentions it over and over in this book.  I do feel that stars that have spent so much of their adult life as rich and famous really cannot come out of the clouds to self reflect how they sound to the rest of us.  But I learned a lot about Will Smith, so I can let it go.

Stars: 4


Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Book: The Scarlet Letter

 Book: The Scarlet Letter

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Pages: 192


This is my 97th read for the year

This is the story of Hester Prynne.  Shunned and punished for Adultery, she is forced to wear a Scarlet Letter A on her chest so that everyone knows what she did.  She and her little daughter, Pearl, settled themselves in a little cabin, and Hester tries to continue her life and raising her daughter under the watchful eye of the towns people.  No matter how much the people of Boston want her to reveal who the father of her baby is, she refuses to name him.  

This was a pretty good book.  My daughter had to read it for her English class, and I have never read it, so told her I would read along with her.  The language can be difficult, so it was slow going - even though it was a short book.  But the story was intriguing and figuring out who the father was kept our interest.  It ended well, which is always a plus for me.  So I am glad we tackled it together. 

Stars: 4


Book: Remarkably Ruby

Book: Remarkably Ruby

Author: Terri Libenson

Pages: 384


This is my 96th read for the year

This graphic novel is another in the long line of Terrib Libensons's books.  Ruby is a shy girl who is trying to find her place.  Basically friendless after losing her best friend a year ago due to an argument, she is unsure where she fits in.  Her favorite teacher approaches her and another student telling them she is going to start a poetry club.  Ruby - whose past poem won an award - is thinking it could be fun, but it also means putting herself out there where she is uncomfortable.  She soon discovers something about herself and in the process finds new friends and mends old friendships.

This is a sweet book.  I read these books with my daughter, and we love this author.  She intermingles her characters in each book (Ruby has made backdrop appearances in most of her other books) which is the best.  There is always a life lesson, and sometimes even a twist ending (not this time), and just an all around enjoyable read.  She is an excellent writer for the middle school grade level (and older - because adults love these books too), so I encourage you to add these to your list.

Stars: 5

 

Monday, December 19, 2022

Book: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

 Book: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Author: Gillian McAllister

Pages: 416


This is my 95th read for the year

This is the story of Jen Brotherhood.  She is waiting up for her 18 year old son to return home when she witnesses him committing a murder -right in their driveway.  He is arrested, and Jen goes home after having to leave him at the police station, and wakes up the next day, and it is the day before.  The murder hasn't happened again.  Her confusion continues as each day she wakes up further and further into the past - trying to piece together what makes her son commit this crime.  She learns that her life isn't what she thought it was - that the people closest to her are keeping deep, dark secrets that will change her forever.  But her only focus is to save her son.

This was a good book.  I liked it more than I thought I did.  There were a few surprises along the way that I didn't see coming, which I always enjoy.  It was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning, where you cannot see why this is happening to Jen, but as the book gets past the half way point, the secrets emerge and the pieces fall together, and the pace picks up.

Glad I found this one.  Recommend giving it a try!

Stars: 4.5


Thursday, December 15, 2022

Book: I'm Glad My Mother Died

 Book: I'm Glad My Mom Died

Author: Jennette McCurdy

Pages: 320


This is my 94th read for the year

This is the true story of the author.  Raised in a Mormon household with three older brothers, a mother who had stage 4 cancer, and her father - Jennette tells her story of what it was like to grow up in show business and how it affected her life so far.  She states that she never wanted to be a star, and it led to her to spiral out of control as she went through her teens and early 20s.  Her mother passed when she was in her mid-20s after a long battle with breast cancer, and Jennette spends most of the book recounting her relationship with her mother and how it shaped her.

This was a pretty good book.  I decided to listen to it because the author reads it.  My kids loved iCarly and Sam and Cat when they were little, so I am familiar with this actress in that aspect.  I had no idea what was going on "behind the scenes" in her life.  This is a deeply troubled girl.  She grew up with a narcissistic mother and became an anorexic and then a bulimic.  She still struggles with bulimia today.  She lost herself as a child star and seems to still be finding her way.  She blames her mom for most of it, and granted - from Jennetts point of view - a lot of this could stem from their relationship.  Her mother encouraged the anorexia.  She forced Jennette to take auditions.  This is a one sided story, so no one will really know the truth.

Note: This one has a lot of triggers- abuse, alcoholism, anorexia and bulimia. 

Stars: 4



Sunday, December 11, 2022

Book: Fairy Tale

 Book: Fairy Tale 

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 608


This is my 93rd read for the year

This is the story of Charlie.  A young kid who had a hard childhood.  His mother was tragically killed in an accident and his dad became an alcoholic because of it.  Charlie got in with a friend who he became defiant, and deviant with.  Once his dad turned his life around, things started to get better for Charlie as well.  One day while walking home, he came across an older gentleman whose dog had alerted that the gentleman  - Mr. Bowditch - had fallen.  Charlie helped and stayed with the dog  - Radar -until Mr. Bowditch can get home from the hospital.  Charlie quickly falls in love with the aging dog, and continues to help Mr. Bowditch and Radar once Mr. Bowditch is home.  When Mr. Bowditch dies, he lives Charlie much more than a wonderful dog, and this leads Charlie on an adventure he never imagined.  In his quest to save Radar, he unlocks a world he never could have imagined.

This was an okay book.  As you all know, I am a big fan of Stephen King, and usually try to tackle all of his books.  This one started out strong. The first third of the book was off to a great start.  The story of Charlie and what he did for Radar and Mr. Bowditch is something I would like to see from all teenagers.  But once Mr. Bowditch dies and the "adventure" begins for Charlie the book just got.....boring.  It was the slowest burn, and it really never got to a point when I wanted to see how it was going to end.  I know this was a different genre for him -fantasy vs. horror.  And maybe that was part of it?  King is a literary god, and so it pains me to not like one of his novels.  

I sadly cannot recommend this one.

Stars: 3


Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Book: White Bird

 Book: White Bird    

Author: R.J. Palacio

Pages: 


This is my 92nd read for the year

This is the story of Sara.  Her grandson, Julian, has to do a project about his grandmother, and asks her about her time during Nazi occupied France.  Sara is Jewish and as the Jews are rounded up in her town, she makes a run for it. A boy at her school that she barely new - Julien, finds her and offers to hide her in his barn at his house.  There his family hides her for an entire year in hopes of saving her.  When tragedy strikes, Sara is not sure what to do next.  With the help of the kindness of strangers she survives the war.  

This is a great story. It is a graphic novel I read with my daughter.  It is by the author who wrote the book "Wonder" . It is a story of bravery and kindness.  How many families did what Julien's family did for Sara during the war?  I am sure it was numerous.  It is a story of paying forward that bravery and a message how we can learn from past mistakes.

Good read - highly recommend.

Stars: 5

Friday, December 2, 2022

Book: Wanderers

 Book: Wanderers

Author: Chuck Wendig

Pages: 800


This is my 91st book of the year

This is the story of the end of civilization.  Shana wakes up one morning to find her sister sleepwalking out of the house.  No matter what she does, she cannot wake her up.  She cannot stop her path.  When she touches her, her sister Nessie seems to have a seizure.  Soon - others join Nessie walking what seems like a purpose, but completely unaware of her surroundings.  Nothing can stop them.  If someone tries to stop a member of the "flock" - the results are disasterous.  Family members and soon the CDC and the media start to follow the flock - protecting them and trying to figure out where they are going and why.

In the end, the truth of what is coming and why the sleepwalkers are who they are comes to light.  As civilization deteriorates from a pandemic, the flock marches on.  An external threat - a surpremicist group - threatens to end them and Shana and the other "shepherds" who are protecting the flock will do everything they can to stop them.

This was a pretty good book.  It is LONG.  The writing was pretty good, not 5 star, but it moves the story along.  If I wasn't so busy, I would have liked to have read this book faster because I did want to see where it was going.  I would say my only real criticism of this book is how severe the author made the bad guys.  This is a personal opinion - it is the reason, for example, I stopped watched "The Walking Dead" because the bad guy was so bad I couldn't tolerate it.  Too stressful.  I felt the same here.  I know the author did it on purpose, but for me - it was just a bit much.

Otherwise - terrific book.  This is a duology, and so I am definitely doing to read the second to see where it goes because the first ended on a cliff hanger.

Stars:  4.5


Thursday, December 1, 2022

Book: House of Many Ways

 Book: House of Many Ways

Author: Dianne Wynne Jones

Pages: 432


This is my 90th read for the year

This is the 3rd book in the Howl's Moving Castle Trilogy.  Charmain Baker is a spoiled young lady whose parents have always done everything for her.  When her great Uncle gets sick and she is sent to care for his house while he is away at the hospital, she thinks she is getting time to sit and read.  What she finds is a ton of housework she has no idea how to do.  There is also a dog that needs looked after and a young wizard that shows up saying he was summoned by her Uncle before he got sick.  What happens next is an adventure that Charmain never expected to be on.  She learns a lot about herself as she learns magic, meets the King, and helps save her country from ruin.

This was a pretty good book.  I read these with my youngest daughter who loved the Japanese movie.  It is well written and easy to read.  I did not care for the main character, Charmain.  She was frustratingly lazy.  I was reading it from a mom's point of view, of course, so when there is piling laundry and chores to be done and she grabs a book to go and read, you want to wring her neck.  That almost ruined the story for me because it was just a bit overdone.  But we do love Howl and his antics, and he does, of course, reappear in this final book.

Great little series.  Glad we read them.

Stars: 4