What I'm Reading Now

It's been a while since I've done one of these! So here it is!

Reading With Landon: Treasure Island

This is the second book I've decided to read aloud to Landon. While he's only about 4 months old, I can already tell that he loves it when we read together. He has plenty of kid books and bedtime books but I like the idea of reading novels to him, not just kid books. The kid books are great for a quick read but for moments we just want to relax and cuddle I think it helps him to stay alert and focused and learn how to just sit quietly and enjoy a less active form of entertainment. Now, you might think to yourself, how active is a four month old anyway? I'll admit, he's not all that rambunctious yet, but I imagine introducing him to quiet and relaxing entertainment from the start could have nothing but a positive affect!

Now, as far as the story goes, truthfully, I'm not a big fan. The terminology is so...piratey. It's difficult for me to digest as an adult, I can't imagine how difficult it might be for a child to try and tackle this read. I first read The Hobbit to Landon and while I'll admit, it was a bit of a tongue twister at times, it was a fabulous book for reading aloud. T here's rhythm and rhyme, kid appropriate story-telling. It's everything you could ever want in a book you plan to read aloud to your kid. Treasure Island on the other hand...half the time I don't even know what's going on in a scene. It makes if very difficult to envision the characters, scenery, and conflicts. In The Hobbit I was drawn in, a part of the story. While reading Treasure Island I am constantly being yanked out of the story by strange dialogue and choppy descriptions.

I'm not sure how many people out there would agree with me but this book is just a very difficult read. You'd need to have read a pirate lingo manual prior to even attempting to tackle this novel.

Honestly, I don't want to give up on it, but I really do look forward to finishing it so that it's behind me.

Book Club Read: The Night Circus

That's right, I joined a Goodreads book club! I'd joined a few before but ended up leaving or not partaking. For one reason or another it just didn't interest me at the time. The thing is, I've always liked the idea of joining a book club (though I'd prefer one that meets in person). So I finally got on board and joined one!

Our first official read is The Night Circus. This is also the first I'd heard of this book. The group admins provided a selection of books to choose from for our first read and because I didn't know about any of them I chose not to vote. I plan to vote next time though. I think I'll read the blurbs and just pick the one that sounds most interesting.

Anyways, so I started reading and the story starts off very strange. It's mysterious and eerie, which I guess is fitting, based on the cover and the title it's only fitting that the story would be a bit dark and strange. It certainly has gotten my attention as well. For as little as I've read so far I'm looking forward to digging into the story deeper and finding out more about the characters and the mysteries that surround them. I haven't read enough to tell you to stop what you're doing and buy it NOW, but I definitely think it's worth checking out if it seems like the kind of book you'd be into. More to come of course once I've read it!

That's all for now I guess, off to write or read a bit. Filling my head with all things books!

Happy Reading!!!

Book Review: Everything Changes

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonathan Tropper is one of those, as far as I'm concerned, under-rated authors. I don't think enough people read his books and I'm not entirely sure as to why. I mean, he writes stories that we can all connect with on one level or another. Stories with humor, tragedy, joy. He captures the human heart and it's many forms of turmoil so effortless.

Tropper's novel The Book of Joe was the first I'd read of his. It was suggested by my mom and I was kind of skeptical. His covers aren't your typical alluring pieces of art. Half the time they look childish or plain. But I dare you to ignore this fact and to dive into one of his books.

I don't really know what to say about this book specifically that I haven't encompassed above. The characters are just...real. And raw. And relatable. The three Rs! And the plot as well as the subplots are all of the same. You'll be surprised, relieved, disappointed, overjoyed, moved, touched. I don't see you getting away out of this read without having it make contact with your soul.

You'll also laugh, and maybe even cry. You'll wish for things to happen, sometimes they will. Sometimes they won't. But no matter what...you'll enjoy this book. Whoever you are. So read it!

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Book Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT MY READING EXPERIENCE: This book was the first one I chose to read to my son, Landon. I started reading it to him around the time he was born a little at a time and he's 3 and a half months already and I've FINALLY finished it! Ah! I feel it's important to read to your kids, even at a young age. My father also read The Lord of the Rings to my sister and I as children so I felt it was only fitting to stat with Tolkien!

MY REVIEW: Firstly, this book is a great one for reading aloud. Not just for children, but for the general reading aloud experience. Not that I make a habit of reading aloud to myself, though sometimes my husband makes a request, like when I was reading Wizard's First Rule, I know...he's a keeper, right?!

But I digress.

The story is sweet and lively and the characters are all so colorful and alive. By the time you finish the book you feel as if you know them. Don't settle for watching the movie, so many liberties were taken that you don't get a real feel for the story as it was meant to be told.

When my husband read it he had a bit of an issue with where detail was laid on thick and where it was lacking. For example, you'll have a great idea of exactly what the woods look like but you'll have very little info on how a battle played out. In that way, maybe it's a bit slower moving. But the story really is endearing. Though I hear Lord of the Rings is much better! Once I've had a breather from Tolkien's writing I'm going to pick that one up and read it to my son as well.



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Book Review: This Glittering World

This Glittering World by T. Greenwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book to be honest with you.

Ben, the main character is terminally engaged to Sara, a woman he used to love. When he discovers a dead native boy outside of his Flag Staff home a series of events take place that threaten the life he's found himself perpetually stuck in. As he pursues justice for the boy and works tediously to cover up his endless string of lies, he can't decide whether he welcomes the wrecking ball that's headed for his brand of normal or whether he fears it's inevitable impact.

So. This was a "dusty read". I've had it for a few years now and only just now picked it up. I had tried to read it before but didn't get passed the first page. It was one of those days where I needed to be grabbed instantly. This go around I had much better luck.

Still, I found myself a bit annoyed throughout the story. Ben knowingly hurts people. He's been unhappy in his life and waits until it's too late before he decides to do anything about it. As a character I'm not a very big fan of him at all. He has a few redeeming qualities but it's only what he fakes that I like about him and in that way I feel cheated, lied to even. I don't want to like who he pretends to be. I want to like him as a character. Sara isn't all that likeable either. She's manipulative and controlling, conniving at best. It's easy to see how these two make each other miserable...how they could justify staying together this long, however, is beyond me.

Getting justice for the native boy (college aged) is the catalyst in this story to put it lightly. It's a good plot to follow and brings some very interesting twists and turns into the story but I just can't help reading and thinking...why don't these people communicate with one another?! So many major issues could have been avoided by just talking. I know that this isn't a fictional problem in relationships but it doesn't make it any less frustrating to read about.

I don't know, I like sad books if they're written well or if the characters are likeable. This book, however, just felt to me like two people destroying their lives and trying to pretend that they haven't. That's not tragedy...that's just plain stupid.

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Book Review: Sh*t My Dad Says

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I bought this book as a conversation piece to leave on our coffee table in the living room and it turned out to be the perfect role for this book. Whenever family or friends come over and we sit down in the living room, before long, they pick up the book and thumb through it. Skimming the sections full of random quotes, we always find ourselves laughing over the pure comedy of the crazy, humorous, and at times insightful things Justin Halpern's father has to say.

Of course this book isn't just a collection of quotes, but also a collection of short stories. In order of his life events, Halpern re-tells the stories of his childhood and his journey of becoming a man and the moments he shares with his father.

Truthfully, this isn't exactly a book on parenting due to Halpern's father's own...unique...way of doing things. He's blunt and has no filter which as a parent may make you a bit scary or intimidating to your children at times. And as you read in some of these stories. However, he is also very evidently invested in his family. His methods of expressing this may not be conventional but it's no less apparent.

Be warned, if the title didn't tip you off, this book is very vulgar, so it isn't appropriate for a younger audience. But it is VERY entertaining and worth the read for a mature audience.

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Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fault in Our Stars is a very compelling and surprisingly lighthearted tragedy. The characters have such bold and mature-beyond-their-years outlooks on life. Because of the hands they've been dealt they evaluate life on a much more complex level. Taking the time we often throw away to try and justify having their potentials for life cut short.

This is my first John Green read and I'm completely sold on his writing style and ability to tell a story. Given this strong and serious topic he really impressed me with his ability to write with humor and wit.

The characters were all very likeable and you couldn't help but route for them. I loved the relationships they each had with their parents. You can really see the strength they all had to have in order to just wake up in the morning. The doom and dread they all faced was enough to keep anyone from living the numbered days they had left but they all made the most of each and every second. They never lost hope and despite the pain they did their best to remain connected to those around them.

I have been lucky enough to be pretty detached to Cancer in my life. I know of people or went to school with one or two kids who either suffered personally or lost a parent to the illness but it hasn't touched my immediate family. So I can only really speculate where the feelings and affects are concerned. I imagine that Green captures everything flawlessly. From how cancel patients are painted as heroes even if they certainly didn't feel like one. The pain and the inability to function among society as one had once done effortlessly.

Overall I really have zero complaints. It was an entertaining and fast read and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope to read more of Green's work in the near future!

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