Shelfari 50 Book Challenge discussion
Tessa's 2018 Effort to Dwindle her TBR Pile
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Tessa (FutureAuthor23)
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Jan 04, 2018 07:31PM
Well I completely blew myself away last year with how many books I read--the most ever in one year in my life! This year I'm just leaving it open. Not setting a specific number. Maybe I'll surprise myself again! Or maybe I won't. Just want this year to be whatever feels good to me!
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1. Best Day Ever--Kaira Rouda, 342 pages
Better than average thriller. Right from page one it is made very clear that there is something "up" in Paul and Mia's marriage. They're both trying very hard to make everything seem perfect but as Paul narrates the story, he makes it known he has some serious, serious issues. They take off for a getaway together to their 2nd home, a cottage by a lake. It is supposed to be their "best day ever". Most of the book takes place in one whole day and it is slowly revealed bit by bit, everything that is wrong in their marriage.
The author did a great job making Paul out to be a very hateful character. I wanted to throat-punch the guy.
2. The Mistletoe Secret--Richard Paul Evans, 306 pages
I didn't quite get to this before Christmas was over but I had it checked out from the library so I figured I'd still read it anyway. I didn't love it quite as much as The Mistletoe Promise but still enjoyed it very much.
3. The Elephant Whisperer--Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence, 368 pages
Lawrence did a good job of making me feel like I was in the African wild with him while reading this. I have read other books about elephants and I am fascinated by their intelligence and emotional capacity. This book just confirms more of that. It's amazing that he was offered a "free" herd of elephants, animals he's never taken care of before, and he just dove right in and said yes. How brave and how selfless. These animals would've been killed otherwise.
4. The Story of Arthur Truluv--Elizabeth Berg, 218 pages
Cute story but nothing special. Definitely not Berg's best. And why oh whyyyyyy must she torture me with NO chapters in this book?? I really wish long chapters and no chapters wouldn't bother me so much but it just does. It really affects how much I can enjoy a book.
I love how in this story 3 totally different characters come together and make a life rather than staying on their own and being lonely. I mean why not? It's like my favorite TV show--The Golden Girls! :) If people can find companionship in unconventional ways, why not??
5. The Plant Paradox--Steven R. Gundry MD, 363 pages
Because I've done extensive reading and research on trees and plants prior to reading this--how they grow, how they survive, how they fight off enemies--much of this book made a lot of sense. With many diet or nutrition books you roll your eyes a lot because it's always "something" that's the cause of all disease--sugar, fats, carbs, gluten, dairy, meat, etc., and you end up feeling like you can't eat anything on the planet. This book definitely makes you feel that way too but it also makes scientific sense. At least to me it does because of what I know about plants. However, would I be able to live on the Plant Paradox Program? Hell no. I don't see how it would be sustainable for most people. But there are definite changes I can and will be making in my food choices and I know they will make a difference.
6. The End of Alzheimer's--Dale E. Bredesen, MD, 289 pages
Last year I had my ancestry DNA and health tested by 23andMe and found out I carry one of the ApoE4 genes for Alzheimer's, which means that I have a 27-30% chance of getting AD by age 85. Without that gene my chances of getting AD would normally have been 6-10% by age 85. The program detailed in this book is the only program that has showed any signs of reversing cognitive decline. It is the first program to help prevent and reverse cognitive decline. I first heard about this a couple years ago on the news. I was very intrigued at the time. Now that I know I carry one of the ApoE4 genes (thank God I don't carry 2), I am interested to read everything I can to try and prevent any symptoms from even starting. I am so grateful for the chance.
7. Peony in Love--Lisa See, 273 pages
Definitely wanted to stop reading at one point after something happened. Just felt completely uninterested in continuing after that point. But I did anyway, and I'm glad I read the rest of it but I admit I skimmed many parts.
Tessa (FutureAuthor23) wrote: "7. Peony in Love--Lisa See, 273 pages
Definitely wanted to stop reading at one point after something happened. Just felt completely uninterested in continuing aft..."
I didn't like this one as much as her others. I skimmed a lot also.
8. The Heart's Invisible Furies--John Boyne, 580 pages
This tells the story of Cyril, who was adopted as a baby and grew up in Ireland. He realized very early on that he was gay. The book follows him all the way from the beginning of his life to the very end. From Ireland to Amsterdam, to New York, and finally back to Ireland.
I just want to say that overall I REALLY enjoyed this book. There were many unlikely circumstances in the book but they didn't bother me. I was easily able to suspend by disbelief for the sake of the story.
But I was, however, disappointed with the last quarter of the book. I was SO involved in this story. I spent 450 pages of the book building up to some of these major life events or life-changing reunions/confrontations/moments and when we finally get there--major chunks of time are skipped over and then oh wait---kind of go back a little bit and explain--and then jump forward again. I'm like no wait---I really wanted that moment, the FULL MOMENT. And many of them were disappointing because of how the author lost the momentum that had been building. That is the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star read for me. Still so worth it though.
9. The Nazi Officer's Wife--Edith Hahn Beer w/ Susan Dworkin, 305 pages
Loved this. It's one Jewish woman's autobiographical account of living in Nazi-occupied territory during WWII and passing herself off as a German. And marrying a Nazi Officer. Gah! I loved the way it was written. So full of feeling and honesty that at times it made me tear up. She actually was one of the "lucky" ones, if you can call anyone who lived through that hell lucky. Yet still what she went through was harrowing and heart-breaking and terrifying.
10. The Guest Cat--Takashi Hiraide, 140 pages
11. You--Caroline Kepnes, 422 pages
Good thriller. The guy is supposed to be creepy and stalkerish. But at first I was almost turned off because it seemed like the author was trying way too hard to make him super creepy. But as I got further into the book, that didn't bother me as much. I wanted a different ending though. And I don't mean a happy ending. I just wanted a shocking twist at the end. The whole time I was reading I was hoping for something specific to happen at the end but it ended up being the predictable ending instead. Still worth the read though.
12. The Last Black Unicorn--Tiffany Haddish, 276 pages
VERY entertaining read. Laughed out loud many times. I can't believe everything she has been through in her life. Sad. Loved this.
13. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things--Bryn Greenwood, 344 pages
I don't know how you write a review for a book about an adult having "some kind of" sexual relation with a 13-14 year old child. But I suggest you reserve your judgement until you read this "ugly and beautiful" story. In my mind, almost nothing is black and white in this world. There were many moments during the story where I definitely felt disturbed. But I was completely rooting for Wavy and Kellen all along. He truly loved her and was the only one who ever protected her or looked out for her in her shitty life.
I would never say that in some circumstances it's okay for an adult to do something sexual with a child, it's not. But he never groomed her for that.....it just wasn't like that. Look at Elvis and Priscilla. He was 24 and she was 14 when they met and then he courted her for 7 years and they got married when she was 21. You can even get married when you're 14 or 15, if you get a court order. So let's not act like every single case of an adult with a 14 year old is the same type of situation because it just isn't. I gave this 4.5 stars.
14. The Long Goodbye--Meghan O'Rourke, 297 pages
It's been awhile since I've read a book about mother-loss. This memoir had lots of moments that really hit home for me, thus I did lots of highlighting. There were a couple parts that made me cry. And this was a great read and reflection on grief.
15. Bring Me Back--B.A. Paris, 291 pages
I've said before I usually don't read a bunch of books by the same author but after reading B.A. Paris's "Behind Closed Doors" last year, something hooked me on this author's writing style. And this one did not disappoint either. It's a fast-paced suspense thriller.
Finn and Layla are in love, but one night Layla goes missing, and naturally Finn becomes the main suspect. He ends up clearing his own name and not long after, he starts dating Layla's sister and eventually getting engaged to her. They both seem happy and the past seems to be in the past.....until one day an old friend calls Finn and says he is certain he has seen Layla. If she is alive, where has she been all this time and what does she want?
The chapters go back and forth between Now and Before and they're short chapters. So with each chapter I finished, I just couldn't stop. I'd have to find out just a little bit more and a little bit more. It kept me reading and interested. I do think the ending was tied up a little bit fast but I personally really enjoyed this and recommend it if you like suspense or thrillers. And I love the cover of the book.
16. From This Moment On--Shania Twain, 406 pages
Writing songs and writing a book are 2 different things and it's obvious she is not a book writer. However, I gave this 4 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life. I've been a fan since the 90's but only just recently saw her in concert for the very first time, which prompted me to read her book. Glad I did. She's been through a LOT, especially in her childhood.
17. Everything Here is Beautiful--Mira T. Lee, 358 pages
18. Reasons to Stay Alive--Matt Haig, 246 pages
This should be required reading in high school for everyone. It does an excellent job of explaining depression and mental illness. I don't have a mental illness but I know several people who do and I'm constantly trying to understand it. I've read many fiction and nonfiction books about the subject and each time I've gained a little more understanding, but this book far surpasses them all. If you suffer from a mental illness, this book may very well help you (if you're not triggered by reading about other people's mental illnesses) If you have to live with or interact with someone who suffers from depression, anxiety, etc. I highly recommend you read this. We've got to end the stigma in this country about mental illness and the only way to do that is to get educated. I still may not fully understand all of it but no one can ever say I didn't try!
19. 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die--Loren Rhoads, 228 pages
20. White Oleader--Janet Fitch, 469 pages
21. Night--Elie Wiesel, 115 pages
22. The Gargoyle--Andrew Davidson, 465 pages
23. Rust & Stardust--T. Greenwood, 351 pages
24. Scrappy Little Nobody--Anna Kendrick, 271 pages
I love Anna. 3 1/2 stars
Shelfari 50 Book Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Scrappy Little Nobody (other topics)Rust & Stardust (other topics)
The Gargoyle (other topics)
Night (other topics)
White Oleander (other topics)
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