Readathon!

It's that special time again! Sat April, 23rd! Get your read on!

The place...

My Library!

The Books...

Just the one I'll be working on.

The Snacks...

Mmmm! Grasshopper cookies! 

And, yeah! So I probably won't actually be able to participate very much this time. Stupid life! That's why I only have one book to work on. I do plan to read what I can and snack on my yummy treats. Everyone have fun! I'll see you on the other side!

Ratings

Awe, the elusive ratings of a book in its natural habitat. Uh, OK, just bear with me. My book club and I are always discussing rating of books. They all think the system on Goodreads is flawed. All of us has our own way of thinking and reasoning behind the rating of a book. So, I thought I'd share my thoughts. Cause, you know, you've all been just waiting for me to write this post. I bet some of you have been waiting for this day. Not.

Anywho! In defense of Goodreads' rating system.

On Goodreads 1 star means you didn't like it. I don't see anything wrong with this. If you think a book you didn't like deserves no stars then you must not believe in the rating system to begin with. No stars isn't a rating it's...well, nothing. So, yeah. I'm defending the 1 star rating. I think of it not so much as giving the book a star as marking the book with 1 star to show your opinion...Does that make sense? No? Well then the rest of my post might just be as boring. Feel free to quickly exit the building.

The 2 star rating. On Goodreads it means you thought the book was OK. Again, I don't have a problem with this. Lot's of my friends think that 2 stars is just far too low of a rating for a book if you thought it was OK. I don't see it that way. I mean no offense to a book I give 2 stars but to me, it means exactly what it says. I thought the book was OK. It doesn't mean I hated it.

3 stars stands for, according to Goodreads, you liked it. Yep! I agree. Now I'm sure some author's out there want to punch the 3 star rating in the throat. It brings their numbers down, damn it! But, I think a good solid 3 star rating is perfectly acceptable. I like a book, it's getting 3 stars.

And then there's the 4 star rating. Goodreads could have gotten a little more clever with this ranking that means you really liked it. Oh well. I still can get behind this. 4 stars means I really loved the book. It was entertaining, funny, romantic, exciting, beautiful etc. It had great writing, great characters, great world building etc. I loved the book so I'm giving it 4 stars.

And 5 stars. Goodreads says: "It was Amazing". Here's where I shake my head. I disagree. It's just me but an amazing book is getting 4 stars. For me a five star book is a book that I wouldn't hesitate to read again. We book lovers have a never ending pile of books we hope to read someday, right? So for me, to close a book and think, "yeah, that was perfect and I want to read it again. If not now, soon". That book gets 5 stars. It's a new favorite. That's why I'm stingy with my 5 star ratings.  

So what about you? Do you hate Goodreads' rating system or do you like it? Do you think 2 stars is stingy? Do you wish you could give a book you hate no stars? What say you? Anyone even still here?

Review: The Selection

Title The Selection (The Selection #1)
By Kiera Cass
Genre YA Dystopian
Rating ⭐️⭐️


Synopsis
Take ABC's The Bachelor, sprinkle in a dystopian world and angst ridden teens and you have The Selection.



First Sentence When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic.





This book has been taunting me since its release in 2012. Dystopian books were all the rage and ABC's The Bachelor still a big hit so I'm sure the author thought to herself this would make a great premise for a YA book. And sadly, the public ate it up. I heard so many good things about this book from Goodreads. I resisted. I heard so many good things from fellow bloggers. I resisted. Then my sister read the whole series and warned me it was ridiculous but addicting. I gave in. Sigh! You know what they say: If you can't beat 'em, join' 'em.

All that being said, I went into this one with incredibly low expectations. Always a smart move, if you ask me. And, well, it was exactly what I expected. Predictable and unoriginal. Still, I wasn't completely put off by the book. I thought the story was entertaining enough. About as much as an episode of The Bachelor and at least this book was clean.

My biggest hang ups aren't about any of that, though. What bothered me was I picked up this book totally wanting a stupid fluffy read with an big fat love triangle. Hey, don't judge. I was in the mood! Anyway, I just didn't like either of the love interests. In fact, I wasn't really a fan of the MC, America either. Sigh! So now do I read the rest of the series? No really. I'm asking. I'm more of a plot girl than a character girl so not being invested in the characters doesn't really bother me. And I am sort of interested in where the plot is going. So...what do you say? Have you read the series? Does it get more interesting plot wise or is it just about the love triangle? Should I finish the series?

Should you read it?
If you haven't already I guess you could give it a go. It's not the worst thing I've ever read.

Review: Memoirs of a Geisha

Title Memoirs of a Geisha
By Arthur Golden
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Rating ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
This fictional story follows young Chiyo as she's sold from her family home and enters the world of a Geisha.

First Sentence
Suppose that you and I were sitting in a quiet room overlooking a garden, chatting and sipping at our cups of green tea while we talked about something that happened along while ago, and I said to you, "That afternoon when I met so-and-so...was the very best afternoon of my life, and also the very worst afternoon."




This one was another book I read for book club. And let me tell you, I was completely against reading this book. I saw the movie and though I remember nothing about it I remember not liking it so reading the 500 page book really didn't appeal to me, you know?  But I sucked it up and picked up the book and as it often goes, I actually didn't mind the book. I didn't love it... I didn't even like it. I thought it was OK. But I did enjoy reading it. The writing is perfect for this type of story. It's like the fictional character is right there telling you all about their past over a cup of tea. I was quite engrossed. The story was interesting and engaging. It was fun following Chiyo as she lived her life.

I had several grievances with the book, however, and that's why it was only an "OK" read for me. I hated the way the Translators Notes at the beginning seem to trick you into thinking this is a real story. It's not. Nothing in it is real or based on real people. Yes, there were Geisha and I believe the author interviewed one for the book but the story is completely made up.

And if I'm being honest, it shows. Things just worked out a little too neatly for our MC and that always bugs me. Not to mention it makes things feel fake. I just didn't get her attraction to the Chairman. He was old and completely cold and distant with her and yet, she worshiped him. In fact, her adoration of him seemed to be the whole driving force behind her story. *shrugs* I just didn't find it satisfying.

 Should you read it?
I seem to be in the minority once again. So, sure, read it. The writing is great and the story engaging but the ending was too neat.

On My Mind This Fine Day #12

It's time for some more randomness!

1 Ugh! I'm in such a blogging slump! Somehow, with all the craziness going on in my life, I'm still managing to read great but blogging??? Not so much. So...I did write a review the other day and started getting annoyed with all the things I list. Like: Title, Author, Genre, Pages, etc. I love adding the first line of every book but are all those other things necessary? Do you even look at them? Sometimes I've seen people post the name of the series the book is in and what number it is which I really like but the other stuff...I don't know if it's necessary. Can't you just read the title and author off the picture of the book? I don't know tell me what you think.

2 Speaking of all the craziness. My husband and I own a duplex and had to send a tenant packing. We decided to renovate her side because it was in dire need of help. It's exhausting because we do so much of it ourselves. This time we decided to hire out the paint job because...well let's just say the words mental and breakdown were bandied about.  So we got some bids, hired it out and...I should just do these things myself! I'm such a control freak I want to hover over their shoulders and correct every little thing they do! I'm going to get through this. I just need to remember to breathe!

3 Shout out time! I used to be utterly obsessed with TV. I'd watch a million shows live (none of that DVR stuff for me). I knew what new shows were coming out each season and would make a schedule so I could check them out...you may remember because I posted about it a few times. Anywho, I hardly watch TV now. I just can't seem to get in to anything anymore. BUT! I love Jane The Virgin. It's so ridiculously, stupidly perfect! Have you seen it? Cause season 1 is on Netflix. You should watch it. I also actually have gotten into another show too. ABC's The Family. You may have seen me Tweeting about it. It's so addicting! Go on, check it out. Oh, and Game of Thrones is coming back! Wahoo!

Review: Heart of the Matter

Title Heart of The Matter
By Emily Giffin
Genre Adult Chick Lit
Rating ⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Tessa and Valerie live very different lives. Tessa is a stay at home mom married to a handsome surgeon. Her day's are filled with bustling kids off to school, cleaning the house and keeping up with the other mom's in the neighborhood. Valerie is a single mother who's worked for everything she's got. Raising her son and trying not to be so closed off to the world are her biggest priorities. When a horrible accident brings these two woman together, their lives will never be the same.


First Sentence 
When ever I hear of someone else's tragedy, I do not dwell on the accident or diagnosis, or even the initial shock waves or aftermath of grief. 

• With all the stress and craziness going on in my life right now, I needed another of Giffin's addicting, distracting stories. Giffin delivered again. She has a way of writing that just sucks you right in. 
• As unputdownable as this book was it had a much heavier subject matter that was just downright painful to read. 
• It brings up a really great question, though, amidst all it's heaviness and while I was not as in love with this one, I will say it worked as a great distraction at the end of the day. 
• The more of Giffin's books I read, the more I hesitate to label her books as Chick Lit. They all have some serious subject matter. This one in particular, as I mentioned. 
• So...yeah, it was a great distraction and great to have a book I couldn't wait to get back to but it was a hard, hard book to read.

Should you read it?

I'd definitely recommend Giffin's books but maybe don't start with this on