Top Ten Tuesday

I haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday post for ever! It's been so long that I haven't participated since Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl took over as host. Head on over to her blog and link up if you want to participate.

This week's topic: Book I could re-read forever.
(I'm going to cheat a little and count series as one book)

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
I read this one for the first time last year and am already itching for a re-read.

The Matthew Swift series by Kate Griffin.
If you're new to my blog you probably haven't heard me gush about his series. If you've been around for awhile you have...and yet, you haven't read this perfect series yet. What's taking you so long?! ;)

The Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz
I love this series so much that I haven't read the last two book in the series because I can't bear to say goodbye to Odd.

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
This book was so perfect. Romantic, funny and oh so sad.

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman
This book and the following book in the series are pure brilliance. You'll laugh you'll cry and definitely want to re-read them. I know I want to.

 The Hollow City by Dan Wells
Dan Wells writes the strangest and most awesome stories ever! This one is by far his best...that I've read so far anyway. It was so strange and wonderful I need to read it again.

The Ruby Oliver series by E. Lockhart
Everyone of the books in this series makes me laugh so hard. Like tears rolling down my cheeks laughing. I need to re-read them and have another good laugh!

The Curse Workers series by Holly Black
This series isn't perfect but I loved everything about it. The world the characters, all of it! I need a re-read.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
This books is delightful. I've already read it twice and think it might already be time for another re-read.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
My favorite Austen. I could re-read that letter from Captain Wentworth a thousand times. Sigh!!!!


I don't know about you but I sure feel like re-reading now. Maybe THAT'S what will get me out of this reading slump!

Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

Title The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
By Chelsea Sedoti
Genre YA contemporary
Format ebook
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Hawthorn isn't saddened or curious about the sudden disappearance of her sleepy town's sweetheart Lizzie Lovett. Hawthorn never cared for the popular prom queen. Lizzie had enough people fawning over her. Hawthorn doesn't need to be one more obsessed worshiper. But then why can't she get Lizzie out of her head? Why is she suddenly so obsessed with her disappearance and why is she now working where Lizzie worked and dating Lizzie's boyfriend?

First Sentence
The first thing that happened was Lizzie Lovett disappeared, and everyone was all, "How can someone like Lizzie be missing?" and I was like, "Who cares?"

I don't know how this one came on my radar but I'm glad it did. It was my first five star read of the year!

I'm a sucker for YA contemporary but I'm an even bigger sucker when they have some issues that are touched on, a subtle but important message and a hint of romance. Add one of my favorite writing styles (check out that first sentence again) and you have a winner.

Every character was solidly fleshed out and  therefore memorable to me. I loved the message I took away and I loved the humor that lightened the heavy issues this one dealt with.

I liked how real the book felt too. It didn't gloss over issues teens deal with. That being said, you might not want your younger teens reading it.

The whole thing was just beautiful. The writing, the message, the issues, the characters...I loved it all and am so happy I stumbled onto this one.

Should you read it
Ugh! I hate when you love a book so much but you can't articulate your feelings! Just go read this book. Now!   

In My Thoughts This Fine Day #15

Sorry for all you fans out there but I hate the stupid Olympics. I just don't care about all the asinine sports or even the more legit events that the Olympics features. The whole reason I'm doing this post today instead of my TV Talk Sunday's is because there's nothing new to report on. I guess everyone else is watching the above mentioned stupidity. Sigh!

It looks like winter finally decided to show up in my neck of the woods. I just LOVE how it waited till the end of February to start snowing every other day! In case you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm. I'm fine with winter but when it shows up this late and suddenly just starts dumping on us I get a little miffed. I couldn't resist taking the above picture. My kitty was certain she wanted outside but when I opened the door she took one step out and changed her mind. 

After reading The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, (review up tomorrow) my first five star read of the year, I have the worst book hangover. I've tried picking up other books with no luck. It could be that I'm completely burned out on those Tournament of Books books but I'm struggling to get into anything. Sigh! I started Eliza and her Monsters the other day. Hopefully that will pull me out of this slump.  

Friday Flicks: Black Panther

Black Panther
Rating ★★

What It's About
I consider myself a Marvel fan but mostly I'm an X-Men and Spider Man fan so I knew virtually nothing about the Black Panther.
So there's this hidden city in South Africa that has this amazing technology but they've stayed hidden for hundreds of years under the ruling of a generation of kings endowed with gifts and known as the Black Panther. Each time a king dies, their son becomes the new king and new Black Panther. When an artifact of theirs that ended up in a museum gets stolen and an enemy arrives and challenges our hero, current king and Black Panther he'll find out a secret about his father and have to fight not only for his title and kingdom but for what he believes in.

Of course I wanted to see this one. It's a Marvel universe movie! I wasn't sure what to expect, though. I knew nothing about the Black Panther. I guess I can't REALLY call myself a Marvel fan. Oh well.

I'm going to be honest, guys. I found this one to feel overly long and was really bored through most of it. AND something just felt off.

After reflecting on it I think I've decided that it just didn't FEEL like a Marvel movie. It felt more like a fantasy movie than a super hero movie. And sometimes it's like the director or writers remembered it was supposed to be a super hero movie and would throw in something but it was too little and just felt weird.

I also was bothered by the villain. If this movie was trying to address racism they shouldn't have made the villain such a stereotypical thug. It did nothing to fight racism in my opinion. Maybe that's just me, though.

I will say that I really loved the MCs sister Shuri. She was great. I'd rather have watched a movie about her.

Anywho, I was honestly just disappointed in this one. I wanted a great new addition to the Marvel universe and this one was just all off.

Let's talk
 Have you ever noticed how long a movies sometimes feels? I think it's because certain stories tend to be more episodic rather than one, single, sweeping arc. That episodic trend seems to be coming into a lot of movies and it just makes it feel SO long. What do you guys think?

Recommendation
Sadly I'd just say wait to rent it on Redbox or Amazon.

 

Review: The Chaperone

Title The Chaperone
By Laura Moriarty
Genre Adult Historical Fiction
Format Audio
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis
Cora's children are grown and off on their own so when the chance to travel to New York City as a chaperone for the beautiful 16 year old Louise Brooks comes up, she jumps at the opportunity. She has her own secret reasons for going to New York and can use this opportunity to fulfill her goal. But where Cora is traditional and a bit uptight, Louise is wild and modern. The two struggle to understand each other and get along as they spend the hot summer together and learn about each other and themselves.

First Sentence
The First time Cora heard the name Louise Brooks, she was parked outside the Wichita Library in a Model T Ford, waiting for the rain to stop.

I can't remember when I first heard about this one but it must have caught my attention because I added it to my TBR list. When it came up on Overdrive I downloaded it as began to listen.

There's a reason this book is a New York Times best seller. It was rich with details and heart and I cared deeply for the characters. Cora was incredibly traditional. In the early 1920s when hemlines were raising she still wears a corset. Watching her interact with a young, modern and headstrong teenager was amusing. I loved how Cora grew as a person and was open minded enough to realize maybe her way wasn't the best. It was one of my favorite things about this book.

I really felt for Cora. She had a pretty awful life. It could have been worse but a lot of things that happened to her were just unfair and frustrating. I was rooting for her happiness through the whole book.

I love when historical fiction is done right. When you can love the characters enough to gladly follow them through lots of historical events with out a single yawn I think the author has done their job. Not that the '20s and '30s were boring but I can see how some people might think so.

I really liked this epic story and won't soon be forgetting it. I want to check out what else the author has written and get my hands on it.

Should you read it
I think this one has A LOT of things going on in it so there's something for everyone. I'd recommend it!