Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Show Us Your Books - What I Read in March

Book nerds, unite.
Link up your posts about the book(s) you've read recently with me and Jana of Jana Says!
Life According to Steph

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - This book was about slavery. I didn't expect it to be a happy go lucky tale. It was a gripping read, good writing, and an interesting historical fiction novel. But good God all the horrible shit that could happen happened to these people...there was so much of it and it was sort of treated as oh well that was expected that it numbed you to it. I don't like that. There was a little reliance on melodrama too.

The Martian by Andy Weir - I hate science and math. This book had a lot of both and I still loved the shit out of it. So I think across the board there's a good chance that no matter who you are or what you like, you'll like this. I wish you could give half stars on Goodreads because I'd really have to deduct half of one to account for the brain killing math.

One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis - This book seemed promising but had a totally weird event late in the book that lent absolutely nothing to the plot. It wasn't good - lots of unnecessary backstories and unnecessary everything.

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly - I was really intrigued by this story, and I really wanted to like the main character...but for someone so smart, she was quite stupid. And there was a weird twist at the end that set off a series of events, and there was no need whatsoever for any of it to happen.

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes - I found this to be a really enjoyable read. I loved much of the story even though it was a tiny bit hard to get into. But once they're on the ship, it's smooth sailing (reading wise). I will really miss Frances and Maggie, I've come to think of them as friends.

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League by Jeff Hobbs - This is not typically the kind of book I pick up to read, but I gave it a go. I feel like this could've been a long article. The author, a part of the story, indulged and inserted himself too much. I was also frustrated with some of Rob Peace's choices and had to remind myself that I wasn't in his shoes and thankfully never would be. But it had me thinking a lot when I was finished about race and poverty and nature versus nurture. It's easy to say hey, turn your back on everything and everyone you knew growing up, but how many of us could actually do that? Even if it meant a better life in some ways? Tragic is a good word to put in the title because that's exactly what it is.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman - What a weird book. It's not your standard end of the world fare as it's a little bit more on the horror side. I started it on the train after work yesterday and finished it before 11 with hours of breaks in between so it was definitely edge of your seat reading. 

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Haikuesday
Know that tax refund
you are excited about?
It was your money. 
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Non-bloggers, what have you read recently? Let me know what you recommend!
Bloggers, link up your posts about the book(s) you've read recently 
with me & Jana of Jana Says!
This link up happens the second Tuesday of every month. 
The next one is Tuesday, May 12. Click the button below to add your link
and to access the linked up blogs and read through their book recommendations!
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33 comments:

  1. Now that you say what you did about The Kitchen House (becoming numb to the atrocities), I can see that. Growing up in the South, I think there are still instances that I can point to where slavery is still felt. There is a community near my high school that was the first land granted to freed slaves in Texas. I was a caseworker for a few years at a juvenile prison. There was a kid who had the same last name as me. He said "you know, slaves were given the last names of their masters - that means your people probably owned my people." Gulp.

    The Martian...I think I'm the only person that the science and math annoyed. I almost gave up...but I'm glad I persevered for the characters.

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  2. The Martian sounds interesting though reading about Math and Science does not sound like fun. Books that circle around slavery is so heartbreaking because for the most part it most likely is true and the absolutely dreadful and hurtful things happened to them and it was just accepted by most, it is just heartbreaking.

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  3. Ok ok...I will give The Martian a chance between Kristen, Jana and you all saying it was awesome.

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  4. I'm excited that I got to link up this month!!! The ship of brides has been added to my list! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston

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  5. The Ship of Brides sounds good. I love when you love the characters. Robert Peace, Amen, you don't know what you would do unless you are in that person's shoes. And on the tax situation- the 1% are laughing all the way to their offshore bank accounts. Just paid our additional taxes yesterday. But, I love the USA!
    Love, your Momma

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  6. Seriously impressed with all your reading! I need to get back on the bandwagon!!

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  7. I read The Martian a couple months ago and absolutely loved it too! I'm not a big science person but I still enjoyed it. So happy to hear you really liked it too! I have The Ship of Brides on my "to read" list.

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  8. finally i got to participate in this month's book link-up! i'm still waiting (impatiently!!) for the martian to come in as well; i think i'm in line 5 or something but i was #8 like 3 months ago so given this pace, i'll read it by the end of the year #rage

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  9. I need a good can't put it down read, I'm going to check out Bird Box soon.

    I want to read The Martian but science and math are not my friends, NOT my friends at all.

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  10. I really enjoyed Ship of Brides too- I kept wanting to know more about what happened to Jean after she had to leave the boat. I'm not big into science or math either, but after hearing how much Kristen loved The Martian I have it on my list to read too! The Short & Tragic Life of Robert Peace is also on my list!

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  11. i am so glad you liked the martian!! i think that the brain killing math didn't kill my brain as much because i listened to it. good to hear you liked ship of brides, it's on my list!!

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  12. I love, love, loved The Martian. It read it in an afternoon because I was hooked. The math/science parts did go alittle over my head but not enough for me to dislike the book. You would think that the book would be boring because it's just one guy hanging around on Mars the whole time but it was so engrossing. The main character was hilarious.

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  13. People keep saying The Martian is good but I hate science and math and fantasy (which is what I assume it kind of is??) so I don't know if i can get on board. The Robert Peace book sounds like my kind of thing, though, and I added The Bullet as it sounds like it would be a good stuck-in-traffic audiobook. Love this linkup now that I've rediscovered reading!

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  14. whenever you write these posts I like to save them for when have a quiet moment so I can read through your thoughts a few times. I have been wondering about the martian and now with your blessing I think im gonna go for it! question. is it a book that you really need to pay attention to? I mean I know all are, but do I need to be in a certain mood?

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  15. I haven't linked up- to anything!- in a long, long time. I'm excited to get some recommendations! I want to read The Ship of Brides- I need to add it to my list. Maybe I'll try The Martian too! Thanks.

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  16. The Ship of Brides is definitely intriguing me, I'll have to check it out for sure :)

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  17. I think I'm going to HAVE to read The Martian- so many people are recommending it, but it seems so un-like what I normally read! Thanks for the recs!

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  18. I totally agree about the ending of The Bullet. It took such an odd turn that wasn't necessary. The Martian is on my list to read next!

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  19. The Peace one speaks to me. It doesn't like a good beach read though.

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  20. I love your shirt.

    I'll add some of these books to my list. You might like The Lives Of Midwives. I just finished that one and it was entertaining.

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  21. The Martian is the only one I've read, so I'm excited to check out the others! I'm currently reading "My Sunshine Away" and really enjoying it so far!

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  22. Since you're the 18th person I know who read The Martian, maybe I should try it.

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  23. Yay book nerds unite :) Thanks for linking me. I added The Martian to my hold list. I was the same way with Bird Box, reading it in one day, I had to find out what was going to happen.

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  24. I FINALLY read The Girl on the Train, so I am about 3 months behind on books. I like Jojo Moyes, so I may have to try The Ship of Brides. I got the Hillary Clinton bio for Christmas and it is enormous. It sits on my bookshelf taunting me. I need to get on it.

    Also, I am totally the person excited about the tax refund. Yes, it was mine all along, but I do better with lump sums and using it for something big (debt, trip, savings, etc.) that I know I am not disciplined enough to do throughout the year.

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  25. I am a little late to the party this month lol. I keep hearing about The Ship of Brides and I am intrigued. I should add it to my to read list! When I read Bird Box I didn't know whether to hate it or love it but it was edge of your seat reading.

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  26. I can't wait to read The Martian. I might actually like the math & science stuff ;). Bird Box, I think Kathy read that right? Already on my list. So is the Short & Tragic Life. Definitely one that gets ya thinking.

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  27. I kept going back and forth about The Martian because of the science and math, but I think I'll go ahead and put it on hold. I also want to read the Robert Peace book.

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  28. your haiku is hilarious! I already have The Martian and The Bullet on my to read list. I just finished Allegiant and was sorely disappointed. I just started Hausfrau last night, we'll see how it goes.

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  29. "But once they're on the ship, it's smooth sailing (reading wise)." Bahahah... I love a good pun! :)

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  30. I feel like I've heard a lot of positive things about "The Martian" recently, so I think it needs to go on my "To Read" list. While I'm not a fan of math, I do love science (I must, since I work in that industry!). I might even be able to get my equally nerdy husband to read it. He usually sticks with nonfiction books that are focused on science and math, but, from what I've read, he'd probably get into "The Martian." I also think I'll have to check out "Bird Box" ... It sounds like something I'd like!

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  31. Ive been putting off the Martian for that very reason - science and math aint my cup of tea. But now that you said you liked it i might give it a go!

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