Simone and Her Books

Analyzing February 2018’s TBR

February 7, 2019
I’m throwing a little #throwbackthursday post up here today. Recently, I saw someone comment on a February TBR post from 2018. I was surprised someone went back a year to see what I was reading and commented on the post. Wow! However, I also noticed something intriguing about the post; my TBR.

Looking back at older posts and seeing the goals you’ve set out for yourself is like a truth bomb splitting open in front of your eyes. I couldn’t step away from that post without analyzing the books I posted, if I’ve read them, and how I feel a year later.

So I decided (as content for this blog, why not) to analyze that TBR and see how a year can change your reading life. Let’s take a look at the books I had on my TBR last year:
Looking at this list, I can already tell you the books I’ve decided not to read. I can tell you the books I’ve finally read and the books that are still stuck on my TBR. It’s funny how a year can change you even when it comes to your reading life.

I think at some point in 2018 I decided I wanted to read Sylvia Plath again and I wanted to read poems. I added The Universe of Us because it seemed less daunting. Poetry is great and I love Sylvia Plath’s work, but if a year has gone by and I haven’t read either then there might be something here it’s telling me. For example, the fact that I don’t read poetry.

But I also see some nonfiction on here that I haven’t touched. I didn’t read Text Me When You Get Home or Theft by Finding. I know nonfiction was something I wanted to read more of, but perhaps it wasn’t an earnest try back in 2018. I’m definitely changing that this year and dedicating at least one book every month to a nonfiction novel.

Out of all these books, I’ve only read four of these books. Three out of the four I luckily finished before the end of 2018, but we all know I just read Dark Matter last month. However, there are a ton of books on here that I decided I wouldn’t read. My reading life has changed and with that, I wouldn’t be reading some of the literary fiction books I planned on reading.

The craziest part is that I’ve had House of the Spirits on my TBR for years and have been meaning to read anything by Isabel Allende for a while now. I just checked my Amazon account and I bought a copy back in January 2018. So adding it to my February 2018 TBR makes me think I wanted to read this right away. Funny how the world works. I’ve made it just one of my 2019 reading goals to read something by her. Perhaps it’s finally time to pick her up.

Eventually I’ll read The Cruel Prince especially since The Wicked King just released. Maybe it’ll be for March. Who knows at this point.

Have you ever looked at your TBR from years before? What did you make of those lists?
The Backlist Book Club: February 2019 Pick

February 6, 2019

This month’s choice for The Backlist Book Club is The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

I knew that I wanted my book for February to be a diverse author. Since it’s also Black History Month I wanted something by an African American author. I wasn’t looking to read something historic, but I guess I will be since this book takes place during the years of the underground railroad.

I love going into books without knowing what the book is about, but I’ve heard this book is amazing. I’ve also heard that this book can get pretty dry and sometimes feels like a history lesson than fiction. That makes me a little nervous since I’m definitely a plot-driven reader, so this is going to be an interesting experience for you and me.

Readathon for the book is February 16-17 and I’ll be posting my final thoughts here and on Instagram on February 28th. Will you be reading with us? Have you already read this one?
The Strange Feeling When You’ve Read An Entire Month’s TBR

February 5, 2019

TBRs are so elusive. I’m talking about the monthly TBRs we create for ourselves. We set out at the beginning of the month to read X number of books and then we leave the month going “wait, what happened to that list of books I wanted to read?”

It honestly made me question whether or not I should continue to create TBRs. What is the point in making a TBR if I’m not going to stick with it?

When the rest of the reading community tends to lean towards their mood, folks who read their TBR are needles in the haystack. I know that people who do read their TBRs every month exist, but I rarely see them. I wanted to know what it was like to have only a few books to read and a month to read it.

So in the beginning of January, I decided I would create a TBR and stick with it. I wouldn’t feel swayed to read a book I just received. I won’t give in to my moods and read what it feels like. I will read what I set out to read in hopes to really pare down the ever-growing TBR.

The results: I read EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK.

It was tough, I will admit. I mean, I ended up writing an entire blog post about how TBRs are stupid and we should do away with them. But now that I’m looking back at my month I realized that this TBR actually did me some good.

First off, it helped me read some books that have been sitting on my shelf for YEARS. I finally read Dark Matter. I finally read that ARC copy of Bonfire I picked up at BookCon. I honestly feel accomplished and I feel like I can take down my daunting TBR shelf if I continue in this matter.

Secondly, the simple act of making a plan, executing it, and accomplishing it felt so satisfying. It’s like making a To Do list and checking off every item on it. I honestly felt like a new person and with this new year just getting started, I feel like I can do anything! When people say “set yourself one goal and do it,” they weren’t joking. The power of actually doing something you planned on doing feels like the rest of the world is as simple as this. Who knew! Not my lazy butt.

At one point, I did feel complete burnout and worried I wouldn’t finish. This was because one of the books I read was pretty big and quite wordy. It was an incredible read, but it was a style of writing I’m not a fan of and that slowed me down.

At another point, I felt so burdened by the list because I was receiving so many good books to read and not enough time to read them. I kept thinking I would add them onto the end of the month if I had time, but I also purposefully chose a book list that was short to allow myself the time to read.

Finally, I tried to read a book and didn’t like the premise at all so I didn’t finish it. I feel like recognizing a book isn’t your thing early on helps you move onto the next book on the list. Don’t worry about finishing a book you don’t like. You’re better off moving along and that helped a lot too.

While I did complain in a recent blog post that I won’t be doing any more TBRs, I decided I will. I’m going to stick with this because the feeling of accomplishment is way better than the feeling of reading whatever I want. However, I won’t be sharing what I read because I feel like that level of accountability will definitely make me feel the burden of picking my TBR.
January 2019 Wrap Up

February 4, 2019
Welcome to the first wrap up of the new year! If you’re new to the blog, my wrap ups are related to the books I’ve read over the month; what worked and what didn’t work. I hope you enjoy it!

January worried me a little. I felt like I was doing a great job, but then a big book waylaid me over. I couldn’t believe how burnt out it made me, but I wouldn’t take back that time. It was an amazing read!

I’ve also learned that I want to incorporate more comic books and manga into my reading. They won’t be making an appearance on here often (at least not yet), but comic books were really my saving grace when I was burnt out. I think they’ll be great for evening readings or when I’m feeling the slump. They don’t require too much brain power since you have the images created for you. The stories are always intriguing and if you dig hard enough, you can find some really great reads among them.

But here’s to the January 2019 bookish wrap up

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

This was my least favorite book from the month. I did not like this book. It was good so I ended up reading the entire thing, but I was so confused by the story. I was surprised it got so many highly rated reviews. It made me wonder if we read the same book. The book itself felt all over the place. I didn’t get much cohesion. But I think it has a lot of potential. It could definitely be a great crime fiction novel, but it needs a loving editor’s hand and a huge red marker.

My full review on Goodreads

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

I was absolutely floored by this book. I read it for my Backlist Book Club and wow. I love when science fiction takes actual scientific theories and turns them into a story. What happens if you were able to travel across different multi-verses? What if you find a universe where your life is exactly the way you want it? That’s basically what happened to Jason in this novel. And as he tries to make his way home, he comes to some very real understandings of himself, the multi-verse, and the universe’s capabilities.

My full review on Goodreads

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

I really liked this novel, but it’s not a fantasy series I’ll continue to read in the future. It starts off about a young man named Tracker who is on the hunt for a certain little boy that’s important to the whole of society. It’s got great representation, amazing descriptions, and a lot of African history and culture. The only reason I won’t be reading the rest of this series is because the writing wasn’t my style. I’m not a fan of writing like Marlon James’s, but that’s okay. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this novel and if you do like Marlon James and his writing style, this book will be right up your alley.

My full review on Goodreads

Heavy by Kiese Laymon

Funnily enough I started reading this book the same day it won an award for best nonfiction. It definitely deserved it because it was an amazing memoir about one person’s life. I think I resonated a lot with this story and I think a lot of people will too. I didn’t think it was sad or uncomfortable, but instead I felt comforted to hear someone so honest with his life and his evaluation of his life. It really made me love his work and I can’t wait to read more from him in the future.

My full review on Goodreads

Golden Child by Claire Adam

Ending the month with this book was like ending your day at Disney with the fireworks show. You’re a little hesitant that it’ll be any good, but you’re just blown away when you get into it. Golden Child was definitely that kind of book. At first, I was a little worried the book would be boring because it started with the missing child and then backtracked to when he was born. I was worried it would be all backtracking, but it ended up turning into a really good book with some very interesting questions. I would whole-heartedly suggest this book for your book club because it will make you think, reconsider, and re-evaluate.

My full review on Goodreads

Books From My Mid-Month Checkin
- If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim
- The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh: I mentioned before that I didn’t finish this book. I’ve come to realize that I’m not a fan of overly poetic writing. I love lyrical language, but sometimes it gets in the way of the story.
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi: I loved this book and it’s definitely a series I’ll be digging into more as the books come out. I also love that others loved this book. I’m seeing small convos happening throughout the Internet about it and even fan art! I absolutely love fan art of really good fantasy stories. It shares what the characters look like and it’s always something so amazingly drawn.
- The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin
My Review Process and Why I Write Reviews

January 28, 2019
A friend of mine posed the question earlier this month about reviews. Why do you write reviews of books? What is your process? Why is it important to you?

For me, there’s a few reasons why I review books. Many of them are so I can remember what I’ve read. I even go back to them when I want to recall what I liked and didn’t like. You know that feeling you get after you’ve watched a TV show or a movie and you just have to talk to someone about it? That’s specifically what I feel whenever I finish a book. I want to talk about it and since I’m alone here, I usually talk to myself.

On top of that, I have a really bad memory. I’ve tried different memory games and helping with improving my brain, but I still can’t seem to remember little minute details. For example, I always forget people’s names. I will end up describing characters as “the main guy who killed the other dude.” I hate that about myself and I try to improve it as much as I can. However, some details always fall through the cracks with me and it really bugs me. This is also why I keep a book journal. I might even start ordering my pages to include character names, essential plot points, and other things I tend to forget.

I also started writing reviews because there was a big conversation happening in my head after I’ve finished reading the book. There are unanswered questions or bits of books that I need to possibly remember for the next book. I just want to remember it all, but sometimes I don’t even remember if I read the book this year.

That’s why I started writing reviews. My reviews are part book report and part pros and cons list. It’s a way for me to remember what I read, but also to get out all those feelings I have about the book. If you’d like to know more about my process, read on!

Here’s my rating system
- Five Stars: It blew me away. I will be talking about this book for years
- Four Stars: This was a really great book. I will definitely suggest it to others and possibly read other books by the author
- Three Stars: Decent read. Nothing wowed me, but it wasn’t bad.
- Two Stars: Meh. There’s a lot of problems in this book and can definitely be better. Lots of potential, but little bit was met
- One Star: I don’t really rate 1-star books because if it’s that bad then I usually don’t finish reading it.
Here’s what I always look out for in reviews

The Writing Style

Writing style is super important to me. It’s a technical aspect of storytelling and each author has their own style. Some authors like to get into the details of everything like Ian McEwan or Marlon James. Gritty details where you have no room to interpret the space on your own. It’s cool because a lot of people love reading books like this. Other authors are a little bit more efficient and lets you paint a little bit of the world on your own. I prefer to read authors who are faster at getting to the point than waiting around watching the scenery. It’s a personal choice and I try not to fault books for this. However, sometimes the language can be so dry and boring that I can’t help but to note that I nearly fell asleep.

The Characters and Their Development

Characters are obviously important. However, characters are also made up people in an author’s head. What did the author do to make these characters stand out? With all that power to develop a character, you’ll be surprised to read books where the characters are dull or boring or just bleh. I like my characters with gumption; those with a personal style and vibrato you don’t see everyday. I also like my characters to be human. If they’re supposed to be human or emote like a human, then I want to see that in the story. I want elephant tears when the love interest dies. I want gut reactions to things that you’re supposed to react poorly to. I don’t like when characters know everything or deduce too quickly. It takes away from the natural process of finding the answer. Extra props if you’re able to diversify your characters. Why do all characters need to be white? They don’t, which is something we all can take some cues from. I don’t fault a book for not having a diverse cast, but it wins extra points.

The Story

It’s tough to come up with a story nowadays that’s true and original. However, I’m the type of person who enjoys the journey than the destination so if your story is one told many times before I don’t really care. What I care about is that this story that’s been told before keeps me engaged. Is there cohesion? Do all the themes and topics the author brings up move together in an elegant ballet? Is it too obvious that a love story is being forced? Is it painful to read the gruesome battles in fantasy stories? When stories have a natural flow to them, then it’s heaven. I absolutely love it when an author is able to surprise me with a story that moves in one direction and comes out different in the end. And that it makes sense. It has to make sense to me otherwise it’s a nonstarter.

I also try to remember that one flaw in a book doesn’t strike the entire thing as bad. Sometimes authors use social issues like racism, classism, sexual identity, etc as a way to convey a certain theme. It’s hurtful to read, but as long as it makes sense with the story or brings up topics of conversation, then I’m fine with reading about them. However, I know this can be a deal breaker for many and that’s another post for another day.
Why I Don’t Like Monthly TBRs

January 24, 2019

Are you a TBR curator? Do you take the time to put together a loving list of books you’ll read over a month? I used to be this person too.

This month, I decided to share my TBR and really work to build a TBR that fits my reading life. I put the books I needed to read, the books I wanted to read, and some other fun throw-ins. But I’ve noticed something about my reading life when picking out my TBR. With that knowledge, I decided I won’t be putting together TBRs anymore.

Most times, when you see books on your desk, you get super excited about reading them. I know I’m definitely one of those people. But my mood reading has taken a form where it changes week to week. Day to day, even. What I wanted to read one day isn’t what I want to read the next day. I was almost forcing myself to read a book just because I made a promise to read it.

So I tried to keep with the TBR I compiled because I want to see what it’s like to read exactly what you set out to read. I found out this doesn’t work for me. I keep wanting to read other books. I even wanted to look at other books. Not everything on my list is what I want to read, so I understand that some will be need-to-reads. However, I want more control over what I want to read. I want to pick by the gut I live by and do it on the daily rather than monthly schedule.

I try to keep my list varied, but it’s always an unexpected journey with my mood. One day I’ll want to read a thriller while the next I want to read a romance. It changes so frequently that being held to a TBR felt like being imprisoned by my reading life. Staring at the books I want to read also doesn’t help. To me, it looks like a giant mountain of possibility that I won’t be able to climb in my lifetime.

Now one thing I definitely don’t want to do is get excited about a new book and abandon all the other books. I don’t want to read everything my book mail dictates to me because there are some books I don’t feel like reading right away. However, I also have FOMO (the fear of missing out) because everyone is reading some new book while I’ll be putting it off for a few months. The struggle is very first world, but it’s also very real.

I’ll still be keeping the books I need to read on the top of my list for the month. The books I want to read? Well, this mood reader is sticking exactly with her mood.

Do you do TBRs? Do you find them challenging?
10 Books I Want to Get on My Birthday

January 22, 2019

Happy Birthday to me! I’m not a big birthday celebrator. I usually treat myself to something nice and spend time with my friends and family. I think there were some years I didn’t eat cake. Those were the dark years.

Anyway, as a birthday treat, I put together a list of all the books I want to buy for myself. It’s been a while since I’ve purchased any books for myself. I try to read what I already have, but I didn’t get any books for Christmas and if I’m going to treat myself to books what day is better than on your birthday. Some of these books are old favorites, others books I’ve wanted to read for a while. There are even a few pre-orders because I’m so excited about the book publishing this year.

Here’s what I’ll be buying for myself on my birthday:

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

As if I need another fantasy series on my endless list of fantasy series to read. It’s about a young boy named Lazlo Strange who dreams of finding the lost city of Weep. However, he doesn’t have the ability or strength to travel across the world to find some lost city. That is until a band of warriors finds him and he then makes the decision on staying where he is or looking for a mythical city. Of course, there’s magical elements and new worlds to discover.

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

I haven’t read anything by James Baldwin and serendipitously he’s our February read for my online book club. The story follows Tish and Fonny, a young couple who are ready to start their lives together. That is until Fonny is accused and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. It feels like a poignant read from a time when civil rights were fresh and new. It’s funny how history repeats itself.

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

I’m actually going to be reading this one for my real life book club. One of our members has already read it and gushed about it. You can’t really turn your back on a glowing review. It’s about a young woman named Korede who notices her sister, Ayoola, happens to have a lot of bad luck with men; all of them have gone missing. She also knows how to do things like cleaning blood and mourning missing boyfriends. However, when Ayoola starts flirting with Korede’s crush, things take a turn.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

While I made a resolution not to read YA this year, I have to make an exception when it’s an author of color and has representation. This book is definitely your typical contemporary YA, but I’ll be reading it between heavier-themed novels and because representation is just as important.

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

I absolutely loved The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. When I heard Sally Thorne was writing another novel coming out this year, I had to put it on my TBR. The story follows Darcy, her twin brother Jamie, and his best friend Tom. Tom is off-limits dedicating 99% of himself to his friendship with Jamie. However, when Darcy and Jamie inherit a rundown

The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty

Happy birthday to me and Happy Book Birthday to SA Chakraborty. I read Chakraborty’s first book The City of Brass last year and absolutely fell in love with the Middle Eastern folklore and fairy tale. It wasn’t the easiest read as I recall, but it’s never easy when you’re trying to build an entire world filled with myth and legend. Now that the book has been established, I can’t wait to dive into The Kingdom of Copper. I know it’ll be fantastic.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This book sounds so intriguing. It’s about a young woman who lives in the marshes of North Carolina on her own. When a dead body is found, she’s immediately assumed the guilty party. However, what we come to learn is that this woman is an intelligent and sensitive person who wouldn’t harm a fly. It sounds so deeply sad and brilliant at the same time. I can’t wait to read.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

I’m a nut for the Grishaverse. When Leigh Bardugo announced that her books will be coming to Netflix, I squealed a little. So you know I’m going to be collecting and reading King of Scars. If you’re not aware of this book, it’s the story for a fan-loved character, Nikolai. I had a myriad of emotions for him and I can’t wait to read the next chapter of his story in this beautiful book.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I started reading Samantha Shannon when she wrote The Bone Season, which is a great fantasy series. So when she announced she was writing something new, I had to get it regardless of what it’s about. But if you must know, it’s a full blown epic fantasy with heiresses who need to be born, queens to protect, and dragons. OMG, yes a book with freaking dragons in it.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

I’d heard about this book from Katharine at @readwithkat. It’s about a young couple who are both hospitalized for Cystic Fibrosis. One person is on the lung transplant list while the other can’t wait to get out of the hospital. When the two meet, of course there’s turmoil but what was an effort to keep everyone healthy turns into trouble keeping each other apart. I’m going to probably cry.
12 Manga and Comic Books To Read

January 21, 2019

Recently I’ve been getting more into manga and comic books. I’m super thrilled because I used to read these books back when I was in high school and college. It didn’t follow me into my 20s and that makes me the tiniest bit sad. But now I want to change that.

The one downfall is that I don’t know what’s good anymore. I used to read important graphic novels like Maus and Persepolis and fun manga like Sailor Moon, but that was the extent of my comic life. So I asked around for some suggestions and I got a ton of new and old comic books and manga that I’m ready to try. Here’s my short list for now:

Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughn

The first story I’m starting with is Paper Girls. It’s the story of four girls who run paper routes in their small town when one day they encounter what looks to be an alien spaceship. From that point on, the story changes into a time traveling tale of these girls finding the truth, saving the day, and figuring themselves out at the same time.

Saga by Brian K Vaughn

I’ve always been intrigued by this book and its covers, but I never took a shot at it. This is a very adult-themed comic book about two people on opposite sides of a galactic war. They come together, fall in love, and become a family. The hard part is finding their place in a world that doesn’t accept them. I definitely know those feels and I can’t wait to read this one.

Deadly Class by Rick Remender

There are two comic books on this list that I’ve seen posters for all over the place. The reason? They’ve been adapted into a TV show and a movie (respectively). Deadly Class happens to be the TV show and as excited as I am about it, I would much rather read the comic book first. I’m totally a fan of this one because I love the idea of an assassin school where you go to become a bad ass. I think if this kind of school existed, I would have begged my parents to send me there.

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo

When I was younger, I watched Akira for the first time and the whole thing went straight over my head. I got the whole bad kids trying to make it, but it completely lost me when one of the kids got weird monster powers. It’s definitely one of those movies you need to watch a few times before it makes sense. However, I’ve decided to take the route where the book will better explain what the movie didn’t. So to wrap up a really confusing and unanswered question, I’ll be reading this as well. Let’s hope it’s not as creepy as the movie.

Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama

I actually had to do a little research on this one because everyone who was ever a kid heard of Dragon Ball Z. But since the manga and the anime are really old, there’s been iteration after iteration after iteration on this story. Where do you start? Well, I did some research and I’m starting here; at Dragon Ball (no Z). This is the story that leads up to the wildly adored series Dragon Ball Z and I’m the type of person who needs to start from the beginning and get myself to the current. It’ll be a long journey with this one, but I’m excited to take it. I also might not like it. That’s another possibility.

Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi

I recently started watching this anime, but was so confused by what was going on that I decided to check out the manga. This is the story of a young girl who falls down a well in her backyard and enters Feudal Japan. In this old Japan, she meets a half-demon named Inuyasha and they travel the world together to find the shards of an ancient artifact. The anime was super good, but I can’t wait to dive into this manga.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Now that I’m finally into comic books again, I wanted to read Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. As you already know, I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman and have already read five or six of his novels. I’m ready to add the graphic novel as well. This book sounds like a combination of life and death, myth and reality, and a whole lot of fantasy. It follows a being named Morpheus as he looks for his objects of power. I don’t know what that means, but I’m willing to find out.

One Punch Man by ONE

One Punch Man was one of those anime shows I like to hype all the time. I tell everyone to watch it because it’s funny, subversive, and full of action. Now that I’ve watched the anime I want to read the manga. I’m funny that way. This is the story of a young man who is your anti-hero. He has incredible skills and can easily take out an enemy with one punch (hence the name). However, he’s also super bored because a fight isn’t a fight if you go out in one punch. He’s constantly looking for a bigger challenge and being disappointed.

Fruits Baskets by Natsuki Takaya

This is a little bit of a departure from what I’ve been sharing so far. It’s more of a sweet fantasy with a little bit of love. It follows a young girl who loses her house and camps out on some private property. It turns out that the people on this property turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac when touched by the opposite sex. Very strange, but I watched this anime and remember how much I loved it. Of course I’m going to read the manga especially since it’s considered essential reading by a few groups.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki

This is a manga I’ve never heard of, but it’s supposed to be one of the most essential mangas you need to read. It sounds like a brotherly rival story, but with a twist. I’m going in completely blind with this one, but I’m excited to see what it’s about.

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto

I couldn’t put a list of all the great manga I’m going to read and not include Naruto. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever watched Naruto either. I don’t know much about it, but people have raved that it’s an amazing series that makes you fall deeply in love with the characters. Naruto is a troublemaking kid that’s trying to finish Ninja school and comes across a variety of challenges. It’s going to be an exciting one and I can’t wait to get started!

Alita: Battle Angel by Yukito Kashiro

This is the other manga I’ve been seeing all over town and a little curious about. While I don’t want to watch the movie (it doesn’t look good with all that CGI), I definitely want to try out the manga. I’m not 100% sure what it’s about, but the description says it’s about a cyborg woman who lost her memories with a body that will destroy everything. She’s now trying to figure out her life and not kill everything in her path. I don’t know. Don’t quote me on that, it just looks interesting enough for me to check out.

What do you recommend for a newbie like me?
5 Thrillers in the Winter

January 18, 2019

I’ve never done this before, but for some reason this winter I’ve been wanting to read more thrillers. Perhaps it has something to do with the shorter days and longer evenings where anything can happen to someone, but not in the nicest way.

Thriller is one of those genres I love and hate. I find myself at the edge of my seat when I read them, but I also find myself confused by why I should care about the characters. I have a lot of questions and when a genre confuses me, I want to explore it more.

While I’m not completely sure if every book on this list is a thriller, they’re the ones I currently own. If I become a huge thriller fan, then I’ll definitely be looking for more titles to enjoy.

Here’s what I’ll be reading this winter that’ll keep me up way past my bedtime:

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

I’ve already heard that this book is less a thriller and more science fiction. But I think a book can be both. From the sounds of it, it’s got a lot of science components like the idea of parallel universes and the mystery behind the real universe. I think I’m going to really like this one and I’ll actually be reading this over the weekend!

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

I find it really interesting when celebrities write books. Most of the celebrity-written novels I’ve read are nonfiction, but Krysten Ritter decides to write fiction. Of course, I can’t resist a fiction novel written by a celebrity. I want to check it out and see what they’ve written. For Krysten Ritter, she’s written a story about a young woman who goes to expose a big company in her hometown. But things take a turn for the worse and we’re all left wondering what happened.

Social Creatures by Tara Isabella Burton

Maybe it’s because I miss my beloved New York a little, but I’ll be enjoying Social Creature this winter as well. I wanted to read something a little edgy and I think Tara Isabella Burton delivers that in her book Social Creature. It’s said to be like The Talented Mr Ripley, so I’m up for this creepy book.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I actually already seen the movie for this book, but the movie really prompted me to read it. I’ve never read Agatha Christie before, but I’ve always wanted to. While I know she’s not a thriller writer (more of a true crime writer), I’m adding her book to this category. Any book that has a mystery that needs to be solved is a thriller to me despite its

The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

Could I be any later to this one? I’ve been trying to read The Girl on the Train even before the movie came out. However, I couldn’t get into and I DNF’d after a few pages. But now I feel like I’m at a better place in my life and can focus on this book and get into it. Let’s see if the second time I try to read this book will be more successful.

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King

While I continue to explore thrillers, I definintely wanted to get more Stephen King. However, Stephen King is much more a horror author than he is anything else, but this epic thriller/fantasy combines two of my favorite genres together. Of course I needed to take a look into this book and see if both father and son can keep me up at night (that sounds dirty.)

Do you like reading thrillers in the winter?
10 Nonfiction Novels I’ll Be Reading This Year

January 16, 2019

This year, one of my big goals is to read more nonfiction. Nonfiction is a category I’ve rarely explored mostly because I’m an escapist and I use reading to leave the confines of my own world and enter another.

But on occasion, I do read some nonfiction. My preferred genre is memoirs and autobiographies, though. I love reading stories of real people and their everyday lives. I usually pick memoirs of public figures I admire.

And while there are tons of nonfiction I could be picking up this year, I think I’m going to start off slow and read what I know. If I like it enough, then maybe I’ll be converted to nonfiction exclusively. But I don’t think that’s the case. Here’s a list of some of the nonfiction novels I’ll be reading this year:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Of course I want to read about Michelle Obama’s life. Is there anything more I need to say about it?

Educated by Tara Westover

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this particular book. Reading the description, I’m now more intrigued. I love the idea of education being a journey through the dark unknown. The idea of someone who had been homeschooled her entire life in an isolated part of America and then setting off to find education outside the confines of what she knew. I mean, that sounds intriguing enough for me to continue reading.

My Life in France by Julia Child

This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and it’s finally time for me to read it. I’m a huge fan of Julia Child and I’ve read biographies about her in the past. I even made her recipes to celebrate her birthday. However, I’ve never read her first-hand account of living in France and it’s finally time for me to read it and enjoy it like a delicious dish.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

I’m not a fan of The Daily Show, but I’m a fan of Trevor Noah. Born a Crime is his personal stories of growing up in South Africa during apartheid and even calls his own birth a crime. It sounds like such an interesting story and I can’t wait to see what drives him to comedy and becoming the host of The Daily Show.

To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins

I didn’t know that Jedidiah Jenkins quit his job to create his career. If you’re not aware, Jedidiah Jenkins is Instagram famous for taking pictures of his beautiful journey. It’s like Wild, but in pictures. I love stories like this because I always become so inspired by their lives. I’ll definitely be reading this one and perhaps planning my own cross-continental journey.

Heavy by Kiese Laymon

This book is actually going to be the first nonfiction novel I’ll be reading this year. I didn’t know about Heavy until a friend talked about it on her Instagram page. I think that honest accounts of the world make reading more interesting and I think Kiese Laymon’s life will be one that will not only surprise but educate us all.

Watch Me by Angelica Huston

I know after talking about a book like Heavy, I’m going to chat about Watch Me by Angelica Huston. TBH, this book has been on my TBR shelf for years and I want to read it to get it over with. Don’t you love a good celebrity autobiography once in a while?

Hunger by Roxane Gay

When Roxane Gay first put out this novel, I was definitely there to pick it up. I think body image and food are two very big topics that get messed around with a lot. We’re told so many things about the way we eat, what we eat, and what we look like. I want to explore Roxane’s book and listen to her account.

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

Over the holidays, a friend of mine told me that reading Men We Reaped brought a lot of insight to the other books Jesmyn Ward’s written. It’s a memoir about five men Jesmyn lost in five years. Each of these men died for different reasons, but I can understand with a tragedy like that why someone would want to look into it. I think the most interesting book will be learning what she’s learned from it and what we’re all going to be taking away from reading her novel.