Reading

 So I really biffed my reading blog, I've read tons of books this year so I'm just going to tell you about the ones that stand out, and what I've been doing to read more.

I was lucky enough to go to my local library main branch to get a new card, and I've downloaded the app Libby so that I can take out ebooks and audiobooks from the library. It's a very good app, they are often missing books or only have the ebook version but there's still tons of books that I want to read and enjoy. Higly recommend downloading the app and supporting your wallet as well as your local library. It's really helped me with my spending.

So far my favorite books of 2021 are 

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by Victoria Schwab

The Project by Courtney Summers

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

Trail of Lightening and Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Lovesickness by Junji Ito

Survive the Night and Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Bouilley

Docile by K. M. Szpara

The Space Between Worlds by Macaiah Johnson

Don't Call it a Cult by Sarah Berman

Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Hot Under His Collar by Andie J. Christopher

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

It's been a lot but I've had a great reading year so far and I'm looking forward to reading even more 💕

Recent Reads

 Since I'm atrociously bad at consistency, probably due to poor mental health here are a few books I've read recently and either loved, enjoyed or felt quite blah about.

First my 5 star reads

In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Nevermoor: the Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

and

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

My four star reads were 

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull

The Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

and finally books I could live without

all those damn Bridgerton books that I binged because of poor mental health.... but also ... I was obssessed, I'm happy I left that phase behind me. It only took like 14 something books that were pretty much all the same for me to get over it, but I came out on the other side, I've read some great books these last two months.

Dad's first reads 2021

My Dad has already read almost 10 books but I only have notes so far to 5 of them. I'm excited for the next batch because I gave him a few translated mysteries from other countries and that's always fun...for me. Anyways, on to the list!

 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 3.5/5 this book is told in the perspective of an 11 year Fluvia. Dad thought that the kid nerration explained it all meticulously, that it was very smart and realistic. He thought the mystery was good, suspenseful toward end, and he really enjoyed that you learned the story more  as she learned and figured it out.

Killing with Confetti by Peter Lovesy 4.5/5  He said "and I quote, "through a big fucking wrench into me... that ending." He really thought it was good, that it had started out slightly confusing but unfolded well and he loved it.

Good Girls Lie by J. T Ellison 4/5 Basically Dad's usual descriptions for books. was different, kept in suspense, mystery off the start then near middle you figure out what's going on, past and present povs, better written, etc... He still makes me want to read it. 😝

I See You by Clare MacKintosh 4/5 Once again his usual but he told me I should just read this one, so that must mean it was pretty nifty. enjoyed it, liked how it came together and surprised at ending, keep guessing over culprit, accessory and victims until very end

Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid 4/5 Dad also really like this true crime book he found it very informative, although a little dry in places hence to 4 not 5 star. My dad was also quite pissed by the end of book and I'm pretty sure that's the point. Racism against indigenous peoples in North America is extremely rampant, and it's hard to catch onto sometimes especially if you're white, which is why books like this is so important. Let's learn and do better, my father was furious and learnt a lot. Definitely recommend.

The Pisces Book Review

 The Pisces by Melissa Broder

Um, 2 stars? I think, maybe? 

Pretty much my reactions when reading this book, 

"Um weird"

"Fucking rude"

"Ok, hold the phone"

"wth"

"wtf"

"OMFG"

This book is a ride from start to finish, it's about Lucy a 38 year old woman having a crisis over her breakup with long term boyfriend and thesis, because she's pretty much breaking up with both the boyfriend and the thesis. She is unapologetic for being the biggest asshole and most self centered person on the planet while also I pity her because she's obviously struggling with severe mental health issues and extreme depression. As someone who struggles with poor mental health I don't think that gives people a right to be an asshole and disrespect others. Lucy is slightly redeemable and i have hope for her future self after the book ends, but honestly just ugh. 

So this book was marketed to me as 'merman erotica' and it did have fishy sex, but it is not erotica because I was disgusted by every sex scene in this book. It's either disappointing, gross or both. Theo was also an unhealthy mother fucker, who toyed with Lucy that I felt like she was getting brainwashed by him. Jeez, giver the girl a healthy relationship. 

Honestly, at one point in the book our mc Lucy just pretty spirals down into non-existence and makes terrible decisions with REAL consequences, which she seemed to learn from but it was a little late. I don't want to spoil this book if you decide to read it, if you need spoilers hit me up on my instagram @booksontuesday

I did give this the 2 stars because I do think it showed how mental health affects us, and how we can become so obsessed with ourselves that we become out of control. And honestly I think maybe that's part of the point of the book but also by 3/4's of my way through it I only finished it because I craved closure from the story. And I NEEDED, not wanted, to write this review to let my very complicated feelings out which also means that maybe this is a good book? Because I can't stop thinking about it... 

Or maybe it's so bad that it's going to haunt me for the rest of my life.

I need a stiff drink. 

May the odds be ever in your favour.

Also putting the trigger warnings slightly down because they often spoil parts of the story, read at your own will.

#thepisces #thepiscesbookreview #melissabroder 

Otherwise the trigger warnings are animal abuse/death, graphic sex, depression, suicide and talk of suicide

My Most Anticipated books 2021

• In the Ravenous Dark by Strickland
• The Project by Summers
• Gilded Serpent by Jensen
• Blade of Secrets by Levenseller
• Daughter of Sparta by Andrews
• Six Crimson Cranes by Lim
• Lost in the Deep Dark Woods by Thomas
• Bridge of Souls by Schwab
• Crown of Gilded Bones by Armentrout
• Ariadne by Saint

This is a very short list but I want all these so much!!!! 

Top 2020 reads

 My List

• Mooncakes
• 
  The Shadows Between Us
• The Black Witch and Iron Flower
• From Blood and Ash
• Dark Shores and Dark Skies
• This is How You Lose the Time War
• The Song of Achilles
• My Dark Vanessa
• Fable
• Mexican Gothic
• Queen of Nothing
• Watch Over Me
• Spoiler Alert

My Dad's List

• Hunting Whitey
• The Last Time I Lied
• The Guest List
• Murder in the Crooked House
• Hunted
• In the Cold Dark Ground
  

Man it was a great reading year! Tell me your favorite book that you read in 2020?

Dad Reads Winter Edition 2

Once again I have no strenght or will power to make my notes coherent, nobody reads my blog anyways 😩 so here are my dads thoughts on books he read at the end of November and throughout December.

 Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd 3.5/5 well written, in some suspense, slightly dragged out, good mystery tag line "what goes around comes around"

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger 3.5/5 pretty good, kept wondering, you just have to read it to know

The Residence by Andrew Pyper 3/5 a little fucked up "it was," ending didn't make much sense, one extreme to another different level, maybe would read his other books 

Watching from the Dark by Gytha Lodge 3.5/5 drawn out, was ok, past and present perspectives and had him stumped

The Last Thing to Burn  by Will Dean 4.5/5 well written, thriller suspense mystery and a bit of a mind fuck, really stood out from other novels

Once again some of these are arcs and aren't released yet. Keep your eyes open for them, there's definitely a few I really want to read.