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coolitoff · 6 years

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What I’ve Been Reading

30 August 2018

So this post is a bit different from what you would expect from a study abroad blog, but seeing as a need something to fill the time before I leave, I figured that I could share some of my favourite things I read this summer with you!

Crazy Rich Asians Series by Kevin Kwan

This is the book series of the moment! I started reading the first book last summer when I heard they were making a movie, determined to read it before it came out.... flash forward a year and I was 50 pages from the end when I saw the movie. It was actually kind of nice to be left in suspense, as both the book and movie endings - while different - were surprises! As I write this post, I’m listening to the movie soundtrack and I’ve already seen the movie twice! Being half-Chinese, this movie was extremely extremely important to me as a form of representation (as is the next book series and subsequent movie) and it was an amazing movie and book series. If you’ve only read the first book because of the movie, I highly recommend reading the next two books (I actually like the second book, China Rich Girlfriend, the best. I’m currently half-way through the last book, Rich People Problems, and I plan on reading it this weekend at the lake). The books are hilarious and I can’t wait until the movie sequel!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series by Jenny Han

Speaking of books that are very important in terms of Asian-American representation... here is my favourite book series of all time, which I re-read for probably the third or fourth time this summer. I first stumbled upon the first book, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, in high school and found the perspective of half-Korean, romantic, dreamy, old-fashioned Lara Jean extremely relatable. Lara Jean would rather stay home and hang out with her family than go out to high school parties - she bakes, crafts, and is romantic to the point of writing love letters to all of her old and current crushes (never intending to send them, that is - of course, them being anonymously sent out is the beginning of the first book). This summer, Netflix released a movie adaptation of the first book, spurring my re-read. The movie has gained a big online following, and rightly so! I’m so glad that young Asian-Americans can see themselves represented on screen, especially in romantic comedies like To All the Boys and Crazy Rich Asians. Since I am vastly unarticulate when it comes to my feelings, I thought that I would instead share a piece by Tanya Chen about Kimberly Yam’s emotional reaction to Crazy Rich Asians, which conveys a lot of my feelings about the movie - you can find it here.

Anna and the French Kiss Series by Stephanie Perkins

I flew through this series at the very beginning of the summer, so I can’t really say much about the plot to each book except that each one follows a different character on their way to love. It’s an extremely cute book series and a definitely romantic and easy beach read!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Another book I really tore through in anticipation of the movie! I read this book in a day when I was in Ohio for a week, and I cannot recommend it or the movie enough. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a big sucker for romances, and this book is no different. Written as a series of letters, the format is one I have never liked in the past. But the charm of this book - and it’s main character, Juliet Ashton - really changed my mind about the style. Set in 1946 after World War II, the book follows Juliet and her correspondence with the inhabitants of Guernsey (which was occupied during the war). I won’t say anything else to spoil it, except that the movie stars Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matthew Goode and Penelope Wilton, so if you like Downton Abbey you will definitely like this movie! (and book, as you can use your imagination to picture these amazing and beautiful actors in their roles, as I did)

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda & Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (also known as the Creekwood Series? According to Goodreads.com)

It seems as though a theme in my reading has emerged... I may read books that have been turned into movies, or are soon to be turned into movies. I think there’s something about having a cast that allows me to imagine the book better or at least I’ll use that as my excuse! Anywho, these two books (in the theme of representation) are amazing LGBTQ+ representation for both gay and bisexual characters. Scarce is media that represents, let alone says the word, bisexuals, so I really enjoyed Leah on the Offbeat (this is a random offshoot, but if you want to see some a fun, light, and happy show that gets an A+ in representation, watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine!). Prayers for a movie about Leah!

Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

Last summer, I read two other books by Anstey - Love, Lies and Spies and Duels and Deception - and loved them, so I just had to read her new book, Suitors and Sabotage. All of her books have Jane Austen-y heroines set in the Georgian Era, which was a big draw for me. The heroines are charming, the mysteries intriguing, and the love interests dashing. I can’t recommend these books enough and I’m super excited for her next book, Carols and Chaos, that comes out in October of this year. Another quick note, the publisher, Swoon Reads, does a lot of cute and romantic YA books, so if you’re into that (like I clearly am) I recommend taking a scroll through their website. (Her book covers are so pretty that I had to include them all here!)

I read many more books but these were my favourites! We’ll see what I come up with for my next post!

Cheers :)

Helena

#books #reading #ya lit #summer reading #beach reads #predeparture #crazy rich asians #to all the boys i've loved before #anna and the french kiss #the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society #simon vs. the homo sapiens agenda #leah on the offbeat #suitors and sabotage #book reviews #book recommendations

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willreadforbooze · 5 years

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Hello!

Here’s our weekly wrap up from the WRFB crew =)

Sam’s Update:

I got a lot of reading done this week. I was in the Poconos for a friend’s birthday and it was super chill, then I made sure to dedicate some reading time since I have 5 (yes FIVE) more books to read to finish up my NEWTs.

What Sam finished this week:

NEWTs E-level Transfiguration: Age of Legend by Michael J Sullivan: This is the 4th installment of this series. This wasn’t my favorite of his books, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t exceptional. I love all of this man’s books. So much.

NEWTs O-level Transfiguration: Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian: this is the sequel to Ash Princess. I think this one was ok, but not nearly as good as the first. Suffered from 2nd-book syndrome I think.

NEWTs A-level Ancient Runes: All Systems Red by Martha Wells: This was a re-read for me since I had basically forgotten the plot. I knew I loved Murderbot but not what had happened. I’m pretty happy with my reread (also switched this out from Radical Candor because that one was too long for this readathon)

NEWTs A-level Arithmancy: Fireborne by Rosaria Munda: Picked up this ARC at ALA and damn it was a good choice. Great debut, great story. Full review to come.

NEWTs E-level Charms: Illegal by Eoin Colfer: A graphic novel about a boy from Ghana trying to get to Europe for a better life. This was heartbreaking to see the boy go across the desert, across the sea, and all its horrors. Flew through this.

What Sam’s reading now:

NEWTs E-level Ancient Runes: Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk: Another ALA ARC grab, but am listening on audio since it came out on Aug 6th. In this story, Robin Hood follows King Richard on his crusade and it’s Maid Marian who is steals from the rich to give to the poor. Only just started but I am excite.

NEWTs O-level Charms: The Future of Another Timeline by Annalie Newitz: Considering I’m only a chapter in, I will save the summary and my thoughts until next week.

Ginny’s Update:

I hope you’ve had a great week and are ready to jump in to Monday proper. I have a massage lined up for tonight so regardless of how the actual day goes, I know I’m gonna have a great afternoon!

Currently Reading:

Normal People by Sally Rooney: I’ve heard such good things about this book and it finally came up from the library! It follows two teens, one popular/one not, as they start dating away from the public eye. I think it’s going to swap when they go to college but I haven’t gotten there yet. The characters are realistic and can be oblivious in the way I’ve always felt a little bit oblivious, so I’m enjoying it so far.

Stormrise by Julian Boehme: I literally just started reading this so I’m like 20 pages in and don’t have much to say yes. Except apparently this is going to be Mulan but with dragons!!!!! I’ve been playing a lot of Skyrim recently so I AM HERE FOR DRAGONS!

Just Finished:

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh: Yeah this is a series where I’m constantly either going to be reading one of the books, or will at least have it on hold at the library. This follows one of the secondary characters is the first book, and includes an F-psy who can forecast the future. There’s a lot of him trying to get her acclimated to physical contact which was not necessarily my jam. A little too much, i know better than her, which, ugh. Regardless, still a fun story and gets a 3.5/5

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer: I wrote a review. I have strong opinions. Book club for this is Wednesday… … …

Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins: This will surprise no one but I follow a bunch of romance novelists on twitter. They are delightful and have definitely influenced my reading list. I’ve heard about this author forever and I’m disappointed it took me this long to finally read one of her books. Eddy is a badass and is slowly working her way towards California with both good and bad luck. Rhine is a former slave who is light skinned enough to pass as white and has decided to do so. They meet and there’s instant chemistry. Except Eddy shuts that shit down, she knows what happens between a mixed race couple after the civil war…. It’s delightful. 4/5

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow: I love a good portal novel and whoo boy. I’m definitely writing a review of this one because I would like to honor January’s love and honor of writing and the power of the written word.

Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire: This is the sequel to Discount Armageddon which I read last week. The worlds that she builds are SO GREAT! Quick summary. Verity has been warned by her quasi-boyfriend that the Covenant are coming to New York for a purge. Obviously this is worriesome. Review forthcoming.

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra: In my head I’m singing “One of these things is not like the other.” This was a look at what happens in a country that has dealt with constant low level terrorism. The main character’s wife is a suicide bomber in an attack that kills a number of people. He decides he needs to figure out what happened and where he went wrong. The search is interesting, but I found the ending to be a little bit abrupt. While that makes sense in the narrative arc of the book, I still found myself disappointed that there wasn’t some sort of ending that allows Amin to choose a side and make a directional shift. 3/5

Minda’s Update:

Oof. Still doing NEWTs, but it’s slow going.

What Minda is reading now:

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – Moving along, but it’s moving slowly.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente – Expected to pick this up last week, but didn’t. This week it is!

Linz’s Update:

Oh god I felt so ready for DragonCon and now I feel woefully underprepared. I literally went into my calendar and blocked next Saturday off to finish work.

What Linz read:

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: YOU GUYSSSSSSSSSS. UGH. EVERYTHING.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Asad: Middle East/central Asia-inspired debut fantasy, with djinn and lots of food and some great characters. (It was a solid debut and honestly I preferred it to City of Brass).

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson: So, a bunch of girls were kidnapped by a rich crazy guy, who makes them live in a hidden garden and tattoos butterfly wings on their backs.They get rescued (THIS IS LITERALLY IN THE GOODREADS DESCRIPTION NOT A SPOILER), and the FBI tries to pick apart what happened with a cagey survivor. You def already knew what happened so it lost some of the potential tension, and the survivor isn’t really that mysterious, just has a drama-heavy backstory. It was fine?

After by Anna Todd: NOPE. Review forthcoming.

What Linz is currently reading:

I actually had to take a little reading break to get stuff done, but I *did* just get Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree from the library, so likely starting that today, or my ARC of The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,

Sam, Melinda, Linz, and Ginny

Weekly Wrap-Up: August 11-18, 2019 Hello! Here's our weekly wrap up from the WRFB crew =) Sam's Update: I got a lot of reading done this week.

#Wrap Up

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