Category Archives: Reviews

My thoughts on books, movies, tv shows and more

Book Review: Moxie

Image result for moxie by jennifer mathieu

Hey!

I’m back again with yet another book review. I know that I am unintentionally turning this into a book blog, but at least you have consistent posts from me for a little bit right?!? And…at least you know that I’m working on at least one of resolutions rather consistently this year…;)

Let’s get back to the topic at hand. In case you haven’t noticed is about the book Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu. This was a YA read chosen for the May or June Creating & Co book club read. I know I’m behind, but at least for now I’m at least caught up on that book club reads I think…

In the book we meet Vivian Carter, a junior at EastRockport High, who finally after years of dealing with the same small town attitude to guys and football gets feed up and decides to fight back in the only way that she knows how. She takes inspiration from her mother’s Riot Grrrl ‘zines and begins one of her own distributing anonymously throughout the school. Before she knows it, the ‘zines have created a movement all their own which ends up leading to a revolution at the school.

I’m not even going to apologize for somewhat spoiling the book because once you even read the jacket you know that there was only 2 ways that this was going to end, Revolution or sadness. I probably would have warned you if this was a tear jerker. If you aren’t already familiar with the Feminist Revolution this is definitely a good introduction to some materials that you should read. If you are familiar with the revolution this is good book to make you want to continue the fight for other girls/women. I know that this book probably has some basis in real life events since things like this seem all too common throughout America.

Let me know if you have read this book and what you thought. If you have any recommendations for books I should read this year, let me know 🙂 I’ll also be participating in the Creating&Co RIP Readathon in October,so they’ll be a ton more reviews coming soon!

I’ll see you soon with another post.

 

Book Review: TBR Throwdown books

Hey!

I’m back again with yet another book review. I know that I am unintentionally turning this into a book blog, but at least you have consistent posts from me for a little bit right?!? This posts is going to be mini reviews of all the books that I read during the Creating & Co TBR Throwdown because I nearly almost finished all the books that I had planned to read that week. WHAT!?! Yes, I know pretty amazing and that includes a few that weren’t on my TBR for that week!

Image result for wicked deep shea ernshaw

I started the week by finally getting around to reading The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, this was actually the Creating & Co Book Club pick in April or something. I know I’m a little behind, I picked up the book when we were suppose to read it but never actually got into it. I was finally able to get myself to read at least 50 pages and after that I was hooked! This was definitely an atmospheric book once you got into it. Though I will admit that parts of it did read a bit like Twilight.

Here’s a quick synopsis of the book: Penny Talbot has lived on an island near the town of Sparrow for her whole life and grew up with the legend of the Swan Sisters. The whole town prepares for the summer when the Swan Sisters return to life and wander around town and bad things happen. This summer though Bo Carter, a stranger comes to town and is determined to solve the mystery of his brother’s death. Soon, it comes down to Penny and Bo having to choose between saving each other or saving only one of them.

Image result for old man and the seaThe next book I read that week was The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I had made it my goal for August to read a classic and this seemed like a perfect place to start. Let’s be really honest there are probably a million books I should read and I’m only slowly working my way through that list!

While this book weighs in at only 127 pages, I found myself struggling through the heaviness of the book. It’s not a fast read by any means, any author of this caliber doesn’t waste time on useless words. You can tell when you read it that every word is weighed and carefully chosen to give just the right effect. I cheered for the Old Man as he fought the fish so valiantly and was a little ticked off that none of the other townspeople came to look for him. Uhh…did I just spoil the book? Possibly, but you should read it anyway if you haven’t read it. At least trudge through it so you can appreciate the work of Hemingway.

The next book I finished this week was The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint- Exupery. After watchingImage result for the little prince the Netflix I knew that I would definitely have to read the book as to better understand the story. Like many book to movie adaptations I wasn’t surprised that the book was different from the movie I was surprised at how much the book and movie differed. I would actually have to say that I liked the Netflix special a little bit better because it had so many more quotable moments that the book. I’m still grateful that I read the book and am definitely keeping it in my collection.Perhaps I need to read a few more of Antoine De Saint-Exupery’s book to better understand this one.

I did start another book at the end of the week, but since I didn’t finish I think that will have to go in a separate review by itself. Also so many more reviews and things coming here soon!

Let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought. If you have any recommendations for books I should read this year, let me know 🙂 I’ll also be participating in the Creating & Co RIP Readathon in October, so they’ll be a ton more reviews coming soon! I’ll see you soon with another post.

 

Book Review: I didn’t come here to make friends

Image result for i didn't come here to make friends

Hey!

So, yes I’m back again with yet another book review. I know that I am unintentionally turning this into a book blog, but at least you have consistent posts from me for a little bit right?!?

I’ll admit that I’m not a hardcore watcher of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, and yet when Sarah Belle mentioned this book on her youtube channel I knew that I would probably end up reading it someday. I will have to mention that I did get sucked in hardcore to Rachel’s season though I’m still sad that she didn’t pick Peter. I case you haven’t figured it out yet, today’s post is going to be about Courtney Robertson’s book I didn’t come here to make friends: Confessions of A Reality Show Villian.

In the book Courtney details her love life from a young adolescent stage all the way up to know which includes detailed accounts of her time on the Bachelor and her experience with Ben Flajnik. I loved how she was so candid about life with her mother and how that made it suck for her dating life. I also loved that her parents trusted and believed in her enough to take a modeling gig with Abercrombie & Fitch overseas and then sometime after that quit school to do modeling full time. Not only did her parents trust her then, but they also trusted her to make the right decision on whether or not to be on the Bachelor. She even says that her dad was really proud of her for making a rational decision at that point in her life.

It’s a little strange to read about how fake the show is and how it comes across that the contestants are on the show are somewhat held hostage to the reality show vibe. I can totally understand how a few of the girls from Courtney’s season wanted off the show after just a few weeks. I’m a little sad that she and Ben didn’t make it as a couple, but truthfully it doesn’t appear that Ben was ready for a real adult relationship. I think I’m more sad that the majority of couples from these shows don’t work out, I think it would be a better testament if more of your couples did work out in the long run.

Let me know if you have read this book and what you thought. Do you watch the Bachelor/ Bachelorette franchise? If you have any recommendations for books I should read this year, let me know 🙂 I’ll also be participating in the Creating&Co August TBR Throwdown Readathon, so expect a bunch of mini reviews in a post soon!

I’ll see you soon with another post.

Book Review: How did I get here?

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Hey!

I’m back again with yet another book review. I know that I am unintentionally turning this into a book blog, but at least you have consistent posts from me for a little bit right?!?

Let’s get back to the topic at hand. This book review in case you haven’t noticed is about the book How did I get here?: The ascent of an unlikely CEO by Tony Hawk with Pat Hawk. Let’s just say that I have owned this book for a considerable amount of time and bought it because there was a time I was into Tony Hawk. This year in my “Let’s read all the books and empty out the bookshelves” challenge. I’ve finally broke down and decided to read this book and I’m so glad I did!

So this would be the part where I tell you that when my goodreads told me that I had already read the book, I knew that it had lied. I probably never actually finished the book to be honest. But thanks to this year’s “Let’s read all the things” motivation. I can tell you safely that I have now read the book cover to cover. While this isn’t a biography about Tony Hawk, he does talk quite a bit about his career in relation to his company. I believe that he actually does have a biography out, I might just pick that up to read also. The book comes with no set in stone advice to other business entrepreneurs you are hoping to take their career from celebrity to brand. He talks about each scenario he encountered and how he got past it. I loved the pictures in the book along with the details of each product associated with building BirdHouse. I would recommend this if you like Tony Hawk, Birdhouse Industries, or are just reading in how Tony Hawk remained such a celebrity in spite having officially ended his careers nearly 2 decades ago.

Let me know if you have read this book and what you thought. If you have any recommendations for books I should read this year, let me know 🙂 I’ll also be participating in the Creating & Co June Relaxation Readathon, so they’ll be a ton more reviews coming soon! I’ll see you soon with another post.

 

Book Review: The Boy is Back

Hey!

I’m back again with yet another book review. I know that I am unintentionally turning this into a book blog, but at least you have consistent posts from me for a little bit right?!?

Let’s get back to the topic at hand. This book review in case you haven’t noticed is about the book The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot. This is part of the Boy series, which some people say is more of just in the same universe as the other characters in the Boy series. I read one of the Boy books at the near begins of this blog, which you can read about it here.

This fictional story with no definite chapters is told through screen shots of phone screens, emails , and IMs. This format made it easier to read, but at the same time it also made it harder to stop and find a good stopping place for when I wanted to put the book down. I’m glad that this is a standalone book even though it does contain characters from the other books, so I wasn’t stressed out about not having kept up with the series. I will be getting back to picking up Meg Cabot books since I have once again fallen in love with her writing.

I apologize if this spoils anything for you, but perhaps I’m a not so secret chick lit reader so reading this book definitely helped me get me out of the reading slump that so many of the non-fiction books that I’ve been reading. I’m glad that I could have a quick beach read and enjoy it with so much vigor.

Let me know if you have read this book and what you thought. If you have any recommendations for books I should read this year, let me know 🙂 I’ll also be participating in the Creating&Co August TBR Throwdown Readathon, so they’ll be a ton more reviews coming soon!

I’ll see you soon with another post.