Unearthly

It appears that I have become a Young Adult fiction addict. I blame it on Epic Reads.

At any rate, this isn't some particularly powerful book. The writing is fairly simple, written for the teen audience. I loved it anyway. But I was left with a sense of irresolution and it is uncomfortable.

It's about angels, basically. But, then again, it's not. And while I was entirely aware that I was reading YA fiction throughout this book, I was still compelled to read just one more chapter before bed each night. For three nights. That's how long it took me to finish it. It would have been two nights if I didn't have a self-imposed thirty-something working single mom bedtime.

I really enjoyed this book. And I am now compelled to move onto book two in the series, Hallowed, because I need to know what Clara does next.

The Fault In Our Stars

Sadness. Humor. Despair. More Humor. Devastation. Sobbing. Gut-wrenching, shoulder-jerking sobs. Hope. Happiness. More Sadness. Laugh. Cry. Laugh. Cry.

emotionally. exhausted.

Here's what I can tell you. Don't read the book while sitting in the chair at the beauty salon unless you are fully comfortable with baring your soul to not only your hairdresser, but also the complete strangers who will not begin to understand why tears are flowing down your cheeks and your shoulders are shaking uncontrollably.

Don't read the book in bed late at night if you happen to have a loft bedroom without any doors (really, who builds a bedroom with no door?) and two teenage sons downstairs who will be overly concerned about their mother, who was fine an hour ago, sobbing and using up all the tissues in the middle of the night.

Here is the thing. The book is about cancer. KIDS with cancer, no less. I have been blessed to have two healthy sons and to be healthy myself. It is entirely possible that some life-shattering disease will strike one of us at some point in our lives, but I prefer not to consider that. The fact that we are a healthy family made it possible for me to get through this book and enjoy it, even the devastating parts. If I had a child with cancer, I'm just not sure. I'm not sure if this book would help or hurt. I can't make that judgment. I pray that I never can.

But it is certainly one of those books that should be on your list. And not just because it's set in my home state or because it references Rik Smits.

Just make sure you have plenty of tissues handy. Probably more than one box.

The Madman's Daughter

I want to go back to the island.

A debut novel from Megan Shepherd and I'm anxious to read her follow up, Her Dark Curiosity.

I read The Madman's Daughter as part of a readathon through Epic Reads. That definitely added to my enjoyment of the book, as I love a challenge. But, even with my hectic schedule these days, I found it easy to finish this book in just a few days. It is engaging and different. It is outlandish, but in a good way. It was far more satisfying than Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children which continues to baffle me to this day. (I'm still not sure whether I loved it or hated it. Since I have no desire to read the follow up, I'm pretty sure I hated it.)

The beauty of The Madman's Daughter is that it was scary enough to have me looking over my shoulder at night while in the comfort of my own home, but not so terrifying as to scar me for life so I may never sleep again.

I spent most of the book begging to get off the island. Now all I want to do is go back.

Learning to Push Myself

I just finished up PUSH: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin' Body, and the Life You Deserve!

I started reading it at the suggestion of my Beachbody coach and have to say I am glad I did. It's not that anything Chalene writes is revolutionary. In fact, it's mostly just a book of common sense. But she lays it out in a way that makes it easy to apply some significant changes to your everyday life. I would like to use the phrase life-changing here, but I will reserve that label until I've had a few months to continue following these new habits.

The book is actually set up with 30 daily readings, each between 2 to 6 pages. Nothing overwhelming, for sure. Still, it took me two months to finish the book. I don't fault Chalene for this. It took me 11 years to finish a 4 year degree and I have been working my dissertation forever (literally, forever), so I tend to be on the slow side with this type of thing.

But I did finish it and I have applied the recommendations Chalene provides in this simple, yet powerful book and I have felt a shift in my life. A shift for the better. And I plan to revisit the book every few months to make sure I'm still applying the knowledge and pushing myself forward.

Bonus? There are some yummy recipes at the end of the book, none of which have I tried to make. I don't cook. In fact, if I ever make my million, I'm hiring a personal chef. And grocery shopper. Grocery shopping also makes me sad. I'd live off of TV dinners if I didn't believe they would give me cancer. (Yeah, I totally believe that.)

Happy reading!

A Peculiar Read

Book Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs

I was initially drawn to this book because of the title. I was intrigued by the label "peculiar children." What could the author mean by this? Then I saw the cover and my intrigue only grew.

That is peculiar.

I drove to the bookstore, purchased the book, and immediately began devouring it. The first half of the book was nearly riveting. It was somewhat put-downable, but still very intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half.

The second half of the book, however, is more of a mystery to me. Don't get me wrong, it was well-written and the premise was clear. But I have spent the past few weeks puzzling through my emotions and thoughts and have yet to arrive at a solid opinion. I simply don't know whether or not I enjoyed the book, as a whole. I cannot say whether or not I find the author's resolution entertaining.

Perhaps the author accomplished exactly what he set out to do: create a work that leaves the reader with the most peculiar sense of confusion over how they felt about their experience with it. I suspect not. I suspect that my conflicted reaction to this strange story is unique to me and that other readers will either love it or hate it. I would suggest that it is worth your time to determine which group you fall into.

Amazon offers a trailer for the book that makes it seem spookier than it actually turns out to be:
Trailer for the book

If nothing else, you'll want to read it before they make it into a movie, which they undoubtedly will. And then please let me know whether or not I loved it or hated it. Because I just can't decide for myself.