I Read: Broken Genius

Broken Genius by Drew Murray

Alright, so this one is a little different. The author this time, is the instructor I had for the Science Fiction/Fantasy course I took at the beginning of the year. I  enjoyed his class, and he talked about his writing and publishing journey, and despite the fact that this is not generally what I would read, I was interested.

Short review - it's a good book. I enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, and kept my attention. There are some annoying character things, and a few things I think an copy editor should have picked up on, but might just be language preferences. And I'm just going to put it out there that I hate that every kind of book has to have some kind of love/sex/romance piece to it. Can't it just be a mystery/thriller for it's own sake?  Anyway...

I Read: On The Come Up

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas really seems to have a knack for creating characters. Ones that make you feel something, even in situations you relate to.

This was Thomas' second novel, and while not as acclaimed as The Hate U Give, is still poignant and dramatic. It's not a sequel, but it is set in the same community, and there are references to events of The Hate U Give in On the Come Up. (There's also a reference to On the Come Up's lead character in The Hate U Give if you were able to remember it. - The advantage of reading them consecutively.)

I Read: The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I don't even know where to start with this one. I can not say enough about it. I know it's acclaimed, and it's been talked about for several years already - long enough that there's already been a follow-up released, which is next on my TBR list.

This was amazing. Heartbreaking and lovely and powerful and scary. And wonderful. It's no wonder it was acclaimed. I haven't yet seen the movie, but I'm afraid to because the book left me with so much.

I Read: The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons on Mischief Farms

The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons on Mischief Farms by Hilarie Burton Morgan

If you know me well, you're not surprised that I had to read this one. I watched One Tree Hill from start to finish, and then found out that "Peyton" was practically (and then officially) married to "John Winchester" from Supernatural.  Instant fascination with them as a couple.

Hilarie Burton as Peyton was never my favourite on OTH, but there was always something about her that I respected. Having read this book now, that respect is heightened.

I Read: Glory in Death

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

(#2 in In Death series)

Another mystery Nora Roberts style.  Sex, romance (of a sort) and some mystery and action thrown in.  I'm enjoying the progression of the character, even though I think she's her own obstacle the majority of the time. Especially in the "love" story, but I'm intrigued to see how far her character growth can go, considering the series is something like 40 or 50 books long.  I'll stop whenever I don't feel it moving anymore. 

The story is somewhat similar to a futuristic Castle. Differences being that the male lead isn't actually in the detective story, and he's not a writer. But I can see comparisons between Dallas and Beckett. This might be why I'm finding that I'm enjoying this book series now. I miss Castle. 

Three stars. It's not great literature, but it's entertaining. 

#35-2020

I Read: Naked in Death

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
(First in the In Death series)

For some reason, I've never read anything by J.D. Robb, despite reading a lot of Nora Roberts series.  J.D. Robb is a pseudonym of Nora Roberts, in case you weren't aware. So I took the opportunity, during one particular paperback sale at Chapters. Indigo, to purchase the first two books in the series.

I could have just started wherever the series is currently, which I think is somewhere in the 50s, but I felt like I wanted to begin at the beginning.

I Read: The Last Little Blue Envelope

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

(sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes)

Okay, so the sequel didn't disappoint. I enjoyed this as well, and read it very quickly. Like I said in talking about the first book, I didn't have any expectations so this was a very pleasant surprise. It's a very cute story, and I was very happy to revisit it with the sequel. 

I very much wanted something to end. Properly. And while there is still room that this could continue, it's only in the way that life continues. There's not really a big expansive story to continue with. 

I Read: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

I've had this sitting on my TBR (to-be-read) shelf for several years. I follow the author on Twitter, and thought that I should probably read something she'd written, but I just never got around to it.

Finally, I picked it up and read it in about 36 hours. It's remarkably cute, and not really what I expected at all. But her character is actually very realistic in my view, and goes on a crazy adventure at the behest of her aunt. Her favourite aunt.  And really, her favourite person.

I Write: Historical Figure

The third assignment in my Creativity for Writers class was to write about a Historical Figure. I spent a lot of time thinking about who that might be for me, and then I got the direction that it could be anyone. A relative, or whoever. And so inspiration hit me.   Keep in mind though that these particular assignments are only to be 250 words.

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I Read: Nothing General About It

Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard with Susan Black

I watch General Hospital. I'm not ashamed of that. I've been watching, at least intermittently, since I was at my babysitter's when I was four or five years old. She watched Soaps all afternoon. I'm not sure why, but General Hospital stuck with me. One of my first memories is watching Luke and Laura's wedding. 

My mom was a watcher of Another World, but somehow as a small child, I convinced her we needed to also watch General Hospital in the summer when she was home. It worked out well: Another World at 2:00, General Hospital at 3:00.  The whole afternoon was accounted for. 

All this is to say that I remember when Maurice Benard joined the cast of General Hospital. I remember the crazy mob storylines and the way they incorporated Sonny's mental health into the stories. I read about how these stories were influenced by Benard's own mental health struggles. So when he put out a book, I was going to read it.

I Read: Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
(Third in the To All the Boys trilogy)

A trilogy that ends with a fairy tale ending. Or as close as a realistic ending can come. I did really enjoy this series, the characters and the turmoil that they mostly created for themselves.

I found myself looking back to a time that was easier, and harder, and mostly I don't enjoy looking back on so very much. But I related to Lara Jean in a lot of ways, and I think that's why I disliked a lot of the things that she did. She's a realistically flawed character. I could see myself and friends in so many of the situations.

I Write: Vivid Dream

Assignment #2 for the Creativity for Writers was to write about a vivid dream. I don't really remember my dreams in a sense that I can write them like a story.  So this is what I came up with.
(reminder - assignments are only 250 words)

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