I read: Becoming

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I don't have a lot of say about this book, except that I continue to be impressed by how transparent Michelle Obama continues to be.  She shares, seemingly sincerely, from portions of her entire life and candidly writes about how she wasn't initially in favour of her husband's political career.  She shares struggles and dreams, fears and hopes and everything in between.

I read: Freedom

Freedom: The Ultimate Tribute 1963-2016

Mostly a coffee table book, with some great concert photos, this book gives a glimpse into the life of George Michael, starting from the beginning and going right to the final days.

George Michael was one of my first celebrity crushes.  Honestly, I don't even think I knew that's what it was at the time - but I knew that I loved Wham!  And the music wasn't the only thing.

I read: Signs Point to Yes

Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall

I picked up this one because I had so enjoyed A Little Something Different by the same author.  This one didn't disappoint.

It's a super quick but satisfying read, with an adorable love story and some personal dram in the midst. 

I read: Playing to the Gods

Playing to the Gods  by Melanie Rawn
(book five in the Glass Thorns series)


I've been a fan of Melanie Rawn since I first read the Dragon Prince series.  I had never in my life read an entire series of books straight through without breaking it up with other side things to keep from getting bored.  But I devoured those books, breathing them in like they were air.

The Glass Thorns series has been a very different experience because I was picking them up as they were released, and having to hunt for them because they didn't seem to be on any regular schedule.  But I still enjoyed every minute spent reading them.

I read: The Book of Spells

The Book of Spells by Michael Johnstone

I'm trying to cull down the list of books that I'm "currently reading" on Goodreads.  So this one has been sitting there for a while since I initially picked it up.   The Book of Spells: White Magic to Make Your Dreams Come True by Michael Johnstone.

It's a cute little book that begins with a history of magic, following with a description of spell-casting, and spell-casting essentials and finishing up with a number of simple but potentially highly useful spells, mostly focussing on love, relationships and success/money.

It's what could be considered non-fiction if you believe in that kind of thing, so I don't have any particular feelings to share, but I would say that if you're into the Wicca, spell-casting or witchcraft concepts, then this is a quick, but possibly useful read.

Just gonna leave this here

I read: Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Bear with me here because I'm not good with book reviews.  I like to savour the feelings of a book
rather than break it down into the pieces of why I enjoyed it (or didn't.) 

However, I feel that in order to improve my writing I need to understand what I think is well written, and why that piece is evoking whatever feelings it's brought forward in me. 

I likely won't talk much about plot points or structure or anything you would have discussed in a high school literature class.  I will tell you what I liked or didn't like because I think art is subjective, and writing is art so I'm not planning to critique so much as sharing my perspective.


So we embark on this new journey with a review of the novel I finished last night -- Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell.