It took me a while to become invested in this prequel. I did eventually get hooked enough to enjoy the story and look forward to seeing how things would end. At first I thought my lack of interest was because the shock factor was not there like it was for the HG trilogy. After some time to process, I've come to the conclusion that the problem for me was the POV. The original trilogy was in 1st person, which sucked me in right away. 👇👇

Yes! I'm always happy when I see or hear people use the correct terminology to describe a snake that delivers venom through its bite. It's not "poisonous!"

If you don't know, poisons are ingested or delivered by contact (like a rash). Venoms are injected via fangs, stinger, etc.

FYI, this is why my Bestie calls me a "smug animal bastard." I can't help myself. #knowitall

A sentimental look at 2 sisters, Rose and Ruby, who just happen to be conjoined twins. We get a glimpse of what life is like when one is never alone. The Girls are a known entity in their hometown and are vastly different individuals for anyone lucky enough to know them personally. The author obviously took great care in developing these characters. An enjoyable novel, but I'm not sure how long it will stick with me.

A therapy room is the perfect place for whining and crying. 😭

I thought the audio of was great!

#Booked2020 #WineOrWhine
@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

700+ pages of constant confusion. I still don't think I fully understand what happened.

This was an award winning book in Russia, where it was initially published. A quick search online unearthed a healthy number of fans. This was a big reason I stayed with it when I wanted to bail. In the end, I must admit perhaps magical realism just isn't in my wheelhouse.
#wtf #chunkster #ReadingEurope2020 #armenianauthor @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

#litsyhumor

Meadows starts off explaining that he has done a lot of research on this topic, and his goal is to give his readers the "how" of building self-discipline without bogging the tips down with explanations of the "why." He does provide citations of his sources, but I guess I'm the person that wants the "why." I found this to be like a primary school book report. ??‍♀️

My husband has been involved in some biological fieldwork in SE Asia for several years now. Some of the complications and hurdles encountered in this book remind me of his frustrations...with permits, remote locations, declining populations of the turtle he's looking for, being American, etc. I live in fear the entire time he's away.
#Booked2020 #ArmchairTravel @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

This was a reread for me, but I was probably 10 or 11 the first time. So, more than 30 years later, reading it through my adult eyes and life experiences, I'm glad I took another look. Wiesel's first hand testimony of his deportation to Auschwitz is even more powerful due to his sparse, simple prose.

#Booked2020 #bookaboutgenocide #Holocaust #Survivor #Nonfiction #ReadingEurope2020 #poland

@4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen

#Booked2020 #spring #secondquarterwrapup @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

I didn't get to one of the prompts this time, but I think I did ok considering my extra long work days the past 3 months.

7. Makes you LOL
8. Memoir about a parent & child (maybe next time)
9.Tartan Noir
10. Book about genocide
11. Pan Asian author or Silk Punk
12. Animal on cover

I'm late posting, but this is the book I chose for the June prompt for #ReadWithMrBook .

#AuthorWithDisability
@MrBook

I've seen others make comments about problems with the translation. I can't say there was anything in this regard that really stuck out to me. I know nothing about the politics, history, or mythology of Indonesia, so I'm sure I do not fully appreciate the political statement the author may be trying to convey. With that said, I did enjoy this historical fiction work and am interested in learning more.
#Booked2020 #PanAsianAuthor

This, from a translated work. As a monolingual reader, I have often thought about this while reading translated works. The only book I have ever successfully read in its original language is The Little Prince, but that was years ago. I'm sure I couldn't do it today. 😥

How many languages are YOU able to read? ❓❓❓❓❓

Wow! I continue to be captivated by Bardugo's writing. Her settings are so richly described and her characters are so beautifully flawed that it's easy to get lost in the story. This one is dark, though. Don't say I didn't warn you.
🖤🖤🖤

#bbbbc #scififantasybookclub @InLibrisVeritas #notYA #yale #secretsocieties #ghoststory #magic
#BOTMbacklog

This will also be my June selection for #ReadWithMrBook

I double-dipped for this one...especially since it took me so long to read.

#Booked2020 #MakesYouLOL

@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

#ReadingEurope2020 #France
@Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Despite taking me a couple weeks to get through this, I really enjoyed this crime novel. The writing is rather crude at times, and Brookmyre seems to have an obsession with bodily fluids; so stay away if those things bother you. The book kicks off a series following investigative journalist Jack Parlabane, who I found to be quite humorous. #Booked2020 #TartanNoir @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

An entertaining & well-paced read, which served as a light and fluffy diversion from some more cerebral books I've been reading lately. None of the characters are particularly likeable or reliable. There are many secrets being kept, but only a few are resolved. Because of the many loose ends that beg for more explanation, I can't quite give this one a pick.

A heartbreaking look into colonialism. Set in 1950's Kenya and told from the perspective of a young white woman, this book does not shy away from the harsh realities of a people fighting to reclaim what has been taken from them. I listened to the audiobook, which was pretty good, but I think I might have actually enjoyed the print version better, as I found the narration to be rather bland.

As a veterinary professional, reading books like this are not entertaining for me. I prefer books to take me other places rather than rehash may daily reality. But, this was in my neighborhood #littlefreelibrary, and I needed a book for the #animalonthecover prompt for #booked2020. I think most people would enjoy it, so I will give it a "Pick", despite being more "So-so" for me. . @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

My work schedule has been complicated and exhausting the past few weeks. It has made reading and Litsying difficult. But today, I've got my feet up and am enjoying the sunshine while trying to concentrate on my #ReadingEurope2020 #france selection. My brain is just mush, so I may have to switch to something a bit lighter that requires less brain power. For now, though, my butt is going no where! 🌻🌻🌻

This slim novel sure packs a punch. Melinda's story was absolutely gut-wrenching. It took me back to my high school years in some ways, but also made me think about my 14 year old niece and how hard her life has been. Being a teenage girl is nothing to laugh at. I have a feeling this one will stay with me for a long time. 💔

I've been struggling to settle into a book the past week or so. After struggling the past two days with The Three Musketeers, I grabbed this off the end table. It is just what I needed. I've snuggled down under a blanket with a snack, and probably won't move for quite a while. 😌
#snack #cozy

#Booked2020 #winter #firstquarter #wrapup
@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

1. Millenial Author
2. Book showing a hat or head covering
3. #liveandlearn
4. Set in Hollywood
5. #covercrush
6. Finish in a day

Now, on to Spring! 🌱🌱🌱

This book made it onto my #TBR 100% because of the cover. I didn't pull the trigger and buy it when I first saw it, but it stayed on my radar. Eventually, I picked it up with a credit from #Audible. I listened today while reorganizing my kitchen. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but at the start of Chapter 13, I'm invested.
#audiocleaning #Booked2020 #covercrush @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

As a childhood fan of all things Little House, I have complicated feelings as I read this. Initially, I loved the idea of seeing things from the perspective of Ma. It's a little like removing the rose-colored glasses of childhood and realizing that your parents aren't perfect. I'm not so sure I'm enjoying the selfish, complaining (read: human) inner dialogue of this Caroline. On the other hand, it's very real and well written. Also: #bookmap 👍👍

I really enjoyed this light read. It's a cute story about the difficulty of caring for a child that doesn't fit in, especially when the mother doesn't quite fit in, either. I absolutely love how Frank relates almost everything to films and their stars.
#SetInHollywood #Booked2020 @Cinfhen @4thhouse @BarbaraTheBibliophage

My choice for the #SetInHollywood prompt in #Booked2020. I'm half way through this story about Frank, a 9 year old obsessed with old school film stars and has his own unique style, his mother, and his new nanny. Frank is charming; his mother is a famous one-off author struggling to get a second novel onto paper; and the nanny is just trying to fit into the household with all their quirks. 🎩🎬
@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

I'm not a big cryer while reading. Yes, a handful of books have brought me to actual tears over the years, but that is pretty rare. Nonetheless, I finished 2 books this month that tugged at my heartstrings enough to probably qualify for this month's #ReadWithMrBook. #tearjerker @MrBook

This was a good, solid Crime novel. Negatives: There were some clunky sentences that I had to reread a few times to get the meaning, which I'm sure was a translation issue. There were a couple things that were never fully explained relating to the backstories of the MCs. Positives: Interesting story, well paced and complicated characters with messy lives.
#ReadingEurope2020 #denmark @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle
#BOTMBacklog

This is an interesting rumination of war experiences from Vietnam. O'Brien blends the line between fact and fiction and asserts that this makes the stories more true than if he had just delivered the facts. The #audiobook is narrated by Bryan Cranston and is excellently done.

Thus begins the beautiful story of Trudi Montag. Set in Germany and spanning the years from immediately post WWI until a few years post WWII, Hegi gives us a glimpse at what it means to be different, to be part of a community, and the humanity that persists during the darkest of times. I took this one slow, giving myself plenty of time to savor and digest.
#ReadingEurope2020 #Germany @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle
#ReadWithMrBook #tearjerker

I realized I never reviewed or tagged this one for #Booked2020. I came away with many practical (but not necessarily easy to implement) tips for dealing with my jaw pain caused by TMJD. This is a great resource for anyone interested in ways to ease pain of the head, neck and/or jaw. #LiveandLearn @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

As I've been listening to the #audible production of the Sherlock Holmes catalogue narrated by Stephen Fry, I've mostly been underwhelmed. This one was different. I enjoyed the stories in this collection and am looking forward to more. My fave in this one was "The Final Problem." I'll take this to check off the #unitedkingdom for #ReadingEurope2020.
@BarbaraBB @Librarybelle ?

This is meant to be my #germany pick for #ReadingEurope2020. Also, it's been on my TBR shelf for YEARS. Long, rambling sentences are making it hard to find my groove, though. Hopefully I find it soon, because this novel is a minor #chunkster at 525 pages. @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

While I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series, it still felt rushed to me. I'd love to see this story fleshed out more. I'm going to let some time pass to see I'd I have any interest in continuing the series. #Fantasy #YA
#HatHeadCoveringOnCover #Booked2020
@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

A quick, light #YA #Fantasy read. This book really feels like an introduction, so I will be interested to see where the series goes. The world building is not the greatest, and I thought things happened way too quickly in the lives of the sisters to be even remotely believable. But still not a bad way to spend a few hours.
#ReadInADay #FinishInADay #Booked2020 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Unfavorable revelations about the character of Mr. Zeitoun have surfaced since the publication of this book. Yet, this non-fiction account of Post Katrina NOLA is eye opening and devastating. Eggers wrote a compelling narrative as presented to him by the Zeitoun family. Perhaps Zeitoun's actions and motivations were white washed, but the horrendous conditions after the disaster are indisputable. #ReadWithMrBook #1WordTitle @MrBook

It took me a little bit to really get hooked, but that came eventually. Atwood's portrayal of Grace is sympathetic, yet leaves the reader unsure about her guilt or innocence. For me, the most interesting character was Dr. Simon Jordan. His interest in Grace became slightly more than academic, and he was not always the upstanding gentleman; but he shady sude just made him more interesting. #audiobook #audible

Gimli is happy to report that this was a pretty good book. The tension was compelling, the characters were flawed but interesting, and the ending was satisfying. Marking this off my #BOTMbacklog and using it for #Sweden in the #ReadingEurope2020 challenge. @Librarybelle @BarbaraTheBibliophage
#catsoflitsy #littenkitten #adventuresofthegmen #literarynames #coppereyes

Next up! Gilbert is making biscuits on my belly; and if you look really close behind him you can catch a glimpse of Gimli as he takes a break from attacking my feet. The book is my June 2019 #BOTM, which has been collecting dust. I'm ready to get started and knock one off my #BOTMbacklog. It will also count as Sweden for #ReadingEurope2020. @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle
#catsoflitsy #littenkitten #adventuresofthegmen #literarynames

A silly #debut novel, firmly in the #chicklit category. Holly Banks and her family have relocated to the village of Primm, and it's time for daughter Ella to start Kindergarten. Holly is annoying, her husband is a nervous wreck, her mother is an irresponsible addict, and the PTA president is just downright unbelievably over-the-top and mean. I'd only recommend to those who love this genre. #notforme #millenialauthor (maybe) #Booked2020

Ready to start reading my latest selection from #onceuponabookclub. It will also be my last for a while, as I need to curb my spending for a while. Does anyone know if Julie Valerie is a #millenialauthor ? I can't find anything about her age on the web. I'd like to use this for #Booked2020 if possible. @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Current #audiobook. Not really digging the narrator, but the story is pretty good.

Pulled off a forgotten corner of my bookshelf, this will be my January choice for #ReadWithMrBook.
I was so excited to read this when I bought it...10 years ago. How does that happen? Why has it taken me so long to get around to it? #TBR #longlostbooks #itsabouttime #1WordTitle @MrBook

Getting a late start to stating and getting started on my #readinggoals. This beautiful journal I received in one of my #onceuponabookclub boxes will serve to keep me organized as I work on several challenges this year. Ultimately, I aim to fulfill as many prompts as possible with books I already own. I need some sort of motivation to plow through my #TBR, and my #bookbudget needs to be trimmed. 📚💰 2020 challenges listed in comments.

I definitely enjoyed these shorter, bite-sized stories over Doyle's first 2 novels. I still can't say that I am a huge fan of Holmes though. I will continue exploring the Holmes stories through audiobook, as Stephen Fry's narration is excellent. #sherlockholmes #mystery #detective #audiobook #audible

Pretty standard crime fiction. I enjoyed it even though it didn't really stand out as anything terribly special and did induce a few eye rolls. I will probably read more in this series. Especially since someone in my neighborhood often leaves them in the LFL down the street. I am a bit confused that the MCs followed in the series felt more like secondary characters in this one. I'm interested to see how that plays out.

Working on my sitting posture while waiting for my car to be serviced. I'm getting so many valuable suggestions from this book! #tmj #chronicsloucher #selfhelp #nonfiction #adventrecommends @emilyrose_x

I would highly recommend it for anyone suffering from chronic headaches, neck pain and jaw pain/dysfunction. The author is a physical therapist who specializes in head, neck and jaw disorders. The book is packed with common sense advice.

Meh. Not terrible, but not great either. There are no big secrets to be revealed in this book like many of Moriarty's novels. It is exactly what the title claims...a love story of a hypnotherapist that is complicated by a jaded ex-lover. Firmly in the chick lit category.