The goal: 50 books read
Status: 29 read
The past two years have not been great years in books for me. There hasn’t been anything I have been ecstatic about, and my desire to read has been dwindling. I am pushing through and hoping that I find some amazing books during the rest of this year.
To help me try some new books I have been trying to give each month a Genre to go off of.
A few so far have been really fun reads, here is how I’ve felt about them.
February
Genre: Classics
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
Wuthering Heights follows the love story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw as told by one of the Earnshaw servants Nelly, 20 years after the events.
The time-skipped narration was the first irksome thing in this book for me. It took me a couple of chapters to even realize that is how the story was being told. The mess of the characters and their lives was intriguing, but the use of long-winded dialogue sections trying to explain bits of the story was tiresome to read. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. 3/5
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3/5
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater 3.5/5
March
Genre: Fairytales Reimagined
*Heartless by Marissa Meyer
I adore this book and I am only not writing a full review of it because it’s a reread. 4.8/5
Dust by Kara Swanson
A reimagining of Peter Pan, set in the present with the Peter Pan story also being a book inside the book. While the characters overall were on my nerves the entire time if the library had the sequel I would have read it immediately because the plot intrigued me. 3/5
Cursed by Marissa Meyer
A sequel to her book Gilded this story is a reimagining of the classic Rumpelstiltskin. I was severely disappointed in the first book and this one didn’t do anything for me either. Tragic. 2/5
Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey
A reimagined Sleeping Beauty. The story follows the main character Miriam, the older half-sister of a baby princess Aurora. It had so much potential but ultimately not much happened. 2/5
April
Genre: Easter Reading
Love and Responsibility by JPII
“Love consists of a commitment which limits one’s freedom – it is a giving of the self, and to give oneself means just that: to limit one’s freedom on behalf of another.”
An incredibly dense read that took me a few months to actually get through, but was finally finished in time for Easter. St Pope John Paul II lays out the human condition and the way in which we are meant to love one another in the truest, self-giving form of love. A fantastic read. 5/5
The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by Germanus Ruoopolo
“It is true Jesus, if I think of what I have gone through as a child and now as a grown-up girl I see that I have always had crosses to bear; But oh! How wrong are those who say that suffering is a misfortune!”
In only 25 short years of life, Gemma Galgani spent it loving the Lord in a way that is so foreign to many, in the desire for suffering for the good of others and reparation for the heartbreak of Christ. Written by her spiritual director, the Life of St Gemma depicts her life filled with graces and fervent desire for Heaven, all while showing the reader the biggest lesson of her life. The merit in suffering.
4.5/5
May/June
Genre: Books Recommended to Me / Books I Own
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle – a birthday gift from my lovely friend Melissa
“She was magical, beautiful beyond belief—and completely alone…”
This book was a lovely read. I enjoyed the story but didn’t love it in the way I love other fantasy classics. The writing is beautiful but I didn’t feel gripped but the story the way I hoped I would. 3.5/5
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway- recommended by my instafriend Bri
“You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman.”
A short story about a Cuban fisherman, his giant Marlin catch, and tragedy. I am so glad I decided to pick this one up after it was recommended to me. I read it in one sitting. A man and his great catch a la Moby Dick (No, I still haven’t finished that book dad). I thoroughly enjoyed it and wished I had someone to discuss it with immediately after I finished. 4/5
Dracula by Bram Stocker – Thanks, Emma!
3/5
Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume – “How have you not read that one??” my mom.
3.5/5
Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B Gilberth Jr
3.5/5
*The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B White
4/5
July
Genre: Murder Mystery
Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O’Connor 3.5/5
Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O’Connor 3/5
Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O’Connor 3/5
“Silly, how much time human beings wasted on things that didn’t matter.”
It’s not every day a Murder victim ends up in your family bistro but that is just what happens to Siobhán O’Sullivan. While others may want nothing to do with it, Siobhán is determined to get to the bottom of it.
I have so far read the first three books of the series. They are a bit Hallmarkesque and that is what I like about them. While some of the issues for sure made me roll my eyes I love trying to solve the murder before the end. I yelled ‘I knew it,’ during books 2 and 3. The first one is definitely the best so far but I have become invested in the characters and will be reading more.
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple: Complete Short Stories 3.75/5
I hope this post gives you some suggestions on what to add to your own reading list! If you need more, be sure to check out the Bookworm Corner section on the blog. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about book recommendations, I am always down to talk about books 🙂
What genre should I read next? Let me know!
Currently Reading: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
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