1,001 Lives

2017 Reading Challenge Sam has read 1 book toward her goal of 52 books. hide 1 of 52 (1%) view books

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A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

A Dog’s Purpose is coming to the big screen this year (I read it a couple years ago before I knew it was becoming a movie. Loved it, definitely cried). A Dog’s Journey is the sequel/conclusion to the story in A Dog’s Purpose. 

I really enjoyed both of these novels. They’re easy reads (the writing is simple, which some people don’t like, but I think it’s great, because the books are written from a dog’s point of view. Dogs are simple!) I really enjoyed that the energy of the breed also comes through in the writing. At one point, the dog is a yorkie chihuahua mix, and he’s hyperactive and barks a lot (for good reasons - in his mind at least.) As a pomchi owner, I found it to be realistic and pretty true to “character” for the dog.

If you do decide to read it, have tissues ready. I cried (granted, I cry while reading almost any dog book - I am a huge dog person. I’m the person who always stops to pet a dog in the street.) It will make you want to hug your dog if you have one (or adopt one if you don’t). It also gives you a lot to think about when it comes to finding your “purpose.”

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2017 Reading Challenge - a book about an immigrant or refugee: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

I read The Golem and the Jinni both for this prompt, as well as for a book of the month read with a couple of my friends. (Haven’t discussed it with them yet to get their take on it).

The Golem and the Jinni is about a golem and a jinni who find themselves in 1899 New York. Both of them have to learn about their environment without revealing their true nature to people in their neighborhoods (each in slightly different ways, with teachers of different levels of patience and personal connection to them). 

I have mixed feelings about this book. I couldn’t decide if I liked the pace of the story or not; it felt slow but not at the same time. The writing was great, and the character development was fantastic.  As I’m writing this review, I kind of feel like the pace was a “real life” pace. Trust and building relationships take time, which this novel does. It build trust and relationships between the Golem and the Jinni and people they meet in their journey in New York.

Overall, I think this was worth the read despite the impatience I felt with the pace while reading it (the last fourth of the book starts to move quickly, and you won’t want to stop reading).

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2017 Reading Challenge - a book with pictures: PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

I love PostSecret. I enjoy checking the online secrets after the Sunday update. Some secrets are crazy, while others more subdued - all are from anonymous strangers sharing to other anonymous strangers. People find relief in sharing their deepest darkest secrets, and PostSecret (and Frank Warren) have allowed them to do so in a way doesn’t create personal judgment for the secret holder. 

I think one of my favorite things is reading a secret and thinking No way! There’s someone else out there who thinks/feels/is the same thing, I thought I was one of the only ones. It makes people feel even just a little less alone in this crazy world of ours.

PostSecret the book, is a collection of secrets compiled by Frank Warren for publishing. There are five books in total; for this prompt, I read the first one. There’s really not much to say about the book itself - if you’ve ever visited the website (and if you haven’t, I recommend doing so. You might be surprised and see someone else shares a secret that you have. Or it might make you feel compassion for something someone is experiencing. Or there could be a secret that may horrify you. Regardless, it gives you a small window into someone else’s world). Back to what I was saying after that tangent - if you’ve ever been to the website, the book is more of the secrets that you would see on the blog. Check it out, take a peek into other people’s minds.

[1001lives]

2017 Reading Challenge - a book that’s becoming a movie in 2017: Ready Player One

Okay, the first thing I need to say about this is - I love it! I will admit, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline probably isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it pulled me into its world very quickly, and I spent my Sunday afternoon reading. I finished this one within a day. (It was a lovely day spent reading :)

Ready Player One was well written, in my opinion. It was intriguing with very few slow parts. Cline kept the pace moving, and kept me interested. The book is set in 2044 in a dystopian future where most of the human race lives their daily lives in a virtual reality called OASIS. When the multi-billionaire creator of OASIS dies, he leaves his fortune to whoever is able to find the Easter Egg he’s left within the virtual reality system. This leads to a re-surfacing of 80s pop culture because the creator was largely influenced by and had suggested knowledge of would be vital to finding the Egg. 

There were so many great nods to pop culture in this novel. (So many “easter eggs” haha). There were a ton of game references - obviously, as the novel is basically set in a game, but there were also several references to books and tv shows. My two favorites (and there were a lot of good ones) were the references to Discworld and the Firefly-class starship named Kaylee.

For any who watch anime, Ready Player One reminded me some of Sword Art Online. If you like anime and haven’t seen it, check it out. If you liked SAO, give the book a try, I think you’ll enjoy it.

While I read this book, it is worth mentioning that the audio book is narrated by Wil Wheaton (who has a cameo himself in the book). If you like audio books, I think this one is likely worth giving a listen. Also, as I write this, it has come to my attention that Ready Player One’s theatrical release date has been pushed back to 2018...so I may have to read another book to fill this prompt. I will if I make it through the others on my list; for now, this will have to suffice!

[1001lives]

2017 Reading Challenge - A book that is a story within a story: The Winter Sea

For this prompt, I read The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. Most novels by Susanna Kearsley would likely qualify for this prompt - she has a formula for most of her novels (at least of the ones I’ve read, which is at least 4 or 5). Kearsley tends to write historical fiction (as a history major, I love this - it mixes two of my favorite things together!). Her stories typically follow a female main character, who has some connection to someone in the past and through that connection is able to see this past character’s story from their eyes.

The Winter Sea follows this format - it is about an author who write historical fiction, and feels drawn to this place in Scotland called the Slains. (Kearsley also seems to focus a lot on Scottish history, something else I enjoy because I personally haven’t studied much Scottish history). For Carrie (the main character), her connection to the past is through genetic memory of her ancestor, and through this memory she starts discovering things about her ancestor and Slains that were previously unknown.

It was an enjoyable read. Not my favorite Kearsley novel (I think I would have to give that honor to A Desperate Fortune) but a solid read nonetheless. I would recommend this, and any of Kearsley’s novels really, to any one who enjoys a read with a little history thrown in, and some light romance. 

[1001lives]

Thud! A Terry Pratchett novel

It has been a long time since I have actually dug into a Terry Pratchett novel. I love Discworld and the amazing universe created. Discworld novels are satirical and fantastical, which makes them pretty awesome. The sub-archs within the main universe is something that I think is relatively unique to this series, plus each book is able to standalone fairly well. I always recommend people start with Pyramids or Soul Music as these are two of my favorites and I feel they’re fairly accessible. (PS, my two favorite sub-arch main characters are Death and Rincewind, any of the books about them are good).

Anyway, enough rambling and on to Thud! Thud! is a Nightwatch novel, which means the main character is Commander Vimes. The storyline itself is about the never ending struggle between dwarves and trolls because of the Battle at Koom Valley. Pratchett touches on war, racism, and how the two can continuously cause tension. There also is an underlying current of how important family should be, as Vimes must read “Where Is My Cow?” every night right at 6 to his son.

I enjoy the way Pratchett is able to tackle heavy topics with great humor to illustrate the absurdity of certain problems in society. Thud! is another example of his ability to do this. If you are a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fan, then I highly recommend you check Pratchett’s Discworld out. Likewise, if you enjoy satire in general, and catching hidden pop culture references, you should too should check out Discworld.

[1001lives]

2017 PopSugar Reading Challenge

I have my list partially started. It is a goal of mine this year to do a better job at posting about the books I’ve read. I read 64 books in 2016! Imagine how many posts I could have actually done! 

Now, the one trouble with the PopSugar Reading Challenge, is I start to get antsy about reading other books,and never want to finish the list I created, so after the first couple months of the year, I give up on it and just read what I want (which is okay because I’m still reading!) And usually, I’ve broadened my horizons through the first couple months of the year.

Anyway, enough babbling, here is my list as I have it completed thus far (**Updated to completed version**):

2017 Popsugar Ultimate Reading Challenge

A book recommended by a librarian – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro A book that's been on your TBR list for way too long – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte A book of letters – The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis An audiobook – Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris A book by a person of color – Born a Crime by Trevor Noah A book with one of the four seasons in the title – Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher A book that is a story within a story – The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley A book with multiple authors – Between the Lines by Jodi Piccoult and Samantha van Leer An espionage thriller – American Assassin by Vince Flynn A book with a cat on the cover  - I am Pusheen the Cat by Claire Belton A book by an author who uses a pseudonym – Feed by Mira Grant A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read – True Grit by Charles Portis A book by or about a person who has a disability – Carly’s Voice by Arthur Fleischmann A book involving travel – Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer A book with a subtitle – I Like You Just the Way I Am: Stories About Me and Some Other People by Jenny Mollen A book that's published in 2017 – Iron Gold by Pierce Brown A book involving a mythical creature – Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile – The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein A book about food – Julie and Julia by Julie Powell A book with career advice – You are a Badass by Jen Sincero A book from a nonhuman perspective – Watership Down by Richard Adams A steampunk novel – The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman A book with a red spine – Lyra’s Oxford by Philip Pullman A book set in the wilderness – Lost City of Z by David Grann A book you loved as a child – Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald A book by an author from a country you've never visited – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling A book with a title that's a character's name – Where’d you go Bernadette? By Maria Semple A novel set during wartime – Catch 22 by Joseph Heller A book with an unreliable narrator – The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick A book with pictures - Postsecret A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you – The Color Purple by Alice Walker A book about an interesting woman – The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher A book set in two different time periods – Outlander by Diana Gabaldon A book with a month or day of the week in the title – Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Alborn A book set in a hotel – A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles A book written by someone you admire – Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher A book that's becoming a movie in 2017 – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline A book set around a holiday other than Christmas – The Thanksgiving Guest by Truman Capote The first book in a series you haven't read before – The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie A book you bought on a trip – Joyland by Stephen King Advanced A book recommended by an author you love – Dominion by CJ Sansom A bestseller from 2016 – Fellside by MR Carey A book with a family member term in the title – The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt A book that takes place over a character's life span – The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls A book about an immigrant or refugee – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker A book from a genre/subgenre you've never heard of – Lamb by Christopher Moore A book with an eccentric character – The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky A book that's more than 800 pages – Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett A book you got from a used book sale – On Writing by Stephen King A book that's been mentioned in another book – Jurassic Park by Michael Critchton A book about a difficult topic – When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi A book based on mythology – Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

[1001lives]

Attention Book-Lovers: Take the 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

[1001lives]

2016 Reading Challenge - a dystopian novel: Station Eleven

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. I highly enjoyed this novel. It was beautifully written. The language and the images were fantastic. 

The story follows a band of performers who live in a world of survivors following an epidemic that wiped out most of the planet. Things we take for granted now no longer exist. There is no electricity, no grocery stores, no cars, no planes, no cell phones(!), no television, the list continues. It takes a look at what life would be like if those things no longer existed (they become like fables for the children.)

Art is something that seems to always continue in spite of the terrible times. This band of performers scavenge what they can to create costumes and sets for the plays and music they perform for the different settlements they pass through.

The story is written both in present time as well as the past, so the reader starts to piece together how this new world came about and how the characters are connected.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys beautifully written novels, anyone who enjoys dystopian stories, and to anyone who just enjoys a good solid read.

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2016 Reading Challenge - a book from Oprah’s Book Club: Wild

I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed at the beginning of the year. I started the book not expecting to really like it or even finish it for two reasons. One, my fiance had read it, and he said it was okay, but he didn’t really care for it. He thought it was a little slow. Two, I had gone to see the movie adaptation with him and his family, and I didn’t like it very much - I didn’t find Cheryl to be a sympathetic character, she annoyed me.

I still opted to give the book a shot, and I’m glad I did. The book is so much BETTER than the movie. (The movie is cool in the fact that it gives you some good visuals, but Cheryl writes well enough that you get a good mental picture).

I LOVED the book. I thought Cheryl wrote beautifully, and her story was extremely interesting to me. In spite of her weaknesses, Cheryl is a strong woman, and that appealed to me. It was her journey to finding herself and growing as a person. It was such a personal look into her life, and it moved me deeply. I didn’t want to put the book down at night. It made me laugh, it made me cry; it did what a good novel is supposed to do.

I definitely recommend this book. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is definitely worth a read. If you enjoyed the movie, read the book! Even if you didn’t enjoy the movie, still give the book a chance, because the imagery is beautiful in it, and you learn more about Cheryl as a person that makes some of her actions in the movie more understandable.

[1001lives]

Books I’m excited to read

Something I really appreciated about a couple of my friends, is while they aren’t really readers themselves, they always indulge my reading nature. For my birthday or Christmas, they usually get me a book. This year, they got me Cinder, which I’m excited to dive into.

I’m also looking forward to reading Jessica Jones at some point this year. I have a feeling I may get some volumes for my birthday, but if I don’t, I will definitely be getting my hands on them at some point this year.

And June is when the final novel of the new Stephen King trilogy should be released. I’m excited to see the direction he goes in, after the twist he threw in at the end of Finders Keepers.

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2016 Reading Challenge - a self-improvement book: Start with Why

I did not choose this book of my own volition. This was a book my boss requested we read at the beginning of the year for our office. The intention was to find our “why.” (as it turns out, our office has already defined our why in our office vision, and after reading the book, none of us saw any reason to change it. I think it was a little anti-climatic for my boss, but as long as we’re living what we preach, right?)

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked some of the background stories in it, such as the vision to Apple or Southwest. But the book itself was boring and extremely repetitive. I think it may be revolutionary for some people who don’t really have a strong why to their lives or their business, but for me, it was the same thing over and over, just hammering in why you need a “why” without really giving anything useful into how you find that.

Overall, I personally would not read this book again. I probably would not have even finished it if it had not have been something I had been asked to read at work. If someone was really missing that “why” factor in their life behind everything they do, then this would be something for them to read. Otherwise, not something that needs to be on everyone’s reading list.

[1001lives]

2016 Reading Challenge - a satirical book: Slaughterhouse Five

I just finished Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut as my satirical book for the Sugarpop 2016 Reading Challenge. (We’ll see if I end up reading all the books I’ve chosen for this list, some day I will post the books I’ve decided on. I usually start off strong, but get distracted by other books I want to read and then finish my personal reading challenge just on the fly, rather than following a challenge. My ultimate goal is to read 60 books this year, of a wide variety. The reading challenge just helps me expand my variety. I digress).

So, back to Slaughterhouse Five. I opted for this novel because I had never read a Vonnegut book before, and it was well past the time that I should have read one. He opens the novel with his personal background involving Dresden, research for the book, etc. Once I had finished the novel, I actually went back and re-read the opening chapter, because there were things he mentions that made more sense having read the story.

The story itself reads in a similar fashion to Catch-22. It jumps between different times in the main character’s life. Not much time is actually spent in Dresden - though the main purpose of the book is a look at the Dresden Fire Bombings.

Overall, it was an enjoyable novel. Worth a read!

[1001lives]

2016, a new year to read a lot of new books! My journey starts with the 2016 Popsugar Reading Challenge. Thus far I have checked off two books on this list.

[mbti-stereotypes]

MBTI Squads being Copied

Of course you would want to copy me I’m awesome squad: ENTJ, ESTP, ESFP, ESTJ, ENTP, ESFJ, ISFJ

Psh, as if, you can’t be me, loser. squad: ISTP, ENFJ, ISTJ, INTP, INTJ

No! You can’t be me! There can only be one me!! STop!! squad: ISFP, INFP, INFJ, ENFP

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How true this is. I’m an INFJ with a sister that’s 12 years younger who wants to be just like me. Should be flattering, but it’s not. I’m me and she is herself. Separate people!