Book Haul

Happy Monday!

This past weekend, I bought a few books that have been on my radar for a while. So yes, my bookshelves are losing space at an alarming rate. At this point, I'm pretending that I don't need to invest in another bookcase - which is a blatant lie.

This past weekend, I also decided that I'm going to invest more of my time and my creativity into my blog and my Goodreads account because a) blogging is a passion of mine, b) blog work is something that I'd like to be able to incorporate into my career, and c) Goodreads is an amazing community that I'd like to grow into while applying that growth to my own blog, as well.

I also hope that you all like the aesthetic/layout changes that I made to my blog, over the weekend. The minimalistic aesthetic vibes wonderfully with my personal tastes. While the aesthetic is minimalistic, I wholeheartedly plan on continuing to give the content on this blog, depth and qualities that will generate thought provoking conversation.



Title: What Happened to Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult; Romance; Contemporary; Women's Fiction; Chick Lit
Goodreads Rating: 3.97/ 5 stars
Pages: 402 (Paperback)
Publisher: Speak
Published: April 9, 2013 (Original publication: 2011)

Summary: Following her parents' bitter divorce as she and her father move from town to town, seventeen-year-old Mclean reinvents herself at each school she attends until she is no longer sure she knows who she is or where she belongs.

Sarah Dessen is the author who made me fall in love with contemporary novels and romance novels. I'm a romantic, but a romantic who has zero tolerance for puppy love; toxic NA love; instantaneous love; and most YA love centric novels. But, Dessen isn't your typical YA author. She possesses a wonderful amount of depth and insight, that she isn't afraid to utilize. Dessen also doesn't sugarcoat anything. She's honest and authentic; particularly when it comes to love. Obviously, (I hope it's obvious, anyways) no one and no relationship is perfect. But our imperfections shouldn't keep us from experiencing the beauty and joy of love and being in love, and everything in between.

I'm ecstatic to be getting back into Dessen's work and to be revisiting her novels that were and are the highlights of my contemporary and romantic reading. I'm also incredibly disappointed that I most likely won't be able to meet Dessen on her 2017 summer book tour/promotion for her upcoming release, Once and for All . For any of you that may be interested, here is a link to the dates, times, and locations for the book tour: Dessen book tour 2017 .




Title: Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: American Gods #2
Genre: Fantasy; Fiction; Urban Fantasy; Mythology; Science Fiction; Humor; Adult; Contemporary
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/ 5 stars
Pages: 368 (Paperback)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: January 22, 2008 (Original publication: 2005)

Summary: God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. Now brother Spider is on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors - the man is ridiculously talented. I read the first book in this series, American Gods, about three years ago. Although it was confusing at times and somewhat all over the place, it was a fantastically engaging read. It was an instant page turner because you were dying to find out what else Gaiman had up his sleeve.

The second that I got wind of American Gods being adapted by Starz for a TV series, I wanted to reread American Gods and finish the series. The TV series is only three episodes in and Starz has already signed it on for a second season. So far, the show is fantastic. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season will play out. The second episode, "The Secret of Spoons", introduced viewers to the god, Anansi. It was a phenomenal performance by Orlando Jones. It left me on the edge of my seat, dying to see more of Jones.

I believe that watching the show and reading the book simultaneously would be the easiest way to best understand and retain the material. I highly recommend reading the series and checking out the show! Here is a link to the trailer for the show: American Gods .

Title: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng

Genre: Contemporary

Goodreads Rating: 3.77/5 stars

Pages: 292 (Paperback)

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: May 12, 2015 (Original publication: June 26, 2014)

Summary: Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet . . . So begins this debut novel about a mixed-race family living in 1970s Ohio and the tragedy that will either be their undoing or their salvation. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother’s bright blue eyes and her father’s jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue—in Marilyn’s case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James’s case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party.

When Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart.

I've been wanting to check this book out for a while now, and not because of the buzz it's been generating. I'm always on the hunt for books that will serve as a personal compass for my journey towards better understanding myself. I'm a firm believer in books coming into our lives for (generally) unknown reasons at particular moments. And many of those books will allow us to better know who we are and what we want and need in life.

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Mystery; Fiction; Thriller; Suspense

Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5 stars

Pages: 352 (Paperback)

Publisher: Scout Press

Published: April 19, 2016 (Original publication: 2015)

Summary: Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.
When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.

The mystery/crime fiction/ thriller/suspense scene has been doing a superb job of holding my interest. One of my top favorite bloggers, Abby, the blogger behind Crime by the Book , recommended this book a while back, and I'm finally getting around to it.

Title: Macbeth

Author: William Shakespeare

Genre: Plays; Fiction; Classics; Literature; Theatre; Tragedy

Goodreads Rating: 3.88/ 5 stars

Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Publisher: Barnes and Noble Shakespeare

Published: January 25, 2007 (Original publication: 1606)

Summary: The only Shakespearean tragedy that has a villain as its hero, Macbeth presents a stark and disturbing view of the psychology of wickedness and guilt. The editor, Jesse M. Lander, draws on the early modern literature of witchcraft and demonology to provide an illuminating context for the play.

When you're a fan of Shakespeare and you have to create a power point about Shakespeare and his work, and then present said power point in a literature course, you're bound to want to read more Shakespeare - on your own time.

Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Author: Betty Smith

Genre: Classics; Historical; Fiction

Goodreads Rating: 4.24/5 stars

Pages: 493 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Publication: January 18, 2005 (Original publication: 1943)

Summary: The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century.

I  finally purchased this beloved classic.

I have yet to purchase the following book, but I plan on doing so in a bit. It's a new publication by a budding author, that you can purchase from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It is available as both an e-book and in paperback format.

Title: Strange Fate

Author: Jessica Miller

Series: The Guardians #1

Genre: Romance; New Adult; Paranormal; Fantasy

Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5 stars

Pages: 436 (Paperback)

Publisher: Self-published

Published: January 31, 2017

Summary: Olivia thought she was doomed to spend eternity in purgatory. A punishment worse than death for saving an innocent that was destined to die. Stopping death was against the rules and breaking those rules had consequences. The higher powers decided to give Olivia a second chance to redeem herself with a new charge, little did she know this particular charge would truly make her work for her redemption and lead her back to the person she risked her life to save.

Oliver had everything going for him. A girlfriend he cared for deeply, a best friend who was following him to college and the chance to start his life. That was until one night he ran into the girl he’d been dreaming about since he was five. The beautiful blonde who saved his life thirteen years ago. Oliver can’t believe she’s real and can’t seem to stay away from her, but their reunion isn’t coincidental. Fate has brought them back together for a reason. There is a war brewing between good and evil and destiny has chosen the only two people who can keep the balance and save the world from self-destruction.

Will Oliver and Olivia be able to stop the world from diving into darkness or will they be too blinded by their own inner demons to survive what fate has in store for them?

Sounds like the best of both worlds for the reader who loves a side of romance with his/her paranormal and fantasy reads. Miller is highly appreciative of honest and thorough reviews. If you do check this book out, don't forget to hop onto Goodreads, Amazon, and/or Barnes and Noble's website, and leave a review!

Let me know if you spotted any favorites or any books that you've been looking forward to reading.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

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The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman Review

Pages: 286
Goodreads Rating: 4.10/ 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal


"It's always easier to die gently, to wake in due time in the place you were buried, to come to terms with your death and to get acquainted with the other inhabitants."


Neil Gaiman, is an author who will forever have a home on my shelves. From his deep, pensive thoughts to his love for magical realism, Gaiman is an author who is undoubtedly true to both himself and his creativity. The uniqueness and the energy that Gaiman manages to breathe into his works are out of this world. Seemingly, effortlessly he brings his characters and his settings to life, and no matter how bizarre his characters and settings are, they never fail to feel familiar and relatable.

This was my second time experiencing The Graveyard Book and all of its uncanny characters and heavy meaning. I must say that there are definitely novels out there that require a second read in order to fully comprehend the message and the author's intentions. TGB is a somewhat loose retelling of The Jungle Book, with a very unique twist - a graveyard and all of its inhabitants.

"The graveyard kept its secrets."

Indeed, the graveyard did keep its secrets until the night that a family of four was murdered in their home. Except, not all four family members were killed. The fourth and final member of the family, a baby boy tottered his way out of and away from the home and up the hill that led to the graveyard that would become his home. Thus, leading us to the life and tale of Nobody Owens; a boy named "Nobody" because he looked like nobody but himself.

"It must be good," said Silas, "to have somewhere that you belong. Somewhere that's home."

Nobody Owens, Bod for short, was never meant to live an ordinary life.

Once, all of the inhabitants of the graveyard rallied together to protect Bod from his then unnamed pursuer and The Lady on the Grey gave her consent for Bod to receive Freedom of the Graveyard - the ability to walk amongst and exist amongst the dead even though said individual is very much so alive - Nobody Owens was named and claimed by the Owenses. Master and Mistress Owens were named his parents and the ever mysterious Silas was named Bod's guardian, since Silas was able to come and go as needed from both the graveyard and other planes of existence. It is never explicitly stated what Silas is but it would be a fairly good guess to say that Silas is a vampire. Regardless of what Silas is or isn't, his position within the Honor Guard and his dogged pursuit for justice are aspects of his character that lead to Bod's unwavering respect and idolization of Silas. Silas is a dark, mysterious, profound figure who fits in with neither the living or the dead. His existence is a lonely one, but one that is hell bent on redemption. Silas is without a doubt my favorite character from TGB.

"The dead should have charity."

And charitable they were. The inhabitants of the graveyard quickly became Bod's family, mentors, and friends. They taught him how to embrace the graveyard and his identity. The past is important and meant to be learned from and the future should be looked to eagerly and with a hint of skepticism, but it is the present that we should give our all to and immerse ourselves in wholeheartedly."The treasures of ten thousand years ago were not the treasures of today."

"You are ignorant, boy" said Lupescu. "This is bad. And you are content to be ignorant, which is worse."

While the inhabitants of the graveyard did an excellent job of instilling values, a passion for knowledge, and a love for books in Bod, Silas knew that it wasn't enough. That there was a world that was far bigger and much more diverse waiting for Bod outside of the gates of the graveyard. Silas knew that in order for Bod to be able to escape the impending danger, he would need furthered knowledge and experience. Enter, Miss Lupescu. Lupescu is another mysterious character. We come to know that she is from the Old Country and acts as a tutor (and protector) for those in need. Later on in the novel we come to know that Lupescu is a Hound of God, what we would refer to as a werewolf/lycanthrope. Lupescu's identity is revealed after she rescues Bod from the ghouls who ventured to coerce him out of the graveyard and onto the road to Ghulheim; the Gates of Hell. "It was a city that had been built just to be abandoned, in which all the fears and madnesses and revulsions of the creatures who built it were made into stone. The ghoul-folk had found it and delighted in it and called it home."

S: Silas walked across the path without disturbing a fallen leaf, and sat down on the bench beside Bod. "There are those," he said, in his silken voice, "who believe that all land is sacred. That it is sacred before we come to it, and sacred after. But here, in your land, they blessed the churches and the ground they set aside to bury people in, to make it holy. But they left land unconsecrated beside the sacred ground, Potter's Fields to bury the criminals and the suicides or those who were not of the faith."

B: "So the people buried in the ground on the other side of the fence are bad people?"

S: Silas raised one perfect eyebrow. "Mm? Oh, not at all."

This quote is a part of one of my favorite passages from this novel. Silas explains to Bod that not everything is as it seems to be and that we cannot be so quick to judge others. People come with pasts and secrets that we know absolutely nothing about. People lie about other people's character and deeds. Good and bad are nowhere near as clear cut as we would like them to be. And the world, both living and dead, is not black and white. There is so much gray; so much uncertainty.

S: "And there are always people who find their lives have become so unsupportable they believe the best thing they could do would be to hasten their transition to another plane of existence."

B: "They kill themselves, you mean?" said Bod.

"Indeed."

"Does it work? Are they happier dead?"

"Sometimes. Mostly, no. It's like the people who believe they'll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean."

This quote is incredibly important, in my opinion. We all find ourselves feeling lost and unfulfilled at different points in our lives, some of us more than others, but the important thing to note is that this despair isn't a result of our surrounds or who is surrounding us. It comes from within; a deep, turbulent sadness that is as much ourselves as our souls are. We carry these emotions with us and it is up to us to decide if we will shoulder the pain or if we will allow the pain to become an anchor that weighs us down and forces us to remain stagnant and trapped in a sea of loneliness. Loneliness in the sense of being unfamiliar with yourself and afraid of the potential that we possess.

The following quote is the one of the first of many interactions that Bod will have with Liza Hempstock, a young girl who was labeled a witch and drowned and burned under false accusations. She is buried under the unconsecrated ground of the graveyard without a headstone to mark her presence. Aside from becoming one of Bod's closest companions, Liza will come to Bod's aid countless times and save him from quite a few sticky situations. Liza will also be somewhat of a first crush for Bod in his later years.

B:"What's your name?" he asked.

L: "Got no headstone," she said, turning down the corners of her mouth. "Might be anybody. Mightn't I?"

B: "But you must have a name."

L: "Liza Hempstock,  if you please," she said tartly. Then she said, "It's not too much to ask, is it? Something to mark my grave. I'm just down there, see? With nothing but nettles to show where I rest." And she looked so sad, just for a moment, that Bod wanted to hug her.

"That's the difference between the living and the dead, ennit?" said the voice. It was Liza Hempstock talking, Bod knew, although the witch-girl was nowhere to be seen. "The dead dun't disappoint you. They've had their life, done what they've done. We dun't change. The living, they always disappoint you, dun't they?"

Yes, Liza, we humans are impossibly fickle and unappreciative of our ability to live in the moment. We overlook the little details and take far too much for granted. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Liza was often the push that Bod needed to remember to embrace life and while he may have been brought up in a graveyard, he was still very much so alive.

"Truly, life is wasted on the living, Nobody Owens. For one of us is too foolish to live, and it is not I."

A few of Liza's parting words to Bod. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest not spent making preparations for death.

B: The the smile stopped and he looked grave once again. He said, "But you'll always be here, Silas, won't you? And I won't ever have to leave, if I don't want to?

S: "Everything in its season," said Silas.

Bod may have been living amongst the dead, those who never change, but that didn't stop Bod from growing and changing. And with each new year of life, Bod became more and more aware of these changes. Primarily the fact that he had difficulty seeing and hearing some of the inhabitants in the graveyard. Their lives had stopped and his had only just begun.

The Dance with Death, Dance the Macabray, comes around when the winter blossoms bloom. The dance is a sign of unity between the living and the dead, and is supposed to bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones. However, the dance is to be kept quiet so while the living and the dead do come together for a night every few years, the living aren't permitted to retain any memory of the dance. Bod included, much to his frustration. While at the dance, Bod meets The Lady on the Grey; who is heavily implied to be the personification of death itself.

B: "Hello," he said, as he danced with her. "I don't know your name"

LG: "Names aren't really important."

B: "I love your horse. He's so big! I never knew horses could be that big."

LG: "He is gentle enough to bear the mightiest of you away on his broad back, and strong enough for the smallest of you as well."

B: "Can I ride him?" asked Bod.

LG: "One day," she told him, and her cobweb skirts shimmered. "One day. Everybody does."

B: "Promise?"

LG: "I promise."

Quite the morbid interaction, which Bod still having a fair amount of childhood innocence was very much so unaware that he was actually inquiring about riding Death's steed from the plane of the living to the plane of death.

The danger that Bod had always been in due to the man who had murdered Bod's birth family was beginning to become more and more threatening. But one cannot live their live within the perimeters that fear constructs. So, in the face of danger, Bod ventured off to school in the living world for a "human" education and socialization with other living children. And of course Silas had a few wise words for this new development in Bod's life. "You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you can change the world, the world will change. Potential. Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But that potential is finished."

The adventure of school lost its glamour when Bod put two bullies in their place and the interaction between the dead and the living became far too muddied.

Enter, the mysterious murderer. A man named Jack Frost, who is associated with an organization called The Jacks of All Trades. This is the organization that Silas and the rest of the Honor Guard have been fighting for years. But the demise of the Jacks comes at the hands of our very own, Nobody Owens - along with some help from his friends of the graveyard, of course. I won't describe the Jacks downfall, some things are better left for the reader to experience first hand. However, I will mention that their fall can be primarily chalked up to greed and fear. "Fear is contagious. You can catch it. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to say that they're scared for the fear the become real."

And now Nobody Owen's life within the graveyard has begun to come to a close. But his life amongst the living has only just begun.

"He would go somewhere no one knew him, and he would sit in a library all day and read books and listen to people breathing."

Me too, Bod. Me too...

"But there is only one perfectly safe place for your kind and you will not reach it until all your adventures are over and none of them matter any longer."

Before Silas, I never thought of death as being a safe haven from life...

"If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained."

"People want to forget the impossible. It makes their world safer."

"You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"If I come back, it will be a place, but it won't be home any longer."

Home isn't a place. It's where the heart it is, Bod.

And last but not least, our parting words with The Graveyard Book: "Face your life, its pain, its pleasures, leave no path untaken."

Ah, Gaiman, you incredible author, you! How you manage to break my heart, speak to my soul, and restore my hope is beyond me. But, I'm hooked.

Excellent, excellent writing and characterization. A wonderful, playful pace. TGB is easily a five star rating for me. My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars.  

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded!

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