March Book Haul

I bought quite a few books this month. It wasn't as bad as February, I was able to contain myself a little. Still, a good haul with some awesome books that I'm pretty stoked to read.

As, again, I am writing from the beginning of May I have read 1 and 1/2 of these books which makes writing about being them a little weird.

At the beginning of March I did some online shopping on Amazon. I always use it to buy upcoming bookclub books. I often treat myself to a few other volumes from my wish list because I don't have a lot of self control. I bought:

• In The Country We Love by Diane Guerrero. This was the book club book that we read in April. There will be a review for it shortly.
• The Just City by Jo Walton. This is the first book the Thessaly series. I had read the first book in the series in October without realising that it was actually the second book in the series. I'm really looking forward to reading this one!
• Murder of a Sweet Old Lady by  Denise Swanson is the second book in the Scumble River Mysteries series. I really loved the first (and nineteenth) book in the series so I'm really looking forward to reading it and I will probably read it this month (in May)

I also went to Chapters with my friend Jaclyn to buy some books that we're reading together. We started reading books and series together when we started university as a way to keep closer. We also watch some tv together (we're currently working through Game of Thrones). That day I bought

• A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, the first book in the Shades of Magic series. Jaclyn had already read this book and thought that I would really enjoy it. We're going to read the other books together so I needed to read this one first.
• A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab, the second book. Hopefully I liked the first one, but a book read with a friend is always a good book.
• The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen is the second book in The Queen of The Tearling series. I really loved the first book in the series so I have high hopes for this one (and I'm currently 100 pages in).

I'm pretty happy with this haul and will have several of the books read by the end of May which is always great.

Book 259: Dragonfly in Amber

Firstly, I'd like to talk briefly about Outlander, the first book in the Outland series. I bought it and Dragonfly in Amber several years ago in anticipation of television series. I didn't read it until this past December, with two seasons already released. I really enjoyed it. I was a bit cautious going into it because many books that are popular I haven't really enjoyed, but this book goes against that stereotype. I found the character's compelling and the addition of time travel a nice surprise. I would, however, suggest not picking up Outlander when you can devote all your time to it because it will be all you want to do. I, however, started reading it during exam period which was a bad idea.

Unlike the first book, Dragonfly in Amber takes place in France instead of Scotland for the majority of the book. It's first and last parts of the book takes place in the twentieth century, which I often found harder to get into. Unraveling the mysteries of the past from the present doesn't make for the same sort of story that romping around in eighteenth century.

Just about to start this beauty! 😻 I recently started watching the first season of Outlander and I'm so addicted! Jamie looks so much different than I thought he would though. 😕 . . . #outlander #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Mar 2, 2017 at 7:01am PST

One of the coolest things in the novel is the appearance of Hildegard, a character, at least to me, who was clearly based on Hildegard von Bingen. I thought her mentions of Bach were very cool as well, especially given that he is my brother's favourite composer and is frequently played around my house.

 As always, I endeavour not to give away any spoilers BUT THE ENDING WAS REALLY INTENSE.

I rated this book a 7 out of 10. Highly enjoyable yet light read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, Voyager.


 

Book 258: Catch-22

This book was a lot more rough than I anticipated. It was, in some ways harder to read than the other two books I read in February.

It's hard to choose what to read when your confronted with two great books . . . #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Mar 13, 2017 at 5:30am PDT

For those of you who don't know, Catch-22 takes place on a Greek Island during the Second World War and is about bombing pilots. In their contract there is a catch, Catch-22, "there was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to." This is the premise that the whole novel is based around, people who are crazy who want to fly their missions and people who don't want to fly their missions because they're sane who aren't able to get out of it.

It covered so much ground. The idea around Catch-22 take on many different forms throughout the novel. It looks at what love is. It looks at trading. It touches on suicide and depression.

I found the ending very dissatisfying. It happened very quickly and left a cliff hanger. Apparently there is a second book called Closing Time so I'll have to check that out to see if that answers any of my questions.

28/42 I've been having such a hard time getting motivated to do anything for the past few weeks. . . . #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Mar 20, 2017 at 7:36am PDT

I rate this book an 8 out of 10. It was really enjoyable to read. In many ways it was like an episode of M*A*S*H in book form which is pretty awesome. There's lots of foolishness and fun. This is a book that i'll probably read again.

Book 257: The Break

I still have a lot of feelings about this book. I finished it slightly before the start of the Canada Reads competitions this year and Candy Palmater, who was defending the book, signed my copy at a Canada Reads event. This was before all hell broke lose on the first day and it got voted off. This is by far the worst thing that has happened in my reading world this year.

Feeling so privileged and fortunate to have met @thecandyshow tonight at her talk about The Break by Katherine Vermette and her life for CBC's Mainstreet (it will air there later if you missed it tonight). She makes me feel more hopeful both as a young women who has no idea what I want to do with their life and about the future of my country. She also inspires me to learn more about our indigenous peoples by listening and reading their stories and to (hopefully) learn how to be a better ally and friend to them by the things that they teach me. I also thank her for inspiring me to come out of my reading shell of mostly white male authors and read both more Canadian literature and books by women. Candy also signed my book which has been one of the highlights of my year. If you are not familiar with Candy YOU NEED TO BECOME FAMILIAR. She is hugely inspiring and has the best culture lists. She is the coolest individual I've had the pleasure of meeting. . . . #canadareads #greatcanadian #inspired #inspirationalpeople #selfie #blessed #cbc #cbcmainstreet

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Mar 9, 2017 at 5:18pm PST

The Break is a weird sort of mystery. It opens with an assault and the rest of the book goes through different points of views and the events of the night of the assault are slowly revealed.

The story is told by a family of women whose relationship, some of them distant, other fraught, and some who were very close; and both revealed and mended throughout the novel.

So excited for this book! I've just started it and it's addicting. Candy Palmater is coming to talk about this book as part of Canada Reads on Thursday. I hope I can get it done by then! . . . #canadareads #canlit #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Mar 7, 2017 at 9:14am PST

During Canada Reads two of the panellists said that they did not like the book or feel that it was the novel that Canada needs to read, this year's theme, because of the under-representation of "good men". I yelled about this for about a week. Perhaps longer. (for full details see me twitter) Why they felt that a book about women, told by women, need to have men in it I'm not entirely sure. Secondly, there were several good men in the book, one of them was even a narrator. These comments were so infuriating, especially given that a lot of the books that I have read have male main characters and the only female characters are often poorly written and secondary.

I'm still upset.

This is a beautiful written book about an important topic. It is the book that all Canadians need to read. It is the book that should have won Canada Reads. I rate this book a 10/10. Absolutely wonderful.

Book 14 of 2017: The Better Mother by Jen Sookfong Lee

Book 256: The Better Mother

This book was pretty light for being about such heavy things. It takes place at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in Vancover and one of the main characters is gay. This is a really rough time for him and his friends, not only does he struggle with his sexuality people are wasting away and they have no idea why. The other main character's story starts during the depression. It was just rough.

When Danny was a boy he met Val, a stripped who goes by the stage name The Chinese Kitten. As he grows up he always wondered what it would be like to have Val as a mother as he struggles to connect with his own mother due to cultural differences.

Later in the novel we hear Val's story of how she became a stripper, how she became a mother, and what happens to her child.

Her and Danny reconnect later in the book and they help each other to heal and ask the important question of what it means to be a good mother. Ultimately this question goes unanswered through the novel, but it explores elements of the true answer.

I really enjoyed this novel. I rate it an 8/10. Ms. Lee's style is very fluid and easy to read. The characters that she builds are relatable and feel very real. An exceptional books.

A day early for my first read of March, but I'm excited to start my book club book! Are any of you in a book club? What are you reading this month? . . . #bookclub #march #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Feb 28, 2017 at 8:50am PST

Book 255: The Murder of a Small-Town Honey

One of the things that I find the most interesting about reading a book later in the series and then reading the first book from the same series is that you have secret knowledge but it also makes the first book slightly more confusing.

A quick light read for a Sunday afternoon . . . #sundayfunday #sundayreading #sundayreads #murdermystery #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Feb 26, 2017 at 11:24am PST

The Scumble River Mysteries are cozy mysteries and The Murder of a Small-Town Honey is super cozy. The characters are well developed and have great back stories. Skye Denison, the main character, is a school psychologist that has to move home after her less-than-successful move to the big city left her broke and single.

Does anyone else own flawed books? This ones spine wasn't set right! 😅 . . . #currentlyreading #book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #bibliophile #readers #reader #readerlife #readerofig #readersofig #readersunite #booksofinstagram #goodreads #bookish #bookaholic #bookaddict #booknerd

A post shared by Colleen Earle (@unphilosophize) on Feb 27, 2017 at 10:54am PST

As anyone who has moved from a small town, to a big city, and then back again; Skye struggles with moving back home. She feels like she doesn't belong and has a hard time fitting in, a feeling that almost everyone can relate to.

The mystery keeps you guessing until the end. The writing makes it easy to read and really allows you to immerse yourself into the world that is Scumble River.

 I rate this book a 7 out of 10. Very enjoyable read, quick and to the point.