tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6731263939799039322024-03-17T20:03:20.449-07:00Rooting BranchesA lifestyle blog devoted to sharing aspects of my life that I wish to remember. RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.comBlogger323125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-41133504749864540762022-11-27T10:19:00.000-08:002022-11-27T10:19:00.907-08:00Unappreciated Christmas Movies<div style="text-align: center;">
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My household is a strong believer in hoarding Christmas movies. Throughout the month of December me and my mum marathon all of our festive flicks and force the cheer onto ourselves. The only problem with this is that we have come across some questionable movies (<i>Christmas Angel</i> comes to mind), but.. yeah, you guessed it, go you! We have also come across some gems that were hidden behind the classics such as <i>Home Alone</i> and <i>Elf</i>. Here is a speedy list of my favourites, be sure to let me know of yours in the comments below!</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Cottage</span></b></h3>
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We all love a cheesy movie that is both inspiring and wants to make you want to weep in the corner, right? Starring <i>Jared Padalecki</i> (yup, little Sammy), <i>Peter O'Toole</i>,<i> Aaron Ashmore</i>, and <i>Chris Elliott</i>. This pick follows the story of two brothers who visit home for Christmas only to realise that their mother is in a bit of money trouble and could lose their home; the cottage. With the help of his ailing mentor, Sam Winchester... I mean, Thomas, hopes to find his artistic voice and help the town rediscover the holiday spirit. A truly beautiful story that is based off true events.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Surviving Christmas</span></b></h3>
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The only one on the list that I'm unsure of as I think it's somewhat popular and you have likely watched it. But let's go with it anyway. Millionaire <i>Ben Affleck</i> (who, after recent events, I can't bring myself to like. Shame.) hires a family for the holidays as he wants a classic homey Christmas. With laughter, a makeover, and some over-the-top gestures, <i>Surviving Christmas</i> is always a must watch in the Roberts household. This rom-com also stars <i>Christina Applegate</i>, <i>Jennifer Morrison</i> and <i>Tony Soprano</i>. Oh, and the mum from<i> Home Alone</i>.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">P2</span></b></h3>
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Me and my mum are huge advocates for Christmas horror movies. We love a little tinsel with our gore. Sadly, there is a limited amount of them in the world. The more Christmas based ones are usually a little comedic which isn't really our cup of tea (most British expression ever, just FYI). Even <i>Krampus</i>, which I loved - check out my review <a href="http://krampus-bloody-holiday-treat.html/">HERE</a> - was heavily comedy based. <i>P2</i> is a good cat and mouse horror that is based over Christmas Eve. We have Christmas songs, Christmas dinner, and a huge bear. It stars<i> Rachel Nichols</i> and <i>Wes Bentley</i>.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Help For The Holidays</span></b></h3>
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River is an elf! Pop culture reference, sorry. Yeah, that was another one. I'm on a <i>Whedon</i> kick. Alas, if none of that made sense to you.. well, judging.. but nonetheless <i>Help For The Holidays</i> is the flick you need to watch over the Christmas season. Never having been released on DVD, this Hallmark movie is one that you may have to go on a little Internet search for. Starring the gorgeous <i>Summer Glau</i> who plays an Elf that is sent by Santa to give a family something that money can't buy.. some Christmas spirit. This is an all round cheese fest with enviable clothes and romance. Aka: what you need.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Die Hard 2: Die Harder</span></b></h3>
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<i>Die Hard</i> is a Christmas movie, I think we can all agree on that. But you know what? The second instalment in the <i>Die Hard</i> series is also a flick for the festive season! It's Christmas Eve and McClane is waiting for his wife to land at Washington Dulles International Airport when terrorists take over the air traffic control system. You already know who this stars, so let's all simply no longer leave this sequel alone in the dusk. It's a Christmas movie!</div>
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Remember to tell me your favourite hidden gems below!</div>
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RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-65960335846661155762022-08-29T19:34:00.003-07:002022-08-29T19:34:54.585-07:00The IT Girl by Ruth Ware | Book Review [spoiler free]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8R7RRVBZfvusngzbe5dJPYyYlNKVEUbiz2XqV3ZfTyAHwkrK3AVNco6-NFYC7NuMRJN-cInXJs2roE3TP_1TDzSUceRTvoFTt5h57Am8_9dx1g7JaLsK-3lSqe6_Kpy8K6ut5k4xAXf_RQFmqNwjprxvQU9YpuuxZNb4rQr0dMMuGOiZ2HQDJV-O/s2381/20220814_163352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2381" data-original-width="2381" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8R7RRVBZfvusngzbe5dJPYyYlNKVEUbiz2XqV3ZfTyAHwkrK3AVNco6-NFYC7NuMRJN-cInXJs2roE3TP_1TDzSUceRTvoFTt5h57Am8_9dx1g7JaLsK-3lSqe6_Kpy8K6ut5k4xAXf_RQFmqNwjprxvQU9YpuuxZNb4rQr0dMMuGOiZ2HQDJV-O/w640-h640/20220814_163352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Premise:</b> April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Taking the timid Hannah under her wing, April introduces her to a whole new world of glitz and glamour. Together they form a close knit group of friends – Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily – but not everything is as it seems. Being the IT girl seems to go hand-in-hand with toxicity for April. So it's no surprise that by the end of the school season, she's found dead. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Now, a decade later, it has been brought into question whether the man who was convicted of April's murder was actually innocent. Being the main witness to the crime, newly pregnant Hannah begins questioning her own memories and sets on a mission to once and for all find out who killed April.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the past I've had good experiences with Ruth Ware's books. For me they've always fallen into the category of junk food reading. They aren't exceptionally written and usually fall flat in some areas, but are nevertheless fun to read. And I always devour her books within a short time period. However, The IT Girl didn't do this for me. It instead resembled a dry granola bar that was marketed a fun flavor.</p><p>It's hard to explain what felt different about this book without giving away minor spoilers, but a large part of it was most definitely the university setting and Ware's lack of ability to write younger characters. You could quite honestly stick this book in the YA mystery section of a bookstore and it'd fit right in. But while saying that, the 'current day' chapters of the book felt more adult. It often seemed like Ware wanted to go the dark academia route but was instead told she had to make it a domestic thriller. It simply had no cohesive vibe. </p><p>If you've read other Ruth Ware books you'll already know that her protagonists are usually duller than dull. But Hannah took that to another level. She was such an infuriating character to read from, and not in a thrillery 'ooh, she's mysterious' way. She was simply bland. You'd think reading from younger her and adult her would be interesting as surely she's matured even a smidge, but alas, nope. Her character continued to be dumb in any decision making and somehow became more whiny with age?</p><p>April, however, was interesting. While yes, she was a very stereotypical IT girl from a thriller standpoint, she did have layers and I was interested in reading more about her character. All the other characters, you ask? One of the same. Think <i>The Secret History</i> character list but without the eerie atmosphere surrounding them.</p><p>But what is a thriller review without a non-spoiler discussion on the twist? Well.. it was something. The ending of books has never been Ruth Ware's strong point (unless you're talking <i>Turn of the Key</i>, which I did wholly enjoy), and <i>The IT Girl</i> sadly continues that trait. It was lackluster and seemed to drag on without it needing to.</p><p>Basically, if you tend to read Ruth Ware's new releases, you may as well pick this up. It's more of the same. However, if you aren't that familiar with Ware's writing and are just looking for a fun thriller to pick up this Summer, skip this. It's not going to be a memorable read.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQygjVV3IEPZVjs77I6JBW0QcW4jmh5KX0jZF7ECNNDBk1oBcb22LeVbfmTXvblC1PP-b_kxUToU6ZwTd4ZdDjRrYNDxGcoDUKutgyVVOax9FajT6B5THXIVan4w4GOqpO5CmBf_9aAl52akXChELv4LV_cWnUipVMyzZugFpuVqyfBjq0mt0Ojsu/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-25%20at%2008.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQygjVV3IEPZVjs77I6JBW0QcW4jmh5KX0jZF7ECNNDBk1oBcb22LeVbfmTXvblC1PP-b_kxUToU6ZwTd4ZdDjRrYNDxGcoDUKutgyVVOax9FajT6B5THXIVan4w4GOqpO5CmBf_9aAl52akXChELv4LV_cWnUipVMyzZugFpuVqyfBjq0mt0Ojsu/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-25%20at%2008.23.57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-31335274419496200692022-02-14T16:34:00.007-08:002022-02-14T16:36:03.367-08:00The Cupid Book Tag | Valentine's Day 2022I've just finished watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3bhtu1HRRPbtRngYDtx_uQ">Noelle Gallagher</a>'s video<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOi8AbXrJ5E&t=1573s"> The Cupid Book Tag </a>and I was immediately sold on answering the questions. Today is the day of love, and boy, I do love books. And tags! How could I possibly pass this up? If you've been along for my journey of discovering romance, you'll know that I'm still quite a novice of this genre. Though saying that, I've gone from cutesy rom-com's to Dana Isaly's smutty novellas rather quickly. But you know what, good for me. My brain needs the serotonin. I'll relink Noelle's video down below alongside the questions if you're interested in doing this yourself! <div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLs73pMphd_Buj7EXGdkPajFlkqI151Npf1EKnSYkmcEMHHimYEDVW4IWNEar00bdVLwbf4odRD4nCzY6S2LMQ6m16mWrm34cJi4mSUDbtGwP2v9bPnchHjZjyWA8Y-vqETmF4Qzbvgj1j4Wh-VgQtsQpEJEITFbkVktF_NgZ57aRFaFnUY8jfdzUv=s1080" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLs73pMphd_Buj7EXGdkPajFlkqI151Npf1EKnSYkmcEMHHimYEDVW4IWNEar00bdVLwbf4odRD4nCzY6S2LMQ6m16mWrm34cJi4mSUDbtGwP2v9bPnchHjZjyWA8Y-vqETmF4Qzbvgj1j4Wh-VgQtsQpEJEITFbkVktF_NgZ57aRFaFnUY8jfdzUv=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What's the perfect candy to eat while reading?</h4><div>I won't lie to you, I'm most definitely more of a chip type gal when reading. Harvest Snap Pea Crisps in Ceasar? Addicting. Incredibly addicting. *Homemade Guacamole and Sour Cream and Onion Pringles? Nom. (Trust me, Pringles have the ability to become the new Doritos) Candy wise, I do enjoy a good chocolate covered gummy bear but I just know that melted chocolate would get on the pages. </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Avocado, red onion, red pepper flakes, and more lime than you think is necessary. You're welcome.</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What's a song that reminds you of your favorite romance (or just your favorite romantic song in general)?</h4><div>You ever hear someone tell a story and it unlocks a memory of your own? Maybe one that you kind put in a locked room to save yourself the self embarrassment of remembering? Yeah? That was me when watching Noelle talk about her <i>New Moon</i>/Evanescence pairing. Only for me, it was New Moon and Sia's <i>Breathe Me</i>. Yeah, I fully gave into sad girl vibes. A less embarrassing answer would be <i>Time After Time</i> by Cyndi Lauper which instantly makes me think of Poppy and Alex from <i>People We Meet on Vacation</i> by Emily Henry. This was one of my favorite books of 2021 and I think it makes a perfect pairing with this song of familiarity, love, and confusion in a relationship when time just doesn't seem to sync you both together.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl2qHI1le3CZ7bMNTtZd7I1Lbyc7Wv2paqaVjAEQcO4abObmAxf247Bonryk6ajgr9LiuJvL7AxmxzjDSb2cuZ19frezEmtY0VhryYATWYDz3TmeTIfqa80k0Qloz0mETzchhs2Ef4GH3yAlAEXKtkDGpq--ePL7GFc6h6QiMK40LYFs_Eko1U_m1H=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhl2qHI1le3CZ7bMNTtZd7I1Lbyc7Wv2paqaVjAEQcO4abObmAxf247Bonryk6ajgr9LiuJvL7AxmxzjDSb2cuZ19frezEmtY0VhryYATWYDz3TmeTIfqa80k0Qloz0mETzchhs2Ef4GH3yAlAEXKtkDGpq--ePL7GFc6h6QiMK40LYFs_Eko1U_m1H=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">If you were to go on a perfect reading date, where would it be? it could be somewhere across the world, or something more general like the beach, the forrest, etc! the skies the limit!</h4><div>I have two answers because I'm indecisive. Me and my husband have a "our spot", which is super corny but lovely. It's a small cliffside area that looks out on the ocean. It's incredibly peaceful (as pictured), but the benches are undeniably uncomfortable. I'm working on caring less about what people think and taking a camping chair there to sit and read one Summer evening, but ya know, anxiety. My second choice would be in the village Beddgelert which is close to my hometown in North Wales. We visited in January and it's such a peaceful town that I think it deserves to become a coveted reading spot. A beer garden in Summer with a good book and beautiful views? Sign me up now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBXSz195qSnq5Tg6LkNbFcqKXnpoLJot2PWVvcKfl8Vajt-pTgnzYFy73ugb5TBmHZT6Vv5GUDKaKwgFQfEhPlO_MiOY2w6TUG2FJupVC33yK3KJaulJQ-nzZN3tuxEXcUzj4y15SSyH3dGylHXpbDRtwgBBBgwVHhzrF2nVrsHO7JaOqQLwvHPR_a=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBXSz195qSnq5Tg6LkNbFcqKXnpoLJot2PWVvcKfl8Vajt-pTgnzYFy73ugb5TBmHZT6Vv5GUDKaKwgFQfEhPlO_MiOY2w6TUG2FJupVC33yK3KJaulJQ-nzZN3tuxEXcUzj4y15SSyH3dGylHXpbDRtwgBBBgwVHhzrF2nVrsHO7JaOqQLwvHPR_a=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgAx3pvs0aPOmkpqR0A3Cr-unm_C1YXYjC0ZAO0SRVReslfOjvB2fOnytXQoaPT0aqX3WV168iz9fWqUU36SMiLGXXD4i1nIUQMV1cxSE0AV5f8kFPMHJWtbm1GbPkkWvgoabR_izt0yA-YxhkESaAe6x4jBQZ85Eoov_tHXMn9QDhqP9P0FpbfJja=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgAx3pvs0aPOmkpqR0A3Cr-unm_C1YXYjC0ZAO0SRVReslfOjvB2fOnytXQoaPT0aqX3WV168iz9fWqUU36SMiLGXXD4i1nIUQMV1cxSE0AV5f8kFPMHJWtbm1GbPkkWvgoabR_izt0yA-YxhkESaAe6x4jBQZ85Eoov_tHXMn9QDhqP9P0FpbfJja=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What's the best friendship you've read in a book?</h4><div>Easy. Satoru and Nana from Hiro Arikawa's The Travelling Cat Chronicle's. Is Nana a cat and Satoru a human? Yes, but read this book and try arguing with the fact that this duo is the most wholesome form of friendship you've ever read. This is a glorious story that has so much heart. I don't hear enough people talking about it, and that's a devastation. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjcs-KXofC4aHcBfYzoOYjNzcEd5MwCXoE8WkGpJ-L3v4809SIg9oOPluz0D7nJd9KtN-yEfJTrTscq_S7rwKOjgNsmObKUNxsw5XGYt9Wag7HFJueoQNr2PsuntPsyLQEOBl2J8CUch6v4GYoLoWtlfnrL3PbzN81S-JbCm8OtoLBH1TlUAupnqmh=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjcs-KXofC4aHcBfYzoOYjNzcEd5MwCXoE8WkGpJ-L3v4809SIg9oOPluz0D7nJd9KtN-yEfJTrTscq_S7rwKOjgNsmObKUNxsw5XGYt9Wag7HFJueoQNr2PsuntPsyLQEOBl2J8CUch6v4GYoLoWtlfnrL3PbzN81S-JbCm8OtoLBH1TlUAupnqmh=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Create the perfect bouquet for your favorite book or character</h4><div>I'm going to go with Eve and Jacob from <i>Act Your Age, Eve Brown </i>for inspiration as can you answer a romance tag without mentioning Taliah Hibbert's books? That'd be a sin. Given that this is the epitome of a sunshine/grumpy romance, I'd go with a bouquet of sunflowers and thistle. With some eucalyptus throughout to give it a bit more volume, and to be a symbolic representation of what Eve and Jacob bring out of each other. Did I put way too much thought into this? But I have a vision, do you see it?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh55WDTgCMquJx6IkvQfgUFkkIYKRjQXhw8NPG0Qq8xvCxxgKQ-dYasnBW8yMWh9pNLEqdf8Y3i_d0biYiVI0sSX5lbPtM7-tmci7lRU0Exef8Adns-s_IaHBLhWWsWkIxarDbGLLZdl9Un0rBNUc_I4pX_oxDnpWk7ZT_ZabtJSEvZdmcFRG-S5aXB=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="3264" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh55WDTgCMquJx6IkvQfgUFkkIYKRjQXhw8NPG0Qq8xvCxxgKQ-dYasnBW8yMWh9pNLEqdf8Y3i_d0biYiVI0sSX5lbPtM7-tmci7lRU0Exef8Adns-s_IaHBLhWWsWkIxarDbGLLZdl9Un0rBNUc_I4pX_oxDnpWk7ZT_ZabtJSEvZdmcFRG-S5aXB=w640-h226" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for, you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is going well?</h4><div><i>People We Meet on Vacation </i>by Emily Henry. Yes, I usually don't use the same book for more than one question but com on.. a fun short story of another vacation? Maybe Honeymoon? I think the characters could easily make a short story feel full with their larger-than-life personalities and immaculate banter. I need more banter, please. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What date in a book (or movie!) do you wish you could go on yourself?</h4><div>Like Noelle, I can't remember a single date in a book that wasn't either accidental, or extreme in the sense of sports or travel. I wouldn't mind Holly and Nick's date near the end of <i>Dipped in Holly</i> by Dana Isaly. I mean, they literally just go to a diner for pancakes but.. that'd whoo me. Movie wise, I have to go with the entirety of <i>Before We Go</i> starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve. This is one of my favourite movies of all time. The entire movie is set over one night wherein the two main characters meet and walk around New York, talk, sing karaoke. Though not necessarily a romance movie, it's definitely got the vibes of what I'd envision as a perfect date. If you haven't seen this, go watch it now. And thank me later. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What is your favorite nickname from a romance?</h4><div>I mean, does my heart melt whenever Josh calls Lucy Shortcake in <i>The Hating Game</i> by Sally Thorne? Yes, yes it does. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What are your most anticipated romances of 2022? (could be new releases or just romances you're excited to finally get to!)</h4></div><div><i>Book Lovers </i>by Emily Henry is high up on my list! <i>Not The Witch You Wed</i> by April Asher came out just last week and I was lucky enough to read an eARC on Net Galley but it was so incredibly fun and I this is me pushing it on you. <i>Fake It Till You Bake It</i> by Jamie Wesley looks incredibly sweet and the cover is immaculate. <i>Meet Me in the Margins </i>by Melissa Ferguson is also high on my list.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz9b1YDXaZekJbvikRe0BxPoMCxztPCDvaJS_CxlX8lrBr5xBPzw2VpC4OMGESXgWGKbk_RNIvl1aMB2EoX7iM-Ij0qO2p21lL_9Bj377e7vYaYglvOmbT7WNYEBZyGsGnVSkfdrSTnBZdN0UxTpa2cC5e4DdLTPAdnQtnThqO-Y5uVhgDqR5X4Z-c=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="3264" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz9b1YDXaZekJbvikRe0BxPoMCxztPCDvaJS_CxlX8lrBr5xBPzw2VpC4OMGESXgWGKbk_RNIvl1aMB2EoX7iM-Ij0qO2p21lL_9Bj377e7vYaYglvOmbT7WNYEBZyGsGnVSkfdrSTnBZdN0UxTpa2cC5e4DdLTPAdnQtnThqO-Y5uVhgDqR5X4Z-c=w640-h316" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There you have it! This was a super fun tag to write out and it definitely resparked my love for blogging. I hope your Valentine's day is going well/went okay, and remember that self love is just as important as romantic love. What's your favourite romantic read? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKlovTLkC382uieZ2Bsr7WolsvyHBoBU9rcqoV2gHvwb8s41wVxj4JU1jWNhEI0_UavjV3pzzQA10J6Op_-8I2r5hkovArl9Pow0xx_CbXQvHojceUU_8WPrOl_g_Npa3byiJbLNoXtoc9NSYZXNkS3CQrDr-vB6XtLKHd5ByOU22r3hmc8IMkEH3I=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKlovTLkC382uieZ2Bsr7WolsvyHBoBU9rcqoV2gHvwb8s41wVxj4JU1jWNhEI0_UavjV3pzzQA10J6Op_-8I2r5hkovArl9Pow0xx_CbXQvHojceUU_8WPrOl_g_Npa3byiJbLNoXtoc9NSYZXNkS3CQrDr-vB6XtLKHd5ByOU22r3hmc8IMkEH3I=w200-h95" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Watch Noelle's video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOi8AbXrJ5E&t=1573s">HERE</a></b></h1><div style="text-align: center;">Questions: </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>-what's the perfect candy to eat while reading?</div><div>-what's a song that reminds you of your favorite romance (or just your favorite romantic song in general)?</div><div>-if you were to go on a perfect reading date, where would it be? it could be somewhere across the world, or something more general like the beach, the forrest, etc! the skies the limit!</div><div>-what's the best friendship you've read in a book?</div><div>-create the perfect bouquet for your favorite book or character</div><div>-what romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for, you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is going well?</div><div>-what date in a book (or movie!) do you wish you could go on yourself?</div><div>-what is your favorite nickname from a romance?</div><div>-what are your most anticipated romances of 2022? (could be new releases or just romances you're excited to finally get to!)</div></div></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-34823681509521031992021-10-19T20:45:00.001-07:002021-10-24T13:22:07.248-07:00Making Cocktails For The Sanderson Sisters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56vMivuP9EdPWXmgfrvBfY2wiy__j0TYpZUYkAY0EZEJIflbMBWGkZEX8W16bi0fuUx-T7ulK3meyKSAwT9kYKVG-LEP4k6WsAJEdqSzxV5pso25UmyzOZA3DiQIwr-KYPvB78daes4w/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+20.27.35.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56vMivuP9EdPWXmgfrvBfY2wiy__j0TYpZUYkAY0EZEJIflbMBWGkZEX8W16bi0fuUx-T7ulK3meyKSAwT9kYKVG-LEP4k6WsAJEdqSzxV5pso25UmyzOZA3DiQIwr-KYPvB78daes4w/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+20.27.35.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Let's ask the age old question, <i>What would the Sanderson sisters order at a bar? </i></p><p>In 2019 I did a post on some Halloween Cocktails which was really fun, so this year I thought I'd do something similar but with more of a theme! Hocus Pocus is the ultimate witchy family movie so let's make it adulted. I have a drink for each sister (one being a mocktail and one that's easily made alcohol free for those of us who drive), so let's get into the recipes. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kEyAdtXZMgLOGL4ozuSMywx7atMujI76wS7f5l_OqPjJxTY9KzyeD171KOUn33KuqXoQzEoBErp8epqhczK_LWanfAa35PgfZh6uEWd9w9mf8uNAFxLo9YYpYMSOFTbP1SBq-EcDFXY/s2048/1970-01-19-020447154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kEyAdtXZMgLOGL4ozuSMywx7atMujI76wS7f5l_OqPjJxTY9KzyeD171KOUn33KuqXoQzEoBErp8epqhczK_LWanfAa35PgfZh6uEWd9w9mf8uNAFxLo9YYpYMSOFTbP1SBq-EcDFXY/w640-h480/1970-01-19-020447154.jpg" width="640" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kEyAdtXZMgLOGL4ozuSMywx7atMujI76wS7f5l_OqPjJxTY9KzyeD171KOUn33KuqXoQzEoBErp8epqhczK_LWanfAa35PgfZh6uEWd9w9mf8uNAFxLo9YYpYMSOFTbP1SBq-EcDFXY/s2048/1970-01-19-020447154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrfxGpfPKvI9ShjvXdWJmVUyg4tFMFBVbj_Qz2qV7ls5qLBjteS2z4Ed_Z4G2M3sBROzhxkdWsAcUA6XOuu568JeAyQvToTY4pS5swdSffB5GX3RJKBKEr2VGGZYKkVpilEMShosWfUE/s2048/1970-01-19-020446999.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrfxGpfPKvI9ShjvXdWJmVUyg4tFMFBVbj_Qz2qV7ls5qLBjteS2z4Ed_Z4G2M3sBROzhxkdWsAcUA6XOuu568JeAyQvToTY4pS5swdSffB5GX3RJKBKEr2VGGZYKkVpilEMShosWfUE/w640-h480/1970-01-19-020446999.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Mary Sanderson - <i>CranMary Bliss</i></h2><p>Personally, I think Mary Sanderson would order a mocktail unless she was making an exception for a frozen Pina Colada. So I was aiming for something sweet but Autumnal. Thus the CranMary! </p><p><b>INGREDIENTS</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4oz Strawberry flavored Seltzer </li><li>2oz Cranberry Juice</li><li>Dash of Grenadine</li><li>Rosemary Twig </li></ul><div>Pour your wet ingredients over ice, shake well, and pur into a tall glass. Add a sprig of rosemary to give it a stir and a Fall-like herby taste. I know the herb element seems odd, but it truly adds to the drink. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6RAwnLlS49-f606dIyuzCMQRr8MsAt_DncNzAeCfStr_kM75xQYMrODPTho7REA17VdhsXQ7uDyRJy8NYqWxEc9gZ77s8fbLSWLqjie_SGSDbcSPBWVP4sXfKhCVVwgayvFTPXiQZbw/s2048/1970-01-19-020447034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6RAwnLlS49-f606dIyuzCMQRr8MsAt_DncNzAeCfStr_kM75xQYMrODPTho7REA17VdhsXQ7uDyRJy8NYqWxEc9gZ77s8fbLSWLqjie_SGSDbcSPBWVP4sXfKhCVVwgayvFTPXiQZbw/w640-h480/1970-01-19-020447034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Sarah Sanderson - <i>Lavender Mojito </i></h2><p>Sarah is romantic while being sharp, so I think this is the perfect drink to match her style. Though I'm calling this a mojito, it's really adaptable dependent on your taste. I used gin for this one, but white rum or vodka works great too. Same goes for the seltzer, I personally favor tonic water, but I know that's not to everyone's taste so I'm going to veto that for the point of this recipe. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Club Soda</li><li>2oz gin (or white rum)</li><li>4 springs of Mint</li><li>1/2 oz simple Syrup</li><li>Lavender Bitters (to taste)</li></ul><p></p><p>Muddle some mint with a few dashes of the lavender bitters before adding the soda, gin, and simple syrup. Pour into a stemless wine glass, add plenty of ice, and enjoy! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0l2Tx8Zg_XxsrBKO1U1OXy3MmErZwD3ipxAwLskYGralNaegwddGkrfdhwf7Q5YB8Kb_h4To9GhM6QfUfhcwM76FrJUiIWDQ7DAwpBVAbV9Z_yJTjBaVkxo-xPh1mvawWXii3vDTsQA/s2048/1970-01-19-020447319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0l2Tx8Zg_XxsrBKO1U1OXy3MmErZwD3ipxAwLskYGralNaegwddGkrfdhwf7Q5YB8Kb_h4To9GhM6QfUfhcwM76FrJUiIWDQ7DAwpBVAbV9Z_yJTjBaVkxo-xPh1mvawWXii3vDTsQA/w640-h480/1970-01-19-020447319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Winifred Sanderson - <i>Nutty Brandy</i></h2><p>This is the most basic of these cocktails but it definitely screams Winnie. The sweet mixed with the woodiness of the brandy makes for the most well rounded spirit forward cocktail. I imagine she'd like something strong with a feminine twist. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>3oz Brandy</li><li>3oz Disaronno </li><li>Glazier cherries (and a splash of juice)</li></ul><p></p><p> Mix together the two liquors, add a splash of the cherry juice from the jar, load up your drink of cherries. Add a single ice cube and enjoy! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoM2wzyXoVzcK3tlA50Hlvp1SNPgTsPztEKxTnJ0Jk-Nr1E8bYHOMLrfvI474hdy_cHciwSITZh_6m8xc5zkg5fyrN26AoawrvU1LECWi7ypKNvj-AH6ruASPXj_8z4LFqh2KVX0kdEY/s2016/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+19.52.31.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoM2wzyXoVzcK3tlA50Hlvp1SNPgTsPztEKxTnJ0Jk-Nr1E8bYHOMLrfvI474hdy_cHciwSITZh_6m8xc5zkg5fyrN26AoawrvU1LECWi7ypKNvj-AH6ruASPXj_8z4LFqh2KVX0kdEY/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+19.52.31.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you found something in this post that intrigues you or inspires you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which Sanderson sister do you favor? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_mB8E5QNrYUiD1aBSP4p-us9XwhlItwCwiuXdgR2wVeyMGZia9gTjdTC8fx4fsfq6H4iKQkUa2lp6HapxBKTSxAF_ahBlhtJBixk9XKfBFd4DjDrGDi790gE_ZLbz-GqE3_GXV4O2tA/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_mB8E5QNrYUiD1aBSP4p-us9XwhlItwCwiuXdgR2wVeyMGZia9gTjdTC8fx4fsfq6H4iKQkUa2lp6HapxBKTSxAF_ahBlhtJBixk9XKfBFd4DjDrGDi790gE_ZLbz-GqE3_GXV4O2tA/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-59402161256966591212021-10-19T12:18:00.005-07:002021-10-19T12:18:56.632-07:00Books I've Recently Loved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYO-dosmYJu_OMtM_g5rEnn-4JDrqFSX4vjj4SVuD274MN9-aP8PNeRPpGOgyEDYgkfWC0-bhxLw1nN4L8GD0zV-XmkSRwj01ZVxou7vmVZI-FsOKV7T5zx_mef-zFoYWPL9VIBr0ldw/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+12.16.47.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYO-dosmYJu_OMtM_g5rEnn-4JDrqFSX4vjj4SVuD274MN9-aP8PNeRPpGOgyEDYgkfWC0-bhxLw1nN4L8GD0zV-XmkSRwj01ZVxou7vmVZI-FsOKV7T5zx_mef-zFoYWPL9VIBr0ldw/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+12.16.47.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, hello there strangers. I've been rather MIA the past few months as my mental health took a spiral downward. But I'm back! In an attempt to talk about something cheery, I thought it would be fun to discuss some of the 5 star books I've recently read. We have romance, a short story collection, and some modern fiction. Let's get into it..</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_WL0T_1OqTg-v5Yynscy-Fsr6Y6fy7Pd9HCt9FYevX46UjKYOVgZiAEY8zrszRil8l52Mx4hDk55_sKh-n54qZqIz84OE4g0aYdexEH7qOAAdZ2QMLihhN1b0dxPJYI_DZ9uHT0N284/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.08.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_WL0T_1OqTg-v5Yynscy-Fsr6Y6fy7Pd9HCt9FYevX46UjKYOVgZiAEY8zrszRil8l52Mx4hDk55_sKh-n54qZqIz84OE4g0aYdexEH7qOAAdZ2QMLihhN1b0dxPJYI_DZ9uHT0N284/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.08.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Malibu Rising<br /><i>Taylor Jenkins Reid</i></h3><p>Four siblings. A party. A fire. Dramaramarama, Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit are throwing their yearly party to mark the end of Summer. It's a lavish affair that everyone wants to attend. But this year will be different, everything is about to go wrong. From failing marriages, estranged parents, sibling rivalries, and flames. </p><p>The synopsis is vague, but I think it needs to be to add to the reading experience. It's no surprise that I devoured this book in one sitting and gave it a radiant 5 stars. For me, TJR's books have been consistently good. I adored Nina as a character, she was definitely my favourite. I appreciated how gradual her story was told, making us (as the readers) work to understand her. Her ability to write a large cast of characters while still managing to keep them all feeling individual is remarkable. The reviews for Malibu Rising have been varied, and I think that is partly down to the pacing. Though we mainly read from the day of the party, we do get flashbacks of the past to build up the story. I personally enjoyed the 'all over the place' feel as it added to the build-up of the fire that we know is coming. All in all, TJR doesn't miss and this is a huge contender for my favorite book of 2021. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvOcQfW5FaROyee3uuPpke0i9Yr2nOIaGvWcDw7Msc3aMNKVBmM7FqsG4GgrimcjBclY8VrZVAcxrJWjigYuS_LJVLyJ7zHNIeAhd1j1pZIfxyUizqB8AecG27-JTumhBuOfJL9iAA-0/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.07.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvOcQfW5FaROyee3uuPpke0i9Yr2nOIaGvWcDw7Msc3aMNKVBmM7FqsG4GgrimcjBclY8VrZVAcxrJWjigYuS_LJVLyJ7zHNIeAhd1j1pZIfxyUizqB8AecG27-JTumhBuOfJL9iAA-0/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.07.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">People We Meet On Vacation<br /><span><i>Emily Henry </i></span></h3><p>Poppy and Alex used to be the perfect definition of friendship goals. Since their days at university they'd taken a yearly vacation together, scrimping and saving throughout the year to make it happen. Memories were built, career's blossomed, and friendship remained. But nowadays they barely speak. Poppy is struggling with her life, she feels aimless and decides that the only thing that could possibly restore her zest for life and travel would be to recreate those vacation days with Alex. But when he agrees and everything starts to go wrong for the duo, they are forced to face the vacation that broke them apart.</p><p>This was such a fun read. I read <i>Beach Read</i> by Emily Henry a few months ago and loved that too. She has a knack for writing romance that are build around a more serious topic without losing the fun of banter. Poppy and Alex were a great dynamic, they were the epitome of the sunshine&grumpy trope which I adore. There were a few steamy scenes and a slow burn that made the pay off more than worth it. If you enjoy The Brown Sisters series or Sally Throne's books, give this a shot. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoKNPmDAtgB-2DVYO4yzEyyChlT0Qc_W_KQ1gHHt1U3Q_shmQ-ox-CTrfWPkXU5C7-5tCr_Y6797jwRIJqKIeY5iMfZWtv6d4qZfYr_jNen3gsMaRZTmBRC2CHAnkWnLKfQhenaNR8Os/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.08+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoKNPmDAtgB-2DVYO4yzEyyChlT0Qc_W_KQ1gHHt1U3Q_shmQ-ox-CTrfWPkXU5C7-5tCr_Y6797jwRIJqKIeY5iMfZWtv6d4qZfYr_jNen3gsMaRZTmBRC2CHAnkWnLKfQhenaNR8Os/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.08+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Honey Girl<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Morgan Rodgers </i></span></h3><p>Grace Porter is a 28-years-old woman, a PHD student, and just drunkenly got married to a girl she doesn't know in Vegas. Can they make it work? And is Grace's time at her unfulfilling job nearing an end?</p><p>The character growth in this book is flawlessly done. I adored Grace as a character, she was messy while still showing a vulnerability that kept her feeling real. I really enjoyed how Grace's career was the main drive for her story. Her love for science translated well off the page and I even learned a few things! There is a podcast element to this story that worked great if reading this as an audiobook. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was an authentic look at a 20-something woman struggling to find her footing in life. Also.. how gorgeous is this cover?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmhRrPLHm3YG5gjsldy-SrtUm_c1HLY9nc8zAtRVFAOB89Cc9GuN8Ax6oMhplP4NKulTR9mzU_njMf00Tj5L6znFSjNzxssGRuN5mYTMFqw3b9565s4kl4jPZgmtoF7YAGk7DuaZi61I/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.06.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmhRrPLHm3YG5gjsldy-SrtUm_c1HLY9nc8zAtRVFAOB89Cc9GuN8Ax6oMhplP4NKulTR9mzU_njMf00Tj5L6znFSjNzxssGRuN5mYTMFqw3b9565s4kl4jPZgmtoF7YAGk7DuaZi61I/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.06.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Indelicacy<br /><i>Amina Cain</i></h3><p>Too cautious to pursue her passion of art, Vitória instead works as a cleaner at an art museum. When she meets a man who can offer her more, her entire world gets turned upside down. But the artist soon learns that having it all can quite easily feel like having nothing. </p><p>Though the main plot of this 2020 release is centered around a marriage, at heart Indelicacy follows in the footsteps of Convenience Store Woman opening a discussion of loneliness, feminism, and dreams. I adored this mere blimp of a novel (it's 112 pages) way more than I thought possible. The writing flowed like poetry while maintaining a grit that the story needed. Though at times dislikeable, Vitória had a complexity to her that kept me invested in her story. If you enjoyed books such as My Year of Rest and Relaxation and The Bell Jar, pick this up. Definitely one of the best books I've read in 2021. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYY6an3UXlJXdjzhJjU9YuFUup3ZPPg4hjpegsOFkQSu49DVeHHlRTbXoFYGHxGaWsA7L5ghcGzL-oMOMJn1mY8Br1I5h4CYKuq3TvfbOXDMG94nNZS9vtYli8xCuNPwqZSqspD9Xh80/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.55.56.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYY6an3UXlJXdjzhJjU9YuFUup3ZPPg4hjpegsOFkQSu49DVeHHlRTbXoFYGHxGaWsA7L5ghcGzL-oMOMJn1mY8Br1I5h4CYKuq3TvfbOXDMG94nNZS9vtYli8xCuNPwqZSqspD9Xh80/w636-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.55.56.jpeg" width="636" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Invisible Life of Addie Larue<br /><i>V. E. Schwab</i></h3><p>Though marketed as a love story between a forgotten girl and the devil, the complexity of this novel is impossible to be summed up in a mere sentence. In 1714 Addie Larue made a deal with the devil to escape the life she was being forced into. She lives until she wishes to give up her soul, but on the condition that everyone she meets forgets her within minutes of being apart. Lonely, unable to lay down roots, and craving intimacy with another human, Addie goes through her day-to-day life as a ghost. That is until one day a miracle occurs: someone remembers her. </p><p>Firstly, this truly isn't a love story between Addie and Luc (the devil), so I felt a little conned about that. However, have you ever read a book that gave off such a haunting atmosphere? That's how I feel about Addie Larue. This is my first Schwab book, and I was honestly blown away by the writing. It was flowery, but in just the right sense. I grew to love Addie as a character, and felt the loneliness that riddled her. Some negative reviews I've seen are mainly about the length, which yes, this was a tome of a book. But when a book has to rely on you bounding with such a small character list, I think it needs the slow burn. If you're easily bored or go into this expecting a fast-paced fantasy, it'll disappoint you. It gave me We Have Always Lived In The Castle vibes, but in a romantic setting. I can't stop thinking about this book. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOYtBKSufoTVovpSTKbiD8XevXPAxPyzWQQ65bpYHcCqxgVuxJT4IxQY4cNe5WTH6wxrZoK0wsJSR-EOvNvutbcOfv0Jvr4cnTIJ-PhSa32TddMX0bzbsPQgKXyZ0usSZd5Ukv_mR3OM/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.06+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOYtBKSufoTVovpSTKbiD8XevXPAxPyzWQQ65bpYHcCqxgVuxJT4IxQY4cNe5WTH6wxrZoK0wsJSR-EOvNvutbcOfv0Jvr4cnTIJ-PhSa32TddMX0bzbsPQgKXyZ0usSZd5Ukv_mR3OM/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-10-19+at+11.54.06+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">How to Pronounce Knife<br /><i>Souvankham Thammavongsa</i></h3><div>2021 has been the year of me discovering my love for short story collections, but boy, are they hard to summarize. In this debut collection, there are themes of immigration, sexuality, youth, love, family and that's just to name a few. I have yet to read another collection that captured my heart the way this one did. I could very easily give each story a 4 or 5 star rating (there was only one that I felt meh about). The thing that I found remarkable was how Souvankham Thammavongsa managed to keep each individual character unique. Nothing bled together in this collection. Beyond that, the writing was exquisite. It's hard to believe that this was a debut. I look forward to seeing what the author does in the future. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What books have you been recently given 5 stars to? Lemme know in the comments! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Keep reading,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-TCRgHRL0LeuGZGwUMgxDrmSRJ9tG_NqDWhc-Myj3sbpj9doq5pGKiShIsGyJaLTRooxzTk-KU3wAdA9zH6eVqUW_4Fw-t0YQ5ThNbcDnMeAnmClaEMIAhHnrIPr6v1-U3_vTI-IZw/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-TCRgHRL0LeuGZGwUMgxDrmSRJ9tG_NqDWhc-Myj3sbpj9doq5pGKiShIsGyJaLTRooxzTk-KU3wAdA9zH6eVqUW_4Fw-t0YQ5ThNbcDnMeAnmClaEMIAhHnrIPr6v1-U3_vTI-IZw/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-7016905194328889022021-09-19T14:34:00.004-07:002021-09-19T14:34:54.539-07:00Survive The Night by Riley Sager || Book Review <p style="text-align: center;">If you would've asked me this time last year to name some of my favourite thriller authors, I would've had Riley Sager on that list. Now? Heck no. Have you ever read a book that's so bad it makes you debate whether you want to give up on an author all together? <i>Survive The Night</i> did that to me. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Side-note: The brunt of this review will be spoiler free, but I am including a paragraph at the very end to discuss the ending. It will have a spoiler warning beforehand. Enjoy!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgm74tbWeNfAoa-Mjynu8iLHCniU3cmZGTKYplbiyTVC9BV4xicSGTAxXbJalD67poG22qpp30n8aF3hhGbKb6PRr9x62YJHIe6y40VH3QQxmmmIpWt9W8xove5pzrIh11Hm4Zvg7nLg/s2048/WhatsApp+Image+2021-09-19+at+14.32.24+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgm74tbWeNfAoa-Mjynu8iLHCniU3cmZGTKYplbiyTVC9BV4xicSGTAxXbJalD67poG22qpp30n8aF3hhGbKb6PRr9x62YJHIe6y40VH3QQxmmmIpWt9W8xove5pzrIh11Hm4Zvg7nLg/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-09-19+at+14.32.24+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>After her best friend gets murdered by the Campus Killer (yup, that's what they call them), Charlie decides that she's had enough with school and wants to go home to live with her Grandma. Needing a ride, she agrees to accompany Josh Baxter, a man she's never met before. But during their roadtrip, Charlie starts to suspect Josh of not being who he says he is. Is she stuck in a car with a possible murderer? </p><p><br /></p><p> I have so many problems with this book, but where to start? </p><p><br /></p><p>Let's start with the protagonist. Charlie's entire character was the epitome of the 'not like other girls' trope. She was insufferable, cliché, and a complete dumbass. I could feel my brain cells die from reading her POV. Charlie has a problem with seeing movies inside her head (?? I know.), making it hard for her to know whether what she sees is reality or not. I get that Riley Sager was going for the unreliable narrator trope, but this seems like the stupidest way of doing it. It didn't add anything to the story besides making it hard for us, the readers, to grasp what was going on. </p><p>Being a film student, Charlie likes to flaunt her knowledge of movies, such as Hitchcock, Star Wars, Jaws. You know, the movies basically everyone with a TV are aware of. If you say "You're gonna need a bigger boat" she'll instantly know what movie it's from! Eye-roll. It made Charlie seem even stupider, which was no easy feat given her entire personality. Based on the premise of the book, I assumed that her movie knowledge would end up coming into play with the cat/mouse dynamic of Josh and Charlie. But that didn't even remotely happen, which is such a wasted opportunity. </p><p>My other main issue with the novel, was the writing itself. It was just... bad. It felt like a first draft that badly needed editing. Some paragraphs had a word repeated dozens of times. It had a major case of telling rather than showing. Huge info dumps of things we really didn't need to know. Extremely poor dialogue. The plot twists didn't make sense. And it had the one thing you absolutely can't look past when it comes to thrillers.. plot holes. Huge ones. Just about everything in this book was unrealistic. </p><p>If this book was instead a parody, I could maybe get on board. But this was actually meant to be taken seriously..? I'm flabbergasted how someone wrote this, let alone how it got published. I've read better Twilight FanFiction (not trashing on FanFiction, I read way too much of it). It's actually quite sad, as I think <i>Survive The Night </i>had the protentional to be great. Good idea, absolutely terrible execution. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu_XFRixEOr3k09sSRq6ytecEshDNu0C6kbDm3XX6U-LkaQNbEyeOYx_y_0ycB_tIxWBkgR40Y55feKw5GDC0Mv6eFAbeszh6-_54CEPMr_InLhq0fyJlBlaqhdHjVV4uChpswpbtN94/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyu_XFRixEOr3k09sSRq6ytecEshDNu0C6kbDm3XX6U-LkaQNbEyeOYx_y_0ycB_tIxWBkgR40Y55feKw5GDC0Mv6eFAbeszh6-_54CEPMr_InLhq0fyJlBlaqhdHjVV4uChpswpbtN94/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">!!!! S P O I L E R W A R N I N G !!!!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">So, the heck was with that ending? If you have no interest in reading this novel but want to know the plot twist, I've got you. So.. Josh actually isn't the Campus Killer (shocker, I know) but he has been hired by the mother of Charlie's dead friend to basically kidnap Charlie and take her to the diner where the woman works. The woman blames Charlie for the death of her daughter as Charlie left her at a bar the night she was murdered. Charlie, not yet knowing this, stabs Josh and runs to the diner for help but naturally gets drugged, taken to the home of the woman, and beat up. Meanwhile, Charlie's boyfriend from college is trailing Charlie as he thinks she's in danger from Josh. Plot twist! Charlie's boyfriend is actually the Campus Killer. It ends with Charlie and her boyfriend (well, I guess ex-boyfriend by that point) driving off a bridge into water and Charlie drowns him. Extra plot twist! Charlie sells the movie rights to her experience and ends up married to Josh. Yup, the guy who essentially kidnapped her. How romantic.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Need I actually say anything about this? It's dumb. So dumb. I saw the twist of Charlie's boyfriend being the Campus Killer in roughly the first 20 pages. But I talked myself out of it because surely it wouldn't be that obvious/stupid, right? Wrong. I don't know what I hated more, the entire plot twist or the fact that Charlie wasn't murdered by her boyfriend when they first met because he could tell "SHE WASN'T LIKE OTHER GIRLS'. Face-palm. Why Riley Sager, why?</p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-66702815520995088442021-04-20T16:50:00.001-07:002021-04-20T16:50:12.444-07:00TBR | April 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB-9EgGcKZbykz4yArdzthkOzIDmK5eqjOOjX2GjDo7wWA7x3hKU5Pl-huvc0uSvcn08YhxqB_c4ifPBZvcC4fjrKKhGMbmE5ixwjNfgJF1pwMkIn_4EV7_pcBUuGFYhXIVQICJ-3FH4/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGB-9EgGcKZbykz4yArdzthkOzIDmK5eqjOOjX2GjDo7wWA7x3hKU5Pl-huvc0uSvcn08YhxqB_c4ifPBZvcC4fjrKKhGMbmE5ixwjNfgJF1pwMkIn_4EV7_pcBUuGFYhXIVQICJ-3FH4/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>I didn't do one of these for March as I was participating in the Tis the Damn Readathon and didn't want to be tied down by a set TBR. April, however, I'm hoping to plan within an inch of her life. I've been in a mighty reading slump lately and I need to snap myself out of it. It it sensible to jump on the #30BooksIn30Days bandwagon that <a href="https://twitter.com/Stephloves4">Stephloves4</a> is doing on Twitter? Or should I just go with the flow? Let's find out together! These are all the books I'm hoping to get to in April. <div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4m7aH0AhkDAJigFIl0nKuMRnfdddVQUQWnFAzDWO_cyx4gsDeub9g_2XytrEj2roHa10kx_rTns3RR4RgHAesOQUIgbwnKa9K2SWHLflljEEkUgiDRbqS-64x9nAZLlEc35KESqdh4Mo/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4m7aH0AhkDAJigFIl0nKuMRnfdddVQUQWnFAzDWO_cyx4gsDeub9g_2XytrEj2roHa10kx_rTns3RR4RgHAesOQUIgbwnKa9K2SWHLflljEEkUgiDRbqS-64x9nAZLlEc35KESqdh4Mo/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Sisters Chase <br /><i>Sarah Healy </i></h3><div><div>The hardscrabble Chase women—Mary, Hannah, and their mother Diane—have been eking out a living running a tiny seaside motel that has been in the family for generations, inviting trouble into their lives for just as long. But when Diane dies in a car accident, Mary discovers the motel is worth less than the back taxes they owe. With few options, Mary’s finely tuned instincts for survival kick in. As the sisters begin a cross-country journey in search of a better life, she will stop at nothing to protect Hannah. But Mary wants to protect herself, too, for the secrets she promised she would never tell—but now may be forced to reveal—hold the weight of unbearable loss.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know what it is about this book that draws me in, but it has something. I feel like it could be in the same vain as <i>Firefly Lane</i> or<i> Where the Crawdad's Sing</i>. I'm expecting a hard-hitting contemporary with a mystery twist that'll keep me turning the pages. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEd83JcXzJaavKBtlhtdR3gnbOhYJha6N1OVC4sdbLCmTumtXAw06XRlukzgpRufR_PGV3bZmZ0Fp_MLXpRhcCIDPyocsdSCm1ViCMcNF6K1rR6wZd9-_wjqE0YE-d_hRfcOB0GHFLNo/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25283%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEd83JcXzJaavKBtlhtdR3gnbOhYJha6N1OVC4sdbLCmTumtXAw06XRlukzgpRufR_PGV3bZmZ0Fp_MLXpRhcCIDPyocsdSCm1ViCMcNF6K1rR6wZd9-_wjqE0YE-d_hRfcOB0GHFLNo/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous <br /><i>Ocean Vuong</i></h3><div>This is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family's history that began before he was born — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do I know what this book is about? Absolutely not. I'm just hoping to jump onto the hype train, as this seems to get an abundance of love within the book community. The only "bad" reviews I've seen are people commenting on the slow pace that seems to go nowhere. But the lyrical writing is really what captivates the reader, and I'm a how for anything with flowery writing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCISCwpMdOcZ42cV4HARTgmNYFDWAYeOlArAB-fMZ3rI_Zv_qgkuiSRj8bXKNZvTXrhW2p4FvhqM7vjJfll7zSNpQbhf2msLxP6ZgUWHcbljgnFBkBYGGGGRi2lT4z0Vpa2VWLGpE77E/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25285%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCISCwpMdOcZ42cV4HARTgmNYFDWAYeOlArAB-fMZ3rI_Zv_qgkuiSRj8bXKNZvTXrhW2p4FvhqM7vjJfll7zSNpQbhf2msLxP6ZgUWHcbljgnFBkBYGGGGRi2lT4z0Vpa2VWLGpE77E/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25285%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Julie and Julia<br /><i>Julie Powell </i></h3><div>Julie Powell is 30-years-old, living in a rundown apartment in Queens and working at a soul-sucking secretarial job that’s going nowhere. She needs something to break the monotony of her life, and she invents a deranged assignment. She will take her mother's dog-eared copy of Julia Child's 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and she will cook all 524 recipes. In the span of one year.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of those random picks that I've just had a sudden urge to read, despite it having been on my TBR for literal years. I haven't watched the movie adaption, so I'm going in mostly blind. I'm still on a big non-fiction kick and the idea of reading this in the garden with a glass of iced tea sounds like perfect. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOynROiR9-zaXz4F6OonUy6SP5redZ16ncnAooIc2_X_BEAIpV_XFPYVHfvi-U2V7atad7CMwdDxyyIbFJnwbOCu5EsZqAM4dgIx9MZW_R4VVFtmUImJOfl_H8UsdTX1AWNYtVQeSl4Q/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOynROiR9-zaXz4F6OonUy6SP5redZ16ncnAooIc2_X_BEAIpV_XFPYVHfvi-U2V7atad7CMwdDxyyIbFJnwbOCu5EsZqAM4dgIx9MZW_R4VVFtmUImJOfl_H8UsdTX1AWNYtVQeSl4Q/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Light Between Oceans<br /><i>M.L. Stedman </i></h3><div>Australia, 1926. After four harrowing years fighting on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns home to take a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day's journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby's cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.</div><div><br /></div><div>My husband loathed this book, so naturally, I want to read it. That's all.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6CZqP8Jd7-enSr_NY2grvJgv0X5ucofa9aVaqsMvj7RuoVbIsOJ1mw3qKyj0QPXwK16oJ5zxxs1bcwiNBuTRV09pYKAzKvtmYaIIQ5aimgaT5dsXAC96Si8iDIza3wnq1r3OPr_3A6E/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6CZqP8Jd7-enSr_NY2grvJgv0X5ucofa9aVaqsMvj7RuoVbIsOJ1mw3qKyj0QPXwK16oJ5zxxs1bcwiNBuTRV09pYKAzKvtmYaIIQ5aimgaT5dsXAC96Si8iDIza3wnq1r3OPr_3A6E/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Where The Forest Meets The Stars<br /><i>Glendy Vanderah</i></h3><div>After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.</div><div><br /></div><div>So apparently I have a theme of children just showing up in books this month? I'm thinking of reading this one for the April Buzzword prompt which is "space words", but it isn't set in stone. I honestly have no idea why this book appeals to me, but I've been drawn to it since it's release. Have you read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CZEwHh2JbUemh-2UU9LYtLElHrvMFRv2ryeFmog8PogtYaJeRuFl1mIz6SaExkWeWzCx3CIUtNIWHFlXNnH0O3mjp5pvVSM9UtZ5hj822bvUuOYpcp_7dQMvk_sJfFU_mR64PVEP_oI/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CZEwHh2JbUemh-2UU9LYtLElHrvMFRv2ryeFmog8PogtYaJeRuFl1mIz6SaExkWeWzCx3CIUtNIWHFlXNnH0O3mjp5pvVSM9UtZ5hj822bvUuOYpcp_7dQMvk_sJfFU_mR64PVEP_oI/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.09+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Wife<br /><i>Meg Wolitzer</i></h3><div>This is the story of the long and stormy marriage between a world-famous novelist, Joe Castleman, and his wife Joan, and the secret they've kept for decades. The novel opens just as Joe is about to receive a prestigious international award, The Helsinki Prize, to honor his career as one of America's preeminent novelists. Joan, who has spent forty years subjugating her own literary talents to fan the flames of his career, finally decides to stop.</div><div><br /></div><div>I honestly have no explanation as to why I want to read this book, it's just calling to me and I decided it's finally time to pick it up. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHOiMATT7LHtlI-Y6p5vhfBWs9fII3nihQW7K-JO3NzvwLeE2vnZV-ya-h_zUgNCHoW_OVOrCuNqogrtxhyDu-apRM-Y0cp8PEnGFnb8n9ET2p2LPBOhxJsufm5SH7VL7Pwzf6QDTDl0/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHOiMATT7LHtlI-Y6p5vhfBWs9fII3nihQW7K-JO3NzvwLeE2vnZV-ya-h_zUgNCHoW_OVOrCuNqogrtxhyDu-apRM-Y0cp8PEnGFnb8n9ET2p2LPBOhxJsufm5SH7VL7Pwzf6QDTDl0/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-04-20+at+16.42.10.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>What are you planning on reading in April? What are your tips to get out of a slump? Lemme know!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE-T9BFuN2eCsDUxedU1FYxmr09Z4OAOytcx-05scY2NoVROjg_bgYp5o9APw7hhvsTz-uqqC9S3XC4E3EIvF7HPOsy7lVY3bw_z1h0_qIKUbpMc3dSnBcTCqWc4OtJPZI-ROm4EDDIQ/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE-T9BFuN2eCsDUxedU1FYxmr09Z4OAOytcx-05scY2NoVROjg_bgYp5o9APw7hhvsTz-uqqC9S3XC4E3EIvF7HPOsy7lVY3bw_z1h0_qIKUbpMc3dSnBcTCqWc4OtJPZI-ROm4EDDIQ/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-53979854705796135872021-03-31T12:55:00.000-07:002021-03-31T12:55:02.129-07:00March Wrap-Up 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdHsSP4bs2f4FkD3McR4Oq_Hxm_4sqI_G8j0vT85l4M0o9J6y-maUw6qO_2G7a85TzEKl6iihFENvD4IYFqBr0e1D-VPwCd0wnDPt8G_NFD4r9PgXqNoncML-VsMH-wsfx_A8Hb719p8/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.52.38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdHsSP4bs2f4FkD3McR4Oq_Hxm_4sqI_G8j0vT85l4M0o9J6y-maUw6qO_2G7a85TzEKl6iihFENvD4IYFqBr0e1D-VPwCd0wnDPt8G_NFD4r9PgXqNoncML-VsMH-wsfx_A8Hb719p8/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.52.38.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>March has been defined by a huge reading slump for me. I've read a fair few books, and yet I feel so discouraged about all of them. Send me prayers! But really, I am in a big ole' reading slump but a good few books made it onto my TBR this moneth which was partly due to participating in the <a href="https://twitter.com/damnreadathon">Tis The Damn Readathon</a>. Let's chat about them. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wL5NH_V2via2sI7-ONsxdYXPVFrwXzIdDDauH3fEpaDLsTZAx0btULWgzFQNLj2NPy0SPjazSZFSuPKkulr2FBEcs1b2aXCn_d-QJGyBGU138EbNRtM1fKoMY9aMbWBRtlZs3SeBpVs/s1356/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.05.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wL5NH_V2via2sI7-ONsxdYXPVFrwXzIdDDauH3fEpaDLsTZAx0btULWgzFQNLj2NPy0SPjazSZFSuPKkulr2FBEcs1b2aXCn_d-QJGyBGU138EbNRtM1fKoMY9aMbWBRtlZs3SeBpVs/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.05.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shadow & Bone<br /><i>Leigh Bardugo </i></h3><p>Alina is a run-of-the-mill poor mapmaker, until her life changes in a literal flash of her eyes. Her inner power blossoms when she least expects it, resulting in her being face-to-face with the Darkling. With the weight of the people on her shoulders, can she make her life work in this high-society while keeping peace between herself and the most powerful man in the land?</p><p>Me reading a YA fantasy adventure? Who even am I? This book has been sitting on my shelf for years, I actually almost donated it a few times as I've been out of love with fantasy for a while now. However, the Netflix adaption that is coming out in April pushed me to give it a go and.. wow! I had so much fun reading this. I really liked Alina as a main character, she had great depth and didn't suffer under the "wet blanket" YA protagonist curse. She had a reason for her actions and decisions that went beyond trying to break away from a man. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQXwDG55SWCm70b899KB0xA8ux-y_qLsjF3hGGi-SrWAORVUjU44GsSKsM0o72fuUe3Y1X6H9cy0BIa8rHFrVuHX24zmBtXs0hFtHuxdc7GT4i4qXRU_qH7fk9MTs3G4XVbSEhG72R0g/s1453/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1453" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQXwDG55SWCm70b899KB0xA8ux-y_qLsjF3hGGi-SrWAORVUjU44GsSKsM0o72fuUe3Y1X6H9cy0BIa8rHFrVuHX24zmBtXs0hFtHuxdc7GT4i4qXRU_qH7fk9MTs3G4XVbSEhG72R0g/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Moonrise<br /><i>Sarah Crossan</i></h3><p>Joe hasn't seen his brother Ed in 10 years, not since his brother was accused of manslaughter. Nobody believes he actually committed the crime, but each day is a countdown to his excursion date.</p><p>This is a novel told entirely in verse, which is a newly popular format of novel that I enjoy. I find it very poetic and usually fall headfirst into the novel with interest. I got this recommendation from Literary Diversions and, boy, it was a novel. This was a gripping story with some main characters that made me question their decisions. I liked how it wasn't black/white and made me think for myself when it came to my thoughts on the law case and the relationships that wove themselves throughout the book. I'm impressed at how eloquently the author handled such sensitive topics and layered characters. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yl0NEWS6fXR8HYQ3HoT8fZ_Lk3EBKr77Z8QkPd_S2i4OYFQNyqHseEkloJxjr_j6TYxa8iF5MXU7XtSDg4EQeavbKwu-8ilGBB7sHYJw9-oUypUuaSFBSsomkesQzx1GMlEYKlenwsg/s1439/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.05+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yl0NEWS6fXR8HYQ3HoT8fZ_Lk3EBKr77Z8QkPd_S2i4OYFQNyqHseEkloJxjr_j6TYxa8iF5MXU7XtSDg4EQeavbKwu-8ilGBB7sHYJw9-oUypUuaSFBSsomkesQzx1GMlEYKlenwsg/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.05+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Still Alice<br /><i>Lisa Genova </i></h3><p>Alice is a 50-year-old linguistics professor who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. While struggling to come to terms with her illness and the abundance of symptoms that come with it, she also has to juggle the emotions of her family.</p><p>This has been on my TBR ever since the movie adaption came out. It was one of those books that I kept on my shelves for when a reading slump hit. I really liked this novel, I chose to go the audiobook route which I think definitely helped with the writing as though it wasn't terrible, it wasn't the most well-written book I've read within the contemporary genre. What this book lacks in creative skill, it definitely makes up with medical knowledge. I learnt a lot about Alzheimer's and though I wanted to tear my hair out from the reactions of Alice's family, I did appreciate the bluntness in which Lisa Genova wrote the family. It was frustrating but realistic. Overall, this is worth a read but I imagine just watching the movie would be equally as rewarding. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZWeldZDl8yB-bJAdNogCUtNqRfXTo-khQDUmRm5TJNyoeoq_C5AnfsKg38wfUNfq-XXSxX837DHA367kjfpUq4Qmqcu7hWrGyLV8qA1rA9o1F-buWJB1eM3Io14JpMF0XuLLUdNg9R0/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.06.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZWeldZDl8yB-bJAdNogCUtNqRfXTo-khQDUmRm5TJNyoeoq_C5AnfsKg38wfUNfq-XXSxX837DHA367kjfpUq4Qmqcu7hWrGyLV8qA1rA9o1F-buWJB1eM3Io14JpMF0XuLLUdNg9R0/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.06.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm<br /><i>Hilarie Burton Morgan</i></h3><p>This is the memoir of One Tree Hill actress Hilarie Burton who with her husband, Jeffery Dean Morgan, decided to thrown in the LA towel, move to a small town, and buy a farm to renovate. This book talks about Hilarie's marital problems, the love of motherhood, what it means when you adopt alpacas, recipes, and her journey through infertility that led to depression. It is the perfect combination of real life pains and finding joy.</p><p>I adored this book so much. In the same vain as <i>From Scratch by Tembi Locke</i>, I really think you'd enjoy this book even if you have no interest or knowledge of the actress. Memoirs are always iffy as it can often feel like a money grab without them adding in any substance, this is the exact opposite. I cried, laughed, and instantly wanted to reread. </p><p><i>TW: miscarriage, infertility </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM7V2EvMtKHsFsZ8pkf_QjiDpGXHEA6uFo4Ijk4jT4XKOCnEW7Eh972XPGyL9zRspTv2-1bIYjQlGz3HlL39CylYdwlsQbUQki2wTIkPizl0IspvuagCLHkCSos4Fio9_De0uH2BuUrE/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.38.12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM7V2EvMtKHsFsZ8pkf_QjiDpGXHEA6uFo4Ijk4jT4XKOCnEW7Eh972XPGyL9zRspTv2-1bIYjQlGz3HlL39CylYdwlsQbUQki2wTIkPizl0IspvuagCLHkCSos4Fio9_De0uH2BuUrE/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.38.12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters #3)<br /><i>Talia Hibbert</i></h3><p></p><p>Eve Brown is the youngest and most chaotic of the Brown sisters. She's always switching career paths and depends on the monthly allowance from her parents to keep her life afloat. But her parents are done. They refuse to give her any more money unless she proves she is capable of keeping a job for a year. This leads her to interviewing for a chef's job at a quaint B&B and hitting the owner with her car. Yup, you read that right.</p><p>I adore The Brown Sister trilogy by Talia Hibbert. Each book has the most perfect balance of fun romance and discussions on some more serious topics without it ever feeling like it takes away from the joy of reading. In Act Your Age, Eve Brown it has has some rep for Autism and though I can't speak for the rep itself, I will say that I learned more about the illness. Which, at the end of the day, is what you want from a book that is trying to raise awareness. I adored Eve as a protagonist, I liked how she was more chaotic than her sisters without being belittled. I enjoyed having more interactions with the rest of the Brown family, and yeah, fully recommend if you want a light-hearted read that isn't frivolous. Adore, will buy. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBF9IXzgiqktZXHzNhsas9lGfO3zory6bNF3DqwzRKSKVHDwmZeufiV4Hn36AQvrLDrei3HJFXIhAYtGDktSEWS9eng3HQGoQUHTfFxeAI0e6A1dSM3Q7GB6CYG-XwomObSiO0moSnZQ/s1475/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.03+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBF9IXzgiqktZXHzNhsas9lGfO3zory6bNF3DqwzRKSKVHDwmZeufiV4Hn36AQvrLDrei3HJFXIhAYtGDktSEWS9eng3HQGoQUHTfFxeAI0e6A1dSM3Q7GB6CYG-XwomObSiO0moSnZQ/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.03+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Complete Persepolis (Persepolis #1-4)<br /><i>Marjane Satrapi </i></h3><p>Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. Told through the format of graphic novel, this is a very original take on a story that we all should know. </p><p>I didn't know what to expect going into this as the notion of a memoir in graphics struck me as odd, but you know, it really did help the tory flow. Satrapi's story was gut wrenching to read. As someone who wasn't all too familiar with the Islamic Revolution (and as someone who is pretty dumb when it comes to dates), this entire reading experience felt like a lesson on that period of history. I learnt so much and it led to me researching more about that time. My only quim with the collection was how I felt like the first quarter or so was very confusing, as we're seeing the war through the eyes of a child who is clueless about it. I felt quite muddled. And there were a few lines that made me 'eek'. Fat shaming was quite prevalent, as was the cold writing of some of the characters. It often felt quite black/white when Satrapi was having any sort of disagreement with.. anyone. It felt like the author couldn't look past her own views, even when she was clearly in the wrong. I dunno. I enjoyed this book for the history aspect, but I feel like the author would've benefited from a different editor. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBoVE_H9QG0NBPjPt42Ep60cuXSXjA6YCtqObgwRw6w-8xCTCyC0_5dOdG5u07zOwAOHOmC4GTme1t_2_X3oxM_j4GN0U-5h1CRyd_9YlNhUXeXuX2CoiYkKh4iP5ICjf14teNUukVzU/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.06+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBoVE_H9QG0NBPjPt42Ep60cuXSXjA6YCtqObgwRw6w-8xCTCyC0_5dOdG5u07zOwAOHOmC4GTme1t_2_X3oxM_j4GN0U-5h1CRyd_9YlNhUXeXuX2CoiYkKh4iP5ICjf14teNUukVzU/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.06+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"> The Refrigerator Monologues<br /><i>Catherynne M. Valente</i></h3><p>This is a tiny collection of short stories written about various women from the superhero universe.</p><p>And the biggest surprise of the month goes to... The Refrigerator Monologues! Never having read any superhero graphic novels, nor really keeping up to date with the humongous Marvel/DC movie stuff, I wasn't sure whether this book was for me. But, I really liked it! This is one of the few short story collections that I've enjoyed in it's entirety. There was one story that just baffled my brain in a non-fun way, but all the others held greatness. I was very impressed with how the author managed to write 6 different main females, and have them all be their own people. Not many authors can achieve that, especially when they only have 15-20 pages per character. I enjoyed how this delved into the "why are the female characters there just to create the origin story of a superhero?" and a commentary on how it's always the female love interest that gets kidnapped, or murdered, or takes the brunt of the pain for the hero and then gets dismissed. Yeah, it was very thought provoking and even if this isn't your usual jam, I'd recommend.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU_Bxwoi6QiSlhQ259LBMIrbhBAvA2Pw-8jVXmpph72ke5voJvMKgQ5qRpCwFs5DDhdcwnDcxZg4HlBkrf83HSBjLR9BoJAQufWwYztfHUN7jDPMR-dhkieZRZVTgA81drNpWYMhRmtw/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU_Bxwoi6QiSlhQ259LBMIrbhBAvA2Pw-8jVXmpph72ke5voJvMKgQ5qRpCwFs5DDhdcwnDcxZg4HlBkrf83HSBjLR9BoJAQufWwYztfHUN7jDPMR-dhkieZRZVTgA81drNpWYMhRmtw/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.10.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The One<br /><i>John Marrs</i></h3><p>If a test was created that could tell you exactly who your soulmate is in life, would you take it? That's the question that humanity is facing after the impossible was made possible by Rebecca Webb discovering that this is easily done with a simple DNA swab. Throughout this book we follow five different relationships that were connected through the test, but things quickly turn dark after a mass murderer is connected to a police officer, a man is matched to another man (despite him always thinking he was straight, and someone is out for revenge. </p><p>This has been sitting on my TBR for a while now but the mixed reviews always put me off giving it a go. However, this was a lot of fun. I don't know whether it was that my expectations were so low going in, or that it helped me get through a reading slump, but I devoured this novel in 2 sittings. The writing wasn't the best, but the fast-paced nature and the too dramatic plot twists made for a very addictive read. I would pick up more by the author, and am looking forward to watching the Netflix adaption.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS3CxynSFCrCQY_BfEd9VgaMHLQ4XCgLZtXCpF38qOV9Z-7je77PUdocWTYIyLD36LQlR69zTtY6GWfwxn559NMorh2SRo0KDSqf5jC55ezSBgk_x3HEf6g-zAZ4BKpP8VlGj7dDY0lQ/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.09+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS3CxynSFCrCQY_BfEd9VgaMHLQ4XCgLZtXCpF38qOV9Z-7je77PUdocWTYIyLD36LQlR69zTtY6GWfwxn559NMorh2SRo0KDSqf5jC55ezSBgk_x3HEf6g-zAZ4BKpP8VlGj7dDY0lQ/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.09+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry<br /><i>Gabrielle Zevin</i></h3><p>A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a baby is abandoned at the bookstore, her unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over.</p><p>With this kind of novel, you know what to expect the moment you start reading the synopsis. It's a heart-warming cozy read with a little mystery on the side to keep you engaged. This didn't come close to the likes of A Man Called Ove, but it was still very cute. It got me to cry, which was to be expected. And I grew rather fond of the grouchy old man and the people who wove themselves into his life after his wife died. I'd recommend the audiobook for this.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SiDQM2_UxZ3uA3XcHKd1vciQ_6b8iG-N_34FSjmPyI7vDcvvk05EBV9xxTiLix_ij5b9QfPs3sOLsJdvKzlxP8Yp4LbKLDkMss8uf9oo1PPEMpC1uEW_ICmp7H2mHDLC5azkh0vZO3U/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.43.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SiDQM2_UxZ3uA3XcHKd1vciQ_6b8iG-N_34FSjmPyI7vDcvvk05EBV9xxTiLix_ij5b9QfPs3sOLsJdvKzlxP8Yp4LbKLDkMss8uf9oo1PPEMpC1uEW_ICmp7H2mHDLC5azkh0vZO3U/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.43.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Milk Fed<br /><i>Melissa Broder</i></h3><p>Rachel is twenty-four, a lapsed Jew who has made calorie restriction her religion. By day, she maintains an illusion of existential control, by way of obsessive food rituals, while working as an underling at a Los Angeles talent management agency. Her mother being the root cause of her problems, her therapist urges Rachel to take a detox from speaking to her family. During the detox she meets Miriam, a plus-sized woman who knows herself in ways that Rachel aches for. Miriam soon becomes Rachel's new obsession.</p><p>Having read <i>The Pisces by Melissa Broder</i>, I went into this book knowing to expect some questionable material. And I was very much correct in that assumption. What starts out as a young woman trying to find her place in the world without the dysfunction that her mother brings her, but quickly spins into a romance story with some very odd fantasies and shitty human behavior. Yet, I enjoyed this weird book. Broder's writing is incredibly compelling and I can't help but continue to want to read more by her. She has an ability to make my skin crawl in a way that thrillers/horrors have never done. It's incredibly eerie storytelling. I disliked all the characters, I hated the direction the plot took, and yet I want to give it 4 stars. Madness.</p><p><i>TW: Heavy fat phobia, distorted eating, homophobia. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLmiOhYBYR3NDb4o18Qd99QcYIMJ-TZXORP-bVoznU_dCN61fImERL3DVUB7JyW6ZCoPXUWLD5VqMX1cm5Nkvuq6-KYyElhwNBv0K1Lw1_BkjebK_ktj3EA411jqH7aTdVF5Y3PBvyu8/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLmiOhYBYR3NDb4o18Qd99QcYIMJ-TZXORP-bVoznU_dCN61fImERL3DVUB7JyW6ZCoPXUWLD5VqMX1cm5Nkvuq6-KYyElhwNBv0K1Lw1_BkjebK_ktj3EA411jqH7aTdVF5Y3PBvyu8/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Emperor's Soul (Elantris #1.7)<br /><i>Brandon Sanderson</i></h3><p></p><p>Shai has been condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter. She is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.</p><p>This is a short story I picked up during <a href="https://twitter.com/beccasbookopoly?lang=en">Becca's 24-hour BookoplAthon</a>. I enjoyed the reading experience, but I wouldn't say it's a favourite Sanderson. I found some sections a little too info dumpy which hurt my brain, and the entire story felt too rushed. I wanted more of the side characters, and though I liked the character of Shai she felt quite flat which made it difficult for me to root for her. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEQ4mr45mWY6Uumpn8ACc7tp8p7Zs1f7BgQBw0laTkvo8Om8CVoMpnGSvpHtMjtsnfJmUG1OmDBmf5fXFMzJ3MGGZZT-W5PU0uIsjvnqrQ-YHF2gVKDcNtm-OPznKYBDLBxDBmLYuBDM/s1455/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="1455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEQ4mr45mWY6Uumpn8ACc7tp8p7Zs1f7BgQBw0laTkvo8Om8CVoMpnGSvpHtMjtsnfJmUG1OmDBmf5fXFMzJ3MGGZZT-W5PU0uIsjvnqrQ-YHF2gVKDcNtm-OPznKYBDLBxDBmLYuBDM/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Black Girl Unlimited<br /><i>Echo Brown</i></h3><p>Echo Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where apartments are small and parents suffer addictions to the white rocks. Yet each day is touched by magic. Each day, Echo travels between two worlds, leaving her brothers, her friends, and a piece of herself behind on the East Side. There are dangers to leaving behind the place that made you. Echo soon realizes there is pain flowing through everyone around her, and a black veil of depression threatens to undo everything she’s worked for.</p><p>Echo Brown has become a auto-read author for me just from this book. Her writing has such a eloquence to it that it felt almost raw to read. So many times I had to put this book down for me to catch a breath as it felt like a weight was pressing onto my chest. The story never really strayed from the magical realism side or fantastical realism, but yet it was grounded within our reality. The sexual assault scenes were some of the hardest I've had to read, and I want to really make it clear that if that's something triggering for you, be sure to do your research before picking this up. </p><p>TW: racism, sexual assault, drug addiction, poverty, depression</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOry5hB5FhIL0X59KaLg_ElMtLiTUEekq2IjEFrde9Bhoar_mrdul1p38CTqq4pmnPlOX5iy9JL1KwaImRNJ3pqeLPht0ZBbvvXu8Am_HeT_lEBxfuFh6oqSBhtCUT7aHw02q9uyZhPQ4/s1478/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1478" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOry5hB5FhIL0X59KaLg_ElMtLiTUEekq2IjEFrde9Bhoar_mrdul1p38CTqq4pmnPlOX5iy9JL1KwaImRNJ3pqeLPht0ZBbvvXu8Am_HeT_lEBxfuFh6oqSBhtCUT7aHw02q9uyZhPQ4/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.04+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Solitaire<br /><i>Alice Oseman</i></h3><p>Tori Spring is a teenage blogger who is struggling with her mental health. After a tragic incident involving her brother changed her entire life, her friends have dwindled and Tori can't seem to find it in herself to care about their petty high school problems. But when Michael Holden shows up, and a group called Solitaire start terrorizing the school, Tori's life begins to once again unravel.</p><p>This is one of those books that I wish I had read when I was younger. Solitaire was on the younger side of YA, with characters who read much younger than their actual years. I liked the friendships that formed, but never really rooted for anyone to get what they wanted. Tori as a protagonist was pretty bland, and far too reminiscent of other books in this sub genre (All The Bright Places, Midnight Sun, Looking For Alaska, Leah on the Offbeat, Love & Other Carnivorous Plants, Everything, Everything). The "plot twist" was predictable, and the entire plot had too many loop holes that bothered me. Meh.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk37BcLbAR7o6jvnoGY07wsrzNHIVN3ZYeDBVU-sBgZ16H4nK3coUGtv8jXYdNqqz2uoOh_lDzcoOySwsJHqGsDUK0reG6hq0ItRjH5wMRzmQ8ajNPu5IS-xNHzIJ-kUI-EF4YwriYEw/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.10+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk37BcLbAR7o6jvnoGY07wsrzNHIVN3ZYeDBVU-sBgZ16H4nK3coUGtv8jXYdNqqz2uoOh_lDzcoOySwsJHqGsDUK0reG6hq0ItRjH5wMRzmQ8ajNPu5IS-xNHzIJ-kUI-EF4YwriYEw/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.10+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Love Sick<br /><i>Cory Martin</i></h3><p>Corry was 28-years-old when she got diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This is a memoir of her learning to come to terms with the news, and her processing whether she is worthy of love when sick.</p><p>I'm so torn. I enjoyed the writing of this book, Cory is a writer herself so it makes sense that she exceled in that element. It made me laugh, and it read like an enjoyable episode of TV. However, I really don't think she came across well. If this was fiction I would mark it as "unlikeable characters", but.. it's biographical... so, awkward. When I finished, I assumed this was written in the early 2000's as it has the 'Sex and the City' white woman being 'woe is me' theme. And I get it, I myself am chronically ill and it is very scary. But I hate that the author never even tried to educate on the subject. It was a constant stream of her getting pity from people in her life, and her commentary on how she feels unlovable. I wanted more depth. This read like a long-winded Cosmo column that is fun while reading, but then you instantly feel blegh afterward. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__OIr0wauT4mDmB_k2zPQeig9R7keW-mV2UlqpSQQRAWqfaWIhINnqyVSY5Af8GtF_XPH3p8Hu2cXuITPkNpv4tZyPYMBHKrDVXzXnKEMRq-DDL1nUNbUqcUjcs5fKS4x8_DPC-YhYPA/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.03.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__OIr0wauT4mDmB_k2zPQeig9R7keW-mV2UlqpSQQRAWqfaWIhINnqyVSY5Af8GtF_XPH3p8Hu2cXuITPkNpv4tZyPYMBHKrDVXzXnKEMRq-DDL1nUNbUqcUjcs5fKS4x8_DPC-YhYPA/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-31+at+12.37.03.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">So, yeah. That's March done! What did you read? Any there any books here that sit on your TBR shelf? Let me know! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nMmeMbwvfFmGXM6qx5ZmQ1uJgE1t6tZ9cc4Jgha8XwvolEKHuxkQojMcLH84dHwa-3eTYr-0XpxuT44uNFkuZ-Mc5tYsO0eCg6okikd_SqgvTYcCCXMHXyrrOnuks8a6Z9K3qRZrBfE/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nMmeMbwvfFmGXM6qx5ZmQ1uJgE1t6tZ9cc4Jgha8XwvolEKHuxkQojMcLH84dHwa-3eTYr-0XpxuT44uNFkuZ-Mc5tYsO0eCg6okikd_SqgvTYcCCXMHXyrrOnuks8a6Z9K3qRZrBfE/w200-h95/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-60502516235509333362021-03-30T20:32:00.004-07:002021-03-30T20:32:35.124-07:00A letter to the Booktube community / I joined Booktube! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZRhubQ6JrtXi6u8pLF_2wnNmdIvFgZbAgCYpz7CYIxW7EUYk5JZXZb94_NX6zFhNpWAOu5PEusAsmwq4aO-syi6lgCN8y_uphrHw8qIsNH7c4_fdeEeouNiIzlpOmPWNTyJLrq01DWA/s1080/Copy+of+Copy+of+APRIL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZRhubQ6JrtXi6u8pLF_2wnNmdIvFgZbAgCYpz7CYIxW7EUYk5JZXZb94_NX6zFhNpWAOu5PEusAsmwq4aO-syi6lgCN8y_uphrHw8qIsNH7c4_fdeEeouNiIzlpOmPWNTyJLrq01DWA/w640-h640/Copy+of+Copy+of+APRIL.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Well, this is a blog post that I never thought I'd make. Is it the lockdown bleakness, sudden courage, or gin? We'll never know! I've been watching Booktube for years now, I first discovered the bookish side of the Interest through various YA readers like, and it was a breath of fresh air. </p><p>As a teen, I sometimes purposely triggered myself into self hatred with the channels I subscribed to. Whether they were eating centered ones, or even the OG British vloggers (hell, I remember commenting on Zoella's first video and partaking in the live shows her and Louise used to do.). At the time, I was incredibly lonely. I didn't have a group of friends outside of the Internet and suddenly there were these people who I could watch everyday who just filmed themselves living. It should of fueled my desire for life, but it had the opposite effect. Which is terribly depressing, but true. I ached to have people in my real life who understood me the way that these friendship groups seemed to. Looking back as an adult, I get that it's so easy to fake this perfect happy life. </p><p>As I got older, my Youtube subscription box expanded to the likes of EssieButton, Hazel Hayes, SimplyNailogical, etc. Women who owned their lives and catered to an older audience. This really helped me have some self reflection, and heck, Hazel Hayes 'Time Of The Month' series led me to volunteering, to skyping my online friends, to putting myself out there. It was remarkable. Then one day I fell down a Booktube rabbit hole and haven't really left. </p><p>I adore the book community online, whether Booktube, Bookstagram, or Book Twitter. It's filled with people who don't shy away from discussing mental health, dislikes, life, happiness, sadness. I personally think it's easier to be honest about where you are spiritually when you can then divert into a different topic without it seeming unnatural. Books are beautiful things, and being able to connect to people from all around the world through the shared experience of reading? Indescribable. </p><p>The longer I watched Booktube, the more curated my own tastes became. I discovered my love of literary fiction. I shy'd away from YA, but know that if I want something of that genre someone online will be there to give me a recommendation. I discovered that classics aren't always so daunting, and it's okay when you hate them (hello, Lord of the Flies). It helped me feel more comfortable in my own shoes. Me and my husband have bonded over the love of books, and it really helped to give us something to do together when we were initially apart. Words are beautiful, and books are a collection of that beauty. </p><p>The act of recording was a TRAIL. I still don't know how to edit, so I'm currently going through the process of teaching myself. (Spoiler: It isn't going well) My first video is now live and the camera is shaky a few times which made me want to scrap the video all together, but ya know, sometimes you just have to post the mishaps and hope that it'll only get better from there.</p><p>So, if you feel like watching me be awkward for 13 minutes, or are simply interested in what I'm talking about, I will link my video below. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/KQ3MrWL7cXY">VIDEO LINK</a> - CURRENT READS | HELLO BOOKTUBE!</span></b></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If that doesn't tickle your fancy, I urge you to fall down a Booktube rabbit hole of other Booktubers and find someone you relate to. I hope that I remain comfortable with the idea of putting myself in video form out into the World Wide Web, but even if I don't, I will still have a great love for this bookish community of worms. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Wish me luck! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5CBCyo3lqzhHJSPaAghNAl_z3etL2bqdFE1WjFXxeCAMUdHuyslgfFg2gEx_6PRPc5YE6AtyQIkK_G5_RtUMx4f2iSpdEuHGVqax8aSPCBxxPZYvDZVHJKQdWmDW2lMyBqgYhOe51kU/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5CBCyo3lqzhHJSPaAghNAl_z3etL2bqdFE1WjFXxeCAMUdHuyslgfFg2gEx_6PRPc5YE6AtyQIkK_G5_RtUMx4f2iSpdEuHGVqax8aSPCBxxPZYvDZVHJKQdWmDW2lMyBqgYhOe51kU/w200-h95/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-41113310826218388322021-03-18T15:01:00.002-07:002021-03-28T14:09:06.258-07:00The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan | Non-Fiction Book Review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4Q8ORPZ9Ui8Y_B-fz2dZ6VU_kTKbHLf69ADeWAvDfCmgg7vby79dIbQWpsMtEkPK1d74L4UM_INFJr67ovvue2r9AXj70AqcNIgmT60FfVNXAsVSYLrk9o8-8Tp2PqwhJrGfOqkUwnQ/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-18+at+14.59.50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4Q8ORPZ9Ui8Y_B-fz2dZ6VU_kTKbHLf69ADeWAvDfCmgg7vby79dIbQWpsMtEkPK1d74L4UM_INFJr67ovvue2r9AXj70AqcNIgmT60FfVNXAsVSYLrk9o8-8Tp2PqwhJrGfOqkUwnQ/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-18+at+14.59.50.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Hilarie Burton Morgan may be best known for her role as Peyton Sawyer in OTH, but after finishing her memoir she is now known to me as That Woman I Really Want To Befriend. This book has been on my TBR since the moment it got released but as with all books written by celebrities, I was dubious and asking myself: </p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1) Is it ghost written? </p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2) If it's not, can they even write?</p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3) Is this just a money grab?</p><p>I was an idiot. This memoir was incredibly inspiring, and vividly descriptive. I could smell the dandelions she plucked, would hear the sounds of coyotes, and felt bone-deep exhaustion with her. Burton's writing has such depth to it that I felt everything. The joys, the pains, and the lows. I've read fiction books by award winning authors that didn't come near to the experience of reading The Rural Diaries. There is a beauty woven into Burton's writing that transforms this memoir into a book that I instantly wanted to reread. </p><p>Deciding to pack up their LA lifestyle and move somewhere more remote, Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jeffery Dean Morgan went against the norm for Hollywood couples and chose to live their married life away from the chaos that fame can bring. In this book, we follow their love story that came from a blind date that changed both their lives and resulted in them deciding to have a baby within months of meeting. Spending 50% of their time living in a tiny cabin in a remote town was enough for a few years, but they eventually decided to take the plunge and move there indefinitely. Buying a beat-up old farmhouse and learning the ways of farm life was the adventure they had both always wanted. Growing their own food, finding family in the locals, and watching their son grow up in a house where ducklings live in the bath felt like a distant dream until they made it their reality. </p><p>I wasn't expecting <i>The Rural Diaries</i> to discuss heavy topics such as miscarriages, depression, and marital problems. I'm awed at how honest Burton continued to be throughout the 350 pages. This never felt like a money grab, there was hardly any discussion on her career, or "behind the scenes" gossip. It never strayed from being a book about, well, love - romantic love, family love, and finding things that'll make you love life.</p><p>In this, Burton mainly takes us through her adulthood, which I really liked. I'm always iffy on the childhood sections of memoirs as it's usually the most uninteresting part (Unless we're talking about <i>Educated by Tara Westover</i> in which, yeah, that'll keep you turning the pages). Burton wove her childhood stories throughout the sections about her marriage, becoming a mother, and farm life which made for a lovely reading experience as it felt more like reminiscing especially as by that point, we were already familiar with the people she spoke about. This entire book read more like showing rather than telling, which is no easy feat when it comes to non-fiction. I already knew from Burton's Instagram that her heart was as bright as freshly blossomed sunflowers, but I didn't know just how inspiring she was as a person. At multiple points throughout this book I had to take a second to just sit there and appreciate that there are still people like this in the world. </p><p>In conclusion, I would recommend this book to you even if you're unfamiliar with the actresses work as she proved beyond a shadow of doubt that she is much more than the characters she portrays on screen. This is a wholesome novel about a couple deciding to live more remotely and learning all the tips and tricks to farm life, growing your own food, taking care of non-household pets, and most importantly, how to work together. You will learn, you will cry, you will smile. And I guarantee you'll turn the last face with a spark of joy in your heart. And you will most definitely debate whether to start gardening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3EVq5Bi3b_M5VRD_MeNONLmom5WKLELvmnvWdAWTOhZcUcqWyHPNYzBJYWjmVE2cg355WUfJldyerK5rJUqWfIBLBwd1uv_7FjrCbsrOzLSCcJd0zNcrIOaEd3IpwCAEKXkkBraFObY/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3EVq5Bi3b_M5VRD_MeNONLmom5WKLELvmnvWdAWTOhZcUcqWyHPNYzBJYWjmVE2cg355WUfJldyerK5rJUqWfIBLBwd1uv_7FjrCbsrOzLSCcJd0zNcrIOaEd3IpwCAEKXkkBraFObY/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div><p><br /></p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-24261855877759622242021-03-16T17:24:00.002-07:002021-03-16T17:25:41.517-07:00gifted | Lounging with Femme Luxe Uk<p> Since Lockdown I've been on the hunt for some affordable<a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/loungewear/"> loungewear</a> that doesn't make me feel like a literal blob. As someone with chronic pain, my main goals when buying new clothing (especially for around the house) is that they're soft and fit certain issues I have during bad pain days. When <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/">Femme Luxe</a> contacted me and offered to send me a few pieces to test out and review, I jumped on it. I've seen this company featured so many times on Instagram and wanted to see whether they are as good as people make out. Some of the items I picked out did go out of stock, so this is just a little taster of what the company has to offer. Here's my review/mini haul. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp-6-6N1Waeln-Qzo5Xa1ZfPykudxNZ6xj6MahcDPj4hPipaOjwaX4n8TPt74wq5eMJvXPkOa64e-kUqZmEd5si9a1WJ3XwuV1LLqBHEyY5S-B8yVGOGAIVoidcYL3-gsSKmPDiDa_do/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.36.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp-6-6N1Waeln-Qzo5Xa1ZfPykudxNZ6xj6MahcDPj4hPipaOjwaX4n8TPt74wq5eMJvXPkOa64e-kUqZmEd5si9a1WJ3XwuV1LLqBHEyY5S-B8yVGOGAIVoidcYL3-gsSKmPDiDa_do/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.36.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Firstly, I automatically ventured to the <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/loungewear/">Loungewear</a> section as that was my main goal. They had some great sets for very affordable prices. I chose their <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/navy-loungewear-tracksuit-set-maria">Navy Loungewear Tracksuit Set</a></u></span>. First off, this is incredibly soft. It has a brushed cotton feel which is like satin to someone with sensitive skin. This set is cute but I have a slight issue with how sheer it is. I literally couldn't take a photo standing up as you would've seen what I had for dinner. Good for around the house, but not great if you live with anyone other than your significant partner. One thing I do like about the jumper is how versatile it can be. Here's just one idea of how else you could wear it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLRfuD_jbzrsKdR5YOARy4XMgzHKX2ihOq65gAjZhdZVjvHu5uTpMlLrTFVnd8JPfO8OFAtpN2GWUzPvbEsOV2uMEYmjTim0pIkqta16Da_PgvnCMCJ1hGf6BcKNNL2fvs7ddhU0Bp9M/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLRfuD_jbzrsKdR5YOARy4XMgzHKX2ihOq65gAjZhdZVjvHu5uTpMlLrTFVnd8JPfO8OFAtpN2GWUzPvbEsOV2uMEYmjTim0pIkqta16Da_PgvnCMCJ1hGf6BcKNNL2fvs7ddhU0Bp9M/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmmioBt1TA6bkCqD5jhn3WH6z1UEM_L5mVqmSG1Fw0oGH2gWJIp-tfA_1LMawJkJbSuW2it4HG67cR7Ogry8D6Uc4IL47DQx96SwTgGFAyc5tGfLjbfqZKfL_kEnnBdD1eYJ_0nBxoog/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmmioBt1TA6bkCqD5jhn3WH6z1UEM_L5mVqmSG1Fw0oGH2gWJIp-tfA_1LMawJkJbSuW2it4HG67cR7Ogry8D6Uc4IL47DQx96SwTgGFAyc5tGfLjbfqZKfL_kEnnBdD1eYJ_0nBxoog/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>My only issue with some of their loungewear sets is the lack of sizing. They only go up to a L/XL which is marketed as a UK 12/14. I'm usually a 8/10 and the M is a little tight. I hope they eventually expand their sizing in that regard. (Some of their items are in regular sizing, but still only go up to a UK 14.) </p><p><br /></p><p>Secondly, I went a little scandalous with this <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/black-lace-scallop-edge-waistband-detail-open-back-strappy-plunge-bodysuit-edith/">Black Lace Bodysuit </a>that is mutually risky while still very easily making for a comfortable wear. The site's range of <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/bodysuits/">Bodysuits</a> and <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/going-out-tops/">Going Out Tops</a> is impressive, especially as most of them can very easily be worn as loungewear. My back has a lot of issues when it comes to painful skin, so anything backless while still giving my chest support is a winner in my book. I really like the fit of this (I purchased a M), and the inner lace is actually lined with a less itchy material which is pleasant. Would I wear this outside? Perhaps, with the right under tank and a cute jacket. It would also make for a great layering piece when wearing a wrap dress that dips low. For me, I'm mainly going to use it on sensitive skin days with some cute shorts and maybe a sports bra if I'm feeling especially fancy. Of course this is a piece that only a few people would be drawn to, but yeah. It's cute and makes me feel like I'm putting effort in while still being comfy.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDdPLdOPee5TWT3ghiUmEXgJqHDopjLo-WJSLCONGhlVlnW_mu_lm_whnF4SphCwUzQwoMMcSGlPtftAUq9MPfZ6jBhJswMCPUHfvWOPUOegfSgJzpGBDSVg9wrg-YxtT-GtlncBxsV0/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25283%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDdPLdOPee5TWT3ghiUmEXgJqHDopjLo-WJSLCONGhlVlnW_mu_lm_whnF4SphCwUzQwoMMcSGlPtftAUq9MPfZ6jBhJswMCPUHfvWOPUOegfSgJzpGBDSVg9wrg-YxtT-GtlncBxsV0/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-gS7-wHBOzPiMI11IK0Xv5Mo5tMljtEATeOeTROezURtY6oYv_EpQqwqAPKx2ghnqrsTjh0e60RZ6GjSmO8O1jdJbFoBJcGa-OAPksgXjK-f-oHFQY2G8c2Y24o53xKaBXvtnQNbyqk/s1599/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-gS7-wHBOzPiMI11IK0Xv5Mo5tMljtEATeOeTROezURtY6oYv_EpQqwqAPKx2ghnqrsTjh0e60RZ6GjSmO8O1jdJbFoBJcGa-OAPksgXjK-f-oHFQY2G8c2Y24o53xKaBXvtnQNbyqk/w640-h360/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-16+at+17.18.28+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Overall, I'm not entirely sold on this company as the quality is a little lacking - mainly with the <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/navy-loungewear-tracksuit-set-maria">Navy Loungewear Set</a>. I wanted a little more substance, as though I like the <a href="https://femmeluxe.co.uk/black-lace-scallop-edge-waistband-detail-open-back-strappy-plunge-bodysuit-edith/">Lace Bodysuit</a>, I don't think it would last very long and I'm making an effort to buy more sustainably. Saying that, as only half of what I chose came through it could very well be a case of the lack of products I got to try. I'm very interested in their more casual day-to-day items such as cardigans or plain sweaters as I feel like they have the protentional to excel when it comes to more simplistic pieces.</p><p><br /></p><p>The shipping for my items - keeping in mind that they're a UK site and I'm in California - was impressively speedy. The packaging was baby pink and adorable, which yes, not really a factor in ordering but still cute! Thank you to <a href="http://femmeluxe.co.uk">Femme Luxe</a> for allowing me to try out some of their products. Have you bought from this company? What was your experience? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8rpRCEa9rK9CSw7-2xeEx1Pg-LpWldXbuN-Jbq4-d62qW_yZ2Uvc5xWVUWhX8IDIN3tagwYmXB9FLbaMwfxRwfTDzVg8cPxplN39KU8E5PyCCNpp14cKn6zXb8UUwqZbBVMSmu01t14/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8rpRCEa9rK9CSw7-2xeEx1Pg-LpWldXbuN-Jbq4-d62qW_yZ2Uvc5xWVUWhX8IDIN3tagwYmXB9FLbaMwfxRwfTDzVg8cPxplN39KU8E5PyCCNpp14cKn6zXb8UUwqZbBVMSmu01t14/w200-h95/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-43370042934267117582021-03-12T09:00:00.001-08:002021-03-12T09:00:08.946-08:00EVERMORE BOOK TAG! <p style="text-align: center;">Taylor Swift is a queen and I can only hope to get a little ray of her sunshine on my face by partaking in this book tag that was created by the lovely <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQpQHk6ae38&ab_channel=EnchantedReader">Enchanted Reader</a>. Be sure to check out her video and consider yourself tagged if you're reading this post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4J0CvezSYBfzGGGXEvf0Ka5yzLADsn2UXUUXc2fudXb21kia4YCN52XaMQxs7pqF07hjk2EjPLS76Mdb-yX7_SO9BTnNAaZZS8ZjD10ZMuKhDrcfGVubxH9UPKTa-1BE25JPWFN5CqU/s1080/1_20210212_150803_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4J0CvezSYBfzGGGXEvf0Ka5yzLADsn2UXUUXc2fudXb21kia4YCN52XaMQxs7pqF07hjk2EjPLS76Mdb-yX7_SO9BTnNAaZZS8ZjD10ZMuKhDrcfGVubxH9UPKTa-1BE25JPWFN5CqU/w640-h640/1_20210212_150803_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b><u>TAG QUESTIONS</u>:</b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">willow - a book that is a masterpiece</span></h3><p><b>Know My Name by Chanel Miller</b>. I will never not push this book on people. It's a truly painful read but incredible. Chanel Miller was the girl who got sexually assaulted behind a dumpster at a frat party in San Francisco and faced discrimination because of her race, gender, and age. But this book is much more. I'd argue that it's main focus is growth. Chanel Miller is an incredibly strong woman who had to rebuild her life after something so tragic and she managed to do it with grace. I cried at multiple parts throughout this book and felt empowered as a woman. I think about this book constantly.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">champagne problems - a book that caught you off guard </span></h3><p><b>The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.</b> This was the first true historical fiction that I read and it introduced me to what is now one of my favourite genres. This is the story of Vianne and Isabelle, two sisters who are trying to survive Nazi occupied France during WW11. Vianne is the more practical of the sisters, protecting her daughter being her main priority. Isabelle is reckless, driven by her youth, and wants to help the resistance defeat the Germans. I think the thing that The Nightingale has over similar books is how well written both the sisters are. They each had distinct voices and I was entertained by both their stories, which can be a rarity in a duel perspective novel. Don't let the size of this book put you off, I guarantee you'll fly through it.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">gold rush - book with a gold cover </span></h3><p>The first one that comes to mind is one I don't yet own, <b>Circe by Madeline Miller</b>. I've heard an astounding amount of rave reviews about this book but I'm incredibly intimated by it. Circe is about, well... Circe, the the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and of the ocean nymph Perse. It's a fictional spin on her story and heavy on the Greek mythology. I'm terrified of being too dumb for this, which is such a silly reason to not read it but here we are. I don't know the first thing about Greek mythology so I feel like a lot of this would go over my head.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">’tis the damn season - a winter/Christmas book</span></h3><p><b>In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren </b>was a huge surprise for me last year. I adored this festive read that plays on the trope of someone reliving their day over and over <i>Groundhog Day</i> style. Maelyn and her family spend every Christmas with another family at a festive cabin, in that family are two brothers who Maelyn has always been drawn to - one charming and one who is the definition of a playboy. (see where this is going?) An accident changes everything when it sends Maelyn back to the beginning of the vacation, forced to repeat it over and over. Will she manage to make one perfect? This is basically a Christmas romcom in a book. It was super fun. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">tolerate it - a problematic book</span></h3><p><b>Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.</b> This is my current read and while I am enjoying reading about her travelling journey, some of the phrases she uses are extremely questionable and have not aged well in the slightest. Using words such as schizo, rape, OCD, and other terms when describing things that have nothing to do with what she's saying. I also find the entire thing a bit anti-feminist with the constant obsession with men and her making a big show and tell of gaining weight and not caring, despite her still being of average size. It feels very much like 'white rich woman' problems, which I don't know how I feel. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">no body, no crime - a mystery/murder investigation book</span></h3><p>I can't think of one I've actually read and enjoyed, but I did DNF <b>The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton</b> a few years ago and never mentioned it on here, so let's delve into that! I really wanted to love that book as the premise sounded so intriguing what with a murder mystery that has a supernatural twist with the protagonist reliving the same day over and over but in different bodies. I just found the writing way too try-hard and the moment I got to the very fatphobic chapter I decided to call it quits. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsHpRbc-1rWohvEYggq1bEIR7lPoHdWtwYrUkrx8Y1-TfjKozrhFxOjvd2qwigI9Wy9c-6GQqqiWe8UaOOtsMklUt1SL8iCBJcq4JU0-P5MxcopDzwdeOR3wQx98ZLlRJ-RGZF1UjxlE/s1409/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+18.18.48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1409" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsHpRbc-1rWohvEYggq1bEIR7lPoHdWtwYrUkrx8Y1-TfjKozrhFxOjvd2qwigI9Wy9c-6GQqqiWe8UaOOtsMklUt1SL8iCBJcq4JU0-P5MxcopDzwdeOR3wQx98ZLlRJ-RGZF1UjxlE/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+18.18.48.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">happiness - a book about hope</span></h3><p><b>Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.</b> This book may not be for everyone, but I truly think the author nailed a story that has the perfect balance between misery and hope. Queenie as a protagonist is incredibly complex, and you hope for her to find happiness within herself. I enjoyed being a woman by the time I finished this book, which is honestly an incredible thing. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">dorothea - a book to movie adaptation</span></h3><p>For this I'm looking to the future! <b>The Hating Game by Sally Thorne </b>has been adapted into a rom-com starring Lucy Hale (which I'm questioning the casting of) and Austin Stowell. The release date is still unconfirmed due to Covid but I'm very excited to finally watch it. I adored this book, it sparked a new love of modern romance novels for me. Lucy and Josh are the ultimate OTP. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">coney island - a book that brings back memories </span></h3><p><b>Matilda by Roald Dahl.</b> I had this book physically and on tape growing up (the OG audiobook) and read it constantly. It truly sparked my love for reading as I saw myself in Matilda to an uncomfortable level. Whenever I reread this children's classic I revert back to being a young girl obsessed with literature. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">ivy - a book you can’t help but love (guilty pleasure read)</span></h3><p><b>Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead</b>. I've said it before and I'll say it again, these books aren't exactly high tier reading but they're honestly so addictive. This was the first YA series after Twilight that had an actually strong-willed female cast of characters. Rose, Lissa, Mia, Sydney, and even Jill (or or hate her) are fleshed out complex characters who I fell hard for. I recently reread the entire series and had a wail of a time. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">cowboy like me - a book you didn’t expect to love but did </span></h3><p><b>Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann.</b> I'd never even watched the movie before picking up this 500+ page TOME. Call it a moment of madness, or perhaps a wonderful case of fate. I adored this book and you can read all about that here: <a href="https://www.rootingbranches.com/2019/12/valley-of-dolls-by-jacqueline-susann.html">Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann | Book Review [spoiler free]</a></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">long story short - a short book (under 300 pages)</span></h3><p>The last short book I picked up was <b>Often I Am Happy by Jens Christian Grondahl </b>which I ended up DNFing at the 50% mark. This book just wasn't doing it for me. It was a mix of the over writing, the story itself seeming a little lost, and most notably, I didn't think the author was doing a good job at writing from a woman's POV. Life is too short to continue reading a book that you aren't enjoying.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">marjorie - a biography </span></h3><p>Can you answer with anything other than <b>Becoming by Michelle Obama</b>? I read this via audiobook in 2020 and fell in love with a woman who has achieved greatness in so many ways. I already admired Michelle Obama but this really humanized her to me. If you've been putting it off because of the dreaded fear of a dry biography, lemme tell you, this is anything but that. I laughed, got choked up, and instantly made my husband read it. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">closure - favorite last book in a series </span></h3><p>It hasn't been announced yet as to whether there are going to be more books in the series, but as of right now, I have to go with <b>The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O'Neill.</b> This is the third installment from their <i>Tea Dragon</i> series and I adored it. These graphic novels are incredibly wholesome while still openly discussing more serious issues. It will be an achievement if I ever get through a Katie O'Neill book without shedding a tear.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">evermore - a book that was painful to get through </span></h3><p><b>A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.</b> I'm going for the more emotional side of painful, and oh boy, I still get a heavy heart when I think about this beautifully done novel. You will either love or hate this book, purely because of the intensity of the pain that it radiates. Jude, the protagonist, is a deeply wounded human being who has had a horrendous life and the constant relapses that he has throughout A Little Life is very hard to read. Whenever something vaguely happy happened, I wanted to put it down and pretend that it was the ending. </p><p><br /></p><p>Answer one of these questions in the comments! And remember, you're officially tagged if you're reading this. </p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-51036454061285572692021-03-10T17:36:00.002-08:002021-03-10T17:36:19.021-08:00February Book Wrap-Up (Kinda)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAt-O7w0-wtkitmR6wUnaU18HE8I6arYCb8yinxRlptnpLqNOwebhfTgbBx0kFIs8ZleK1w-fJlXqRIpPtRxUrFI7_bO17x27AHORFilTt9q-IYKISO57HsCx14N_dHF6ZsPMcXPmBtQ/s1080/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+17.35.04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAt-O7w0-wtkitmR6wUnaU18HE8I6arYCb8yinxRlptnpLqNOwebhfTgbBx0kFIs8ZleK1w-fJlXqRIpPtRxUrFI7_bO17x27AHORFilTt9q-IYKISO57HsCx14N_dHF6ZsPMcXPmBtQ/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+17.35.04.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">February was a successful reading month quantity wise, but quality..? Iffy at best. I only included some of the books on this as I didn't have strong feelings toward the other books I read and it's already March 10th, sooo.... Let's delve into all the books before I fully go on a tangent of disappointment and self hatred. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtjc5d20BcXJ9oeqQCTYGRTptHI_aDrd01JdyjbbuhUkhenecRlG9e9L1GgosF1Hc_iUnj4z_b3lnUObYYLDqFvNSTZG4xnbFPZKbNfBWI915X63-fa4tS9BhBPc6YA9ObQmRtInpF3s/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25283%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtjc5d20BcXJ9oeqQCTYGRTptHI_aDrd01JdyjbbuhUkhenecRlG9e9L1GgosF1Hc_iUnj4z_b3lnUObYYLDqFvNSTZG4xnbFPZKbNfBWI915X63-fa4tS9BhBPc6YA9ObQmRtInpF3s/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tangerine<br /><i>Christine Morgan </i></h3><p>When a friend from the past comes back into Alice's newly married life, things seem to go from weird to weirder. Lucy Mason was always the wild girl in Alice's youth, but now as adults the familiar habits from the past seem to resurface making Alice question everything - even her own sanity. </p><p>This was fun! The thing that really impressed me with Tangerine was how classically it read. If you told me that it was written in the same era as Rebecca or Jane Eyre, I'd believe you. The writing has such a great atmosphere around it, which truly makes for an immersive reading experience. I went with the audiobook, which was a lot of fun. The ending was predictable, but in a "oooh, ahhh" way, not in a frustrating way. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06R8M9Zz8onY1BHawtp7pwy_I74HVF-lZ0ad4g0EHmk2QPt42yEynqMANlcvblZ8NpfaWO6B6jGHzfD_EsFSpPp_fDav5VQvF132k4v00Nu-VsmSGPnndtHFcaYCFt_DCFWOjrOcB7LE/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+17.02.38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06R8M9Zz8onY1BHawtp7pwy_I74HVF-lZ0ad4g0EHmk2QPt42yEynqMANlcvblZ8NpfaWO6B6jGHzfD_EsFSpPp_fDav5VQvF132k4v00Nu-VsmSGPnndtHFcaYCFt_DCFWOjrOcB7LE/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+17.02.38.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Outlawed <br /><i>Anna North</i></h3><p>Ada is a young girl who is accused of being a witch in 1894. In a bid to save her life, her mother sends her away to a convent and from there she ends up on a path to become an outlaw with a ragtag group of women who disguise themselves as men to survive.</p><p>A feminist take on a western? Yes! This had all the means to be a spectacular novel. Sadly, Outlawed fell a little flat. At under 300 pages, this should've been fast paced with a list of characters who had the means to have automatic chemistry (to help the reader care).. but it didn't. The middle of this novel drrraaaggggeeeddd. I felt like only two of the characters were complex enough to be memorable to me. Meh. As this is a debut, I'll definitely pick up anything else the author writes as this was a very cool idea for a story. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTQtT5p1eRqsN3LQRt-zFvvs_T2vWP0fscoTPrej6PMsGu5LNNZPjLoigFnN_hq1icgKE7wy4obu3AwClUnXtc01FFvzN7_2pD1KaLAzYj3pfka0qcB9ahXrFJYGznuIItuGNC5FduPk/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.11+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTQtT5p1eRqsN3LQRt-zFvvs_T2vWP0fscoTPrej6PMsGu5LNNZPjLoigFnN_hq1icgKE7wy4obu3AwClUnXtc01FFvzN7_2pD1KaLAzYj3pfka0qcB9ahXrFJYGznuIItuGNC5FduPk/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.11+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">You Should See Me In A Crown<br /><i>Leah Johnson </i></h3><p>Liz Lightly has been denied a scholarship to her dream school. She's trying to find a solution when the wonder that is Prom Queen seems to materialize out of nowhere - the winner will receive enough tuition to really make a difference in the girl's life. But if she's willing to go through that journey she'll have to face the other female candidates, rekindle her friendship with the popular guy, and fight her feelings for the new girl.</p><p>I wanted to absolutely adore this book but I found it incredibly.. underwhelming? I don't know whether that's down to the fact that I was on a roll of reading some adult fiction that focused on some pretty dark topics so my mood was off, or whether it just isn't my cup of tea. I could see younger me absolutely loving the innocence that was laced throughout this novel, and completely shipping the two girls. But reading it through adult eyes just made me question whether the characters were written too young for their ages. The protagonist especially seemed pretty naïve when it came to honesty, and made some pretty silly mistakes. I wanted her to have a stronger head on her shoulders. Saying that, I think the book did a great job at making college her prime focus and not the relationships. More YA books should be like that. So to summarize, not my favourite YA contemporary but one that I'm glad exists for the younger generation. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulTWSh3BvgKdlObp545Pnifavh4UvlPM_ZOk8RIb2ZkKzLCCduDdptYoCfHXXZKZQmCx_v5NDg5_QVwwjDWe4GaYVUXNYPfH-4CTVmgga3BOz0nLxLtbup0lu7SHC4In_Qq4uTQjV75s/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulTWSh3BvgKdlObp545Pnifavh4UvlPM_ZOk8RIb2ZkKzLCCduDdptYoCfHXXZKZQmCx_v5NDg5_QVwwjDWe4GaYVUXNYPfH-4CTVmgga3BOz0nLxLtbup0lu7SHC4In_Qq4uTQjV75s/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Vanishing Half<br /><i>Brit Bennett</i></h3><p>As teenagers Desiree and Stella ran away from home, each twin wanting to get away from their small southern black community and venture into the big city. But pretty soon their torn into directions. One twin running away with a boy, and the other refusing to relinquish her hope to live a white life. Years later, the twins lives are beginning to come back together. </p><p>This has so much hype online and it's so deserved. I'd previously read <i>The Mothers</i> by Brit Bennett and felt so-so about it as the commentary on abortion felt a little one sided (against Choice). I fully understand that it's hard to write two sides of an argument without favoring one. Some people had the same problem with <i>Miracle Creek</i> by Angie Kim. However. The Vanishing Half was a breath of fresh air. I adored the characters, the plot kept me captivated until the very last page, and I think it was immaculately written. The only thing stopping me from giving this a 5 star rating is that I felt the ending was a tad rushed. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBjFB2qfMohI4v6nRJG3wVblqd3K5BAman_6Eb6ZZ0nUkEJDwTrWdSC6P_Lcf_mJWMSSOSWQXlfgcz5dgPx8seMHPEeYnd28rYPY40MSkmq6YNkD6THbNMRCgXQh2njNk2I4-R97qHlg/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.32.47.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBjFB2qfMohI4v6nRJG3wVblqd3K5BAman_6Eb6ZZ0nUkEJDwTrWdSC6P_Lcf_mJWMSSOSWQXlfgcz5dgPx8seMHPEeYnd28rYPY40MSkmq6YNkD6THbNMRCgXQh2njNk2I4-R97qHlg/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.32.47.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Home Body<br /><i>Rupi Kaur</i></h3><p>This is the third poetry collection by the glorious Rupi Kaur. Poetry is such a divisive genre, especially the more modern style that is often dismissed as "Instagram poetry" which is mildly infuriating as just, ya know, let people be. I personally enjoy any form of poetry, but the more modern style was definitely an easy introduction into the genre as a whole. Saying that, this wasn't my favourite of Rupi Kaur's collections. I felt like it was rather timid in comparison to <i>Milk & Honey</i> and <i>The Sun and Her Flowers</i>. It felt a little dragged out and the overall order of the sections felt off. I only tabbed 3 pages, which is pretty sad. I will read more by the author, but yeah, not my favourite and wouldn't necessarily recommend. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwLsZPQRTOUNQJs2fti6LjOsyeTWlePhTZjwTQ77Ztil4hSayBSvKcyN3hyT9OG9U2aFay5kBnUW-GRB6DU4_gHMSb_GwK1oBmn6i9AQeo7xQ9v0vIjkOcrordePe1rNTHgMYGR-6h0c/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.09.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwLsZPQRTOUNQJs2fti6LjOsyeTWlePhTZjwTQ77Ztil4hSayBSvKcyN3hyT9OG9U2aFay5kBnUW-GRB6DU4_gHMSb_GwK1oBmn6i9AQeo7xQ9v0vIjkOcrordePe1rNTHgMYGR-6h0c/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Let's Pretend This Never Happened<br /><i>Jenny Lawson</i></h3><p>I adore Jenny Lawson. We should all bow down to this absolute blogger queen. I read her second novel Furiously Happy last year and absolutely loved it, it pulled me from an epic reading slump and took my down a nonfiction path which is still going strong. This is her first novel, and though I didn't enjoy it quite as much as <i>Furiously Happy</i>, I still devoured it with a huge smile on my face. If you're unfamiliar with Jenny, she's an online personality who started out as a blogger who wrote about mental health. She has very recently published a new book <i>Broken (in the best possible way)</i>, which is on my March TBR.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgR7dcanZ7xlHlPx-X-4s5QeacPqlGjf5drma5lDrfsazrlVjEHbZjZeE36CT_45nYmOhDf_XViN-lHtHC7tOCIyXKMGty_s3x4c7Syv-3gHC3lzxNZP_lHJuxYSmYCqq3rMFF-9c-Hk/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgR7dcanZ7xlHlPx-X-4s5QeacPqlGjf5drma5lDrfsazrlVjEHbZjZeE36CT_45nYmOhDf_XViN-lHtHC7tOCIyXKMGty_s3x4c7Syv-3gHC3lzxNZP_lHJuxYSmYCqq3rMFF-9c-Hk/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">In The Dream House<br /><i>Carmen Maria Machado</i></h3><p> Carmen Maria Machado went through an abusive same-sex relationship, and this is her memoir accounting each step that led to the breakdown of their "love". Told through an array of vignettes, poetry, and essays, this is unlike anything you have read. The format of this novel is groundbreaking alone, but if you add Machado's unfiltered thoughts that read as pure beauty.. dayum. I have yet to see anyone who didn't admire this book for it's originality, smarts, and bravery. It takes guts to write anything like this, but especially non-fiction. The vulnerability that the author put into this novel is admirable. Of course, this is a book on </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmLE6OH2b33R2ZV1eZPgLGdHpvyvpQX7Lyw2RXguz0ahZQowJA6BaQO3hEY4ZzcKQi3FOKAcUZXBxEc2O_JCRpzRapGUdBiDV0nioGwpM1gp-UkYh-ESnOVHgN9ZZ7TBUl3ipl7jGv-A/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25285%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmLE6OH2b33R2ZV1eZPgLGdHpvyvpQX7Lyw2RXguz0ahZQowJA6BaQO3hEY4ZzcKQi3FOKAcUZXBxEc2O_JCRpzRapGUdBiDV0nioGwpM1gp-UkYh-ESnOVHgN9ZZ7TBUl3ipl7jGv-A/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25285%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Before the Coffee Gets Cold<br /><i>Toshikazu Kawaguchi </i></h3><p>There's a café hidden within Tokyo, that offers some customers the ability to time travel. This power brings a group of could be strangers together.</p><p>This was a rather predictable book but in the most comforting way possible. In the same vein as Anxious People by Fredrik Backman this, at heart, is about humanity and the many ways that can impact the lives of people who are struggling. I devoured this book as fast as my eyes would let me. I teared up at multiple points and, surprisingly, laughed a fair few times. This is such a warming novel that I fully recommend you to read. The sequel is high on my TBR. Saying that, there's a cat on the cover but not in the book? HUH? False advertisement. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnmdyR4EcQmj_IF6yR6jPr8KTTAZ4s3l-BdvgcoTYiT7N9t3usd9q-q_41y7FWcvGELhTN6cQfsYq2C0KSapF_zkPyqGWFR1SAE8jD4IUk8tBh5yyRBRlXQBdElTT1Z6rGtls0r3oKzo/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnmdyR4EcQmj_IF6yR6jPr8KTTAZ4s3l-BdvgcoTYiT7N9t3usd9q-q_41y7FWcvGELhTN6cQfsYq2C0KSapF_zkPyqGWFR1SAE8jD4IUk8tBh5yyRBRlXQBdElTT1Z6rGtls0r3oKzo/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sing, Unburied, Sing<br /><i>Jesmyn Ward</i></h3><p>On a roadtrip to pick up his father from prison, Jojo and his dysfunctional mother are forced to try and rectify their broken relationship. We jump between two timelines, one told through the eyes of a ghost (..yeah..) and the other following Jojo as he comes to terms with his life and family relationships.</p><p>This is a very atmospheric novel. I didn't realize that this was the second book in a series, but alas, it read like a standalone. This gave me HEAVY Toni Morrison vibes. I found the writing lovely but yet sometimes too lyrical for my comprehension. This felt entirely like a book that ought to be studied at school as it had so many layers to each chapter that I guarantee most of it went right over my head. Because of this, it felt a little flat. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHmkjEVvQukF2U1-KZu3m9TATpF5L6_s5dBaNTlAHOi3toHedwK2qOq4ubAzYb4nuQ2oM-qlpeBN-KOBNiz1wMfvZl9y8HdWU70iYj8u_PBT8GuBIK11Wl8Ivsu-C6GPEH4KsQOE7Mww/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHmkjEVvQukF2U1-KZu3m9TATpF5L6_s5dBaNTlAHOi3toHedwK2qOq4ubAzYb4nuQ2oM-qlpeBN-KOBNiz1wMfvZl9y8HdWU70iYj8u_PBT8GuBIK11Wl8Ivsu-C6GPEH4KsQOE7Mww/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.47.10.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">What My Mother and I Don't Talk About : Fifteen Writers Break the Silence<br /><i>edited by Michele Filgate </i></h3><p>This is a collection of essays written by various authors who discuss their relationships with their mothers - some bad, some good, some complicated.</p><p>I picked this up solely on the recommendation by<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/literarydiversions"> Lianne</a> and I'm so glad I did. This book touched my heart in such a way that I automatically bought it for my mum after turning the last page. This had such a rawness that it felt like a readable wound, and yet.. it felt hopeful. The strength that some of these authors showed through their words is remarkable. Everyone will take something from this novel, no matter the relationship you have with your parents. I wish more people were talking about it. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem3dAtAP7yWfnk1v5zTg1e8fXEZfUyc6F9k59PdfJCWw2Rj4RBusznRDAy-g7ddh1fBItMb4LKFtFA99Z5tQEsyQsutHeiYW__EYyqOX9Re7oS5AO3lkkeo3LQ4GTdqw18JDLEVsIsbg/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.32.47+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem3dAtAP7yWfnk1v5zTg1e8fXEZfUyc6F9k59PdfJCWw2Rj4RBusznRDAy-g7ddh1fBItMb4LKFtFA99Z5tQEsyQsutHeiYW__EYyqOX9Re7oS5AO3lkkeo3LQ4GTdqw18JDLEVsIsbg/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-03-10+at+16.32.47+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Every Body Looking<br /><i>Candice Iloh </i></h3><p>This is a semi autobiographical novel telling Ada's story. From her earliest memories as a child, including her abuse at the hands of a young cousin, her mother's rejection and descent into addiction, and her father's attempts to create a home for his American daughter more like the one he knew in Nigeria. </p><p>I've read a lot of novels that are told through verse and for that reason alone, I think my expectations were just a little too high going into this. It needed more of a poetic element to feel powerful, which for me, it just.. lacked. I think the author would've been better to choose a period of her life and stick with it instead of trying to cover 19ish years. The cover is immaculate though. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8rTqmjtos5HzhaU8bpiGlUBFnf6_AM30qLc17RYLEvqLrf-OzVDXwjUVi8O-HdDoMLYBLA6MVLq2FTv0q1y4V9qvf9xrFACqdKxai_yCA0mFBDxj_m7VB9qzn8iZptzFjPpU3vJKuzU/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8rTqmjtos5HzhaU8bpiGlUBFnf6_AM30qLc17RYLEvqLrf-OzVDXwjUVi8O-HdDoMLYBLA6MVLq2FTv0q1y4V9qvf9xrFACqdKxai_yCA0mFBDxj_m7VB9qzn8iZptzFjPpU3vJKuzU/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-59797657703578768582021-02-12T15:02:00.003-08:002021-02-12T15:09:25.083-08:009 Self Love Things You Can Do This Valentine's Day<div style="text-align: center;">This year Valentine's Day is landing on a Sunday, so a lot of us are going to have an empty day full of possibility. (And minor "blegh feeling" if we look on social media and see all the mushy posts that people dedicate to their partners.) It's an odd feeling as we all know that it's just a marketed holiday that means nothing but it can lead to a bit of a mental slump, especially if you're recently single or are alone in lockdown. In a bid to help your brain, I've put together a list of solo activities that have the potential to turn your Sunday around. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOP0cE9-WiymKDFK9OcGQHhHiZ7tDteDGfLgoxjKIzM79YZLj856EkMz8XseijlVH_9kntV44pW_UO-hwQJkcKNyyXDQnpTYGTEpRzp8TLzTA5CYNnQ3qu9aLxALrU6_ISJ60V5z7AOg/s1080/1_20210212_145743_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOP0cE9-WiymKDFK9OcGQHhHiZ7tDteDGfLgoxjKIzM79YZLj856EkMz8XseijlVH_9kntV44pW_UO-hwQJkcKNyyXDQnpTYGTEpRzp8TLzTA5CYNnQ3qu9aLxALrU6_ISJ60V5z7AOg/w640-h640/1_20210212_145743_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Buy a Book</h4><p>Is there a higher act of self love than purchasing yourself a book, getting all cozy in either your bed or on the couch, having a glass of wine or a cup of hot tea in your hand, and taking a few hours to escape from your brain? If money is tight, you could also use your library (online) and put a hold on a book that you've been wanting to read. If you're in the US, you can sign up for your library and instantly have <a href="https://libbyapp.com/welcome">Libby</a> at your fingertips - a library app where you can borrow either ebooks or audiobooks. They have so many to choose from, so be sure to clear a few hours to decide on one. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Educate Yourself</h4><p>Self love can be making the decision to further your brain. There are heaps of free "classes" on Youtube, but you could take this a step further and actually sign up for some classes through your local educational system. If that's not an option for you, you can sign up for <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/">Skillshare</a> which always offers some type of free trail. They have a huge catalogue of classes, from graphic design, to tarot readings, to taxes. Pick something and enthrall your brain.</p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Indulge In Your Hobby </h4><p>I don't know about you, but I find it hard to make time for hobbies as I feel like it's too.. indulgent? Yay for the automatic guilt of finding time for yourself. This v.day, whether it's reading, bullet journaling, puzzles, or whatever it is that makes you happy.. make time for it! Embrace something that you enjoy filling your time with. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Embrace Teenage You</h4><p>I think we all have a list of things that we really wanted to do as teenagers. Whether it's eating literal junk for dinner, rewatching our favourite movies for the thousandth time, or playing video games all day. Do the most scandalous thing you ached to do as a teen. For me, it'd be sitting in the garden with a good book and a questionable amount of redbull. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Watch the Trashiest Movie You Love</h4><p>We all have those movies that we can't help but love, despite the questionable plot or iffy writing. There's nothing quite like sitting down to some trashy entertainment. Personally, my vote would be for <i>The Lizzie McGuire Movie</i>,<i> Get Over It</i>, or <i>13 Going On 30. </i>Enjoy a cringe fest, eat too many sugar, and bask in the silliness of it all.,</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Find a New Recipe</b></p><p>Finding a new recipe to leisurely make as you sip on a chilled glass of wine is such an indulgence. Cooking for oneself can be a very intimate act and I think not enough of us partake in the simplicity. Find something easy to make (dinner or dessert), put on some good music or a podcast, and pretend to be the fanciest chef. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Organize </h4><p>I know, I know, housework on a day that is marketed towards relaxation is odd. But, there is something so satisfying about finally tackling those areas of your home/room that are messy. We all have a super cluttered drawer, or maybe your bookcase is chaotic, or if you're like me, your closet is a literal bin where you dump clothes and close the door in a bid to ignore it. Do something for future you and create a space that helps soothe your mental health. Make it fun with good music, an audiobook, or some Youtube. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Walk + Chill</h4><p>Going for a walk at your own pace is quite the enjoyable experience. Now, this might be more of a niche suggestion as I know many of you are likely to just go for a walk without a second thought (though let's face it, Lockdown has probably made you hate the idea), but as someone who struggles with social anxiety I was always too nervous to take myself on a walk. The idiotic thoughts such as "what if I see someone I know?" always, literally, talked me out of it. But screw that. Going for a walk with music in your ears can be incredibly peaceful. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Pleasure </b></h4><p>Am I pulling a Zoella and trying to get cancelled? Pssh, the Internet is mad. Anyhoo, there is nothing more literal for self love than purchasing a little something from yourself to yourself. I know <a href="https://www.adameve.com/">Adam & Eve </a>usually have some sort of discount code that allows you to get 50% one item, right now it seems to be "GET50NOW" but you have your Googlefu if it doesn't work. Treat yo parts, people. </p><p><br /></p><p>So, there we have 9 things that you can do this Valentine's Day to love yourself. But remember, it's literally a marketed day. No biggie. </p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-25647156913602554862021-02-01T20:41:00.003-08:002021-02-02T12:14:03.699-08:00TBR | February 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dW0cTXPb2EX2WM9YTchiEpNQCmTVdUSoiHXzOYKViO9FIFrXD9vO5SZXyGp1IpqXJ8LIiB0MY8cI3EYB2QL_Shk0zcXsIz5Ed-IuhQ9acz5ulDHjzUhjX6fgxscQilNi5Xu1RLIpK40/s2048/20210202_121028_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dW0cTXPb2EX2WM9YTchiEpNQCmTVdUSoiHXzOYKViO9FIFrXD9vO5SZXyGp1IpqXJ8LIiB0MY8cI3EYB2QL_Shk0zcXsIz5Ed-IuhQ9acz5ulDHjzUhjX6fgxscQilNi5Xu1RLIpK40/w640-h640/20210202_121028_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">February is the shortest month of the year so am I keeping my TBR at a reasonable number? No. These are only a few of the books I'm hoping to get this month, yay for ambition. As it's Black History Month I'm aiming to get to the books by black authors that have been on my TBR for too long, as well as some of the newer releases that I'm excited for but am relying on my library for so to avoid my own disappointment, I'm not including them on this list. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTWFkW3iJpr-xGDujWZCP97ZDvAHDw3o99dmjHQZkefX38ScVDM59qvhv8GzZfrjvywFIHxH4ipMST0iKUWN_2WGNdjeMHSHHCoYrPfyfyCbUXhl5AjelvwStjiIbitMkPZ9EwX3CaSY/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.31.59.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTWFkW3iJpr-xGDujWZCP97ZDvAHDw3o99dmjHQZkefX38ScVDM59qvhv8GzZfrjvywFIHxH4ipMST0iKUWN_2WGNdjeMHSHHCoYrPfyfyCbUXhl5AjelvwStjiIbitMkPZ9EwX3CaSY/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.31.59.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters #3)</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Talia Hibbert</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she's given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how... Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner's on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she's infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it's melting Jacob's frosty exterior.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have an eARC of this waiting patiently on my Net Galley shelf and this is the month I'll read it! If you've been living under a book community rock and are unfamiliar with <i>The Brown Sisters</i> series, these are some extraordinarily cute yet smutty romance books that will make you ache in all the best ways. I wasn't smitten with <i>Get A Life, Chloe Brown</i> as I think my expectations for the Fibromyalgia rep was always going to let me down, however, <i>Take A Hint, Dani Brown</i> was perfection. I buddy read it with the gorgeous <a href="http://instagram.com/m.is.reading">@m.is.reading </a>and it was a whole heap of fun. Talia Hibbert does a great job at interweaving series topics such as chronic pain, depression, and anxiety within a romance book without making either take a backseat. I'm positive that the Autism rep in this will be no different, and I'll turn the last page with both more knowledge on the illness and a metaphorical tent. It's February, give me all the smut. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl2m7cdyeCW4k2kAoCg5WYx1n-0PqMQID8Iff6NQkFEQqJ-jLBY8cuHcCae0XQATK8fH5A7oOhXGVyI5_OFhD4PJtfZSBy1cOdVQRw4KkPG9Tuq4oQ4gwQ0NmYdYrIoCLN3rW7D5XXZc/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25284%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl2m7cdyeCW4k2kAoCg5WYx1n-0PqMQID8Iff6NQkFEQqJ-jLBY8cuHcCae0XQATK8fH5A7oOhXGVyI5_OFhD4PJtfZSBy1cOdVQRw4KkPG9Tuq4oQ4gwQ0NmYdYrIoCLN3rW7D5XXZc/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Outlawed<br /><i>Anna Todd</i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada's life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows. She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she's willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's no secret around here that I'm a sucker for a Reese's bookclub pick, I haven't had the best of luck as I tend to give them either a 3 or 4 stars, never in-between, but I can't seem to not be interested. Do I have the vaguest idea what this book is about? Nope! But that cover is glorious. And it seems like a feminist western..? Which, yes, please, always.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezz12FYOpPluxOHYWTEbdMK0H9NDrssXgv9qycE5tPErrjpGsgxtsTWGNPqxjha2pm4lI047w3yxdeN2BcrhxYwr5yJ-qM-CcJIDbOuyLIRp4Jyej6PaH8WzGXsuazPHuX8TtY6ZEQ9g/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25281%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezz12FYOpPluxOHYWTEbdMK0H9NDrssXgv9qycE5tPErrjpGsgxtsTWGNPqxjha2pm4lI047w3yxdeN2BcrhxYwr5yJ-qM-CcJIDbOuyLIRp4Jyej6PaH8WzGXsuazPHuX8TtY6ZEQ9g/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Vanishing Half</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Brit Bennett</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've been on my library's waiting list for this for over 6 months now so I finally sucked it up and just got a digital copy. I read The Mothers by Britt Bennet last year and fell in love with her writing. I was a tad iffy on the commentary on abortions in The Mothers as it felt quite anti-choice, however, I'm interested in what else she has to say and this premise sounds too good to pass up. Here's hoping the hype is justified..?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1X-9r-ha_qiuqx6869XPLtRe84MnXVSmAfkE81lpjVpSDIgqy6La4rhwApTWmFSPpD6E8COC9KCvVg8j0AtpJM83RsKnxuveM565pnF7gbVER3mR48kcJkTms4kTj9P0dtlBgevOLRA/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.45.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1X-9r-ha_qiuqx6869XPLtRe84MnXVSmAfkE81lpjVpSDIgqy6La4rhwApTWmFSPpD6E8COC9KCvVg8j0AtpJM83RsKnxuveM565pnF7gbVER3mR48kcJkTms4kTj9P0dtlBgevOLRA/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.45.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Cactus</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sarah Haywood</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">For Susan Green, messy emotions don't fit into the equation of her perfectly ordered life. She has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an "interpersonal arrangement" that provides cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that she is about to become a mother herself, Susan's greatest fear is realized. She is losing control. Enter Rob, the dubious but well-meaning friend of her indolent brother. As Susan's due date draws near and her dismantled world falls further into a tailspin, Susan finds an unlikely ally in Rob. She might have a chance at finding real love and learning to love herself, if only she can figure out how to let go.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was reading this when my Grandma passed away, so naturally, I put this book very far away from me. However, I'm now feeling strong enough to give it another whirl. Again, this is a Reese pick but it's also on my <a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2021/01/21-books-i-want-to-read-in-2021.html">21 Books I Want To Read In 2021</a> list. Can we take a moment to appreciate the cover?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BBhHiK4RaLXHNxzjb4v35e_Y5WY8Sk3BP5yC66Mcu6QnKkdnCMVgreX_8_hyphenhyphenXc1V0j89Kgv9d7FKCVODbSwQFTymCktVYUXfT8QR7J6Nt59i1ylpcaFAv0cCF0pmKRc1t7LRPLlSnvk/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25283%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BBhHiK4RaLXHNxzjb4v35e_Y5WY8Sk3BP5yC66Mcu6QnKkdnCMVgreX_8_hyphenhyphenXc1V0j89Kgv9d7FKCVODbSwQFTymCktVYUXfT8QR7J6Nt59i1ylpcaFAv0cCF0pmKRc1t7LRPLlSnvk/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Sing, Unburied, Sing</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesmyn Ward</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Jojo and his toddler sister, Kayla, live with their grandparents, Mam and Pop, and the occasional presence of their drug-addicted mother, Leonie, on a farm on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Leonie is simultaneously tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she’s high; Mam is dying of cancer; and quiet, steady Pop tries to run the household and teach Jojo how to be a man. When the white father of Leonie’s children is released from prison, she packs her kids and a friend into her car and sets out across the state for Parchman farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, on a journey rife with danger and promise.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Do you have a book on your shelves that is incredibly daunting for no good reason? This is that book for me. I think it's partly because of how heavy the synopsis sounds, it makes me expect very dry writing with a slow burning plot. I do want to read this though as everyone I know who has read it, has loved it. I'm torn as to whether I want to physically read it or go with an audiobook. Do you have a recommendation? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_rvxkR-LrGeuRVk6GqT8JczXh30pZKymabQq4bv5PH8ranAfF9r3ol9mQhHtN5aMWtw8Vjuz53SijR-fNGRanGSyxGXJbgknFvjww7AfibWrqBAXRallm49Tneeu3s_GNxTuj0Taado/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.45+%25281%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_rvxkR-LrGeuRVk6GqT8JczXh30pZKymabQq4bv5PH8ranAfF9r3ol9mQhHtN5aMWtw8Vjuz53SijR-fNGRanGSyxGXJbgknFvjww7AfibWrqBAXRallm49Tneeu3s_GNxTuj0Taado/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.45+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Book That Matters Most</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ann Hood</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Ava’s twenty-five-year marriage has fallen apart, and her two grown children are pursuing their own lives outside of the country. Ava joins a book group, not only for her love of reading but also out of sheer desperation for companionship. The group’s goal throughout the year is for each member to present the book that matters most to them. Ava rediscovers a mysterious book from her childhood—one that helped her through the traumas of the untimely deaths of her sister and mother. Alternating with Ava’s story is that of her troubled daughter Maggie, who, living in Paris, descends into a destructive relationship with an older man. Ava’s mission to find that book and its enigmatic author takes her on a quest that unravels the secrets of her past and offers her and Maggie the chance to remake their lives.</p><p style="text-align: center;">All us bibliophiles love a book about books and I'm hoping this is going to fit that bill perfectly. This cover is extremely boring so I always forget why I want to read it until I reread that premise, so February will be the month! Mother/daughter dynamics in books tend to etch themselves onto my heart, as do books that have a subplot of a group of strangers coming together as a support system.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hLC6XjeXp2nHvoqxt1MNc_YWWpoxxlT_vrSlnzcbSdx4vJEn92fyTSsOKLTZ3XW34EslL6StdxGQPMqG5SV6n4LtgGTrIacCEp_l1NrJSX8zurWV99arBAsZlYVhJqSz6-mOxuShMf4/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25282%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hLC6XjeXp2nHvoqxt1MNc_YWWpoxxlT_vrSlnzcbSdx4vJEn92fyTSsOKLTZ3XW34EslL6StdxGQPMqG5SV6n4LtgGTrIacCEp_l1NrJSX8zurWV99arBAsZlYVhJqSz6-mOxuShMf4/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Homegoing<br /><i>Yaa Gyasi</i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle's dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast's booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia's descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This has been compared to Girl, Woman, Other so many times which partly hurts my soul as we shouldn't constantly just compare books that have a similar theme BUT this sounds incredible. And intense. I struggle with books that span across generations as remembering characters is quite the challenge for me, alas, I want to read this. I'm amazed at how much depth people say this book has given the under 350 page count. I'm scared, but my expectations are high.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiackH24K1EMvregrKBXF32qTpTVnur7dOApiJ1dum3EnfOcS_bjWZ3eeGyjFZtAwuRsaA3qWzFcna9pLPZtTBeUpcq69zYy2ghIeMwhxzcsXC68gXb5ycx5oRxaq-uPa4SAD1cNk4DZtw/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiackH24K1EMvregrKBXF32qTpTVnur7dOApiJ1dum3EnfOcS_bjWZ3eeGyjFZtAwuRsaA3qWzFcna9pLPZtTBeUpcq69zYy2ghIeMwhxzcsXC68gXb5ycx5oRxaq-uPa4SAD1cNk4DZtw/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Difficult Women</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Roxane Gay</i></div></i></h3><p style="text-align: center;">The women in these stories live lives of privilege and of poverty, are in marriages both loving and haunted by past crimes or emotional blackmail. A pair of sisters, grown now, have been inseparable ever since they were abducted together as children, and must negotiate the marriage of one of them. A woman married to a twin pretends not to realize when her husband and his brother impersonate each other. A stripper putting herself through college fends off the advances of an overzealous customer. A black engineer moves to Upper Michigan for a job and faces the malign curiosity of her colleagues and the difficulty of leaving her past behind. From a girls’ fight club to a wealthy subdivision in Florida where neighbors conform, compete, and spy on each other, Gay delivers a wry, beautiful, haunting vision of modern America reminiscent of Merritt Tierce, Jamie Quatro, and Miranda July.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Hunger</i> by Roxane Gay was one of the many memoirs I read last year and I was awed at her ability to write beautifully while still being brutally honest about her experience with body image. I do have <i>Bad Feminist </i>on my shelves, but there's just something about <i>Difficult Women </i>that's appealing to me more. This'll be my non-fiction pick for February. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR_V-EpTAmcarhESA6SZJGye8QdoOtpciv1rgcNGL_f0Yhcqi2O5mekKPh-8aN3GNx3sT1SYAomQ6jMedmS0QHQwK9wkT5gjwLl24MnClRbvZVQwJ8xHOxiksmflT4ANU9WITPWqjImg/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25285%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR_V-EpTAmcarhESA6SZJGye8QdoOtpciv1rgcNGL_f0Yhcqi2O5mekKPh-8aN3GNx3sT1SYAomQ6jMedmS0QHQwK9wkT5gjwLl24MnClRbvZVQwJ8xHOxiksmflT4ANU9WITPWqjImg/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+20.00.46+%25285%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">What's topping your TBR for February?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToDXMtuZ3xfxt72AiQKQBVW0vw_E5AntJqHsqtEUGBAUNs3bfUiLCFpJtSmi8Mtb-TE_eD_sqf6sWhHSlVjnRQSBvOqEkt3SDChXrkY8GRw_PDsnRyMqUB9ehrtQXlEHuRkjdCuhAePA/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToDXMtuZ3xfxt72AiQKQBVW0vw_E5AntJqHsqtEUGBAUNs3bfUiLCFpJtSmi8Mtb-TE_eD_sqf6sWhHSlVjnRQSBvOqEkt3SDChXrkY8GRw_PDsnRyMqUB9ehrtQXlEHuRkjdCuhAePA/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-77013143200430334232021-02-01T14:31:00.004-08:002021-02-02T12:13:11.902-08:00January Book Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-gjQyBoWZgu5E-Esc-BnyPzDQzOP1HJVsHwiliC8PazNvJojdqDKWXXc3AkwgOULlRsL3ewf47hiy0ZeTVNhNRZ_Xv0Dqi5idb1SJbBSFeCnoS9-GnwH2hS4y1SaPPregtOV7Kw6upU/s2048/20210202_121145_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-gjQyBoWZgu5E-Esc-BnyPzDQzOP1HJVsHwiliC8PazNvJojdqDKWXXc3AkwgOULlRsL3ewf47hiy0ZeTVNhNRZ_Xv0Dqi5idb1SJbBSFeCnoS9-GnwH2hS4y1SaPPregtOV7Kw6upU/w640-h640/20210202_121145_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, January is over and it felt like the longest and yet shortest month of my life. Make it make sense. I had a decent reading month with 19 books. This is Part 2 of my wrap-up so be sure to check that post out if you have not done so already: <a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2021/01/mid-january-book-wrap-up.html">Mid-January Wrap-Up 2020</a>. Let's get onto the remaining reviews!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4NexdMHZBTJV699CF1AceSYwOz3_4M0q6WpTccVsUSCrI3GjRbQ1h1uusRtR7BBfMUKxHAjJ3n2wDq-0Y4ODP2ACxSBXsyvb_yKHTlmb29fKweUz0wJGQFVxkru5rUzI7tm-_Zqr2Kg/s2048/2021-01-31-020634030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4NexdMHZBTJV699CF1AceSYwOz3_4M0q6WpTccVsUSCrI3GjRbQ1h1uusRtR7BBfMUKxHAjJ3n2wDq-0Y4ODP2ACxSBXsyvb_yKHTlmb29fKweUz0wJGQFVxkru5rUzI7tm-_Zqr2Kg/w640-h640/2021-01-31-020634030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gy6iPV465DX7X6gbBI-iDOIK1zECafFt9vRE2krAiOq1JqHgJFXHOM82NS1Egv1OF-m4Mz7-oXRmpLZfELpM2PA83jEKA_3W7368s1gTWKT6hBOX3hnX0RrRipATBU_xCrQ6hdgH1g0/s2048/2021-01-17-033003405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gy6iPV465DX7X6gbBI-iDOIK1zECafFt9vRE2krAiOq1JqHgJFXHOM82NS1Egv1OF-m4Mz7-oXRmpLZfELpM2PA83jEKA_3W7368s1gTWKT6hBOX3hnX0RrRipATBU_xCrQ6hdgH1g0/w640-h640/2021-01-17-033003405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Record of a Spaceborn Few<br /><i>Becky Chambers</i></h3><p>Told through five different narratives, this follows a group of humans who live at the Galactic Commons. A sprawling universe of superficial intelligence, aliens, wars, and yet.. this group of people live normally. I suppose this is the first book in the Wayfarers series that explores humanity through actual humans, but it just read so... boring. I'm devastated to say that as I adore this series, this third installment simply felt unnecessary and like a stepping stone for Chambers to expand the universe. It didn't seem to have an actual plot, the characters were explored individually and yet only two seemed to have growth. It felt like I spend the entire novel waiting for something to happen. The writing was still very assessable and I didn't want to DNF, so that's why I'm still giving it a solid 2.5 rating. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEbnban0xM-mc69xqwtM_8xsu1ujkWESNIIhnJR7Wk24x2Npo856XOCfW46vtiNDPcovdBMPAPIDI8aKJ2SUo7Pvau4rPUdKEuzb-qaVEwIJ0MWYv7oL2CPajYKJ3o1pYMuWCyh5tPbE/s2048/2021-01-17-033017169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEbnban0xM-mc69xqwtM_8xsu1ujkWESNIIhnJR7Wk24x2Npo856XOCfW46vtiNDPcovdBMPAPIDI8aKJ2SUo7Pvau4rPUdKEuzb-qaVEwIJ0MWYv7oL2CPajYKJ3o1pYMuWCyh5tPbE/w640-h640/2021-01-17-033017169.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Diving Pool: Three Novellas<br /><i>Yōko Ogawa</i></h3><p>Novellas are always hard to review/rate without delving into each individual story. This collection seemed to have a commentary on womanhood, loneliness, and growth. They were so weird that I truly can't wrap my mind around them. I enjoyed two and was completely thrown by one. If you've read other novels by the author (I strongly recommend <i>The Housekeeper and the Professor</i>) then you might want to pick this up. Her writing is seamless with very odd yet likeable characters. I want to read more translated work in 2021 and this definitely fueled my interest. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW2z5ENsg7zMJrDKkX7DV6jQ0NS7YNb2YM9uL_qHlldemPyVFQzWEoZth-ac_15a7A9ejlCn9jcg2r1fjuMovVbW-ZROjUs-MRRvIchoAeNi0duYAMVdwqSXGx3BEx36zX30sogOSDpY/s2048/2021-01-17-031750351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW2z5ENsg7zMJrDKkX7DV6jQ0NS7YNb2YM9uL_qHlldemPyVFQzWEoZth-ac_15a7A9ejlCn9jcg2r1fjuMovVbW-ZROjUs-MRRvIchoAeNi0duYAMVdwqSXGx3BEx36zX30sogOSDpY/w640-h640/2021-01-17-031750351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Guest List<br /><i>Lucy Foley </i></h3><p>A group of people come together to celebrate the wedding of their respected party. But this isn't just any wedding. On a secluded island on the Irish coast, a group of people come together to celebrate what they peg as "the wedding of the year". Upper class Jules and popular TV personality Will make for the most picturesque couple. But things soon turn deadly when pranks go array and a body shows up. I was hesitant to pick this up despite the many raving reviews it has as the plot seemed a tad similar to books such as One by One and An Unwanted Guest, two books that I read last year and didn't wholeheartedly enjoy. However, this was such a pleasant surprise! The writing truly made this book addicting. I didn't want to stop reading and though the ending felt a tad rushed and predictable, I was enthralled! It reminded me a bit of the mini series Harper's Island. If you want a super fast-paced thriller with complex characters (aka: they aren't all just assholes), pick this up! <b>HUGE trigger warning for self harm.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIADLWtIMbiyXoMvedFQ-RLzwifFLtQTBkeq9qLmTSJsy0-ExA7aqnt0oJI1BSg4jpK09cfKV61bd_nfS7z3l-eJYyqaJMGDHbBkC0uMzjTMBl9qFqj_V80-ALELcYjkDgPYgZDMpUxc/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52+%25282%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIADLWtIMbiyXoMvedFQ-RLzwifFLtQTBkeq9qLmTSJsy0-ExA7aqnt0oJI1BSg4jpK09cfKV61bd_nfS7z3l-eJYyqaJMGDHbBkC0uMzjTMBl9qFqj_V80-ALELcYjkDgPYgZDMpUxc/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl<br /><i>Lori Earl, Wayne Earl, Esther Earl, John Green</i></h3><p></p><p>Esther Earl was a teenager who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 12-years-old. While sick, she discovered the beauty of the Internet world and immersed herself in fandoms to escape reality right up until she sadly passed away in 2010. She was a vlogger, author, and Nerdfighter. This is a collection of her writing, journal entries, online conversations, and art. I had never seen any of Esther's vlogs before picking up this TOME of a collection, but I had heard of her story through John Green. I honestly wept multiple times as I read this. At one point I had to go in the shower to cry. Esther was a beautiful human being who had so much to give to the world. I really appreciated how the words of her family and friends were included in the book as it gave it so much depth. I get that these kind of books may not be for everyone as reading some random journal entry about going to buy a CD may seem odd, but it just worked for me. If this has been on your radar, give it a try! It's never too late to read about someone's life. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Side-note: Going off track here, but hear me out. Harry Potter is a very large topic throughout This Star Won't Go Out, Esther is heavily involved in the online Potter community and it led her to make beautiful friendships. It really made me think of the quote "Don't cry that it's over, smile because it happened.". Harry Potter has been a lifeline for so many people and we shouldn't dismiss them for continuing to love the books or movies. Yes, if they're continuing to support new things that she-who-shan't-be-named releases, they need to have a word with themselves. But I've seen a fair few people publicly shamed for continuing to have the books on their shelves or whatnot. It's okay to fall out of love with a creator, but not the world. You can't change the past. The Potter community is a place of love, and that can outshine the ugliness of Rowling. Just a thought.</i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs2kuN4wtSPkLKAqXz7XngA8T_EHx3gzkKRHaRpMDYICsscI1SxyNiNtXhjJC0J4_AFWbmueR1PU1nal6jhBEVtCP63CfLDEJjuESlzXuu4-3EcImvyFVwWrdiVRZv1sLv-ReqeKbdxw/s2048/2020-12-13-012524026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs2kuN4wtSPkLKAqXz7XngA8T_EHx3gzkKRHaRpMDYICsscI1SxyNiNtXhjJC0J4_AFWbmueR1PU1nal6jhBEVtCP63CfLDEJjuESlzXuu4-3EcImvyFVwWrdiVRZv1sLv-ReqeKbdxw/w640-h640/2020-12-13-012524026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows<br /><i>Balli Kaur Jaswal</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nikki is the daughter of Indian immigrants, yet she's spent her life distancing herself from the traditional Sikh community. When her father’s death leaves the family financially strapped, Nikki, a law school dropout, impulsively takes a job teaching a "creative writing" course at the community center in the beating heart of London’s close-knit Punjabi community. Because of a miscommunication, the proper Sikh widows who show up are expecting to learn basic English literacy, not the art of short-story writing. When one of the widows finds a book of sexy stories in English and shares it with the class, Nikki realizes that beneath their white dupattas, her students have a wealth of fantasies and memories. Eager to liberate these modest women, she teaches them how to express their untold stories, unleashing creativity of the most unexpected smutty variety. I adored this book. It was the perfect balance between educational and fun. It was wonderful to learn more about the traditional life and ways of a Punjabi wife. The entire character list was great, and it was so much fun reading the banter between the women. I laughed out loud multiple times, which I wasn't expecting. All in all, a great all-round book. (Would make for a great buddy read!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhypheneianxd2no4VGDNaCRUfCXK6nvuzSMJq7IQ-L0L3oMIrTaNjSi9CySNFoBJCo19e-RXswtyIt05F8QKFieuyiWvNVOrOCWtQX917TIMU4_BrL-WUzcGzXoai0MpPvNQ_nGP29cta1Y8/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhypheneianxd2no4VGDNaCRUfCXK6nvuzSMJq7IQ-L0L3oMIrTaNjSi9CySNFoBJCo19e-RXswtyIt05F8QKFieuyiWvNVOrOCWtQX917TIMU4_BrL-WUzcGzXoai0MpPvNQ_nGP29cta1Y8/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Prince and the Dressmaker<br /><i>Jen Wang</i></h3><p>A intense bond forms between a Prince and a Dressmaker when the Prince hires her to make him dresses. Knowing that the kingdom will never accept him, the Royal sneaks out at night in flawlessly designed dresses and makes the town envious of his beauty. Oh my God, this was freaking adorable! I wasn't sure what to expect from this as it could've very easily been frivolous given that it's Middlegrade and about something that you don't always see in Children's literature. However, what a wonderfully done story. I think it gave a very convincing story of what it's like to be different and the hurdles that you have to jump over to be accepted. I liked that it had a somewhat bleak middle but came back around. But most of all, I really enjoyed that the Prince was straight but wanted to wear dresses. I sometimes feel like in books or TV shows, it's one extreme or the other. I feel like you rarely see the middle ground where someone's sexuality isn't in question, just their desires. This was simply a very well done graphic novel that I urge anyone to read. The art is also flawless. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYgCPaCuiSG7H_XslS_4iY6iWXz9PsIJ_kleChMDOF2IfTsNcUYPyoe0uzAwqO7wvcuoz1UxyXgJaq1VuyxoUIOio6GHIKz_CqsVNKOPFYzDR_qkt4Yealar9ZDgbJbqkS5bq6nNdk6c/s2048/2021-01-31-020539501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYgCPaCuiSG7H_XslS_4iY6iWXz9PsIJ_kleChMDOF2IfTsNcUYPyoe0uzAwqO7wvcuoz1UxyXgJaq1VuyxoUIOio6GHIKz_CqsVNKOPFYzDR_qkt4Yealar9ZDgbJbqkS5bq6nNdk6c/w640-h640/2021-01-31-020539501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Eat, Pray, Love<br /><i>Elizabeth Gilbert</i></h3><p>Elizabeth Gilbert was in an unhappy marriage when she decided to call it quits and travel. (Self love at it's finest...?) Off to Italy, India, and Bali she went with only a small case and an advance for a book that she aimed to write throughout her travels. In Italy she fell in love with food, language, and herself. In India she found her Zen, peace, and love of life. In Bali she learnt to find spirituality. Okay, this is a semi controversial book nowadays, right? A lot of people class it as "white woman with money who is unhappy", and I fully get that. Elizabeth Gilbert is insanely privileged. But I still enjoyed this book. Learning about the different cultures and people was interesting. However, I can't in good conscience give this book a higher rating than 2.5 stars. This has not aged well, at all. There are so many slurs, questionable word choices, and iffy descriptions in here. I get that it was published 15 years ago, but jeez. I also found that some of her stories were very black/white. She never seemed to own up to any mistakes that she did. Meh. Overall, I'm glad I read this as it's on so many lists, but if you're searching for a woman's journey of self love, pick up <i>Wild by Cheryl Strayed</i>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmnp327cTNR2a7UOmj_n9CjDSCXDRRsaYra8xgikx9Jc980ymb42dU0iQEoUrVFnguMlDXnawKOLorddY0UWVVl-gYTG_B_4yeV8JK2FoOPiJVVn_CjfLOIKhcf1wsVt7OeiiXw6dTPk/s1446/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.27.46.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1446" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmnp327cTNR2a7UOmj_n9CjDSCXDRRsaYra8xgikx9Jc980ymb42dU0iQEoUrVFnguMlDXnawKOLorddY0UWVVl-gYTG_B_4yeV8JK2FoOPiJVVn_CjfLOIKhcf1wsVt7OeiiXw6dTPk/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.27.46.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness<br /><i>Austin Channing Brown</i></h3><p>This is a non-fiction look at the prejudices that a black woman faces in school, life, and business. Austin Channing Brown's parents gave her a white man's name in a bid to help her in life, and it works, right up until she turns up for an interview and is met with questioning stares at the fact that she's not only black, but also a woman. This is just one of the hundreds of things she, and so many others, have to face on a daily bases. This was a difficult book to listen to but entirely worthwhile. As a white woman I want to learn what I can do to help lift others, and this opened my eyes to so many things that I might overlook. It's hard to hear someone's pain, look at yourself, and realize that you aren't doing enough. Austin Channing Brown's strength radiates in her words and it's beautiful. I wanted a little more from this as I mistakenly thought it was part memoir, but I'm still thankful that I picked it up. I recommend the audiobook because.. goosebumps. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UZq-KBIbZndGFhaJHptcGgCKnB-aJtUi8Mx_IPV5RS76k1jXocuxw_ObfQV0cvoaeAsZr5OrxFNi6GDuPbOcWAXdSRNgtbZv-48uOOrk83HwWMr6U9hLZ6rU7b9RUFnG5jFew4rou2Y/s1465/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52+%25281%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1465" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UZq-KBIbZndGFhaJHptcGgCKnB-aJtUi8Mx_IPV5RS76k1jXocuxw_ObfQV0cvoaeAsZr5OrxFNi6GDuPbOcWAXdSRNgtbZv-48uOOrk83HwWMr6U9hLZ6rU7b9RUFnG5jFew4rou2Y/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.11.52+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Limelight <br /><i>Amy Poeppel </i></h3><p>Allison Brinkley has just moved her entire family to the dazzling lights of New York city. Her husband already has a job lined up, but Allison is struggling to find something that fits her. Enter in Carter Reid - a beloved popstar who has just been cast in a Broadway play who offers Allison an amazing opportunity to work within the inner circle of the rich and famous. Before seeing this at a library sale, I'd never heard of the book or the author but was drawn to it solely because of the <i>Valley of the Dolls</i> style cover. Yup, I'm that easily swayed into buying a book. <i>Limelight</i> gave me exactly what I was hoping for - a fun female protagonist, a bratty teenage popstar who just needs a mothering figure, and a commentary on "never being too old for a fresh start." In so many ways this book resembled the likes of early Taylor Jenkins Reid, Liane Moriarty, and Jojo Moyes. I feel like Limelight is the type of book that you'll already know whether you're going to enjoy simply by reading the premise. One thing I did really appreciate was the never wavering relationship between Allison and her husband. This story could've easily fallen down a cheating trope or divorce, but didn't. They had a healthy relationship which can be unheard of in Women's fiction. Fun, easy to read, and a great palate cleanser.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rcCivl3iHZXSfd_3Cn7_65g3hzu7XiDeEJ8MJdlRiVGOnUhcvm4ZIw_nFt0AKp9CT2X-r3qDbmUYkEli1kGsOJOREruoQpGIzmoymdfPFNJ4xtNwlOKteC2WqdLDZDA_fAReB_2nDHg/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.18.09.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rcCivl3iHZXSfd_3Cn7_65g3hzu7XiDeEJ8MJdlRiVGOnUhcvm4ZIw_nFt0AKp9CT2X-r3qDbmUYkEli1kGsOJOREruoQpGIzmoymdfPFNJ4xtNwlOKteC2WqdLDZDA_fAReB_2nDHg/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-02-01+at+14.18.09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shanghai Girls<br /><i>Lisa See</i></h3><p>Pearl and May are sisters, living carefree lives in Shanghai, the Paris of Asia. But when Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, they set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. This book spans many years, from 1937 to the late 50's, and it's more of a look on the trails and obstacles Chinese immigrants had to face even in "the land of the free". I've never been more conflicted about a book. I wanted to really love this as I hadn't yet read a historical fiction from this narrative and a sisterly duo is one of my favourite things in books. However, this was a torturous read. And I mean that literally. There's a graphic rape scene in this that made me want to put the book down altogether as I felt physically sick. It didn't shy away from any brutality that May and Pearl faced and I don't know whether I needed that much pain in this story. May was an insufferable character that I ached to shake, both her and Joy (a character that comes later in the story) ruined the overall reading experience for me. I'm a little interested in picking up the sequel <i>Dreams of Joy</i> as the first novel did end on a cliffhanger, but, dayum. I may just read a spoiler review.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">What was the best book you read this month? I'd love to know!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33PFmSzfVHqPXYQi_iYrylngZfp6iHppamShKd1nPUfvNfnF7Qph1q_Ge_1k3x5mlIUgv1TMuv89ELH61vLUkj-x40f8ToxPKd7tvjGiLpR4ecpPurSgFy8lkF-Xize9Cf7erCDxPN0w/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33PFmSzfVHqPXYQi_iYrylngZfp6iHppamShKd1nPUfvNfnF7Qph1q_Ge_1k3x5mlIUgv1TMuv89ELH61vLUkj-x40f8ToxPKd7tvjGiLpR4ecpPurSgFy8lkF-Xize9Cf7erCDxPN0w/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-31644433972296996802021-01-26T09:00:00.001-08:002021-01-26T09:00:04.466-08:00Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher | Book Review [spoiler free]<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXkgBv1cYAQtvtJYcc1Fqi_vkYSLH7U5jFNWm6iko_foxSkamU9QlkPUe1jOx8103XqJR78_ef1tojEDn2-TTbbJV28kcnmnm2xVl_0_ZIZOEa0QnyyFB-SLjFymEErSlE2d-RBAYwTU/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.13.53.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXkgBv1cYAQtvtJYcc1Fqi_vkYSLH7U5jFNWm6iko_foxSkamU9QlkPUe1jOx8103XqJR78_ef1tojEDn2-TTbbJV28kcnmnm2xVl_0_ZIZOEa0QnyyFB-SLjFymEErSlE2d-RBAYwTU/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.13.53.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher is a time travelling adventure novel with the bond between a mother and daughter at heart. Faye is a thirty-eight-year-old woman who is happily married with two beautiful daughters. Her life ought to be perfect. Only her life is dominated by the loss of her mother when she was seven-years-old. She aches to have her mum's advice, to hear her voice, to see her smiling face. One day after some decluttering, Faye's husband brings down a spacehopper box - the very one that Faye remembers playing in as a child. Overwhelmed by nostalgia, she feels a strange kind of connection to the cardboard. After a broken bulb leads her to standing inside of the four cardboard walls, she's suddenly transported back in time to 1977 where her mother is still alive. Torn between the past and the future, Faye has to navigate grief, expectation, and unravel the mystery that seems to surround her mothers death. </p><p><br /></p><p>I received this through Net Galley as an ARC and honestly adored it. I didn't know what to expect from <i>Faye, Faraway </i>as not only is it a debut by the author but the premise could've easily flopped. I saw on one site that it was marketed as a mix between <i>Gilmore Girls </i>and <i>The Time Travelers Wife </i>which really don't have anything in common. But it read beautifully. It was such a heartfelt story told through writing that was seamless. Faye as a protagonist was likeable and her problems truly felt like problems, which isn't always something easily accomplished when writing about a middleclass white woman who has the perfect family. </p><p><br /></p><p>The mother/daughter dynamics were written very realistically. I'm very close to my mother, so I always magnate towards books that have this as a central topic. I liked that Faye's expectations and memory of her mother were skewed by that daughtery love that so many of us are familiar with. It's so easy to see a parent through rose-tinted glasses. I liked learning about Faye's mother with her, and how different she actually was to the memories.</p><p><br /></p><p>As with any book or entertainment that discusses time travel, this had the butterfly effect as a crucial storyline. I find this interesting, so although it didn't really bring anything new to the table to this conversation, it was fun reading about the characters discussing it. I'm glad the author brought up the consequences of changing time as she could've so easily skirted over it given that this book is more contemporary than fantasy. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM59bvebCMdoGcDBh1D4aoJVkpqx1r1UhQ0-xisOvFy5nxT92rKEl3squsOzYFiS5T8h8QSTQFLisMI3mFNNdzMdjcS4dK0Tu8VqBVnF-HEsbQbTR54ZVE9AxXaNV-RJJQs262pXr5NE/s1411/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.14.12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1411" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM59bvebCMdoGcDBh1D4aoJVkpqx1r1UhQ0-xisOvFy5nxT92rKEl3squsOzYFiS5T8h8QSTQFLisMI3mFNNdzMdjcS4dK0Tu8VqBVnF-HEsbQbTR54ZVE9AxXaNV-RJJQs262pXr5NE/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.14.12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The one thing that surprised me was how heavily this book spoke about faith. I'm personally not a huge believer in the all mighty but can respect when someone is. However, I don't necessarily want to read about it in my fiction. I think Helen Fisher did a wonderful job at opening up a discussion on religion without ever seeming preachy, allowing it to take over the plot, or fully changing the main characters beliefs to make a "statement". It was handled with the utmost care, which I appreciate. </p><p><br /></p><p>Now for the problem.. Faye, Faraway wasn't diverse in the slightest. For a book that's being released in 2021, that's a foresight that can't be overlooked. There was a pretty huge list of characters in this book and, from my memory, not one wasn't white or straight. For that reason alone I had to knock one star from the rating. I hope Helen Fisher does anything to rectify this if she publishes another novel. (Please, please, please, correct me if I'm wrong as my memory isn't the best and I'm going solely from that and my reading notes here.)</p><p><br /></p><p>All in all, this was a well rounded story that I devoured quickly. The writing reminded me of early <i>Kristin Hannah</i> and <i>Liane Moriarty</i>. It was easy to read while still keeping my interest. For a debut, I'm impressed. Again, thank you to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this before it's release date. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmfu5DNzu7Nw40HimGOR8YF8y1KnVHShvQqhnEvng3DU4Unxdo5MEuCRf_BaO_3HmK7J92PDJQy97wyrTTCcTSxLYN2eIERq8UAcCuemau_hHC5a2ZFiWA3620rV84CYehTy48I-nj-Y/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmfu5DNzu7Nw40HimGOR8YF8y1KnVHShvQqhnEvng3DU4Unxdo5MEuCRf_BaO_3HmK7J92PDJQy97wyrTTCcTSxLYN2eIERq8UAcCuemau_hHC5a2ZFiWA3620rV84CYehTy48I-nj-Y/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-31051068536691023932021-01-24T10:30:00.044-08:002021-01-24T16:03:11.944-08:00Books I Want To Reread in 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kAPd0_o7gH2VgnkW58LmTBmrAXtMnJ8UjXUVMraFkOL6fWtwFZNS5kVmKl9HlzbjEjEITAgxvW3xAzgiEKlCjyvrYBphwf0vkles2OPhXW0-Y8k5xLY8wfLrT20wGilpEcz6lN4rL0g/s2048/20210117_170019_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kAPd0_o7gH2VgnkW58LmTBmrAXtMnJ8UjXUVMraFkOL6fWtwFZNS5kVmKl9HlzbjEjEITAgxvW3xAzgiEKlCjyvrYBphwf0vkles2OPhXW0-Y8k5xLY8wfLrT20wGilpEcz6lN4rL0g/w640-h640/20210117_170019_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I'm going to confess something embarrassing, most of the books on my 'favourites' shelf have only been read once. As a teenager, I was an avid rereader. I vividly remember finishing Shadow Kissed and instantly restarting the same book. (I didn't get out the house much) But as I've gotten older and my TBR list has become more hefty, I have a silly sense of guilt when I debate whether to reread something. It feels like a waste of time, but.. errr.. hello? Reading is meant to be fun! In 2021 I'm making a personal goal to reread some books that have been calling out to be for awhile now. Will they still be my favourites? Who knows! There's only one way to find out..</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWwv8J_TPUOfmf9nS4U9Q7mHkNBLjtTThLx57-vseQNkKZwQ9gaR9tns6pRKADVGfO7dvIHB6iqoYMXgp3XWL5DKO1Ll6_3Bg8pLbFOG1jZCFEXuUtKO4DOwaaVTZChfOSXcwHU6bveI/s2048/2021-01-17-045818880.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWwv8J_TPUOfmf9nS4U9Q7mHkNBLjtTThLx57-vseQNkKZwQ9gaR9tns6pRKADVGfO7dvIHB6iqoYMXgp3XWL5DKO1Ll6_3Bg8pLbFOG1jZCFEXuUtKO4DOwaaVTZChfOSXcwHU6bveI/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045818880.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Bell Jar<br /><i>Sylvia Plath</i></h3><p>This is a 'descent into madness' story revolving around a young woman in the 60's. It's semi biographical with Plath taking heavy inspiration from her own experiences with mental health. There's something about Sylvia Plath's writing that speaks to my heart. It's dark, twisty, but painfully honest. I find myself in her words, which may be a truly awful thing to admit but, yes. This was her only novel ever released and I remember feeling so touched throughout it. It felt like a weighted hand over my heart and I'm both looking forward to giving it a reread and feeling truly darkened by the prospect of reading such a tragic book again.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-66B9zXFwYqLdEA3guxwKJ_QfWvgg9RBQT-YmDegENjs8xEjLiSGmcxDbv3uj66jNg90hCqF-MsLwXHA8YQKndktgR1YR_dqWYITlyTlU6g6pizPblzQux7XG_RHviLKlxEkrNs4gZOI/s2048/2021-01-17-045833752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-66B9zXFwYqLdEA3guxwKJ_QfWvgg9RBQT-YmDegENjs8xEjLiSGmcxDbv3uj66jNg90hCqF-MsLwXHA8YQKndktgR1YR_dqWYITlyTlU6g6pizPblzQux7XG_RHviLKlxEkrNs4gZOI/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045833752.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Everything I Never Told You<br /><i>Celeste Ng</i></h3><p>After a young girl is found dead in a lake, the question arises as to whether she died of suicide. Told through two timelines, we read about the grief the family is experiencing from the loss and we go back to the events that led them to it. This was a truly beautiful book that shattered my heart and clumsily put it back together. Celeste Ng has such a talent for writing about family dynamics that are complicated but ring oh so true to real life. Some people much prefer her second novel <i>Little Fires Everywhere</i>, but for me, <i>Everything I Never Told You</i> is a much more harrowing story. Lydia, the main focus of the story, was a wonderfully written teenage girl who you just wanted to hug. The story is hers, and yet it's told through the other members of the family. It's a really fascinating look at how so many teenagers are almost blanketed by their families own issues. They can get lost in the pain of others. It was a different take on what could've otherwise been a regular 3 star book that focuses on mental health. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhrXEE156RaZ8d1YdmO-b3xmxSs6nm4EDCX__G8Ko6Jk0z9V8f1s45bwMhiXlTgQjbo4vOeNfqnIFh8AZu9TEv-R7zTBWrK-dvfyy1-vwpgt4FpL3SAQf6tRUCfrhKxT-_PniorIy3uk/s2048/2021-01-17-045641683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhrXEE156RaZ8d1YdmO-b3xmxSs6nm4EDCX__G8Ko6Jk0z9V8f1s45bwMhiXlTgQjbo4vOeNfqnIFh8AZu9TEv-R7zTBWrK-dvfyy1-vwpgt4FpL3SAQf6tRUCfrhKxT-_PniorIy3uk/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045641683.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo<br /><i>Taylor Jenkins Reid</i></h3><p>Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood starlet who's always been known for her messy love life - being married seven times does that to a woman. Reaching out a unknown journalist, Evelyn Hugo agrees to a "tell all". Will the world finally learn who her actual true love was? This is a book community darling. Everyone has read it and 99.8% of people love it. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favourite authors and this is an epic novel with a great cast of characters, a compelling story, and is very worthy of a reread. I may go with the audiobook to switch it up, have you listened to this? Would you recommend?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk21g2RCTDqoSZgo5WHZjgrwilKQIUMS8tsW0NNHNtYIEPmwatZCm3hvsrpCWDCZOA1DLoeeZv0eqz_f7pLs-zVQ-DaCwRKYAlPaFORviJOvk_I9zEzqoEfebzFf5lgodASV7qOdu36w/s2048/2021-01-17-045710353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk21g2RCTDqoSZgo5WHZjgrwilKQIUMS8tsW0NNHNtYIEPmwatZCm3hvsrpCWDCZOA1DLoeeZv0eqz_f7pLs-zVQ-DaCwRKYAlPaFORviJOvk_I9zEzqoEfebzFf5lgodASV7qOdu36w/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045710353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower<br /><i>Stephen Chbosky</i></h3><p>Is anyone surprised that this coming-of-age novel is on this list? I tend to reread this book at least once a year. Charlie's story touches my soul in a way that no other book does. It helped me at a time where I really needed to not feel alone about the state of my mental stability. I recently bought the anniversary addition that has added a new letter at the end, so I'm eagerly anticipating this reread. I can't wait to cry all the tears. If you didn't already know, this book is told through a series of letters where Charlie, the protagonists, works through his trauma of losing his Auntie. In high school he meets a ragtag group of friends who welcome him with open arms. It's about identity, love, depression, abuse, and growth as a teenager. Truly wonderful.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKFyDWjRZ3lgzFLAO6g6SScnJ3s33Omyfe4TOXOuz1LjaUQU1MfJawh6NFpam_8WZCqIyA-WZTKPNWDDt_LDldwZreM24yH2eG46GKu5xP3WUN3wJSFYNPhRu-xIa9tgOQmlzrxvDEsg/s2048/2021-01-17-045849119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKFyDWjRZ3lgzFLAO6g6SScnJ3s33Omyfe4TOXOuz1LjaUQU1MfJawh6NFpam_8WZCqIyA-WZTKPNWDDt_LDldwZreM24yH2eG46GKu5xP3WUN3wJSFYNPhRu-xIa9tgOQmlzrxvDEsg/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045849119.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Me Before You<br /><i>Jojo Moyes</i></h3><p>Louisa Clark is struggling to find her way as a 20-something girl who still lives at home. When she gets hired to take care of Will, a man who is confined to a motorized wheelchair after a car accident. Together they form a friendship that pushes both to step outside of their comfort-zones. This book got a lot of backlash because of it's disability rep, which I fully understand. I solely enjoyed it because of Lou's character. She inspired me at a time where my life was drastically changing and I needed some inspiration. For that reason, I want to give it a reread to see if it still holds up as a favourite. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6DvgUDL9cRbEyQhjy2Xegt_IbLCULlU9c3laqj4oKtc8NjWf5uYZ-AfYcubATBVx2duPrp_6wXl4j1Slszk9-qGJqdqfMm02xIxaC1n_-LjGbxvOzRNHO0l-wJakfP-RlU_SqMALYy0/s2048/2021-01-17-045701359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6DvgUDL9cRbEyQhjy2Xegt_IbLCULlU9c3laqj4oKtc8NjWf5uYZ-AfYcubATBVx2duPrp_6wXl4j1Slszk9-qGJqdqfMm02xIxaC1n_-LjGbxvOzRNHO0l-wJakfP-RlU_SqMALYy0/w640-h480/2021-01-17-045701359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Love Letters to the Dead<br /><i>Ava Dellaira </i></h3><p>Laurel is a teenage girl who is struggling with the death of her sister. An assignment in class starts a chain of letters that she obsessively writes to various famous people. This is a complete risk as a reread. I first read this when I was around 13-years-old and was seeking something similar to <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>. I remember being impressed with the writing and finding the inside not matching the outside as it read more adult than I was expecting. Was 13-year-old me smart enough to know that? Probably not, but there's only one way to find out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_WFoNdsOAZQ1-VBapY8EIo6kg7G3Fo_c9dVmwuWP0MMkdUdZeVkA_Voz3jO0pL6xZoVU1geNcVQ2m6FBNDNiyYrNlPKp65qKSL7yhCGd6y28NAbDncHzzilD7NHps0cnAZt8LiqHHIk/s2048/2021-01-17-045543171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_WFoNdsOAZQ1-VBapY8EIo6kg7G3Fo_c9dVmwuWP0MMkdUdZeVkA_Voz3jO0pL6xZoVU1geNcVQ2m6FBNDNiyYrNlPKp65qKSL7yhCGd6y28NAbDncHzzilD7NHps0cnAZt8LiqHHIk/w640-h640/2021-01-17-045543171.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Are there any books that you're hoping to reread this year? Let me know! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbEvNrD5ojnDcAjhl6XPHPEc8rNqQBdNR0vlvQSllRWBR7oksX0IAn-TA7rF8gJGDVzVDUS0hB_tJsZV7hv2-347AeO672FMh9NZptwr76E_5Y3OmquC2067vCPECNgtjTDN8qgIMoCQ/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbEvNrD5ojnDcAjhl6XPHPEc8rNqQBdNR0vlvQSllRWBR7oksX0IAn-TA7rF8gJGDVzVDUS0hB_tJsZV7hv2-347AeO672FMh9NZptwr76E_5Y3OmquC2067vCPECNgtjTDN8qgIMoCQ/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-51876232677546540572021-01-22T11:00:00.001-08:002021-01-22T11:00:06.119-08:007 Items Of Clothing You Need To Remove From Your Closet Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnOh7uR2RvWDgk81Zzmr5r1T2T9a77PzxrklHKycF95_IPCuPcigV_MKRDgN0q_rZKliomjo0uLoBqf6SviTLvMN0eJXdwY-K9hFCuMW-BoZJSCxwq0T7uJs792Syu3mOJfylaSsGr9s/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.13.53+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnOh7uR2RvWDgk81Zzmr5r1T2T9a77PzxrklHKycF95_IPCuPcigV_MKRDgN0q_rZKliomjo0uLoBqf6SviTLvMN0eJXdwY-K9hFCuMW-BoZJSCxwq0T7uJs792Syu3mOJfylaSsGr9s/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-17+at+16.13.53+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Having a good closet clear-out can be the ultimate form of destressing. I am forever guilty of letting my wardrobe get out of control - we're talking clothes piled on the hamper, hangers all crazy, nothing in order - and it really puts my brain in a slump when getting read. In this post I'm going to be giving you 7 "clothing prompts" that I guarantee you can declutter right now. Clothes are beautiful and it's a true blessing to be able to have a full closet, but sometimes they can be the cause of some mental instability. I've said it before and I'll say it again.. sometimes your relationship with clothes can be like an actual unhealthy relationship. I sometimes purposefully trigger myself by trying on clothes that I wore as a literal teenager just to make myself feel awful about my eating habits/exercise routine. It's insanity. As people, we need to learn to let go of the things in our lives that repeatedly bring us unhappiness. I digress, get to your closet and let's do this together.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Those jeans that haven't properly fit for years (if ever). </b>Whether that's because of them being too small, too big, they are uncomfortable when you sit, or maybe you simply hate the way they make your butt or legs look. It's not worth it. Donate them to a thrift store or a charity shop. Even if they do one day fit, it's not worth the years that you will look at them in your closet and feel crap.</li><li><b>The dress that you used to wear when you were younger so still hold onto despite it not being your style anymore, the fit no longer works, or it's looking a little tatty. </b>Getting rid of the clothing item won't make the memories disappear. </li><li><b>The "special occasion" piece that you hold onto despite knowing that you wouldn't want to rewear it for a similar event. </b>I've been guilty of holding onto a dress that I bought for a wedding or party, telling myself that I would reuse it but knowing in my heart that I'd want to purchase something new as I rarely have the opportunity to buy a new swanky dress. It's okay that a dress cost you a small bomb because you don't want to add to fast fashion, even if you aren't going to rewear it. You paid to feel beautiful that day. Self love, people. </li><li><b>The broken piece of clothing that you always say you'll get fixed or tailored but it's still been sitting in your closet for ages.</b> If you didn't go ahead and do the alterations straight away, you don't like the piece enough to warrant keeping it. Make a pledge to yourself to get it fixed within the month, if it remains untouched, bye-bye. </li><li><b>That item of clothing that fits but makes you feel horrendous whenever you put it on.</b> The stomach drop feeling that comes from putting something on and looking in the mirror only to hate your body is NOT worth it. Save your future self from heartbreak and donate, donate, donate.</li><li><b>That pair of shoes that you bought because they're beautiful but they either rub you, you can't walk in them, or they are the wrong fit. </b>How often do you actually pull them out to admire their beauty? Shoes take up so many space if you're limited with room, it's not worth it!</li><li><b>That item of clothing that you always debate getting rid of every time you do a closet clear-out.</b> Trust your instincts! I go back-and-forth so many times with various pieces because I'm an indecisive lady. But know in your heart that if you've debated it before, you'll debate it again. </li></ol><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIN4KqIQs96Hg8LckZw7iDu61DRqAqlLfo_e1P8kO3EwHj0k4r7RYObYWihRYhsWMwy0ncZGgzsEdUDetF2Itj-2GUFGFRaTnSQ0TrXd8bXoD5Eq7_UUtHGJbOyaEJXKL9OiEkojju5U/s2048/pexels-evg-culture-1148957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIN4KqIQs96Hg8LckZw7iDu61DRqAqlLfo_e1P8kO3EwHj0k4r7RYObYWihRYhsWMwy0ncZGgzsEdUDetF2Itj-2GUFGFRaTnSQ0TrXd8bXoD5Eq7_UUtHGJbOyaEJXKL9OiEkojju5U/w426-h640/pexels-evg-culture-1148957.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">If this at all helped you to let go of a piece of clothing, tell me! I'd love to know. You're beautiful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MgISVVcpxJ5ObjyEiBgOgFU2rtKHt6nTYF1qN9fz8fMyHgxY23FjBqwKMWxFrjbZjfDFkRgopUHjPas6dBleRcE4c10B61om3N4ZsmIkn51h7uG9REA_2yOeFLbpKj3BKzWNDIiCbHs/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MgISVVcpxJ5ObjyEiBgOgFU2rtKHt6nTYF1qN9fz8fMyHgxY23FjBqwKMWxFrjbZjfDFkRgopUHjPas6dBleRcE4c10B61om3N4ZsmIkn51h7uG9REA_2yOeFLbpKj3BKzWNDIiCbHs/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-26766114558283535632021-01-17T12:53:00.004-08:002021-01-27T12:26:08.435-08:00Mid-January Book Wrap-Up <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zqRQCQsMsautgMqIYh2fvrVHbq4RhMI6kVOsg93HDidydlHbgaTU2y4NO-wUwKwMTVJ5e4RWsCElCXxFNi6amWwh5o2eGqgyboD0dius17IPF5oipqKSUsdzUlnSNHutYemXm_XJZa4/s2048/20210117_124206_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zqRQCQsMsautgMqIYh2fvrVHbq4RhMI6kVOsg93HDidydlHbgaTU2y4NO-wUwKwMTVJ5e4RWsCElCXxFNi6amWwh5o2eGqgyboD0dius17IPF5oipqKSUsdzUlnSNHutYemXm_XJZa4/w640-h640/20210117_124206_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I recently took to <a href="http://twitter.com/rootingbranches">Twitter</a> to ask whether readers prefer a hefty end-of-the-month wrap-up with way too many books, or to split into two posts that each have 5-10 reviews. The latter won by a landslide, so here we are! It's officially mid-January and I've already read 11 books. I'm on a roll. Here are just some of the books I've read thus far. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU411OGCVvTHRGr0azDbxcJnEvTZGW16Bllg_eKPAcQTRzq6RfeRRuXitZyN1wCgCHiAXLjBphyphenhyphenIdMqwewNyV0S5vifZtXS8EFJ_ctD-K7qdXqNfDfX9WuAKETwC2FoBcGdcYJ_B1vrN4/s2048/2021-01-03-025023981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU411OGCVvTHRGr0azDbxcJnEvTZGW16Bllg_eKPAcQTRzq6RfeRRuXitZyN1wCgCHiAXLjBphyphenhyphenIdMqwewNyV0S5vifZtXS8EFJ_ctD-K7qdXqNfDfX9WuAKETwC2FoBcGdcYJ_B1vrN4/w640-h640/2021-01-03-025023981.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Punching The Air<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam</i></span></h3><p>Amal is a 16-year-old Black teen who is wrongly incarcerated for throwing a punch towards a white boy. While in prison, he explores his love for art, poetry, and meets other black men who have faced similar injustices in the world. This is a brutal book to read (or listen to), the verse style of writing may make it seem beautiful but it's honestly gut-wrenching. The truth behind the injustice that Amal experiences broke my heart. Amal was a beautifully layered character, I felt his pain and ached to see the art he was creating. This is a phenomenally done coming-of-age novel that is a necessary read for the book community, especially now. I hope to reread this book one day and be gratified that our world has changed so drastically. What's your favourite coming-of-age novel?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudqgbYbNCb1DgSkA_y-jrausM-PrY14U1bZjm8mxHSKOrKIXPWSNNx1PgPt0FtUy-jf2jBZIaXjQg3cyuE8bSxRfTVenh1s_nb76e_S8-1EuYd5Rl-fd4XE2D72RvyUXFz96n0KFJZkI/s2048/2021-01-04-125038690.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudqgbYbNCb1DgSkA_y-jrausM-PrY14U1bZjm8mxHSKOrKIXPWSNNx1PgPt0FtUy-jf2jBZIaXjQg3cyuE8bSxRfTVenh1s_nb76e_S8-1EuYd5Rl-fd4XE2D72RvyUXFz96n0KFJZkI/w640-h640/2021-01-04-125038690.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">In an Absent Dream (<i>Wayward Children #4</i>)<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Seanan McGuire </i></span></h3><p>Lundy is a young girl who feels alone in life. There appears her door. Venturing into the magical world that's founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she finally feels like she's found her place. But everything comes at a cost in the Goblin Market, which Lundy soon learns. This was a reread for me as I'm participating in the Buzzword reading challenge. (The prompt for January was to read a book with "dream" in the title), and it holds up as my favourite of the <i>Wayward Children </i>series. It's incredibly fun with a great friendship taking center stage. Seanan McGuire has a knack for building these quirky worlds but I think this this fourth installment from the series is the most vivid. We have a goblin market, fair trade as currency, and a beautiful friendship between two girls. Adore! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO04ylO2VJGyevQUkUBDH4eqthpJgL-AWgTzHeapZvwSzWoL3_LoyiR0mbt6LSZkIXe_o8lsLZz5f7ngiLN2bd7KlhJOtmFyvxQAfgCnkX_V5ftbB1EKI3ukEh-z8ix8habUSUcaOdjQY/s2048/2021-01-04-125101647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO04ylO2VJGyevQUkUBDH4eqthpJgL-AWgTzHeapZvwSzWoL3_LoyiR0mbt6LSZkIXe_o8lsLZz5f7ngiLN2bd7KlhJOtmFyvxQAfgCnkX_V5ftbB1EKI3ukEh-z8ix8habUSUcaOdjQY/w640-h640/2021-01-04-125101647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Love Story <br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Erich Segal </i></span></h3><p>Oliver and Jenny are from two different paths of life. He is the popular Jock who comes from a rich family, and she, the wisecracking beauty that is underappreciated at their school, comes from nothing. When they form a romantic entanglement, it causes quite the stir. But at what cost? We've all read stories like this before. It's the classic popular/nerd trope that is more often seen in movies than books. <i>Love story </i>was written in the 1970's, and was initially a screenplay that Erich Segal then adapted into a book to help hype up the forthcoming movie. You can tell. This was a mere blimp of a novel, coming in at just over 100 pages. In many ways it reminded me of a Nicholas Sparks novel, where you read it already picturing the movie and not necessarily the book. This felt like an afterthought, which is essentially is. I'm glad I read it, as I can now watch the movie without that bookworm guilt. But I don't feel like it was necessary. For the time, I imagine this was a very original story, but it just doesn't hold up well.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11qnYRw56SgZjWhkuMlID4w2mhn9alK6r-uGIX2cbTrvMB81c9AXFOrGNjWtEAalj_crjzXcGy9hp1HAVtataFcB8p4q4r4iBaIfZmuQARBcx3RI1YCcyWzLbZ0tfvPQrgeSBM9ND_zk/s2048/2021-01-04-124845730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11qnYRw56SgZjWhkuMlID4w2mhn9alK6r-uGIX2cbTrvMB81c9AXFOrGNjWtEAalj_crjzXcGy9hp1HAVtataFcB8p4q4r4iBaIfZmuQARBcx3RI1YCcyWzLbZ0tfvPQrgeSBM9ND_zk/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124845730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness<br /><i style="font-weight: normal;">Lori Schiller, Amanda Bennett</i></h3><p>In her early 20's, Lori Schiller became suicidal and was plagued by terrifying voices in her head. She had undiagnosed schizophrenia. This is her memoir where she recounts the many times she was pulled into the world of psychiatric hospitals, drugs, therapy, and countless relapses. For the time, no one really knew of schizophrenia so it was truly difficult to read about Lori's experiences with getting a diagnosis. She had various doctors who just wanted to drug her up, lock her in a room, and forget about her. Reading something like this in the 2020's when we have come so far with our take on mental health was a journey. I do think the novel dragged on for a little too long, some of the sections could've been summarized in a paragraph. My only other problem was the blatant fat shaming that continuously happened throughout this book. I fully understand that it was meant to be a commentary on weight gain while on medication, but it felt very black&white. It continuously mentions Lori's height vs weight and it made me feel rather crap about my own body, despite not having a similar weight mass to her. I just want to mention that as if you're currently struggling with body image, I wouldn't recommend you pick this book up. Alas, all in all, this was really interesting and if you have any interest in learning more about illnesses that aren't often discussed in media, I recommend this. I especially liked how we have chapters from various people in Lori's life who were there during her hospitalization. It added a view point that we needed.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefrIUY-eWSaHn0X2RO3nUbM22Sx-D-jC5VeqWpps9UHLqiLNtvqbGLFWZAtBj3AChSwTGCKnosB0bZ867lsajwUpOdL6FSDtC1hKVFA7QUvv3XU4sStUxO6kFTSZtAcNGfcWDWZHycns/s2048/2021-01-04-124910949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefrIUY-eWSaHn0X2RO3nUbM22Sx-D-jC5VeqWpps9UHLqiLNtvqbGLFWZAtBj3AChSwTGCKnosB0bZ867lsajwUpOdL6FSDtC1hKVFA7QUvv3XU4sStUxO6kFTSZtAcNGfcWDWZHycns/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124910949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Binti (Binti #1)<br /><i style="font-weight: normal;">Nnedi Okorafor</i></h3><p>Binti is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. There she meets an array of people who may be the start of a new life for her. Chaos ensures. I'm not going into the full plot as it would ruin the book as it's so short. For a sci-fi novella, this felt like an entire journey. I was worried that it would be info dumpy and confusing, but alas, I was wrong. This was incredibly fast-paced with a main character who becomes instantly likeable. It was incredible what the author managed to do with so little pages. I'm interested in continuing with the series, which I wasn't expecting. I'd recommend this to people new to the sci-fi genre.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-Z238ly0T1WlqefnqTII2Cv-Ukvhw87aeVah6zktiipmRW6PARr67dp2KuQM4lVNbsy_j6oXfGVF48NUfEd19uFeoNhV5fMwLOS_lE9c8YzwK5-6e4vW28X0r37gfB7_lZnwUvWKSkE/s2048/2021-01-04-124925906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-Z238ly0T1WlqefnqTII2Cv-Ukvhw87aeVah6zktiipmRW6PARr67dp2KuQM4lVNbsy_j6oXfGVF48NUfEd19uFeoNhV5fMwLOS_lE9c8YzwK5-6e4vW28X0r37gfB7_lZnwUvWKSkE/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124925906.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August<br /><i style="font-weight: normal;">Claire North</i></h3><p>When Harry August dies, he is reborn. His life restarts at the exact same time, to the exact same woman, in the exact same place. Nothing changes. As he ages in each life, his memory resurfaces of his past. There are other people like him who have created a "club" of sorts, and they all band together to try and better lives (their own included). But when a string of murders start happening in each timeline, they have to band together to figure out which one out of their group is responsible. I wanted to love this novel as the trope of reliving a day or life always intrigues me. But.. meh. I enjoyed Claire North's writing, it was beautiful as always. She manages to make the most simplistic of lines seem weighted with importance. I just think this book suffered from being way, way, way too long. There were many chapters that were unnecessary and made the overall story drag. I didn't particularly like any of the characters as they never felt layered - they weren't onions. This was still a fascinating story, the idea was brilliant, but the execution just lacked which lessened my enjoyment. It often seemed too heavy on the telling, rather than the showing. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl-DOriMcvL7Tme59LLieJfYZRuSX6M1wvuaqZ-oHRjsf8p4TPw7ZuoFFUS_3ToUu8okpTYK71NIt75s4VYG7Al6RszrSjmWu4hHAL5nls0nURGTD9UB_g35pwcNm9VGpfv19d4fyj1g/s2048/2021-01-17-031651594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl-DOriMcvL7Tme59LLieJfYZRuSX6M1wvuaqZ-oHRjsf8p4TPw7ZuoFFUS_3ToUu8okpTYK71NIt75s4VYG7Al6RszrSjmWu4hHAL5nls0nURGTD9UB_g35pwcNm9VGpfv19d4fyj1g/w640-h640/2021-01-17-031651594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">*Faye, Faraway <br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Helen Fisher</i></span></h3><p>Faye is a thirty-seven-year-old happily married mother of two young daughters, but she is still struggling with the childhood trauma of losing her mother at a young age. When a spacehopper box from her childhood resurfaces, the last thing she expects is to suddenly be transported back in time to 1977 where her mother is still alive. Torn between the past and the present, this is a story of the bond between a mother and daughter and how the intensity of that can tipple throughout someone's life. I adored this novel. It was everything that I was hoping it'd be. The story was incredibly heartfelt with some truly great female characters. It got a little cliché at the end, but in a <i>Kristin Hannah</i> way where it starts to feel like an early 2000's movie. The entire book read like a warm cup of tea. Definitely be on the lookout for this when it gets released later this month.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiojAFgL908Bk-dCoI5Yp9kheGY2gG_b4FTHzudLvJrHFwa6xKT0sLEnxDmW7KR6N7giSVfa-S-CQ5jAp9QRCFE1S9gEUjLAd1qS5h5mu3u4L1EP_qxEvgovX97iA3SXncBOBaQkqr_0/s2048/2021-01-17-124012366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiojAFgL908Bk-dCoI5Yp9kheGY2gG_b4FTHzudLvJrHFwa6xKT0sLEnxDmW7KR6N7giSVfa-S-CQ5jAp9QRCFE1S9gEUjLAd1qS5h5mu3u4L1EP_qxEvgovX97iA3SXncBOBaQkqr_0/w640-h640/2021-01-17-124012366.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Naoki Urasawa's Monster #1<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Naoki Urasawa</i></span></h3><p>Tenma is a promising surgorn at an elite hospital in Germany. But when he refuses to prioritise operating on the rich instead of a young boy, he loses all credibility within the hospital walls. When a serial killer starts killing and it seems connected to Tenma himself, everything gets a little crazy. Me and my husband have recently created reading bingo boards for each other to complete throughout 2021. He put this manga on mine. I've never read a traditional manga before (As I don't think<i> Chi's Sweet Home </i>counts..?), and it was fun! The plot and style of art was very gripping, I just found the overall story a little predictable. I would be interested in continuing though as for a first volume, not bad at all!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYomo0gAmobX06fn1KwOO4KuZbKz-IyU0tssA4ab2ENpeTfwAULtQegUFf5ROiniUhDM4BCu3tE1UaMqTeO3_hXOFHQpQBE_Pvxh6KHgaO0HSr0MjDt_zCIChb5COBvn_3BxrkHo3uGIM/s2048/2021-01-17-123954150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYomo0gAmobX06fn1KwOO4KuZbKz-IyU0tssA4ab2ENpeTfwAULtQegUFf5ROiniUhDM4BCu3tE1UaMqTeO3_hXOFHQpQBE_Pvxh6KHgaO0HSr0MjDt_zCIChb5COBvn_3BxrkHo3uGIM/w640-h640/2021-01-17-123954150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Mooncakes<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Wendy Xu, Suzanne Walker</i></span></h3><p>A cute graphic novel about a witch who works at her grandmother's bookshop and the adventures that happen when she falls for white wolf Tam Lang. I was expecting this to just be a fluffy read that would make me smile for 30ish minutes. However, I was really inspired with how it wove more serious topics into the fantasy. My only quim was how the plot itself sometimes dragged and it felt like the artwork was doing more.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxroOKs_juD3h01K8uOlYKU1qleVohAmPs6hFBkAYDh7h2hpdN8TetO6LVk4lG0YUSNLheugChdorEzUGwynYRMcR7huxWy2m0oIg9_0OfpL8qO6iUsiLYVTeOX2Zwx9Bd8vi7C9oNvRQ/s2048/2021-01-17-124028775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxroOKs_juD3h01K8uOlYKU1qleVohAmPs6hFBkAYDh7h2hpdN8TetO6LVk4lG0YUSNLheugChdorEzUGwynYRMcR7huxWy2m0oIg9_0OfpL8qO6iUsiLYVTeOX2Zwx9Bd8vi7C9oNvRQ/w640-h640/2021-01-17-124028775.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Any of these books interest you? Lemme know!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT6bC5PGbVEl2tXR4l4uCSNFJRwYQh6pjXZto1l8_bocPAOVgr5oyyqRjyZN708oF1v5BjPUZOX4xIhmpcJukE6QkEgLX5KoHiZ5f5udk3mhe92BprhD7nO6j6WfBlXBm4e22ig7jzww/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT6bC5PGbVEl2tXR4l4uCSNFJRwYQh6pjXZto1l8_bocPAOVgr5oyyqRjyZN708oF1v5BjPUZOX4xIhmpcJukE6QkEgLX5KoHiZ5f5udk3mhe92BprhD7nO6j6WfBlXBm4e22ig7jzww/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div><p><i>**Faye, Faraway </i>was an ARC I read through Net Galley.</p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-54129213249816931152021-01-06T14:42:00.004-08:002021-01-06T14:42:47.051-08:0021 Books I Want To Read In 2021<ol style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-f5hbVTJJEx7FWJX9MG0ecetonCkLyhI4BWiuQvy1Gq7_fa9ROv5JvA9FkfwJf2sGOH_40o6h5BzLaOdZ3yEGjQsCWJ7maLtMVOsSqbGqRvfUFn5exTx44vmb3gB88xpDRlkeUelz5k/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-06+at+14.31.24+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-f5hbVTJJEx7FWJX9MG0ecetonCkLyhI4BWiuQvy1Gq7_fa9ROv5JvA9FkfwJf2sGOH_40o6h5BzLaOdZ3yEGjQsCWJ7maLtMVOsSqbGqRvfUFn5exTx44vmb3gB88xpDRlkeUelz5k/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-06+at+14.31.24+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All bibliophiles make a similar list to this, right? I'm dreading if I'm still alive and reading in 2050 as.. that's a lot of planning. I'm not going into the synopsis of each of these books, instead I'm putting in the link to <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/">The StoryGraph</a> so you can go over and see if any of these interest you. SPEAKING OF.. I created a StoryGraph account because we all hate Amazon. <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/a9b562bd-91dd-4fcc-8c48-4f373227a691">Come add me!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wg9BrzylfGAJzJbK8VZAT_s3IuGXhvx_YUYhLmz3_BqxBdOGcpsgqQwvUfQ-erYPojU0I9-HzOQStR44Cny8CLQbfSTcCn1gAWh1NzmGq-n2bASOI6lQOMLo-s4O87z19Bnl0jU5r4I/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-05+at+14.40.45+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wg9BrzylfGAJzJbK8VZAT_s3IuGXhvx_YUYhLmz3_BqxBdOGcpsgqQwvUfQ-erYPojU0I9-HzOQStR44Cny8CLQbfSTcCn1gAWh1NzmGq-n2bASOI6lQOMLo-s4O87z19Bnl0jU5r4I/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-05+at+14.40.45+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7934e6e2-4919-4909-9699-2fcb702eb249" style="font-weight: bold;">The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.</a> This is at the top of my TBR as I know I'm going to love it. I desperately want to pick up <i>The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield</i> after Victoria over at WhatVictoriaRead raved about it, but as this one has been on my TBR longer, I'm trying to prioritize. Welp.</li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/0711355c-3f30-4fd9-b5d8-22859b8f4c9a">The Wife by Meg Wolitzer.</a></b> This will be my first <i>Meg Wolitzer</i> novel! It intrigues me as it's, well, short, but I'm interested in watching the movie.</li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ec4b8a6b-ee72-4323-94f8-edf3198886f7">The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North.</a></b> The trope of someone reliving their life over and over always intrigues me (Yes, <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f992add0-de9a-4761-acb8-8fcad2013024">The Midnight Library by Matt Haig </a>is my favourite), so this has been on my radar for a few years. However, the length always puts me off. 2021 will hopefully be the year that I stop being intimated by TOMEs.</li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/92551252-fd43-4807-a8df-c9d6435aad5b">Tangerine by Christine Mangan.</a> </b>I tried to read <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7e4b2625-7d51-4a43-ba53-692d8b43f2b9">Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier</a> last year but couldn't get into it, I hear that <i>Tangerine</i> has a similar vibe so I'm hoping that it'll be a stepping stone into my love for gothic fiction.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9d439365-7199-49b9-859f-32b989b78262"><b>There There by Tommy Orange.</b></a> I tried to read this last year through Libby as an audiobook, but it was not working for me. Since then, I found it at a used bookstore for $2. So, yay! </li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/724bf1b2-0417-44ff-9be1-e3584db4e512"><b>Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward.</b></a> This sounds like it's going to be a brutal read but with a great pay off. I feel like I've seen many booktubers haul this but not actually read it.</li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9512af6c-0eda-48b6-99d0-3c4a2db95921">The Cactus by Sarah Haywood.</a> </b>It's already known that I'm trash for a Reese's bookclub pick, despite my complicated history with either giving them 2 or 5 stars. This has the means to be a <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/d9b2a11a-dfb6-41aa-b54a-520a171286c4">Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine</a> for me, so fingers crossed.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/8451e3b3-9ad4-41f1-b70e-d0327e2fb5e3"><b>Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.</b></a> This has a similar plot to <i>The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August</i>, only far more daunting because of it's intense size. May be the scariest book on this plot.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e87a5b11-ec9c-43b3-8206-842cfc6506d4"><b>The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison.</b></a> Have you ever wanted to read a book that you know is going to be terrible, but maybe fun terrible? Yup. This is that for me. I feel like it's going to be fast-paced, over-the-top, ridiculous thriller that will keep me invested. </li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/705f5286-f90f-479a-8775-7ffa9a16f952"><b>The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett.</b></a> Breaking my own rules by including a non-fiction on this list? Yes. As I've mentioned before, me and my husband have a tradition of buying a new book to kick off the new year with. However, after spending far too long in Barnes & Noble without finding anything, I instead decided to instead read a book that I bought last year. </li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/af7a93d1-7eff-43da-829e-02266a18062d"><b>Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal.</b></a> Another Reese pick? Yes, but this plot would interest me no matter what. It seems a little like a fictional take on <a href="Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books Azar Nafisi">Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi</a>, which is also on my TBR. (So many books, too little time.)</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1889e9c5-7af8-483a-ac86-b6a9a7ad04d9"><b>Verity by Colleen Hoover.</b></a> I read two Colleen Hoover novels last year and enjoyed myself immensely. I've been recommend <i>Verity</i> as my next book by the author, so here we are.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/0d2fe220-934b-46e2-af00-365322167461"><b>Often I Am Happy by Jens Christian Grøndahl.</b></a> I'm making an effort to read shorter books this year, so this fits the bill perfectly. It also sounds very interesting. </li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/479f4a40-0e76-41e6-af8e-94a3c5c674ee"><b>The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie.</b></a> Time to shame myself.. I picked this up because I liked the cover. I didn't even read the synopsis. I rarely do that, but yes, shame on me. So I have to read this to soothe my brain and just hope that I will enjoy it enough to warrant keeping it on my shelf. </li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dcea0f38-988b-4f50-a2c3-e7a7b6a31886">Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healy.</a> </b>The premise of this vaguely reminds of <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/2c814962-eb30-4610-acea-cfd0edb0c57c">A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman</a>, which makes it very appealing to me. </li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/21633fae-e049-4e17-879b-cc92240294ef"><b>Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.</b></a> The only true classic that makes it on this list. I've never read any Virginia Woolf, so this will be my introduction into her writing.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f3cbd7b2-2d44-4fb8-9433-66688678b58f"><b>Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.</b></a> This is a huge risk as I truly haven't seen anyone else talk about it. I solely picked it up from a library sale because the cover was gorgeous. I enjoy historical fiction that focuses on females who were ahead of their time, so as a concept the synopsis of this should be right up my street.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1b4147b3-03ec-4fcf-9d2d-f61e8ef8d0f6"><b>One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.</b></a> This has sat on my shelves for a few years now, but it was only reading <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ae7a7759-f0bc-42a3-9041-6a1288203dfc">Anxious People by Fredrik Backman</a> last year that bumped it up my TBR list. I'm dubious as to whether it'll be similar, but I crave more of the same so I'm going into this with high hopes.</li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/3467cebe-a0b6-4dd1-961f-ed457b188bda">The Shining Girls by Lauren Beunes.</a> </b>After a spell of reading some really bad thrillers in 2020, I fell out of love with the genre. I'm hoping this very original take on a slasher thriller will revive the joy I used to find from the genre. Time hopping serial killer? Final girl who wants revenge? Yes, please.</li><li><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/3f5be8a8-d4b3-4699-9d1f-d3f67abeed43"><b>Still Alice by Lisa Genova.</b></a> I can't put my finger on why this book intrigues me so much, but it's been on my active TBR for literal years now so it's about time that I finally pick it up. </li><li><b><a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/efdf4ae1-f5ad-4466-afa0-78bd8085f9de">Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells</a>. </b>I'm trying to tackle the hella daunting Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge and this is the one that's next on my priority list. This modern classic will either become a favourite, or it will not have aged well and I'll end up cringing my way through it. Yup.</li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmqtV8WLE-5OBKRQvzq6HH4IEfD9TbChPhAWZzVtNamEg6LtyXFTgUxhWmmEtz5qHRe00KzKeZXvqPuiapGJQLkcrd-R4Wb-dMtSBFtKm7MmF9Umwmz6T_vJSDYM41GosjGuPS8y948Y/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-06+at+14.31.41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmqtV8WLE-5OBKRQvzq6HH4IEfD9TbChPhAWZzVtNamEg6LtyXFTgUxhWmmEtz5qHRe00KzKeZXvqPuiapGJQLkcrd-R4Wb-dMtSBFtKm7MmF9Umwmz6T_vJSDYM41GosjGuPS8y948Y/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-01-06+at+14.31.41.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What 3 books are you hoping to read in 2021? Do you create a similar list to this? Let me know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF7_wp5ihhUYWNwf7u0TCx5vp8OJe5g6L0QCRHXpO7KNnDYt45OV9LmDJh6Zi-gZlHPmOgO95rkypSHQXcGcKRe-HwyImGRGA35Y0-QHUoXQkD6ere0c6Z9r3kWZ71SgMdYVicZbD8yU/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF7_wp5ihhUYWNwf7u0TCx5vp8OJe5g6L0QCRHXpO7KNnDYt45OV9LmDJh6Zi-gZlHPmOgO95rkypSHQXcGcKRe-HwyImGRGA35Y0-QHUoXQkD6ere0c6Z9r3kWZ71SgMdYVicZbD8yU/w200-h95/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-75135708050922358892021-01-05T12:10:00.001-08:002021-01-29T17:25:17.539-08:00TBR | January 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ2kB26WiJvfzJJBpMAbZ1WdZWi2bCh8sgZ5iQHvF-CoW3vhgaNWvoDdr3PSOAq1p9p82cNn-jLqoiBM9cSu4kfiOW4oTY6mlDt239jBhRMEmL9Q8mIgiIQDxSX2xbKCBhjuegQIIoUQ/s2048/20210105_120805_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ2kB26WiJvfzJJBpMAbZ1WdZWi2bCh8sgZ5iQHvF-CoW3vhgaNWvoDdr3PSOAq1p9p82cNn-jLqoiBM9cSu4kfiOW4oTY6mlDt239jBhRMEmL9Q8mIgiIQDxSX2xbKCBhjuegQIIoUQ/w640-h640/20210105_120805_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Okay, so I'm switching it up once again! I have never committed to doing a monthly TBR before as I'm a huge mood reader and always felt the need to include 10s of books on TBRs to be taken seriously in the book community. I'm trying to get rid of that negative mental negativity, so here we are. I may just include 3 books on these pasts and that's perfectly okay, however in January I have a decent amount as I'm trying to hit the ground running in January. Unless it's a reread, I will be using the StoryGraph/Goodreads synopsis to talk about the synopsis of each book as I don't want to accidently spoil myself for a plot point like I have done so many times when trying to find my own way to describe the novel. Without further ado, let's delve into my January TBR.</p><p style="text-align: center;">...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqQEPWkylynJXhsfeViQjY5X0d3YmOI6IZ1V1CRBpqG40FWua2bpdvxDGq55sHMxHASjCvBSvtgp9dEe7V_-VIUQRwOebZQ_VTN-D4pxpGZU1DwzGUgPKkl0Btc6JmA0MqRHb6YnB0wo/s2048/2021-01-03-025023981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqQEPWkylynJXhsfeViQjY5X0d3YmOI6IZ1V1CRBpqG40FWua2bpdvxDGq55sHMxHASjCvBSvtgp9dEe7V_-VIUQRwOebZQ_VTN-D4pxpGZU1DwzGUgPKkl0Btc6JmA0MqRHb6YnB0wo/w640-h640/2021-01-03-025023981.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Punching the Air</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam</i></div></i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white. Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My husband listened to an ARC of this last year and has urged me since to pick it up. I begun to audiobook on December 31st and got to 47% in one sitting. This is undoubtedly a difficult book to listen to. The racism injustice that Amal faces is beyond fathoming. I have no doubt that this will be the first book I finish in 2021. </div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLsZ5soEwOvPiAn8nJpJ6KYxxJFwbQhDNTRk2MB_YZsTzDERxMi-gB-HDkdrE1tzLa5ZX6EfYKgpCNyYtQ5HcTO7WgDZ_Pr1zME2myNKYzgWw30ctF2gLg9JVPPZRtpCzoB2Bq3Tjhyphenhyphen4/s2048/2021-01-04-124845730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLsZ5soEwOvPiAn8nJpJ6KYxxJFwbQhDNTRk2MB_YZsTzDERxMi-gB-HDkdrE1tzLa5ZX6EfYKgpCNyYtQ5HcTO7WgDZ_Pr1zME2myNKYzgWw30ctF2gLg9JVPPZRtpCzoB2Bq3Tjhyphenhyphen4/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124845730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness<br /><i>Amanda Bennett and Lori Schiller</i></h3><div style="text-align: center;">At seventeen Lori Schiller was the perfect child -- the only daughter of an affluent, close-knit family. Six years later she made her first suicide attempt, then wandered the streets of New York City dressed in ragged clothes, tormenting voices crying out in her mind. Lori Schiller had entered the horrifying world of full-blown schizophrenia. She began an ordeal of hospitalizations, halfway houses, relapses, more suicide attempts, and constant, withering despair. But against all odds, she survived. Now in this personal account, she tells how she did it, taking us not only into her own shattered world, but drawing on the words of the doctors who treated her and family members who suffered with her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the start of a new year, me and my husband <a href="billiamthenerd.com">BilliamSWN</a> have a tradition of buying a new book to kick off the new year. We were in a bookstore for at least 40 minutes and I couldn't find anything, so to work within the conditions of our plan I chose to pick up The Quiet Room as my first book of the year as I purchased it last January but never got around to reading it. This sounds like everything I want from a non-fiction that's centered around mental health. I haven't seen anyone talk or mention this book within the book community, so hopefully it'll end up being a surprise and I can bring more attention to it. I actually haven't read any non-fiction talking about schizophrenia in my lifetime, so that needs to change. <i>Side-note: how beautiful is this cover?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-fuzCVhEXlWJ7cLeRxU2GQcVndPqTie2W6C8gjtWT684sApAn0YUheH2haxfhiex4VxpU0ej8lkfexKP0j6A0iuDDYqfdRh_iuHqOz72M3uhvtTrdex7lgu7lt5ZmG7gXgYGJ572rI/s2048/2021-01-04-124925906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-fuzCVhEXlWJ7cLeRxU2GQcVndPqTie2W6C8gjtWT684sApAn0YUheH2haxfhiex4VxpU0ej8lkfexKP0j6A0iuDDYqfdRh_iuHqOz72M3uhvtTrdex7lgu7lt5ZmG7gXgYGJ572rI/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124925906.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August<br /><i>Claire North</i></h3><div style="text-align: center;">Some stories cannot be told in just one lifetime. Harry August is on his deathbed. Again. No matter what he does or the decisions he makes, when death comes, Harry always returns to where he began, a child with all the knowledge of a life he has already lived a dozen times before. Nothing ever changes. Until now. As Harry nears the end of his eleventh life, a little girl appears at his bedside. "I nearly missed you, Doctor August," she says. "I need to send a message." This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This has been on my TBR for literal ever. I remember when it got released in 2014 and being interested. I hope to finally tackle the TOME in January. This novel is on my 21 Books I Want To Read In 2021 list and I just got the audiobook through Libby, so yay! Perfect timing. I've previously read Claire North's other novel <i>The Sudden Appearance of Hope</i> and enjoyed it. The mix of contemporary and science worked for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qRNehJhwk2Huess_UeonyTRu5UJDi13TCHT9NZYh2KaSJA9nSZAtnMXYXKzq7uaFU7wVjb-QLmWDTbqOlnoyr5FZ2leuUg2G-jRRR4zWMLbSLQ6h8uNGvFqutoBe06yrMh0SJvBddhA/s2048/2021-01-04-124825591.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qRNehJhwk2Huess_UeonyTRu5UJDi13TCHT9NZYh2KaSJA9nSZAtnMXYXKzq7uaFU7wVjb-QLmWDTbqOlnoyr5FZ2leuUg2G-jRRR4zWMLbSLQ6h8uNGvFqutoBe06yrMh0SJvBddhA/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124825591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Often I Am Happy<br /><i>Jens Christian Grondahl</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ellinor is seventy. Her husband Georg has just passed away, and she is struck with the need to confide in someone. She addresses Anna, her long-dead best friend, who was also Georg's first wife. Fully aware of the absurdity of speaking to someone who cannot hear her, Ellinor nevertheless finds it meaningful to divulge long-held secrets and burdens of her past: her mother's heartbreaking pride; Ellinor's courtship with her first husband; their seemingly charmed friendship with Anna and Georg; the disastrous ski trip that shattered the two couples' lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In 2021 I'm hoping to finally read the shorter books on my TBR. I always put them off as I know I'll fly through them and might feel dissatisfied. However, this little novel sounds incredible. It's giving me <i>A Man Called Ove</i> and <i>Firefly Lane</i> mash-up feel and I'm ready to get my heart broken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iUnZyECrfeZqJWZnPCwlPy-flR5zk3rhEDeK-3BmzwNFfsSkAVapBWg7vQw_GNFuZ5CJVxEYvRV1wXgtjI_YMACaixqAg8OpbwYTR5tmmWTrzMPe6NRhYICb_QhiAG_8ltmNRmTyaDk/s2048/2021-01-04-124910949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iUnZyECrfeZqJWZnPCwlPy-flR5zk3rhEDeK-3BmzwNFfsSkAVapBWg7vQw_GNFuZ5CJVxEYvRV1wXgtjI_YMACaixqAg8OpbwYTR5tmmWTrzMPe6NRhYICb_QhiAG_8ltmNRmTyaDk/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124910949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Binti<br /><i>Nnedi Okorafor</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach. If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself - but first she has to make it there, alive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another short one! It's almost ridiculous how many times this novella has been put onto my monthly TBR's only to go unread. I have no idea whether I will enjoy this book as sci-fi as a whole isn't my usual genre, but there's only one way to find out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhgxEdm-KuNadkg7YiIEqqIg3OD3G0mdIE-Q-mF_1ZswRb1NVcfxLdHiqLboCjAAsGQPR-Qk2A6hrIEyu4klOdctkvd8vIRFNRyQnkLqlR0H403AlQef0s-pv_6GAJV8B5fXKaWgv32M/s2048/2021-01-04-124950414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhgxEdm-KuNadkg7YiIEqqIg3OD3G0mdIE-Q-mF_1ZswRb1NVcfxLdHiqLboCjAAsGQPR-Qk2A6hrIEyu4klOdctkvd8vIRFNRyQnkLqlR0H403AlQef0s-pv_6GAJV8B5fXKaWgv32M/w640-h640/2021-01-04-124950414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All Adults Here<br />Emma Straub</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When Astrid Strick witnesses a school bus accident in the center of town, it jostles loose a repressed memory from her young parenting days decades earlier. Suddenly, Astrid realizes she was not quite the parent she thought she’d been to her three, now-grown children. But to what consequence? Astrid’s youngest son is drifting and unfocused, making parenting mistakes of his own. Her daughter is intentionally pregnant yet struggling to give up her own adolescence. And her eldest seems to measure his adult life according to standards no one else shares. But who gets to decide, so many years later, which long-ago lapses were the ones that mattered? Who decides which apologies really count? It might be that only Astrid’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter and her new friend really understand the courage it takes to tell the truth to the people you love the most.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Did this solely make it into my library holds because of the gorgeous cover..? Yes, but since getting it I've seen an abundance of people compare it to <i>Anxious People, Grown-Ups,</i> and even <i>Normal People</i>. I adored all three of this books so this really is a no brainer. I'm going into this completely blind and hope to be amazed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7ZYkuglAjZoa9CqQxWT362miAh0c1RBjZxmy8NRJuN0-iX8QIdtsNK75Lyl6bEK4Hb1bzozbNq57a9MsP01Z0Iz7yWt6qUOKpfi-PfCIH8T779y4DxYyH36RCuofcWdqrrJBSo5p3MQ/s2048/2021-01-04-125015250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7ZYkuglAjZoa9CqQxWT362miAh0c1RBjZxmy8NRJuN0-iX8QIdtsNK75Lyl6bEK4Hb1bzozbNq57a9MsP01Z0Iz7yWt6qUOKpfi-PfCIH8T779y4DxYyH36RCuofcWdqrrJBSo5p3MQ/w640-h640/2021-01-04-125015250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You Should See Me In A Crown<br /><i>Leah Johnson</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm so excited for this one! I'm planning on buddy reading it with the flawless <a href="http://www.instagram.com/m.is.reading">@m.is.reading</a>. This YA contemporary has some major buzz surround it in the online book community. Everyone has loved it or at the very least, found it cutesy and worth the read. It was also the first YA pick for the Reese Witherspoon bookclub, which excites me greatly as I'm trash for a "Reese's Pick". The cover is also flawless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzKld8wSrFh-LH57aMoIxukmWpSLgw0g16EqOSZX8zmhPYM7Gj9JUniA_8Yr3RnhH_xFQ9jGw6mf8ZgmQnEllZM6KeghBcctEn8WnXW0tvY4Dv_nNVQYnqt3XwCFnz7N6bMAnjhw3JGQ/s2048/2021-01-04-125038690.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzKld8wSrFh-LH57aMoIxukmWpSLgw0g16EqOSZX8zmhPYM7Gj9JUniA_8Yr3RnhH_xFQ9jGw6mf8ZgmQnEllZM6KeghBcctEn8WnXW0tvY4Dv_nNVQYnqt3XwCFnz7N6bMAnjhw3JGQ/w640-h640/2021-01-04-125038690.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In An Absent Dream<br /><i>Seanan McGuire</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should. When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This will be my first reread of the year as I'm participating in Kayla from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmT3SYwGCZvzFLTo_18Cvnw">BooksAndLala</a>'s Buzzword Reading Challenge. Each month you have a buzzword and January was 'Dream'. I was initially planning on finally picking up <i>Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams</i> by Sylvia Plath but I got a tad confused with dates and had to instead pick up something short and snappy. I've been meaning to reread the entire <i>Wayward Children</i> series to establish what I love about it. I adored this reread! There's something so magical about In An Absent Dream. It reads like a dark fairytale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9qMi5EZKfSyiH86dI8J8H_6rOhwaMP4gSIp15QRC6N9KXstdVUk4rj5h43igFM5lFK9ma4lT0_pqrazPYfSxn9T2-ABwkAocJixr28UPIHMmbMf0OXb9uuHsveZQFlkbFuu14Rx8Sco/s2048/2021-01-04-125101647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9qMi5EZKfSyiH86dI8J8H_6rOhwaMP4gSIp15QRC6N9KXstdVUk4rj5h43igFM5lFK9ma4lT0_pqrazPYfSxn9T2-ABwkAocJixr28UPIHMmbMf0OXb9uuHsveZQFlkbFuu14Rx8Sco/w640-h640/2021-01-04-125101647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love Story<br /><i>Erich Segal</i></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny are kindred spirits from vastly different worlds. Falling deeply and powerfully, their attraction to one another defies everything they have ever believed—as they share a passion far greater than anything they dreamed possible and explore the wonder of a love that must end too soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a really random pick for the month, but we recently signed up for HBO Max and it reminded me that I wanted to watch the movie adaption of this romance classic, but of course, I pledged to read the book first. I'm surprised at how short this novel is (coming in at just over 100 pages). I enjoy a little 'opposites attract' romance, especially from a modern classic. Have you read this or watched the movie adaption? Let me know your thoughts on either!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there we have my January TBR. Is there anyone on this list that you're hoping to also read soon?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pUApAnieM-IwWKOkeNJqRDBNxA2X47zsR2p_GeVKqV70FrTUBRl0GxbRl0uwsBbEJqGyqjVt-pw2maHG2bxkhDxrtO2C3zXrKNalxSr-JkTpIOCySI1Lpa_lY_B20aKwmvj_eg3kNjI/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pUApAnieM-IwWKOkeNJqRDBNxA2X47zsR2p_GeVKqV70FrTUBRl0GxbRl0uwsBbEJqGyqjVt-pw2maHG2bxkhDxrtO2C3zXrKNalxSr-JkTpIOCySI1Lpa_lY_B20aKwmvj_eg3kNjI/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-4525754021362604402020-12-30T14:32:00.000-08:002020-12-31T11:43:59.998-08:00End Of The Year Reading Survey 2020<p> I was debating what blog posts to make a priority in my 'End of the year wrap-up "series"'. In past years, I've done best, worst, surprising, disappointing, and DNF's. However, having read so many books this year I wanted something that would help me write about the middleman books. The ones I gave 3 or 4 stars but still thoroughly enjoyed. When you read close to 200 books in a year, it's very easy to forget to talk about some books that you enjoyed. I'll be trying my best to not repeat any answers throughout this survey, but don't hold me to that!</p><p>This survey was created by Jamie over at <a href="https://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2019-end-of-year-book-survey/">The Perpetual Page Turner</a>. I did adapt/remove some questions that either weren't applicable to me or that I would've had repetitive answers for, so be sure to check out her post to get the full survey. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKPG_qfPZLEQdcvUkBb82s7jp2AW4AkhKLDVvDqF97JuGoug51xysb9v8q2pGCYou1ADxxvXzv3684RXrG1w1QBDr6k1hc-oGc7feyMA4WfH3Eur0TiMC8G2-Gsam83BQYW4KbWXBYuw/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.17.23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKPG_qfPZLEQdcvUkBb82s7jp2AW4AkhKLDVvDqF97JuGoug51xysb9v8q2pGCYou1ADxxvXzv3684RXrG1w1QBDr6k1hc-oGc7feyMA4WfH3Eur0TiMC8G2-Gsam83BQYW4KbWXBYuw/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.17.23.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>S T A T S</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Number Of Books You Read: 184</p><p style="text-align: center;">Number of Re-Reads: 5 (The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead)</p><p style="text-align: center;">Genre You Read The Most From: General Fiction. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>2 0 2 0 I N B O O K S</b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. Best Book You Read In 2020?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50196744-know-my-name">Know My Name by Chanel Miller</a></b>. 2020 was the year that I fell in love with non-fiction as a genre. <i>Know My Name</i> is the memoir of Chanel Miller, a victim of sexual assault who overcame her demons and wrote this harrowing book that tore my heart into a million little pieces. The writing within this book was phenomenal, it may be the most well written piece of art (especially in non-fiction) that I have had the privilege of reading. I cried, felt warm, and grew incredibly attached this admirable woman. If you haven't read this yet, do it. It deserves to be read. (Naturally, huge content warning for sexual assault.)</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?</b></h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50892433-one-by-one">One by One by Ruth Ware</a></b>. I have a complicated relationship with Ruth Ware as I've read her entire backlist but usually end up giving her thrillers a 3 star rating. <i>The Death of Mrs. Westaway </i>and <i>Turn Of The Key</i> seemed to of ended that streak by both coming in at a 5 star, but alas.. <i>One by One </i>was a huge letdown. It felt like her writing had backtracked by having a iffy plot, so-so characters that weren't very vivid, and mediocre plot twists. The atmosphere was exquisite, but it couldn't help save the book from being, well, boring.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? </h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50892349-magic-lessons"><b>Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman</b>.</a> I've always enjoyed Hoffman's writing but this book literally blew me away, I stayed up far too late reading and it yanked me out of a reading slump which was joyous. This is the prequel to <i>Practical Magic </i>and <i>The Rules of Magic</i> that follows a witch in the 1600's, who finds herself in Salem during the Witch trials. It's fast pace, historically frustrating, and has a great case of female characters. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49976087-take-a-hint-dani-brown"><b>Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert</b>.</a> Solely because I know of at least two people who I nudged into reading it sooner than they planned. This is the second book in <i>The Brown Sister</i> trilogy by Talia Hibbert, where career driven Danika Brown starts a fake relationship with hunky security guard Zafir Ansari and things quickly get steamy. This is a hilarious romance with such great characters. Talia Hibbert has quickly become one of my favourite romance-contemporary authors. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 5. Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2020?</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29475447-a-closed-and-common-orbit"><b>A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers</b>.</a> I'm really enjoying myself with her <i>Wayfarers</i> series, and I'm hoping to pick up the third book <i>Record of a Spaceborn Few</i> in January. Her mix of sci-fi with a contemporary feel really works for me. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15253645.Elizabeth_Acevedo"><b>Elizabeth Acedvedo.</b> </a><i>The Poet X </i>had been on my TBR for years thanks to the unrelenting praise it gets within the online book community. However, it always took a backseat as I didn't own a copy and the one my library has always seemed to be loaned out. I randomly picked up her newest release <i>Clap When You Land</i> and it was incredible. I then proceeded to pick up <i>The Poet X</i> (Yay for Libby!) and though I didn't enjoy it quite as much as <i>Clap When You Land</i>, it was still a beautiful piece of art. The format of books told in verse has been a recent discovery for me and I'm thoroughly enjoying them. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89724.We_Have_Always_Lived_in_the_Castle">We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson</a>.</b> Gothic horror really isn't a genre I have experience reading, and though there is a decent argument to be made that this book reads much like a standard dark fiction, I really liked it! This is about two sisters, Constance and Mary Katherine Blackwood, who have been shunned out of their community after a tragedy took place in their home. This is a very polarizing book, people either adore it or hate it with a passion (like my husband). I personally found the dark ambiance rather poetic and it sucked me deep into the story.</p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">8. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49151001-his-only-wife">His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie</a></b>. Look at the colors! This cover was the main reason I picked up this debut from the library, and it was honestly wonderful. It's majorly underhyped in the book community. In it, we follow Afi Tekple who is offered the opportunity to be married off to a wealthy man. Wanting to better her own life and that of her family, she agrees. However, the man is not who she hoped he be. This is a hard hitting contemporary about love, marriage, and the consequences of expectation in a marriage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNKTh3tmw_MLqiCBUzdeXWDUftPD3K2D8GFh3succP401-vQp1pwCtUBqq5hOXEUkLZ3f0CK6Jfe1rQlzQwwNvTdd2D4mPzSuxNVv345qYZ6DiOdgO47dOZNLtr_1D_MhHyVqy7_whLc/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.30.41.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNKTh3tmw_MLqiCBUzdeXWDUftPD3K2D8GFh3succP401-vQp1pwCtUBqq5hOXEUkLZ3f0CK6Jfe1rQlzQwwNvTdd2D4mPzSuxNVv345qYZ6DiOdgO47dOZNLtr_1D_MhHyVqy7_whLc/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.30.41.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Most memorable character of 2020?</b></h3><p><b>Zara from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49127718-anxious-people">Anxious People by Fredrick Backman</a>.</b> This is easily in my top three books of the year, if you've been around these parts before then you're probably already sick of me talking about it. Zara was by far the best character I've read all year. She had so many layers and struck me as a truly realistically flawed human. Read my full review for <i>Anxious People</i> <a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2020/09/anxious-people-review.html">HERE</a>. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 10. Most beautifully written book read in 2020?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51074747-coffee-days-whiskey-nights">coffee days whiskey nights by Cyrus Parker</a>.</b> This is a 2020 released poetry collection that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of through Net Galley. It saddens me greatly that I haven't seen it pushed more online. Cyrus Parker did a phenomenal job at crafting a collection that seemed to have a story woven throughout it while still making it applicable to any reader who has had a history of depression and found hope. It was beautiful. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 11. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to finally read? </h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8127.Anne_of_Green_Gables">Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery</a>.</b> What an absolute joy of a book! This Canadian Children's classic has sat on many of my shelves throughout the years but I hadn't ever sat down and read it in it's entirely. Anne is a wonderful character that had me laughing constantly. It felt a novel version of sunshine.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">12. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2020?</h3><p>“Forgetting it is important. We do it on purpose. It means we get a bit of a rest. Are you listening? We have to forget. Or we’d never sleep ever again.”</p><p><b>― Ali Smith, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28446947-autumn">Autumn</a></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">13. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2020?</h3><p>Shortest: <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53796479-lou-in-lockdown?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=LIEG6Fnou9&rank=2">Lou in Lockdown by Jojo Moyes</a></b> (46)</p><p>Longest: <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10644930-11-22-63?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=tTuPhrc2ta&rank=1">11/22/63 by Stephen King</a></b> (740)</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">14. Favorite Book You Read in 2020 From An Author You’ve Read Previously</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43925876-the-giver-of-stars?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nQNexC2ZTJ&rank=1"><b>The Giver Of Stars by Jojo Moyes</b>. </a>I've read a good portion of this author's backlist, but her newest release was wonderful. This is a historical fiction based on the true events of women who grouped together to form a travelling library between the years of 1935 and 1943. There's been a little controversary around this book as it was speculated to be "heavily inspired" by another authors book, but I'm not sure what the outcome of that was. Either way, I enjoyed it and the audiobook was magnificent. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">15. Best Book You Read In 2020 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27362503-it-ends-with-us">It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover</a></b>. The absolutely wonderful @<a href="instagram.com/m.is.reading" target="_blank">@m.is.reading</a> recommended this to me after we buddy read Colleen Hoover's 2020 release <i>Heart Bones</i> (which I didn't wholeheartedly love). HOWEVER, <i>It Ends With Us</i> was such a journey, I went into it not knowing anything and expected just your standard smutty romance, but oh boy. This book broke me. If it's been on your radar at all, I encourage you to pick it up. (trigger warning: domestic abuse, attempted rape)</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">16. Best 2020 debut you read?</h3><p>I'm going to cheat a little and say <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43923951-such-a-fun-age">Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid</a></b>. This got published on December 29th 2019 but got popular in 2020. Honestly, this is a work of absolute art. The story is revolved around a young black woman who gets accused of kidnapping a white child (who she's nannying). That accusation starts a domino affect in the woman's life, starting drama with both her employer and "boyfriend". This is hard hitting book that reads like regular fiction. It will keep you thinking long after you turn the final page.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">17. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1268479.Warbreaker">Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson</a></b>. This was the only high fantasy book I read this year and it didn't disappointed. Was it as memorable as <i>Mistborn</i>? Nah, but it was very entertaining and I flew through it faster than I thought I would. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished in this world. Two sisters have to navigate the insanity to find each other again. Who doesn't love a sisterly duo? There's also a talking sword which was undoubtedly the highlight of the story.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">18. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54911057-fangs">Fangs by Sarah Anderson.</a></b> This is a comic/graphic novel about a vampire and werewolf who fall in love. It was so wholesome and funny. A perfect read for Halloween! (I read this through an ARC provided by Net Galley)</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">19. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2020?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45134200-the-switch?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=vjwbbiPTk1&rank=1">The Switch by Beth O'Leary</a></b>. This is about a grandmother and her granddaughter who essentially "swap lives" for two months, with the Grandmother going to stay in London and the Granddaughter returning home to a small town. As I've already mentioned, I lost my Grandmother last year and this book just hit home in a completely different way. It was a fun read, but still shattered my heart from the joy. Maybe I'm just a Grinch. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">20. Hidden Gem Of The Year?</h3><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30025791-princess-princess-ever-after">Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill.</a> This is a romance picture picture between two princess who fall for each other after a princess saves the other from a tower. I adore Katie O'Neill's The Tea Dragon Society series and this didn't let me down. As a standalone this was a flawless story, and I would happily buy this for my future children. It's a super quick read but even adults would get something out of it.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">21. Book That Crushed Your Soul?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77203.The_Kite_Runner">The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini</a></b>. I've been told to read this notorious book for literal years. (I'm not going to give a synopsis as it's widely known in the book community). I finally picked it up this month and dayum, it broke my heart, soul, and mental ability. What a beautifully tragic novel.</p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">22. Most Unique Book You Read In 2020?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48677116-little-scratch" target="_blank">Little Scratch by Rebecca Watson</a>.</b> I received this through Net Galley for a review, and I honestly did not know what to expect. This is the story of a unnamed woman who is coping through the trauma of a sexual assault, however the format of this book was insanely interesting. It was told through a stream of consciousness that was partly in "sections"? I have no idea how to explain it. If you're craving a book that's completely different to any other book you've read, pick this up. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv-mgDkme3XAfrN3q7Y31Y0XZKiVNoRi0-V6-kb-0VbvD2i5qOeRIHAI0TI54G5RxNxX6Hyn4HynZ9FCxjR3bd-gGJXTlY4yaOraIrV41kswem8dcvWa-BpLuiDIKtoiHfve2FeOnJSE/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.17.11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv-mgDkme3XAfrN3q7Y31Y0XZKiVNoRi0-V6-kb-0VbvD2i5qOeRIHAI0TI54G5RxNxX6Hyn4HynZ9FCxjR3bd-gGJXTlY4yaOraIrV41kswem8dcvWa-BpLuiDIKtoiHfve2FeOnJSE/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.17.11.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>B L O G G I N G</b></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2020?</h3><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBv9PyaDIjq_7nnTreH93_A">Drinking By My Shelf</a> on Youtube. Emma is such a wonderful booktuber who speaks about a wide range of books that will forever end up with me putting in a new request at my library. She helped guide me to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9DiowX7v4JHWjQ6Y520Qg">Emma Tobias,</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3y3DxjKoSipYpZh55J0EZA">What Victoria Read</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jsutkissmyfrog">leena norms</a>. This year has really opened my eyes to the joy that is the booktube community away from the mainstream channels that always seem to be problematic. (Besides <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmT3SYwGCZvzFLTo_18Cvnw">BooksandLala</a>)</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Favorite post you wrote in 2020?</h3><p>Probably <a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2020/03/the-pisces-by-melissa-broden-book.html">The Pisces by Melissa Broden Book Review</a> just because it made me laugh so much.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVY0AwmyVgTWx62ZGk9jtWDRTKDirKY67fDC8oyx2sjq_lNi7JzeJ5Jv0A8FA5Jc-Af7TPZWYSYYIvhy6_dpTLlDfeHe1K1ZE1sUUXcYwDfnvMQ3GVmnG1yLqMtV87PD9HPQqh6I5_2KE/s1512/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.23.59.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVY0AwmyVgTWx62ZGk9jtWDRTKDirKY67fDC8oyx2sjq_lNi7JzeJ5Jv0A8FA5Jc-Af7TPZWYSYYIvhy6_dpTLlDfeHe1K1ZE1sUUXcYwDfnvMQ3GVmnG1yLqMtV87PD9HPQqh6I5_2KE/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-12-30+at+14.23.59.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?</h3><p>I really enjoyed getting involved with the <a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2020/05/mentalhealthathon-2020.html">Mentalhealthathon Readathon</a> as it not only helped me get to so many books on my TBR, but I gained a lot of interaction from my involvement.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2020?</h3><p>Honestly, being able to interact with so many book creators on Twitter/Instagram. This community is incredibly kind and welcoming, it's helped with my virtual confidence. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?</h3><p>Am I being a cliché if I say Covid? I fell hard into so many reading slumps this year that really added to my already dwindling reading habits. I went at least 4 days without reading a single page in September which is uncommon for me, especially with mainly listening to audiobooks at bedtime. I guess my brain was louder than my listening ability. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?</h3><p>I compiled a list of "20 books I want to read in 2020" post, which I failed miserably. But otherwise, my goals were mostly basic ass ones. Such as, "read more than 100 books", "read at least one non-fiction per month", or "read more classics". I have more specific goals for 2021 which I'm excited to share. Mostly, I feel like I accomplished my goals but were they really hard for me personally? No. It was an entire copout. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">L O O K I N G A H E A D</span></b></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2020 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2021?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790842-life-after-life">Life After Life by Kate Atkinson</a>.</b> A girl relives her life over and over. I honestly do not know anything more than that, and I don't want to. I've hardly read any books with this premise but I'm intrigued to read more, and so many people rave about Kate Atkinson as an author. The sole reason I haven't picked up this book yet, despite it being included in my "20 books I want to read in 2020" list, is that it's pretty huge. 500+ pages will always intimate me.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2021 (non-debut)?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55404546-malibu-rising">Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.</a></b> A novel that semi ties into <i>The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo</i>? YES, PLEASE. I adore TJR and I've already preordered this absolute delight. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. 2021 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?</h3><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50263710-one-carefree-day">One Carefree Day by Whitney Amazeen</a>.</b> This is Whitney's Amazeen's debut novel and it sounds bloody wonderful. To quote Goodreads: "<i>For eighteen-year-old Willow Bates, anxiety is just a part of life. With her every decision ruled by intrusive thoughts, she's worried she sometimes seems a little odd. Despite Willow's efforts to hide her OCD from those around her, it isn't always possible. Her rituals are her coping mechanism, and Willow's past has left her with a lot to cope with.</i></p><p><i>But when Willow takes things too far, her mother breaks and gives her an ultimatum: Willow must finally start taking meds to treat her obsessive-compulsive disorder, or she'll have to move out within three months. But Willow is terrified of both options, and can't afford to support herself as a new cosmetology student."</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"> 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2021?</h3><p><span><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51824384-act-your-age-eve-brown">Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert</a>.</b> I'm lucky enough to of received this through Net Galley but I'm waiting to read it closer to it's release date. I spoke above about<i> The Brown Sisters </i>trilogy and I'm so psyched to read the third installment. <i>Act Your Age, Eve Brown</i> weaves romance with autism rep and I'm hoping to be educated more on the condition. Hibbert can do no wrong.</span><br /></p><p><span><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2021?</h3><p>I would like to start a Booktube channel but my self consciousness and fear seems to always prohibit me. I'm terrified of being made fun of or ignored within the community. Welp. Otherwise, I want to take part in more readathons socially, and not just take part silently, and perhaps make 5k on my bookstagram <a href="instagram.com/branchingpages">@BranchingPages</a>. What about you?</p>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-9947751180148090982020-12-30T13:22:00.001-08:002020-12-30T13:22:37.680-08:006 Worst Books Of 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPE9J_BGvB7V7GhuN_rn-Ljbes73QIn837DPlqyLydgmCAv9J30Fxi8C0eGqOyAn90Ew3GKx9Sju8nvamkYROqIz7lxjuTB0AVgm6XN9l6yAOmxicRmAcFHLCnOQIALbi8hyphenhyphenzyyP6B3E/s2048/20201230_130342_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPE9J_BGvB7V7GhuN_rn-Ljbes73QIn837DPlqyLydgmCAv9J30Fxi8C0eGqOyAn90Ew3GKx9Sju8nvamkYROqIz7lxjuTB0AVgm6XN9l6yAOmxicRmAcFHLCnOQIALbi8hyphenhyphenzyyP6B3E/w640-h640/20201230_130342_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I've read close to 200 books in 2020, so naturally I picked up a few that didn't mesh well with me. There's been a recent surge of hate for this type of post/video in the book community (mainly in the author circles) which I find rather idiotic. Reading is incredibly subjective and as someone who would call themselves a book reviewer, I feel obliged to mention the books that I hated just as I mention the ones I love. You may have a favourite book on this list and that's perfectly fine. Whatever I may not of liked about the plot, writing, or whatever, you might just adore. Example: I love <i>Normal People</i> by Sally Rooney and so many people hate that book, which, you guessed it! Is perfectly fine! I mean no hate towards the authors of these books, they simply landed on the bottom of my list of books I read this year. Let's get on with the post.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMExEpDK0S3vtnmgNLvS9t6oFJnsv8C3L8B3xKk3XsqfTJw4A5otw6fxvmzACWQPaEcgfWdgdNY-ft94AIhO12xSVceq_cmfyG_NUsl8zpOS1jPsfo4wOnBaTQcDKBvhqulPCS1fiem0Q/s2048/2020-12-30-125720804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMExEpDK0S3vtnmgNLvS9t6oFJnsv8C3L8B3xKk3XsqfTJw4A5otw6fxvmzACWQPaEcgfWdgdNY-ft94AIhO12xSVceq_cmfyG_NUsl8zpOS1jPsfo4wOnBaTQcDKBvhqulPCS1fiem0Q/w640-h480/2020-12-30-125720804.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Fledgling<br /></span><i>Octavia E. Butler </i></h3><p>A vampire (in the body of a literal female child) wakes up with no memory of her former life and is taken in by a 23-year-old man who is immediately infatuated with her. Together, they try and piece together her former life. I adore <i>Kindred</i>, the author's other novel that was released in 1979. However, <i>Fledgling</i> fell so damn flat. Not only did the overall "romantic" plot creep me out (A 20 something man feeling attraction for what they desire as a 13-year-old looking girl? No), but the actual plot was incredibly boring. It was mostly just a court case of Vampire rights where nothing of importance happened. I DNF'd with 30 pages to go and I still don't feel like I missed out on anything. It saddens me as, like I've said multiple times on this blog, <i>Kindred</i> is one of my favourite books. It's brilliantly written with a cast of incredible characters. I don't know what happened in regards to <i>Fledgling</i>. </p><p><b>You may like this if... </b>You enjoy heavy politics in your supernatural books, slow burn stories, and/or you want to read all of Butler's novels.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KTMjUokeDch6bOfS8xKAH0NWIhWnYs_bWSlgpnLfXevEiZjKMvCfyMq-ANVBgmsWylwVHnQ4izBFNObAMC-To2GN-49gS6sJGryqHctEtDEPDSp5jZK6s9sBMWPs6pvWq0oMRvWllqQ/s2048/2020-12-30-125642892.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KTMjUokeDch6bOfS8xKAH0NWIhWnYs_bWSlgpnLfXevEiZjKMvCfyMq-ANVBgmsWylwVHnQ4izBFNObAMC-To2GN-49gS6sJGryqHctEtDEPDSp5jZK6s9sBMWPs6pvWq0oMRvWllqQ/w640-h480/2020-12-30-125642892.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. I Know Who You Are<br /></span><i>Alice Feeney </i></h3><p>As with most domestic thrillers, this is a 'who done it?" plot with a dead husband, a unreliable wife, and the foundation for a terrible marriage. I hated this book, oh my, I hated it. Not only was the writing the bare minimum of basic, but there were so many questionable plot decisions that were borderline offensive to the trans community. The big twist was in relation to incest, which.. <i>ew, David</i>. It left me with a horrible taste in my mouth and I majorly regret pushing myself into finishing it. I think I'm done with Alice Feeney's work as I also didn't enjoy <i>Sometimes I Lie</i>, which had a rape attempt that was entirely looked past in the novel. I feel like the author replies too heavily on trying to shock the reader instead of actually putting logic into her plot twists. Not for me.</p><p><b>You may like this if... </b>You enjoyed<i> Sometimes I Lie</i>. (that's literally all)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK0i3End_h8E3kIPMwxQSls0jzpUo1IC7CPlt7pg3TVu6aFyK_nuchutmYfzvT-DHF8QCqfCub1LhhaLDVYP-aikFSf4WJy4BQ0Zk9xs6R-raJ0GgtTe4hiL9_E4TrXXFpEFLui-euEY/s2048/2020-12-30-125653809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK0i3End_h8E3kIPMwxQSls0jzpUo1IC7CPlt7pg3TVu6aFyK_nuchutmYfzvT-DHF8QCqfCub1LhhaLDVYP-aikFSf4WJy4BQ0Zk9xs6R-raJ0GgtTe4hiL9_E4TrXXFpEFLui-euEY/w640-h480/2020-12-30-125653809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles <br /></span><i>Haruki Murakami</i></h3><p>Toru Okada is searching for his wife's missing cat, but soon he is looking for his wife who has also vanished under mysterious circumstances. This is one wacky novel, the plot goes to so many insane places that I truly only knew what was happening 50% of the time. However, I could've looked past the truly peculiar plot if it wasn't for the writing itself. If I never read another description of a woman's chest size again, I'll be happy. There's a teenage girl character who befriends the protagonist, which.. felt so questionable. He was continuously checking out her bikini clad body, because of course she's in a bikini, and yet mentions repeatedly that she's underaged. I also didn't like how Murakami made most of the women childlike, and yet sexualized them through the eyes of Toru. </p><p><b>You may like this if... </b>you enjoy wacky translated novels, you can look past sexism in books, you enjoy Murakami's writing style.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-voyM8dVPSoezllrDXHJL1DEbAP-I71q_L4jjRQieGvj1Plzu69r4y4Z-Hw9-TLdAtIujiBszrClkf02k4eQ-6m_lsZ_uisMpws6gsf91zZ4vgXGKRKWNgyGDqfLoz1KguCoFeEM60zM/s2048/2020-12-30-125739482.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-voyM8dVPSoezllrDXHJL1DEbAP-I71q_L4jjRQieGvj1Plzu69r4y4Z-Hw9-TLdAtIujiBszrClkf02k4eQ-6m_lsZ_uisMpws6gsf91zZ4vgXGKRKWNgyGDqfLoz1KguCoFeEM60zM/w640-h480/2020-12-30-125739482.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. The Lonely Hearts Hotel<br /></span><i>Heather O' Neill </i></h3><p>Rose and Pierrot are both abandoned at an orphanage in 1914. There, they experience abuse - sexual and physical - and eventually leave to forge their own paths, yet they're always hoping they'll find each-other again. Their longing for one another is the driving force behind this coming-of-age story that has elements of magical realism. I picked this up solely because of the abundance of comparisons that people do between <i>The Night Circus</i> and this. And.. okay, yes, I see why someone would recommend one if you liked the other, but instead of the gentle gorgeous world that was crafted in <i>The Night Circus</i>, <i>The Lonely Hearts Hotel</i> mainly focuses on the darkness of life. I hated how grim this novel was, especially as it didn't seem to have a clear direction. It was depressing, after depressing, with a hefty amount of abuse in various forms (sexual, mental, physical). I wanted to wash my body each time I picked this up, just because of how gritty it made me feel. I could look past that if I felt like that was the intention of the author, but instead it seemed to be trying to be.. romantic? If you want to read my full review, check<a href="http://www.rootingbranches.com/2020/05/the-lonely-hearts-hotel.html"> HERE</a>.</p><p><b>You may like this if...</b> you enjoy very dark/gloomy contemporaries, you adore Julie Whelan as a narrator on audiobooks, you want a mix of <i>The Night Circus</i>, <i>A Little Life</i>, and the <i>Wayward Children </i>series. (I say that adoring all 3 books, but hating this. So take that with a grain of salt.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpzvgBPky7KMk8aKx7JEgB0cTjsT3u7ELVfpFoFbe6MRb86yR1nYVcJDnHqY3Oa8EQ_Wbn_FxbRyveI9cneCqZWSUbTHpXJhLZBztGfJYPfW2W2S-wIVFS7fLynswzKOEFZep7FTQAQQ/s2048/2020-12-30-125801107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpzvgBPky7KMk8aKx7JEgB0cTjsT3u7ELVfpFoFbe6MRb86yR1nYVcJDnHqY3Oa8EQ_Wbn_FxbRyveI9cneCqZWSUbTHpXJhLZBztGfJYPfW2W2S-wIVFS7fLynswzKOEFZep7FTQAQQ/w640-h480/2020-12-30-125801107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. Peter Pan<br /></span><i>J. M. Barrie</i></h3><p>Peter Pan and Tinker Bell whisk away three children to the magical place Neverland. There, they go on a dangerous adventure against the villainous Captain Hook. I get that not all children's classics will of aged well, but boy, did Peter Pan absolutely crash and burn. Not only was it incredibly sexist toward Wendy, but.. it made no sense. The story was so peculiar that I'm still not entirely sure what happened. Peter was insufferable and I repeatedly wished for the ability to give him a smack. Finishing Peter Pan felt the same as finishing a plate of poorly cooked pasta and regretting all your life choices. I would never recommend this to anyone, and I would most definitely never read this to my future children. This edition is beautiful, and that's honestly the only thing it has going for it.</p><p><b>You might like this if... </b>You enjoy reading children's classics, you love the movie and want to experience the book.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRStcRrE4O3HI6O1E-5Vm9cpWyaN2YmsscvnMcpr0ml5J1N5wBP6sAFFQb4phI-cbnxwe-d7w-LErD6Cnzcs8VSLX0HD0GEpw9NA3LJnrxNQeWsqFXvNPTBA_1PaSeGAPM16TvgQ9oew/s2048/2020-12-28-123646205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRStcRrE4O3HI6O1E-5Vm9cpWyaN2YmsscvnMcpr0ml5J1N5wBP6sAFFQb4phI-cbnxwe-d7w-LErD6Cnzcs8VSLX0HD0GEpw9NA3LJnrxNQeWsqFXvNPTBA_1PaSeGAPM16TvgQ9oew/w640-h480/2020-12-28-123646205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">6. Luster<br /></span><i>Raven Leilani </i></h3><p>A young black woman starts an affair with a married man, but after her luck gets nonexistent, the man's wife invites her to stay with the family. I'm honestly so confused as to why this book is so popular within the book community. Not only was the writing very simplistic, but the characters were all godawful. There were no redeemable qualities about Edie, the protagonist, unlike say <i>Queenie</i> or <i>Grown Ups</i>, wherein the main character has a notable growth throughout the novel. I never found myself caring for anyone in this book, so when plot points would happen I felt.. nothing. With a contemporary that's primarily focused on mental health or character development, you have to care or else it will always become a 2 star read. I may just be in the minority with this, but yes.</p><p><b>You might like this if.. </b>you gave <i>Queenie </i>a high rating, you don't mind not liking any characters in your reads, or you want a controversial bookclub pick.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSXzKRTwrKVtYYt9b_Nv3xxoBu2Req7VrnFy18OvWl2NdTMCSeFdmV2VPFxflgCoysPqrcPgmRXJNq8yJhu9qR2BytnmSlBKYPVWr7XNOS4JJ8p7tMwiP6R7zYuCGgu0Y7dO0xuCX7Mo/s2048/2020-12-30-010048260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSXzKRTwrKVtYYt9b_Nv3xxoBu2Req7VrnFy18OvWl2NdTMCSeFdmV2VPFxflgCoysPqrcPgmRXJNq8yJhu9qR2BytnmSlBKYPVWr7XNOS4JJ8p7tMwiP6R7zYuCGgu0Y7dO0xuCX7Mo/w480-h640/2020-12-30-010048260.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So, 6 bad books out of what is currently 182? Not bad at all! What book from this list would you still pick up? Let me know. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaclWMHATUIsRLg76qZiM-9p8jKX60r_fwZLh04MqKgcvz9H8pTnqQn_ol6l8REVFwOfoW6txrcMkg-SH-7Q38xLKjvliaCwfsikspj1Xzj6p6RN2FCces3WxFtDG-6W9QUIF083s-2M/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaclWMHATUIsRLg76qZiM-9p8jKX60r_fwZLh04MqKgcvz9H8pTnqQn_ol6l8REVFwOfoW6txrcMkg-SH-7Q38xLKjvliaCwfsikspj1Xzj6p6RN2FCces3WxFtDG-6W9QUIF083s-2M/s0/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673126393979903932.post-66411525978114144922020-12-28T13:32:00.003-08:002020-12-28T21:21:47.165-08:00Top 12 Books Of 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIVI_72N2u0Yvt-ArDObffrVelmOnRTaE7ombzt574eEwOjXawjB6lK2WIXE51KztO8llySRnwpHxUBxJA9xO9ybSDR5Fhai3X6leYjhr4k1yT0DzJccERsd2ulQaASGKEViieCswNW8/s2048/20201228_123241_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIVI_72N2u0Yvt-ArDObffrVelmOnRTaE7ombzt574eEwOjXawjB6lK2WIXE51KztO8llySRnwpHxUBxJA9xO9ybSDR5Fhai3X6leYjhr4k1yT0DzJccERsd2ulQaASGKEViieCswNW8/w640-h640/20201228_123241_0000.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, it's time for my yearly wrap-up of books! I didn't publish this sooner as I had a hope that a last minute read would surprise me and become a favourite (Spoiler: It happened and it was <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>). I hope your reading year was both successful and fun! Here are my top 12 books of the year, but please take this list with a grain of salt as I couldn't possibly put them in a accurate order. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKIYix4XclAuFO0Qi81qF79fdK2pHs6BuJKwN0U9tZjEd1CKv23UciibVwOcKKfZLk6ImpV4_c93RdeWwqPdUClZC_n5onzut-e0fKkpVFYnRFFGH5vh7-BJ2sHO1F8ePXCjZVj9YIPE/s2048/2020-12-27-014108944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKIYix4XclAuFO0Qi81qF79fdK2pHs6BuJKwN0U9tZjEd1CKv23UciibVwOcKKfZLk6ImpV4_c93RdeWwqPdUClZC_n5onzut-e0fKkpVFYnRFFGH5vh7-BJ2sHO1F8ePXCjZVj9YIPE/w640-h480/2020-12-27-014108944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Know My Name<br /></span><i>Chanel Miller</i></h3><p>I don't think a non-fiction has ever been my favourite book of the entire year, but here we are. <i>Know My Name</i> is a gut-wrenching memoir by a woman who survived sexual assault and went through the rape trail that divided America. Chanel Miller is a strong, artistic, intelligent, wonderful human being and she really showed that through the words in this book. I never thought a book could be so mutually heartbreaking and uplifting, but somehow this inspiring woman managed to do that. I listened to this as an audiobook and I urge you to do the same, the author narrates it herself, and to hear her speak the words of her story herself is breathtaking. Though this memoir is mostly about the assault that changed her life, it's also a journey of a young girl finding herself again after she was robbed of the girl she used to be. In a similar vain as Cheryl Strayed struggling with the passing of her mother in <i>Wild</i>, this is a self-discovery novel. Chanel Miller never shy's away from writing about her depression and anxiety with a bluntness that can be truly difficult to read about, and yet, we have to. If you've survived a sexual assault or struggle with your mental health or simply want to read a book by a remarkable woman, pick up Know My Name. I cried, smiled, and my skin is permanently changed after the amount of goosebumps the writing gave me. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwHv4K8IfppFqXz2Be1C9CUFXHHkyFSP81FALX3MKDonGMsWLyXHU4MMWFAqHP-gpoqNdG6REND05By68VMvSJndvP_rHKrmidTLCUd1p209vzmZ61jPiucGJvEAjMXgcxgvQ0Ts2QYU/s2048/2020-12-27-035034998.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwHv4K8IfppFqXz2Be1C9CUFXHHkyFSP81FALX3MKDonGMsWLyXHU4MMWFAqHP-gpoqNdG6REND05By68VMvSJndvP_rHKrmidTLCUd1p209vzmZ61jPiucGJvEAjMXgcxgvQ0Ts2QYU/w640-h480/2020-12-27-035034998.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Magic Lessons<br /></span><i>Alice Hoffman</i></h3><p><i>Magic Lessons</i> is the prequel to both <i>Practical Magic</i> and <i>The Rules of Magic</i>. If you've never heard of the books, I guarantee that a good portion of you have watched the <i>Practical Magic</i> movie adaptation starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. Yes! That one, this is the book series that inspired that magical movie. I read <i>The Rules of Magic</i> earlier this year and didn't love it as much as I hoped to, but was entertained. Alice Hoffman's novels always read like a Pinterest board and that book fell heavily into it. A lot of substance without much payoff, if that makes any sense. So.. I digress, when I saw <i>Magic Lessons</i> on Net Galley I instantly requested and then regretted it. What if it was a bit boring? Alas, it turned out to be my second favourite book of the entire year. We love a Cinderella story! <i>Magic Lessons</i> takes us all the way back to the 1600's to when Maria Owens was born. A naturally gifted witch whose life takes her on many journeys - some wonderful and some heartbreaking. As a little girl she learns to hone her skills with a fellow witch who takes the orphan in, and as a teenager she gets her first taste of love and it consumes her, even when it takes her to Salem during the witch trials. How did she come to curse the entire line of Owens without love? Read and find out. You could quite easily read this series in reverse order, which I might do sometime next year as a reread adventure, so please.. if you enjoy witchy books, mother/daughter dynamics, romance, or historical fiction, immediately add this to your TBR! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuvUqLZuh21_aToX_rbA_oDog4vewISIUU-y7qFC0wNia7DJ8VXjaRCj-y7DBi9UjR2CAJEC5gYoBpK2VWZXCugZDaEtyvfglRW4d2VcFJIYC3-eXUBLHqy23QvtJGHoZSqFTqXl5cVQ/s2048/2020-12-27-013815980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuvUqLZuh21_aToX_rbA_oDog4vewISIUU-y7qFC0wNia7DJ8VXjaRCj-y7DBi9UjR2CAJEC5gYoBpK2VWZXCugZDaEtyvfglRW4d2VcFJIYC3-eXUBLHqy23QvtJGHoZSqFTqXl5cVQ/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013815980.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Anxious People<br /></span><i>Fredrik Backman</i></h3><p>Are we surprised that a Fredrik Backman book is on here? Nope! Backman is a auto-buy author for me, I adore his contemporaries and short stories. There's no other way of describing his books other than unashamedly human. So, when his new book was released and I got approved for it on NetGalley I instantly began reading and.. yup, it's taken over <i>Beartown</i> as my favourite book by the Swedish author. Anxious People is about a group of people who get held up at gunpoint during an apartment viewing and the many ways that being human can save you. The main aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the intertwined lives of all the characters, I think it was done beautifully and really made me think about how such small things you do in your day can impact someone else. Suicide is a heavy topic in this novel and Backman manages to write about it with such grace and yet honesty. I have never felt so seen before in a book, and that's priceless. I finished the last chapter and instantly reread it. If that's not a sign of a absolute adoration of a book, I don't know what is. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrFHzgEOlQVI0jtri7oq2lKXuXzBpHYO3uXChVyTPtmZb5EFzEUABRF4vIo92k3Da6uBq5W8fB1lnj3Oub_MkE77ONAvBqyHTLgBTnGszoQ427jnF5a9S2mB9VmaFEX6CVzUimyNKieQ/s2048/2020-12-27-013732196.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrFHzgEOlQVI0jtri7oq2lKXuXzBpHYO3uXChVyTPtmZb5EFzEUABRF4vIo92k3Da6uBq5W8fB1lnj3Oub_MkE77ONAvBqyHTLgBTnGszoQ427jnF5a9S2mB9VmaFEX6CVzUimyNKieQ/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013732196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Such A Fun Age<br /></span><i>Kiley Reid</i></h3><p>This book took Bookstagram by storm earlier this year. I was seeing it everywhere so instantly got it from my library because I like to read what's making the rounds. And.. wow. I'm still awed that this was a debut novel. <i>Such A Fun Age</i> is about Emira Tucker, a young black woman who babysits a white child one evening and is accused of kidnapping. Hearing about the incident the mother of the child, Alix Chamberlain, takes it upon herself to try and change Emira's life - even if it means not listening to the girl. This book, at heart, is about performative activism. It's a look at race, wealth, and definitely delves into the 'white savior' complex. But it's also a very easy read. It reminded me a lot of Celeste Ng's writing, where the topic is heavy and yet the reading experience is light. It's remarkable that a first time author manages to accomplish that. I really liked how well developed Alix and Emira were, and I thought that the author did a swell job at not boxing either of them into stereotypes. The ending was a little rushed, but overall, a really solid book that I would reread. I think it would make for a great mini series. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWjt5SgMlNlTOcFVOjCpJ3LJHRTOF4bvqW5XcQr-k1rf3YS4B29mg8ikibd3PyFNPNY0LcGb-szLu8K4Ac13PGSzHMt_kNr65jABvyRhJtuy1YzzmrDXYmTBywMztkuCPBkxbrJia4Zs/s2048/2020-12-27-013428692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWjt5SgMlNlTOcFVOjCpJ3LJHRTOF4bvqW5XcQr-k1rf3YS4B29mg8ikibd3PyFNPNY0LcGb-szLu8K4Ac13PGSzHMt_kNr65jABvyRhJtuy1YzzmrDXYmTBywMztkuCPBkxbrJia4Zs/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013428692.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. My Dark Vanessa<br /></span><i>Kate Elizabeth Russell </i></h3><p>This dark contemporary is about a young girl who gets groomed by her professor and the effect that it has on her life. Vanessa is a teenager when her professor starts 'flirting' with her, intimidated by his maturity and wanting to feel beautiful, she mistakes his infatuation for love. Years later, she's an adult and the #MeToo movement is bringing out the brave, women everywhere are coming out with their sexual assault stories. When another girl comes forward with allegations against the professor, Vanessa's professor, it causes Vanessa to revisit her past and see their relationship in another light. It's hard to write about a book like this and not compare it to <i>Lolita</i>, heck, <i>Lolita</i> is a heavy theme throughout this novel. It's both different and the same. <i>Lolita</i> seems to glorify the taboo romance, whereas <i>My Dark Vanessa </i>is a very intimate look at a victims mentality throughout the relationship. The mix of past and present was done seamlessly, and the author did a wonderful job at writing a layered character. This would be a great book club book.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03k0OeWKc7uXYn5oTRGndjYSYsJxZIxJgl5FoDvYna705azY_zd5oSr6PTsu6wErt8F6aG7ndouRgLRWS06uLSeiyp7Mpa-IrpCxAaye9lMZb5jQq9CSF9UIgC5Oia4bdsaC2OYs39K8/s2048/2020-12-27-013655127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03k0OeWKc7uXYn5oTRGndjYSYsJxZIxJgl5FoDvYna705azY_zd5oSr6PTsu6wErt8F6aG7ndouRgLRWS06uLSeiyp7Mpa-IrpCxAaye9lMZb5jQq9CSF9UIgC5Oia4bdsaC2OYs39K8/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013655127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">6. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home<br /></span><i>Tembi Locke</i></h3><p>Memoirs are tricky things to give a synopsis of as, well, they're about the authors life. However, From Scratch is about Tembi Locke's journey of learning to find love in life again after losing her husband to cancer. Her and her daughter spend their Summers in Sicily with her late husband's family, and together they grieve. Do you ever randomly pick up a book and it blindsides you with just how wonderful it is? That was this book for me. The grief that this book radiated broke my heart into smithereens. I'd never heard of Tembi Locke through her acting (though <i>Eureka</i> is on my 'to watch' list), I didn't even know she was a popular actress when starting <i>From Scratch</i>. I was expecting a memoir focused on grief, and instead I got a book that, yes, spoke about loss, but it also delved into motherhood, the beauty of food, new beginnings, and the process of learning to find joy again. I lost my Grandmother last year and this book came to me at just the right time. Tembi Locke is an admirable woman who's strength astonishes me. In the physical book there are recipes woven into the chapters, I think (?), so I'm interested in giving this a reread in that format as I went with the audiobook on Scribd. Read this.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zFunVy6iyuBdW-iVzq3k3oEMyMJpA7sIudIOjNnNv4CKhlsO4GyTG8XwFQ15ePoejUyAtgJIJTZ3bm8RmKCST1gmi7izBFGxsfPcZO3cZNPQUyBuEG1QlUhaypnAvzj1IH_MAr4TNcE/s2048/2020-12-27-013415672.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zFunVy6iyuBdW-iVzq3k3oEMyMJpA7sIudIOjNnNv4CKhlsO4GyTG8XwFQ15ePoejUyAtgJIJTZ3bm8RmKCST1gmi7izBFGxsfPcZO3cZNPQUyBuEG1QlUhaypnAvzj1IH_MAr4TNcE/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013415672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">7. The Midnight Library<br /></span><i>Matt Haig</i></h3><p>A woman who tries to kill herself instead wakes up in a library filled to the brim with variations of her life had she made different choices. The librarian gives her the chance to "try on" each life to find a happier existence. <i>And the award for the most original premise goes to... </i>This is such a fun yet interesting idea for a book. I was worried it wouldn't be executed well, but it was wonderful. In the same vain as <i>Anxious People</i>, <i>The Midnight Library</i> is such a poetically quiet book. It's such a beautiful look at humanity and I think Haig did a marvelous job at writing from the POV of someone who wants to end their life. I loved how gradual the protagonist's view on life changed, it never felt rushed or unrealistic. It was just an all round beautiful novel that I urge anyone to pick up. I definitely need to read more Matt Haig.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4973Z8HZRqAeUJK-umpD_YkfipvZtxqM5ea_PUlPx-Op2pbppTL1bVsPF35a8yN0xJF2vAPS1MifKsT6zYFouODPsKNQi_fmeA3x_wtbJbH1dMNGV7G8fRlevpPCg20b4HGT3nrp94/s2048/2020-12-27-013719580.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4973Z8HZRqAeUJK-umpD_YkfipvZtxqM5ea_PUlPx-Op2pbppTL1bVsPF35a8yN0xJF2vAPS1MifKsT6zYFouODPsKNQi_fmeA3x_wtbJbH1dMNGV7G8fRlevpPCg20b4HGT3nrp94/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013719580.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">8. Take A Hint, Dani Brown<br /></span><i>Talia Hibbert </i></h3><p>Danika Brown is focused on her career and has no time for romance. She wants toe-curling sex without any strings attached. Easy! However, Zafir Ansari, the handsome security guard of her workplace, is a brooding romantic. When a video goes viral of Zafir carrying Dani out of a building in a fire drill gone wrong, he begs her to play along in a bid to stir up some publicity for a charity he runs. You can guess what happens next. I liked <i>Get A Life, Chloe Brown</i>, the first book in <i>The Brown Sisters</i> trilogy, but I didn't love it. My expectations were too high for the Fibromyalgia rep, so naturally, it fell short. However, <i>Take A Hint, Dani Brown </i>was a bundle of joy. Despite Talia Hibbert's books usually being centered around a romance, she does weave more serious topics into the story. In this, Zafir has anxiety and, in my opinion, the portrayal of panic attacks in the book was incredible. I've never read a more accurate portrayal of anxiety in fiction. It felt like a weighted blanket of understanding. I also really liked that Dani was bisexual and yet it wasn't just to fuel a plot. As a couple, I 110% bought Dani and Zafir together. They were steamy, sweet, and bettered one another. They had a very mature romance, which you don't always see in this genre. I adored it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7LN04nzy9R6-fMoic5pZZUFA9FpvUI88t-OITpBWepSboQNcu5Ec3EXX6cadmW1YUu63a4axQSpjPG2suD1-lqt-cnEUvlJ7ruUuqlV4YtykKZR2JTDcfQYCx78WvtIsccNLkcUIkzw/s2048/2020-12-27-013352722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7LN04nzy9R6-fMoic5pZZUFA9FpvUI88t-OITpBWepSboQNcu5Ec3EXX6cadmW1YUu63a4axQSpjPG2suD1-lqt-cnEUvlJ7ruUuqlV4YtykKZR2JTDcfQYCx78WvtIsccNLkcUIkzw/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013352722.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">9. The Housekeeper and the Professor<br /></span><i>Yōko Ogawa</i></h3><p>Each morning the Housekeeper and the Professor meet for the first time. After a tragic car accident that resulted in the Professor only having a 80 minute memory, he is a recluse at home and the Housekeeper is hired to take care of him. Slowly, a strange but beautiful friendship builds between the two unlikely allies. This is a quiet novel that is so potently beautiful. I grew to deeply care for the characters despite the short length (191 pages). In many ways, the writing of this reminded me of Fredrick Backman's way of writing. It was subtle and yet full of endearment for humanity. If this has been on your reading radar at all, I urge you to pick it up. It's well worth your time. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWYIT35mx0xlNQ6d5B1kX1dLUDCEvZCuh3lPpOmfWt2p01rPMRKpD3sRd7BXUHyeov1aF95pR0T2XUO8o84jjM8CEXFlyn5Jv5KdJmCuHBZY4TWW-P1AtdeUkkrdINBF9_jhaKhBj00U/s2048/2020-12-27-013513045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWYIT35mx0xlNQ6d5B1kX1dLUDCEvZCuh3lPpOmfWt2p01rPMRKpD3sRd7BXUHyeov1aF95pR0T2XUO8o84jjM8CEXFlyn5Jv5KdJmCuHBZY4TWW-P1AtdeUkkrdINBF9_jhaKhBj00U/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013513045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">10. Black Flamingo<br /></span><i>Dean Atta </i></h3><p>Michael, a young half-Jamaican half-Greek Cyprian is a young man struggling to come to terms with his identity. We follow his story from boyhood to university, and learn how his life leads him to discovered drag and becoming The Black Flamingo. This novel is mostly written in verse, but it has illustrations and poetry woven throughout the story. These type of books always seem to get compared to one another (The Poet X, Clap When You Land, Punching the Air) but I think that's awful. Each book has it's own story to tell, and Black Flamingo has touched my heart the most. I cried, I laughed, and I grew deeply fond of Michael. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2ntY6UeeJoqClV7laiabF7k7CcQFYXSSRultjbsnVfQIpJMowZ2OEcOPAk4DN2WjNWeAzm2ZVO1vpxuV6Kzm94tJT9yAo2ztiVg00TCYiCceBzdcfniueCUTlrPEPnPlHm4LrSO2zw8/s2048/2020-12-27-035044679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2ntY6UeeJoqClV7laiabF7k7CcQFYXSSRultjbsnVfQIpJMowZ2OEcOPAk4DN2WjNWeAzm2ZVO1vpxuV6Kzm94tJT9yAo2ztiVg00TCYiCceBzdcfniueCUTlrPEPnPlHm4LrSO2zw8/w640-h480/2020-12-27-035044679.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">11. Anne of Green Gables<br /></span><i>L. M. Montgomery</i></h3><p>When 11-year-old Anne Shirly is mistakenly dropped off with spinster Marilla and bachelor Matthew Cuthbert, she turns their lives upside down with an array of funny antics. There is no more accurate word to describe this children's classic other than delightful! As a protagonist Anne was a pure joy, her whimsical personality and amusing interactions with other characters literally made me laugh out loud. I was honestly surprised by how feminism forward this book was, given that it was first published in 1908. You could take Marilla out of this book and put her into a recent release and she'd fit in fine. (Can she adopt me?) I knew this was going to be a fun read, but I didn't expect it to elevate my mood as much as it did. If you're feeling down, I wholeheartedly recommend you read this. I'm kicking myself for not picking this up sooner.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl08uB7fcf04Y6d_WhJgZnR4iK8SKW76zk39RsoZCceaRrY6O-XdAP6hJhCK7IHsf13g3OJIFzu-kUvvyweNoNJ6P2gNTNyJXuuS6NCFL89HgMMLZWxFoB9LyvHTe6prwkxAhB-ipFzXs/s2048/2020-12-27-013532539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl08uB7fcf04Y6d_WhJgZnR4iK8SKW76zk39RsoZCceaRrY6O-XdAP6hJhCK7IHsf13g3OJIFzu-kUvvyweNoNJ6P2gNTNyJXuuS6NCFL89HgMMLZWxFoB9LyvHTe6prwkxAhB-ipFzXs/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013532539.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">12. Girl, Woman, Other<br /></span><i>Bernadine Evaristo </i></h3><p>Spanning over several decades, <i>Girl, Woman, Other</i>, is told through twelve narratives of mostly black women. We get snippets of their lives and learn how all their stories are woven together. This was a book that grew on me the longer I sat with it on my mind. When I initially read it, I think my expectations were so high that it was always going to disappoint me. However, I read this novel months and months ago and yet I still think about it often. Bernadine Evaristo did a wonderful job at writing such a large cast of characters, and yet they were all vividly unique. This was undoubtedly the best written book I read in 2020, it empowered me as a woman in a way that I didn't know fiction could. This would make a epic bookclub pick.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L42seAU8rCZpO1__BhnZiZLKvtUh8hb1C2pX-Wa845hEOP5dlScQlKMJBSJkf-YHKG2s-Ttndkm51Q-TB0JKHEoutNmv87l2fFtrqDF43HeJulpF2WuI0uGTeplO6Z3cTMQPwvQp50g/s2048/2020-12-27-013843733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L42seAU8rCZpO1__BhnZiZLKvtUh8hb1C2pX-Wa845hEOP5dlScQlKMJBSJkf-YHKG2s-Ttndkm51Q-TB0JKHEoutNmv87l2fFtrqDF43HeJulpF2WuI0uGTeplO6Z3cTMQPwvQp50g/w640-h480/2020-12-27-013843733.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So, that's a wrap on the best books I read in 2020! What book topped your list? Let me know!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHxfdyG6jF2tUnLHkbykMmrGXqQ8UYdT0rWKsi8NRfkz9MJGybk6RShLNJyKpKJ9vDFw82W6w2VW2yUNm-W9vUR-lxVvfd2KFhU0bjeuKQSlUcMeY1cx59CTUW6bz8XtJHUqWsPaEhfI/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="320" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHxfdyG6jF2tUnLHkbykMmrGXqQ8UYdT0rWKsi8NRfkz9MJGybk6RShLNJyKpKJ9vDFw82W6w2VW2yUNm-W9vUR-lxVvfd2KFhU0bjeuKQSlUcMeY1cx59CTUW6bz8XtJHUqWsPaEhfI/w200-h95/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-25+at+08.23.57.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOzCqpA3t3S7nAS1cxy_HKZjj4vtqnSRQoulkiHrcd8vUoYLByzFPZ2_Ayj0mX2zss2agrv4sI2o6GeT7Wf1lqlTfhZEelQxfN_QoU5mqkmJu-TWzSRB5BVlrvOfSqNHN9npjFy6_CDc/s1920/20201228_123046_0000.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOzCqpA3t3S7nAS1cxy_HKZjj4vtqnSRQoulkiHrcd8vUoYLByzFPZ2_Ayj0mX2zss2agrv4sI2o6GeT7Wf1lqlTfhZEelQxfN_QoU5mqkmJu-TWzSRB5BVlrvOfSqNHN9npjFy6_CDc/w360-h640/20201228_123046_0000.png" width="360" /></a></div>RootingBrancheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957360520027707988noreply@blogger.com2