Hi there! I've been trying to write as I read and honestly, since it's summer, I've been eating my way through books and constantly am always picking up new books before I've even finished the stack I brought in. Today I finished the last audiobook I checked out from our wonderful library and therefore decided to bring back 3 more because why not, right?
Anywhoo, I just finished Landline by Rainbow Rowell. (I love her, I must read all of her novels.) I liked it throughout the entire thing. (Though after just finishing I'll Give You the Sun it was super hard not to compare Rowell's to that one. But still, it was good in its own way.)
Here's my summary:
Georgie McCool is a successful, independent, eccentric, married woman in her late thirties. She has built her career as a tv script writer with her best friend, Seth, whom she has known since her freshman year in college at UCLA. She is undeniably in love with her husband Neal and their two daughters, Alice and Numi (full name: Naomi). Since they had gotten married, Georgie has known how her career, her lifestyle grates on Neal's nerves. After 14 years of this, their marriage is on the rocks and when Georgie gets her big break - her own show with Seth - she has to take it. But in choosing this, she has to skip Christmas in Omaha with Neal and the girls at her in-law's. When she suggests they skip it this year, Georgie knew Neal would be angry - but she was not prepared for him to pack up with the girls and leave her in LA. Faced with spending the holiday alone to get ready for her important meeting she ends up at her mother's house. In an attempt to contact Neal, she has to rely on a clunky old landline and ends up getting him... 15 years earlier. Is this a sign? Is she supposed to fix her marriage before it even happens?
Okay!! So it was super great. I really did like it a lot. It was filed in the library under the 'Adult' section but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle (I'm in high school). It reminded me of the novel Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski, in which the main character Devi breaks her phone and it inevitably calls her own number 4 years before. Rowell writes dialogue really well. I like to hear books especially because of the different intonations of the characters' voices.I can't wait to read Carry On and Attachments by Rowell. Oh my goodness I'm quite in love with her writing.
Alright, I'll let you go now.
Happy reading!!
Sophie :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The Mind of a Bird
For a first post by me, I racked my brain for what book would get this ceremonious title. I settled on one of my absolute favorites: a biography of a behavioral scientist by the name of Irene Pepperberg.
If you were in my 9th grade English class, you've heard me mention/rant about this book.
Quick Summary:
40 years ago.. a woman with a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University walked into a pet shop. Her name was Irene Pepperberg, and she scooped up an African Grey Parrot, and named him Avian Learning EXperiment, Alex for short. He would go on to change the way people perceived birds. This book tells Irene's story, from her childhood through all of her scientific studies and work with Alex to the aftermath of Alex's death. Although it may not seem the most fascinating book, it is written in a way to be an intriguing and inspiring story.
Super Quick Summary: If you like birds, science, awesome women, and good writing, this is the book for you.
Signing off,
Maiya
If you were in my 9th grade English class, you've heard me mention/rant about this book.
Quick Summary:
40 years ago.. a woman with a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University walked into a pet shop. Her name was Irene Pepperberg, and she scooped up an African Grey Parrot, and named him Avian Learning EXperiment, Alex for short. He would go on to change the way people perceived birds. This book tells Irene's story, from her childhood through all of her scientific studies and work with Alex to the aftermath of Alex's death. Although it may not seem the most fascinating book, it is written in a way to be an intriguing and inspiring story.
Super Quick Summary: If you like birds, science, awesome women, and good writing, this is the book for you.
Signing off,
Maiya
Monday, June 22, 2015
How to Divide the World
Hello! Hope you're having a wonderful day.
I have recently gotten into audiobooks (I'm pretty sure I'm the only teenager with a Diskman in a 3,000 mile radius) and I picked up 3 to start. I just finished the second one, and it was freaking amazing. AHMAYZING. It's titled I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It was fantastic, really it was.
A brief(-ish) overview:
Jude and Noah are twins. 13 year-old Noah is a vibrant artist, bursting with color and potential. He and his sister have been close all their lives. Since he can remember, Noah and Jude have been dividing the world - the sun, the stars, the trees, everything. 13 year-old Jude is daring. She wears red, red lipstick and flirts with the older boys. They've grown apart lately; it seems that their family is dividing, but instead of Jude and Noah against their parents, they're on opposite teams now. 3 years later, a tragedy has divided them seemingly irrevocably. It seems their roles have reversed - Jude the odd artist, Noah the "normal" one.
Anyway, this is about how the twins find their way back to each other. It was hilarious (if you don't mind the cussing, it's well placed though). I laughed out loud at some parts and could definitely see the colors Noah described. I don't even know how else to describe it. IT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME. SO READ IT. NOW. STOP READING THIS AND GO PICK UP A COPY.
Much love,
Sophie
I have recently gotten into audiobooks (I'm pretty sure I'm the only teenager with a Diskman in a 3,000 mile radius) and I picked up 3 to start. I just finished the second one, and it was freaking amazing. AHMAYZING. It's titled I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It was fantastic, really it was.
A brief(-ish) overview:
Jude and Noah are twins. 13 year-old Noah is a vibrant artist, bursting with color and potential. He and his sister have been close all their lives. Since he can remember, Noah and Jude have been dividing the world - the sun, the stars, the trees, everything. 13 year-old Jude is daring. She wears red, red lipstick and flirts with the older boys. They've grown apart lately; it seems that their family is dividing, but instead of Jude and Noah against their parents, they're on opposite teams now. 3 years later, a tragedy has divided them seemingly irrevocably. It seems their roles have reversed - Jude the odd artist, Noah the "normal" one.
Anyway, this is about how the twins find their way back to each other. It was hilarious (if you don't mind the cussing, it's well placed though). I laughed out loud at some parts and could definitely see the colors Noah described. I don't even know how else to describe it. IT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME. SO READ IT. NOW. STOP READING THIS AND GO PICK UP A COPY.
Much love,
Sophie
CP + OCD = ??
Hello! It's Sophie again :)
Today, I will be writing about Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern. Let me start this off by saying it was completely different than what I expected. It's also the first book I listened to on disk (believe me, I've already gotten crap about how nerdy it is from my family, but personally, I don't give a rip).
Here's my overview:
Amy and Matthew aren't looking for a friendship when they finally talk to each other spring of their junior year (of high school). They've known each other for over 10 years but never once had an actual conversation, so when Matthew tells Amy what he really thinks about her cheerful persona, it changes her life. Amy realizes that all her life no one has told her the hard truth and that she needs him to be the person to do so. As their relationship grows throughout senior year, Amy discovers that Matthew is a person with his own problems and she decides to help him.
Soooo, yeahhh.....
Okay, I wasn't completely sure how to end that, but there are some major plot twists!!! I will do my best not to reveal them. I really, really loved this one. I was very hesitant at first but after the first disk I was pretty hooked. Honestly, I was a bit confused for a bit about what was going on with both protagonists. Maybe it McGovern wrote it that way on purpose (I'm sure it was; as Foley says, "Nothing an author does is without intent," thanks AP Lang). It was nice to get to know the characters without knowing to much. I feel that if I had known before hand it would have clouded my judgement - this gives me the chance to judge their personalities rather than define them. I think that another major theme of this is the prejudice set by disorders and diseases that affect people both physically and mentally. These play a big factor into Matt and Amy but they wouldn't be the same people they are in the book without these in their lives. It adds to their characters so much more.
Okay, I'll quit blabbing now, TTFN,
Sophie
Today, I will be writing about Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern. Let me start this off by saying it was completely different than what I expected. It's also the first book I listened to on disk (believe me, I've already gotten crap about how nerdy it is from my family, but personally, I don't give a rip).
Here's my overview:
Amy and Matthew aren't looking for a friendship when they finally talk to each other spring of their junior year (of high school). They've known each other for over 10 years but never once had an actual conversation, so when Matthew tells Amy what he really thinks about her cheerful persona, it changes her life. Amy realizes that all her life no one has told her the hard truth and that she needs him to be the person to do so. As their relationship grows throughout senior year, Amy discovers that Matthew is a person with his own problems and she decides to help him.
Soooo, yeahhh.....
Okay, I wasn't completely sure how to end that, but there are some major plot twists!!! I will do my best not to reveal them. I really, really loved this one. I was very hesitant at first but after the first disk I was pretty hooked. Honestly, I was a bit confused for a bit about what was going on with both protagonists. Maybe it McGovern wrote it that way on purpose (I'm sure it was; as Foley says, "Nothing an author does is without intent," thanks AP Lang). It was nice to get to know the characters without knowing to much. I feel that if I had known before hand it would have clouded my judgement - this gives me the chance to judge their personalities rather than define them. I think that another major theme of this is the prejudice set by disorders and diseases that affect people both physically and mentally. These play a big factor into Matt and Amy but they wouldn't be the same people they are in the book without these in their lives. It adds to their characters so much more.
Okay, I'll quit blabbing now, TTFN,
Sophie
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Fangirl-ing
Hi, guys!
Today I decided I would talk about the newest book I fell in love with- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Oh it's just wonderful looking at the jacket (I splurged on the special edition from B&N).
Okay here's my overview:
Cath and Wren Avery have been built-in best friends for 18 years. They've shared everything, from their love of Simon Snow books to a bedroom (yes, they're twin sisters). Simon and the World of Mages is what got them through their mom leaving, through the awkward and painful years of adolescence, and now they face the prospect of college. Lately, Wren has grown a bit more distant from Cath - keeping secrets, cutting her hair, distancing herself more and more from Cath. For Cath, all this change has her mind in a kaleidoscope, whirling from each new experience in a blurry, dizzying fashion. She is able to escape her troubles through entering the World of Mages, writing fanfic. Cath's life may be slipping away from her during her escapades, but is she ready to let go of a world so, well, magical and move on?
*DUN DUN DUNN!!!*
Anyway, I think it was a beautiful book. I really fell in love - again. Sometimes I wanted to reach through the pages and smack Cath (or Nick for that matter). Anywho, it was a super quick read. At first I didn't like the excerpts from the Simon Snow books, but I kind of grew to like them. Also, be prepared to have The Outsiders (by S. E. Hinton, if you were wondering) a bit ruined for you. I suppose I knew what generally happened in the end but I'm not one for having plots untwisted for me, ya feel? (I'm doing my best to write a review without revealing too much.) I got to the end of this book and said, "What is this?!" I was super upset it was over. Lol.
Happy reading!
Sophie
Today I decided I would talk about the newest book I fell in love with- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Oh it's just wonderful looking at the jacket (I splurged on the special edition from B&N).
Okay here's my overview:
Cath and Wren Avery have been built-in best friends for 18 years. They've shared everything, from their love of Simon Snow books to a bedroom (yes, they're twin sisters). Simon and the World of Mages is what got them through their mom leaving, through the awkward and painful years of adolescence, and now they face the prospect of college. Lately, Wren has grown a bit more distant from Cath - keeping secrets, cutting her hair, distancing herself more and more from Cath. For Cath, all this change has her mind in a kaleidoscope, whirling from each new experience in a blurry, dizzying fashion. She is able to escape her troubles through entering the World of Mages, writing fanfic. Cath's life may be slipping away from her during her escapades, but is she ready to let go of a world so, well, magical and move on?
*DUN DUN DUNN!!!*
Anyway, I think it was a beautiful book. I really fell in love - again. Sometimes I wanted to reach through the pages and smack Cath (or Nick for that matter). Anywho, it was a super quick read. At first I didn't like the excerpts from the Simon Snow books, but I kind of grew to like them. Also, be prepared to have The Outsiders (by S. E. Hinton, if you were wondering) a bit ruined for you. I suppose I knew what generally happened in the end but I'm not one for having plots untwisted for me, ya feel? (I'm doing my best to write a review without revealing too much.) I got to the end of this book and said, "What is this?!" I was super upset it was over. Lol.
Happy reading!
Sophie
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