June 15, 2021

May Books 2021

To showcase exactly what a slow reading month May 2021 was, I'm posting this an entire week late. The end of May and the beginning of June was a particularly rough time. But, in case you're curious...

I read two new books. I also quit two books. I've gotten very picky about what I quit this year; mostly because I quit a lot in 2020, 2019, 2018...you get it. This month, I didn't even try to push through. I also re-read 6 favorites...*

Tactics by Greg Koukl

I just want to share that this is probably the best book I've ever read. 

If you like to debate. If you like to argue productively. If you like to talk to people in general about important topics....this is the book for you. 

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

This was okay? I had High Expectations because of the reviews I've seen from other bloggers. I thought the main character was super dull, kinda odd, and tried to be much smarter or more mysterious than she actually was. I could see Jessica Biel play her in a movie version, perhaps. (Jessica Biel is terrible.)

There were a lot if times I just found myself not caring about the story. It was a suspension of belief story, minus any magic/fantasy. It wasn't bad. Just wasn't what I expected. A true three star book.

(I will also throw in that I feel like the writing wasn't that great.)

And I didn't finish:

Mother May I? by Joshilyn Jackson

Has anyone ever noticed that her books are all exactly the same? Late 30s, with a baby, husband who works a lot? Or, very estranged family relationships? Or very strange past? Starting over? Unexpected pregnancy? Step-kids or older kids? There's always an older kid who is not quite fitting into the puzzle. Or an older husband? Or an older significant other?

Just a few patterns I picked up on.

I had a very hard time putting Never Have I Ever down a few years ago (even if I skimmed a LOT of the scuba stuff). 

For Mother May I?, I had trouble wanting to read it. As soon as the baby was kidnapped, I was done. My interest was completely severed. This isn't a spoiler. It happens in like chapter two and is in the blurb. I picked up on the fact that it didn't seem like it would be resolved super quickly in the story and would be the main plot point so...nope. It's a shame. Marshall seemed like a really interesting character. 

I also put that pattern of her writing together and thought, maybe her books aren't that unique and interesting? I only ever finished Never Have I Ever. The Almost Sisters wasn't for me. The formulaic factor is bugging me now. 

Any Luck at All by Denise Grover Swank and A.R. Carsella

This pains me. I love a good DGS rom-com. The Wedding Pact Series was so good! This was just dull and too Hallmark movie-ish. I didn't make it very far because I was bored. 

*My summer re-read list every year is:

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Shopaholic and Sister

Shopaholic and Baby

Mini-Shopaholic

Can You Keep a Secret?

The Undomestic Goddess

Remember Me?

I read them all every June. 


Linking up for Show Us Your Books! 

2 comments:

  1. I love the Shopaholic books! I think I've only read the first two or three.

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  2. I love a formula until I hate a formula, if that makes any sense. I know lots of writers have them, to a degree, which can provide some comfort as in knowing what to expect from them. But once they get so predictable and it starts to get annoying, that's when I know I'm done. I've only read Can You Keep a Secret but I laughed so hard throughout it. It makes me smile just thinking about it. Hope the remainder of June treats you a bit more kindly.

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