March 10, 2020

February Books 2020



The Lies We Told by Camilla Way 4 stars

This was really good. It's a mystery, taking place in Great Britain and I struggled to put it down. The cover does not match the story at all, so just read it. Don't look at it. I gave this 4 stars on Instagram and it was close to 5 for me.



Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler 3 stars

I enjoyed this to an extent. However. I have thoughts when it comes to Christian books about motherhood. I mean, I could probably write my own book on the topic because I struggle to read these types without thoughts compounding my brain. It would take a lot for me to unpack this in a simple blurb. I would need a full blog post, at least. It's the same reason why I do believe that motherhood, in some ways, is fetishized, especially in the Christian community. It's a lot of thoughts and feelings that I have on the topic and I'm perfectly aware that this is my issue to sort out. This book, honestly, is fine. There was nothing detrimental in it. It's just a topic I'm very sensitive to, I've found.



The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton 4 stars

This was a bit like Dexter meets You, from a female perspective. There were a lot of reviewers on Goodreads who thought it had major problems, but I really liked it.



The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle 2.5-3 stars

This was okay. It was perfectly readable but not great in terms of story. I found the main character to be incredibly unlikeable. We get it: you're a psychologist at a private school. No one cares, I promise.
The end wasn't that great either. It seems like it's supposed to be a twist, but it's not. It's just...meh.



I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara 2.5-3 stars

I found this to be disjointed. There was a lot of hopping back and forth and I suppose the subtitle says it all "one woman's obsessive search". It's about Michelle. And they didn't have an arrest made when this book was published, so it's not like she could focus in on the actual killer.
So if you want to read a memoir about an author who accidentally OD'd on fentanyl + other prescription drugs (holy cow, I have questions), this is for you. That sounds unkind, but this really is just about her obsessive search, it's not about the victims or the killer. I see the value in it, but there's no resolution.

And this month's Did Not Finish books...


Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell

I quit this halfway through, so it goes onto my special DNF shelf on Goodreads. It wasn't bad, to be honest. It was just about a time period I really don't care for: the early 1990s. It moved a bit slowly too, so if you like dual-time-period books, it's fine. I just had other books I wanted to get to and didn't want to force myself to finish it.



The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Another DNF. I have no strong feelings about the book. Goodreads has a lot to say if you want to scan the 1-star reviews. It was just...pointless? I need to stop trying to read romance.

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This lands me at 10 books read for 2020 so far, and 2 that I didn't finish for one reason or another.

I'm noticing my real reading habits starting to poke through:
I like thrillers.
I have no patience for stories where I more or less know how they'll end, like rom-com type books.

Linking up with Jana and Steph!

11 comments:

  1. LOL - I had mixed feeling about the Kiss Quotient too - I just gave it a 'meh' it was OK review.
    The Perfect Girlfriend sounds interesting to me.
    Not having children out of my own body, I have a LOT of issues with Christian books about motherwood - & even womanhood. It's really set up to me as "YOURE A BIG FAIL" in most books - but i'm probably like you & its my issue & I just read more into it than someone else would. But I think that's the issue - that it CAN be read into... I dont know - I think I would write for months on that topic myself.

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  2. Your description of The Perfect Girlfriend makes me want to check it out! Very interesting.

    As a liberal Christian...I also have a very sensitive antennae for books like Motherhood. Would be really interested to hear your thoughts if you do decide to blog on it specifically!

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  3. I plowed through the kiss quotient. Shes written others I'll probably pass on.

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  4. I'll be skipping The Marriage Lie then. I had an ARC of The Lies We Told way back when and I really liked the story.

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  5. I'll Be Gone in the Dark was excellent. It's disjointed because other people had to piece together her notes and finish the book after she died. And her research combined with police work found the killer, so that's pretty cool.

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  6. I haven't read I'll Be Gone in the Dark but it always brings out weird feelings in me when I see it. I got mugged when I had the dang book in my purse, so it always reminds me of having my purse stolen. Plus, it was a library book so then I also had to buy the damn book too. That said, I have no idea whether or not I'd like the book because I haven't read it. LOL! I am not a Mom but I have lots of feelings about motherhood and how Christians often portray it. I don't know if it's because dudes basically set how Mothers are portrayed or what but it feels like it's some sort of warped reverence - we adore you for the ability to have babies and you are so valuable that we must take care of you (i.e. tell you what to do/think) under the guise of love that more about control. Hmmm ... I guess my feelings are stronger than I thought. Maybe because I am currently living in a small, conservative town that is just messing with my head.

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  7. The Perfect Girlfriend sounds intriguing! Sorry you didn't really care for I'll Be Gone in the Dark- I loved that one.

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  8. The Lies We Told sounds really interesting!

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  9. Interesting perspectives :) Thanks for sharing. I don't think I've read any from your list this month.

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  10. you definitely need to stop trying romance lol
    adding the lies we told to my list!

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