“The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry” – Gabrielle Zevin Review

“The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry” is totally outside of my normal realm of reading. I borrowed it on Libby, because I had read great reviews on Litsy. (I’ll tell you more about Litsy in a bit) But, because this isn’t my regular genre I enjoy I dove into the book not expecting too much.

To my surprise this wasn’t a Hallmark movie plot book like I believed it would be. This book had far more to offer, and plot twist I totally did not see coming.

A. J. Fikry is bookstore owner on an isolated island called Alice in Massachusetts. He finds himself widowed in his 30’s, and lives an incredibly isolated life himself. He isn’t a friendly towns person, and most of his business comes from summer vacationers (who he hates).

A woman named Amelia from Knightly Press comes to show A. J. the new books in the Knightly catalog for winter. A. J. Is terribly rude to her, and doesn’t set a great first impression.

A book is stolen, a baby is left in the bookstore all of which test the character of A. J. Fikry. I don’t want to reveal everything, but the book doesn’t end or play out in the middle as I expected.

Zevin does a fantastic job evolving Fikry’s character throughout the book. And, the fact that the book takes place in a bookstore, has “book” people in it, and name drops books here in there adds to the magic.

Favorite quote from the book – “We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone.”

Now, about Litsy-

If you are not on Litsy, and love bookish talk- GET ON THERE! Litsy is basically a social network for book lovers. I know it is available on iPhone, and on kindle.

I have met wonderful people, exchanged bookish gifts, and had wonderful chats about books on Litsy.

Exploring the world one book at a time,

Book Reflections

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” – Lewis Carroll

Hello everyone,

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend full of fun, relaxation, and of course reading. Let me start off my review of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by saying I had never previously read it.

Yes, I know it’s absurd I went my entire life not reading one of the most popular books of all time. My reasoning behind this is – I knew it was one of those love it or hate it books. I really wanted to love it, and let me just say I LOVED it! Why did I wait my whole life to enjoy it?

The imagination of Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) had to have been phenomenal in order to write Alice’s adventures. Alice a curious little girl finds herself tumbling down a rabbit hole. Then all the wonder of Wonderland appears.

Carroll writes in such an immersive way it feels as if you’ve fell down the rabbit hole into Wonderland with Alice.

You’ll have adventures with a rabbit, a jabberwocky, cards, chess pieces and so much more. I don’t know what more I could say other than it’s a wondrous, nonsensical adventure I highly recommend taking!

Let me know what you thought of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” in the comments!

Exploring the world one book at a time,

– Book Reflections

“City of Lies” by Lian Tanner Review

Hello everybody,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a nice long relaxing weekend. Over the long weekend I listened to Lian Tanner’s “City of Lies” on overdrive.

“City of Lies” is the second book in Tanner’s “Keepers” trilogy. This is a middle-grade fantasy novel.

In this book Goldie a trained liar leaves the city of Jewel where things have changed dramatically since the first novel “A Museum of Thieves” to find her friends. She finds herself in a city of Spoke, full of liars. Everything is upside down, and backwards – even the city itself is a liar.

Changes in Jewel – The Fugalman is believed dead, and the Blessed Guardians are no longer in power. This means children are no longer chained, but some events happen in Jewel that question the children’s safety.

Goldie is asked to become the 5th keeper at the Museum of Dunt, but this would mean she would have to leave her parents. Her parents are in ill health, because of her. They were sent to the house of repentance in the last book because she ran away. She does not want to leave her parents, so she avoids the Museum of Dunt. That is until a kidnapping takes place.

This leads Goldie on a journey to the city of Spoke – where they are set to begin their festival of lies. How was Goldie going to find her friends, and the truth in a city full of lies? She may even get caught up in a big lie for a day and a night. Will she be ready when the lie is over? I’ll leave that up to you to find out!

The Festival of Lies really made up for not having The Museum of Dunt in this sequel. Both the Museum and the Festival carry their own persona throughout both books.

I quite enjoyed the second installment of the Keepers Trilogy, and I am seriously shocked the series isn’t beyond popular. To top off the suspenseful writing of Lian Tanner, Claudia Black narrates the audiobook, and she leaves her heart on the table.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review, and that it might inspire you to read more!

Exploring the world one book at a time,

Book Reflections

C. S. Lewis‘ – The Chronicles of Narnia

Happy Sunday everyone!

Nobody freak out – I recently ran across the news that Netflix has acquired the rights to ALL of The Chronicles of Narnia. This is the first time that all of the book rights are held under the same company.

Netflix has done quite a few book to television adaptions. My personal favorite thus far is “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” They have done a much better job making a series out of the books, verses the hour and forty-eight minute long movie released in 2004.

Anyway, there are currently three Chronicles of Narnia movies which include; “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” (2005), “Prince Caspian” (2006), and “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (2010). These movies grossed over one and a half billion dollars.

It sounds like Netflix is wanting to make a “Narnia Universe”. Maybe they’ll do something along the lines of what they’ve done with Cressida Cowells’ “How to Train Your Dragon” series. (Also a very good Netflix book to television series) They kept portions of the books alive, but they also added and went on more “adventures” through the multiple Netflix series.

The Chronicles of Narnia books have sold over one hundred million copies, and have been translated into forty-seven languages. (This lands The Chronicles of Narnia in the top fifty books that have been translated to other languages.)

P. S. I own three sets of The Chronicles of Narnia so I’m quite geeked.

I guess my last question is – Who do you think will land the rolls of Edmond, Lucy, Peter, and Susan? That could make or break the series. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Exploring the world one book at a time,

Book Reflections

Book to Movie – Unpopular Opinion

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope you all remembered to set your scales back ten pounds. This photo is not originally mine however it made me chuckle, and had my brain firing.

I love to watch movies that have been created from books, and in most cases the book is always better. However there are a few exceptions to that rule.

A few movies that I thought were better than the book; almost anything Nicholas Sparks, (sorry!) and please hold your fire on this one Louis Lowerys’ The Giver.

I’m sure there is more I’m not thinking of, but feel free to share your unpopular opinions bellow – without fear! Haha

Happy Holidays everyone!

Exploring the world one book at a time,

Book Reflections

“Museum of Thieves” Book Review

Hello everyone,

I apologize for not posting for a bit. I have been out of the country without internet access. I went on a lovely cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The cruise stopped in Grand Turk, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, and Sint Maarten. They are all beautiful islands, and have wonderful people that live on them.

While away I did have a chance to listen to “A Museum of Thieves” by Lian Tanner via overdrive. (Side note: If you didn’t know, you can download books/audiobooks from overdrive to use without WiFi or cellular data)

I was pleasantly surprised by “A Museum of Thieves.” To be honest I was slightly partial to the idea of a book about a museum, because I love them. I’m talking history nerd, science geeking out, Smithsonian loving museum freak.

So, with that in the air I really did in enjoy the story crafted by Lian Tanner. I would put this book at a middle grade reading level. If this book existed when I was in middle school I feel like it would’ve instantly became one of my favorites

Tanner crafts a futuristic, dystopian society where children are basically chained to their parents also know as their keepers to keep them “safe.” Goldie the main character breaks away from the chains and runs away.

By running away she created a big mess of things. She has the Guardians of Jewel after her. But, by a stroke of luck she finds a museum full of interesting characters, and to top that off the museum itself is alive.

I’ll leave the rest of this book a mystery. I surely don’t want to spoil it for you. On the next!

4/5 stars

Exploring the world one book at a time,

Book Reflections

Book Reflections Book Giveaway

In just a few short weeks Book Reflections has reached over 100 followers on instagram! I am incredibly thankful to all who have decided to take this journey with me! In thanks I would like to host a book giveaway!

Winner will receive three books, bookmarks, and other bookish goodies!

Rules:

– Must like and repost photo with the hashtag #BRGIVEAWAY

– Follow Book Reflections

Giveaway open internationally from 10/30-12/31/18. Winner will be announced 1/1/19

The Great American Read Results

Spoiler Alert 🚨

If you haven’t yet watched the ending to The Great American read, and don’t want it to be spoiled pass on this until you do!

The Great American Read Results:

  1. To Kill a Mockingbird
  2. Outlander (Series)
  3. Harry Potter (Series)
  4. Pride and Prejudice
  5. Lord of the Rings
  6. Gone with the Wind
  7. Charlotte’s Web
  8. Little Women
  9. Chronicles of Narnia
  10. Jane Eyre
  11. Anne of Green Gables
  12. Grapes of Wrath
  13. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
  14. Book Thief
  15. Great Gatsby
  16. The Help
  17. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  18. 1984
  19. And Then There Were None
  20. Atlas Shrugged
  21. Wuthering Heights
  22. Lonesome Dove
  23. Pillars of the Earth
  24. Stand
  25. Rebecca
  26. A Prayer for Owen Meany
  27. Color Purple
  28. Alice in Wonderland
  29. Great Expectations
  30. Catcher in the Rye
  31. Where the Red Fern Grows
  32. Outsiders
  33. The Da Vinci Code
  34. The Handmaid’s Tale
  35. Dune
  36. The Little Prince
  37. Call of the Wild
  38. The Clan of the Cave Bear
  39. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy
  40. The Hunger Games
  41. The Count of Monte Cristo
  42. The Joy Luck Club
  43. Frankenstein
  44. The Giver
  45. Memoirs of a Geisha
  46. Moby Dick
  47. Catch 22
  48. Game of Thrones (series)
  49. Foundation (series)
  50. War and Peace
  51. Their Eyes Were Watching God
  52. Jurassic Park
  53. The Godfather
  54. One Hundred Years of Solitude
  55. The Picture of Dorian Gray
  56. The Notebook
  57. The Shack
  58. A Confederacy of Dunces
  59. The Hunt for Red October
  60. Beloved
  61. The Martian
  62. The Wheel of Time (series)
  63. Siddhartha
  64. Crime and Punishment
  65. The Sun Also Rises
  66. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
  67. A Separate Peace
  68. Don Quixote
  69. The Lovely Bones
  70. The Alchemist
  71. Hatchet (series)
  72. Invisible Man
  73. The Twilight Saga (series)
  74. Tales of the City (series)
  75. Gulliver’s Travels
  76. Ready Player One
  77. Left Behind (series)
  78. Gone Girl
  79. Watchers
  80. The Pilgrim’s Progress
  81. Alex Cross Mysteries (series)
  82. Things Fall Apart
  83. Heart of Darkness
  84. Gilead
  85. Flowers in the Attic
  86. Fifty Shades of Grey
  87. The Sirens of Titan
  88. This Present Darkness
  89. Americanah
  90. Another Country
  91. Bless Me, Ultima
  92. Looking for Alaska
  93. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
  94. Swan Song
  95. Mind Invaders
  96. White Teeth
  97. Ghostird
  98. The Coldest Winter Ever
  99. The Intuitionist
  100. Doña Bárbára There you have it folks! The long awaited results of The Great American Read. I have to say I wasn’t shocked by the winner. I do like “To Kill a Mockingbird”, but it definitely wasn’t my all time favorite on the list. However, my favorite did end up in the top ten.

C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, so I am satisfied with that.

I didn’t think there were any real shockers. I almost guessed the top five correctly besides “Outlanders.” Apparently I have been living under a rock, and have never read it.

Anyway, let me know what you think about the results, and where your favorite ended up.

Exploring the world one book at a time.

-Book Reflections

“Me Before You” Book Review

“Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes

Excuse me while I obliterate an entire box of tissues. No, seriously this book brings up a huge moral issue, and Jojo Moyes does a fantastic job at portraying the feelings of the main characters throughout the entire story.

26 year-old Louisa (Lou) Clark loses her job, and is “forced” to take a job as a caretaker of a quadriplegic 35 year-old Will Traynor. But, Camilla (Will’s mother) already employs a nurse to care for him. What was she there for?

Lou is a character that I feel most twenty-something females can identify with easily. She’s bubbly, quirky, but realizes the world is a rough and tough place. Will was a former business man before he was made a quadriplegic by being hit by a motorbike. Will is unhappy with life, and tends to take it out on those around him.

A lot happens between the beginning and end, and I surely don’t want to ruin it for you. Drama, love, vacations, and assisted suicide all pop up between the front and back cover. But, I promise you you’ll cry at some point before the end.

This book is outside of my “normal” reading habits. I usually read science fiction or fantasy type novels – rarely do I read romance. But, this book is considered a romance novel. It is hard to place it in that category in comparison to what is usually written, and published in that category.

It was on my “to be read” list since I watched the movie awhile back. The movie and the book share very similar parallels. My only complaint about the book verses the movie is Lou’s fathers character.

Overall I would recommend “Me Before You.” Just be prepared if you are American to decipher a few words from the British meaning to the US meaning.

Happy Reading!

4/5 Stars

Exploring the world one book at a time –

Book Reflections

Grammar Pet Peeves

So, I would love to know what everyone’s grammar pet peeves are! My Mother gets incredibly annoyed at me when I correct her grammar, but I blame my Father for making me such a stickler. 😂

I think some of my greatest annoyances are the use of homophones.

Their, there, and they’re.

This has been drilled into your head since elementary school. Why can’t people get it?

Another annoyance of mine is the use of two. too, and to. It’s another one of those things that has been repeated since elementary school, and people still cannot make it click.

Your and you’re…

Were, where, wear, and we’re –

Finally, then verses than –

Here is any easy chart to help you remember if you forget easily.

Okay, I know that I am certainly not the best at spelling, however it is 2018! You are most likely writing, and posting to social media on a device that has spell check. Do people just blatantly ignore that little red line under the words they “spell”, or do they just think its there for dramatic accent of their work?

I have complied a list of 25 spelling errors that will make us grammar nerds laugh just a bit.

1) Oh snap.

2) Steaks?

3) The committee says so.

4) he might eventually regret going to a tattoo artist that didn’t know how to spell.

5) Whoops, looks like they should’ve spent a little more time there before painting this on the ground.

6) No?

7) This sounds like an interesting place.

8) Pubic School? No thanks.

9) Let me know when you figure out what the Hall of Cost is. I’d be delighted to find out.

10) Do you lack toast?

11) Wash thy hands, or no life shall be granted to you.

12) You May be severed upon entry.

13) Your car may turn into a toad. They’ll send a magical being so watch out.

14) Do you “wont” it gone.

15) But, clearly not spelling.

16) I never thought of this as a problem, but okay?

17) I can’t even…

18) Humm…

19) Who is down for some launch?

20) I think I would just turn around.

21) Except vs accept 🤦‍♀️

22) We’re fairly certain you shouldn’t reproduce…

23) Can we trust the winner actually spelled words correctly?

24) I’ll pass.

25) Looks like they should’ve found another word for synonym.

Well, I hope that you’ve had fun with this one today! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Exploring the world one book at a time

-Book Reflections