read in 2016
17 books.
read
Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail
by: Jennifer Pharr Davis
"Fantastic! The author was so real and relatable – although to be fair I already had a lot in common with her before starting the book. But she communicates with a rawness and humility that is so refreshing. Her experiences definitely challenged me to seek adventure, develop deeper relationships, and reflect on how the opinion of others effects my view of myself."
- katelynn
03/02/2016
- katelynn
03/02/2016
read
The Shining
by: Stephen King
read
Never Let Me Go
by: Kazuo Ishiguro
"It's hard to write a review of this book without comparing it to Remains of the Day. As in RotD, so much of the depth of emotion and connection is left unsaid, not just literally unsaid by the characters but also unexplained by the author. It's not bad - just interesting. Somehow it makes the pathos of both books so much sadder. This is another deeply sad book - there are no cathartic moments or revelations. It is quietly reflective on a society we are not that far from. I did appreciate that although the setting was somewhat distopic, the story focused on the characters and their relationships. The distopia was a seldom-mentioned backdrop. "
- katelynn
01/03/2016
- katelynn
01/03/2016
read
Maude
by: Donna Foley Mabry
"I read this book so fast - it was enthralling. This story of a woman's life from the late 1800s through the 1960s wouldn't be something that would usually keep my interest. But the protagonist was so relatable and honest, it was so easy just to slip into her shoes and live her life alongside her. I was moved with the heartbreak and the small joys she experienced. I came away grateful for the way I can live, with modern technology and a culture that lets me pursue my dreams and marry who I want. I am also grateful for my family and the support I have from parents and in-laws. But I am also reminded that nothing is forever and to be thankful for and cherish every moment. I am challenged to not be afraid to remake my life into what I want if there is something I can do to stop unhappiness (for me or my loved ones).
It would've gotten 5 stars from me, but the ending was SO despairing - there was nothing redeeming at all. She looked back on her life and only saw sadness and regret and no reason to continue living. But I guess it's supposed to be a "real", not sugar-coated story."
- katelynn
12/31/2016
It would've gotten 5 stars from me, but the ending was SO despairing - there was nothing redeeming at all. She looked back on her life and only saw sadness and regret and no reason to continue living. But I guess it's supposed to be a "real", not sugar-coated story."
- katelynn
12/31/2016
read
The Chaperone
by: Laura Moriarty
"Very interesting story and great characters, but the worldview/moral stances taken made me sad."
- katelynn
04/23/2016
- katelynn
04/23/2016
read
The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1)
by: Terry Pratchett
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Coraline
by: Neil Gaiman
"I would not want my child to read this. I just finished The Shining a few weeks ago and this book gave me a way more unsettled/creepy/icky feeling than that one. Very dark – without a plot good enough to make me OK with it."
- katelynn
03/22/2016
- katelynn
03/22/2016
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read
Morning Star (Red Rising Saga, #3)
by: Pierce Brown
"Good. Grief. What an amazing end to an epic saga! This book made me laugh and cry, brought me high and low. It felt so real, so genuine - The author portrayed the war, politics, and relationships with such complexity. Nothing was black and white. In the end the best thing about all of the books was the relationships. They were beautifully developed and really inspiring."
- katelynn
11/09/2016
- katelynn
11/09/2016
read
Fireflies in December (Calloway Summers #1)
by: Jennifer Erin Valent
"Interesting and at times gripping plot. Definitely a lot like To Kill a Mockingbird. At times the dialogue seemed a little forced."
- katelynn
06/22/2016
- katelynn
06/22/2016
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by: E.L. Konigsburg
"Just clever and fun!"
- katelynn
05/05/2016
- katelynn
05/05/2016
read
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two (Harry Potter, #8)
by: John Tiffany
"What a great read! I definitely want to see the play if it ever comes to the US - I enjoyed reading the book, but I think as a play it would be 1000x better. To those people that didn't like it, I'd say don't compare it to Harry Potter. It's apples and oranges. This play has to be appreciated in its own right - it is its own thing. It was sad and sweet - hit a lot of familiar Rowling themes and tied things up neatly. It is action-packed for a play and doesn't take as much time to develop characters as it would have as a novel. But that's okay!"
- katelynn
08/14/2016
- katelynn
08/14/2016
read
Making the "Terrible" Twos Terrific!
by: John Rosemond
read
The Sisters Brothers
by: Patrick deWitt
"This was a pleasant surprise! It was really fun to read something from such a different genre. It was a lot more serious than I was expecting- the characters have a lot of depth. Great!"
- katelynn
05/19/2016
- katelynn
05/19/2016
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Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)
by: Pierce Brown
read
Parenting by the Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child
by: John Rosemond
"I promised myself on New Years that I would finish this book before I read any more fiction. Whew, it was a slog! Not because it's uninteresting or slow, I just do NOT like reading nonfiction. It's like work.
That being said, this book is fantastic- I'd say a must-read for parents or soon-to-be-parents. I have an 18 month old and I feel so much liberation and purpose after reading this. I have so often been confused and exasperated and truly exhausted in my parenting. This book shows you how to cut through the noise and focus on the principles and parenting world-view of Scripture. I honestly think I've been making parenting too hard. I appreciate that the book has not just big-picture ideas but TONS of practical, every day wisdom.
I only give 4 stars because I had so much trouble getting through it. Again, not the fault of the content."
- katelynn
01/23/2016
That being said, this book is fantastic- I'd say a must-read for parents or soon-to-be-parents. I have an 18 month old and I feel so much liberation and purpose after reading this. I have so often been confused and exasperated and truly exhausted in my parenting. This book shows you how to cut through the noise and focus on the principles and parenting world-view of Scripture. I honestly think I've been making parenting too hard. I appreciate that the book has not just big-picture ideas but TONS of practical, every day wisdom.
I only give 4 stars because I had so much trouble getting through it. Again, not the fault of the content."
- katelynn
01/23/2016
read
The Prince and Betty
by: P.G. Wodehouse
"As always, Wodehouse is a delight! This is not the first time I've read this one, but I enjoyed it just as much. He develops such hilarious and lovable characters - Smith was my favorite in this novel. One minor note, the small bits of racism and sexism, although prevalent in the culture of the day, are hard to breeze past."
- katelynn
10/12/2016
- katelynn
10/12/2016
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read
Golden Son (Red Rising Saga, #2)
by: Pierce Brown
"The difference in ratings between the first and second book in this series should be more than one star, but I don't want to go back and lower my rating of the first book. This story matures the protagonist and the level of story-telling. It takes the series from just another teen distopia to a complex, fleshed-out epic with so much great detail in world-building, history and philosophy. I was riveted."
- katelynn
10/11/2016
- katelynn
10/11/2016