2020 Goals and Challenges Wrap-Up

This year has been so crazy, it's almost hard to believe!  When I set these goals at the beginning of the year, I never could have imagined how our lives would be affected by COVID-19.  It almost seems a little silly, but I still want to take a look back at those goals, as well as wrap up my reading challenges.

Reading

• Reread more. I reread 20 books this year, including the Harry Potter ones below. 
• Reread the Harry Potter series. Done!
• Make a dent in the unread physical books on my shelf. I've definitely read a few, as there seems to be a noticeable difference in the shelf!
• Attend at least 2 bookish events.  I ended up attending two virtual bookish events - one with Taylor Jenkins Reid interviewing Katherine Center and one with Fiona Davis in conjunction with the New York Public Library.  Hopefully we'll be able to have in-person events again next year!
  

Blogging

• Respond to comments faster.  I think I did really well at this!
• Get ahead on my book reviews. I think I did ok at this.  I started doing more "quick reviews," which meant the actual writing took less time, but I needed to review more books.  At most points during the year, I was at least a couple weeks ahead, so I think that's pretty good.
• Build up my #bookstagram account.  My #bookstagram has grown about 60% since the beginning of the year!  I'm having fun participating in photo challenges and coming up with creative pictures.  If we're not already, let's be friends!

Life

• Get new passports.  Done!  Aaaaand we still have nowhere to go!
• Drink more water.  I definitely failed at this.  At least a couple times a week, I catch myself thinking, hmm, I should be drinking more water.
  
• Run a 5k. Total fail.  Maybe next year? 
• Make 100 blankets for Project Linus.  I made 66 blankets, so I didn't reach my goal, unfortunately.  

 

The 2020 Audiobook Challenge is hosted by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer.  My goal was 20-30 audiobooks and I ended up listening to 29.  I have to admit, though, I haven't listened to one since September; without my work commute, I was finding it was taking way too long to listen to audiobooks.

 

The Retellings Reading Challenge is hosted by Tracy at Cornerfolds.  My goal was the Elemental Witch level, which is 11-15 retellings, and I beat that with 32 retellings read!  AND I completed the Bingo board!

 

Beat the Backlist is hosted by Austine at NovelKnight; my goal was to read at least 60 backlist books this year, and I crushed that!  I've read 137 backlist books this year!

 

How did you do on your goals and challenges?

Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: Survival Stories

Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch with Mireya Soriano

In 1972, a plane carrying the Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes Mountains.  After 72 days, the survivors were finally rescued.  Four decades later, Eduardo Strauch, one of the survivors, was finally ready to tell his story.

This is a fascinating story that I will never get tired of learning about.  Eduardo's approach to this book is interesting; it's not a straight chronological telling of the tragedy.  It's more thematic, and having the benefit of so many years to reflect on it, Eduardo is quite philosophical about it.  He speaks so eloquently and emotionally about his fellow passengers and the things they had to do to survive.  He also gives us insight into his state of mind at various points and how his spirituality provided him with calm and peace.  I especially enjoyed the chapter on coincidences surrounding the flight; it was both eerie and fascinating at the same time.  As much as I enjoyed the writing in this book, at times it did feel a bit too esoteric for me.  I think a more straightforward prose would have been just as effective in some places.  At times, it was also a little hard to follow the timeline of the tragedy and it felt like some things were being repeated.  Overall, though, this is an incredible memoir.  4 stars

The Twenty-Ninth Day by Alex Messenger

Alex Messenger and his five companions were 29 days into a 42-day, 600-mile canoe tripe in the Canadian wilderness when he was attacked by a bear, leaving him dependent on the other men until help could be reached.

I don't know what it is about survival stories, but I can't get enough of them.  It's so inspiring to learn about people who are able to overcome the most difficult of situations.  Messenger tells his story in a very straightforward, matter-of-fact way.  The first half of the story is heavy on descriptions of the landscape (which I enjoyed) and canoeing techniques (less so).  Messenger's recollection of the bear attack is harrowing; I felt myself cringing as I read it.  His injuries, especially a bite on his leg, were severe, but Messenger was able to convey in great detail the days following the attack, not only his own mental and physical states, but also other struggles the team was facing.  Some of the descriptions of his injuries (and the subsequent treatments) were pretty gruesome!  4 stars

Quick Reviews, Just In Time For Halloween

How To Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith (2019)

 

How to Survive a Horror Movie is a fun, tongue-in-cheek examination of scary movies: how to know if you're in one and if so, how to ensure you make it to the end credits.  The author explores different types of horror films - slashers; haunted houses and other evil objects; vampires, zombies, aliens, and other monsters; and even movies that deal with the Devil himself.  This was a quick read that mostly relies on lists to give the reader advice.  It does kind of make fun of horror movies a little and point out all the cliches and stereotypes you often find in these movies.  Fun illustrations and a list of "additional study materials" (horror movies) round out the book.  My only quibble is that the formatting is a little wonky; the author throws in these short articles in the middle of a chapter, sometimes cutting off a paragraph that's going onto the next page.  It just took me out of what I was reading for a moment.  4 stars

Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall (2019)

 

Sara's sister Becca disappeared a year ago, and Sara believes it has something to do with a local legend and ghost story.  When a mysterious road appears in the woods, Sara and her friends take it, in hopes of finding Becca.  I loved the format of this book - it's set up kind of like a documentary, with different evidentiary sources.  It incorporates interviews, statements, text messages, and transcripts of cell phone footage to reveal some crazy twists.  The pacing of the story was really great.  The world-building was also pretty incredible; the road the teens travel is filled with monsters and I never quite knew what was real and what was not.  It's creepy, eerie, atmospheric, and filled with tension.  I feel confused by the ending and I don't know if it's just me not understanding it, but I wish there was a little more clarity.  4 stars

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (2019)

Alva Webster, a widow, purchases a grand home in hopes of restoring and decorating it, but there's a problem - the locals insist the place is haunted.  She brings in professor Sam Moore to look into the possibility of ghosts and finds herself falling for the scientist.  This was a great read that had a little bit of everything - a Gothic feel, romance, some mystery and spookiness.  I loved Sam - he's so intelligent, but also a little goofy and innocent, and his adoration of Alva leapt off the page.  He's also surrounded by an incredible family.  Having been in a terrible marriage, Alva is understandably wary of any new commitments, but I just wanted her to forget about her problems and take a chance on Sam.  The ghost element of the story was interesting and not the usual haunting.  I wish there had been even more focus on the spooky elements; I think there was a bit too much about Alva's past.  Overall, though, this was a great fall read for readers who like a little romance with their ghost stories.  4 stars

Backlist Quick Reviews

One Night at the Lake by Bethany Chase (2019)

I've been waiting for Bethany Chase to release a new book for awhile now, and I was not disappointed!  One Night at the Lake is told from the dual POVs of best friends Leah and June, seven years apart.  I liked the format of the story; in June's later timeline, we know that something terrible happened to Leah at Seneca Lake years before, and now June is engaged to Leah's boyfriend.  In Leah's timeline, she seems so happy and vibrant that it's hard to imagine what could happen to her.  Chase's writing is very readable and the characters are so fleshed out and real.  I loved the setting of Seneca Lake; having been to the area before, I could picture much of it in my head, and Chase did a great job of describing it.  If you like a lot of action in your stories, this might not be the book for you; it is a quiet book that focuses on love and friendship.  4 stars

The Blue by Lucy Clarke (2015) (Thanks to Greg at Book Haven for the recommendation!)

While traveling in the Philippines, best friends Lana and Kitty are invited to join the crew of The Blue, a yacht worked by a loose group of friends wandering the seas.  When one of the crew is lost at sea, the group is fractured.

I think I was expecting this to be more of a thriller, so in that sense, I was a little disappointed.  It was more character-driven and less "murder on the high seas."  But, this was still a good read.  It was interesting to meet all the characters and learn their different reasons for wanting to get away from their old lives, why this yacht and the wandering lifestyle appealed to them.  I also liked the structure of the story, told in dual timelines from when Kitty and Lana join the crew and several months later, after Lana has left the yacht and finds out that it has sunk and the crew is missing.  There are plenty of secrets and lies in this one!  4 stars 

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay (2019)

New York City erupts in chaos when the elevators of its high-rise buildings are taken over by a terrorist.

This book was a wild ride!  When I first heard of it, I thought it would make a great movie, and so I'm glad I listened to the audiobook.  The narrator was really wonderful; he had a very distinctive voice.  The story opens with a bang with a body found along the High Line.  Then, the elevators start plunging.  Several characters are introduced and we see the story from the perspective of the police, a journalist, and the mayor.  I thought the author was very creative in his depiction of how New York City would be affected if all the elevators had to be shut down.  I think there were a bit too many sideplots going on; at times I almost wondered if I had picked up a book in the middle of a series because there was more characterization than I'm used to in thrillers and I thought maybe it was referring back to things that had happened in earlier books.  So, the story could have been a lot tighter, but in the end, I definitely didn't guess the identity of the killer, and that's always good when reading a thriller!  4 stars

Quick Reviews: The Romance Edition

Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart (2019)

In this Pride & Prejudice re-imagining, a man returns home to help out at his family flower shop, and sparks fly with the woman who helps run it.  This was a really cute romance, and I can never resist something P&P related.  At first, the characters felt a bit one-dimensional - Luke is carefree but flaky and unreliable, and Tess is rigid and scared to try anything new.  It felt like I was being told this on every page.  But like in the original, the characters open up and see that there's more to each other.  I loved how Luke especially showed so many different sides of himself.  The flower shop setting was adorable, and I could just picture it all in my head.  Hart is always really good at creating a great group of side characters, and this story was no exception.  I loved hanging out with the Bennet clan and watching the close family interact with each other.  4 stars

Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen (2019)

Levi has been in love with Jocelyn (Joss) since the moment he met her five years ago, but she wasn't looking for a relationship at the time and now they're best friends.  When Joss starts showing an interest in someone else, Levi realizes this may be the chance he's been waiting for to reveal his feelings.  This was an adorable friends to lovers romance; Joss is prickly and sarcastic and Levi is just a little too perfect, but they make a great team.  Sorensen's writing is very readable and the story flowed nicely.  I think the best part of this book was the disability representation.  An illness years before left Joss in a wheelchair, and we get to see how this has affected all areas of her life, as well as her physical therapy to gain strength in her legs.  Sorensen did her research and shows thoughtfulness and sensitivity in telling Joss' story.  I'm glad we got to be inside both her and Levi's heads.  4 stars

Tonic by Staci Hart (2016)

In this story, a reality show producer finds herself falling for the star of her show, the owner of a tattoo parlor.  I really enjoyed this "opposites attract" romance between Annika and Joel.  He's not looking for anything serious (until he meets Annika) and she normally goes for the buttoned-up, put-together, ambitious guys.  The fact that she's producing a TV show about his shop adds even more layers to their fledgling relationship.  I don't mind sex scenes in books, but in this one, I felt like they took over a little bit, especially at the beginning of the story - it was just one right after another.  There were so many more interesting things that I thought could be explored (like Annika's family).  The reality TV show aspect was really fun, especially some of the behind-the-scenes looks at the manipulation that goes on.  The story felt like it moved at warp speed sometimes, and I wanted it to just slow down a bit.  But overall, this was a good read!  3.5 stars

Fiction/Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Debutante Edition

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (2018)

Eighteen-year-old Sawyer Taft and her mom have been estranged from their family her whole life - until her grandmother approaches her with an offer.  She'll pay for Sawyer's education, if Sawyer joins her high-society life and completes debutante season.  Sawyer becomes friends with some of the other debutantes, but also becomes involved in more than one scandal.

For some reason I thought this was going to be kind of a fluffy read set in the world of debutantes, with pretty dresses and good manners.  It definitely was not, but I still enjoyed it!  Our main character Sawyer is a reluctant deb - she's gritty and sarcastic.  Her main motivation for accepting her grandmother's offer is to find her biological dad, thinking it might be someone in the society set.  Although we see the girls attend a few deb events, it's more about what happens between those scenes and the trouble the girls (and their elders) get into.  So many scandals, so many secrets!  I loved the snappy writing, the quick pace, and all the banter.   There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and how they're all related to each other, but it was a fun ride!  4 stars

The Season by Kristen Richardson (2019)

In The Season, Kristen Richardson explores the history of the debutante ritual, from its beginnings in England to its spread to the American colonies and beyond.

Although rather short, I thought this was an interesting social history and look into a world that most people will never experience.  Richardson looks at how initially the debutante ritual was a way for young women to find husbands as they were introduced into society and later began to include a charitable element.  I enjoyed the exploration of the ways the tradition differed between the American north and south in the antebellum period and late 19th century.  I also enjoyed her look at current trends in a couple American cities.  I did think she got a little snarky when describing her experience attending a debutante ball; she herself refused the opportunity, and I kind of felt like she was judging others for choosing to do it.  3.5 stars

Quick Reviews: A Trio of Cinderella Retellings

 Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright (2019)

Struggling writer Charlotte finally gets her big break with a self-help book inspired by her favorite fairy tales, but will the success be worth it if she has to completely change her image and hide her boyfriend?

This was a cute story, very loosely inspired by Cinderella.  Charlotte is a regular girl, but her publicist insists she needs a more polished image, including pretending she's single, just around the same time she and her best friend Anders decide to start dating.  Anders is a sweet guy, very traditional and family-oriented.  I liked the peek behind the curtain of the publishing industry, and I wish there were more scenes with a fellow famous author who takes Charlotte under her wing because she gave really good advice.  This is a "clean" romance, which is perfectly fine, but I also never really felt the spark between Charlotte and Anders and was hoping for a little more heat.  There were also some weird time jumps and sometimes it felt like more was happening off the page than on.  But, easy to read with some charming supporting characters.  3 stars

Rogue Princess by B.R. Meyers (2020)

Sci-fi Cinderella in space!  A princess who wants to marry for love!  A thief that helps her uncover a rebellious faction on their planet!  Practically the whole time I was reading this book, I got the feeling I had read it before - it's very similar to Marissa Meyer's Cinder, even little details like the tablets everyone uses, although this one is a gender-swapped retelling.  So, unfortunately, right from the start, I had issues because nothing felt new and fresh.  Delia, our princess, is bland and not too smart - when she first meets Aidan, our thief, his lies about who he was were so paper-thin, yet she never saw through them.  The world-building is not great, and even by the end of this rather short book, I was still questioning who some of the characters were.  But, there is a pretty good twist, and Delia's sister Shania is a bright spot in the story - she's spunky and I loved her attention to detail in analyzing all of Delia's suitors.  3 stars

Charlie Glass's Slippers by Holly McQueen (2014)

After his death, Charlie Glass's father leaves his luxury shoe company to her - instead of his ex-wife and two other daughters.  In addition to her new responsibilities, Charlie has also drastically changed her appearance, but finds it may not be worth the effort.

I thought this was a cute Cinderella retelling.  I loved the clever ways the the author incorporated important elements of the original story in a modern way - her glam up, the shoes, the evil stepmother, the prince.  Charlie has not had an easy life, but she's still upbeat and kind.  Even though she never worked at the shoe company before, she throws herself into it wholeheartedly, knowing it was her father's passion.  There's also a rom-com element to the story.  I think many readers will identify with her body issues, even after she loses a bunch of weight.  There is a lot of fat-shaming in this book, and my heart broke for Charlie every time her stepmother was cruel to her.  The book probably could have been a bit shorter - at times the pacing dragged and felt repetitive.  However, it was still light and entertaining.  3.5 stars

Fiction/Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Princess Margaret Edition

The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock (2019)

In The Other Windsor Girl, author Georgie Blalock explores the life of England's Princess Margaret, as seen through the eyes of her lady-in-waiting, Vera.

Romance novelist Vera has dreams of moving to New York City and writing a literary masterpiece, but after a chance meeting with Princess Margaret, she accepts a position as her lady-in-waiting, seeing it as a step up in life for her, at least for a little while.  While in service, Vera is witness to Princess Margaret's doomed love affair with Captain Townsend.  I liked this imagined insider look at royal life; the things I know about Princess Margaret mostly come from watching The Crown, and the book kind of went along with those.  Despite all her opportunity and wealth, the Princess seemed very adrift, unsure of her place in her family and in the world.  I appreciated the way Blalock found similarities between Vera and Margaret, despite being in such different stations in life - they both watched their sisters get married and start families, while their own relationships faced challenges.  Vera gave up years of her life to serve Margaret, and it was kind of frustrating to watch her give up on her dreams because she didn't want to give up her lifestyle or "desert" the Princess.  The writing was good, although the story started off slowly, and the ending, and especially the epilogue, came on way too abruptly and were a little too saccharine for my taste.  3.5 stars

Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown by Anne Glenconner (2020)

In Lady in Waiting, Anne Glenconner tells her life story as a member of the British aristocracy and in service to the Royal Family.

I thought this memoir was just going to be about Glenconner's decades serving as a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret, but it was so much more than that.  From her early years to the present, Anne Glenconner has lived an incredible life, and I loved this glimpse into it.  The writing style is easy to read and conversational, like you're sitting down to tea and sharing stories with her.  She seemed so matter-of-fact about even the most tragic events - her long yet troubled marriage to a mentally ill man, the struggles some of her children faced.  Of course, I especially enjoyed the stories about the Royal Family.  From playing together as children to serving as a companion to Princess Margaret until her death, the royals were a constant in Glenconner's life.  She shared personal stories but it never felt exploitative, always respectful.  I learned a lot about Princess Margaret and really admire her after reading this - although she had her eccentricities, she really seemed to love life and having fun, while also fulfilling her duties admirably.  4 stars

Blog Break + July Quick Reviews

Just a quick note that I'll be taking a brief break from the blog next week!  Now, onto this week's reviews!

A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart (2017)

High school sweethearts Elliot and Wade broke up when he enlisted in the Army and she refused to follow him.  Now, 7 years later, the two have to face their unresolved feelings for each other when Wade returns home to help his father after a terminal diagnosis.

I've read a couple books by Staci Hart now, and this one felt like such a departure.  Unlike her rom-coms, this story is somber and full of angst.  There's the element of Wade's father discovering he has terminal brain cancer and how the other characters react to it; this part was heartbreaking and felt so real.  However, I really didn't enjoy the Elliot-Wade relationship drama.  Neither has moved on in 7 years; there is such a frustrating lack of communication between them, both then and now.  I couldn't help but roll my eyes at how many times each assumed they knew what the other was thinking, and they were completely wrong.  Elliot is a huge doormat for all the other characters, when she's not fading into the background altogether.  And way too much repetitive purple prose!  2.5 stars

The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter by Mimi Matthews (2018)

Valentine March is a lady's companion; Tristan, Viscount St. Ashton, is a notorious rake who has hit rock bottom.  When they meet, it's love at first sight, but will their pasts stand in their way?

This was a sweet Victorian romance.  My favorite thing about this novella was Tristan; even though he has quite a scandalous past, the moment he meets Valentine, he's a changed man.  He wants to prove himself worthy of her.  Valentine, though, is unsure, because she has secrets of her own.  The relationship moved quickly, especially on Tristan's part, but I don't think that was necessarily out of place for the time period.  I enjoyed Matthews' writing, and I just wish the story had been longer!  4 stars

Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley (2015)

An actor and a teen author fall for each other but find it difficult to navigate a relationship in the spotlight in this adorable YA romance.

Although there were parts of this book that have to be taken with a grain of salt, I still really enjoyed it.  Teddy is an up-and-coming actor who gets hired for his dream job; the movie is based on the wildly successful series by teen author Bennett Campbell.  Although I enjoyed Bennett's drive and realism, Teddy was the star of this show.  I loved that he wasn't the typical perfect YA boyfriend.  He has flaws, doesn't take himself too seriously, and is kind to everyone.  The writing is very readable, and I breezed through the story in a day.  The movie set setting was really fun, and there are plenty of amazing side characters as well.  4 stars

Fiction/Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Titanic Edition

The Deep by Alma Katsu (2020)

In 1912, Annie Hebbley is a stewardess on the Titanic; in the days before its tragic loss, she and other passengers experience some strange happenings.  In a dual timeline, it is 1916 and Annie crosses paths with other Titanic survivors aboard the hospital ship Britannic during WWI.

I loved how atmospheric this book felt.  Katsu does an incredible job of setting the scene aboard the Titanic, bringing together historical details and figures with an eerie feel that something isn't quite right aboard the ship.  Could something be calling from the ocean?  Could there be a demon among the passengers?  The supernatural elements didn't feel over the top.  The fact that Hebbley is quite the unreliable narrator only added to the mysterious feel.  Although I enjoyed Katsu's writing, my biggest issue with this book was the pacing.  I remember having a similar issue with her previous book, The Hunger.  It takes forever for the story to set up, and unfortunately the payoff came too little, too late.  By the time everything was explained, it felt both convoluted and rushed.  3 stars

The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell (2019)

In The Ship of Dreams, Gareth Russell explores the tragic end of the Titanic through the stories of six passengers and posits that the disaster helped mark the end of the Edwardian era.

I have mixed feelings about this one.  On one hand, I don't think Russell proved at all that the sinking of the Titanic marked a major change in society.  Considering that WWI was only a few years away, changes were already happening in the world.  Although I enjoyed his writing, I though the formatting was challenging at times - the paragraphs were entirely too long and there was extraneous detail.  However, I love learning about the Titanic and even though some of the information I already knew, there were plenty of new things here, too.  I enjoyed the in-depth look at some of the passengers, especially ones I didn't really know about before, and Russell did a great job dispelling some common myths about the ship, as well.  His detailed description of the ship's last hours even brought me to tears a couple times, knowing how things would end for so many of the passengers.  4 stars

Quick Reviews: Longest on My TBR

It's so easy to be distracted by new releases and books that have been added recently to my TBR and are therefore at the top, but recently I made an effort to read some books that have been on my TBR the longest! 

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald (2019)

A mother searches for the truth and what really happened the night her pregnant daughter fell from a bridge, leaving her brain-dead.

I really wanted to love this story, but it just ended being an ok read for me.  Even though I didn't guess the ultimate ending, it didn't surprise me at all and I felt that many elements of the plot were predictable.  Too much was given away too soon.  The writing felt stilted at times.  I did enjoy the dual POVs of Abi (the mother) and Olivia (the daughter) and the way the story moved back and forth in time.  I also liked the way Abi never stopped searching for the truth, even when she faced opposition, although her actions at times felt a bit unbelievable.  3 stars

The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb (2013)

After her mother's death, Grace Alban returns home to the family mansion.  While there, she realizes her mother, and the house, have been hiding secrets for half a century.

This story reminded me of a Kate Morton novel - a stately manor, a mystery to solve - although it takes place in America and the story and writing lacked the finesse of Morton.  I liked how Alban House is practically a character all on its own - so much history, so many rumors, maybe even a ghost or two.  Seeing the mystery, the death of an author at a party in the 1950s, unfold over the course of the novel was interesting, and I definitely didn't guess the major points.  However, Grace was often quite annoying, and unfortunately, when the plot began to include some magical realism, it lost me.  It was just such a jarring addition to what had been a fairly straightforward and intriguing story that it took away from my enjoyment.  3.5 stars

 Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (2018)

Becoming Mrs. Lewis tells the story of Joy Davidman, C.S. Lewis' wife, from the time they begin their correspondence to their marriage years later.  I normally love historical fiction, but this one didn't totally grab me.

When we first meet Joy, she's in an unhappy marriage, but she loves her two sons.  She recently found religion and begins writing to author C.S. Lewis, since he also found religion later in life.  Their friendship deepens over the years through their letters, and she eventually moves to England.  I thought the writing was a little high-brow; the dialogue often felt unrealistic.  The story was tedious and often seemed like nothing was actually happening.  Joy was quite unlikable at times - she constantly complains about money, but spends frivolously.  I did enjoy how she and Lewis worked with each other, especially the way he relied on her to critique his work.  It was nice to see how much he valued her intelligence, although I'm not sure I quite felt their love story in this book.  3 stars

2020 Goals and Challenges Mid-Year Check-In

I can't believe this year is already officially half-over - so much has happened, yet at the same time, it feels like nothing has happened!  Today I'm taking a look back at the goals I set at the beginning of the year, as well as the progress I'm making on my reading challenges.

Reading

• Reread more. I've reread 10 books so far this year, including the Harry Potter ones listed below.  I definitely want to do more; last year I set aside a two-week period to just reread, and I would love to do that again.
• Reread the Harry Potter series. I've read 4 of the 7 books so far!
• Make a dent in the unread physical books on my shelf. I've definitely read a few, but I keep borrowing books from my sister, so it always looks like I have a full shelf!
• Attend at least 2 bookish events.  This is a total fail so far, and I know that the major bookish event I was planning to attend this year has already been cancelled.  I need to look more into virtual events.

Blogging

• Respond to comments faster.  I think I've been doing really good at this - I've gotten into the habit of responding to comments within a day or two.
• Get ahead on my book reviews. Well, some months are better than others for this one.  I've started doing more "quick reviews," which means the actual writing takes less time, but I tend to review more books.  If I have a couple weeks' worth of reviews scheduled at any given time, that's a good feeling and what I'm aiming for.
• Build up my #bookstagram account.  My #bookstagram has grown about 25% since the beginning of the year!  I'm having fun participating in photo challenges and coming up with creative pictures.  If we're not already, let's be friends!

Life

• Get new passports.  Done!  Aaaaand we have nowhere to go, for now at least!
• Drink more water.  This is kind of hard to quantify, but I think I'm doing ok at this.  I try to limit my caffeine intake to three days a week, so the rest of the time, I'm drinking water, sparkling water, and seltzer.
• Run a 5k. Total fail.  I thought that being at home for so long would give me the time and motivation to do this, but after trying jogging a couple times, I realized this was going to be hard.  It's still something I'm thinking about, though, so we'll see!
• Make 100 blankets for Project Linus.  I've made 43 blankets, so I'm a little behind schedule, but many of the charities we work with were also closed down due to the coronavirus.

The 2020 Audiobook Challenge is hosted by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer.  My goal was 20-30 audiobooks and so far this year I've already listened to 22, although it has really slowed down in the last couple months without my work commute.

The Retellings Reading Challenge is hosted by Tracy at Cornerfolds.  My goal was the Elemental Witch level, which is 11-15 retellings, and I've already beaten that with 21 retellings read!  I've made a lot of progress on the Bingo card and hope to complete it by the end of the year:

Beat the Backlist is hosted by Austine at NovelKnight; my goal was to read at least 60 backlist books this year, but I've already crushed that!  I've read 94 backlist books this year!

How are you doing on your goals and challenges?

 

Backlist Mini-Reviews

Veins of Gold by Charlie N. Holmberg (2018)

Gentry and her siblings are abandoned by their father, who heads to California to find fortune in the gold rush.  When strange natural phenomena begin occurring, Gentry is introduced to a world of magic by a beguiling stranger.

I really enjoyed this quiet, thoughtful book set in Utah during the 1850s (or, at least sometime during the gold rush, the book never actually specifies the date).  Holmberg did a beautiful job combining history and fantasy.  The struggles Gentry faces trying to keep her family afloat felt so real, and the magical realism added to the story.  The magic fueled by gold (and how the earth responds when too much is taken from it) was very imaginative.  There's also a sweet love story!  If you're looking for a lot of action, this probably isn't the book for you, though.  Like I said, it's a pretty quiet book, but Holmberg's writing is beautiful and the setting is not one I come across often.  4 stars

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett (2015)

I've read a couple of Jenn Bennett's books before and really enjoyed them, but this one missed the mark for me.   Beatrix wants to be a medical illustrator and Jack is a graffiti artist - their connection is strong, but each has family issues that may get in the way of their happiness.

Is it weird to say I enjoyed everything but the main characters?  I felt like Bennett was trying too hard to create these quirky, interesting characters, and to me it felt insincere.  Beatrix felt like a stereotypical "artist," and Jack alternately seemed way too old and also very immature for his age.  Their insta-love never really grabbed me.  I was more interested in the family issues that each was facing.  The way Jack dealt with his sister's mental illness was so touching.  Beatrix was dealing with the fallout from her parents' divorce, and I liked that there ended up being more to that story than initially appeared.  I even think it could have been explored more; I still had questions after the story ended.  3 stars

June Quick Reviews

I Temporarily Do by Ellie Cahill (2017)

College roommates Emmy and Beckett are both heading to grad school; Emmy has been scammed by a potential roommate out of all her money, and Beckett's married student housing is at risk when his fiancee leaves him.  They decide to get married as a fix to both their problems.

If you enjoy fake relationships and friends-to-lovers romances, you might like this book.  It was a quick, fluffy read, but unfortunately it's already fading from my mind.  The story was entirely too short; it spent too much time on scenes that didn't add much at the expense of background information and development of their relationship.  I never fully felt the chemistry between Emmy and Beckett and everything felt a bit surface-y.  But, the characters are likable and I enjoyed the college setting.  3 stars

 How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days by Lila Monroe (2018)

Of all the contemporary rom-coms I've been reading lately, this is by far my favorite.  Competing for a promotion, stylist Gemma has 10 days to make-over her neighbor, Zach, aka Bigfoot, but as she starts to fall for him, she worries about what he will think of the bet.

I loved pretty much everything about this book.  The story is light, fluffy, and sexy, and the writing is so readable and fun.  I never wanted to put it down.  Gemma and Zach had so much chemistry, and they also had a surprising amount of depth.  Monroe crafted well-developed characters (Gemma volunteers at a charity helping women get back into the workforce, and Zach is recovering from a failed marriage) while still keeping the tone of the book light.  Nothing ever felt forced.  I loved watching Gemma and Zach get to know each other beyond their first impressions and how they both grow by the end of the story.  4.5 stars

The Summer of Madness by Alexander Raphael (2019)

I was provided a copy of this story by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In this short story, a man tries to win back his girlfriend by reading her favorite book out loud in public.  I thought this was a sweet, simply written story that provides some commentary on our society's obsession with "the grand gesture."  Normally with short stories, I find that there's not enough context or information for the story to make an impact.  Here, the author utilized some clever tactics to help provide more background and character development.  The premise held my interest - I wanted to know how it would all work out - although the writing was a little too plain for me at times.  4 stars

Retellings Mini-Reviews

Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra (2019)

I haven't read Little Women yet, but this contemporary retelling, focusing on older sisters Meg and Jo, appealed to me anyway!  Meg and Jo are now grown adults leading very different lives - Meg is a stay-at-home mom in North Carolina and Jo is a line cook and secret food blogger in NYC.  However, when their mother gets sick, all the sisters come home to help.

I really enjoyed Kantra's writing; it's very readable and relatable.  The story is told from the alternating POVs of sisters Meg and Jo, with appearances by their younger sisters.  I loved Jo's story - trying to make it as a journalist in NYC, she ends up falling for her chef boss who doesn't know she's also a food blogger.  However, I felt her "friendship" with childhood friend Trey was poorly explained and executed.  Meg frustrated me a bit - she's the type of person that would rather do everything herself because she doesn't trust anyone else.  I felt so bad for her husband!  As much as I loved the March sisters and mother, their father made me angry - he does important work, but neglects his own family.  Overall, though, a great story about family!  4 stars

Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl (2020)

In this anthology, 10 authors re-imagine the legendary character of Elizabeth Bennet in a series of sequels, prequels, and retellings.  Even though I'm normally not a fan of short stories, I can't resist a good P&P retelling!

I wish there had been more variety in the stories.  A couple of them felt like they could have been chapters in the original story (Darcy fighting Wickham, Elizabeth touring Pemberley).  A couple took place in the times right before or right after the events of P&P.  I wish there had been more stories set in different times and places; to me, those were more creative and interesting.  Elizabeth as an electrical engineering student in the 80s; Elizabeth as a stage actress in the 1920s; and Elizabeth and Darcy going on a blind date in the present day - these stories show how timeless the classic really is.  While the writing was generally good in all the stories, none really stood out to me as completely amazing.  I often seem to have this issue with short story collections, though.  However, if you're a P&P fan, you might want to give this one a chance.  3.5 stars

May Quick Reviews

With a Twist by Staci Hart (2015)

Lily has had a crush on Blane for years, and she finally gets her chance when he and his long-time girlfriend break up.  But their relationship isn't everything she dreamed it would be - and maybe the best person for her has been right in front of her all along.

This was a really cute friends-to-lovers romance, although it took most of the book for Lily and her best friend West to get together!  Seeing how much of a jerk Blane was to Lily, I was really rooting for Lily and West the whole book.  I wanted her to stop giving Blane chances and realize that she and West were perfect together.  I loved their big, supportive group of friends, and I also really enjoyed the inside look at Lily's career as a ballerina - she's really committed to her craft.  I guess my one issue would be that everyone (besides Blane) seemed just a little too perfect - no one has any bad qualities!  4 stars

 Regretting You by Colleen Hoover (2019)

I am quickly becoming a huge Colleen Hoover fan, and this book solidified that for me.   Although this book had some tough topics in it, it didn't feel overwhelmingly heavy like some of her previous books.  In Regretting You, readers follow a mother and daughter pair as they navigate life after the death of their husband and father.

Clara is at that age where it seems like most teenagers don't get along with their mother, but their problems are further exacerbated by the fact that her father Chris is killed in a car accident, and now her mother seems to be hiding things from her.  It was hard to see Clara and her mother Morgan not communicate with each other, but I could understand Morgan's perspective - she didn't want to taint Clara's memories of her father.  I loved that the story was told from both Clara and Morgan's POVs, and as always, Hoover's writing is so smooth and readable, I couldn't put this down.  4 stars

No Winter Lasts Forever by Jonathan Epps (2019)

I received this book for free from Goodreads giveaways.  After a high school shooting inspires a copycat killer in his community, a man becomes obsessed with finding those responsible.  Ugh, such a good premise but ultimately a letdown. 

The writing is stilted, with run-on sentences and paragraphs.  The story is muddled and not quite sure what it wants to be - a commentary on gun violence, a thriller, a family drama?  The main character obviously has anger issues, but his emotions also completely run the gamut, from anger, to depression, to euphoria, so quickly it felt like whiplash.  The pacing is poor; there's a lot of action right at the beginning, but then it felt like the main plot was put aside in favor of these random scenes.  It ping-pongs from one topic to the next with little connection.  2 stars

Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: Foodie Memoirs

Give a Girl a Knife by Amy Thielen (2017)

In Give a Girl a Knife, chef Amy Thielen recounts her many years cooking in fine dining restaurants and the time she spent living in a rural area.  I wanted to love this memoir, but unfortunately it fell flat for me.

What didn't work for me: Although it's obvious that Thielen is a gifted writer, much of the book felt overwritten and too flowery for my taste.  The narrative wasn't in a chronological format, so sometimes it was hard to place where she was in her career and life.  Some of the anecdotes she told felt extraneous.  At the risk of sounding like a jerk, I didn't think she came across that well as an employee, either.  She skipped around from job to job, was often late or disinterested, and also seemed to spend a lot of time not working at all.

What worked: I liked the juxtaposition of working as a chef in high-end NYC restaurants with the time she spent at a cabin in the middle of nowhere, cooking from her own garden.  I also enjoyed when she spoke of her mother and grandmother and how they inspired the chef she later became.  You can tell that Thielen loves food, the act of cooking, and using food as a way to connect to people and her heritage.  3 stars

Wine Girl: The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier by Victoria James (2020)

In Wine Girl, Victoria James recounts how she overcame her troubled childhood to become a highly successful sommelier in some of New York City's Michelin-starred restaurants.

From a young age, Victoria showed herself to be extremely intelligent and hard-working, and also very interested in hospitality.  This led her to become interested in wine, which she parlayed into a career as a sommelier, helping patrons make the best food and wine pairings and building up the cellars at the restaurants she worked at.   Both her age and the fact that she's a woman were obstacles that she had to continually overcome, and I think James did a great job showing how unglamorous the restaurant industry can be.  There were so many ugly encounters, on top of the extremely long hours and often low pay; it makes you wonder if it would all be worth it, but over the years James came up with coping mechanisms.  I was also amazed at the sheer amount of knowledge one has to have to become a sommelier.  4 stars

Quick Reviews: The Colleen Hoover Edition

Ok, so I am super-late to the Colleen Hoover bandwagon, but after amassing copies of several of her books, I finally dove in!

All Your Perfects (2018)

Quinn and Graham's relationship starts in the most unexpected of ways - they meet when their significant others are caught cheating on them.  Several years later, their own marriage is facing serious issues.

This is going to be a major spoiler, but I think it's an important trigger warning: this book is all about infertility.  I never would have known that from the blurb, and I kind of wish I had.  Told in alternating "then" and "now" chapters from Quinn's POV, the reader experiences the extreme highs of Quinn and Graham's early relationship and the serious lows they are facing after years of unsuccessfully trying for a baby.  It almost felt like emotional whiplash at times, but it also felt very honest and raw.  I honestly didn't know how this story would end - it's obvious that Quinn and Graham have something special, but it's been eroded so much and Quinn seems ready to give up.  This definitely isn't a light read, and I think Hoover did a great job in exploring all the feelings related to infertility.  4 stars

 It Ends With Us (2016)

Lily and Ryle are caught up in a whirlwind romance, but when Lily's first love, Atlas, returns to her life, her relationship is put to the ultimate test.

I went into this book pretty blind, but as soon as we meet Ryle, I had a bad feeling about him.  Trigger warning: domestic violence.  Colleen Hoover never seems to shy away from tough topics, and I thought her treatment of domestic abuse was heartbreaking, honest, and delicate.  It was interesting to see Lily finding herself in the same position as her own abused mother, and I think the way she tries to justify Ryle's actions and her own behavior is probably very common.  I was rooting for Lily the whole time; you could really see her struggling with her feelings, especially knowing her history.  I thought the relationship and everything that happened just felt too quick, and although I respected the decisions Lily ultimately made for herself, I actually could have done without the epilogue.  4 stars

 Verity (2018)

Struggling author Lowen is hired to complete the final books in a series by Verity Crawford, a popular author, after Verity is injured.  While working in Verity's office, Lowen finds a document in which she makes some disturbing confessions about her children.

This book felt very different from the Colleen Hoover books I've read previously - more thriller, less romance - and I really enjoyed it!  I liked the way Hoover incorporated parts of Verity's autobiography; I kept wondering if it was actually true or if there would be some twist later.  I think overall the thriller vibe of the story felt a bit over-the-top; Lowen's reactions to things, her fear and discomfort, seemed too strong and too quick sometimes.  The fact that she was also an unreliable narrator added to this.  Yet at the same time, I couldn't stop reading - I needed to know what would happen next, to Lowen, to Verity, to Verity's son Crew and her husband, Jeremy.  There was definitely something weird going on in that house!  4 stars