The Starless Sea

Book 55 in 20121.

“The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern.

I loved Erin Morgenstern’s book “The Night Circus”, this is her second novel. I started to read this maybe a year ago, I got about thirty pages in and quit. This time I was looking for an audiobook, it was available, so I gave it another go.

Honestly I don’t know where to start. This was all over the place. It is considered fantasy fiction, and was definitely “other worldly”. If I understand correctly Time fell in love with Fate in the secret underground world with a starless sea made of honey. A mouse killed the Owl King, and the Moon is somehow involved. A man named Zachary enters the secret world through a door, which apparently he is a key to the end of all stories. There are also people trying to keep people out, others to keep people in, and others writing stories that are ever changing. There a giant bees, mysterious Inn Keepers, guards with sword tattoos and lots of cats.

Confused? Ha. Me too. I honestly only kept reading to see if it would all tie together and if I could make sense of it all. I didn’t get that closure. There were always new characters being introduced, and of course some characters were the same as other characters because of countless lives. So much fantasy, I mentally could not process all that was going on. Whew. Overall afterthought, yikes.

Brave New World

Book 54 in 2021.

“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley.

I was subbing in an English class for 12th grade. My son was in my class and they were working on this book. I had not heard of it before. The students were complaining about how weird it was. Obviously I had to read it and check it out.

I feel like in my youth in school and through college, I read a lot. A lot of classics, a lot of famous literature. Apparently this book at one time was banned. Maybe that is why I never came across it?

Written in 1931, it takes place six hundred years in the future. The government has complete control of all of society. There are no more families. All babies are genetically modified test tube babies. The government determines what class you will be in your incubator. There is mass brainwashing. Sex is considered free for everyone at every age. “Everyone is for everyone”. Everyone is supposed to be happy now, and can take grams of a drug called Soma to escape anything and anytime you want.

Honestly, this book was insane. I can see why it was banned through the years. And I cannot for any reason decide why they want High School students to read it. I could go on and on, but I won’t. Overall afterthought, the most bizarre thing I have ever read.

Educated

Book 53 in 2021.

“Educated” by Tara Westover.

In my frenzy of trying to catch up, I forgot a book! And what a book to forget. This story will be one of those that are now forever etched in my brain. Tara Westover’s story of endurance and survival was absolutely inspiring.

I work as a substitute teacher in a small school district. I have been here long enough to learn about students, and their home situations. It is hard to watch a student live through their family’s cycle of poverty . What gives certain people the drive to do better, to want more, to beat the odds. It has always fascinated and saddened me. It has to be there deep down at their core.

Tara grew up poor in a home with radical parents. They did not believe in the schools, doctors, or the government. She had to dig deep and want more. She had to escape if she was going to be more than her parents before her. Her internal struggle was so beautifully recorded in her book. So inspiring. Overall afterthought, amazing story.

The Four Winds

Book 52 in 2021.

“The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah.

I did it! I successfully caught up in my writing. Crazy fast and furious. Ha. I really just try to remember the names of the books I have read, that was my initial purpose in starting this blog.

I will be honest , I did not finish this book in it’s entirety. I was about three fourths the way through and was anxious to know what happened and skipped to the last couple chapters. I never do that. Ever. I was growing weary with the weariness. This book was suggested to me by so many people. I will not suggest it. Ha. It was not my cup of tea. I know Kristin Hannah keeps it real, and her stories tend to be sad, but I did not enjoy this ride. Overall afterthought, too long, and too sad for me.

Greenlights

Book 51 in 2021.

“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey.

I had this in hard copy from the library. Then, I found out that Matthew McConaughy had narrated the audiobook. Naturally I had to listen to his own words, in his actual voice.

Ok, so this is not for the faint at heart. It is pretty crass, lots of language, and what a character. I am so glad I listened to it. It would of lost some of the feel reading it. However, the book has lots of pictures, which I enjoyed looking at. If you are up for an insane story go ahead and give this a listen, Greenlight. Overall afterthought, interesting.

The Rose Code

Book 50 in 2021.

“The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn.

Book 50. My goal every year has been to reach 100 books. Not sure if I will ever actually meet that goal. But I guess I can always keep trying!

I was excited to read this. I was on a wait list for a long time . However, once I got to reading I felt like it moved so slow. Maybe I had anticipated it to be something more than what it was? I am a firm believer of having zero expectations for something so you are not disappointed, ha. This was a lot of code talk that I had a hard time getting in to. Overall afterthought, long read.

Live in Love

Book 49 in 2021.

“Live in Love” by Lauren Adkins.

I love a good autobiography and thought this was great. Lauren Atkins is married to Country music star Thomas Rhett Akins. I follow Lauren on Instagram, well because sometimes I follow famous people. Ha. I loved hearing her story. Her journey with her marriage, adoption, and rising stardom was humbly recorded in the book. Overall afterthought, I enjoyed her thoughts!

Eternal

Book 48 in 2021.

“ Eternal” by Lisa Scottoline.

Holy mercy I am on a roll, trying to play catch up on all that I have been reading! Will just give you the bear bones of what I thought!

I love historical fiction. Especially WWII, for some reason it has always been my favorite. This takes place in Italy, which I always find interesting, because most stories I have read come from either England, France or Germany. This was not necessarily my favorite story, but I had to finish to know what happened. Overall afterthought, eh just ok.