I’m gonna be honest with you guys, I did not finish a single book last week. It was a busy week and I got sick with a horrible migraine for three days which was so not fun so I didn’t read much at all. So this week I’m just going to talk about the books that I’m currently reading. I’ve got a few that I’m in the middle of and two that I’ve been reading forever and can’t seem to finish for some reason. Do you guys have any books like that? You read like half and then don’t want to finish for some reason or another? I usually try to push through unless I absolutely know I’m not finishing it. But anyway, onto the books!
First up we have What If We Were… by Axelle Lenoir.
Nathalie and Marie are 17 years old and best friends. Since elementary school, they’ve been creatively filling moments of boredom with a game called “What If We Were…?”. One player names a topic — let’s say “vampire slayers” for example — and then both imagine what life would be like as that subject. “I would only hunt vampires during daytime, because it would be less exhausting” would be a good answer. “I would only hunt them for sport, to eventually sell their skins” could be another, if a little disturbing. Easy to play, but hard to master. An expert player will know how to think outside the box and surprise their opponent. And after all these years, Nathalie and Marie are experts!
This has been a really fun graphic novel. I’m almost done with it and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I will have a full review on it next week so stay tuned for that! (also this art style is really fun, I love it)
The next book that I’m currently reading is the second book in the maze runner trilogy, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. I loved the first book in this series, The Maze Runner, and The Scorch Trials is no different. This book picks up right where the first one leaves off with the boys escaping the Maze. They are taken by bus to a compound where they are given food, water, and beds by their saviors. Then all hell breaks loose. The next day everything seems wrong, Teresa is gone there’s a weird boy in her place, a man appears sitting behind a desk, and the boys find out that the the Maze was just the beginning. Now they must cross the Scorch, a burned out hell hole, in two weeks.
I’ve really only gotten to the beginning of the boy’s trek across the Scorch. They’re literally on day one so I don’t have much to go on yet but what I have read so far has been just as good as the first book. Thomas is just as much of an unreliable narrator as he was before. He has no idea what’s going on and neither do we. Which I am really enjoying. I like to learn what’s happening along with the boys. It draws me into the story more than just having a disembodied narrator telling me what’s going on. I can’t wait to see where this story goes! Hopefully I will have time this week to finish this book and move on to the last book!
Next up we have one of the two books that is taking me forever to read and I don’t know why: Barely Funtional Adult by Meichi Ng.
Wielding her trademark balance of artful humor, levity, and heartbreaking introspection, Meichi Ng’s indisputably relatable collection of short stories holds a mirror to our past, present, and future selves.
Featuring a swaddled, gender-neutral, Barely Functional Adult as its protagonist, who says all the things we think but cannot say, this book is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking as it spans a spectrum of topics including imposter syndrome, therapy, friendships, first loves, letting go of exes, and just trying to find your purpose in the world. Prepare to excitedly shove this book in your friend’s face with little decorum as you shout, “THIS IS SO US!”
In this beautiful, four-color collection compiled completely of never-before-seen content, Meichi perfectly captures the best and worst of us in every short story, allowing us to weep with pleasure at our own fallibility. Hilarious, relatable, and heart-wrenchingly honest, Barely Functional Adult will have you laughing and crying in the same breath, and taking solace in the fact that we’re anything but alone in this world.
This is a cute book but man is it dense. When I grabbed it from the graphic novel section I was expecting a graphic novel. But this is about fifty percent text and fifty percent graphics. It’s also more serious than I was expecting, which is fine. But I just haven’t been in the mood to read something that’s a more serious read. I’m hoping to finish it soon but every time I pick it up I’m just like, eh I’ll read it later and then I never do.
If you are not reading the Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (and you like fantasy) then you should be! I’m loving this so far. I’m not to far into so I don’t know exactly what’s going on but I’m really enjoying it so far. I can’t wait to continue reading this trilogy. I haven’t been reading much fantasy lately (unless you count manga?) but this is just so good! There’s a lot going on in this so here is the book blurb from Goodreads:
When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.
But surprises aren’t always good.
Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .
Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.
Lastly we have Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grownup by Grace Helbig. I have been reading this book for over two years. Why? Well I did lose it for awhile but other than that I’m not sure. It’s a good book. I guess I’m honestly not really in the mood for a self help book about becoming an adult when I’m already 30? Don’t get me wrong it is a good book, it has some sound advice, and it’s pretty funny too. If I was a early 20-something then I think I would get more out of this book. But I am going to finish this book at some point. Just not right now.
And that’s it for this week! I know by next week I’ll have read a few books so I’ll defintely have more reviews for you guys. Anytime it rains where I live I get headaches and sometimes they turn into migraines and then I die for a few days. And I live in Florida so it rains all the time – yay. This last week was horrible! It rained almost every day and I just had a headache for most of the week. One night I was up til five thirty in the morning becuase I couldn’t sleep from my stupid migraine. I looked out the window and I was like why is it getting light outside – oh my god it’s five thirty. So needless to say I was useless the rest of that day. Do you guys ever get migraines or headaches? I hope you don’t, they suck. I hope you guys had a great week and happy reading!
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