Romance Book Haul

 

Hi, everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I'm continuing to upload my book hauls that I prefilmed over the summer and this one focuses on books in the romance genre. 

THE BOOKS:

   

So far I've read 4/8 of these books. My favorite is Redeeming Love and I highly recommend it. I have reviews for:

The Trouble with Dukes 4.25 stars

Too Scot to Handle 3.25 stars

The Highland Commander 4 stars 

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them? What are your favorite romance reads? Let me know down below in the comments!

Books I've Read in 2017 #20-23

 

Hi, everyone! It's been a bit of a hot minute since I've uploaded a video, but I finally figured out the technical problems I've been having. Here's a review of four books that I've read in 2017. Also I'm so excited because I just hit 101 subscribers on YouTube and I'm so blessed and thankful for each person who has taken the time to watch my videos and liked me enough to subscribe to my channel. Again, thank you so much for reading my blog and watching my videos. It really means the world to me!

THE BOOKS:

 

 

Excerpts from a Film (1942-1987) - A.C. Wise 5 stars This Tor short was absolutely beautiful. It follows a young woman with dreams of becoming a Hollywood star. She wants the world to remember her, but is also haunted by the ghosts of young women who have been forgotten. It's a wonderful story and you can read it for free on Tor's website! Check out my review here.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald - Therese Anne Fowler 4.25 stars The fictionalized account of Zelda Fitzgerald's life and marriage to F. Scott Fitzgerald is a very interesting look into a starlet of the past. Zelda played a huge role in the 1920s, but she is, in my opinion, a figure who has been linked to her husband. This novel does an excellent job of showing that she was and wanted to be a woman of her own making, but the time period she lived in didn't allow that to come to fruition.

 Dolores Claiborne - Stephen King 5 stars If you've been watching my videos the last couple of months, then you are probably tired of hearing about this King novel, but it is so good that I can't stop talking about it. Seriously, read this one! It's amazing and one of the best character studies I've ever read.

The Pocketbook of Sunshine and Rain - Nenia Campbell 4.5 stars This is a poetry collection that is worth checking out. There are some great poems and if you want an idea of the style, I read my favorite poem in the video. Check out my review here.

Best of the Bunch:

Dolores Claiborne 

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them if you have? Do you plan on checking out any of these reads? Let me know down below in the comments!

Tantalized by Nenia Campbell

Tantalized by Nenia Campbell

4 stars

*Before I start this review, it is important to state that I’m friends with the author, Nenia Campbell, but this has no sway over my feelings or thoughts of this novel.

Tantalized follows Jessica Abrahams, a nineteen-year-old who is suicidal and dropped off by her parents at a prestigious university— despite her psychiatrist’s protests. Jessica is reckless when she isn’t on her meds and she is capable of doing anything for fun. She decides to seduce her Comparative Literature professor, Alexander Delacroix. Jess knows she is “fucked up”, but what she doesn’t know is that Professor Delacroix is, too. An intense battle of sexual domination and submission ensues and it may just break Jessica. I read this book three years ago, but I still think about it every now and then. Mainly because this booked is Fucked Up, with a capital F and a capital U. Incredibly Fucked Up. Naturally, it’s my type of book. If you didn’t know, I love dark literature. Some of my favorites from the genre are: Comfort Food,All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, Nine Minutes, and Nenia Campbell’s Horrorscape trilogy. Darker themed novels that make me twitch with distaste, feel icky while flipping the pages, and leave me with a feeling needing to take a shower are some of my favorite novels. Novels that make me feel uncomfortable and gauge emotional, psychological pondering, and physical reactions are usually novels that become favorites. (It’s why I love Stephen King so much.) If dark novels aren’t your thing, then steer FAR, FAR away from this book because it gets intense really fast and it is an uncomfortable read.


I read this book in a day. I brought my Kindle to school and read it in classes because I had to know what was going to happen next and what would be the next outlandish and horrible choices Jessica was going to make. I’ve always read Nenia’s books very quickly, but I flew through this one at rapid speed. Nenia has a great way of pulling the reader in and keeping the reader hooked. As much as I usually really enjoy her writing, the sex scenes in this novel were choppy and a little hard to read. However, considering the graphic level of content and sexual situations that is to be expected in a dark erotica novel.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4

These characters are absolutely horrible. You won’t root for Jessica, but you also don’t want to see her suffer. However, a lot of her suffering is brought on by her own masochist love of pain and she enjoys hurting herself, both physically and mentally. Alexander Delacroix is one of the most uncomfortable romantic leads I’ve ever come across and I love that I felt captivated and uneasy of all the same time. Nenia continues to write strong, detestable characters that are compelling.


Character Scale: 4

Villain Scale: 4.5

This novel is depressing and originally, I was conflicted on the ending, but I just reread the ending and I actually think it’s very fitting. If I were to compare this book to another I would compare it to Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates. Both are novels about student-professor affairs that turn exceedingly darker and more obsessive as the story progresses. I enjoyed both of them immensely and I think that since reading Beasts, it has made me like the ending of Tantalized a lot more. I definitely suggest reading the trigger warnings before picking up this novel because, like I said, it’s dark erotica and it also follows a psychologically unstable protagonist.


Plotastic Scale: 4.25

Cover Thoughts: It’s a typical erotica cover, but it is darker in context than some and it fits the tone of the story.

What are some of your favorite darker novels? Are you fan of darker content or do you stray away from it? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Books I Brought to College

Hi, everyone! I hope that you are all doing well. College is starting for me tomorrow and I have finally settled down into my apartment. Last year I brought a lot of books to college and I didn’t read hardly any of them because I would buy books every now and then and read those new ones. I’m a mood reader and I will only want to read a certain book at a certain time. I love being a mood reader, but sometimes it can be very hindering to me because if I’m not enjoying a book or I don’t feel like reading it, I will not pick up the book. I can go days without reading a book and then finish five books in one day.

This semester I’m taking three English classes and a Harry Potter philosophy class alongside being active member of my university’s color guard and Chi Alpha (nondenominational Christian fellowship) and I have a work study job at my campus. I sadly don’t foresee much of reading in my free time. I will try to make time like I did last year. I read when I walk to classes and that was a fun way to get into a book. The only downside is that it takes me a while to finish a book that way, but at least I’ll be reading. 

Note: Sorry that there are no photos of the books. My Internet connection on campus is very slow and it took me almost thirty minutes to find four photos, so I gave up.

Just Finished

The Beguiled- 3.25 stars I finished this yesterday (finally!) and it’s a good read, but I had extreme issues with the “climax” and the choices that these women made. I just think it glorifies murder and sociopathic/psychopathic tendencies, which is something I have a huge problem with.

Currently Reading

Great Expectations- I’m currently listening to the audiobook and reading it in a physical copy as well. So far, I’m really enjoying it. I’m only 52 pages in and I can’t say what I’ll rate it as of now, but it has potential to be 4 stars or more.

The Screwtape Letters- I’ve been reading this book since March or April and it started as a buddy read with one of my LifeGroup leaders. Then summer came and I turned it into devotionals per chapter. I’m still reading it, but it hasn’t been a main priority. However, I know for sure that I’ll be giving this book anywhere from 4.25-5 stars rating because it is phenomenal. I’m just a slow reader when it comes to C.S. Lewis.

East of Eden- This is my current reread. I always have a reread on-hand and I’ve rereading East of Eden since March. I love this book so much and I pick it up at leisure. It’s amazing. If you haven’t read this book, I highly suggest considering it. It’s a masterpiece.

Great Tales of Horror- I have two more stories left in this collection. The Haunter of the Dark is about 20 pages and I would like to pick that one up sometime soon. The Shadow Out of Time is 50 pages and I’m curious about it. However, I have a weird relationship with Lovecraft. I love him sometimes, hate him others, and just think he’s mediocre. When I look at the 18 works I’ve read by him overall, there are a lot of inconsistencies with his storytelling ability.

The Outsiders- I haven’t started this one yet, but it’s my next “official” carry-around book. It’s super short and I love the movie. I’ve never read this classic and I’m looking forward to finally picking it up.

To Read

Different Seasons- I’m so excited to pick this one up. I love Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me and I’m so excited to see King’s original concept and story that became the iconic films that they are today. I also really want to read Apt Pupil. It’s one of the King novels/novellas that I’m itching to dive into.

The Long Walk- The premise for this is so interesting and I am really interested on checking out the Bachman books.

The Green Mile- This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I have never picked up this book, but I did own a copy of it at one point. I think it’s time I try to get around to it.

The Drawing of Three- I read The Gunslinger in the spring semester and flew through it. So, it’s only fitting to bring the sequel with me. I think I’ll pick this one up soon because I want to know where Roland’s story heads.

Murder on the Orient Express- I want to read this one before the movie comes out. I flew through And Then There Were None last year and it’s a favorite of mine. I’m really excited to dive into another Agatha Christie mystery.

Kushiel’s Dart- This is a novel that really intrigues me and at the moment it’s a fantasy novel I want to have on hand in case I’m itching to pick it up.

Son of the Shadows- I LOVE LOVE LOVE Daughter of the Forest and I consider it to be one of my favorite fantasy novels and I have yet to pick up the sequels. I brought this with me to college for the third time in hopes of picking it up this semester.

A Storm of Swords- I love Game of Thrones and I like A Clash of Kings, but I have to pick up the third book in this series. I brought it with me in case I’m inspired to pick it up.

The Stranger Beside Me- A friend of mine who took a True Crime Lit class recommended this book to me and I’m so excited to dive into this one. I read Zodiac last semester and want to read a true crime novel this semester to keep up the trend.

The Fiery Cross- It’s been over a year since I picked up an Outlander book and that’s just not okay for me. I love this series so much and I’m shocked that I went so long without immersing myself into this world.

Stone Mattress- It’s been a while since I read The Handmaid’s Tale and I’ve been accumulating Atwood’s books like crazy. This short story collection is one I’ve been dying to pick up. Plus, it’s bright yellow and so beautiful.

Invisible Monsters- I have always wanted to read Chuck Palahniuk and I received this as a Christmas present two years ago. I need to pick this up. Also, the cover is badass and I adore it.

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories- I love The Metamorphosis and I’m obsessed with the Barnes & Noble Classics, so I picked up a copy. My original copy is slightly water damaged and I want to read more Kafka.

Brave New World- I planned to pick this up over the summer, but I got a summer job and fell in love with Stephen King, so it fell off of being a priority. I would love to finally pick this one up.

Winter Tide- I won this in a GR giveaway and it incorporates the Cold War and Lovecraftian horror together. I’m here for it.

Uprooted- I’ve been dying to read this book and it’s a standalone fantasy novel, which is super rare and exciting.

You- I want to read something quick and creepy during Halloween. I feel like this would be perfect for reading while watching Stephen King movies on TV.

Obviously, I want get around to read all of these or half of them this semester, but I really want to pick all of these books up and so I brought them with me in hopes that I could pick them up at random and get through them.

What books should I get to first? What books are you planning to read this fall? Did you bring any books to college? Let me know down below in the comments!

When I Am Through with You by Stephanie Kuehn

When I Am Through with You by Stephanie Kuehn

5 stars

“Tragedy is infinitely more interesting than bliss. That’s the allure of self-destruction.”

Ben Gibson has a lot to say about what happened on the trip to the mountain. His first trip out of Treyben and how it slowly became a nightmare. This is Ben’s confession about what happened on the mountain, how nine people went on a school trip and only five returned, and what he had to do for Rose. This novel is intense. It’s dark, twisty, and it doesn’t put a smile on my face. Stephanie Kuehn is gifted with writing loathsome characters who go through horrific events. This novel is unsettling and I feel unsure of myself and the characters. I question their intentions and what really happened. Was everything I just read true or was it all a lie? This is my second Kuehn novel and once again, I’m amazed at her talent. Yes, this is YA, but it doesn’t read like YA. Kuehn has the ability to write novels for a target audience that tiptoe into the adult genre. Her content is dark, barren, emotionless, and helpless. She puts you into the head of our confessor, Ben, and she shows us how hopeless a lot of these teens were when they went onto the mountain and how they remained hopeless after it.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.75

“Be humble,” he said to us. “That’s the only way to survive out there.”

There is a huge cast of characters for this novel. There’s Ben, our lead protagonist, who we quickly learn is behind bars for the murder of his girlfriend, Rose. There’s Rose, a character who can be cruel and is constantly looking for the worst in humanity. Dunc and Archie, two friends who seem to constantly be getting drunk or high. There’s Shelby and Clay, two characters who are there and seem to be going through a lot of personal issues. There’s Avery, a girl who has a crush on Ben. Tomas, Rose’s twin brother and Ben’s least favorite person. Mr. Howe, the teacher who is chaperoning the trip and who wants to help Ben. I don’t won’t to tell you anything about any of these characters, especially Ben. I think it’s best to go into this novel absolutely blind to the characters’ pasts and personal motivations.


Character Scale: 4.5
The Villain- There are many villains in this story, but I think it’s up to the individual reader to decide who was in the wrong and who was in the right. Everyone has their own motivations, but were their motivations justifiable? That’s the question you have to ask yourself and keep in mind while reading this novel.


Villain Scale: 5

There’s a chapter in this novel where everything that goes wrong could possibly go wrong and it was one of the most intense chapters I’ve read in a YA novel. As much as I disliked a lot of these characters and questioned their motives and actions, I really wanted to see them make it off the mountain and I was rooting for them.


I recommend this novel to fans of YA who are looking for an intense psychological thriller or suspense novel. I also recommend it for YA readers who want to read something darker, but aren’t ready for the adult genre. I think Kuehn’s novels are a great bridge between YA thriller and adult thriller because her novels touch on a lot of darker themes.


Plotastic Scale: 5

Cover Thoughts: It’s a creepy cover, but it’s nothing fantastic. It fits the mood and tone of the novel, but it doesn’t catch my eye.

Thank you, First to Read and Dutton Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Are you fan of Stephanie Kuehn? What's your favorite book by her? What are some of your favorite thriller/suspense novels? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Suspense/Thriller & Classics Book Haul

 

Hi, everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Summer is coming to a close for me. I move into my apartment Saturday and start band camp on Sunday. The fall semester is quickly approaching. This is a continuation book haul in a series of book hauls. I accumulated these books from August 2016 to June 2017. You can watch the other genres below:

Fantasy Book Haul

Horror Book Haul

Sci-fi Book Haul

THE BOOKS:

           

 I've read 2/7 and I'm currently reading The Screwtape Letters. I gave both Dolores Claiborne and Animal Farm 5 stars. I highly recommend both of them, but for every different reasons.

Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts? Let me know down below in the comments.

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

4.75 stars

“But I deplored silence. I deplored stillness. I hated almost everything.”

NOTE: I am not spoiling any major events in the spoiler tags, but I do hint to characters' pathology and actions without mentioning what the big finale/climax is. Click at your own risk.

Eileen recounts the reason why she left X-ville at the age of twenty-four. Eileen Dunlop lives with her alcoholic father and works at the local juvenile detention center, Moorehead. When Rebecca Saint John, arrives Eillen begins to find her place that she has been searching for, but one-night leads down a dark path. A path Eileen has a morbid fascination and obsession with. In this psychological novel, Eileen’s story is brought forth in an intense character study. This study is provided by Eileen herself as she tells the story of who she was and why she left X-ville. Since Eileen is the one providing thoughts on her own demeaner, actions, and obsessions, the story itself is incredibly unreliable. We are given no information as to if everything or anything Eileen leads us to be is real or actually happened. We also don’t know if her actions weren’t altered or if her memory of events has faded as she gets older. This character study of a disturbingly morbid woman is provided by an old woman who was an avid alcoholic and thief. Moshfegh leads Eileen down a winding road of quiet stillness, drunken stupors at home, lolling moments in her life, and ends the novel with a large bang. Not everyone is going to Eileen, the story or the narrator. In fact, I think to like this novel you have to dislike Eileen. That’s what makes this psychological thriller so brilliant. It’s unlike anything I’ve read. It stands on its own for being a slow-burn introduction that hints to what is to come and leaves off with an intense unforgettable bang that alters the pace of the story and the reader’s perception of Eileen.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.5

“I was always furious, seething, my thoughts racing, my mind like a killer’s. It was easy to hide behind the dull face I wore.”

Eileen is a disgusting character. She says questionable things, mentions a lot of orifices, and has uncomfortable obsessions. She judges her father’s harsh and heavy drinking, but partakes in drinking just as much as he does. She has an obsession that turns into stalking with a coworker at Moorehead. She obsesses over gruesome possibilities of death or murder. Eileen is an unsettling woman and as an old lady, she pities who she was and describes in great detail how pathetic the Eileen of the past was. While, Eileen is horrible she is also fascinating and is a character that could lead to countless hours of discussion. The most interesting thing about Eileen is  that she hints to obsessions with morbid and macabre acts of violence, but when faced with the ability to kill someone, she attempts to console the possible victim. It provides knowledge that Eileen is just a person who doesn’t know who she is, but when confronted with the opportunity to partake in the darkest of humanities acts, she shows kindness in multiple different ways.


Rebecca quickly becomes Eileen’s newest obsession and hope to be noticed. Eileen longs for friendship, companionship, but most of all she longs for someone to listen to her. Rebecca is a glamorous new doctor at Moorehead that offers Eileen the chance to reinvent herself. Slowly, Eileen hints that Rebecca may be more manipulative that she seems. There are subtle hints, mainly in phrasing and odd word choice. For instance, a normal conversation with Eileen has the odd phrasing of, “It’s sort of my modus vivendi, or my pathology- depending on who I’m talking to.” Rebecca immediately struck me as off and as the story progresses, it’s obvious that she is just as lost as Eileen and as morbid.Rebecca orchestrates this big set up, but in the end, she is a coward who leaves Eileen to clean up the mess she made.


The only other large character in this novel is Eileen’s father. He is an ever-looming presence, skulking in the corners of Eileen’s mind. His character is really detestable, as all the characters in this novel are. However, I won’t say too much about him because the more I say about him, the more I’d give away about Eileen’s backstory.


Character Scale: 5

Villain Scale: 5

This is a character driven story and the opening 20% relies completely upon characters. There isn’t much plot in this story, but I feel that is what makes this such a successful psychological thriller. The problem with most psychological thrillers today is that they want to be the next Gone Girl or want to have the novel with the most shocking, groundbreaking twists. However, the problem with having shocking, crazy twists is that they leave plot holes in a character study. It’s why The Girl on the Train didn’t work for me. I found it to be cheap, but Eileen works for me because all the signs pointed to where this was going to build up. The question was the ending and how everything played out.


I only recommend this novel to those who love character studies, unreliable narrators, psychology, and slow pacing. I think this is the perfect read for the winter. The story’s setting is cold, emotionless, and bone-chilling. While this story isn’t for everyone, I am so happy to have picked this up. I wouldn’t have ever picked this novel up, if I hadn’t heard about it from someone who has similar tastes in psychological thrillers as me.
“I’m not a criminal. She deserves far worse, but I’m no villain.”

Plotastic Scale: 4.5

Cover Thoughts: I don’t feel like the cover is striking, but it has an audience who will be pulled to pick it up.

Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Press, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read Eileen? Are you a fan of character driven novels? What is a psychological thriller that you love? Let me know down below in the comments!