Shut Up & Read

Posts

BOOK BEGINNINGS: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader . Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. “I’m sure I can tell this story. I’m also sure no one will believe me. That’s fine with me.” FAIRY TALE BY STEPHEN KING Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Adventure, Adult, Science Fiction, Magic 599 pages, Hardcover First published September 6 , 2022 Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes deep into the well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher—for their world or ours. Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was ten, and grief drove his dad to drink. Char

Book Beginnings: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader . Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. You can find more information on how to participate on your blog HERE! “I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather.” Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Young Adult, Dystopian, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Adventure 390 pages, Hardcover First published August 24, 2010 My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Q

Send Her Back and Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke

Send Her Back and Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Send Her Back and Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke is an interesting look into the lives of immigrant women both in the United States and in their own countries. Each of the stories in this book are from the woman's perspective and tell their stories of hope, struggle, sacrifice, success, and failure. I enjoyed the open, honest writing style and the no-holds truth these women faced in their everyday lives. The author addressed difficult issues relevant to immigrant women. Each story was unique and interesting in its own way. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their horizons. I listened to the audio of this book. The narrator was engaging and authentic. I enjoyed listening to it I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. See allof my reviews

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I've been on a WWII kick lately. I love reading about the every day people who went above and beyond to help their to become unsung war heroes. It gives me hope for humanity. The Ways We Hide is a historical fiction story based around true events. Fenna had a good, but hard life. She went through many hardships and overcame them to do great things. Her story is one of love and loss and courage to endure. I enjoyed her story, her tenacity, and her unwillingness to give up on those she loves. This was my second book by this author, and I've come to enjoy the writing style and storytelling. I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. See all of my reviews

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I chose to read this book partly because I love James Patterson and partly because I love Dolly Parton. I was quite intrigued by the matchup of these two and felt I had to find out what this duo could produce. Run Rose Run is the story of a young, talented singer trying to hide from her past. I loved the characters, and the story was quite charming. This was a quick, easy read. Somewhat predictable, but entertaining nonetheless. Overall, I would probably read more books from this pair of authors. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Kelsea Ballerini and Ms. Dolly Parton herself, and I have to say, the narration was my favorite part of the book. If I had been reading a physical copy, it would not have been nearly as engaging. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. See all of my reviews

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I read the description. I love the idea of an antiheroine, a girl who started with nothing and stole her way up to the top. Vanja is a great character. You want to root for her even though you know, and she knows, what she is doing is wrong. The rest of main characters are eccentric and fun, which makes for a great story. I would have liked the curse to be a bit more of a main plot in the story, as it seemed to just be sort of an afterthought, but overall, this was a great read. This is the first book I've read by this author, but if they are all this well-written and entertaining, I'll most definitely be reading more. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. See all of my reviews