Book Reviews

The Mothers, Brit Bennett

– Short Story – 

Nadia Turner is a smart girl from California with big ambitions, but with her mother’s unexpected suicide she finds herself in a state of depression and unable to talk to her father. Nadia begins to hang out with Luke Sheppard, a former star football player that had his career cut short with a leg injury and the Pastor’s son. The two begin to spend more time together and begin their own romance, that they believe is one built in love. When an unexpected pregnancy occurs, money exchanged, someone is left alone at the doctors office, and then the pregnancy is no longer there, the secret ends their relationship. Nadia has no idea where Luke got the money from, but she knows that she can’t tell her dad about it and has to keep it a secret. Her father has always been dedicated to the church, and whenever they need to use his truck, he is there to help with whatever task. After the abortion, Nadia decides to go out and party and takes her dad’s truck. On her way home after drinking, she crashes the truck. Her father is not an emotional man, but this was the one thing that could hurt him secondary to his wife’s suicide. Mr. Turner has no idea what to do with Nadia, until the Pastor stops by and says that his wife is willing to allow Nadia to help her in the church.
While working in the church, she meets her soon to be best friend Aubrey, someone who has been through as much, if not more than Nadia, but has found solace in the church. As soon as their relationship is growing, it is time for Nadia to leave for college at the University of Michigan. Nadia has the ability to reinvent herself, instead of hiding from her past. She leaves Aubrey and Luke, but there are still some questions as to what if they had kept the baby? What if she had not become friends with Aubrey? What did the Mother’s of the church know about what happened to her mother, or about her? The three of them find themselves growing up, and in the midst of a love-triangle filled with a lot of what ifs.

– My Thoughts

I personally have mixed reviews of this book. I liked it, but I did not love it. I feel like it was supposed to bring up so many more topics on a deeper level, but that did not happen. It could be because I was reading it over an extended amount of time, and had to pick it up and put it down. I did not feel like I was reading a story that I have not already read before. I wanted there to be a deeper level of the story. I think it is a fantastic debut novel by Brit Bennett, and if she writes more in the future I would still read them because I think that she writes beautifully.  Let me know what you thought of the novel! Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

Caraval, Stephanie Garber

Have you ever been in a situation that you just want to escape from? A bad home life or a bad relationship? Ever wanted to go to a place that was filled with magic, adventure, and that could possibly give you a new life? No such place exists, right? Donatella and Scarlett have been imagining changing their lives since their mother left, and for Scarlett that change could only be granted with the magic of Caraval, and the creator of Caraval, Legend. Scar and Tella have been hearing stories of Caraval since they were little girls told from their grandmother. Caraval is a place described with magic and wonder, a place where you can escape your realities and dive into your fantasies, but do not forget it is only a game.
Scarlett has been trying to get an invitation to Caraval ever since she heard about the magical place. When she finally obtains two invitations for her and her sister she wants to go, but their father stops them from leaving. Scar and Tella’s father has been controlling their lives ever since their mother left him. Tella, being the “wild child” finds a way to get off the island, which forces Scar to go after her because all she wants to do is protect her sister.  Tella’s antics also force Scar to team up with a random boy, Julian to try and go through the twists and turns of Caraval. Caraval is a game that is made by Legend that has grown into so much more than game for Legend and the players. As Scarlett has to try and find her sister, she finds out what it is like to be her own person and she finds who she truly is.
I thoroughly enjoyed Caraval by Stephanie Garber!! It was magnificent for a debut book! There was so much detail in every description, and there were so many different paths taken in the book that made it an amazing story. It made you feel like you were a participant in Legend’s game. I cannot wait for Garber to come out with a sequel to this one because you’re left with questions that need answers! If you’re looking for another wonderful, magical adventure, pick this one up because it is a magnificent story. Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader
Book Reviews, Uncategorized

Year of Yes | How to Dance It out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, Shonda Rhimes

year-of-yes-shonda-rhimesYear of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes found its way into my reading list at the exact right moment. In this wonderful book Rhimes talks about what it is like to have  an unbelievable career, a family, and still not feel completely happy about it all. She tells us what it is like to find your happiness, and to take chances on things you might never have considered. Each chapter focuses on a different part of her life that she was working on saying”yes” to.  Shonda Rhimes shows you how to bring the “badassery” (a newly invented Shonda Rhimes word that I will now use reguarly) back into your life.
I read this at the most perfect time in my life. I needed the advice, the encouragement, and the literary support that Rhimes provided me while reading her book. I have post its and tabs all over this book, marking passages I thought were important to me. Almost like I read it for school. It made me realize how many things were self inflicted, and what mentality I need to be in. She helped me realize that I do need to say yes to things, but that it’s okay to say no as well. Grey’s Anatomy has been my favorite TV show since season 1. Each time Meredith and Christina danced it out, I felt like I was dancing with them. Sometimes that’s what you need, to dance it out and let your mind be free. If you have enjoyed any of Shonda Rhimes’s shows you will enjoy the writing in her book. It’s New Year’s Day! It’s time to start saying “Yes!” to things and remember what it is like to be you! Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader
Book Reviews

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling

Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child_Special_Rehearsal_Edition_Book_CoverWho else was SUPER EXCITED for another Harry Potter book?! I was!! Me! Over here!! I ordered the book on Amazon Prime Now the night before the release, and it got delivered to me at the 2:00am on the release date! I wish I could have read it right then and there, but I was getting ready for my mother’s quilt show. Instead I read it at work on that Monday, and finished the whole thing in a day!
If you read the epilogue on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows then you know how our favorite three characters end up after their epic adventures at “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”. They have defeated Lord Voldemort at every turn, and now have started their next adventure, the adventure of parenthood. Harry Potter has married Ginny Weasley and Ron Weasley has married Hermoine Granger, and they each have children of their own ready to make their own mark on Hogwarts. This particular story follows Harry and Ginny’s child, Albus Severus Potter. Albus is the most unlike Harry, and he knows it. He is constantly feeling the pressure of being the son of “The Boy Who Lived” and worries that he will never amount to anything like his father. His first concern being which house will he be sorted in to when he arrives at Hogwarts, Gryffindor or Slytherin. Albus feels like his dad is not sharing something with him and sets out to find what is. The only problem is what is has the ability to alter the world as we know it.
I love Harry Potter books, I’ve loved everyone and will continue to love them no matter what. This book is from the play that was on production in London. Obviously the rest of the world was jealous that London was getting more Harry Potter than the rest of us. Due it being from a play it is written just like a play. With line reads, and staging. I still loved reading it, it was like the Shakespeare of magic. The only thing that was confusing to me, which was really a personal problem, were some of the names. Each time I heard Albus, Severus, or something else I imagined the original character in the book and it just confused me a little bit until I got it straight. If you’re a Potter fan get the book!! If you’re just starting out in the WIzarding world, read them from the beginning because there are a lot of references to past books. Until next time,
Keep turning the pages
90s Born Reader
Book Reviews, Uncategorized

Winter, Marissa Meyer

Winter_CoverWinter by Marissa Meyer picks up directly from where we left off the last time. Cinder and her crew are still finding away to defeat the Lunar Queen, Levanna. Princess Winter is the main insight of this story. Princess Winter is the most beautiful Princess in Lunar, if not the entire solar system. It is because of her beauty that she is a threat to Levanna. Princess Winter is also crazy, or at least that is what the people of Lunar think. The Princess is the nicest person on the Lunar Satellite, but when Queen Levanna gets jealous of Princess Winter’s beauty she scars Princess Winter. With Princess Winter being Lunar she should be able to glamour herself, but Princess Winter refuses to use her gifts. Instead she walks around showing her scar even though it is said that her glamour is the most beautiful of them all. When a Lunar does not use their gifts it takes over their mind and causes them to go insane.The Princess has done a good job of managing her illness, but sometimes it does get the better of her. Though the Princess is ill do not mistake her for weak. She is one  of the strongest characters in here, and does her part to help Cinder and her friends.
The “Lunar Chronicles” final installment is just as captivating as the first books. I really enjoyed reading the whole series even though the first book, Cinder, took me awhile to get in to. The whole series plays an interesting twist on our favorite fairy tale characters, and for the battle of good vs. evil.  The series follows a group of unlikely friends and allies into situations that they never imagined themselves in. Cinder and her friends have come together to fight for what they believe in. Until next time,
Keep Turning the Pages
90s Born Reader