I wanted to read this book after I heard Jasmine Warga speak and of course, the cover is just awesome. I didn't know it was about suicide, and I know that depression is pretty scary as well. And it was cool how we see that the main characters' perceptions of reactions are through their lenses of the "black slug" that sucks all joy in them. But given the fact that our community has recently had to deal with this, I probably read it at the wrong time.
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman (3.5/5 stars)
Aw, a sweet story about a man called Ove (oova) that makes you realize how much we tend to complicate our own lives. Ove is a man who sees only black and white, until he marries a girl who introduces color to his life. But then tragedy breaks him down. Yet, his neighbors humorously rebuild him. Just a warm, fuzzy book.
The War Reporter by Martin Fletcher (2/5 stars)
Hm, not sure what to make of this book. I get that there is the whole romance thing, drama thing, and world dominance thing going on. And normally I'm very intrigued when writers are able to combine several genres into one book. But this seemed clunky. On the whole, I didn't hate it- thought it was interesting in some parts and made me want to study up on the Serbia/Croatia war. But on the whole, meh.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (4/5 stars)
Ok, this could easily be a 5 star book, except that I listened to it at speed 2.0 because I wanted to hear the story really quickly. I don't think it was worth the 2.0 speed, because I think I missed some really good stuff. So, basically there are 6 ruffians, who are "hired" out by someone to steal a guy who makes a potent drug. The gang are not necessarily trustful of each other, and the back stories explain in good detail why they are where they are. There's incredible action, good twists, and various viewpoints. Highly recommended and I will make it a mission to read Leigh Bardugo's other series.
I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios (3.5/5 stars)
What a sweet love story. There are definitely parts that have been researched such as PTSD many soldiers have coming back from war. The story is about a young girl in a small California town who wants to get out for college. A young man comes home from the war, dealing with PTSD and having lost a leg. The issues arising from Skylar's life are about poverty, grief, and college ambition. And then she sees a changed Josh from war, and the two help each other. Good book, and definitely a winner for high school.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (4/5 stars)
Groundhogs Day, the movie, was awesome. Lots of repetition, but it still had enough variety to keep you satisfied, and hoping that one day, the endless day, would eventually resolve. This was just like that, but not quite the closure of Bill Murray and Andy McDowell, hence the 4 stars. I can say, for a fact, that there were lots of changes throughout the book and Ursula's lives, and the pleasant thing is that it didn't start over and over from day one. It was well written, didn't seem like 530 pages, and gave many perspectives of world war II, her relationship with her mother, and the effects of one minor event on someone.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling (5/5 stars)
It had been a while since I read this, and I'm glad I re-read it. The hype isn't as great, so the pressure to love it isn't there. And maybe that's why I did love it this time.