Monday, December 19, 2016

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin


Dec 19/16

I finished this book around June of 2016. After I discovered Audible and listening to audio books. It really helped while taking care of my baby.


A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

I had to restart this because I originally started reading the third book of the series a year or two ago.



And of course, I read this so long ago, I can't quite remember everything I thought about it.

Here's what I do know: I was somehow able to stay away from spoilers, but I knew something big was going to happen. I knew the Red Wedding had been mentioned a lot, and I had made up scenarios in my head.

I was wrong. I had no idea. I assumed the Red Wedding would be Joffrey's. I was hoping something terrible would happen to that little ass. (His was full of action as well.) 

I'll admit. I was shocked, and actually don't think I want to see it on the show. We do have season three ready to watch though. I will some day soon.

Either way, spoilers are bad, but I did know to expect something big. It was definitely big, but I don't think it ruined the book for me.

I actually think a lot happened in this one. It seemed exciting from start to finish. So far, I don't feel that way about book four, but we'll see. Unfortunately after long breaks, it's hard to remember every single thing that happened.

This is a short post, but all in all, I liked it. I feel bad that it took me so long to read it, but I needed a break. These books are huge, and sometimes I need an 'easy' ready. Something that I can't put down. While I enjoy the Game of Throne books, I can put them down, and I don't find them to be easy reads. 

(I also don't think that not being able to put a book down means it is an easy read. It just means it's good.)

I've got a lot of updates on books to write on this blog. The fourth book will be added some day.

E



©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Friday, September 23, 2016

The Martian by Andy Weir


September 23, 2016

(Finished book in March of 2016)


The Martian by Andy Weir

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I would, but I still wanted to read it. Of course, I also wanted to read it before I watched the movie. It was already out on DVD so I was pretty behind on reading it. My whole family had also read it, and I was the last person to get it.

I wasn't sure if I would like it. It's not really the kind of book I usually read, but I wanted to read it before I watched the movie.

The good news is I did like it. The unfortunate truth is I knew I was going to like it when they swore on the first page. I'm not sure what that says about my personality, but it's the truth.

I continued to enjoy the book as I read. I didn't know anything going into it, so I had no idea if Mark would survive the mission or not, and I was worried I wouldn't like the ending.

I'm also glad they eventually added more voices to the novel. I loved Mark, but I wasn't sure how Andy Weir would make it a one person novel.

Books that are able to add humour during serious moments make me happy. Tension in books is great. Tension in books is better when it can be cut with a laugh. Even if it doesn't solve the situation, it's a nice break. This book did it. I could be completely stressed out for the character, and then be able to laugh at a comment made.

I did watch the movie after I read the book, but I can honestly say I don't remember it at all. I had pregnancy brain while watching it, and now I have mommy brain so it's safe to say it left my brain immediately after watching it. The book definitely left more of an impact.

I would recommend this book to anybody.

I've got a few more 'catch up' reviews coming up. I'm slowly working on it.

E



©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Saturday, September 17, 2016

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

September 17, 2016

Finished in January, 2016

I've promised myself I would write one blog post tonight. I have about eight more books I need to talk about, and I have to update my writing blog as well. However, one post at a time. Slowly but surely, I am getting back into life, reading, and writing.

Side note, after Anthony was born in May, I realised that it wasn't easy holding a book while nursing. So I downloaded audio books. It almost feels like cheating, but I love it, and it's gotten me back into the world of books. I'm getting so many more books 'read'.

Now for a book I read so long ago that I probably don't remember anything.


I don't have a picture of the book, so here's one of me in front of big books.



After Alice 
by Gregory Maguire

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love it because as far as I can remember, I loved Alice in Wonderland. I also expected the book would be great because I love other books Gregory Maguire has written. (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister) (Mirror Mirror) (And More...)

I just didn't like this one. I felt the book was unnecessarily complicated.

My favourite story line was Alice's sister. She wasn't in the rabbit hole, just dealing with life outside the hole. The rest of the story annoyed me for the most part.

With his other books, we see things from a different perspective. Same story, but instead of it being from Cinderella, it's from her not so evil step-sister (or whichever altered fairy tale you're reading). 

This time, he added a completely new character. I'm not sure who I was hoping the story would be about. One of the Queens maybe, or the rabbit. Anybody really. This was just some strange girl with a strange life who was trying to help weird Alice out. 

I have read his books more than once, but this one, I gave to my sister and let her know I didn't need it back.

Just a quick note about that, my sister liked it.  I can't remember what she liked about it (because I read it a million years ago), but she did. I'm sure other people did as well. This was simply my take from the story.

I'll keep reading his books if he writes more. I love his themes and ideas, this book  just wasn't my favourite.

Until next time. (Hopefully soon.)



©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Thursday, April 14, 2016

how i came to sparkle again - by Kaya McLaren

November 11, 2015

how i came to sparkle again - by Kaya McLaren



Okay - I started writing that in November of last year. Now I have to start again.

April 14th, 2016

I'm so far behind with all my blogging. I'm slowly catching up. This will be a short one because I don't ever have notes or anything, so I have to rely on my memory. Which isn't so good.

Here are my thoughts: This book was strange. It was almost a religious type book, but wasn't. I think some characters were religious, and others spent 2-3 pages questioning God. I'm not always a fan or the religious books, and I honestly think that part of it could have been cut down into a line.

The book jumped between characters. I usually like that. Although, I felt by the end, I knew some characters better than others. 

Some people were dealing with loss, others dealing with divorce (which is loss in a way), and with a miscarriage. Others were just the odd characters that ended up with their perspective in the book as well.

The one thing I can say for certain is I loved the setting. A ski village in the States, that is busy during the tourist season. I enjoyed the odd ball characters. 

I just didn't love the book. 

It was an easy read though. I don't think I'll ever pick it up again, but it was fine to read once.





©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Book Prompts- Confessions



This Book Questionnaire was taken from a friend's blog. Her answers (and Blog) are here: http://areadersrapture.blogspot.ca/2016/04/book-confessions-tag.html.

I have three books to write about that I've read in the last few months. I think I'll do this first. Ease back into the blogging life.


Book Confessions 


What is the most recent book you did not finish?

First of all, even if I hate a book, I force my way through it. I hate putting books down. However, sometimes, I'll start a book before the one I'm not enjoying is finished, and it'll be put down for a while. I always plan to get to it.

The latest 'put down' book has been: Game of Thrones: Book Three.

I know I'll get back to it. It just might not be until after baby is born. Plus I can't watch season three until I'm done the book.

Which book is your guilty pleasure?

Sandra Brown books. The 'now' ones, not the complete romance only ones. Although, I've read those as well. I think because I started reading her when I was a teenager, these were my first books that involved sex, romance, and mystery all together, and I have a soft spot for them. She's more of a crime/romance or mystery/romance writer now. It all has the romance though.

Which book would you hate to receive as a present?

Lord of the Rings - It might just sit on my bookshelf forever. Although now that I'm having a baby boy, I may need to get into those books a little more.  

Also any Nicholas Sparks books. I know it seems like they should be something I like, but I don't. I find them predictable, and I don't love them. Plus, there's something about knowing that it'll just be made into a movie anyway that bugs me.

Divulge your secret reading spot...

Anywhere I have a book. Usually, when I'm curled up in bed. Sometimes at work on my lunch break. I'm not picky. I'll read anywhere.

Which book do you love to hate?

Harry Potter. I have read the first one in the series. No others. I also watched the first movie. I hate watching movies when I know I should have read the books. I just didn't fall in love with Mr Potter like the rest of the world.

Which book made you angriest?

We need to talk About Kevin. This book was extremely well written, but really makes you hate the idea of parenthood. 


Gone Girl. It was a great book with characters that were terrible. I have trouble with books like that. No idea who to cheer for.

Most books by Jodi Picoult. I loved my first Picoult. (Below). Since then, I keep trying, but I cannot love any of the books as much as the first - or at all.

Which book made you cry the most?

My Sister's Keeper - My first Picoult. I loved it. I read it on a trip to Thailand. I know that seems strange, but there are a lot of times in transit that you can pull a book out and read. I cried so much during that book and at the end. So. Much. If you've watched the movie, don't base that on the book. It'll make you cry too, but it's not the same.

That's it for the questions. These aren't my favourite books, but just the ones on my mind that go with the questions. 

©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.