2018 Reading: By Royal Command

Another piece of trash to pass the time until I can started the 2019 Reading Challenge.

Ugh. Just ugh.

2018 Reading: The House with the Clock in its Walls

Jenny and I watched the movie last night and I was surprised that it was better than I was thinking. Jack Black can either make a movie better or he can completely ruin a project. I think it's only when he's actively trying to be someone else that it just doesn't work for him. This character was basically Jack Black, but in the 50's so it fit him perfectly. That being said, I was almost hesitant to read the book because I liked the movie so much. But I figured I'd give it a shot.

2018 Reading: The Ultimate Risk

I wanted something quick and empty to fill up some time until I can officially start the 2019 Reading Challenge, so I picked up the first cheesy looking romance novel I could find at the library.

Finished it about and hour and a half later.

2018 Reading: Less Than Zero

#36 A book set in the decade you were born

Oh Brett, I love how your books leave no happiness whatsoever at the end of them. It's all just drugs, angst, and 80's music. Love it. (Plus, I saw this movie a while ago and you cannot go wrong with Robert Downey, Jr. being forced to "entertain" male clients for his drug dealer James Spader and Andrew McCarthy full-on Winnie-the-Poohs it in his apartment.)

Dear God, the amount of cocaine in the first few pages alone would keep me buzzing for the rest of my life.

There seems to always be a foreboding sense of ennui in Ellis's characters. Describing these fabulous places, food, restaurants, towering expensive buildings, cars, and clothes, but then ignoring them. Material things only represent an outside that must be maintained for society's sake while the inside is dark and hollow, desperately using things like drugs and sex to find meaning when really there is none. It's clear to see these characters have been put into this world, but find no comfort in it nor do they work to maintain it so their entire existence comes off as meaningless.

"Where are we going?" I asked

"I don't know," he said. "Just driving."

"But this road doesn't go anywhere, " I told him.

"That doesn't matter."

"What does?" I asked, after a little while.

"Just that we're on it, dude," he said.

(pg. 195)

That conversation stuck with me for some reason.

Side note: I think the title refers to the amount of fucks given by the main character.

2018 Reading: The Road

#32 A book from a celebrity book club

You have to understand that post-apocalyptic stuff is really not my bag. The Last One and Maze Runner are the exceptions to this rule. When I picked up this book, I had no idea what it was about. I began to read the first few pages in the library and even though it wasn't something I was super-psyched about, I liked the writing style so I decided to keep going. It was also brought to my attention (thanks to NEXT year's reading challenge list) that this book is considered something called "cli-fi" which is, like, climate change fiction... I don't know.

Part of me was bothered with the fact that nothing was explained. We, as reader's, don't know what happened to the world to bring about this type of dystopia so we have no context as to what happened to the people of the story before the narrative starts. Another part of me thinks that was a brilliant idea because it forces you to focus on the "here-and-now" of the action, even if it is at the end.

I recently learned that there was a movie made of this book and I'm torn on whether I want to watch it or not. On the one hand, it could be fun. On the other, since there is not a lot of action in the story, I'm afraid of what they will have done to the book in order to make it appealing in movie form. If they add too much, it takes away from the original text the same way it does when they leave things out.

2018 Reading: Unicorn Theater

Adorable.

2018 Reading: Jack (Not Jackie)

This book was adorable and very important. I like that they went with f2m because that is less well known and more difficult to accept for some people.

2018 Reading: Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 1

I love that this is giving backstory to Jareth and how he came to be the Goblin King. I found it funny in the right places, just like the movie, but also sad and moving when you get to hear about how he got there and his family. I can't wait to read the next one.

2018 Reading: The Voice at 3:00 A.M.

#8 A book with a time of day in the title

I read a lot of Charles Simic when I was taking my poetry classes in undergrad and I found him very interesting. I've had this book sitting on the shelf for a while and figured this would be the best time to break it out and see if it was work keeping or not.

Some of the poems were so-so, but there were a select few that made me pull out my little post-its so that I could go back and appreciate them later. All-in-all, I think this one has a permanent place on my shelf.

2018 Reading: Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History

#43 A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place

Okay, so despite working at a public library, I never actually SEE anyone reading. This is not uncommon because reasons. So I ventured out and found a NYC blog that asks people in subways and stuff what they are reading and I figured that would be a good place to browse. 

Saw this:

and immediately knew that is what I would be reading.

This had a few ladies I was already privy to, but it also had some women that I had never heard of so it was a good read. Informative, entertaining, and a relatively quick read (when I wasn't busy with school work and could actually sit down to enjoy it).

2018 Reading: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

#45 A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title

Surprisingly, I have never read this book before. I know that I've seen the show, but I've never really read any of the books. It's just one of those things I missed as a kid.

This was adorable and I sometimes wish I was still like Linus.

2018 Reading: Scary Stories Treasury

#19 A book about or set on Halloween

I remember my sister reading me some of these stories as a child, but I don't really think I've ever sat down and really read them myself. Plus, I think we only had the first book so the other two were new territory for me.

2018 Reading: Triads

#28 A book by two authors

Once again, getting to a book that has been on my shelf for the longest time and never had the chance to read before. You've already heard me wax so much poetic about Poppy and his work.

There were elements of this story that reminded me of some of his other short stories. They might even be connected. I like to think that they are.

2018 Reading: The Pigeon Needs a Bath

#35 A past Goodreads Choice Award winner

This is the very first Mo Willems thing I have read ever. I see his books everywhere (it helps that I mainly work in the children's are of the library) but have never actually picked one up to read it.

It was cute.

2018 Reading: Bringing Down the House

#4 A book involving a heist

Okay, so I know it's not exactly a "heist" but I think this is close enough. It's still taking money under suspicious means and I think we can squeeze that into the category if we really tried.

I'd heard of this story before, you know you hear things and apparently there's a movie about it? I don't know. All I know is that this book was fascinating. If I were that smart with numbers though, I know that I would not be doing this every single weekend and getting recognized even if it was under fake names. I would go once, earn enough to get me by some time, and then cut out until I ran out of money and needed to go again.

But I can't count cards anyway so that's a moot point.

2018 Reading: Leah on the Offbeat

#34 A book that's published in 2018

I really enjoyed reading this book. I basically flew right through it because I wanted to see how it ended up. I was a little confused about all the hook-ups that were going on that basically contradicted the first book, but whatever. High school.

I love Leah and I'm glad that she is a badass outspoken big girl character that got her own story and her own happy ending. There were several times when I really wanted to punch several characters in the face and tell them to just be a man and grow up, including that main character, but I figured that being awkward is a part of being a teenager and that they could make their own choices. Not that my advice would have mattered anyway. Because, you know... it's a book.

2018 Reading: The Art of Fushigi Yugi

#24 A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you

I have loved this series since I saw the show. Some friends of mine introduced me to it and I knew that I had to have more so I started buying the manga as well and then just random stuff about it. Going through this book (which was more than just art) made me want to watch the show again because there is so much that I just don't remember from my first time watching it. Little details and characters that I was too caught up to notice. Such a good show. Such a good manga.

2018 Reading: The Polar Express

#41 A bestseller from the year you graduated high school

Despite this being turned into a movie several years ago and the fact that it has literally been around since I was born, I had never read this book before. It was sort of cute, but I didn't really see a plot or anything. But, I guess some children's books are just like that. Like all Van Allsburg books, the illustrations were breath-taking.

2018 Reading: Rosebush

#47 A book by an author with the same first or last name as you

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I was so confused about what was happening and all of these people and... Wahhh!!!

I have to admit, it did not end the way I thought it was going to. Not at all. This was a weird and different type of who-dun-it that I probably never would have picked up if it weren't for the fact that the author and I share the same first name (spelling and all).

2018 Reading: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

I have had this book on my to-read list for the longest time and when I found out that the second one in the series was published this year, I knew it was my time to read it finally. I might even watch the movie, too.

I don't know why it fascinates me so much, but I love teen coming-of-age, coming-out stories. I guess they give me some kind of hope that there are good things out there and it's not all horror stories of people getting thrown out of their homes as teenagers with no one to go.

I like the way this book was written. I felt like I could fly through it but still absorb so much of the story and get a feel for the main character.

2018 Reading: The Book Thief

#44 A book tied to your ancestry

I pretty much think that any book written from the perspective of death is going to be a good one. I like the way this book was put together. It was chronological, but there were also times that it sliped into the future or the past, but not in a way that became annoying or confusing. Though that would have been okay since given the time period of the story, confusion would have been rampant and completely appropriate. I'm glad that I read this book though I don't really know if I am going to follow up with the movie or not. I've not heard much about it.

2018 Reading: The Crow: Lazarus Heart

#16 A book with an animal in the title

God, I forgot how much I love Billy's writing. Ugh, it's just so flowing and beautiful. Whole passages about severed limbs and vivisection read like poetry set to soothing classical music. If only we could find someone with an amazing voice to read all Poppy Z. Brite books, I would fall asleep every night listening to the sounds of Steve and Ghost driving in the dark, to Zillah and Nothing opening a vein to share a drink of fresh blood, to Zach and Trevor's psychodelic fever dream of insanity and talking cartoon animals, to Andrew and Jay discovering their love for each other over a dismembered human head... Every. Night.

And I have gotten into the habit of breaking books up into their chapters and pairing them with other books with the same amount of chapters so that I can read more than one book at a time, but I found myself wanting to power through this one all at once, even though I knew that I would hate myself later. UGH, it was such a tough decision to stop after every chapter and move on to the other book. But, I wanted savor each chapter BECAUSE IT WAS SO GOOD!

...

Sorry, went off on a tangent there.

The Crow is one of my favorite movies, based on one of my favorite graphic novels of all time. Always has been. And to put that concept together with my favorite author of all time? Yes, please!

2018 Reading: Ghoulia

This book was just added to our library along with the DVD and I thought it was the cutest thing ever.

2018 Reading: Talking As Fast As I Can

#37 A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to

One of these days I'm going to watch Gilmore Girls...

...One day.

Until then, this book was entertaining.

2018 Reading: The Sociopath Next Door

#26 A book about mental health

Right after reading the introduction I know I was going to have my issues with this book. This person insists that sociopaths are deplorable beings who should be avoided at all costs and have no redeeming qualities to them whatsoever. I know that sociopathy is defined by the lack of conscience, but that does not mean the person is a criminal or less than human. It is something that they are born without. She likens it too much to psychopathy which, although CAN be a genetic trait, is more commonly something that is forced onto a person or persons through psychological trauma. And while it is true that psychopaths are most, if not all, sociopaths, that by no means proves that all sociopaths are psychopaths. So, now that I've had my little rant, I will continue to read passed the introduction...

Aaaaaaand now that I have, I would like to say that I still hold the same principles, but am now more informed about the matter according to this doctor and though some of my views have changed on the subject, some have resolutely not.

I like how this book took different perspectives on the concept of sociopathy, such as philosophy and religion, as well as that of science and psychology.

2018 Reading: The Library of Babel

So, this is how this started...

...and then I read it.

You think I'm kidding?

What followed was an almost hour-long discussion of infinity and knowledge and religion and philosophy...

It was the greatest thing ever and I want to turn it into a podcast and do more of it forever.

2018 Reading: The Women in the Walls

#12 A book with alliteration in the title

I didn't really know what to think of this book. It was an advanced reader's copy from my mother's library that she gave me several years ago before the book officially came out and I put it on my shelf never to think about it again. Until, this challenge, that is.

I have to admit, the book had me from pretty much the very beginning and kept me interested for a long time. There was a while when my interest waned a little bit near, oh, I'd call it the 4/5ths mark, but then the last fifth caught me back up and saw me through the rest of it.

Not usually one for ghost stories, but this one was okay.

2018 Reading: Dream Boy

Ahhhh!!!! Just everything about this book. Everything. Did they make a movie of this? I need it in my life. But, it probably won't even compare. STILL!

All of the reviews and stuff told me that this book was going to be sad and as I got near the end, I totally started to see that and thought it would have ended way differently than it actually sis. OMG, I don't know what else I can say without giving away the ending, but this was a very important book and I want everyone to know about it and experience it for yourselves.

2018 Reading: Ten Count Vol. 5

May 30, 2018: I think I am going to reserve this entry until I have finished the series in its entirety. (Or until the end of this year, whichever comes first. Either way, it should be more than one book at a time). There is very little to say about each individual volume that I don't think it's really worth it anymore to do them one by one.

Edit: July 30, 2018: Well, that was the plan, but it has been a significant amount of time and I'm afraid I may lose track of it if I keep waiting. Onward!

2018 Reading: The Invisible Man

#31 A book mentioned in another book

I honestly don't remember book mentioned this one, but I'm sure you can find a list of them on the internet somewhere.

I knew some details of this story, but I really hadn't read it before and didn't know the whole of it. H.G. Wells is definitely one for telling a very strange story that is easy to read, but hard to think about and don't really end in a very happy way.

2018 Reading: Maurice

#1 A book made into a movie you've already seen

I watched this movie years ago. I think it was when I was on my Rupert Graves kick at the time and I simply loved the story. I already owned a book that had three different E.M. Forster's stories in one volume from college when I was supposed to read Howard's End (but never did) and earlier last year when I read A Room with a View.

I'm glad I read the book. I remember when watching the movie that I felt a great hatred of Clive for his actions. I know that some things cannot be helped, but I just remember not liking him for some of the things he said to Maurice. I know that there is more explanation in the book, so I can now say that I do, in fact, hate him.

I find it so odd that something that has been done (though not talked about) in the world for hundreds of hears is STILL to this day a problem for some people. It really doesn't hurt anyone and the only thing you get from this kind of oppression is unhappy marriages and miserable lives.

But that's another argument for another time.

2018 Reading: The Kill Order

#3 The next book in a series you started

Well, this certainly answered the question of where the virus initially came from, but it still leaves the big issue of how the maze came about and what their plan was for that whole venture and how they thought it would help.

I know that there is yet another book in this series that comes after this one and before the original trilogy so maybe the answers to those questions are in that book and I will just have to wait and see.

This book was basically just filler, though. Entertaining, quick read, but no real absolute substance, just the hint of something more that COULD be.

2018 Reading: Deviant

#9 A book about a villain or antihero

Following a hunch, Wilimovsky asked Eddie if he had ever used
the skins as masks, placing the over his own face.

“That I did,” Eddie replied without hesitation.

When Wilimovsky asked how he secured the faces to his own 
head, Eddie’s answer was simple. With a cord, he explained.

And would Eddie “wear the faces over a prolonged time?” 
Wilimovsky inquired.

Eddie shook his head. “Not too long,” he said. “I had other 
things to do.” (pg 124)

He had. Other. Things. To. Do.

I know it's morbid, but every time I read that interview (I've read it in several books) I giggle to myself maniacally.

This was a more in depth look at the life of Ed than I had previously seen, so that was nice. I think I might have another book on him rattling around on my shelves that I might get to one day.

2018 Reading: Chopsticks

I have no idea what possessed me to pick up this book. I supposed when I flipped through it and found out that it was a story told in pictures with little to no words, I was both intrigued and confused.

Meh. The story was mediocre at best, but I will admit that some of the pictures were gorgeous.

2018 Reading: The Girl Who Played With Fire

#5 Nordic noir

I found this book much easier to read than the first one. I think it was the fact that there wan't a giant family tree of Swedish names that I practically had to memorize so that I would understand what was going on.

I think the story for this one was fascinating as well. You got a little closer look into the life of Lisbeth and some of her motivations. I might go back and watch the movie for this one, as well. I watched the original Swedish movie for the first book (I might have already mentioned that) and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm anxious to see how this will play out. I don't really know about the books that were published by someone else after the author's death, but they are already making a movie out of one of them so I might see about giving them a shot, but I don't hold out much hope for them being as good as the original.

2018 Reading: The Tale of Despereaux

#33 A childhood classic you've never read

I don't know why I've never read this book before. It was adorable. The style of narration was perfect for the act of reading to a younger child rather than being actually read by the child. I think I liked that better than I thought I would.

2018 Reading: Stellaluna

Absolutely adorable.

2018 Reading: Passive Aggressive Notes: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings

This came across my desk at the library and I KNEW I was going to love it.

Spoiler alert: I did.

2018 Reading: Mrs. Dalloway

#25 A book about feminism

Get thee behind me, Satan!!!

If there is one thing I hate, it is a long-running story with no plot. THIS! This is what I hate.

It switches perspective in the middle of a paragraph (paragraphs which can last for pages upon pages, by the way) and then follows someone else entirely who has nothing to do with the first person. It will flit back and forth between these people forever without anything actually happening! The characters are only linked in the smallest and least interesting way so when you get to the end and nothing has happened, it's all the more confusing and disappointing.

I have no idea what type of message I was supposed to receive from this book, feministic or otherwise. The only thing I am certain of is that I am glad I am done with this book.

2018 Reading: The Screwtape Letters

#46 An allegory

I really had no idea what this was about before I picked it up. I knew it had to do with religion, but I was unfamiliar with anything else about this book. I've never read anything by C.S. Lewis before, so I couldn't even get a comparison of writing styles between his books.

I found myself chuckling during most of it. The idea that there is a hierarchy in Hell as well as Heaven that employs lesser demons and imps to do menial tasks and hold down office type jobs is something that we never really think about, but is kind of funny to picture.

I like the message that no matter what, evil will find you. I know that's probably not the message I was SUPPOSED to get out of it, but it came through all the same.

2018 Reading: Unicorn of Many Hats

I don’t know why, but I always love when a new one comes out and I try to read it as soon as possible.

2018 Reading: Every Nine Seconds

#22 A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist

They just rolled a whole bunch of stuff from the show in here, didn't they? 4 year-old Justin in the liquor store? Name dropping Q-Mart? The grand opening of Babylon? Just put every little thing in there to show that you know what you're talking about and try to link everything together like a pretty little package.

Sorry, I just thought it was ridiculous that Justin was in the book when it was supposed to be just about Brian and Michael. All I want out of life is Brian and Michael. All I ever wanted from the show from the very beginning was Brian and Michael. And I never got it. Except in my dreams. And fanfiction.

UGH, WHY, BRIAN? WHY?!?!?!

"Dear Michael,

Remember, with you, it's real. With everyone else, it's 

just all about sex.

Love,

Brian"

*ugly crying*

2018 Reading: Eat Pray Love

#50 A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

I didn't know what I would think about this book when my sister suggested I read it. I've never seen the movie (had no real desire to, honestly) and had not looked into it too much.

Some of the author's thought processes and descriptions of feelings and rituals that she had observed made me stop and think of all the things I knew about different religions ans also made me question my own sense of spirituality. I'm not a spiritual or religious person, but I like to think that there is some form of higher power. I just don't know what that is. Most of the time I don't think about it at all, and that seems to be working just fine for me.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I may very well give the movie a try now.

2018 Reading: Ten Count Vol. 3 & 4 (2 books)

Woo, heating up a bit in here. I'm actually really enjoying this series. We're getting to the heart of the matter now with Shirotani's germophobia (if you can even call it that at this point).

Can't wait for more!