Caraval

Book 56 is Caraval by Stephanie Garber.

I love love loved this book.

Initially put off reading this by the idea of the girls being trapped on an island was wrong. That is a small part of this phantasmagorical story.

When I thought I'd never find another book like Night Circus, I was sad. This is that book and it is a series! Although it isn't released yet, I'm excited to continue in this world.

There is too much to explain and most would give away the mystery.

It is magical. It is mysterious. It is a game. Or is it?

5 twists and turns out of 5.

Should I read this? Yes. No matter who you are, yes.
What did I learn? I love magic, beit real or not.

Turtles All The Way Down

Book 55 is Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.

It is rare for me to like a John Green so I can't for the life of me work out why I picked this up.

To clear things up quickly, I didn't like it.

It's the typical pattern or quotes from other people, teenage angst-love-heartbreak and Green summing up the whole point of the story in the last two chapters.

I'd wonder like to ask if he writes the end of his books first and then fills in the justification for them because it all feels too rushed and doesn't always fit.

Even the title of the book is hollow in its use in the story.

These books are for teenagers and having not been one for many years, I can happily say that this book may appeal to other when it did not to me.

2 predictable twists with dead parents out of 5.

Should I read this? If you are under 20 years old, maybe.
What did I learn? I'm over 20 years old.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life

Book 54 is A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen.

I go through self-help book phases during the year and the one problem that brings is that you can read something amazing next to something less amazing and falls short.

So, I must ask: Does it fall short because something else read so recently was better?

Not in this case. A lot of this is fairly obvious stuff that you'd see posted on facebook as an image with a background of the Grand Canyon. I see why it would be good for a speech given to youngens starting out in their lives and careers but all I got was validation.

Maybe validation is enough. You're doing it right. Keep doing that good thing.

For me, I'm not reading self-help books to fix anything but more to constantly improve as a human being. To be a better person to myself and to others. This book did not give me more tools and I am sure that is why I didn't rate it. Others may love it.

2 warm hearted quotes out of 5.

Should I read this? No. I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone at all.
What did I learn? There are too many self-help books sprouting nothing helpful. It's as though validating someone's life is enough. That's not helpful to me

Scythe

Book 53 is Scythe which is the 1st book of the Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

Discovered this on GoodReads from a friend who had listened to the audio book. And boy, am I glad that I read it. This is some of the best sci-fi I've read in a looooong time. The series is my new goal.

This reminded me of the Torchwood mini-series where people stop dying. Death is important. There is a sequence to things. There is a pile-on effect to not culling the population. We see it in crocodiles in Australia and insects that thrive and get out of control.

So what happens when your job is to cull humanity?

What a great concept! This was well executed.

5 lives out of 5.

Should I read this? No matter what you enjoy reading, this is good stuff. Yes, read it.
What did I learn? Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Scythe

Book 53 is the 1st book of the KJHKJHKH series - Scythe by M.C. Beaton.


4 fields of canola out of 5.

Should I read this? Yeah, it's fun.
What did I learn? Some people have far too much spare time.

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley

Book 52 is the 4th book of the Agatha Raisin series - Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton.

This is my favourite in-the-middle series at the moment. It satisfies my Agatha Christie cravings in a very modern way.

The last book was lacking and that made me worry about persisting in this saga but this reaffirmed my enjoyment of this genre and author.

I can't tell you anything or I will spoil it. Read it but do read all the bits before.

4 fields of canola out of 5.

Should I read this? Yeah, it's fun.
What did I learn? Some people have far too much spare time.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Book 51 is Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Being set in Seattle, this book has been on my list and towards the top since I first heard of it. That was years ago now but I finally made it. It was such a good read that I regret not reading it sooner. The truth is, it may mean more now that I live in Seattle. All the references felt overdone but still so like home.

I understand the plight of Bernadette. I was once her. I would never want to be her again. At least not the pre-where-are-you-? time.

This book meant so much to me on so many different levels. I'm not sure it would to everyone but it did to me.

The writing is good. The reasons are good. The mystery is good. The daughter is amazing. The Microsoft bashing combined with the intersection rants are legendary.

5 way intersections out of 5.

Should I read this? If you have ever wanted to run away from you life then yes.
What did I learn? Some birds are not meant to be caged. Conformity is pain.