book review | gone girl

Oh darn, another book review. Sorry, non-nerds. There's actually going to be some major changes coming soon to the blog, but even with all of that, I've decided that book reviews are going to remain a weekly thing. Mainly because I LOVE to read and I'm blogging for me. And it's a great way to keep track of what I read!

GONE GIRL.

What it's about: Gone Girl is the story of Nick & Amy. On the afternoon of their 5th wedding anniversary, Nick comes home to find Amy gone. (Get the title now?) A police investigation begins and we see Nick's side of the story as well as Amy's diary entries. Then all goes to hell and it gets intense. I don't really know how to wrap this up without giving away anything...maybe it's a good thing I never became an editor!

What I thought about it: Let's begin with: I DID NOT want to read this book. I heard the ending was terrible so I stayed away. While at dinner with Meg last week I mentioned this and she QUICKLY talked me out of that idea. Clearly the woman is a genius because this is now one of my favorite books. EVER. And, as you can tell, I read a lot. About that ending? Yes, the ending sucks. LIKE ALL CAPS IT SUCKS. So how did I like this book so much even with that? Gillian Flynn. IS AMAZING. The characterization in this book is the best I've ever seen. I felt (feel!) like I know Amy & Nick. Meg and I had (have!) conversations just about them. I saw that Nick is being played by Ben Afleck and I got teary eyed...it's that good of a story. The story is actually why Meg knew I would like it. She mentioned that she likes TV shows better than movies because they are actual stories that draw you in and you can keep revisiting...and the same goes for books. It has to hook you from the first page and suck you in through the whole thing...and not many authors can do this. It's hard. But Flynn does it magically. Yes, the ending made me want to throw the book at the wall (which I couldn't because I read it on my phone), but everything leading up to the ending was just so good that I had to give the book five stars. And I have to recommend that Gillian Flynn go join Suzanne Collins on an island for people who got tired of writing such good books and gave up. I hope you both find peace there! Rest up! 

book review | 11/22/63

Sorry to those of you who don't like to read, but I'm thinking these book reviews will become a regular on here. I read A LOT, so this gives me a way to keep track of the better (or worse) ones. By a lot, I mean that. So far this year I've already read 16 books. And I was NOT the nerd in high school, I just really love to read and I read really fast, so reading one book in a night is not hard for me. Moving on...

Two weeks ago I reviewed Once Upon A Secret, a book written by an old white house intern who had an affair with JFK. Many of you, it turns out, share in my fascination with the Kennedy clan, so I'm sticking to that theme this week. I'll move past the Kennedy family next week, I promise! 

When I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to read up more on the Kennedy's, she ran upstairs to get this book. I was a tad weary because I don't typically enjoy Stephen King novels, but I trust my mom's judgement on books, so I brought it home with me. And then I proceeded to read it every chance I got. As in...one day I drove to Kroger during lunch and read it in my car in the parking lot. It's one of those that will suck you in and you can't stop until it's over. 

What it's about:

This is a fictional take on the assassination, and it follows a teacher living in the 2000s back in time to 1958. A local diner owner, Al, is dying and convinces the main character, Jake, to go back in time for him and save JFK from being killed. It starts in September of 1958. Jakes learns from the start that you can visit the past as long as you want to-years or days-but when you come back it will always be exactly 2 minutes later than when you went. Every visit after is a reset - you can change the past (thereby affecting the present), but the past stays the past, it simply resets. The books follows Jake's pursuit of Lee Harvey Oswald and everything he encounters along the way - love, crazy bookies, friendships, terrible living conditions, etc. 

My thoughts:

I REALLY liked the book. It was extremely true in the historical facts aspect. I just didn't LOVE the ending. It is absolutely worth the read, though, and will leave you wanting to know more about Lee and if it was a conspiracy or not. King does a wonderful job on the character of Lee, that was one of the best parts of the book. 

Overall, I give it...

I had too much fun making that graphic. I finally got to try my hand at drawing in Photoshop with my Wacom! LOVED it! 
SIDENOTE: The book is 11/22/63...not 11/23/63. Pay no attention to my trouble with numbers...and thank you to the sweet reader who brought this to my attention!!

Tune in next week as I review another book - hopefully you find something that interests you! After all, happiness is a room full of books :)

book review | once upon a secret

A and I went to Dallas in January for the hockey game that I got him tickets for as his Christmas gift. We didn't have any plans other than that, so we left Houston early in Saturday morning with the intention of finding something to do when we got there. After wandering around Deep Ellum (reminded me of a mix between Jefferson street in Lafayette and sixth in Austin) A started to look online for things to do. He mentioned the art museum and the science museum only to hear groans from me, but when he mentioned the sixth floor museum, I was all in. 

You see, I have a huge obsession with all things Kennedy. And history. This museum had my name ALL over it. But an hour or two wasn't enough for me. I needed more. And then an extra hour of reading everything online was still not enough. 

Enter every Kennedy book I could find. My mom gave me one which I'll be reviewing next week, but I immediately checked this one out online (side note: checking out books from the library that get delivered directly to your kindle is the greatest thing ever.) and got to reading. And now we have my first, of many, book review! 

Brief synopsis: Mimi interned at the White House when she was 19 and was swept into a year and a half long affair with JFK. She kept the secret from everyone but her husband for her entire life until she was outed in her sixties. The book details the affair and her life after it. Juicy stuff. 

My thoughts: The book was overall a great read. (And makes me question why I love the man so much. I hate cheaters!) Also I caught myself comparing this affair to that of Fitz and Olivia. Maybe I over thought it, but I guarantee you Shonda Rhimes was thinking it, too! It was a fast and easy read and I enjoyed the peek into a side of JFK that most books don't go into. 

I give it 4 out 5 bows...mainly because I'm sad that I now have to view JFK as kind of a perv. Sad day. 

If you've read this book, let me know your thoughts! And if you haven't, I think you should. Reading is good for the soul! 

Tune in next week for my review of 11/22/63! And then I promise I will move on from historical books. And I'll also have pretty graphics for the bows given out at the end.