book review #1 - hidden bodies by caroline kepnes

book review #1 (only 19 more to go.  whew!)

ok, so beginning this challenge, I kinda just found some random book lists that had the "most anticipated books of 2017" or the "best of 2017" ... so I wasn't really sure what I was in for when picking up these books!  HA!  I didn't read the backs of books, I just thought they looked interesting and got good ratings ... so I dove in!

hence where we start with hidden bodies by caroline kepnes.  I had NO idea what to expect, but the first page had me captivated and wanting to read more.  

she is a VERY descriptive writer.  she wrote this book in the way that every chapter kept you hanging and you didn't want to put it down.  

the premise of the book was ... well ... different for me.  but that is the whole point of this challenge ... push me out of my "typical book list".  so this was a good book to put me into gear.

HOWEVER ... I can't say I LOVED the book.  it was pretty dark, had a lot of foul language and was very descriptive at times, as I mentioned above, maaaaaaaaybe a little more than I would have chosen.  BUT ... even though I wasn't the biggest fan of the book ... it was quite intriguing and had me from page one.  

I feel as though I keep flip flopping with this particular book ... I didn't love it but it wasn't the worst I read ... it kept my attention, which I feel makes a great writer.  even if you aren't a fan of the entirety of the book ... the writing was good in my opinion.

I don't know that I would particularly recommend the book ... perhaps depending on the person ... but I liked caroline's writing, so I am inclined to read more of her books.

I don't think this book was a fail ... it has definitely kicked started my challenge into full momentum, so I call it a win! HA!  

I feel incredibly contradictory in this post!!  maybe I'm not the best person to review books!!  but if you are reading this ... I'm going to keep reviewing the books I read!!  

let me add ... I found out AFTER the fact that there is actually a book PRECEDING this one :(  which I was completely unaware of ... BAHAHA maybe that will teach me for not reading up on a book before I pick it up!! *face palm*

I am going to give this book a 3 out of 5.  solely for the reason that I liked the writing, because it was captivating, not so much for the content of the book.  

and with that ... I'm on to the next!

much love, b

2017 book list

well this post is a longggggggggggggggg time coming, but it's here!!  

i've decided, as i have in previous years but have never succeeded, that this year i'm going to read more.  but actually 2017 is the year.  i am going to commit to reading 20 books this year.  doesn't sound like a lot on one hand, but on the other, i'm like omg that's a lot of books (!)  anyways, here goes nothing!  

i've taken a list of books to read from Dear Crissy and a few from top 10 lists on indigo and a couple that i've been wanting to read. i'm going to start using goodreads (which i'm really hoping keeps me motivated ... and if you are on goodreads ... let's be friends! *insert my link for goodreads to find me, but i don't know how to do that*)

some of these ... i'm not really sure if they will be my style ... but meh why not give them a try.  i wanted to read some non-fiction, fiction, biographies/autobiographies and some "self-help" books ... so there's some variety! 

i went on the calgary public library website today and started putting holds on these books ... so i'm at 20+ holds right now ... haha i'm like pretty much i'm crazy pants.

here is my list ... 20 of which i must read before december (!):

1.   spinster: making a life of one's own by kate bolick 
2.   orphan train: a novel by christina baker kline
3.   the underground railroad: a novel by colson whitehead 
4.   truly madly guilty by liane moriarty
5.   the nest by cynthia d'aprix sweetney
6.   the tipping point: how little things can make a big difference by malcolm gladwell
7.   the book thief by markus zusak
8.   the zookeeper's wife: a war story by diane ackerman
9.   me before you by jojo moyes
10. moonglow by michael chabon
11. bring me back by micalea smeltzer
12. small great things by jodi picoult
13. faithful: a novel by alice hoffman 
14. all the missing girls by megan miranda
15. what she knew: a novel by gilly macmillan
16. the nightingale: a novel by kristin hannah
17. a man called ove by fredrick backman
18. a house without windows by nadia hashimi
19. it ends with us by colleen hoover
20. i let you go by clare mackintosh
21. you are a badass: how to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life by jen sincero
22. dark matter: a novel by blake crouch
23. the magnolia story by chip and joanna gaines
24. the couple next door by shari lapena
25. when breath becomes air by paul kalanithi
26. hidden bodies by caroline kepnes
27. the girl before by jp delaney
28. the silver star by jeannette walls
29. we were the lucky ones by georgia hunter
30. the improbability of love by hannah rothschild

ok there it is! i feel like this is a huge commitment and feels like a lot of reading ahead of me!  haha but i am excited.  i'll be posting a blog post with each book i read.  this is in no particular order of how i will read these books.  right now i am reading spinster: making a life of one's own.  i'll post something in the next little bit and give some updates about it as i go.

i may add or remove books as i go, but will keep this as up to date as i can!

and now ... i must read ... ha ha ha

much love, b