Hannah-Beast

 Book 65 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read on July 9

Hannah-Beast

by Jennifer McMahon

My Opinion

5 stars

Holy. Shit.

This short story is part of the Dark Corners collection available through Amazon Prime reading and it fit the bill.  I hope the rest of the collection is this good.

Ask Me How I Got Here

 Book 64 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from July 7 - 8

Ask Me How I Got Here

by Christine Heppermann

Summary (via the book jacket)

Addie has always been running.

Running to beat the clock.

Running toward a college scholarship.

Running with her best friend, Claire.

Running into her boyfriend, Nick.

Until she gets pregnant.

Until she makes a choice.

Now is she running away?

Or is she simply standing still>

My Opinion

4 stars

I wavered between 3 and 4 stars on this one.  As I reflect on it it's more of a 3 star read but I rounded up because of how I felt as I was reading it.

I really like books told in verse form, especially for the YA or higher J Fic audience.  It leaves room for thought and doesn't tell the reader how to feel.  But it also makes the reading more subjective - if you don't have the life experience to read between the lines there isn't as much to get.  It's made for teens but almost should be read as an adult looking back on how it felt to be a teen, especially concerning faith and how things feel black or white at that age.

I liked that everyone felt realistic and 3D - nobody was all good or all bad.  I also liked that the pregnancy was dealt with quickly without hiding or extra drama.  But that also created some of the situations I didn't like - she could immediately be honest with her parents about getting pregnant but couldn't tell them she stopped running?

All in all, I was in it while I was reading and don't want to ruin it by overthinking it now.

Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life

 Book 63 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from June 24 - July 8

Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life

My Opinion

3 stars

The length of time it took me to read this is misleading.  I started it before vacation but didn't take it with me since it's an oversized book.  I probably read it in around 4 sittings before and after my trip.

I thought the book was fine but love the show format more.  I felt like the reader needs to be somewhat familiar with their voices and dynamic to enjoy the book yet if you're a fan of the show there isn't any new information.  I'm not even a super fan and already knew most if not all of this information from watching the episodes and a few interviews.

Spoiler Alert

 Book 62 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from July 5 - 7

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies

by Michael Ausiello

Summary (via the book jacket)

Michael Ausiello thought he knew every story line in the world - after all, he had a successful career as one of the most respected reporters in the world of television. But no sitcom, drama, or soap opera could have prepared him for the story line his own life was about to take. His partner of thirteen years, Kit Cowan, was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer, and although Kit and Michael did their best to combat the deadly disease for eleven months, Kit eventually succumbed.

In this moving and darkly hilarious memoir, Michael tells the story of his harrowing and challenging final year with Kit while revisiting the many memories that preceded it, and describes how their undeniably powerful bond carried them through all manner of difficulties - with humor always front and center in their relationship. From road trips to romantic getaways, from work-related junkets to anxiety-ridden doctors' visits, from spectacular collections of Smurf figurines to lots and lots of Diet Coke, Michael and Kit's story will make you cry with laughter while breaking your heart at the same time.

My Opinion

4 stars

This book came onto my radar after seeing a preview for the movie (but of course I have to read the book first!). The combination of memories and 'real-time' posts from that time was a good mix.  The author was very honest about their ups and downs; I appreciated it but as always, I spare a thought for the family (Kit's parents mostly in this case) that can hopefully choose to skip parts if they want to.

It's a dick move when dealing with such a heartfelt book but I do have to mention the few times 'you're' instead of 'your' was used (example: "you're chariot awaits, sir").  It was especially surprising since the author is a professional writer and editor.  But anyway, back to the feelings...

I was very sad that Kit had so much pain.  I don't think that's mentioned enough - when a person is already experiencing a shortening of life, it really really sucks when the quality of life they still have is affected by pain.  It's a combination of wanting to sleep and rest your body but also wanting to never sleep so you don't miss a thing.

I appreciate the author's honesty and authenticity and hope he has found happiness in the years since.

14 Ways to Die

 Book 61 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from July 4 - 6

14 Ways to Die

by Vincent Ralph

Summary (via the book jacket)

When Jess was seven, her mother was murdered by the Magpie Man. She was the first of his victims, but not the last.

Ten years later, the killer is still at large, and Jess applies to appear on an internet reality show in which she'll be filmed once a week for a whole day. All her social media, every text, and all personal interaction will be seen by viewers. She knows this is her chance to remind the public of what she has lost and to finally find the vital clue that will lead her to her mother's killer.

When the show starts airing, Jess becomes public property, and her life is an open book just waiting to be read. Then the anonymous text messages start, and Jess begins to realize that the Magpie Man is watching her every move.

My Opinion

4 stars

This book had an unique, interesting concept and was immensely readable.  The short chapters kept the suspense going and engagement high.

There were some coincidences that the reader has to ignore which is pretty typical to keep a mystery moving, and some of the situations felt justhisclose to remaining plausible but just as I started to think it was going off the rails and needed to wrap up it stayed on track (haha, continuing the train theme) and ended.  I was also worried at the beginning about a relationship developing between two of the characters (I even wrote "no love story!!!!" in my notes) but luckily nothing came of it.

All in all, a good way to pass the time as long as you don't overthink the ending and enjoy the ride.

A Place for Us

Book 60 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from June 20 - July 5

A Place for Us

by Brandon Wolf

Summary (via Goodreads)

Growing up in rural Oregon, Brandon Wolf grappled with the devastating loss of his supportive mother and with the embedded racism and homophobia of a community that made him feel like an unwelcome stranger. After the lack of connection and role models led him down a spiral of risky behavior, Wolf escaped to survive. In Orlando, he found what he’d been searching for: belonging—in a community that was a safe space with people he’d come to call his chosen family. They taught Wolf how to love, and be loved, unconditionally. Then, on June 12, 2016, in an exhilarating refuge where Wolf and hundreds of others had discovered a liberating new normal, they were suddenly challenged with fighting for a way out—in order to survive. Overnight, everything was ripped away by chaos, panic, and fear. But the unimaginable tragedy also gave Wolf a new power: purpose.

My Opinion

4 stars

This is a book I can't really review because it was witnessing someone sharing their life.  It was well-written and he has definitely tried to use his pain to help the world.

F*cking History

 Book 59 of my 2023 Reading Challenge

read from July 2 - 4

F*cking History: 111 Lessons You Should Have Learned in School

by The Captain

My Opinion

3 stars

I found this book on accident in our library's catalog while searching for something else which ended up being appropriate because this is a great example of why I love the library.  I gave it a shot since it was free and the read passed the time but it's not something I would've purchased.

I read this on vacation and it was perfect to read in snippets, occasionally aloud.  I don't mind language but some of the swears felt forced in the beginning, like he was trying too hard to match the theme of the book.

My favorite "lesson" is that the stethoscope was invented in 1816 by a doctor who didn't want to have to press his head against his female patients' breasts to hear their heartbeat.