Favorite Factor: June 2015

Favorite Factor: June 2015

Jun 5, 2015

Cassie and I are still talking about our love for adult fiction, but in a new way! Every other month, we will be sharing four books with you: two recent favorites (and the factors that made us love them) and two upcoming reads (and the factors that have us interested). We hope you'll find the perfect adult fiction for you!

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Release Date: March 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary
Factor I Loved: Characters + Relationships

Reason You Should Read:

There's a pretty good chance you've already seen me raving about Happiness for Beginners if you read my blog regularly. From my review to my latest edition of Buy the Book, I haven't been able to stop talking about this new favorite read! A year after getting divorced, Helen signs up for a wilderness survival course and hopes it can be a new start. I loved the story itself, but the characters are what truly made this book so special. I was so invested in Helen's journey and personal growth, which meant I was laughing one minute and crying the next. And there's a super swoony boy in this book who totally stole my heart! I actually loved this book so much that I read it twice within two weeks, so that ought to tell you something. If you love contemporary fiction with depth, this is the book for you!

Faithful Place by Tana French

Release Date: July 13, 2010
Genre: Mystery
Factor I Loved: Writing

Reason You Should Read:

I'm not a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, but there's just something about Tana French. Cassie and I actually read the second book in this series, The Likeness, for an earlier edition of Favorite Factor! Faithful Place focuses on Frank Mackey, a mystery from the past, and his family relationships in the present. While The Likeness is my favorite of the three I've read, this was still an excellent read. French likes to explore the why behind a murder more than the who, so I know I can expect an interesting look at psychology and human behavior. She excels at creating complex characters who make you think, and I love that about her books. But it's her writing that draws me in! She's a natural storyteller, and I'd recommend trying her books, even if you don't love this genre, just to experience her writing.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Release Date: February 24, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Factor of Interest: Plot

Reasons I Want to Read:

I bought this book based on all the hype I've seen in the blogging world, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up! This will be my first read from Schwab, and I hope she becomes a new favorite so I can explore her backlist. This fantasy contains parallel universes, Travelers, smugglers, and a summary that kind of overwhelms me BUT I HAVE FAITH. While the plot seems a little too complicated to explain, it is the reason I want to read this book! It sounds so different, so unique, and that excites me. 

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

Release Date: July 28, 2015
Genre: Historical
Factor of Interest: Setting

Reasons I Want to Read:

I really loved McLain's previous book, The Paris Wife, so that's what first caught my eye about this book. But when I read the summary? I was sold! As with her previous book, McLain uses fiction to explore the life of a real person from history. This time, it's horse trainer, adventurer and aviator Beryl Markham. I'm most excited about the setting - Kenya in the 1920s. I love historical fiction set in Africa, so this is definitely a book that seems like it was made for me. I just hope it lives up to my expectations!

Want more? Check out Cassie's post!

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Consider This Classic: Bella Recommends

Consider This Classic: Bella Recommends

Jun 4, 2015

Consider This Classic is a monthly feature where bloggers highlight and recommend their favorite classic. They'll tell you when they first read it, why they love it and where to go from there.

I absolutely love Bella from Ciao Bella's recommendation! It's one of my favorite classics, so I was thrilled when I saw she'd chosen it. I was also excited because Bella's submission actually introduced me to her blog, and it's absolutely adorable! So, please read her recommendation and her blog. I have a feeling you'll enjoy both!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Publication Year: 1960
Originally Published In: United States
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)
The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into ten languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

I first read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was in middle school. Always an avid reader, I asked my mom if she had any classics to recommend I read during my summer vacation. Her first suggestion? Harper Lee's first, and only, novel. I'm so glad she told me to give it a try, as To Kill a Mockingbird is still one of my favorite books today. I'll discuss Atticus Finch, young Scout, and Boo Radley with anyone ANY day, so I was delighted that I was able to revisit the story last year in English class. School is so much more fun when you're writing about a beloved classic!

To Kill a Mockingbird will always hold a dear place in my heart. Harper Lee writes of childhood innocence, racial inequality, and human nature with realism and hints of humor, reaching audiences of all ages. The characters in the Maycomb community are deeply flawed, especially from a modern standpoint, yet they remain beloved figures in literature. Though set in the 1930's and written at the height of the Civil Rights movement, To Kill a Mockingbird has just of big of an impact today as it did when it was first published. That, to me anyways, is a sign of a significant and well-written read. 

Because the novel frequently appears in school curriculums, I think it is easy to ignore the beauty of Lee's storytelling. Lee has a distinct and remarkable way with words, but I fear Scout's story can be lost amidst the essays and journals one must write on the book. It's no wonder, then, I push this classic on other people the most, whether they are experiencing the story for the first time or returning to Maycomb for a re-read!

Fortunately for To Kill a Mockingbird fans, there are many books that have similar themes or ideas as the beloved classic. 

Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage / Turnage's novel is another popular books, albeit for a different reason: it was a Newbury Honor book in 2013. The stories of To Kill a Mockingbird and Three Times Lucky are widely different, but both protagonists remind me of one another. Scout and Mo share a similar voice, and I have no doubt middle grade fans will adore this timeless mystery. 

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley / Talley's debut was recently published in 2014, and I have not stopped recommending it since I read it in November! Like To Kill a Mockingbird, the story tackles racism; however, Talley focuses her efforts in the late 1950's. It hurts to read of such dark times in American history, but it's an important topic to discuss. 

If you want even more To Kill a Mockingbird "read-alikes," I wrote up a whole post on the subject! Feel free to take a look here. And, of course, one can never discount the film version starring Gregory Peck as Atticus :)

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Take My Breath Away

Take My Breath Away

Jun 3, 2015

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Release Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Penguin | Putnam BFYR
Pages: 416 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Hardcover
Add on Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads)

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

Thoughts on The Wrath and the Dawn

Somehow, I went from not hearing much about The Wrath and the Dawn to suddenly seeing it everywhere. I loved the cover and found the summary intriguing, but I wasn't sold on reading it anytime soon. It went on my "Consideration" shelf on Goodreads, and I figured I would stay there until I spotted it at the library one day. And then... the reviews starting rolling in. The hype got my attention, so I decided to pre-order it and read it the day it arrived!

On one hand, I'm thankful for the hype because I might not have picked up this book anytime soon without it. And while it wasn't an immediate favorite for me, I really enjoyed reading it. The pacing isn't always consistent - it's a little slow to start, drags a bit in the middle, and then races at the end - but I still read it in one sitting. Once I started it, I just wanted to know how it would end! The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. I'd heard of it before, but I'm not familiar enough with the original story to speak to this book as a retelling. I actually looked up the source material when I finished to see how the story compared.

Overall, I quite enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but I'm glad I read it and look forward to the sequel. The setting was so refreshing - I haven't read much from this part of the world. I would have loved to explore the world a bit more, but I loved the parts of it I got to see. I felt Ahdieh's writing truly shone in the world-building. From the food to the buildings, the setting was my favorite part.

Shazi was an interesting heroine, though I would have loved to get to know her better. I could never really get a good read on her. She seemed so fierce and smart, but then she'd have these moments that made me roll my eyes. So many missed opportunities to get her revenge! And for a plot where she survives by the strength of her stories, I didn't find anything compelling about the way she told them. If I was the caliph, she'd probably have lost her life with the sunrise. Why does Khalid keep sparing her life? What makes her so different?

Much has been made of the romance, and there are definitely some swoonworthy moments and emotional conversations in this book! However, I felt the relationship between Khalid and Shazi needed more development. Khalid falls for Shazi very quickly, but I didn't feel like I really understood why he was so drawn to her. Everything seems a bit too instant, so it never earned an emotional payoff for me. I wasn't disconnected, but I wouldn't say I was completely invested either. It was promising but not quite there.

But here's my biggest question - if you care about your friend so much that you're willing to die trying to avenge their death, why does a handsome boy with a secret to disrupt all your plans? If I'm going to die for a cause, it's going to take a lot more than Khalid's misunderstood loner boy vibes to change my mind. I wanted to feel the tension, the moral quandary, the true weight of all that she's sacrificing in choosing to love this person.

However, the last 25% was the strongest part of the book, so I have high hopes for The Rose and the Dagger. I'm thrilled that this book is getting so much attention, and I'd likely recommend reading it.  It's a creative and romantic adventure, and I look forward to finding out where it will go next. It's not a favorite for me at this point, but there's a chance that the sequel could take my love to a whole new world.

So Quotable
“My soul sees its equal in you.”

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#ReRead2015 May Recap + Giveaway!

#ReRead2015 May Recap + Giveaway!

Jun 2, 2015

In May, I did something I haven't done in years: I read a book twice within two weeks! I picked up Happiness for Beginners on a whim, fell in love with it and wanted to revisit the story almost as soon as I finished. So I went for it! And with the release of the much-anticipated sequel, I got in a re-read of To All the Boys I Loved Before. I've re-read 18 books so far this year - halfway to my goal of 36 re-reads total!

May Re-Reads: 2 Books

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

The Giveaway

HOW TO ENTER
Link up all of your re-read reviews or recaps (from January until now) by June 20.
You get one entry per link added. If you forgot to link something in a past recap, add it now!

DETAILS  
Two Winners / International / Open to Challenge Participants

PRIZE 
A book of your choice.
Must be available on Amazon or Book Depository for $15 or less.

If you're just joining the challenge, feel free to sign up now. 

And add your re-read recap and/or re-read reviews below!

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May 2015: Recap + On My Shelves

May 2015: Recap + On My Shelves

Jun 1, 2015

I think May might have been my favorite month so far this year. From going on an incredible trip to finally finding my reading mojo, so many great things happened! I hope the trend continues through summer.

1-2. BFF + Beach Trip - I almost combined these into one thing I loved, but I think they each deserve their own picture. My best friend lives in a different state, so we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like. So at the beginning of May, we ditched our husbands and went to the beach. Spending time with her was just what I needed! We stayed at Tranquility Bay Resort, which was absolutely gorgeous. The beach was so quiet, and the grounds were so lush. I haven't been to the Keys before, but I'd definitely go back if I could stay here again.

3. Sarah & Susan Signing - Sarah J. Maas came to Atlanta for her A Court of Thorns and Roses tour, and I was thrilled to be able to attend! I was able to meet Sarah at BEA last year, but that environment isn't conducive to flailing so the signing was such a treat. And Susan Dennard made a surprise appearance, which was so fun!

4. Happy Hunger Games - I definitely didn't need to order more bookmarks, but you know I can't resist anything related to The Hunger Games. When I saw this adorable set from Happy Hello on Etsy, I decided that they had to be mine. And they're even cuter in person than they looked online! Should I be cut off from bookmarks now?

Read 18 Books | Favorites:

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Faithful Place by Tana French

Challenge Progress:

3 Fantasy for Flights of Fantasy Challenge

2 Re-Reads for The Re-Read Challenge

4 Diverse Read for Dive into Diversity

3 Series for Series a Month

"But the things we remember are what we hold on to,
and what we hold on to becomes the story of our lives. 

We only get one story. And I am determined to make mine a good one."

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

"My soul sees its equal in you."
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

"There’s a Korean word my grandma taught me. It’s called jung.
It’s the connection between two people that can’t be severed, even when love turns to hate.
You still have those old feelings for them; you can’t ever completely shake them loose of you;
you will always have tenderness in your heart for them."
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

[Most Popular]

Overall: When You Find a Friend

TTT: Top Ten Favorite Posts on My Blog

Review: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Discussion/Feature: Buy the Book / No. 3

[Personal Favorite]

Overall: All About Audrey Event

TTT: Top Ten Books in My Summer Bags

Review: The Scarlet Trilogy by A.C. Gaughen

Discussion/Feature: Tune in Tonight: Alias

1. ACOTAR Blog Tour: Masquerade Ball by Kelly from Belle of the Literati - You better believe I bookmarked this post, and not just because it's got hot guys in it. I loved Kelly's casting choices for Tamlin and Lucien, and it was so much fun helping her come up with the perfect Rhysand. I think we nailed it! Don't you agree?!

2. If the Books On My Shelves Were People by Gillian from Writer of Wrongs - Gillian's post made me laugh, nod in agreement, and smile at her creativity. This post is exactly why I enjoy her blog so much - she writes things that I don't see anywhere else! And then I started imagining the books on my shelves as people...

3. Reading from the Backlist by Asheley from Into the Hall of Books - This post totally aligns with what Alexa and I are trying to accomplish with the Picky Pledge! By choosing to read fewer reviews books and doing less book shopping, I'm gravitating more towards "older" books. So, I loved Asheley's thoughts on backlist reading!

4. {Bookish} Style Files: Met Gala 2015 Edition by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books - This is one of my favorite posts from Alexa! I loved when she paired characters + gowns last year, and I was so excited when she decided to do it again this year. She let me see the post early and contribute some pairings! Which combo is your favorite?

Favorite Song: "Livewire" by Oh Wonder on Livewire (Single)

I discovered Oh Wonder while listening to Spotify's New Music Tuesday playlist. 

I've loved all of their music so far, but this song is my favorite. I can't get it out of my head!

Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) starring Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts - This movie had been on my radar for months. I couldn't get that haunting trailer out of my mind! I beelined it to the theater in May, and it was even better than I'd hoped - gorgeous cinematography, perfect casting and a lovely score.

Alias, Season One - If you saw my Tune in Tonight post last week, you may already know that I recently binge re-watched this show! It was my first TV show obsession, and it's remained one of my all-time favorites. I'm currently on the second season now, and I'm already dreading the moment I reach the series finale.

Adult: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, Taken by Dee Henderson, Voyager by Diana Gabaldon and Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

YA: The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen, Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen and The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Signed: A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas and Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard

From Alexa: All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

From Estelle: Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Traded with Kristina: Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein

Traded with Holly: Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

From Oxford Classics: Victorian Fairy Tales by Michael Newton

From William Morrow Paperbacks: Hotel Moscow by Talia Carner and Newport by Jill Morrow

From Harper Design: Audrey at Home by Lucca Dotti

For Review: The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas, Circling the Sun by Paula McLain, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Frederick Backman, The Lake Season by Hannah McKinnon and The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Bought for Kindle: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

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