josie-wales

[josie-wales]

The Cake-Flavored Book Tag

The Cake-Flavored Book Tag

Welcome to the delicious Cake-Flavored Book Tag! I’m so in love with the idea behind this particular tag – it combines two of my favorite things ever – books and cake!

A Dark Book I Absolutely Love

The Stand – post-apocalyptic and amazing – by Stephen King is, thus far, the darkest book I’ve read, aside from some short stories, especially those by Edgar Allan Poe!

I absolutely LOVE this book…

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You're Invited!

You’re Invited!

Hey, y’all! I wanted to let everyone visiting know that I’ve started a group/book club on Goodreads – Tackle Rory’s Reading List with Mag!

[Please see widget below for complete information]

Tackle Rory's Reading List With Mag!'s bookshelf: read

14 members 339 books are referenced in the original run of ‘Gilmore Girls,’ plus, some have been added along with the series…

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The Night Circus

What I Expected

Somehow, I knew before opening its beautiful cover that this would be a beautiful story

Typical circus fodder – clowns, acrobats, lion tamers, etc.

Maybe a bit of magic

What I Got

A gorgeous tale of fateful, true, never ending love

Such vivid descriptions, I felt like I was literally part of the story

Magic!

What I Thought

Just as I suspected, The Night Circus was my favorite read…

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As many of you may recall, I totally suck tail at finishing reading challenges. I have gone bust on every one I’ve attempted the past couple of years.

I’ve fallen behind on my Goodreads challenge for 2018 by 23 books thus far! LOL! I have to laugh to keep from crying!

At least I have a good excuse for failing miserably at the challenges for which I did sign up this year – I’ve been through a LOT of shitty – and amazing – changes lately.

Anyhow, I’m giving POPSUGAR’s 2019 Reading Challenge another shot – I adore the categories!

This coming year, I’ve decided that instead of simply cramming books onto a list to fill category requirements, I’m picking books based on what I want to read anyway.

This beyond brilliant technique will undoubtedly make it easier for me to at least partially complete 2019’s challenge!

A book becoming a movie in 2019…I was so happy when I stumbled across the fact that Nicola Yoon’s The Sun is Also a Star will be adapted for the big screen, releasing May 17, 2019.

I’ve loved this book since simply laying eyes on its cover. From what I’ve heard and read, I shall not be disappointed.

A book that makes me nostalgic…as a child I absolutely adored Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical Little House series.

I began rereading the books this year and up next is number four in the series, On the Banks of Plum Creek.

I’m thrilled to have begun rereading the Little House books – they truly transport me back into the throes of reading in my grade school’s library.

A book written by a musician…the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among my favorite bands; they’re seemingly ageless – the band members themselves as well as their songs.

As I’ve followed his band since at least middle school, I’ve wanted to read lead singer Anthony Kiedis’ memoir Scar Tissue ever since I stumbled across it a few years ago.

A book I think should be turned into a movie…This is a really tough one for me – I’m such a weirdo about books becoming movies so close to books’ original release dates.

OK, I’ve made an amazing – in my own mind – decision – the graphic novel series, Saga by Brian K. Vaughan is genius and should definitely be adapted into either a TV miniseries or movie.

Currently, I’m poised to read Vol. 7; however, I plan to read Vol. 8  and Vol. 9 as well in 2019. I’ve got to catch up with this amazing series!

A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads…I had to do some painstaking research – not really – into locating a book fitting this category.

As expected, classics and Harry Potter are the highest rated books on Goodreads. With over two million ratings, George Orwell’s 1984 is my choice!

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover…At first, I thought of doing – attempting – a reread of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, but, since I wasn’t too fond of the book the first time around, I’ve decided to take a different route with this category.

I’ve chosen a book that has been withering away on my TBR list for years, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

A reread of a favorite book…John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men has been special to me since reading it in middle school.

I’ve wanted to reread Steinbeck’s tale for a long time – I want to revisit the feelings the book elicited when I first read it.

A book about a hobby…As a perennial book lover, I was so excited to find out that there are seriously books ABOUT books out there!

Hence my choice to read Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson. Why haven’t I written a book about reading?!

A book I meant to read in 2018…Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is the top book I really wanted to read this year; however, it wasn’t in the cards for 2018.

A book with “pop, “sugar,” or “challenge” in the title…I’m really looking forward to reading the first installment of the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell – I have put it on library hold seemingly 5000 times!

So, I’ve decided to read the first two Dork Diaries tales and then read book three,Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star!

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover…The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean was gifted to me by a blog swap buddy a couple of years ago and now I have a reason to read it! LOL!

I’ve been curious about it since receiving it and am excited to finally dive between its covers.

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore…I will finally be delving into the first in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief, in 2019!

In the midst of reading two of Riordan’s other series, the Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase, I’m looking forward to meeting another of the epic writer’s characters.

A book published posthumously…As much as I loved Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, it’s only natural that I should be interested in the author’s posthumously published Dragon Teeth!

What I find so interesting about Dragon Teeth is the fact that it’s not part of the Jurassic Park series. Although its subject matter appears to regard dinosaurs as well, I’m looking forward to a different take on the topic.

A book I’ve seen someone reading on TV or in a movie…Another tough category for me, I decided to go the easy route and choose a popular book discussed on the PBS limited series, The Great American Read!

I’ve never watched The Gilmore Girls, so I felt weird picking a book from Rory’s list. However, I do plan to undertake the reading challenge based on the show, so stay tuned!

Anyhow, I’ve chosen Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

Honestly, I can’t remember if I’ve ever read White’s children’s classic! I know the basics of the story, but will be glad to get the full experience of the emotional tale.

A retelling of a classic…I am so damn silly! I totally thought Hunted by Meagan Spooner is a retelling of Snow White! I just discovered that the book is, in fact, a twist on aanother tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast, making me even more excited to devour it!

While I love a good retelling, especially of a fairy tale, I have never read one based on Beauty and the Beast, so this should be entertaining and different at the very least!

A book with a question in the title…I reread Caroline B. Cooney’s The Face on the Milk Carton this year and imagine my surprise and delight when I found that its sequel,Whatever Happened to Janie?, fits right into this challenge!

A book set on a college or university campus…I was astonished to find that I already want to read a college campus-based book, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.

Initially attracted by its cover and title, I’ve wanted to read The Art of Fielding for quite a while!

A book about someone with a superpower…G. Willow Wilson quickly became a favorite author when I was first introduced to her amazing Ms. Marvel series.

I’m thrilled about this category and have elected to read Wilson’s Ms. Marvel, Vol. 5: Super Famous!

A book told from multiple character POVs…I’ve never before been compelled to read Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells…until tonight, November 20.

I’m surprisingly excited about reading Wells’ novel, especially after seeing the cute cover – of course!

A book set in space…Yay for this category! I’ve been about to explode to read Arthur C. Clarke’s sci-fi wonder, 3001: The Final Odyssey.

I loved the first three books in Clarke’s series and can’t wait to find out how it ends!

A book by two female authors…I received a gorgeous copy of These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner via a now-forgotten-which bookish surprise box.

I’ve read Amie Kaufman’s writing with Jay Kristoff; however, have never read the work that is solely hers…I must do that.

A book with a title that contains “salty,” “sweet,” “bitter,” or “spicy”…I’m mixing it up just a tad for this category – by dropping the ‘y’ in “salty”!

So, I’m going for Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, which has also been on my TBR list for ages.

A book set in Scandinavia…this pick seems sort of obvious – at least to me! Anyway, I’ve chosen to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

Yet another book already on my TBR list and that I own [YAY], I’ve been really curious about it for a long time.

A book that takes place in a single day…I have only read J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, but, I’ve been curious for a while about the author’s Franny & Zooey.

Clocking in at just over 200 pages, maybe this one-day tale will take a single day to read!

A debut novel…Kara McDowell is the 2019 debut author I plan to read, as her first release, Just For Clicks, looks like it has grand potential to be adorable!

I love that the book gives credence to the wonderful world of blogging, drawing me in even further!

A book published in 2019…Angie Thomas has very quickly become one of my favorite authors.

Her debut novel, the incredibly powerful The Hate U Give resonates with my heart and soul very much, to my initial surprise.

I’ve chosen the sure-to-be-amazing-as-well On the Come Up, also by Thomas to fill this category. On the Come Up releases February 5, 2019.

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature…While I believe I’d call the serpent Apophis mythological rather than totally imaginary, I’m still going with – another Rick Riordan book – The Serpent’s Shadow, the finale to the Kane Chronicles trilogy.

A book recommended by a celebrity I admire…At first, I was stumped by this category…there honestly aren’t many celebrities I admire anymore and I just don’t keep up with pop culture the way I did in the past.

Luckily, I found a recommendation by Prince Harry’s duchess, Meghan Markle!

Markle suggests reading The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, and finally I don’t have an excuse not to do so!

A book with “love” in the title…I am so stoked to read From Twinkle with, Love by Sandhya Menon!

I adored When Dimple Met Rishi, so my expectations are pretty high for this one!

A book featuring an amateur detective…it’s no secret that I’m still in love with Carolyn Keene’s beyond classic Nancy Drew books!

Since it’s so tough to choose which of Nancy’s adventures to read, I’m just going to pull a title out of my proverbial hat! And…I’m going with…The Witch Tree Symbol!

A book about a family…I read what seemed at the time like a TON of Shakespeare throughout high school English classes.

Among my top three favorite plays by the famous writer is King Lear, which follows the tragic saga of the play’s eponymous ruler and his daughters.

I have the full-cast play on Audible and definitely plan to listen to the performance!

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America…I’ve been really curious about Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, a Nigerian-American author, ever since its release.

This book seamlessly slides right into the challenge and is a must-read, so no-brainer here!

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title…After perusing a Goodreads list regarding this topic, I chose Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races.

I’m really excited to have discovered this title on another challenge participant’s list. It’s really so obvious, it’s silly that I blanked on this category!

A book that includes a wedding…I’m finally at number 12 on my library’s waiting list to read Morgan Matson’s Save the Date and I couldn’t be more excited!

I have yet to read Matson’s work, so unless I get to something else by her before my official checkout date, this will [obviously] be my first!

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter…Francis Scott Fitzgerald, legendary author of The Great Gatsby, is the one whose work I have chosen to be entertained by for this category.

This will be a rare reread for me, as, probably like many of you, I originally read the book as a sophomore in high school.

I vividly remember writing essay after essay about the symbolism and foreshadowing in Fitzgerald’s novel. My study of The Great Gatsby as a teen truly helped to expand my reading horizons.

A ghost story…The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a tale with which I am unfamiliar, but have heard of, especially whenever the movie rendition was released.

I absolutely love to scare myself – via safe methods – and I’m excited to get to this one!

A book with a two-word title…The Pearl by John Steinbeck is yet another little, yet powerful, book I was assigned to read in grade school.

At the time of my initial reading of the story, I hated every word. Here’s to hoping that I will be able to appreciate Steinbeck’s work as an adult reader!

A novel based on a true story…Who in the world would have thought Agatha Christie’s mystery classic,  Murder on the Orient Express, was literally inspired by the kidnapping of Charles Lindburgh’s infant son, of which news had broken a few years prior to Christie’s drafting of the novel?

This fact simply blows my mind! I researched a tiny bit and found that the Lindburgh kidnapping was still hot news, more than likely serving as a muse for Christie when she wrote the story

A book revolving around a puzzle or game…A book I read in probably seventh grade, once again, of course, in English class,The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, is one of those tales of yore that completely sticks out in my mind.

My favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge…Because I love a good graphic novel, I’ve chosen to use the 2016 prompt to read one!

I’ve owned – and have been meaning to read – Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu forever, so, no more excuses!

A “cli-fi” [climate fiction] book…I honestly rolled the hell out of my eyes when I saw this category, I mean seriously. But, these are the days in which we live – LOL!

I was beyond thrilled to find that Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake falls into this category. As I already have Oryx and Crake on my TBR list, I don’t have to frantically search for a filler book!

A choose-your-own-adventure book…All right – I can’t seem to find a book to fit into this category anywhere, so, stay tuned for this one!

An “own voices” book…I was so thrilled to see that Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is an own voices book!

I’ve been dying to start Han’s trilogy, but I am determined to get to it in 2019!

Read a book during the season in which it is set…I’ve picked another Maggie Stiefvater tale for this category, Shiver, the first in Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

I’ve never read a book revolving around werewolves, so this should be a cool step in a different direction.

A LitRPG book…I really didn’t want to read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. However, I shall bend for the category and read it!

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters…I am totally picking Dune by Frank Herbert for this one!

Two books sharing the same title…I find this category to be very interesting; I never would have dreamed of multiple books sharing titles – that’s something new to think about!

I have chosen to read The Lost World by Michael Crichton as well as The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom…Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll originated the saying “mad as a hatter”, making this age-old tale, which I have never actually read, fit perfectly here.

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent…Since I am not fond of reading full synopses of books, I’m not totally sure that my pick exactly fits into this category; however, the priesthood and the Vatican are involved!

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is a novel I’ve wanted to read ever since my mom recommended it to me many years ago – really excited about this one!

And there you have it, people – my proposed list for my self-induced relaxing, laid back attempt at completing POPSUGAR’s 2019 Reading Challenge!

I’m really excited about this year’s challenge categories, as well as about the books I’m seriously hoping – and wanting – to read!

Love, Maggie

Sweet Reads 2019 As many of you may recall, I totally suck tail at finishing reading challenges. I have gone bust on every one I've attempted the past couple of years.

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Hello or Goodbye?

Easily one of my most favorite memes ever, Down the TBR Hole is such a blast! Not only does the meme help shrink my ever-growing TBR list, it aids me in reevaluating my bookish tastes.

Originally created by Lia at Lost in a Story, the rules for this fun meme are simple:

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf

Order on ascending date added

Take at least the first five books

Read the synopses of the…

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An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines

What I Expected

I had heard amazing things about John Green’s work; however, I went into reading blindly

A most likely cutesy story

A lighthearted, sweet read

What I Got

I definitely got a lighthearted, cutesy, and sweet read

A middle of the road, average, tale

A book that painted Southerners with respect and grace

What I Thought

An Abundance of Katherinesis a sweet and slightly unpredictable…

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And a Winner is...ME!

And a Winner is…ME!

Hi! I hope everyone’s day either was or will be fabulous! I can’t express how happy I am to be back on the blogging train – I definitely have tons of drafts to transform into posts!

Providing me with even more material and spreading the love is Dorka from Berries and Booksby nominating me for the humbling Liebster Award! Dorka is such a gentle soul with a wonderful blog – please give her work a…

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On Blogging

As y’all have possibly noticed, I’ve been terribly absent yet again. I had intended to go whole hog last month with Blogtober, posting daily; however, things definitely didn’t work out as planned.

Although I wasn’t able to commit time to Blogtober, I’m totally going to write up the posts I came up with for last month – I must say I’m proud of my ideas! So, I’ll kind of be able to redeem myself, blogging-wise.

At least some of y’all will probably understand this – I feel awful about not keeping up with my blog, especially with replying to comments and not actively participating in my lovely bloggish comment pod on Twitter – I miss my people!

I tend to lean more toward mentally beating myself up as opposed to taking things in stride when I don’t always meet my own expectations of myself.

Therefore, that’s what I’ve been doing during the time I’ve been MIA…other stuff has been happening in my life as well – big stuff.

On Divorce

The most important – and devastating – occurrence is that my divorce was finalized in early October. It’s weird – I assumed that after the actual divorce, legally separating us forever, that I would be ultra emotional.

While I definitely have good and bad days, mainly when it comes to co-parenting, I felt like a new woman after the gavel was whacked!

My newly ex-husband and I decided to divorce in November 2017. From then until the divorce decree was given, I cried virtually every day.

I cried from the guilt of ‘failing’ my family, especially my sons, who are ages three and two. I cried from feeling like I’ll  be alone and miserable when it comes to romance forever. I cried when my ex was hateful to me.

I cried when moving out of our home, where I hoped my children would grow up. I cried because of facing one of the ultimate rejections – he didn’t want to be my partner anymore.

I did discover a lot of information regarding what my ex was really up to before, during, and following the divorce, which shocked me, but definitely explained so much of the behavior he exhibited throughout our relationship.

The massive, devastating punches I felt after learning of basically his double life have taken me a lot of months to take steps toward letting things go. After all, he’s not mine to worry about anymore – expect when it comes to raising our children.

On My Career

On another life altering note, I left my job as a therapist earlier in the year, primarily because I was killed by attempting to submit massive amounts of required documentation during the unrealistic time frame set forth by my idiotic ‘boss.’

While I absolutely loved my clients, of all ages, I had to bow out of the job for my own sanity. The supposedly ‘non-profit’ agency’s higher ups seemed to only give a damn about ‘statistics,’ ‘productivity,’ and proving to insurance companies just how much therapy clients’ needed.

The job became so freaking difficult – I adored the actual therapy services I provided – unfortunately, it got to the point where, during sessions, instead of focusing solely on a client, I would actually be thinking about what I could document, especially when it came to providing ample proof that I utilized evidence-based practices – inherent in social work and other fields – for the aforementioned insurance machines.

The documentation requirements are so strict that I found myself often going to the office in the middle of the night to meet deadlines, about which my ‘boss’ was obsessed with – because, I’m assuming, high ‘productivity’ levels among his staff gave him bonus points with his supervisors.

Now, I seriously don’t believe the word and conceptualization of ‘productivity’ should have anything to do with the provision of mental health services. My mother had the right idea when she said the agency is a virtual puppy mill.

On Reading

Despite being a whopping 20 books behind on my Goodreads challenge, I’m really proud of what I’ve read this year!

For some odd reason, I set my annual reading goal at 77 books! But, I have read more long books than I anticipated.

Here’s a glimpse at what I’ve read during my unintentional hiatus –

P.S. Reviews hopefully coming soon!

On Starting Fresh

I think I’ve typed up enough of an update, even though I could probably write this post for hours! But, I shall let you lovelies retreat!

Thank you to ALL of you for hanging in there with me!

So, here I am, once again attempting a comeback this year. But, on a positive note, I’m looking forward to the holidays…and the rest of my life.

Love, Maggie

And the Sun Will Rise Again On Blogging As y'all have possibly noticed, I've been terribly absent yet again. I had intended to go whole hog last month with…

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The Secrets of My Life

The Secrets of My Life

What I Expected

A salacious Hollywood tell-all!

Caitlyn Jenner as the narrator

I was really hoping for super insider scoop on the Kardashian family!

What I Got

Caitlyn Jenner’s voice solely reading the book’s introduction

The answer to a very important question of mine – I’m curious like a cat

A lot of information regarding Jenner’s innermost thoughts and feelings

What I Thought

Major points were…

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The Tower Treasure

What I Expected

A Nancy Drew-esque tale

A starter series for my boys

Nostalgia

What I Got

A story that did not live up to my beloved Nancy Drew tales

A big disappointment regarding plot and character development

A starter series for my boys

What I Thought

I grew up on – and continue to read – Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew series, prompting me to give The Hardy Boys a shot. I’ve always thought of the…

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Seven Ways We Lie

Seven Ways We Lie

What I Expected

I definitely anticipated the seven deadly sins angle

A big lie!

What I Got

Slight confusion, which quickly evolved into my getting into the flow of reading

A pretty easy, quick read

What I Thought

Riley Redgate’s debut novel, Seven Ways We Lie, is an engrossing read.

In the novel, Redgate tackles, and conquers, the feat of writing from the viewpoints of SEVEN characters.

The tale…

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The Lovely Bones

What I Expected

A mystery regarding one of my favorite, if not creepy, subjects

A fantastic introduction to a new-to-me-at-the-time author

Riding an emotional roller coaster as I read

What I Got

Thus far, this book has the WORST ending I have ever read

A vow to myself to NEVER read Alice Sebold’s work ever again

A great story…until the ridiculous ending

What I Thought

Well, prior to picking up…

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Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights

I approached reading Salman Rushdie’s twelfth novel with both curiosity and trepidation.

Having read the controversial author’s The Satanic Verses, I was prepared for Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights to be a heavy read, and it is.

The story begins with great promise, telling the tale of the legendary, but all too real, jinn, or genies, and their interactions with humans.

The female…

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Recently Read

Happy hump day! With today arrives the weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, WWW Wednesday! The meme has a simple format, asking the three W’s:

What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently

I’ve almost always got multiple books going at once, which is really anomalous for me! So, I’m solely going to focus on the…

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Bring it, October!

Ladies and gentlemen – I am participating in my first ever Blogtober challenge, hosted by Loving Life Everyday!

The gist behind the challenge is simple, yet tough at the same time – produce enough blog content to fill every day in October with posts!

This will be a great challenge for me, as I am rarely timely with my posting schedule.

I saw on another challenge participant’s page [I’m so sorry…

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To Read Or Not To Read...

To Read Or Not To Read…

Originally created by Lia at Lost in a Story, the rules for this fun meme are simple:

Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf

Order on ascending date added

Take at least the first five books

Read the synopses of the books

Decide: keep it or toss it

The Books

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Seriously, since finally discovering Stephen King’s written art, I can’t get enough – there is no way I’m missing…

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The Heart Goes Last

The Heart Goes Last

What I Expected

An amazing book by the brilliant author of The Handmaid’s Tale

A desire to read MORE Atwood

What I Got

A slightly confusing, yet intriguing, plot

A bit of a shocking ending

A tale totally different than The Handmaid’s Tale

What I Thought

Once again Margaret Atwood has proven herself to be a master in the art of storytelling.The Heart Goes Last pulled me in immediately with its…