#readingismysuperpower

[iraixi]

[fan-of-eeyore]

[thegiver---ofbookreviews]

I haven’t read a book in months due to school and I honestly feel like I’m going insane

[blacknerdproblems]

Repost from @why__read using @RepostRegramApp -! What are you reading and what are you wearing? 💋 xoxo, Kat P.S. Now it is time for the obligatory hashtag rant! 😃Thanks for checking out this post! I ❤️ #bookgram ! I ❤️ #readinglist I have #readingis but, please don’t blame the #bookstack ! I am a #readerofinstagram , hear me roar 🐯 ! RAWR! *cough, cough* Yeah, so I am a #bookworm #ireadya , so hug 🤗 the #booklover #currentlyreading #bookish hashtag loving #aspiringlibrarian #amreading and #readingismysuperpower ! 😁 I am with the #bookobsessed I am down with #calibraries #instareads #yafiction  #ownvoicesreviews #ownvoices #booknerdigans #booknerdigans & #diversespines 🦄 Algorithms are my best friends 😂! #bookstagram I am here for you! We definitely need more #booksofinstagram for a #bookshark of #booksparks like me! Sincerely yours, #blackgirlreading 🙌🏾! Happy Reading! 📚 https://www.instagram.com/p/B6yi3E2F5fu/?igshid=s2avzoqkaqne

[luckysandra]

Since we moved, my library's been in storage. Fortunately I make do with what's available, (besides my nightstand, end table, cabinets, drawers, the floor and mostly every surface with a little space 😉), and my Kindles. #nationalreadabookday #readingisagift #neveralone #usingyourimagination #booksaremagic #readingismysuperpower #gratefulmymamyluckytaughtme #shewasmyrolemodel #booksarethebestgift 📚📖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CEzZk3hlxufQYspQ3Y_ia4n5v2JpX51LN29wE00/?igshid=62zje9cbk9z8

[litsavantbookclub]

Verity Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

I just finished Colleen Hoover’s Verity! Before starting it I heard such great things about it and I thought I should probably just take the plunge. It didn’t disappoint. If you are not interested in spoilers, please stop reading.

The book’s protagonist is called Lowen Ashleigh. She’s a small-time thriller writer. She doesn’t want fame and or to make it big like many writers aim to. She prefers a quiet life and avoids being the center of attention. This is the reason she doesn’t do book tours or communicate on social media. She’s a loner and an introvert. She recently lost her mother and needs to get back on her feet. This leads Lowen to accept an in-person interview. This prospective job offer is something she needs, so she goes.

The book begins at this point. Lowen is on her way to the building when she witnesses an awful accident. This leads her to be comforted by unknowingly the person who she’s supposed to be meeting. This chance meeting had an endearing effect on both Lowen and Verity’s husband, Jeremy. Lowen gets the job offer and she agrees to go to the Crawford house to collect notes and create outlines for the next three books. Lowen’s agent, Cory, advises her to get in and out because of the tragedies the Crawford’s have recently gone through. Lowen is offended by Cory’s insinuations.

One of the greatest things about this book is when Lowen discovers Verity’s autobiography. Just like that she’s drawn to this strange world inhabited by the Crawfords. Lowen becomes enchanted and is seemingly unable to break away from the text. At first, Lowen dismisses it as nothing more than insight into the writer she’s trying to emulate: “I need to see how Verity’s mind works to understand her as a writer” (60). It’s a reasonable point, one that becomes moot the moment Lowen keeps diving deeper. She does this regardless of all the private moments she becomes privy to. 

Lowen not only tries to understand and get into Verity’s head but begins to get closer and more infatuated by her husband: “...it’s not the worst thing. Being forced to step into Verity’s shoes and visualize Jeremy for the next twenty-four months as I write” (99). Earlier in the book Jeremy claims that he wasn’t interested in reading Verity’s books because he didn’t want to get in her head. This is exactly what Lowen starts to do. She is literally reading about this woman’s deep and confessional moments and it is changing her. And just like what Lowen says: “things lurking around inside the mind can be just as dangerous as tangible threats” (150). In this book, the real threats are the ones inside the character’s minds specifically Lowen, Verity, and Jeremy. At this time, Lowen has descended into icy depths the slippery slope has plunged her in and she doesn’t even realize it.

Lowen tries many times to “stop” but she always ends up back with the manuscript in her hands. She keeps reading, becoming more and more disturbed and more involved in Jeremy’s relationship with his invalid wife, Verity. Hoover creates two different versions of Verity in this book, there’s the Verity that Lowen first meets when she arrives under the guise of Laura Chase: “Verity’s eyes are vacant, uninterested in her surroundings. She’s unaware of the nurse. Unaware of me” (51).  This Verity is vulnerable, childlike, and innocent. In this form, Verity is a far cry from the Verity contained in her So Be It manuscript. Lowen is visibly staggered by how far Verity has fallen from the successful and published author known to the world: “I try to cover the chills that have appeared on my arms” (52). Lowen is uncomfortable by Verity’s helplessness and mentions that she wouldn’t want to be in her position. She pities her, Jeremy, and Crew.

The other Verity is the exact opposite of the former. She is vivacious, proud, and emotional. The readers learn early on that even though she is over the moon for her partner, Jeremy, she has her limitations. Those limitations are what keep the action going in this story within the story. Verity is wildly jealous, irrational, and neurotic. All of these traits tied to the other facets of her personality mentioned earlier, create an explosive person with maladaptive tendencies. Eventually, these tendencies become impulsions that Verity cannot and does not want to keep in check. One of the biggest sections in So Be It is the moment Verity narrates her first pregnancy. In just this area alone Verity reveals her controversial thoughts on Jeremy’s love for their unborn babies: “being forced to love the one thing Jeremy loved more than me...I was suddenly not okay with being the third most important thing in Jeremy’s life” (107). This Verity openly speaks about her she feels and stands by it. In this instance, she is not okay with being a mother. The news that she’s having twins is received negatively. Up until here, Verity is happy with it being just her and Jeremy. The fact that they conceived on the day of their engagement puts a damper on Verity’s plans. 

Verity’s relationship with Jeremy according to her story is toxic, a charade, and codependent. She’s obsessed with Jeremy and is not honest about her real hangups about motherhood. When the twins are born, this obsession only grows. Verity feels threatened by her children and Jeremy’s unconditional love for them. She attempts to cause miscarriages all because she wants to drop the dead weight she views her daughters as. The violence doesn’t stop there either. It gets worse. Lowen denounces and starts to hate Verity for her resentment and murderous actions. Ultimately, Lowen’s ability to read and finish this book is what compels her to keep getting closer to Jeremy. Her coveting of Jeremy and eventual attainment make her a mirror image of Verity. This doubling is apparent from the beginning until Lowen’s transformation is complete at the end.

Hoover’s decision to include the unpublished manuscript of Verity’s So Be It, is great. She was able to give a voice to a character that doesn’t utter a word until the end of the book. Hoover also employs good use of pacing throughout the book. She doesn’t use jump scares but suspense and doubt as tools to drive Lowen’s anxiety and paranoia. Hoover’s decision to leave such a big question as a cliffhanger is awesome and I tend to respect ambiguous endings. We as readers will never completely know which was the real Verity. But that is beside the point because Jeremy has found another woman to take her place and Lowen is fine with how things turned out.

Rating: 4 stars

Keywords: Shocking, ambiguous, addictive

P.S. This book gave me V.C. Andrews vibes specifically of Flowers in the Attic variety. Creepy house, check. Unhinged woman fallen from grace, check. Secrets and family drama, yup. 

What did you think of Verity?

[jurnal-de-frumusete]

clean your bookcase day. via.

[adelaideswifts]

#BookWeek2019 #TheLittleMermaid Paige’s choice this year for bookweek was a no brainer...#Ariel for my beautiful little songbird of the ocean...we started with sequin fabric, pearls, shells & a princess crown...sewing & some hot glue gun scars later I have no fingerprints, but I have my very own #Mermaid & I absolutely ADORE her! #ReadingIsMySuperPower #TaylorSwift @taylorswift #ChildhoodHero @taylornation https://www.instagram.com/p/B1U31iSnPHM/?igshid=1se5izk5jqozo

[gothicvamperstein]

A fantasy novel in my TBR pile. . . . #fantasyfriday #fantasy #funkofriday #funkopop #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #bookdragon #igbooks #ilovereading #ilovebooks #booksofinstagram #booksarelife #booksarelove #booksaremagic #readingiscool #readingissexy #readingismagic #readingismysuperpower #booklovers #bookbloggers #bookstoread https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNEl5bAk4O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[goodbooks1000]

(via Author Interview (and a Giveaway!): Stephanie Landsem & In a Far-Off Land)

[thebookdragon217]

This book is magical. It is so easy to get lost in the story. I hope you're all relaxing and taking some time to do something you enjoy today. QOTD: How are you spending your day today? What magical book are you lost in right now? #Christmastime #selfcare #Saturday #bookstagram #bookdragon #read #bookworm #Christmastree #books #getlostinabook #relaxandread #readingisfun #getlostinabook #holidays #bookwormactivities #takeabreaktoday #cozyreading #bibliophile #booksbooksbooks #readingismysuperpower #Christmaslights #middlegradebooks #racetothesun #rebeccaroanhorse (at Bushwick) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJSFrUzgHiA/?igshid=mdkrf5niyyvz

[fan-of-eeyore]

[thegiver---ofbookreviews]

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I have been wanting to read this book for ages and now I finally had the chance. When I heard about this I thought, “What kind of sick and twisted society would burn books???.... I need to read it!” And so I did and now here’s my review.

Synopsis: Guy Montag is a fireman but not your typical one. Instead of putting our fires, he creates them. See, books are now illegal and must be burned. When the alarm goes off at the fire station it’s off to work to burn those books. Montag seems to enjoy his job until he meets Clarisse, a neighbor who just moved in next door to him. As soon as she appeared, she disappeared without a trace or warning. Then Montag finds his wife not moving and en empty pill bottle next to her. Suddenly, Montag’s life doesn’t make sense anymore and the only way he can find the answers he’s looking for is in books. 

*SPOILER ALERT*

There is a lot to unpack here. First and foremost, what the fuck?? The thought of just burning books is hell to me! Who thought that was a good idea??? Bradbury, you have some serious issues. Sorry, I digress. Bradbury shows how important books are for humanity. We become lost without them. Reader or not, books have impacted our lives. It taught us how to read, write, and most importantly learn. Bradbury is also showing us the effects of tv and technology. Now, I love technology as much as the next person (hell, I’m typing this on a computer as we speak) but technology is not all there is. We need to have a sense of culture, of wonder, in our lives and we aren’t going to get that from sitting behind a computer all day (as much as I want to). Unless you read on your computer, then that’s different. Anyway, books are here for a reason and I really believe we take them for granted. I think Bradbury believes this as well. The entire book we witness Montag’s wife, Mildred, sucked into the void of television. All she wants are three walls of screens to project her favorite shows and has not a care in the world for anything else. It really shows how mindless television made her. Without books, we become of something different.

I want to take a deeper look into Mildred. At the beginning of the book, Montag walks in on her overdosed on sleeping pills. Why? We never find out. As soon as she is helped and back to full health, she doesn’t remember a thing. This says something huge. I am going to contradict myself a bit from the previous paragraph. I said before Mildred was mindless, not caring about anything but her tv shows. But then why did she try and commit suicide? Obviously, she is not as mindless as she seems and something is causing her pain. She is not as happy as she makes herself out to be. Is tv not giving her the joy she needs? But isn’t that why books were banned and tv was in? Because books were pointless and tv gave us the joy books didn't? There are a lot of questions but the one answer that I know for sure is, people are not any better off then they were before books were banned. When Montag called the police after finding his wife, guess who they sent over. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not medics! They send over plumbers. Medics are too busy doing something more important or something. The plumbers tell Montag that “this happens all the time”, and like pumping out a clogged toilet, they pumped Mildred’s stomach until the drugs were out. Suicides must be very high in this universe if this “happens all the time”. That tells you again, screams it in your face really, that people aren’t as happy as they should be. 

So let's pretend I’m dumb and I believe everyone is happy watching tv all day in this book. After a while, you need some new and exciting tv shows instead of watching the same thing all day (except for those binge-watchers... you know who you are). While Montag makes his daring escape after killing his Captain and evading arrest, the police and a bloodthirsty hellhound made of metal hunt him down. What’s the best thing they could do in this situation? Oh, I know! Let’s make it into a show like cops! And that’s exactly what they did. They had helicopters and on the ground, cameramen following the hellhound and tracking Montag’s every move. They even decided to make it into a game! They told everyone listening on the radio to count down with them and when they were done, they all opened their doors and looked out their houses to see if they found Montag. Fortunately, Montag was able to disappear into a river. People are fucking nuts. If I knew a murderer was running around outside my house, I deadbolt the door and block all the windows! I wasn’t about to look out the door to certain death! This ain’t no horror movie! But I guess that’s how enticing tv is in these days. Continuing on, Montag was able to cover his tracks as soon as he hit the river and flowed down with the current. The hellhound couldn’t figure out where he was but the tv show was still going! What were they to do?? They decided that this episode needed a finale, a great ending. So they faked it. They found a random guy on the street that had some kind of violation and killed him. They pretended that he was Montag all along. Poor man. You can tell they did this for two reasons. One: they needed a great ending to the episode. One that left the viewers satisfied. Two: they couldn’t show that someone got away with it. We know that there are a lot of others hiding out with books (the reason why the fire department is open in the first place) but if they found out one got away with it, there’s hope, hope that others can get away with it too. It’s pretty disturbing thinking about it. The government probably does that today, NAY! does do that. I’m almost positive about that.

When we’re not sucked into the void of television shows, we realize what is happening around us. For example, all we hear in the news these days is about school shootings. Awful, terrible news. The thing about this world, people are too busy watching their favorite shows to realize what’s really happening. A couple of times in the book, there were mentions of a war going on. There wasn’t anything specific, just that there was a war. Throughout the entire book, the main characters didn’t mention it once. It was the least important thing to them. Montag was too busy trying to understand the importance of books, Mildred was too busy watching her favorite show and Clarise, well Clarisse was missing, presumably dead. But as Montag was far away from the city, a plane flew by and dropped a huge bomb on the city, destroying everyone and everything. No one was warned and no one saw it coming. They were too busy watching their favorite shows to realize. Moral of the story, pay attention to your surroundings. You never know what’s coming. 

*SPOILER ALERT ENDS*

If you love books with a lot of deeper meanings, this is the one for you. It’s a little hard to follow at first but I could just be saying that because I’ve been reading a lot of children’s books lately lol. Anyway, I really enjoyed this one and all the hidden clues you can find in the writing. You can understand, though, that the overall message is BOOKS ARE WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED!!

I’m gonna say that one more time for the people in the back

BOOKS ARE WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED!!!

Overall rating: 8/10

[luckysandra]

#tuesdaystshirt #readingismysuperpower though maybe my sweet @kissdebonanit would say It's #smiling 😁 #pleaseread ... to yourself, to a child, outloud or in silence #booksaremagic https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mkamKFgPA3Tte0iHvY6RqO8413gvSyZrzIok0/?igshid=1oohhgng7rvet

[litsavantbookclub]

milk and honey Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

I finished reading rupi kaur’s milk and honey around the same time as Regretting You. milk and honey was the companion read for Lit Savant’s March book club pick. Let me just say that even though kaur’s book of poems is only 204 pages long, it packs a whole lot of emotion, insight, and depth. 

The book is separated into 4 different parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. Each of these parts has a collections of poems that go with the theme of each of the sections. I will focus on the overall meaning of the poem in each section. At this point, I will issue a spoiler warning so if you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying this book then I suggest you stop reading.

In the section, titled, “the hurting” the poem I think stands out the most to me is ended with “the idea of shrinking is hereditary.” 

“trying to convince myself

i am allowed 

to take up space 

is like writing with

my left hand

when i was born

to use my right” (29).

I love this poem because the speaker obviously understands that being a woman and inhabiting these bodies are complex. Things that are instinctual like using our dominant hand and the beliefs, ideas, and mannerisms that are trusted upon us since infancy from a patriarchal society must be debunked and assessed. In order for us to break out of this, a reworking and rethinking of what’s expected of us must be done. Everything that was accepted as the default must be reconsidered. 

In “the loving” the poem that pulls me in is on page 79 ended with the word “you.”

“on days 

like this

I need you to

run your fingers

through my hair

and speak softly” (79). 

The speaker in this piece understands and wants someone to be there physically for support. This is the way they want to receive love. Love for them is simple and comforting. Love takes many forms and this form is one of the most endearing and fulfilling. Love is often represented throughout movies, books, and music like that one in a million sweep you off your feet and powerful vision of romance. But that’s not always what is love is. Love can be simple and uncomplicated and that can be just as filling.

In “the breaking” the excerpt that draws me in the most is the following: 

“...this is where you must 

understand the difference 

between want and need 

you may want that boy 

but certainly 

don’t need him” (86).

Can this be said louder for people in the back? It seems like such an obvious distinction but many times it doesn’t feel that way. Sometimes we stay with those who don’t deserve us. We want them for reasons that pale in comparison to things far more priceless, our dignity, respect, and safety. We fear the change. The sting of letting go even though you’re already in free fall. 

Which brings me the final section, “the healing” this part of the book was my favorite and because of that I picked two quotations instead of one. The first must ring true for many readers:

“who tricked you 

into believing 

another person

was meant to complete you

when the most they can do is complement” (154).

Believing that people we fall in love with are meant to make us whole is something that is idealized in Western culture. This is especially true when it comes to Hollywood romance movies and in romance novels. The idea of meeting your “better half” and having everything completed and figured out is something that is advertised and packaged for our viewing pleasure since our childhood. This is apparent in Disney movies. Cinderella leaves behind her oppressive family and marries her Prince, Snow White is woken up and whisked away to a better life with her Prince, and Rapunzel is freed from her tower and returned to her family and spends the rest of her life with her love. All these stories are renditions on the idea that meeting our loves is the step to starting the rest of our lives. 

But it isn’t just about meeting our loves. It is also about working on ourselves and loving ourselves. This is just as necessary. We shouldn’t depend on our loves saving us. We have to save ourselves. Our partners don’t complete us. They supplement our existence.

The second citation starts:

“our backs

tell stories

no books have

the spine to

carry” (171).

It speaks to a big topic in kaur’s poems, the history of our women. All the stories and events they have lived through. They can be written down, spoken, and shared. They can bring insight and tears to our eyes about the strength it took to endure. Yet the power of those collected moments cannot be compared to the grit, nerve, and determination it took to keep moving forward through their lives. The generations of women and girls that lived through all those times and their journeys will continue to be gathered in books but it will all pale in comparison to their actual experiences. Those experiences are carried on their backs supported by iron spines. No books can carry that trauma equally. 

If you like poems or are have yet to read poetry this is a good first step. The poems are on the short side and say a lot without being long. The themes are timely and relatable. 

My rating: 4 

Keywords: Deep, emotional, and insightful.

What did you think of milk and honey?

[bibliobethblog]

It’s feeling like a multiple post day 🤔😉 and the reason for that is because it’s time for Cosy Reading Night hosted by the lovely @laurenandthebooks The idea is that you get all cosy with blankets, candles, hot drinks, snacks and of course BOOKS. This is my little pile of reading material I’m going to switch between reading during the hours of 7-10PM BST. I’m currently reading The Doll’s House by M.J. Arlidge (57% through) then there’s my buddy read with @emmasbookishcorner of How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee. I’m just over halfway through this. Then we have my nonfiction read - How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones, I’m about three quarters of the way through (and loving it!). Finally, I always have a favourite re-read on the go which is The Book Of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. I’m yet to start this. Do you think I’ve got enough to keep myself occupied for the next three hours? 🤣🤣🤣 Let me know if you’re joining in with #cosyreadingnight and what you’re reading, I’d love to know. #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #gettingcosy #readinglikeafiend #readingismysuperpower #multiplebooksonthego https://www.instagram.com/p/CEe4HTIAql1/?igshid=1vrfq2r12ghpv