All Things Outlander Appreciation Post!

Good evening to all my bonnie lads and lasses out there! As you all very well ken (or at least I hope you do), we’re on the eve of the Outlander season two premiere (in my neck of the woods at least) and Droughtlander will officially be over! Let us rejoice!!! Fans of both the acclaimed novels and the television series have been chomping at the bit, myself among them, and I can’t wait to see how Dragonfly In Amber will be adapted for the small screen! 

With the excitement looming and buzzing in the air, I’ve decided to create an appreciation post of sorts for all things in the Outlander universe, and formally thank Diana Gabaldon for the start of it all, her miraculous novels. Disclaimer: no, I’m not doing this because I’m a massive Whovian (fan of Doctor Who) and her concept stemmed from an old episode of the show, but that isn’t detracting from how much I want to shower this woman with praise for capturing me with her novels and inventive story. Bravo and massive brownie points, Gabaldon! 

Last summer, I took on the immense task of all eight of these books, and binged on the show as I read. After book one, I watched all sixteen episodes so I could compare the pages to my tv screen, and I was nowhere near disappointed. I was positively hooked. You can read my reviews of every novel here: 

Outlander 

Dragonfly In Amber

Voyager

Drums Of Autumn 

 The Fiery Cross

 A Breath Of Snow And Ashes

An Echo In The Bone

Written In My Own Heart's Blood

My journey with these books took me roughly seven-eight weeks to finish. I began Outlander in the middle of June, and finished Written In My Own Heart’s Blood going into the second weekend in September, and I’ve been overwhelmed and overjoyed ever since. 

Outlander tells the story of Claire Beauchamp Randall, a combat nurse at the end of World War II-1945. She’s reunited with her husband, Frank (a former solider and professor) and together, they journey to Inverness and the Highlands of Scotland to enjoy a second honeymoon. While reuniting and getting reacquainted, the couple take time to marvel at a set of standing stones the locals call Craig Na Dun. While exploring and studying the herbs and flowers scattered among the stones, Claire finds herself too close to one of the monoliths and winds up transported back in time to 1743, and in the middle of another war; the Jacobite rebellion. Scotland is at war with Britain to try to gain its independence, and they’re on the brink of the Battle of Culloden where majority of the Highlander culture was wiped out. Claire becomes entwined with clan MacKenzie, and eventually in the arms of one Jamie Fraser. Together, they must navigate the day-to-day, and adapt to not only each other, but a world that's changing rapidly around them. Circumstances lead the pair to an arranged marriage of sorts, and Claire not only finds herself torn between two different centuries, but the admiration and affection for two husbands as well. 

Throughout all eight (and soon-to-be nine) novels, we spend decades with Jamie, Claire, and even Frank. Just when you think these stories have gone everywhere and covered every available landscape, Diana comes up with another direction that adds another facet to this universe. Personally, I never want my time with these characters to end. I know one day it will, but for now, I choose to ignore such possibilities. 

Finishing these books (for now) left me positively speechless. I genuinely wanted to write, Tweet, Facebook, blog, or whatever the kids are doing nowadays, to Diana and gush about how much these stories meant to me. I knew I wouldn’t be telling her anything she hasn’t heard before, but at least maybe in my own space, I could attempt to organize my thoughts to be somewhat more coherent (yeah, right). All these months later,anxiously awaiting book nine and season two of the hit Starz series, I find myself in need to put my admiration from brain, to keyboard, to screen. I thought about being proper, formal, and professional to a degree, but instead, I figured I’d just keep my fingers crossed and hope what I’m trying to convey makes sense (because it does in my head, I swear). I may be the only one who reads this, but at least it's here, and anyone who wants to can be made aware that this fabulous universe is out there, so, in that case, you're welcome. 

Here’s a sliver of back story because I need to paint a bigger picture. I’ve been reading since before I knew how to read. My parents still tell the story of the time when I was five years old and trying to sneak some Charles Dickens off of my father’s bookshelf to read a massive book I couldn’t begin to understand. I grew up surrounded by books. Every summer I had to compile a reading list and do a certain amount of reading every single day before I was allowed to go outside and play with my friends and be a kid. At the time, I was not the biggest fan of my parents, or reading for that matter. However, as the years went by, I found myself reading more and more, and I even took up writing as well. As early as middle school, I would spend my lunch periods with notebooks, jotting down ideas for stories. Fast forward to spending years in college and graduating university with three degrees, two of which are in English Literature. What I’m saying is that my parents created a monster (of the best kind, of course). Now, as an adult, I have to say I wouldn’t have been brought up any other way. I’m so thankful to have developed such a deep love of literature spanning numerous decades, continents, and genres. 

Hopefully, I’m not too much of a monster. In all my leisure time, my schooling and classes, I’ve spent time with countless stories, worlds, and authors.  I’d study and read essentially from the time I woke up, and into the late hours of the evening. Even after school has finished, I have shelves crammed with novels and short stories that span the globe and range from old to new. With such seemingly infinite possibilities stored in my brain and on my shelves, Diana Gabaldon is easily keeping one of the highest ranks among my ultimate favorite authors. Classic or contemporary, I can’t for the life of me pinpoint a writer who has done the research she has done for these Outlander stories, and therefore, have not created what I would call a literary masterpiece the way she has with every single installment of this series.You would think with so much ground to cover, it would be easy to lose yourself in the writing process and wind up losing the plot somewhere. This never happens even once in any single sentence she has written. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been so thoroughly impressed and touched by every minute detail she has portrayed. Eight (thick) novels became a chunk of my life, and a chunk of my heart. I laughed, cried, became enraged, was left shocked, and felt the warm fuzzies in becoming an unofficial and silent member of the Fraser clan. From the history, clothing, wilderness, landscape, battles, culture, language, medicines, food, herbs, mannerisms, etc, I have been sucked in mind, body, and soul. I can not praise the phenomenon that is Outlander enough, but I think we already knew that (it’s essentially the title of this post). 

As I’ve said, in my own experience writing, I’ve always had stories, journals, and projects I’ve worked on, even as a child. I also walked away from every single word I’ve ever scratched down when having writer’s block, or simply getting bored with a plot. Writers like Diana inspire me to want to keep going with my own work and really put in the blood, sweat, and tears. The fact that she wrote Outlander in order to practice how to write a novel simply baffles me with how astonishing her debut work was, and astounded at everything it has grown to become. 

The only regret I’ve had with this whole experience is the fact that I haven’t gotten to these books sooner. To be fair, they started coming out in the early nineties, and I was still in elementary school. I am ashamed to say that I’ve had these books beckoning to me from the shelves of B&N numerous times over the years, but I found it too daunting to take on 800+ pages at the time, multiplied by a stack of (close to) a dozen books. That’s entirely my own fault for being such a coward. Now when people ask if I’ve read all of the Outlander stories, I can say yes I have, and I feel immensely proud. This is not because I’ve taken on a mammoth of a story, but because I’m a part of this world that I can’t even begin to explain the importance of to others. All I can say is, if there are any novels or a single book series you MUST read in your life, these are it 110%. They are an investment in time and attention, but they are beyond worth it once you’ve finished the last page of the last book.

Luckily, since my time with the Frasers, I’ve gotten a few friends into both the novels and the television series, and it makes me feel like a proud parent for having corrupted them. I adore getting text messages and emojis at all hours of the day and night with friends obsessing about this time-travel romance as much as I have. Credit again goes to Mrs. Gabaldon for creating every spec of it for us to have forever. 

As far as the television series, I’m not going to be one of those people who says, “the book is better”. Again, Diana is to thank. She surrounded herself with outstanding people and she’s been extremely present on set. The end results are fantastic… simply spectacular, and I can’t get over how much I LOVE the show. Much like books, I’ve grown up with a lot of television, but there are only a handful of shows that have been profound for me, and Outlander is one of those shows. The costumes, set, scenery,producers, writers, directors, and CAST MEMBERS have put together a production that have only enhanced my connection to the books. Instead of rambling on and on, I’m going to leave the trailers for season one and the upcoming season two right here, and you’re going to contemplate watching this show as soon as yesterday, so, enjoy: 

Season One

Season Two

I would say long story short, but it’s too late for that, and I won’t apologize. When people ask me why I like reading so much, I should just say, “see above” or, “read this post”. Books mean the world to me because I’m allowed to experience another world, one I may never have gotten the chance to experience without words on a page. To some, that may seem silly, but to me, I’m thankful and forever grateful because authors like Diana Gabaldon have bound their souls to set them on a shelf and have allowed someone like me, a complete and total stranger, to inhabit their space, gobble up every word, and tell everyone I can how amazing it is to experience a story like Outlander (or any other story you can think of for that matter). For me, it’s a priceless feeling, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next. 

Thank you, for the millionth time for these stories, Mrs. Gabaldon. I know I’ll never properly convey my sentiments, but I can only hope this is a good starting point. My life would be just a bit more dull if it weren’t for the sensitive heart of Jamie Fraser, and the never-ending bravery of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser. They have taught me so much in all the time I’ve spent with them and their family. Without the beauty of their story, I’d simply be a Sassenach who never got to experience the joy and thrill of belonging to a clan of Highlanders. To everyone who has already watched the new season premiere in an advanced way, I'd love to hear your thoughts (without spoilers, please), and to everyone who have yet to watch, please enjoy every single second! Tulach Ard! 

Me being an absolute nerd with my very own James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser.

You- A Series Review

Greetings, fellow bibliophiles! Long time, no chat! I finally finished my latest series and it's a doozy! I've been meaning to get to these books for awhile so I'm excited to share my thoughts! On a random outing to my local B&N for the latest book haul, I finally came across the complete series of You by Caroline Kepnes. I did, however, do a bad thing. I totally judged these books by the covers. I was absolutely intrigued when I saw both You and Hidden Bodies popping up in my Instagram timeline with readers going berserk for these stories. After grabbing the basic info, I popped on to my goodreads app to get the description and overall rating before adding these puppies to my ever-expanding TBR pile/shelf/bookcase. Now that I've read them both, I'm awaiting more story, the option for the TV adaptation, and coping with my Joe withdrawal. Let's get to it so that you can all run to your closest bookstores and swipe up copies of these novels.  

Book one is the title of the series, You. This might be the least comprehensive review I've written to date because I'm simply flabbergasted, gob smacked, speechless, stunned, so on and so on.

This book grabbed me from page one, hell, from the first freaking sentence. I could NOT put it down. I really and truly mean that with every ounce of sincerity I could muster. I finished this book in the parking lot of a Panera because I just had to have this book with me and had to know how it ended right then and there while I waited for my Pick Two combo to be made.

For me, there's not a single character I this book I could empathize with, but for once, I found that part of the appeal to keep going. Usually, when I'm disgusted with a character or find them unrelatable, I wind up disconnected from the whole story and don't invest my attention, mind, and heart the way I properly should. The opposite happened with this story. Joe is fishy right from the start, but I'm fascinated by how he thinks. I immediately despised Peach and Benji, and once the layers started peeling away (which happens pretty early on), I wound up loathing Beck as well.

In all honesty, I can't say too much because it's very easy for me to say enough to give away major  (and I mean MAJOR) plot points with this story, but just.... Read it, now, no.... Yesterday. I'm absolutely blown away. Despite the fact I couldn't wrap my mind around the lives of Nantucket bred, pretentious Brown kids and their designer drugs and first world problems (I even had to look up the word solipsistic.. I don't work in a used and rare book store.. ugh, I WISH) I gobbled this book up. It's so dark and disturbing that even though there was a sense of an end in book one, I know we're not done with this adventure yet.

If you're a fan of Dexter, Norman Bates, Paul Spector, or the Investigation Discovery channel, pick up this book and get to the page-turning as soon as possible! You won't have nails left, but you sure as hell will have your heart pumping!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Hidden Bodies is the sequel to You, and boy, is it ever a sequel. Every time I attempted to write a proper review of this book, words simply failed me. All I can say is that I'm glad this series is in progress with ShowTime because I'm beyond anxious to see how Joe's story plays out on the small screen. Now all I need is to call my cable company and add ShowTime to my monthly bill because I know I'll NEED this show when it debuts.

I'm a massive fan of Norman Bates, Paul Spector, Dexter, and now, Joe Goldberg. I know I mentioned that when reviewing You. The inner workings of Joe's mind absolutely boggle me and I find myself routing for him even though I know he shouldn't be out and about among what we deem "regular" society.

Leaving the streets of New York and his dark past behind him, Joe is on a mission in Los Angeles, and seems to meet all the right people along the way. It's when the past mingles with the present to ruin the future that Joe has a problem and needs to become even more determined in his life's path.

I had numerous interruptions while reading this book, and I almost wanted to pull a Joe of my very own because this story was so utterly full-to-the-brim of suspense, that it drove me crazy to put it down even for a single second! Kepnes may have just shot to the top of my list of favorite writers. Her story-telling is phenomenal and so thorough. I need more Joe in my life ASAP. I must know where his story takes us next! I'm pretty sure there has to be a book three somewhere, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed just incase.

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

The Nightingale- A Review

Good morning, bibliophiles! Today, I'm going to dive right in to this latest review because it's the day after I closed the book and I'm still absolutely stunned by what I've read. It's a book I've had sitting on my shelf for awhile, and I'm really sad it took as long as it did to get to it! However, I'm really glad I did, and I can't wait to tell you what I thought! The book I'm discussing is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. It's been on several Best Seller lists, and with good reason. You should read this review and then go pick up a copy if you haven't already!

This was a gorgeous yet heartbreaking book. Anything else I say will not properly express my sentiments towards the power of this story. Regardless, I'll do what I can to explain and convey my experience in the French countryside the best I can.

There's something about World War II novels that always draw me in hook, line, and sinker. Maybe it's so I never forget what our universe has dealt with in history, maybe it's because the sheer terror of what happened on such a grand scale that borders on unreal when we discuss it these days, maybe it's the tales of the survivors that make me feel empowered as a human being. Who knows, but this one had me savoring pages as if I would never read again.

My heart was in my throat for Vianne and Isabelle the entire story. Living in Nazi-occupied France was an absolute nightmare. These women would wake up each day and not know what to expect. Their tremendous will to survive and live through everything they experienced puts society today into perspective. When these women and their families had to go without things like coffee, bread, a coat, or fitted shoes, my heart shattered for them to have so little. The sacrifices they made, and how they endured for years was nothing short of unreal. The fact they could both call themselves heroes at the end of it all made it so much better and allowed me the opportunity to smile for them and what they achieved. I would go into detail about their contributions to the war efforts, but I'd honestly rather you be surprised and experience their courageous acts on your own.

The ending was powerful and tied past & present together so perfectly. I had a feeling as to who a few mystery characters were, and when their identities were revealed, I was misty-eyed. Although much of the story was sad, and to recall such a horrific time in World History, it also had its triumphant moments as well. That's all we want in tales of darkness, to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and hope that it will all wind up okay.

I could not be more elated that I picked this book up in my travels. It deserves the goodreads award for a reason. Do not hesitate in giving this a read!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

44 Chapters About 4 Men- A Review

Aloha, bibliophiles! Happy Hump Day! We're another day closer to Friday! To celebrate the middle of the week milestone, I have a review for you (insert Kermit the Frog "hooray")!! It's something a bit different, but totally worth it once you get sucked in (and you totally will, I promise). It's 44 Chapters About 4 Men by my newest hero, B.B. Easton. Can I just fangirl for a second, because reading her words, and her blunt delivery made me feel like I was finding my spirit animal, so I have to bow down to her for that alone, the subject(s) were just icing on the cake!  Thank you a million times for proving women can be sarcastic and curse like sailors, but also hold high degrees and have a brain in their head. I admired the crap out of her thought process and can't express that enough!

This was an interesting read, and not at all what I was expecting. In its own way, it takes the essence of a romance novel, and gives it that twist of real life that makes being a couple fun, funny, challenging, and daunting.

At first, I wasn't quite sure what to make of what I was reading. The escapades BB went through during her adolescent years with boyfriends was comical, dramatic, and a proper depiction of almost every girl in the world. Our young and impressionable minds love to do what we can to impress (and possibly even lure) a boy, and she doesn't disappoint.

Because I'm older and way past that phase of life, I could really appreciate the chapters with Ken, her husband. I wanted to be mad at him and to hate him a little bit for being so mundane and paying so little attention to his marriage (as far as emotions go), but part of me was also cheering for him, a proper, "c'mon man, you got this.. you can do this marriage thing!".

I'm thoroughly impressed with BBs clever journal entries and sneaky experimentations on her husband. It may have started out as something fun (and temporary), but she wound up sparking something back into their relationship. Ken's whole demeanor and personality shifted and he not only became the man BB wanted, but also the man every girl wants at the end of the day. It's not about grand gestures of romance, but about the simple compliments, the random bouts of affection, and the bond and intimacy a couple can share when they collapse onto their pillows side-by-side at the end of the day rather than strangers living under the same roof.

While I did find this read fresh and amusing (BB's sarcasm, snark, wit, and assholery knows no bounds), there was something more profound there as well. In its own weird way, it brought out a very real side of not only relationships, but marriage as well, and how easily everything can get so comfortable, that you start to feel estranged and not how you felt during the honeymoon phase of courtship. I enjoyed witnessing her experience and took copious notes for any future endeavors I may have of my own. Thanks a million times over, BB!

My Final Rating: four out of five stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

RoomHate- A Review

Hey all, and happy Monday! It's a snowy and chilly President's Day in my neck of the woods which meant a slow day at the office which meant, yup, I started and finished a book. I'm excited to bring this review your way! I have one more individual installment novel in my TBR before I tackle a semi-lengthy series. So after the next review, I may disappear for a bit longer until I get all the books in the series read. Anyway, let's dive into tonight's review which is RoomHate by Penelope Ward. 


I know, this was just released today, and you should go pick up a copy for your Kindle over on Amazon right now because it's on sale today only for $3.99, so, hop to it, folks! This was just one of those books I couldn't put down. I sat in my office all day just absorbing the life out of this story, and I couldn't be happier with the fact I got to spend the day with the lovely and irresistible, Justin Banks. 


Amelia Payne has inherited her grandmother's gorgeous Victorian house right on the beach in Newport, which sounds pretty dreamy. It sounds even more enticing when half of the inheritance goes to one of the most beautiful men around, her old friend, Justin Banks. Splitting a house with a fine specimen of a man as your roommate sounds ideal, right? Wrong. 


Amelia and Justin may have been best friends at one point in time, but things change, people grow up, some run away, and lives are altered. Now, they're sharing property and living under the same roof while trying to keep their disdain for one another in check (which is extremely hard to do). Also, Amelia is fresh out of a relationship, and Justin has been seeing a girl named Jade for quite some time, so bring on the complications. 


It takes time, talking, and several extenuating circumstances to get these two back on the same page so they can become trusting friends again. It's when they reach that point where everything is rosy again that things change even more and develop into something they've never explored before. Now, there's tension and attraction involved. Things get messy and complicated, and there's an overwhelming amount of whiplash from all the back-and-forth of what they think they might feel for one another while also trying to balance outside parties. It's when Amelia finds herself in a life-altering situation that Justin really comes to the rescue to be the man she's always wanted. 


When circumstances seem to FINALLY be falling in their favor, Justin is offered an unbelievable opportunity he just can't refuse. Will everything they just built come crumbling down, or will they endure for the long haul this time? 

I adored this story! Don't get me wrong, I wanted to smack the bejesus out of the two of them half the time, but they kept me entertained (and wanting to scream at them simultaneously) . The constant growing tension is what made this story  absolutely everything for me. It was so fun, yet frustrating, but I had to keep reading to see  how and when it would all reach a pinnacle and explode into what I was waiting for with these two. Every moment of this story was worth it. What a fun, sexy, and quick read!




My Final Rating: four out of five stars

Finding Fraser- A Review

Happy Friday, bibliophiles! I hope everyone is ready for a weekend of reading! My day started out quite snowy, but the office is quiet. I'm just counting down the hours until I can go curl up with another book. In the mean time, how about a review, eh?

Also, very quickly, I've been doing some thinking about this blog. It's kind of manifesting into its own creature, and I've been thinking about taking it into newer directions. Some ideas I thought of were more images and videos (book trailers and such via YouTube so you can get a visual), and also maybe some movie reviews for book-to-film adaptations? I figured they go hand-in-hand so why not go to that next level? I'd love some feedback if you'd be so kind! Anyway... I'm done rambling, so, review time (this time I promise)!!

Fans of Outlander and all things Jamie Fraser... BRACE YOURSELVES! Up today is a novel all you Sassenachs must have in your possession (if you haven't already done so). It's Finding Fraser by KC Dyer, and it is a-ma-ZING! Seriously, I've been fangirling over this book since the moment I knew of its existence and it absolutely did not disappoint! Considering how much I've been dying for a getaway myself lately, the story of Emma Sheridan and the journey she takes not only hit the spot, but also made me crave something new and exciting in my own life even more.

I can NOT say enough good things about this book. What a wonderful read! If you're a romantic, a reader, a dreamer, Outlander obsessed, writer, blogger, or an eternal wanderlust, or all of the above, this story is absolutely for you!

Emma is living the life I want to live (seriously, I crave her existence sooo badly). I'm not sure if I love her or hate her for just that reason. She's through with the mundane and routine that her life has become at the age of twenty-nine. She longs for a story of her own to tell, and a real-life book boyfriend by her side while she does it. Needless to say, she's not finding him in Chicago, so it was time to set out to greener pastures, and what better place than bonny Scotland!

She is indeed a brave girl. Faced with the unknown and traveling solo, she deals with and overcomes her fears and travels to a place she had only ever read about. In doing so, she finds a whole new life. A trip deemed crazy by those she knew back home wound up being her life-changing experience. She met interesting people along the way, learned about survival, became an un-official Scot, found a job, opened some doors across the globe, and searched for her Fraser.

This book just didn't go at all how I thought it would! I thought it would turn out like most romances do, and I wound up getting so much more than I bargained for and I'm thrilled! Considering I, myself, am stuck in the routine for now, it was fantastic to live vicariously through Emma and enjoy the history, culture, and people of Scotland all while remaining in the state of New Jersey.

Does she find her Fraser (as in the one and only Jamie Fraser)? You'll have to find out, but the most important thing to remember is that this book is about finding yourself first. Emma is my wannabe spirit animal and I can only hope that one day I find the courage she found to live my life to the fullest, do something crazy once in awhile, and just go with the flow. Until then, I'll just have to settle for pure envy!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

Just as a PS- If you have not met James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser from the stunning Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, One, what are you waiting for?? Two (and lastly), this is what (or who, rather) you're missing:

 

 



 

 

 

My Life on the Road- A Review

Goooooooooood evening to all my bibliophiles out there! No, your eyes are not deceiving you, I'm posting for a second time today. Earlier, I posted a blog about this literary project I was asked to participate in, and it was really fun. Incase you missed it, you can check it out here! 

I'm not going to waste time rambling, and instead, I'll get right to my latest review. I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I think it's safe to say that My Life on the Road by the one and only Gloria Steinem will be the most significant book of 2016. 

I wandered past this book a time or two in my local B&N, but it wasn't until I came across a headline on my Twitter account that I put it on my "must read" list. I'm sure every bookworm and Harry Potter fan out there knows Emma Watson has decided to start a book club. If you haven't joined it yet, you can do so here. With all of her work with UN Women, she has compiled a list of empowering novels meant for every woman to not only read, but embrace for her own future as well. I'm going to take it a step further and say that not only women should be joining this group and reading these selections. Men and women alike should pick up copies of the books as they are selected and educate themselves on issues that pertain not only to an entire gender, but also to humankind as a whole. The more you are informed, the more you can benefit from the learned material. I digress...

Gloria Steinem is a name I've heard in passing for years now, but I'm ashamed to say, I never paid close enough attention to the work she has been doing for the last several (and lengthy) decades. Reading her story absolutely blew me out of the water. 

Beware. She does tackle serious subject matter. Her experiences deal with so much more than women's liberation and gender equality. I learned more than I ever thought I could about travel and the issues surrounding politics, journalism, sexism, racism, big business, economics, and more. Her knowledge about little nuances when it came the the previously mentioned issues in not only America, but across the globe, left me astounded. 

Don't let the severity of the subject matter deter you from grabbing a copy of this book (if you haven't already). With such intense times upon us in 2016, this book is a must must must must MUST-read. Our words and our actions ripple and affect people we didn't even know we could possibly have reached in the first place. Not only will you gain insight to such social and political thoughts and ideas, but you'll learn tolerance and understanding for those unlike yourself. Gloria's thoughts make it nearly impossible to construct an argument as to why she isn't right in her experience and wisdom. She was a first-hand witness to so much, and also backed up events she witnessed with her own eyes with lengthy references (goodness, I'm a nerd for a footnote). 

I can't thank Gloria enough for touching on and sharing her years on the road for all of us. Because of her, not only do I want to travel more than I already do, but I also want to continue to learn as much as I can about such significant and profound issues in order to contribute to the progression of a successful society. The fact that events she discussed from forty years ago are still relatable today means we need to keep evolving, changing, and bettering our world instead of repeating history. 

Proper words to swoon over this book escape me. I hope these thoughts do it justice for now. If you choose only one book to read this year, let it be this one! 

My Final Rating: five of five stars

A Christmas Carol- A Review/ Reflection

During a time of so much unrest in the world, it was nice to take an afternoon and re-read a classic that focused on the positivity of human spirit and the season of generosity. Reading it for the first time since I was a kid, there was so much I didn't remember. I must say, out of everything to take away from this story, everyone should know how profound a character Fred is. Scrooge's nephew is absolutely under-rated and deserves heaps of credit for his message all throughout the story. The bitHey out there to all my fellow readers! I hope you're getting some much-needed reading crammed in to what I'm sure is a jam-packed holiday schedule! I'm eyeballs deep into a series right now, so I won't be reviewing until I'm done with all of them. However, I decided to embrace the spirit of the impending Christmas season and re-read an old classic. What else could I be talking about besides  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens? I'm not sure if what I'm about to say below will serve as a proper review, but as more of a reflection during this cheerful... yet also fearful time in the world. What do you think? There has seemingly been nothing but unrest in the world lately, so yesterday (a slow day at my office) I decided it would be nice to take an afternoon and re-read a piece that focused on the positivity of human spirit and the season of generosity. Reading this story for the first time since I was a kid, there was so much I didn't remember. I must say, out of everything to take away from this tale this go round, everyone should know how profound a character Fred is to the overall message Dickens is trying to convey. Scrooge's nephew is absolutely under-rated and deserves heaps of credit for his spirit towards not only the holiday, but also towards his crabby, old uncle who no one else can bear to be around. There was a sliver of his monologue that really jumped out at me. I think it's one of those emotions that was relevant then and is still relevant today. Fred states,  "...I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round- apart from veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it, can be apart from that- as good a time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really we fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys". There is so much going on in society with terrorism, commercialism, an ugly Presidential race (in the US), and general prejudice, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, etc. that I have to wonder... A lot of the world celebrates Christmas as they do Hanukkah, Kwanza, and other festivities this time of year. One is no better than the other, and they're all equally important to each and every one of us. When you sit down to enjoy a holiday movie, time with family, or decide to shut out the world with a timeless story such as this one, pump the brakes a bit before you immerse yourself. Instead of separating each other into our religious, racial, financial, or spiritual denominational boxes, keep the spirit of the holidays in your heart. Show kindness and generosity to those around you. Whether lesser or better, we're all going to wind up in the same place one day side-by-side. I'm really glad I took some time out of my afternoon to focus on the positivity of the lessons Scrooge has learned. It's so easy to get sucked into the negative and think that that's all there is left to the world. Find the good, positive, kind, and generous, and grab on tight! All I can do is keep my fingers crossed that this timeless message and theme trickles into the brains of any others who choose to read this story or snuggle down for the film. Treat every day like it's Christmas and keep that good spirit towards your fellow man all year round! Happy Holidays!! As Tiny Tim so famously states, "God bless us, everyone!"  My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Confess- A Review

Good afternoon, fellow readers! Happy Tuesday to you all! Hope it's treating you well!

I'll try to make this short and sweet because, well, you'll see my disclaimer below. I just finished Confess by Colleen Hoover, so let's delve right into it, shall we?

**DISCLAIMER: let's talk about how I've written an extensive review for this book twice now and once, the computer froze so I had to close out of the program, and twice, I hit a random key by mistake in the whole "copy and past" process and deleted everything I had just written..**

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I follow numerous book accounts on Google+, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.. and I never seemed to know more about this story save for the cover (which is aesthetically pleasing). My only other encounter with Hoover's books was months ago when I read Ugly Love, and I just don't have much to say once I was done. I didn't fully connect with that story, or it had something missing for me so I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either.  With that as my first experience with her books, I can't help but admit that I was a bit wary of reading her other books. However, I'm glad I went on impulse and grabbed this book off the shelf on my last B&N run.

As far as plot premise, this story was not something I have experienced before, which is saying something. There's your basics in love and angst, but Confess added extra elements that just make it a special tale to tell.

Owen Gentry and Auburn Reed meet, and it is serendipitous. He needs help for a showing at his art gallery, and she's looking for some extra money. The rest is history/fate! The way their story entwines is really touching. I enjoyed every twist and turn their journey took, despite if it was good or bad.

Auburn loses one of the most important people in her life early on, and it's tragic. Owen loses two people, and you have to wonder how he'll survive and continue on for the rest of his life. Somehow, both of their losses turn into their own gain together. They're both determined individuals and despite all they've been through in the past, they've learned to cope and even attempt to be happy.

The things Owen and Auburn learn from each other in a short period of time is nothing short of remarkable. They make you realize the important things in life and also how necessary it can be to find a deep connection with someone that goes past anything earthly and almost transcends into spiritual. Owen's idea of people deserving second chances really made me smile.

The whole concept behind the confessions and their paintings in Owen's gallery was really spectacular. I read the little author's note thanking her readers for sending them in and I was floored! Kudos to all of you who participated in sharing such secrets. It helps keep us aware of the fact that we're all fighting an unknown battle. Thank you so much for being so brave and sharing an unknown piece of yourselves with the world!

Lastly, the added bonus of the artwork within the text was awesome! The pieces were stunning and really helped to put an image to the description I was reading on the page. I'm contemplating removing them from the text and framing them for my bedroom. They're gorgeous pieces.

My Final Rating: four out of five stars

 

 

 

 

If You Dare (Deanna Madden #3)- A Review

I don't think Alessandra Torre could write a book that I would dislike. I began my adventures with her through her Innocence trilogy before branching into her A.R. Torre side with The Girl In 6E. Whether it's something like Innocence that's a bit softer and more sensual, or Deanna Madden with its Dexter-meets- Fifty Shades vibe, I'm thrilled. As Torre states, Deanna is her "wicked girl". She honestly is, and she'll always have that darkness, but I don't think she'll ever realize her potential fo Good morning, everyone! Happy Monday! I just noticed that this is my 50th post! Depending on how you look at that, it could be a good or a bad thing. I either read a lot, or I have too much time on my hands. I'm assuming you all enjoy your novels as much as I do and are therefore forever looking for suggestions, so cheers to 50 more postings! I know I said I'd group series books together in one review, but when I started the one I'm going to discuss today, I thought it was going to serve as a stand-alone, which was The Girl In 6E (You can find my review here: Deanna Madden #1). Since then, A.R. Torre has put out two more books in this series and they are awesome! You can read my review of Do Not Disturb here: Deanna Madden #2 and today, I'm obviously bringing you my thoughts on book three. I had pre-ordered this book via Amazon and an alert on my phone said it wouldn't be delivered until Tuesday. You can imagine my surprise when it turned up on Saturday morning instead. I basically dropped what I was doing and began reading instantly, and I'm not sorry that I did. If You Dare just made me love this whole series more than I already thought I could. I don't think Alessandra Torre is capable of writing a book that I would dislike. I began my adventures with her through her Innocence trilogy before branching into her A.R. Torre side with The Girl In 6E. I'm not sure which I love more. This author has so many different sides and I'm obsessed with every single one of them. Whether it's something like Innocence that's seemingly softer and more sensual, or Deanna Madden with its Dexter-meets- Fifty Shades vibe, I'm thrilled to the max by these books. They all take up permanent residents in prime spots on my beloved book shelves. As Torre states, Deanna is her "wicked girl" and I don't think I could describe her any better. She honestly is wicked, and she'll always have that darkness that lingers just below the surface of what humanity wants her to be, but I don't think she'll ever realize her potential for goodness the way she should. Yes, she's dangerous, but she targets with purpose, so I find myself siding with her no matter what... Even if she's breaking all sorts of laws. I never read author's notes, it's just something I don't normally do, but I'm glad I did on this book. To know Torre has more in store for Deanna has me thrilled beyond words. My heart raced, it shattered, it was a million things.. All within 300+ pages. Job well done, even if there was a bit of a cliffhanger with the whole J situation. I will be chomping at the bit until there's a book four. I need more of Deanna and her twisted mind. My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Go Set A Watchman- A Review

Good evening, all! For those of you who have already been following me via Instagram, Google+, and Twitter... hello again. Now to extend a warm welcome to the people joining us from Facebook!

For once, I'm sad to be discussing books. With the tragedy that has occurred in Paris this evening, I feel like I should take the night off from posting a review. However, I needed to get my conflicting thoughts on my latest read out of my head. I'll explain why shortly.

To those across the pond, I spent time wandering the streets of Paris not long ago and I was totally enchanted by the city of lights. My heart is heavy and bleeds for you all. I'm keeping you all in my thoughts. Stay strong because the rest of the world is with you in spirit! Je Suis Paris! Vive La France!

Now, bear with me because adulthood is not my friend. I will never get used to waking up as early as I do nowadays, so sometimes when I write these reviews, I need to just hope my thoughts are coherent. Feel free to point out if I'm not making any sense! You'd think I'd wait until I was bright-eyed and fully functioning before sharing my thoughts with the world, but who says I ever do things logically? I digress...

Tonight's selection comes from none other than Harper Lee and her (sort of) newest work, Go Set A Watchman. I finished this book hours ago and I'm still debating how I feel about it. I finished it, so that has to say something. Let's see if I can pull my thoughts together properly and hope it makes sense as a review (and not make it seem like I'm insensitive in my opinion). There's so many gray areas and lines you don't want to cross, but you almost have to in order to write your feelings when it comes to this story. I'll explain...

Obviously, I was psyched when I found out Harper Lee was releasing a book set around Atticus, Scout, and Jem after 55+ years. I read To Kill A Mockingbird when I was 14 and it just really stuck with me as a tried and true favorite. When it came to her Watchman text, I had heard mixed things. I read that it was a sequel to Mockingbird, that it was the original text that never got past the publishers, that Watchman was written by Harper recently, that it was written long ago, and I've read that it was neither but rather a different take on the original characters we all love so much without being an encore of sorts. Needless to say, I had to do what I could to brush all the hearsay aside and approach this piece on its own.

I did also go into this with a lot of people saying how much they hated it or wouldn't read it because Harper took everyone's beloved Atticus and turned him into a total bigoted racist. This is not entirely wrong, but it also wasn't what I had formed in my head as I delved into the first pages.

Go Set A Watchman puts us readers several years into the future. There's no Boo Radley, Atticus is a slightly ailing 72 year old man, Jem is no longer around (**spoiler** he passes away from a heart condition), and Scout is 26 and living in New York. Similar to Mockingbird, Scout is our go-to lady. She's finding her footing in not only adult/womanhood, but also in a new city. When she travels back to the deep parts of Alabama during the early stages of the Civil Rights movement, old memories and new realizations come to the front lines and none of them are pretty. This story handles some of the same tough topics Mockingbird did, but approaches them in a darker and cruel fashion.

Good, old Atticus is still his gentlemanly self. Although he has some arthritis and other mild ailments that come with age, he's still fiercely kind and strong-willed. Scout enjoys being home with her father, the one man she's always looked up to and admired. However, being back in town makes her realize how much she doesn't fit in anymore.

Not only is Scout trying to break away from her tomboy persona and embrace her femininity, she's also trying to decide if she's going to get married to the one guy she's known since she was a little girl. She's not entirely sold on anything being thrown at her, so she tries to distract herself with other matters. This is where Lee turned the plot into its unpopular and controversial matter.

Segregation is not only a major issue in the US at the time, but even more so in the south. When an accident occurs and a town council meeting is called, Scout finds herself following Atticus and her potential betrothed, Hank, to the gathering. What she witnesses shocks her to her core. Every white gentleman in town is present, and they're all as cruel as can be. They're filled with hatred and believe black is black and white is white. The things they say are downright despicable. Scout finds herself sick to her stomach, and what she doesn't understand is how the two men she adores can even allow themselves to be present in such a situation. While neither of them participate in the ugliness being said about dividing the races, the fact that they're in the room is too much for Scout to wrap her head around. She reaches her breaking point and decides to cut her ties and go back to NYC.

The true climax of the story is when Scout finally confronts her father. He has always been her superhero and she never felt he could do wrong. In Mockingbird, we as readers get an example of this when Atticus defends a black man in a rape case against a white girl and wins. Justice was served and Scout always adored how her father did the right thing. After seeing him associate himself with this council to support segregation, she is disappointed and disgusted.

I could see how audiences would be upset with Atticus for taking the stance he does. When Scout confronts him on how wrong he is as far as racial issues goes, he doesn't deny it. He maintains his cool and explains to his daughter that he simply doesn't have a choice in the matter. There's almost too many political details to try to understand, but Atticus tries his best to be reasonable and civil in choices. Racial divide situations in the south are bad and people are seemingly at war. Black may be black and white maybe white, but there's a lack of understanding from both sides. Atticus and his council are the last group between "the Klan" and possible anarchy.

Almost anyone reading this book, and especially Scout's argument with her father will take her side. You'd be crazy not to. She believes in peace and equality and doesn't see why her father would even entertain a level of racism and hatred whether he participated in the meeting or not. Her disappointment runs bone-deep and she can barely look at her father. Playing Devil's Advocate, the only thing I could say in the defense of Atticus is that 1) he is an old man living in the south during the Civil Rights turmoil, 2) he admitted that despite his personal feelings, justice is justice and black or white, if there's an injustice occurring, he will defend what and who is right. The beloved man we all remember from Mockingbird is still alive and kicking despite our recent findings about him, and 3) Even though Scout tries to sever all ties with her father completely, he tells her how proud of her he is. She never wavers in her feelings and emotions, even if that means jeopardizing her loving relationship with one of her only living family members.

Reading this didn't change my thoughts towards the Atticus I remember loving all those years ago. I read this story on its own merits and tried to form the best reaction I could. I'm team Scout. I believe in the same equality she preaches, but I could see what her father said to her as well. He wanted her to open her eyes and see how things were in the south. She left home and was having more liberal experiences in the north. The south was a different story entirely and Atticus wanted her to see that and show her as best he could how his feet were being held to the fire in certain aspects. I'm not saying his personal opinions were right. They were definitely too conservative and mean-spirited for my taste, but I have to say, I'm not surprised. An old man of the law, living in the deep south during such a controversial time was going to be set in his ways. I had to expect at least a degree of racial tension.

The most important thing I took from this piece was how profound it was relating to society today. People like to keep blinders on and act like racism in the USA is non-existent. I hate to say, it's alive and thriving. Parts of this story were eerie to read because of how close they were hitting to current event hot topics. If you were or are a fan of To Kill A Mockingbird, I urge you to read this tale and at least gain new insights to history, because it seems to be repeating itself in this day and age.

My Final Rating: three out of five stars

I'm On Facebook!

Good evening, fellow bibliophiles! This is NOT a drill!

I just wanted to stop in and offer a quick note of some news. Ready? You sure? A Blabbing Bibliophile is now on Facebook!

I know to most of you, this obviously isn't news... at least not the breaking kind in any way, shape, or form.

I haven't been anywhere near Facebook in a good..... three years perhaps? Back in the day, I had a personal page, and after some contemplation, I decided to deactivate my account. Out of all social media platforms I've experienced (and there have been several... see below), I just found Facebook to be the place where people could really get on their soapbox and rant about things. I was also guilty of this, and it just wasn't a place I wanted to be. There was a sort of negativity to it that I didn't like seeing, and didn't even enjoy when it came to myself, so I backed off for a long time.

Thanks to other social networking, I've met bibliophiles from all over the world, and I'm beyond thankful for each and every one of them. A few of them have wondered if I had a page, and have asked a couple of times if I ever thought about coming back to Facebook. Obviously, I did more thinking (which gets really old really quick), and came to the conclusion that it might be a great place to branch out and expand my passion for literature. That's how the cookie crumbled.

Anyone who follows my Instagram or blog space already knows how much I truly enjoy not only reading, but bringing reviews and ratings to all of you. I love discussing books and fan-girling over authors, book boyfriends, and great plots more than anything. While I still have no clue how to work the space properly, I am thoroughly excited to a broader future of books and book friends!

For now, I'm going to do this on a trial period and see if people are really interested in hearing more of my rambling mouth. I urge you all to head over to The Blabbing Bibliophile, give the page a like, tell a friend, and discuss all your literary loves with me! I can't wait to meet more of you so hurry up and come say hello!

You can also follow me and my "bookish" addictions on the following pages:

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PS- Okay, someone may need to stage a social media intervention.