April 2019 Overview

     As you all know, my April started out in heartbreak. I couldn't bring myself to read for nearly two weeks. I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on that of all things. I could literally only watch Impractical Jokers on TV and re-watched the same episodes over and over again while barely eating and staying on the couch. I wasn't even listening to audiobooks. But apparently, for only half the month, I did really well! The month ends tomorrow and I may finish the two books that I'm reading/listening to now before I go, so I'll have to make a separate post for it when I'm done. But I wanted to make sure this month's overview post got up before we leave for HAWAII!

Ashleigh's Hope by Joanna Campbell
     Released 3/14/1996
     Read from: Apr 10, 2019- Apr 14, 2019
     Format: Print (library)
     Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

     At the time of my world crashing into 1000 pieces, I was actually reading another book that I couldn't bring myself to finish. So instead I moved onto this book that I knew would be a light, easy read, and also start introducing me to the world of Ashleigh and the Thoroughbred series! Which I've been wanting to read for like 15yrs. We see Ashleigh before she eve has her own horse. She rides her tiny pony Moe around and is a pretty good rider, but has never been taught formally yet. Her parents sign her up for lessons at a great riding school where some of her classmates also ride and have their horses. Too bad these girls don't like Ashley, and they hate her even more when they see how good of a rider she is. They make it their mission to make her life miserable and cause her to quit her lessons. We watch the ringleader of this group, Diana, evolve which I liked. A lot was packed into this little book. If you like horses and want a quick, easy read here and there you might want to check out this series!
     My only complaint was that Ashleigh was ten and was written to talk, act and think like someone much older. I would often forget how young she was!

Kristina: The Girl King by Carolyn Meyer
     Released May 2003
     Read from: Mar 24, 2019- Apr 15, 2019
     Format: Print (library)
     Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

     For historical fiction lovers, you should definitely check this one out! It is written for middle grade readers so it is very easy, but who out there has ever heard of King Kristina of Sweden!? I certainly haven't! And she's pretty cool, so read about her! You can check out my Goodreads review for this one by clicking here.

Prince Charming by Harma-Mae Smit
     Released 8/29/2012
     Read from: Apr 16, 2019- Apr 16, 2019
     Format: Kindle ebook

     Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

     I got this book for free as a member giveaway on LibraryThing.com. It's a short storm based on Cinderella. You could say it's an alternate telling, but it's not about Cinderella or her prince at all. It's only about 40 pages long and I enjoyed it. 

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
     Released 2/5/2019
     Read from: Apr 1, 2019- Apr 16, 2019
     Format: Audiobook (Scribd)
     Rating: DNF

     I gave this one a chance despite thinking I wouldn't like it. Well, I gave up on it 58% of the way through. Check out my review on Goodreads here.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
     Released 6/28/2016
     Read from: Apr 16, 2019- Apr 19, 2019
     Format: Audiobook (Scribd)
     Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

     This book is a must read. How much do we REALLY know what it means to be a "hillybilly"? The author, JD Vance, grew up as one, has family that is deeply rooted in the culture, but he moved on and built a better life for himself. Went to Yale law school. Fought oversees as a marine. His life is interesting, touching, and enlightening. I listened to this audiobook just 2 weeks after my dad's passing, and then had to listen to him experince literally the exact same way of dying for his grandmother. During the same month, at the same age. It was FREAKY. and heart breaking to listen to, since it caused me to revisit my own personal experience again. Just had to stop what I was doing and cry. I had felt a little disconnected from him by that point. For a while I felt like I didn't totally care about all of the characters at that point, but this pulled me back into it and kept me there. There are very interesting characters in his life. Watching his journey from a violent and confusing childhood to learning to become a functioning, rational adult was very interesting.

     This is a short book. Quick read or listen. Definitely for people who like learning about different people and places, but I really think EVERYONE should read this book because not many people have any idea about the culture of Appalachia, in our very own country. 

Manufactured Witches by Michelle Rene
     Released 2/14/2019
     Read from: Apr 16, 2019- Apr 20, 2019
     Format: Kindle ebook (LibraryThing Early Review Copy)
     Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

     I had no idea what this book was going to be about when I started it, but I ended up liking it so much more than I expected to. I also loved that I felt like a lot happened, in only around 150 pages. Nice, quick, interesting and exciting little story. It ended in a way that makes me feel like there may be a sequel, so that would be awesome.

     This book is about Nat, who opens the story by hopping a boxcar in the dustbowl, circa 1930's. Upon meeting Polly, a young girl tied to a post in front of a local towns general store because she is thought to be a witch, the story really picks up. Camille (who reminds me of Miss Peregrine from the peculiar children seris) finds them and takes them to her special home. This is a place where special kids are housed. It's residents are intriguing and mysterious individuals. Everyone seems to have a special power. Polly finds hers pretty quickly, but she is in danger of her terrible father finding her, taking her and marrying her off or killing her. Nat has more trouble on the special power front though. We watch them evolve, find answers, fight for their lives, and learn the mysterious and exciting abilities of the walls they're living inside of.

      This book is a little bit fantasy, a little bit historical fiction and a little bit adventure. I think it would be fun for anyone to read and the shortness is definitely a plus for a fast fun read!

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
     Released 1/1/1997
     Read from: Apr 20, 2019- Apr 21, 2019
     Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)
     Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

     This was a good companion book for "Manufactured Witches." They both took place in the dust bowl during the Great Depression. This book was not fantasy though. It was written in diary form, and reminded me of the Dear America books. Billie Jo is our main character, and she is in middle school. Her family has a very hard life. LOTS of ups and downs. Great book for those who want a quick and easy read, and want to learn something about our history. Check out my Goodreads review of this book by clicking here.

   
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
       Released 5/15/2008
       Read from: Apr 21, 2019- Apr 22, 2019
       Format: Audiobook (Scribd)
       Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  

      This book is SO important. It is based on a true story during a TERRIBLE time in recent world history. We follow three different characters, living in Sarajevo during the nearly 4 year long seige on the city. It is such a scary time that they can't even step foot in the street without being shot. And very few people knew about this time in history, that happened while almost anyone who is reading this now was alive.

     I just wrote a detailed review of this book on Goodreads yesterday so check it out here.

The Shining by Stephen King
     Released 1/28/1977
     Read from: Apr 22, 2019- Apr 27, 2019
     Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)

     Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

     This was my first ever Stephen King book. And OH MY GOD I hated it. Find out why by reading my Goodreads review here.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
     Released 9/1/2003
     Read from: Apr 27, 2019- Apr 28, 2019
     Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)

     Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

     This was a fascinating book. If you are interested in anatomy or science, and aren't freaked out by dead bodies, you NEED to check this out. It is about exactly what the title says. Mini review on Goodreads here.

What I'm Reading Now

1) The Reckoning by John Grisham (print book-library)

     Released 10/23/2018

     Started Reading April 21, 2019

     This book is divided into three parts and it is a long book. Over 400 pages. The first part of the book is about what the synopsis discusses. October 1946, Clanton, Mississippi's well loved WWII war hero and farmer Pete Banning murders his friend, the popular Methodist minister of the local church. And he won't tell anyone why. We wait to find out if the court will find him guilty and sentence him to the electric chair.  The second part thoroughly describes Pete's time as a Japanese war prisoner in the Phillipene's. From the Bataan death march to guerilla warfare to the return to the US. It's extremely detailed and not for the faint of heart. I had some trouble reading it. I've just finished reading Part 2 and am interested to see how Part 3 ties it all together.

2) Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General by Bill O'Reilly (Overdrive        audiobook)

     Released 9/23/2014

     Started Reading April 28, 2019

    This is a great companion book to "The Reckoning," which takes place during WWII in the Pacific, whereas this book focuses on Patton, Hitler and Stalin in Europe. This book, however, is completely nonfiction. And not nearly as gruesome as "The Reckoning," but you do get a good idea of what the soldiers endured in this part of the world too. Apparently I'm all about WWII right now. We just watched "Welcome to Marwen" the other day too. War is unfortunately a huge part of our countries history. And many countries history. So history lovers out there understand how much reading we do about war.

     This book is part of a "series" that the author does about the deaths and history surrounding prominent figures in history. The next one I'm going to read is the one about Lincoln. I am extremely interested in his era of history.

     I'm about halfway through this audiobook now. The narrator is okay. I don't want to say it's easy to tune out of this, but if you're too focused on something else while you're listening, you'll miss stuff, and forget how you got from the last event you were paying attention to, to a different person of focus. Also, sometimes I am confused how Patton has much to do with the details of Hitler and Stalin sometimes. Maybe I shuld pay attention better lol.