January Wrap-Up

Books I Read

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

5/5


Recommended to fans of A.S. King's previous work, anyone looking for a contemporary with a paranormal twist, and a small cast of interesting characters. You can read my review HERE.


The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes books set during WWII, YA/adult books with young protagonists (I believe Bruno is eight), quick reads, and plot twists.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes sassy, kick-butt heroines, a long series to get invested in, well-written love triangles, and mystery. I'd describe it as Tamora Pierce meets The Hunger Games.

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson

DNF

This isn't a bad book if you're interested in learning about the '20s, but that era isn't particularly fascinating to me. I'm willing to try other Bryson books, as several people have said his other books are better.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

3/5

Recommended to anyone interested in learning about Joseph Stalin and anyone looking for a middle-grade book you can finish in a day. Fans of The Boy In the Striped Pajamas will like this book.

Movies I Watched

"If I Stay"

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes movies that make you cry, The Fault In Our Stars, character-driven stories, romance, and stories told through an interesting format (half of the movie is told through the eyes of the main character, Mia, as she walks around the hospital in a ghostlike state).

"Sherlock Holmes

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes "Sherlock" (though it in no way comes close to being as good as that), Sherlock Holmes stories, likes to laugh, and plenty of action.

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"

5/5

This movie was probably my favorite of the three. Non-stop action with a good amount of comic relief. Also, Legolas is awesome when it comes to battles. Just saying.

"The Watsons Go to Birmingham"

4/5

This is a cute, sweet story about a black family living in the south in 1963. It's short, family-friendly, and will make you cry.

"The Incredibles" (a rewatch)

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes to laugh, Pixar movies, superhero movies, and James Bond.

"Boyhood"

2.5

This movie had an interesting concept (they used the same actors, filming once a year for twelve years so you could watch the kids grow up), and the first half was really good, but it fizzled toward the end. It got to be too boring and angsty for my taste.

"The Lake House"

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes romance, a touch of sci-fi, and simple, character-driven stories. If you watch "Doctor Who" and like the whole 11th Doctor/River timeline thing, you'll love this. (Plus, it'll be way easier to follow after watching something as confusing as that.)

Quotes I Wrote

Waking up with a dagger pointed at your throat is exactly as terrifying as you think it would be.
--Sing a Song of Raindrops

It was times like this, sitting around a crappy motel room, eating junk food and laughing at each other's corny jokes, that I truly felt like I had a family again.
It was also times like this that I wondered how in the world our lives got so screwed up.
--Sing a Song of Raindrops

"Izzy?"
"Yeah?"
"Are we ever going home?"
I found that it was suddenly hard to swallow. I reached over and tousled Micah's jet-black hair, the only feature we shared, but I didn't answer him.
I couldn't lie to him.
--Sing a Song of Raindrops

Lily chewed on her lower lip and stared down at me. Her normally bouncy, curly, bright red hair was frizzy and hung in strings just above her shoulders. "Did you give them a [fake] name yet?"
I nodded. "I had to."
"And?"
"Hazel Grace Lancaster."
The corner of Lily's mouth twitched up and she squeezed my shoulder. "That's my girl."
--Sing a Song of Raindrops

Obsessions I Acquired

No new "obsessions" this month, other than a streak of good books. :) Oh, and my parents and I finished the first season of "Veronica Mars" and can't stop watching. There's a twist in every episode!

Picture of the Month

This is a really cool picture. I wish I could edit photos like that.

How was your January?