Review: Verity

Verity by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was one heck of a ride. It's been a while since a book put me on the edge of my seat.

TW: It's hard to describe the trigger warnings without giving away plot points, so I'll leave this list:

Manipulation
Language
Sex
Child Abuse (including possible murder)
Murder
Psychological - This book is very much into the minds games, so you'll be questioning everything all the way through the book. It takes on forms of (possible) Munchhausen, sociopath, psychopath

I could give everything away just describing in detail all of these trigger warnings, so I am going to end here. If you are not a sensitive reader, I absolutely recommend this book.

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Review: Bambi: A Life in the Woods

Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't know what they taught children back in the day, but this is not something I would read with a young child. This is most definitely not your Disney version of Bambi (not that I was expecting it). I read this book because I had heard something about it, so I had to read it for myself.

Overall it was a good story, and I am going to read the other books.

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Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Has there been a camera in my room my whole life?

This book just explained my entire childhood. Back then, mental health was not something that was talked about or even considered to be a reason why I never felt the same way my classmates did about certain things. My mother once described it to someone as "marching to her own drummer."

Now that I am learning the roots of my anxiety and depression (and the fact I unknowingly had them in childhood), I find myself wishing I knew then what I know now. (I know, hind insight is 20/20.) Now, I also play the what-if game with myself. If I had known then what I know now, would I have made different decisions? Would I have approached life differently?

In high school, we took a version of the Meyers-Brigg test. When I got the results, all I could say was, "That is absolutely me." We weren't really directed how to use those results to our own benefit. It wasn't until I had some real life experience that the test results came back to haunt me.

I am well into adulthood at this time. Earlier this year, I decided it would be my mental health year. I had so much stress buildup that it was affecting my physical health to the point where multiple doctors were adamantly requesting that I take a leave from work. During said leave, I stumbled on this book. It has given me some good ideas of what I can do to help myself. For example, now I know I need to be more consistent with taking my lunch breaks. I need to break the habit of working through them. This is also something I have discussed with my therapist, but this book puts into action through anecdotes and science.

While reading this book, I felt pretty special. Back the real world, not so much. I hope to change that by putting some of the tips into lessons from the stories into practice.

I recommend this book to both introverts and extroverts. This book helps introverts understand themselves better. It also help extroverts to understand the introverted mind.

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Amazon Kindle Reading Challenge - Year End Kindle Challenge

 

Amazon has started the Year End Kindle Challenge. It started October 1, 2022 and runs through December 31, 2022.

Days Read:

✔ Bronze Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 15 days during the Year End Kindle Challenge days don't have to be consecutive to count.

Silver Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 40 days during the Year End Kindle Challenge. Reading days don't have to be consecutive to count.

Gold Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 75 days during the Year End Kindle Challenge. Reading days don't have to be consecutive to count.

Books Read:

✔ Bookish - Unlock this achievement when you complete a Kindle books during the Year End Kindle Challenge.

✔ Bookworm - Unlock this achievement when you complete two Kindle books during the Year End Kindle Challenge. 

Bibliophile - Unlock this achievement when you complete three Kindle books during the Year End Kindle Challenge.

Streaks:

✔ Head Start - Unlock this achievement when you read any day during the Year End Kindle Challenge.

✔ Perfect Week - Unlock this achievement when you read each day for a full week Sunday through Saturday. Tip: You can level up this achievement if you read multiple perfect weeks during the Year End Kindle Challenge.

Perfect Month - Unlock this achievement when you read each day for a full month. Tip: You can level up this achievement if you read multiple perfect months during the Year End Kindle Challenge.

Mystery:

Mystery - Hint: A Prime time to read. Reveals 10/10

✔ Prime Early Access - Unlock this achievement by reading on October 11 or October 12.

 

Mystery - Hint: You'll be on the edge of your seat. Reveals 10/24

Chills and Thrills - Unlock this achievement when you complete one of our top picks for mystery, thriller, and suspense Kindle books between now and December 31.

 

Mystery - Hint: There's something for everyone. Reveals 11/7

 

Mystery - Hint: Skip the crowds. Reveals 11/23

Mystery - Hint: Get the inside scoop. Reveals 12/5

Mystery - Hint: Cozy up for the holidays. Reveals 12/14

 

Review: The Ballad of Never After

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book almost became the first book to make me cry.

Stephanie Garber writes excellent stories that you feel part of. I can't wait to see where she goes next, but I truly hope this isn't the last we see of Jacks. Truth be told, he was my favorite. 

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2022 - A duology (2).

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Review: Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday by Paula McLain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea that this was based on a true story about a school fire in Collinwood, OH. The author's note referenced the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (which happened years after the tragedy this book is based on) and oddly enough, I read a book on it a few years ago (Triangle: The Fire That Changed America). Now, I have to see if there are any nonfiction books about this school fire. This story has piqued my interest.

Amazon Originals - A Point In Time Collection Book 2

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Review: Naomi's Gift

Naomi's Gift by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very touching story set near the end of WWII told through letters. The ending could be taken two ways, but I don't want to give spoilers.

Amazon Originals - A Point In Time Collection Book 1

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