Review: Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first time I read this story I was in 7th grade and it was an abridged version in our text books at school. It was the first time I got home from school excited about something I read. Reading comprehension was always a challenge for me as a kid. Books were just words on a page and I would be so focused on the words, by the time I got to the end of the book, I had forgotten what I had read in the beginning. Needless to say, connections I was supposed to make while reading certain books/stories never really happened. In fact, I did not actually find my way to reading for pleasure (and enjoy it) until I was an adult in college and got my first Kindle (a Kindle 2, to be exact).

This read through was the first time I have read this book as an adult. It's still as insanely depressing as the first time I read it, but the message is very different. In 7th grade, my take away was: ignorance is bliss. This was a very oversimplified way to describe it. Later in life during a sociology class, we were talking about people from a lower status obtaining a wealth and having that wealth taken from them. After having that taste of wealth and going back to the previous status is difficult for them. They have had a taste of what could be and what is now out of their reach. While this conversation ensued, what hit me was that this is what 7th grade me thought about Flowers for Algernon. It's better to not have a taste of the better and not know what you're missing than to experience it and know you'll never taste it again; hence, ignorance is bliss.

There was a movie made in 1968 called Charly based on this book. I don't recall how I got my hands on it, but I did. It made me more depressed than the book did, but it was good.

The older and (not so) wiser me now knows what the real message is. It's a commentary on how people with disabilities are treated. While the ideas the 7th grade me's ideas still stand, it goes much deeper than that (as I now know).

This book has haunted me almost all of my life (after the first reading). I'm glad I finally read it in its entirety.

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Review: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author. I have seen The Martian, but I have not read the book. This book came up on one of Amazon's Spring Reading Challenge prompts, so I decided to give it a try.

The book did not disappoint. I would have read this book much faster if it weren't for work (overrated, I know). It's hard to explain what I liked without giving away important plot points. I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a fast, science fiction read.

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Review: Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny

Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny by Sadhguru
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was good food for thought, but not overly engaging. Definitely something to explore.

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Amazon Kindle Reading Challenge - Spring

The last year and a half has been extremely stressful at work as I have had to manage the office alone. The job itself is stressful at time even with full staffing. On April 1st, Amazon launched a springtime reading challenge that will end on June 30. I opted to participate to help me get back into reading and with the hopes of finding a way to decompress each night. I know I am late in getting this posted, but better late than never.

Last year, I believe this was an invitation only challenge. This year, I cannot confirm if this was invitation only or if it is finally open to everyone. If you want to be sure go to the Kindle app on your phone. Click More, then Reading Insights. For me, the Spring Challenge is at the top of the page.

Achievements are tracked through the Amazon Kindle app. Reading can be done on most Kindle devices/apps as long as Whispersync is enabled. Books that count towards the achievements include: any Kindle eBook purchased or borrowed from Amazon.com, borrowed from Kindle Unlimited or Prime Reading, Kindle eBook borrowed from your public library, and Kindle Vella stories read in the Kindle App. Please note: Kindle Vella stories read via a browser will NOT count towards the achievements. Audiobooks, physical books, and non-Kindle eBooks will not be counted.

The achievement are broken into three categories: Days Read, Books Completed, Mystery.

Days Read:

✔ Bronze Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 15 days during the Spring Challenge. Reading days don't have to be consecutive to count. Earned April 16, 2022

✔ Silver Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 40 days during the Spring Challenge. Reading days don't have to be consecutive to count. Earned May 10, 2022

✔ Gold Reader - Unlock this achievement when you read for any 75 days during the Spring Challenge. Reading days don't have to be consecutive to count. Earned June 15, 2022

✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔ 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 Spring Challenge.  Earned April 9, 2022, April 16, 2022, April 23, 2022, May 1, 2022, May 8, 2022, May 14, 2022, May 22, 2022, May 28, 2022, June 5, 2022, June 19, 2022?, June 26, 2022

✔✔ 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 Spring Challenge. Earned May 1, 2022, June 1, 2022

Books Read:

✔ Bookish - Unlock this achievement when you complete a Kindle books during the Spring Challenge. Earned April 11, 2022

✔ Bookworm - Unlock this achievement when you complete two Kindle books during the Spring Challenge. Earned April 20, 2022

✔ Bibliophile - Unlock this achievement when you complete three Kindle books during the Spring Challenge. Earned April 24, 2022

✔ Final Frontier - Unlock this achievement when you complete a science fiction or fantasy book during the Spring Challenge. Earned April 11, 2022

✔ Chart Topper - Unlock this achievement when you read a Kindle book from the Best of 2021 list during the Spring Challenge. Earned May 14, 2022

Mystery:

✔ Scholar - Unlock this achievement when you complete any nonfiction Kindle book between April 15 and June 30. Earned April 29, 2022

✔ Voyager - Unlock this achievement when you complete a Kindle book on World Book Day on April 23, 2022. Earned April 23, 2022

✔ Great Escape - Unlock this achievement when you complete any fiction Kindle book between May 6 and June 30. Earned May 14, 2022

✔ I'm a Fan - Unlock this achievement when you follow any author between May 20 and June 30. Earned May 24, 2022

✔ Quick Bites - Unlock this achievement when you complete a Kindle Vella episode in the Kindle app between June 3 and June 30. Only reading done in the Kindle app counts towards this achievement. Earned June 3, 2022

✔ Final Chapter - Unlock this achievement by reading two days between June 12 and June 18. Earned June 14, 2022

So far, I am loving this Reading Challenge. I hope Amazon opens it up for other seasons and does them regularly. It's helping me stay on track with my Goodreads challenge (Goal: read 52 books this year). It is also helping me accomplish the mission of not getting stuck on the same stuff all the time. It's a nice change from the POPSUGAR challenge. 

It would also be awesome if the achievement book marks were real and sent to us after the challenge ended. Some of them are awesome (so far). Unfortunately, we don't get to see them until after we unlock the achievement.

As of June 15, 2022, all achievements have been completed.

 

Review: My Evil Mother: A Short Story

My Evil Mother: A Short Story by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute, brain cleansing, fast read. I needed something to distract myself from the constant thoughts and stress of work. This took my mind off things for a few minutes.

The story itself was great. This is my first time reading this author's work even though The Handmaid's Tale is on my TBR.

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Review: The Becoming

The Becoming by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this one down. Book 1 of this series is more of a character/world building book whereas this one was nonstop action from start to finish. Unfortunately, now I have to wait until November for the next one.

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Review: The Awakening

The Awakening by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story has a slow build, but it was really great. I am glad I waited to read this one as I do not have to wait for book 2 and book 3 will be out in November!

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