Reviewing All The Books I Read During Quarantine Part 1

Preface: If you don’t know much about my childhood, just know that it was filled with books. I was quite the bookworm, my head was always in a new book. I read all the time, literally while I was eating, in the car, in bed, at home, at school, any free time I had. My love for books continued until I started university 🙂 where critically analyzing texts became a priority. However, one of my resolutions for 2020 was to read more. (Actually now I made a goal to read 100 books…we’ll see if it happens). Given the circumstances, I renewed my library cards and have been reading away.

Also, one more thing. I did something sacrilegious and I genuinely am unsure of how I feel about it still. All book lovers know what I’m talking about. I…got an e-reader. I’m sorry, I am but I’m also not. The feel and smell of the book; texture; print; and cover art matters. And yet, I opted to e-reading because I’ll save a lot more money that way and the app Libby has truly changed how I read. If you love reading, I truly recommend you look into getting a Kobo or Kindle. Alright time to get into the books which is in order by genre.

Self-Help and Educational

“You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero

Let’s talk about this hyped book. I’ll be honest, I had high hopes…and yet this book is full of utter [redacted]. Sincero tries to make things more fancy or interesting than it seems. She also ignores the fact that not every single person has the freedom, financial capability, and mental capacity to “just do it”. Anyway, I got so frustrated I stopped reading it wholeheartedly and am trying to currently sell this book.

Rating: 2/10

“The Gospel Comes with a House Key” by Rosaria Butterfield

Genre: Christian/religious

This book goes through hospitality in the age of individuality. I felt really challenged to love others, even the people in your life who you get frustrated with and don’t want to help. I thought it was fitting since there’s so many people in quarantine who are in need financially and emotionally. I challenge you all to reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in awhile 🙂
Rating: 9/10

Fiction

“The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing” by Melissa Bank

Despite the title and cover art, this book was a lot better than I expected. My previous boss gifted this to me because she read it when she was around my age and loved it. The protagonist exploring themes of career, feminism, and family are incredibly relatable. It’s an easy read and I really liked it. I’ll probably re-read it in 5 years. I feel like all women in their 20s and 30s will be able to relate to this book.

Rating: 8/10

“The Chrysalids” by John Wyndham

I know this is a classic and I’m so late to reading this book, in fact it was assigned to my book club that I was part of in high school…so I’m like 6 years late. I liked the premise and the characters. Wyndham is writing hahead of his time and I thought the ending was quite satisfying. Some parts were incredibly boring though.

Rating: 6.5/10

Fantasy

“The power of words. They weaseled under door crevices and through keyholes. They hooked into individuals and wormed through generations.”

Chloe Benjamin, 2018

“The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin

The premise sparked my curiosity: would you live any differently if you knew the exact date you were going to die? I have to say before going into my review, I applaud Benjamin for tackling such a wide array of difficult and different themes. From magic vs science; and religion vs modernity; and family vs individuality. This book is more fantasy-contemporary and it goes back and forth between the two genres seamlessly. I learned a lot about Judaism and what New York was like during the 1960s to the early 2000s. The book focuses on 4 siblings and I have to say, I was really only interested in 2/4 siblings.
Rating: 7.5/10

“The Ten Thousand Doors of January” by Alix E. Harrow

This book is like a cross between fantasy and historical fiction, set in the early 1900s. I was intrigued by the premise and the fantasy setting. However, I found that the characters were too cliche and eventually, the plot fell flat to me. It seems similar to “Inkheart”. The writing is captivating though and you can really imagine everything she wrote.
Rating: 7/10

“How fitting, that the most terrifying time in my life should require me to do what I do best: escape into a book.”

Alix E. Harrow, 2019

Poetry

“Sea of Strangers” by Lang Leav

Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s right to rate poetry. Poets write about things that are usually so personal to them from love, death, loss, revenge, etc. And yet, we, the readers critique the style and tone of their poems. I’ve always enjoyed Leav’s poetry when I followed her on Twitter long ago. Finally, after many years of being an angsty teen reading her work, I’m reading her work now (not as an angsty teen) and I find that it’s the same. I love it.

Rating: 8/10

Mystery and Thriller

“We tell our stories differently, don’t we, you and I?”

Paula Hawkins, 2017. I thought this quote was almost like the thesis of the book.

“Into the Water” by Paula Hawkins

This book has been extremely hyped and I was curious because, contrary to popular opinions, I really disliked “The Girl on the Train”. However, everything I disliked about her previous book changed in this one. It’s more of a slow-burner mystery rather than a thriller with jump scares like her first book. There are so many characters, it’s hard to keep track in the beginning. However, the characters have layers of intrigue which I enjoyed a lot. I also love how the theme of water is effortlessly used throughout the whole novel.

Rating: 8/10

“Desperate Girls” by Laura Griffin

Words can’t explain or describe how frustrated I feel with this book. There was so much potential for it to be good. I think the author’s style of writing is quite basic. The characters were cliche. A hot lawyer who’s loud and stubborn. A stoic bodyguard. A forbidden romance. I regret buying this book. I also think that the lawyer persona is overused. Lawyers are also people too. Where’s the humanity? The range in emotions? Ugh, what a disappointment.

Rating: 2/10

“The Perfect Nanny” by Leïla Slimani, Sam Taylor (Translator)

I can’t tell if it’s the writing or the translation but there’s so many missing parts from this book. I have so many unanswered questions which it seems like others do too, at least on Goodreads it seems like. This is a haunting story of a babysitter who murders the children she was watching. At first I thought I’d be okay reading this book but some parts were in the babysitter’s POV which was disturbing. I wish the author went more in dpeth about classism. Anyways, not for the faint of heart.
Rating: 3/10

“Choosing a lover is a lot like choosing a therapist. We need to ask ourselves, is this someone who will be honest with me, listen to criticism, admit making mistakes, and not promise the impossible?”

Alex Michaelides, 2019

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

Now this book is a real thriller. I think it totally deserves all the accolades it received in 2019. I’m excited that it’s being picked up for a movie adaptation, let’s just hope it lives up to the book. Without spoiling much, it’s about therapy, a murder, and love. I think it was advantageous that the book wasn’t in chronological order and the writer puts so much emphasis on the audience choosing what the truth is.

Rating: 8.7/10

I have so many more books to read and review. I didn’t include some books but I’ll include it in the next review. I’ve also been trying to read more historical fiction and memoirs. If you have any recommendations, please let me know! Feel free to add me on Goodreads, my username is gloriareads.