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Monday, July 31, 2017

Book Review: The Circle by Dave Eggers

It has been while since I have done a book review and there isn't a really good excuse besides that I have just been busy enjoying summer lol.  And been lazy too...but my laziness consists of reading and reading lots of it and that means that I'm really behind on book reviews. So, let's start by reviewing this one:

The Circle by Dave Eggers

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From goodreads:
When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world's most powerful internet company, she feels she's been give the opportunity of a lifetime.  The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users' personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency.  As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company's modernity and activity.  There are parties that lasts through the night, there are famous musicians playing on the lawn, there are athletic activities and clubs and brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish retrieved from the Marianas Trench by the CEO.  Mae can't believe her luck, her great fortune to work for the most influential company in the world-even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public.  What begins as a captivating story of one woman's ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.


Okay, I knew that I wanted to read this book first and for most because there is a movie out based on it and I really like to read the books first before watching the movies.  So, I got the book and started reading and I really don't know what I was expecting but the more I read...the more weird it got.  That's the best I can describe it.  It definitely took me by surprise, that's for sure, it is like nothing I have read before, I will give that.  But, I still can't get how weird it was.

Alright, let's back up a little, Mae is our main character and she isn't happy with her life so she asks her best friend who is a big shot at the Circle to help her get a job there and the friend does just that.  Mae gets a job working at customer service, because everybody should start at the bottom and work their way up, that's the way the Circle works.  Mae isn't really sure how everything works at the Circle either so when she starts to find out she isn't too sure how she feels about it, and when the CEOs come up with their new invention which is more clarity and more transparency, which basically means your life becomes public, Mae is iffy about it but when something happens to her and she ends up wearing one of the cameras and becomes one of the first people to become transparent.  She ends up liking it and loves how everyone knows her and how when she is helping a customer, they end up knowing who she is and they end up having a conversation and become more engaged.  Here life goes from been an unknown person to one of the most popular person.

Her parents are not so onboard with this and she ends up losing someone really close to her...her social life goes sky high but she does lose some close people in the end too.  But, the public loves this kind of thing and we see how this kind of thing can become popular and could work...so for me it's kind of scary.  How about you?

Read it and let me know.  And if you have read it, what do you think?  Will you like the world to be like The Circle?

I ended up giving 3.5 stars.

XOXO,

Nelia

Friday, July 28, 2017

Weekend Reads: Saga Vol 7 and Shadow and Bone

Holly Macaroni...it has been a while since I have done a weekends read, it sure hasn't been because I haven't been reading, because I have been reading a lot lately and loving the last few books too.  I'm really excited about the books that I will be reading this weekend.  Why?  Let's find out:


1. Saga Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan

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I was at my library this week and I saw Volume 6 and 7 of Saga there and I it realized that I hadn't read those 2 volumes yet so of course I grabbed them.  I have already devoured Vol 6 and will do the same to Vol 7 this weekend.  I love these two characters, they are funny, badass...what else can we ask for?

2. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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Yes, I am FINALLY going to start this trilogy.  I really can't believe that I'm doing...I can't wait to find out what the heck the hype is all about and what the story is about too.  I really haven't spoiled myself even after all these years. lol


What are you reading this weekend?  Can you believe it the end of July already?  SLOW down Summer :)

XOXO,

Nelia

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!!!

Every time I see this tag on You Tube I have to watch it because it is just sooo entertaining and so true.  So, I think it's about time that I do it, right?  Right...

Here we go:

*So far in 2017 I have read 54 books (yeah)*

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2017?
-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; one of the best books out there for sure!

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2. Best Sequel You've  Read So Far in 2017?
-Keeping Kyler by Siobhan Davis-best twists in a story ever, so many that will leave you craving for more.

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3. New Release You Haven't Read So Far in 2017?
A Court of Wings And Ruin (Seriously, I don't know what is wrong with me)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (another one)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (another book that I hear nothing but good things)

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4. Most Anticipated Release for Second Half of 2017?
Warcross by Marie Lu

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5. Biggest Disappointment?
The Circle by Dave Eggers, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't what the book was about, that's for sure.  It's not that it was horrible, I still like it, it was just a little weird...I do still want to watch the movie though.

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6. Biggest Surprise?
Far From You by Tess Sharpe, first time reading from this author, probably my first diverse book in this genre too and I freaking LOVED IT!!!!

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7. Favorite New Author?
I can't only pick one, Khaled Hosseini  (The Kite Runner) for sure (I've already got another one of his books), Kasie West-By Your Side- (yeah, first time reading a book of hers this year), Tess Sharpe (can't wait to read more of hers too).

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8. Newest Favorite Character?
August from Wonder (seriously this kid is so freaking amazing). And can I pick another one?  Ruby from Frostblood, what a badass character :)

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10. Book That Made You Cry?
Kite Runner for sure...

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11. Book That Made You Happy?
Ah, this one is hard...I've recently started my reread of Harry Potter so let's include at least the first book here :),  By Your Side by Kasie West, I really enjoyed that story, it touched a lot of great subjects.

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12. Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation You Saw this Year?
13 Reasons Why (can I include this one here? Even if it was a tv series?Yes? YEAH :)-)
Confess (AH, this one is not a movie either, it's another mini series, but I loved it)

13. Favourite Review You've Written This Year?


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14.  Most Beautiful  Book You Bought So Far this Year?

I have bought way too many books this year, I can't pick a favorite...let me see...let's pick Truthwitch, maybe because I just finished reading it, but it is a beautiful cover, right?


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15. What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?

So many, way too many...let pick a few (besides the ones mentioned already above):

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Windwitch by Susan Dennard

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover (YES, another CoHo book)

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare (once I finished reading the others first hehehe)

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo (because Wonder Woman? Yes, please)

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Just a few but many more for sure :)

And that's it for the Tag!!!!

What about you?  What books have you read and want to read this year?  Are you freaking out too?

XOXO,

Nelia











Tuesday, July 11, 2017

July 2017 TBR

July and summer is here which means hot days are here together with boating and beach days and that also means a very happy ME.  Who also loves summer?  July is also my birthday month so overall is a very good month for me and I'm putting lots of books on my TBR this month because...Why Not?  I'm feeling really ambitious and I want to read lots and lots of books while I'm at the boat soaking up the sun and doing nothing.  Those are the perfect summer days...

So, let me stop by talking so much and get to my tbr.

July 2017 TBR


1. History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera (read)

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2. Night by Elie Wiesel (read)

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3.  Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han (read)

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4.  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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5. We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

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6. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGruire

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7. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (read)

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8. City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (currently reading)

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9. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (I'm finally going to start this trilogy and find out for myself what the hype is all about lol)

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10. The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson (so ready to continue with this trilogy)

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10...not too crazy, right?  Right lol.  What books are you reading this month?  Have you read any of these yet?  Any favorite series?

Happy Summer!!!

XOXO,

Nelia


Thursday, July 6, 2017

June 2017 Wrap Up

This is going out a little late as it is July already but it's here, right?  Let's check out what I read in June, it was a good reading month...

June Wrap Up


1. Harry Porter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling: 5 Stars

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2. Wonder by R. J. Palacio: 5 Stars

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3. Everything Leads to you by Nina LaCour: 5 Stars

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4. Harry Porter and the Chamber of Secrets: by J. K. Rowling: 5 Stars

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5. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler: 4 Stars

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6. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard: 4 Stars

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7. And I Darken by Kiersten White: 3 Stars

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8. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon: 5 Stars

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I read 8 books in June, do I wish I had read more?  Yes. But am I happy with what I read?  Oh yes.  I read so many amazing books, even though I didn't read over 10 books, the books that I read were so well written and I just could not put them down while I was reading.  As you can see lots of 5 stars this month.

What books did you read in June?  Do you see any favorites above?

XOXO,

Nelia