Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is like visiting a bookish zoo, if it was possible to have a magical menagerie. It's short and well read by Eddie Redmayne who plays Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films. I think you need to be a lover of those films or a lover of Harry Potter to enjoy this book.

Happy reading and happy summer--

ps. As a gift giver, it seems like a perfect gift for a 5th grade boy who enjoys Harry Potter and DK style books.

(Book 75 - 2019)

Tell Me Three Things

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love books that have any form of epistolary format. Obviously, letters are less common in contemporary fiction and instead the letters are in text and email form, but either way, I was all in for the mysterious texts and letters that "Tell Me Three Things" main character Jessie receives. The book was just a little uneven for me. There would be great moments and then things were too cliche. I think that Buxbaum has potential as a writer, so I'm open to reading other books she writes. I just wanted a little more than I got from this book even though the ending was what I'd hoped for.

How's that for a mixed review? I think teenage girls would really like this book. It's drama, angst, and love - content is a little much for younger readers though.

Happy reading and happy waffle eating--

(Book 74 - 2019)

When

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting, but nearly as applicable as James Clear's Atomic Habits or Laura Vanderkam's Off The Clock. This book felt more like a collection fascinating studies that loosely tie to timing. There aren't any real secrets. Pink does offer some suggestions but none are game changing. A rereading of one of the aforementioned books might be better. That said, managers or people who are facilitating teams might find this book more useful for their day-to-day work practices.

I still think the premise of this book is good. I'm just a bit underwhelmed.

Happy reading and happy timely living--

(Book 73 - 2019)

Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't think that I am the target audience for this book despite being a child of the 80s. My parents didn't allow us to have video games and the computer games I was allowed to own were limited to typing games (as in “learn how to type” practice drills), geography practice games, and Oregon Trail. This means that so many of the references Cline painstakingly included weren't all that meaningful, though the kids in Stranger Things do play a bunch of the games referenced. However, like Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, I felt that same ominous warning about the dangers of immersing ourselves in technology.

Cline’s story is clever and well told, albeit a little too detailed in some areas. This reading experience was completely unique.

Happy reading and happy tech-free living (I see the irony as I’m typing those very words).

(Book 72 - 2019)

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I stumbled across Backman's "The Deal of a Lifetime" a couple Christmases ago. His writing about a father and son was so poignant that I was so excited to read his latest book about things that his son needs to know about life and soccer and how much Backman loves his wife. I loved it. I don't relate to all of it, but I relate to the idea of all the things Backman shares. Because of the transition to stay home with my son, I don't have much book money, but I'd love to own this one someday. I think I'd read it regularly and eventually write my own version for Hudson.

So good even if you're not in the stage of parenting young children, but probably not a five star if you don't have "new mom" goggles on.

Happy reading and happy parenting--

(Book 71 - 2019)

Wolfpack

WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game by Abby Wambach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short and powerful message about why it's so important to lift those around us in our attempts to also be our best selves. We're so often pitted against each other in the quest to succeed, but the reality is that we only really succeed when we succeed together. Had I read a physical copy, I think I would have had a couple dozen tabs poking out of the book for all the great lines Wambach shares.

Happy reading and happy pack living--

(Book 70 - 2019)

Rich People Problems

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think I needed a bigger break between the second book in the trilogy and this one because this book was both completely engaging and completely frustrating. A larger gap between reads might have meant less eye rolling at the less likable characters. That said, Kwan did a good job rounding out this series. So many series have such a drop off in quality, and he managed to keep the story interesting. This is probably a 3.5, but you know Goodreads and the lack of half stars.

Happy reading and good luck settling back into normal life after imagining the flashy world of Tyersall Park.

(Book 69 - 2019)

One True Loves - Round Three

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read this book three of the last four summers. Last year, I was just weeks from having a baby hence the gap year, but I think it's safe to say that this may become an "every summer" kind of book. I love how Reid captures settling into your adult self and the things that become our interest and passions that our younger selves would have thought silly. Ironically I think I've always been an adult at heart, but still loved falling into the world of Blair Books and this fantastically set up love triangle.

Happy reading--

(Book 68 - 2019)

ps. I liked the original cover much better.

A Fatal Grace

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is it strange to love Three Pines if two murders have taken place around town? Penny's gift is her characterization, so two of Penny's books down, twelve to go. Also, for the record, I am picturing Kenneth Branagh as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Can't wait for the next Penny mystery to come available at the library--

Happy reading--

(Book 67 - 2019)

The Rules of Magic

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I stumbled on to this book when none of my library holds were coming up for a few days. I was surprised to care about the sisters in this story since magical realism isn't usually my thing. My only introduction to this book was the Practical Magic movie that I watched as a teenager, so it felt like a clean slate with Hoffman's prequel. It's interestingly told and has well set up ties between characters that appeared in a more subtle way than I expected. Not amazing, but captivating enough that I would gladly read more of Hoffman's writing.

Happy reading and magical living--

ps. I'd pay a great deal for the black soap mentioned in this book.

(Book 66 - 2019)

Gmorning, Gnight!

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clever, succinct, inspirational. It would make a great graduation gift or little something for someone having a hard day. To say that Lin has a gift for words is akin to saying that Shakespeare was a decent writer. Definitely worth an hour (or less) of your time--

Happy reading and g'night!

(Book 65 - 2019)

Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that is nearly impossible to describe, but the reading experience was powerful and jarring. Coates is eloquent and his way of discussing race unparalleled in my personal reading experience. That said, I prefer works like Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy only because I crave the ability to do something to make tragic social issues better. It is not the author's responsibility to provide those, but I'd rather feel hopeful than feel that all is already lost.

Happy reading and happy kinder living--

(Book 64 - 2019)