It is Monday night and I did not write anything for Monday. But, I have this great website I wanted to share with you guys so I will make this a quick post for Monday.
So basically, it takes a whole bunch of white noise sounds and compiles them so users can create their very own atmosphere. I found it on TikTok a few days ago and it changed my life.
In other words, you can be vibing, doing homework in your room but transported to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Or you can be listening to the haunting but serene sounds of the Torre Cesme Library. Or, my all-time favorite, Celeana’s Bedroom.
LIKE THEY HAVE LITERALLY ANY SOUND YOU WANT
and if you can’t find it…..
MAKE IT.
I have not tried the making sound feature. It is too hard. Like literally I can’t figure it out but I only tried for one minute and then got bored.
Anyways,
This website is the best. I told my friend about it and I got roasted for listening to a Hogwarts library audio while in our school’s dining hall.
Hey, it was better than listening to the guy five tables down complaining about wearing his mask.
Anyways, I hope someone else thinks this website is as cool as I thought it was. I am literally addicted and I listen to everything I can. I like to listen to a playlist about the books I am reading so that I feel as though I am in the story more.
So, that was my quick Monday night post. Sorry for it being late and sorry for it being short. I was lazy, okay? We all should know this about me by now.
So I never really talk about music on here, but I wanted to try something new. I thought I should share my favorite songs that I have had on repeat all week. All of these songs can be found on Spotify. I will also link all of them here as well.
I think that al of these songs are super good. I literally have had these exact songs stuck in my head or on repeat this entire week.
I hope you guys enjoy my music post. I did not have anything for this Monday to post about, but I thought it might be fun to give a little insight into what I listen to.
“In this intimate memoir of life beyond the camera, Connor Franta shares the lessons he has learned on his journey from small-town boy to Internet sensation so far.
Here, Connor offers a look at his Midwestern upbringing as one of four children in the home and one of five in the classroom; his struggles with identity, body image, and sexuality in his teen years; and his decision to finally pursue his creative and artistic passions in his early twenties, setting up his thrilling career as a YouTube personality, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and tastemaker.
Exploring his past with insight and humor, his present with humility, and his future with hope, Connor reveals his private struggles while providing heartfelt words of wisdom for young adults. His words will resonate with anyone coming of age in the digital era, but at the core is a timeless message for people of all ages: don’t be afraid to be yourself and to go after what you truly want.
This full-color collection includes photography and childhood clippings provided by Connor and is a must-have for anyone inspired by his journey.” -Goodreads
Review:
Since I was about 12, I have been watching Connor Franta. I haven’t watched recently but I used to be a huge supporter. I liked every video, left comment, tweeted like crazy. But eventually I began to chill and now I barely watch his videos. But I have now read his book. I know its been years since it came out but I finally downloaded the audio book and listened.
and holy poop it is good.
I love it so much.
But let me just say I am a little biased. I love Connor and I liked the book a lot because of his personality. As I write this I am reading reviews for points to hit and inspiration and quite a few are saying something like “his journey isn’t inspiring because he comes from normal no hardship life like many other middle class children and he surely cannot be giving advice to anyone” which yes I agree. He doesn’t really have that heart-clenching, sob story many other people write about. But I think that is a bit refreshing. If his story was similar to all the other stories of squalor and setbacks, it would just fall into the pile of those stories.
That being said, yes, I agree to you Goodreads bloggers saying it isn’t inspiring. Because it isn’t. Yes, he gives good advice and yes we all should take his advice. And yes he started low and crawled his way up there. But for me personally, I never really ever listen to those stories and do what they say anyways. I just read them for the story. And his story was good.
Basically all the book talks about is his teens years to when he began YouTube. He doesn’t have anything to shocking. It honestly get quite boring and not very interesting if you live a normal white, middle-class life, or if you live anything less than that.
Connor is a good writer though. He knows how to write good words. But I really only read this book because it was him and I could get it on my Overdrive right then.
Thank you so much for reading! I know this was short but I am really trying to bust out the reviews I need to finish from my hiatus. I read this one a long time ago so I don’t have much to say. Again, thank you for reading and see you next time.
“Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily’s fierce-hearted black “stand-in mother,” Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina–a town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters, Lily is introduced to their mesmerizing world of bees and honey, and the Black Madonna. This is a remarkable novel about divine female power, a story women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.” -Goodreads
Review:
To begin, thank you to one of my best friends, Maggie, for showing me this book.
Anyways time to sit back with some Coke and peanuts and write his review.
Now, I don’t like books like this. Historical fiction is not my friend. We will never really get along. I don’t like stuff that’s old because I get bored. But the book was my friends and it was only 336 pages so I decided fine, why not?
Well let me just tell you something. Those 336 pages were the longest 336 I have ever read. It took me, probably, about three months. Granted this was apart of my year long break I have been taking and it was a part of the whole me not really being into reading last year. On top of that you put the whole historical fiction into it and I was a snail reading it. But you know what? I finished it!
And it honestly wasn’t that bad. I had a good time reading it. It was well written and stuff. I didn’t particularly think it was the best book out there but I certainly would recommend it to certain (very few) people. Maybe my Grandma or my 30+ year old friends. It just isn’t a modern book and I am not sure many people my age would like it.
The book takes place in the 60’s during the height of the civil rights movement. The second main character, “Lily’s fierce-hearted black “stand-in mother, Rosaleen gets caught up in some things and Lily and her decide to flee. Lily wants to learn more about her mother and her untimely death. The plot of the story is good but kind of basic. Like there isn’t much excitement and adventure. There is not too much racial things happening which I would believe would’ve be more prevalent in the book. But the story is focused more on Lily and her mother and the time she has at the bee farm.
It also is kind of heartbreaking and just has the reality of real life. It doesn’t sugar coat things. It doesn’t fantasize an experience. It doesn’t make something seem unreal. Lots of the events are unfair and cruel. Lily goes through heartbreak and so do the other characters. It shows real life and not fake, fruity bull-crap. I appreciate that in this story.
It was a good read. If you like these kinds of historical, non-adventurous stories you will love it. It was really well written. I know if you are a middle aged woman you might dig this because a lot of the people who have read/reviewed the book and say they love it are more women who are older and mothers. But no matter who you are it is still worth the read. You just might not be as other books.
I loved the characters. I think June, one of the calendar sisters, was my favorite. Second would be Rosaleen or August. They all are some pretty strong women roles. They make the story super appealing. I feel like if I dive into characters I will begin to spoil things and that just ain’t what we do here on this blog. So I will keep it short and simple. All the characters keep it real. The “mothers” of the story play their motherly role to Lily and Lily plays a good searching girl. Characters are well developed and well structured in the story.
One things I do have to say is the cliches are there. Abusive father, angst, coming of age bull, etc. But you guys know that is what I love. I want that stuff. I L-O-V-E it. Other people hate it and if you do, don’t worry the story isn’t riddled with the cliches. Just beware.
Anyways thank you so much for reading this. I hope your enjoyed this. If you want a good motherly book and female empowerment read set in the 60’s go check this out. It is a great read. I didn’t go head over heels for the book but it was still a good book; well written and good storyline. Go check it out!
“Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.” -Goodreads
Review:
In risking of sounding like a 12 year old:
YAAAAAAAAASSSSSS
What the heck was this book?
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
What do I want?
M-O-R-E
Now John Green has always been great. I read all of his books in a month after I finished TFIOS. I loved them. Paper Towns was my ultimate favorite. Okay let me stop here.
Back to the review…
Okay so this book, like many of Green’s book, was amazing. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I think the entirety of the book is spectacular.
It was probably just another YA, John Green, spectacular love, difficult circumstances book, but it was still really good. The book was well-written as always. Great detail, well thought out. I do gotta say it was really predictable and very cliche but what John Green book isn’t. That’s what I love most about his books.
The main character, Aza has mental health problems and lots of anxiety. My favorite thing is that Green doesn’t shy away from topics like that and fully focuses on them. IT shows the real way those problems exist in people. The book shows her struggles and make you want to comfort her. I loved also that in the end she still had the problems. Not saying I am glad she had problems, I am saying I’m glad Green showed the reality that it doesn’t go away easily. Sometimes the pain in people never does.
I also loved how the book was real. It was about a real teenagers life and talked about everything teens are actually concerned about. I guess the only fantastical thing was the missing persons case Aza and Daisy investigate, but without action the story would be bland.
I am extremely pleased with this book. I have been waiting for John to put out new stuff an when this came out I grabbed it as soon as I saw it and read it. I devoured it. I think everyone should read it because it is a real book of the times and it clearly shows the life and minds of teenagers everywhere minus the whole missing persons case.
This book was fantastic. Thank you so much for reading this blog. GO check this book out. It is worth the read.
“When J.K. Rowling was invited to deliver the commencement address at Harvard University, she chose to speak to the graduating class about two topics very close to her heart: the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. Having the courage to fail, she said, is as vital to a good life as any conventional measure of success; imagining ourselves into the place of another–particularly someone less fortunate than ourselves–is a uniquely human quality to be nurtured at all costs.
The stories Rowling shared and the provocative questions she asked of those young graduates have since inspired countless others to consider what it means to live a “good life.” Now in print for the first time, her words serve as both a comfort and a call to arms for anyone–of any age–who finds themselves at a turning point. In daring to take a risk, and perhaps fail, and by harnessing the power of our imaginations, we can all begin to live less cautiously and, in doing so, become more open to the opportunities life has to offer.” -Goodreads
Review:
So to start off, this isn’t a review, if you were hoping for my well crafted at 11 o’clock at night, sleep deprived, marvelous, train wrecks I call reviews then you will surely be disappointed. While I am calling it a review and am going to treat this paragraph like a review (and I still am writing this in the middle of the night), I am merely going to show you a few lines of the book that really spoke to me. It was a small book. And when I mean small book, I mean it was 5 inches tall, centimeter thick, barely the size of my hand. But, I don’t want to do a review because there is nothing to do a review on. It is a speech my favorite author wrote that was put into book form. I loved it and she gave good points/lines/words/idk. Also the illustrations are beautiful. I wanted to highlight the words that really spoke to me. It was a really inspiring read. Go check it out. It was AMAZING. I mean its J.K. Rowling, how could it not be good? Anyways this is the end of my paragraph review. Now sit back enjoy some quotes and go live your life well.
Quotes from the story:
“And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
“The moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.”
“But I feared at your age was not poverty, but failure…”
“You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”
“As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
I wish you all very good lives.”
Published on December 31st 2012 by Pamela Dorman Books/Vikings
Genre: Romance, Fiction
Pages: 369
“Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.
Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.
A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?” -Goodreads
Review:
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Is a book allowed to make me cry this much?
I don’t think this is legal, Jojo.
After years and years of hearing raving reviews of this book, I have finally read the book.
And let me just say…
WOW
This book is amazing. It was heartbreaking. It was soul wrenching. It was an AMAZING audio book. I was crying huge tears in my car at the end. I showed up to school all puffy eyed and sad because of this book. It was amazing.
Not many books can kick me in my feelings but let me just say, this book did it. This is one of my all time favorite books now. I would recommend this to ANYONE.
This book is a romance story. As many of you all know it is about a quadriplegic man in a wheelchair and a girl who gets hired to take care of him. The love is doomed however when Lou, the girl, finds out a horrible secret. And even though I am sure most of you reading this have already read this book, I am a spoiler free blog so I will not spill any secrets. But I will say that their love story is to die for ;). Lou and Will deserved better. They were the best couple in the history of doomed romances.
The story was a great story. Beautifully told by the wonderful Jojo Moyes. She wrote a unique and amazingly detailed story. I love authors manipulating me and tugging my heart strings and this is what she did! She made the experience so vivid and so real. The book was so excellent that I was leaving places early and sitting outside just to listen to more of it. I had it in my overdrive app so I would walk around listening to it on my headphones. It was captivating.
For you un-romantics out there this book has way less romance then I would like. It is more of a focus on their lives and the way they have changed it for each other and how life changes unexpectedly. So if you hate romance don’t be afraid to read it because it isn’t always shoving the romance in your face. Then again there was enough for me to board the ship that is Lou and Will.
Anyways, I have not much else to say about this book. I apologize about it being short. Thank you for reading my blog. I am still trying to get back to my normal blogging self after this almost year long break so thank you for being patient. And if you are new please don’t judge, I swear I will get better. Just getting back into the swing of things.
“Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminaecontinues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.” -Goodreads
Review:
Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman are a power team. They make amazing stories together.
And I mean AMAZING!!!
The story was excellent. I think I liked this one more than the first one. I thought the plot was a bit more exciting. I think that there were some flaws and some fallouts. I think they could have handled certain plot lines better. There two main events going on and it was kind of weird how they handled them. Like they had to handle this one big major thing and then they eventually got to the other thing. And they didn’t give enough coverage to that issue. But the last big issue with (SPOILER!) the creature was kind of just there and then solved. I didn’t like that. (END SPOILER)
But I still really liked the book. I thought it was a great idea. I wish they had handled it a little better. But that doesn’t take away from my ultimate reading experience. It was still a good book. This book just like the last one had HUGE plot twists that really floated my boat all the way to happy town. And you all know how much I love a good twist.
I LOVE the format of the book. It makes it a hard read but it is still super fun and unique. It’s nice that I am not staring at a big block of text for once and seeing the creative sides of the authors shine a bit more.
I loved the new characters introduced. Hanna was a really great character. I think I could relate to her pretty well. She, unlike Kady in the last book, actually seemed like a real teenager. She was just the ditzy girl in love with the hot jock. And then Nik is that bad boy that every girl wants to find who is dangerous but sweet at the same time. I think they were a great team together and did really well to keep the book entertaining. Also they brought in Kady from the first book near the end which was awesome. But I didn’t get a whole lot from her which was sad.
Gemina was fantastic. I don’t have much else to say really except this was fantastic. Also, I don’t want to spoil anything for the people who haven’t read the last book and who hasn’t read this books so I am going to shut up about it. But comment down below your opinions on the book and tell me what you thought about certain parts.
Anyways, thank you for reading. I hope you guys go check this book out. It is a super great read and the hardcover looks great on my shelf.
Hello, blogging community, I saw this floating around and I thought that I might as well try it since I believe I have the most unpopular opinions about a lot of books.
A Popular Book or series that you didn’t like
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Popular Book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers
I wouldn’t say everyone seems to hate the book just the movies but I didn’t know what else to say.
A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don’t like
Rowan and Aelin vs. Chaol and Celena from the Throne of Glass series
While I love that she is with Rowan, I wish that there had actually been more of a struggle between her choosing. Just a little more drama. Still, I love both the couples 100%.
A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for
Science Fiction
I can never really understand it. I am always confused.
Same goes for like classics and stuff.
A popular or beloved character that you do not like
Tris from Divergent
I feel like she just wasn’t a dynamic character and just kind of fell into everything. Maybe it was the way she was written, I just don’t know if the author conveyed her well.
A popular author that you can’t seem to get into
Alexandra Bracken and her Passenger book.
I just cannot read this. Her writing style is too cryptic and all over the place for me.
A popular book trope that you’re tired of seeing. (examples “lost princess”, corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.)
Woman assassins
Like I am all about girl power and I do love my girl assassin books, but I feel like because they are selling more people are coming out with books about assassins and stuff. I just don’t see the point in doing something that is really overdone.
A popular series that you have no interest in reading
The Divergent series
I read the first book and I do want to finish but at this time I just don’t have the motivation to pick it up.
The saying goes “The book is always better than the movie”, but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
A lot of them
Don’t ask me because at this point I don’t recall.
All I know is I love to see the world come to life.
Thanks for reading guys. Please follow and like this post.
What did you guys think? Do you agree with anything I said? What do you disagree with? Please don’t hate. These are just my opinions.
“Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish…Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer.” –Top Ten Tuesday
Topic: Book Boyfriends/Girlfriends
Okay, I don’t really ever crush on characters. I mean I do. I have my few but this list is not just gonna have crushes. It will also have people I admire okay so don’t judge. It will be short.
Newt from Maze Runner (book & movie because Thomas Brodie-Sangster is heart eye emoji)
Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (I have a thing for guys named Newt okay? Leave me alone)
Rowan Whitethorn from the Throne of Glass series
Chaol Westfall from the Throne of Glass books
Basically, all the male leads from Throne of Glass
Okay well, this is the end of my list. I cannot think of any more for right now. I do have others but I don’t feel like discussing them on this post. I also don’t have time for it.
I hope you enjoyed this short little blog. Please follow and like this post.
Who are you’re fictional crushes? Did you do Top Ten Tuesday for this week? Link it down below!
Author: Connor Franta
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Author: John Green
Author: J.K. Rowling
Author: Jojo Moyes
