I’ve always been an avid reader. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book. Well, binge watching a really good series is a pretty good time…and eating ice cream in bed is down right blissful. But reading has always been one of my favorite past times.
I mostly read chic-lit, the historic novels or mystery-thrillers. But with three kids and a full-time job, who has time for reading? I somehow got suckered into signing up for a subscription to Audible. They were charging my account every month and when I inquired about the suspicious charges, they said I had enough credits to redeem six audiobooks. I have a 60-minute round-trip commute to work everyday, so I started using that time to “read” my pre-purchased books.
It was a little disorienting to make the switch from listening to books as opposed to actually reading them. Kind of like how it was to switch from reading physical printed books to electronic books. But after the first few minutes, I found myself getting carried away all the same by the spoken narratives coming from my car speakers.
I’m actually flying through my books! So I figured I’d start a book review series here to document my bookishness. Here goes:
The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Two cousins, Arden and Rory, are as close as sisters and they both end up in a coma after a fire that happened in their college dorm room. This novel goes through their family history, as told through the eyes of Arden, Rory, and Arden’s mother Natalie as the traumatic event causes the main characters to reflect on their complex relationships and events leading up to the fire.
The story jumped back and forth between present time an flashbacks. I was completely immersed in thoughts of Rory, Arden, and Natalie and the characters were so richly developed. I was reminded of how it felt to be a teenager again through the eyes of Arden and Rory. I also felt the pangs of sibling rivalry as they went through memories of their childhood together because they were as close as sisters.
There were some parts that were slow, but ultimately I kept reading because I wanted to know what exactly caused the fire and who was going to live. It was well worth sticking through the end because of the surprising plot twist. However, there were certain parts of the plot line that were left unanswered.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is about a man named Jason who is looking forward to a very normal Friday evening with his wife and teenager, but ends up getting abducted at gun point while coming home from an ice cream run. When he wakes up, he is in a familiar place – but in an entirely different life that is not his own.
The story twists and turns and turns as he tries to figure out where he is and how to get home. It is smart, suspenseful and gripping. It gets a little hairy towards the end, but in a good and unexpected way.
This book had me questioning everything I knew about life, about the universe, the multiverse and every decision I’ve ever made. It’s about love, regrets, the endless possibilities – with science and suspense written across the pages. I loved that it was based in Chicago because I grew up in the surrounding area.
Right now I’m reading The Power of Habit. I figured if I’m reading books, I might as well read something that might make me smarter or more productive. LOL So far, I’m really digging it! Stay tuned for more reviews on my monthly bookish series…
Got any book recommendations for me? I’d love to hear it!
Speak Your Mind