50/50 Challenge 2015: I'm at It Again

Yes, I am trying the 50/50 Challenge again! I was so, so close in 2014 that I think that this year is my year to complete it. After hearing raves about Goodreads from fellow book lover friends, I've decided to update my book progress through the site, which hopefully will help me keep better track. 

You can track my progress and become a book friend here. 

Also, by using Goodreads, I can leave all my reviews in one place to help things be more streamlined. For movies, I'll probably update this blog after every five or so movies I see. 

Here's to a new year of literature and film!  


Rooms by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As someone who is fascinated with ghosts, I thought the idea of writing a story from the perspective of ghosts was interesting. However, there are several narrators throughout the novel, both alive and deceased, which can cause some confusion. There is a lot going on in the history of one house.

A family has returned to settle the affairs of their father/husband who has died. The Walkers definitely is a family with issues and "ghosts" of their own and the whole story is depressing and quite melancholy. The mom is an alcoholic. The daughter is nymphomaniac who may have a daughter that is also maybe (*SPOILER:) a spirit. And, the son is contemplating suicide. If the story relied on their tales alone, it would be kind of deflating to read, but the voices of the house ghosts, Alice and Sandra, add another element of story as it relives their pasts and how they came to haunt the house.

The writing is vivid and descriptive, but there just might have been one too many characters. When discussing a story that spans over decades of years and more than one family, it can be hard to keep track of who's who.

I wanted the story to be more eerie, but it read more like a family history, which began to lose its intrigue over time. In fact, it had the book had a slow start. I like the theme the author used of traveling from room to room within the house and reliving memories that happened there and what it meant for the people involved. I also thought the end was a perfect wrap up to the story and didn't leave the reader feeling unsatisfied. There was closure.

If you do not have any interest in reading about ghosts, then this book may drag for you for reasons mentioned above. Getting the "other world" insight was what kept me reading.

*I'm not sure that this part is actually a spoiler because I am not sure if my interpretation is true or not. It'd be a question up for debate.



View all my reviews

50/50 Challenge Update: Reading Frenzy

shared from Read It Forward's Facebook page

I read two books this weekend. Actually, I finished one book, then started and finished two more. Toot, toot, beep, beep - you read that right. While I would love to do a book report on every book I read (really, I wouldn't), I am dedicated just not that dedicated. So, here is are my short sum-ups for the last 7 books I've read. 

If you've read any of these and want to share your reviews, thoughts, and/or tweets with me, I love hearing from other reading enthusiasts. Book nerds unite!

24. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Ms. Chopin, must you complain so much? Feminism? Me thinks not.

25. The One & Only by Emily Giffin
Giffin-style with made-for-tv movie written all over it.

26. We Were Liars by e. Lockhart
A bit predictable, but not all disappointing.

27. Orange Is the New Black by Piper Lerman
Was indifferent about reading it. Ended up enjoying it. No, haven't seen the show yet. Nor do I have plans to.

28. Night Film by Marisha Pessl
One of the better ones I read in this stretch of books. Love the mystery and haunted feel of the novel because I am fascinated by topics in that category. I wrote a review on Goodreads for this one.

29. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire.
Do you like the song: "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem feat. Rihanna? Then, you'll love this book. Makes you feel good about that "bad boy" that got away.

30. Delicious by Ruth Reichl
I love reading about food. This is fiction but with plenty of food discussed. Thought it was great.

I've only watched four new movies since my last update because let's be honest, this summer has sucked in terms of new movies. Blockbusters? Please. Millions of dollars at the box office still does not a good movie make. 

30. The Expendables 3
Whenever the first one came out I thought it was a parody. I'm still not convinced this is not the case. Lots of action. Crappy plot. And, those men are getting OLD.

31. Love Is Strange
Sweetly simple but dealing with a lot of complex emotions and topics. 

32. TMNT
No, I never saw the original. I was a kid who hardly watched tv and played outside or read. Big surprise there. Those turtles are kinda creepy, yeah? 

33. Guardians of the Galaxy
Had hoped for better. Love Vin Diesel's dialogue. Ha! Watched it at the drive-in with TMNT which was cool. Fun night out. 

I'm happy that I am whittling away at my library and book club list, and some of my must-see movies are coming out soon. Until my next update, which I know you await with bated breath, happy reading and watching!

50/50 Challenge: Long Overdue Update

I've been so busy reading and watching movies for the challenge (among a million other things) that I haven't had time to document my progress. 

Airplane rides are probably one of the best times for me to get reading done. I read nearly every night before bed, but sometimes by the time I'm ready to settle in and read a few chapters, my body feels like sleep is necessary sooner rather than later. Who else has fallen asleep with the light on and book open? 

On my recent travels to Nashville, which I will posting a blog about soon, I finished two books! 

Book #15: Then and Always by Dani Atkins which was an Advance Reader's Edition:

Then and Always by Dani Atkins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an Advance Reader's Edition. After reading some of the other reviews on here, I see that it was originally titled "Fracture," which I like better than its current "Then and Always" title...
(read more of the full review)

and Book #16: One More Thing (Stories and Other Stories) by BJ Novak: 

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved every story from this collection and I'm glad because I am a fan of B.J. Novak as a writer/actor for The Office. I would have been disappointed if his short story writing fell flat, but it was the opposite. It was engaging and well-edited, funny, heartwarming and clever...
(read more of the full review)

Movie wise, you can read all my reviews here and let me know if you agree or disagree by tweeting to me: @mscourtneybeth, but I can give you my three-word rundown right now. 

#10: Neighbors - Zac Efron's abs

#11: Chef - Jon Favreau's awesome

#12: Locke - drive faster, Bane!

#13: Baggage Claim - Do better, Paula

#14: The Other Woman - I love Leslie

#15: Million Dollar Arm - Top monthly pick

#16: Godzilla - Please God, no

Movies #13, #14, and #16 will have reviews up within a week from this blog post. But before I post my review on Godzilla, please save your money, and do not see it. Wait for it to come to Redbox if you must, but even then save your $1.

By the end of next month, to reach my halfway point of the challenge I need to have read 9 more books and watched 9 more movies. Can. it. be. done?

Join Me on Goodreads!

Several friends from the book club I belong to suggested using Goodreads to organize and review the books I read. I was hesitant at first, not sure why, but decided to bite the bullet.

I've been on Goodreads since 2011, but I haven't really been active on the site at all. Until now. My first step into organized book reviews means that my reviews can now be beautifully inserted into my blog by the power of HTML. 

Yes, the reviews will still be a little scattered, but hopefully it gives you a better idea of what I think about the books I'm reading. Now, if they only gave you a free personal pan pizza when you reached your goals...

Cartwheel is Book #13 on my 2014 50/50 Challenge. What's on your virtual bookshelf? 


Cartwheel by Jennifer duBois

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The book is loosely based on the Amanda Knox story, so the fictional details the author provides gives the reader an "inside look" into what occurred leading up to the events rather than focusing on the trial itself.

Although the story centers around Lily and Katy, two students studying abroad in Buenos Aires, the most interesting character of the book is Sebastien. First, he annoyed me with his pompous dialect, but then it started to grow on me and turn out to be kind of funny and witty. As I read more of his character, I visualized Ryan Phillippe as Sebastian in the movie "Cruel Intentions."

I felt his character kept the book in motion. Otherwise, the book felt a bit draining and flat at times. Since I knew bits and pieces of the Amanda Knox story, I was hoping for more of a twist of events on the story.

I liked that the author chose the title "Cartwheel" due to such a significant event in the real Amanda Knox story and to this one as well.