All the Books.

"For, anyone who has ever struggled with anxiety, depression, or anyone who has a heartbeat and a soul, this book is for you. Haig's words are profound, genuine and honestly inspiring. This will be a go to book when I need some words of comfort/wisdom." 5 Stars Pros:  Haig's ability to write openly and honestly about mental health makes those who struggle with the same issues, feel accepted and not as alone/Some truly beautiful prose and poignant words of wisdom. Cons:  It could be repetitive at times.   Full Review:  Matt Haig speaks frankly but beautifully of his struggles with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.  Every entry is deep, poignant and so very relatable, vulnerable and true. Haig is not afraid to show his true, hurt, vulnerable side and it makes his words all the more touching. He truly understands.  Just a few stand out quotes are below.  From "Foundation". "In order to find the people who like you it is necessary to be you."...

"Though pretty much impossible, Verne still makes it fun to travel with Henry, Professor Hardwigg and the unflappable Hans to the center of the Earth. It's a fun read but can at times be bogged down with geological jargon. I'm glad I read it but I'm also glad to be done." 3 Stars Pros:  Definitely an interesting idea and one that Verne made pretty believable/The implacable character of Hans was a quiet and reassuring presence through all the insanity.   Cons:  The countless references to strata, minerals, other types of geological and scientific facts were rather tiresome/I thought it went on for longer than it had to.  Full Review:  Henry is living  and studying under his Uncle, the Professor Hardwigg. His uncle makes a discovery, Nordic runes written by A. Saknussemm that when translated, tell of a road that leads to the center of the Earth.  There is a dormant volcano in Iceland, Mount Sneffels that if they descend into the crater, they'll be o...

"A middle of the road read for a volume that's essentially right in the middle of the series. Consisting of 9 stories, some that deal with Dream and the Endless, while others just have Dream make a cameo, this had some really beautiful reads while some of it was just filler." 3 Stars Pros:   Shows a more complicated side of Dream/Some stories, like Soft Places and Three Septembers & a January were just very well written and great reads.  Cons:  The handwriting in some of the journal entries of Johanna Constantine was almost impossible to read (though this could be that my eyes are just getting worse.)  Full Review:  Consisting of 9 Stories, where some deal directly with Dream and his siblings, the Endless, while others are separate stories that just have Dream show up at some point.  Fear of Falling, The Hunt, Soft Places and Ramadan were such standalones. Fear of Falling and Soft Places were enjoyable reads. The Hunt/August and Ramadan were just kind o...

"One night, everyone on Earth has the same exact dream. In that dream, they tell their life story to a kind and trustworthy old man, who then leads them to a lake and watches them drown. The novel follows the lives of Lyd, a former novelist, Mott, her daughter and David, the obsessive but brilliant ex-husband who works for the Government and claims to know all about November and what it means."  3 Stars Pros:  The premise was very interesting/I liked how in the end, David's "free love" lifestyle was his downfall/The end really was pretty well done, brought some of the scattered parts of the novel together and organized them.  Cons:  Mott/Lyd, basically all of the characters were pretentious and arrogant and it was very rare that I felt badly for any of them  Full Review:  At some point in time, everyone on earth has the same exact dream. They're speaking to a man, who's trustworthy and kind. They tell him everything about their lives, holding nothing bac...

"When Amy, Nick's wife of five years, disappears on the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick is horrified, shocked, confused and worst of all, the prime suspect. Flynn does an incredible job of piecing the bits of the story together, just enough and at a good enough pace that you keep reading and the characters, Amy especially are truly unforgettable." 5 Stars.  Spoiler Alert.  Pros:  Amy is a truly sociopathic, megalomaniacal, narcissitic b**itch and though I loathed her, I was mesmerized by the sheer depths she would sink to.  Cons:  At the last part of the book, when Amy is explaining how she "escaped", the abuse she put her body through would have been obvious to her captor, but apparently not.  Full Review:   Nick knows that he hasn't been the best husband, he's known that for awhile now. But he knows that the fault isn't entirely his own. His wife Amy is now saint. So on the morning of their fifth year anniversary, Nick decides i...

" The quintessential Christmas Classic that tries to hit home the idea of remembering your past, learning from it, living in the present and keeping the joy of Christmas alive and well through all the days of the year."  4 Stars.  Pros:  Dickens' message is clear, remember your past, learn from it, live in the future as best you can and try to keep the spirit of Christmas, of joy and love, with you each and every day.  Cons:  If you're not used to reading Dickens, it can be dry at first but once you get into the flow of it, it's a quick and entertaining read.  Full Review:  Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, miserable, crotchety old man who wants nothing more than to do his work and be left alone can't stand the season of Christmas. He is forever annoyed at all the fools wishing him a Merry Christmas and he makes it painfully clear that he wants nothing to do with the festive season. He is content to do his work, go home, rest and continue the process day af...

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...