Started reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

 Hello Bookies,

This is an oldie but a goodie. Since I am trying to get back into reading after everything that has happened in my personal life lately. Injury included. One of my co-workers suggested I read this book, but she did warn me that it is nothing like the movie. As I am a quarter of the way through the book, I have notified differences already. One being how Sophie actually got into Howl's castle. So far the book is okay. It is taking a whole to read because of my focusing issues. I'm also starting to think that maybe I am just not in the right head space to actually enjoy this book. We'll see if I can get halfway. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Read Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

Hey there Bookies,

We are on to the next book I read. Well listened to because I'm still injured. I seemed to have forgotten to write down when I actually stared this book, but I know it took me a few days to get through. The story is different points of view through four different characters. Beth, who is the oldest child. Nicole, who is the middle child. Michael, who is the youngest child. Then there is Laura, the mom. We start the book off with Laura on her deathbed while Beth is trying to get ahold of her two youngest siblings. She wants them to be able to say goodbye to their mom before she passed but it doesn't look like they will make it. Laura eventually passes but not before she whispers to Beth, 'Your father didn't disappear. Don't trust.' Beth is confused and decides to not tell her siblings, which makes you question why. The siblings then get reunited, meet with a lawyer they didn't know their mother had. They learn she also had a will and two bank accounts. This makes the siblings question things but figure their mom had her reasons. The siblings then goes through things in the attic and find a VHS that held a very deep secret. The video involved a little neighbor girl that went missing when they were all kids. The book then drags on as the siblings either dig into more about the neighbor girl's disappearance and arguing if they should tell anyone. The only thing, in my opinion, that kept the book going were the few chapters in the mother's point of view. It showed how much she was beginning to distrust her family. Eventually towards the end the siblings get into a big fight and go their separate ways. Beth goes into the nearby woods to look for bodies, Nicole goes to the bank to steal whatever was in the safety deposit box, and Michael go we s home. Of course, the two sisters learn the truth and the book picks up again as the truth of what really happened with the neighbor girl when they were little. The book was okay in my opinion. Not a whole lot happens and I probably expected more than what I got. The book ended up getting two out of five stars from me. I liked it but it just wasn't for me. I wished I gave the book a higher rating but the fact that it dragged on throughout the middle of the book, hurt it. The ending was good though, it had a twist you don't really expect because you are so focused on the red herring in the book.

So until next time...

-Lys

Read Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers

                                                   

Hey there Bookies,

I know it's been a while. A lot of personal things have happened. Also recently I was clumsy and tore a ligament in my right wrist. So I've been adjusting to an injury that might take longer to heal than planned. Anyway, let's get talking about the books I've read during my injury started. Starting with Little Stranger.

I started reading Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers on May 9th and it only took me about 24 hours to finish it. Before I start talking about the book, I will have to say an unpopular opinion. I did not like the dynamic of the two main characters. It's not because they are adopted siblings, but due to their similar history, I felt like they were just trauma bonding. I said what I said and I am sure that once I read the second book, my feelings will be confirmed. Anyway the book starts with our two main characters, Olivia and Malichai, meeting when they were kids. I think 8 and 9.  Olivia is excited to get an older brother but Malichai isn't what she expected. Especially when he drags her away from their adopted parents and was already calling her 'his.' Early on we learn that Olivia is also adopted after being found abandoned in her home holding her younger sibling's deceased body. Their parents, who we will call Mom and Dad, are actually pretty well off as well. Mom is a judge and Dad is a well known defense attorney. Olivia is very open about her love for her parents, while Malichai is not. But early on, you can tell that Olivia and Malichia have created a co-dependent relationship with each other. Even when they get separated after Malichai kissed Olivia on the lips, they still find a way to be together to sleep at night. By the time they are 18 and 19, we learn that Malichai and Olivia have some expectations made for them that they don't want to live up to. Malichai is supposed to take over Dad's law firm while Olivia is expected to marry a rich young man that her parents have picked for her. Olivia ends up with two suitors. One suitor is named Parker and the second suitor is named Adam. Parker is the son of one of Dad's business partners. Adam became a suitor after talking to Olivia and getting attacked by Malichai for it. So in order for Malichai to not be charged, Olivia is arranged to date Adam instead. The whole book is basically Olivia denying her feelings for Malichai while their mom is being the worst. Worst being that she even paid someone to take her virginity. Eventually the book progresses to Olivia agreeing to give Malichai 'lessons' on certain topics. Or should I say actions? Either way, things are good for a while until Olivia overhears one of her cheer squad mates talking about sleeping with Malichai. Olivia gets bad, confronts Malichai, tries to leave, then gets assaulted by Malichai because pleasure will surely make her stay...Not. Father catches them, a fight takes place where the father ends up dying on the floor and Malichai pretty much takes advantage of Olivia in the chaos. Then the book skips eight years later and you find out that Malichai has been in prison for attempted murder. Olivia has been living her life, but is secretly keeping tabs on Malichai in hopes that he will save her from her planned out life. Of course, what she doesn't know is that Malichai has been spying on her with hidden cameras he installed while she was at work. Also he may have drugged all of her drinks in the house with sedatives where after she is out, he continues to take advantage of her. Yes, I know that this is a certain kink but this isn't in my opinion consensual in anyway. All because he is secretly drugging her without her knowledge. Trust me when I say that the kink could have been played out a little bit differently in this book. Just seeing how the kink is portrayed in the book makes me feel like the author didn't quite understand the kink they were going for. But that is just my opinion. Anyways, eventually Malichai kidnaps Olivia and then tortures for a weeks. Now here is an unrealistic play on when he reveals himself to Olivia...She gets mad not because he had her tied up and was torturing her. No, she was mad because he didn't come to her sooner. So sadly the book got three out of five stars from me. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it. Will I reading the second book? I have no idea yet.

 So until next time....

-Lys