nifty little book light
nifty little book light in action
Books read in June
1. Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
Fiction: This book is an emotional read (as I think most books are that relate to the Holocaust). I would also classify it as PG-13 material for language and a few other elements. But overall a decent read. I liked how the two stories alternated (past and present day) and later become intertwined.
Fiction: This book is an emotional read (as I think most books are that relate to the Holocaust). I would also classify it as PG-13 material for language and a few other elements. But overall a decent read. I liked how the two stories alternated (past and present day) and later become intertwined.
2. Inside Out, by Maria V. Snyder
Another young adult dystopia novel. When I started reading this I almost stopped because I thought it was boring. However, I kept reading and the book just got better and better. I think at first the story building just takes time and you have to get used to certain terms (Uppers, Pop Cops, etc) but once the background is established the story starts to evolve more. The main character is also interesting as she grows and changes throughout. There's only one part I didn't like and that I thought could have used more detail toward the end but I won't give it away. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
3. The Well of Ascension, by Brandon Sanderson
This was a good sequel to Mistborn. I felt that you got to know the main characters, Vin and Elend better (although perhaps at a loss to some of the minor characters like Dockson, Breeze and Ham). It was definitely action packed and keeps your attention for the entire book. The only thing I didn't love was the ending. But I guess that's why there's a third book.
This was a good sequel to Mistborn. I felt that you got to know the main characters, Vin and Elend better (although perhaps at a loss to some of the minor characters like Dockson, Breeze and Ham). It was definitely action packed and keeps your attention for the entire book. The only thing I didn't love was the ending. But I guess that's why there's a third book.
4. The Gathering, by Kelley Armstrong
I've read some of Kelley Armstrong's other works and this one is definitely similar in theme/genre (a girl with uncanny talents surrounded by mystery in a small town). This was a fast paced read but I had one major problem with it. I felt like it was just getting started by the time I finished it. Maybe that's what she wanted but I feel like there should have been a little more to the story instead of the little teasers throughout. Hopefully the next book in the trilogy will be better.
4. Possession, by Elana Johnson
I read about the release of this book on an author's blog that I really like. Unfortunately I didn't love this book. It's another YA dystopia and the concept was interesting but the writing needed more development. Oftentimes I'd be reading and I'd have to go back and reread because the transitions didn't flow and the story became disjointed. Also it was confusing how some people would turn up in certain places when they'd just been somewhere else in the story.
5. Birthmarked, by Caragh M. O'BrienI've read some of Kelley Armstrong's other works and this one is definitely similar in theme/genre (a girl with uncanny talents surrounded by mystery in a small town). This was a fast paced read but I had one major problem with it. I felt like it was just getting started by the time I finished it. Maybe that's what she wanted but I feel like there should have been a little more to the story instead of the little teasers throughout. Hopefully the next book in the trilogy will be better.
4. Possession, by Elana Johnson
I read about the release of this book on an author's blog that I really like. Unfortunately I didn't love this book. It's another YA dystopia and the concept was interesting but the writing needed more development. Oftentimes I'd be reading and I'd have to go back and reread because the transitions didn't flow and the story became disjointed. Also it was confusing how some people would turn up in certain places when they'd just been somewhere else in the story.
This one was a futuristic dystopian YA novel done well. There were still some parts that were a little confusing, but for the most part I really liked it (although I didn't love the ending just because it wasn't the ending I really wanted). The story is about two groups of people, one inside a wall and the rest outside. The ones outside deliver a certain amount of babies to those inside to help their population. The ones inside are "privileged" and the ones outside are more or less left to fend for themselves. I won't give away any of the story but I thought it was worth reading and I'm looking forward to the sequel that comes out in November I think.
6. The Persian Pickle Club, by Sandra Dallas
It was refreshing to read a novel that was not a part of a trilogy or series or anything. I feel like sometimes authors/publishers make things into trilogies or other series just to make money (kind of like movies). Most of the time the next books (movies) aren't as good. Sometimes there's an exception but most of the time I wish the novels didn't try to extend themselves so much. Anyway, this book was recommended to me by one of my sisters. It was a good read, although with quite a reveal toward the end. It's about a group of women who quilt together. It discusses their trials and their friendships and it's realistic in that each character has their flaws. With the story set in the Great Depression it shows how these women banded together to make it in tough times.
Only six books last month, I tried to vary my hobbies a little more. It's just a shame I can't read for a living.
As far as new recipes I tried in June it's a dismal one. And an easy one at that. I made baked cinnamon chips. You take a tortilla and brush it with melted butter, sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mixture on top, cut it into strips/triangles/whatever and bake them in the oven.
But I did do some other fun things last month. In first weekend in June Caleb and I went white-water rafting with his parents and sisters in Northern Idaho. It was a lot of fun. And the rapids were HUGE! I was very surprised when we were done and none of us had fallen out. I posted some pictures below, unfortunately I don't have any of the rapids, when we went through them we were too focused on paddling but check out YouTube videos of the Lochsa river and you'll see what I'm talking about.
All of us together
Caleb and I 
Abby
Sarai
Micaiah
Micaiah
The Lochsa River
On Saturday we packed up camp and headed back to Utah. While Caleb's parents and sisters (except Sarai, who rode with us) headed back up to Washington. Overall a very fun trip.
Something else we did this month was go to a paint your own pottery place. I've been asking Caleb to go to one of these places since...well almost the beginning of our marriage over three years ago. And we finally went. I painted a plate and Caleb painted a spoon rest.
My plate in progress
Caleb's spoon rest in progress
The finished products
