Desperately Seeking Bookworm

A Book Set in Your Home State: Inside the O'Brien's by Lisa Genova Remember when I read Still Alice and I cried the whole book? Yeah I did that here too, but this time for different reasons. Lisa Genova's most recent book deals with Huntington's disease, which is a disease that has personally effected my family. My maternal grandfather died from this disease and it can still be active in my genetics today.  I don't remember much about him, bits and pieces and most of them involve him in the local VA hospital. There is actually a scene in the beginning of the book where the main character and his wife visit the Wang wing or section at MGH and they describe patients of Huntington's and I actually had to put the book down. I had memories I didn't even know I have come rushing back to me. This book was a challenge. A barely 300 page book typically takes me 3-4 days, but this took me around 10 days. It was that difficult for me to read.  I'm ...

An Autobiography: Melissa Explains it All by Melissa Joan Hart I am a Nickelodeon era child. I grew up watching Salute Your Shorts, Ahh Real Monsters and my favorite Clarissa Explains It All.  Fun fact: I dreamed of having a pet alligator named Elvis and crushed hard on Sam the boy who came through the window. Really Nickelodeon just really got kids back in the 90s. Don't get me wrong Disney did too, but Lizzie Maguire, and the The Famous Jett Jackson came wayyyy after. Wen I heard that Melissa Joan Hart was going to be writing a book I was like "uh yes please!" And then it took me almost 2 years to actually read it. I think we all know by now that I'm awful at reading new releases. Picking this up and choosing this as my first read of 2016 was the perfect choice! Melissa Joan Hart explained it all-from dating to bullies-in her groundbreaking role as Clarissa Darling on  Clarissa Explains It All . She cast a spell on millions more viewers as  Sabrina,...

For me to do a year in review is difficult. I read no more than 5 books that were standouts. Alas I decided to make one anyways. It'll be short, because some of these books I've already written about and some I will never subject you to knowing they exist. Think of it as a readers digest version of my ramblings... 2015 Overall winner: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins I did not need to think long at all about what my favorite book of the year was. I read this book at the most perfect time. During the 3 hottest days of the year, while riding the train, and while working an assignment for Pokemon. I'm not going to lie this book gave me nightmares. I stayed at my cousin's house, just to really catch some sleep in-between shifts and freaked myself out so much that I closed all the windows in her living room and slept in the 90 degree stale air. I still don't want to ruin this for anyone, because it is just that fantastic, but its simple to figure out....

We made it through 2015! What a trying year for me. I got my first real grownup job, made some great connections, and read a lot of good books! Late in the year I discovered the Popsugar Reading Challenge, so when we were a couple of days away from 2016, I knew I had to see if they were doing it again. This time I am committed to this challenge! I have even completed one challenge already (look for that post next week). I even turned a coworker onto this challenge, because it's so interesting. I never expected to read a graphic novel, or a Pulitzer prize winner that was so beautiful I cried (also more on those in future posts). I'll admit I got a little sidetracked last year and that's due to a few life changes (my job really sucking up all my time), but that is neither here nor there. I continue to try and remain committed to this, not that I think I have followers, but hey if you read this thank you! Maybe I'll add in a few other things, like continue to revi...