2017 Review for Reading

Yes, I know this is a little late, but I just discovered that GoodReads has a year in books for you. I think it's pretty interesting to view. https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2017/3868487


 

I read 6,266 pages across 18 books, my goal was 25 books. 
My shortest book was Saga Vol. 3 and my longest book was Voyager. 

I think it's good to look back through the year and see what you have read. 

This year I have really been slacking reading. Just so much to do and I have a hard time fitting reading it. I think I have 3 books that I've started, but no where near finishing them. I barely meet my reading goals. This year I bumped down my reading goal to 15 books. I can change that later it need be, but I do want to read more books. 

I am working on some things to hopefully keep this blog up and running again. Life just keeps getting in the way. 

Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon Book Review

Title: Voyager (Outlander #3)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Format: Kindle
Pages: 1072
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dell
GoodReads  Amazon

Synopsis: Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love. (Taken from Goodreads)
 
Review: “I shook so that it was some time before I realized that he was shaking too, and for the same reason. I don't know how long we sat there on the dusty floor, crying in each other's arms with the longing of twenty years spilling down our faces.” This quote I think says so much about this book. I really enjoyed seeing Claire’s life after she went back to her time and how Jamie spent his. 

I honestly didn’t think I was going to like this series. I’m not one for romance but this series has won me over. I love the idea of the time travel and how torn our main character must feel between her two lives. She is forever being pulled between the two. She has to make a decision again to stay in her own time or go back to Jamie.

I think this book flows very nicely and builds up to the moment we’ve been waiting for. Claire and Jamie reuniting. Of course, we find out that life was not easy and threw many challenges for both of our lovers and having to learn to forgive each other for those weaknesses.

This is honestly where I had to put this book in time out. Once we learn who Jamie married while the two were apart I literally had to turn off my kindle and did not pick up this book again for several weeks. I was so mad at Jamie. How could he do that? Even if Claire was in her time and all. It didn’t make it right. Once I was over being mad I picked my kindle back up a finished the book pretty quick. The books in this series are pretty long. It’s taken me months to finish one of them with casual reading.

I think this book and series are ones that people who love romance, suspense, and some histocial fiction. It does a nice job pulling you into the story and characters. You start to feel like you have a connection or stake in their lives. 

Rating: 5 Stars

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I Just Cannot Finish This Book Because...

There are many different reasons why we may not finish a book that we are reading. Other than losing interest the other big reason for me is that I'm afraid of either the book series to be over or that a character that I love might die. I am sure all of us book lovers faced this problem at some point.


I never realized how afraid I was to finish a book until I started to read A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sara J. Maas. It didn't hit me until I read the teaser for it shortly after I finished A Court of Mist and Fury. I had preordered the book and got tickets to attend the book signing for my town. I was excited to read what would happen in the book. The book signing was amazing and I was feeding off of everyone’s excitement. The next day I started to read the book and with each chapter's end, I was relieved when no one I cared about died. It took me almost two months to read it.

So why was I left with this fear of one of the characters I've gotten to know the last year since I discovered this series and fell in love with this world? It was one book, Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Its the 3rd book in the Divergent series. So what happened in this book that makes me fear reading or finishing books?  If you haven't read this series I'm going to spoil it for you. It was Tris' death. I've read many books where the antagonist dies so why did this one scar me so badly that I emotionally could not handle the loss of Rhysand or Feyre? I saw so much of myself in Tris. In a weird way, I saw myself in her. Felt like I could be her if I was born in that world. And when she died I didn't take it hard because it would make me dead, but it felt all wrong. He death seemed meaningless and not needed. I felt betrayed as a reader who saw so much of herself in Tris.

That was one of the few times I have ever almost thrown a book against a wall. I didn't plus I was reading it on my Kindle so throwing that would have broken it with how angry I was. I finished the book because the completist in me wouldn't let me leave it unfinished especially with how little was left. This has scarred me that if I'm very attached to any characters I'm terrified for them to die.

So each time I picked up A Court of Wings and Ruin I prayed and hoped that our beloved characters would not die. I could handle their heartbreaks and fears, but not their deaths. I didn't want to have to relive losing Tris all over again, but this time with Feyre. I do identify with Feyre as well that I would be heartbroken if anything happens to her. 

Anyone else shares this feeling? Has a book left you so emotionally drained that you can not finish it or pick up the next book because your heart just cannot take it?

Review, Contest and Giveaway Policy

If you are an author and would like me to review your book please send me an e-mail at FallenMurphy@gmail.com. When you e-mail me please include the book title, number of pages, genre or genres of the book, when you would like the review done by. Please follow the guidelines below

What Books I Will Review

I will read just about anything I enjoy mystery, crime, paranormal/supernatural books, fantasy and historical fiction, but those are not my only likes. If you have a book that seems up my alley then please contact me. I will even review children books since I have a son and I think moms would like to know what books to buy for their children.

What You Can Expect From Me

 I will try to read your book in 30 days from when I receive it and it will be put on the top of my to-read pile. Once I have read it I will type my review for you in an e-mail and on my blog.

I will give an honest review of the book. What I liked or didn't like about it. How many stars I rate it and other important aspects of the book I think my fellow readers or those who are interested in the book may want to know. I will also add a disclaimer about the book being sent to me.

If you have a book or books you want to give away to my readers send me an e-mail letting me know how many books you have. I would prefer that I have read the book first, but if that is not possible I will give the books away and save one for myself to read and review.

When you do e-mail me I will send you my address so you can send the books to me. Please use my address to only send books or other items that you let me know ahead of time. Do not sell or give away my address to others without my permission.

Giveaways

Everyone loves getting free stuff or winning. With that send each giveaway's rules will be posted on the blog entry since the rules could be different. It could be a contest to see who has the best answer, a random comment selection or the first people to comment. So read the rules. If you do not follow them you are disqualified from that giveaway/contest only. If your actions are rude, insulting or in anyway not positive you will be banned from any giveaways on this site. I don't want to be mean, but there's no reason to be mean over a giveaway. So be polite and on your best behavior. 

If you are a winner I will announce it on the blog entry of the giveaway. Please make sure you have a link to your e-mail address so I can e-mail you and not only let you know you have won but that I need your address to send you your prize. You will have one week from when I notify you about winning to send me your address. If you fail to send it to me or respond I will select a new winner. I will try to get your prize to you in one week from when I receive your address, but if an issue arises I will contact you and let you know the situation and when you can expect the book. I will ensure the book and have delivery confirmation, but I am not responsible if the USPS or whoever I have sent the prize looses your package. 

Notes

Rules are subject to change so please check here often to make sure you know them.

What I Am Reading the Week of September 18th

I got bitten by the I need to read all the books I've started bug this week, which is several books. I feel ashamed that I have not made much progress with these books since they are all either quick reads or I am near the end. After I finished A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas I've had trouble focusing on any books. I will talk about that book at a later date, but I was very hesitant to read and finish it because I knew I would have a book hangover from it.

This Week I'm reading:

I think I have been reading this book for months. I've been reading it here and there. The reason why I haven't really been pushing to finish it is I've gotten mad at Jamie so many times in this book that I've had to put it in time out. Am I the only one who does this?

This book series is a quick read for me, but for some reason, I just read the first page and then stopped reading it. It's a nice quick mystery novel that had a tiki theme to it and it always fun to read. I'll have to start this one back up, maybe with a tiki drink to sip.

This series I put aside once I started getting into A Court of Thornes and Roses series, but now that has finished I can dig into this series again. I am still not very far into it, but I hope to get a few more chapters done by this weekend.









Those are the books I am currently reading this week. What are you reading this week? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Reading!

Dragonfly in Amber

Title: Dragonfly in Amber
Author: Diana Gabldon
Pages: 743
Publisher: Bantam 2001
Genre: Historical Fiction 

Synopsis:For nearly twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time... and about Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his.

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves. (from Goodreads)

Review: It had been a good year since I read Outlander and have been trying to get to this book eventually. I really enjoyed continuing to see what happened after Outlander ended. This book isn't really one I would normally pick up, but since it's had some historical stuff I am able to enjoy it much better. I found it interesting how this book flips between two time periods throughout the book. It is written well so you are not confused or not sure who is narrating. This is one thing that could through the reader off, but Gabldon has done a great job.

If you like the first book or into historical fiction with a lot of romance than this book is for you. 

My Review: