First Chapter Reading Excercise Update

Hello. I hope you are doing well today.

So, the other day I posted about how I wanted to read more of the books in my own personal library and how I was going to go about that. So here is an update on that!

Again, But Better by Christine Ricco

The first chapter of this one was pretty short, only 8 pages or so. I don’t think I’m going to continue reading it. I get wanting a new start and to try again and being really anxious and uncomfortable with one’s self. I think I just don’t like how she’s wanting to go about it.
Maybe it’s because of my family dynamic where I know I can talk to my parents about anything, so being in a position where I feel forced to be in uncomfortable situations or conversations with family isn’t something I can relate to. I’m also outspoken enough to tell people to shut the fuck up when they’re talking about my personal life like they actually know what’s going on. And I don’t understand people who feel forced into going into things that would make their parents happy instead of themselves. I know I’m probably in the minority here, but my parents have always said they while they may have preferences for what my siblings and I do in our lives, at the end of the day it’s our lives and we need to be the ones who are happy with what we do.
Also, if she is so unhappy with not making friends and joining clubs, and talking to people in her classes, she can literally just start doing that! Like, no one cares if it’s your first or your seventh year in post-secondary and you’re only just now joining the pottery club.
So that’s where I am with that one. I’m planning on unhauling it. If I do change my mind and end up wanting to read it later on, I know I can always get it from the library so nothing is really lost.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I can almost feel like I can get into this one, just not right now. I am thinking that this is going to be a backstory imagining for the Queen of Hearts. If you’ve read this and you know please let me know I’d like to see if I’m right about it or not.
But I just don’t think I’m in the mood for reading about a princess/noble who wants to live an ordinary life and everything goes wrong.
So I put that one back on my shelf for now. I know at some point I’m probably going to pick it back up, and I hope I do. I got a really pretty hard-cover edition of this that has a beautiful foil inlay and I really wanna keep it!

I also ended up reading another book on my shelves because I had it loaned from the library in Audiobook format.

And that was Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

I’m really happy I was able to read this, not just because it was on my shelf and brought me up to 7 books read. But because I did enjoy the story. I’m not sure if I want to keep it yet or not though. I have decided that I am going to read the second book, The Girl the Sea Gave Back, and decide after that.

I’ve actually read the most out of this one so far. I’m on page 81 right now I believe? And the book itself is just under 400. So I think I’m making good time.
Also, something else I’ve realized. I keep waiting for something to happen for me to put it down and decide I don’t like but it’s actually really good so far. Maybe I just had really low expectations going in?
Maybe I should start going into every book with those kinds of expectations. Then I’ll never end up hating a book. Either it will meet them or it will exceed them. Either way I”m pleased.

I also have a bunch of other books on loan from the library that I need to get through before they’re due, especially the ones I’ve been waiting on for a while.

I haven’t touched The Way of Shadows or The Darkest Minds beyond the first chapter yet. I’m hoping to get to them soon. But I will definitely continue with them.

I think I will post another update when I finish Red Queen. Or maybe in a week or so. And then after that, I think the only other time I’ll talk about updates is when I do another first-chapter challenge. Catch you up on where I was last time and tell you about what I’m doing now. I like that idea.

Let me know your thoughts in a comment if you have a minute. And let me know your opinions on any of the books I’ve listed if you’ve read any of them. And if you think I should give one another a chance. I would love to know if you’d like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it isn’t wonderful I hope it gets better. Stay safe and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

Books I Read in February 2023

I read 9 books this month somehow. I’m very happy and surprised about it.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A very short but beautifully written and magical story that transports you to the desert and makes you believe in a greater being. This was a long wait for me on Libby, but I think it was well worth it. And I understand the popularity of this. It was so beautifully written that I actually forgot I was reading at times.

The Tea Dragon Festival by Kay O’Neil

The second book in this graphic novel series, it was just as beautiful and colourful as the first. This one was a bit of a prequel. It expanded the world a bit and showed that not everything is as perfect and beautiful as it seemed. I absolutely loved it though, and I still highly suggest anyone read these.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

This is a New York Times best-selling book, and there is a good reason for it. It was a beautiful and well-written story about the lengths a parent will go to protect their child, the love of a family, and what happens when you open your heart to people and do not let judgment blind you.
It has a lot of Korean mythology in it. I never knew about gumiho or their magical pearls, but it was fascinating and explained a lot while not bogging down the story. If you’re interested in Korean mythology I would highly recommend this book. In fact, if you aren’t interested in Korean mythology specifically, I would still suggest this book. Especially if you like things that go bump in the night, rooting for the underdog, and villains that hide in plain sight.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

I may or may not have grown an obsession with Victoria Schwab, and that has only grown with this. I seriously think I would read anything by her at this point.
This is a wonderful story about fear of the unknown and things that are different, gender norms, breaking out of expectations, and revenge.
My biggest issue is probably that all the men in the village are so intent are trying to figure out what is going on and keep all the women and children safe that they’re blinded by the fact Lexi is the best tracker in the town and is probably their best chance at finding the missing, but either because of deep-set misogyny or sheer stubbornness, they won’t even let her try. If they’re so concerned about something happening to her when she’s out by herself, why not go with her? But that tends to be my argument with a lot of things.

The Ash-Born Boy by Victoria Schwab

I really only read this because it was a short story at the end of the Near Witch audiobook I was reading. And I don’t really have much to say about it.
It was a nice little back story on Coal and what happened to him before coming to Near and the origins of his powers.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Believe it or not, I have never read A Series of Unfortunate Events. I know, how dare I? Again, horribly dyslexic and had no interest in reading.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and possibly the entire series going forward. I understand the uncle is supposed to be despicable and only interested in the money, but I cannot stand for abuse, especially towards a child. And then the fact the entire theater troop was in on it and just laughed at their predicament. I can’t.
And then the executor of their parents will is busier with who knows what else when the children have very real concerns.
And I’m not sure that things are going to be better in the series going forward. And I know, it’s literally called a series of unfortunate events.
Maybe I’m just too old for it, or I”m not in the right head space. Either way, I’m not sure I’ll want to continue.

Dear Girls by Ali Wong

The first and only nonfiction book of the month. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s formatted as a series of letters from comedian Ali Wong to her two daughters about her life, falling in love with their father, their births, and even their early life.
It was a beautiful letter to her daughters that I think only a mother could write. It’s full of hilarious stories and insights into events that made her who she is today.
I felt kinda honored to be able to read something so personal and meant for someone else. And it’s a pretty short read too.

Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin

I read Serpent and Dove a couple of years ago and have been slowly working on getting through Blood and Honey. I read the first in Audiobook, and this one was in a physical book.
I really liked Serpent and Dove because of the seedy magic underside of the city, the fun characters, Lou actually trying to understand the Chasseurs and how they came to hate and hunt the witches while keeping her magic a secret, the reveal of the secret parentage at the end, and the ever-looming threat of Morgane.
This started off really slow and was often difficult to get through. The end was super interesting with everything happening in the tunnels and getting the werewolves on their side, the betrayal at the end. But I also hated the character’s death at the end and how Morgane came and somehow turned from this unearthly all-powerful threat to a deranged, power-hungry woman who was capable of being stopped.
As far as I’m aware there is only one more book in the series, and at this point, I think I’m too far in to just stop. I do want to continue but I’m not sure I have high hopes for Gods and Monsters

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

I finally finished a series! And this early in the year too.
I started an ember in the ashes series last year I believe? It has been one hell of a ride.
I was so sad about all the death that happened, I know death in a story that takes over the course of a massive war who would have thought? But there were a few characters that have been with you since the beginning and all I could think was, ‘no! Not you too!’ One death at the end… okay, no two deaths at the end seemed kinda cheap. Like they were really only there for the shock value. I did like the reveal that one of the characters we thought was dead wasn’t actually, and through her, Ellias was freed from his vow. As well as the ghost that was always in the waiting place and her relevance to the story. That surprised me, and I was very pleased by that.
Overall it was a happy ending, and I was quite happy with that. Overall, I think it was a good ending to the series.

And that’s about all I have for you today.

What books have you read in February? Have you read any of the books that I did this month? What were your thoughts on them? Should I continue with A Series of Unfortunate Events? I would love to know if you would like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I do hope it gets better. Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

5 Books That Surprised Me

Hello, I hope you are doing well.

Last year I read about 106-ish books. And in reading that many, there were several books that surprised me. So today, I have compiled a list of the ones that surprised me the most.

1. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

This one surprised me because I don’t usually like Sci-Fi. I was prepared to finish it and go ‘eh’, not really my cup of tea. And leave it at that.
What actually ended up happening was the thrill of space and lightspeed travel, set against the backdrop of something so incredibly ancient I had trouble wrapping my head around the fact I wasn’t reading a straight-up fantasy at times.
I absolutely loved Gideon. And what she did at the end absolutely wrecked me. It was amazing.
Now I want to give more Sci-Fi a chance because maybe it will surprise me too.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Ah, Miss Rowling, the things you do…
So, last year I read through the entirety of the Harry Potter series. I had watched the movies, of course, and grew up with them. But despite knowing the details like James being a stag, the resurrection stone, everything between Remus and Tonks, and the unfortunate death of Fred. It still surprised me.
Specifically, in the scene where Harry is walking into the forest to face Voldemort, with the, I dunno what you would call it? The spirits? Souls? Images? Of his parents and Sirius and Remus and he was accepting his fate, that he needed to die in order for Voldemort to be defeated.
And I knew that scene. I knew about the anger and outrage towards Dumbledoor who raised him as a pig for the slaughter. But the writing of that scene specifically, had me crying for Harry. He lost everything. He was about to lose everything else. He didn’t have a choice. It was either he die or everyone else did. And it’s that kind of forced self-sacrificing bullshit, that isn’t self-sacrificing but forced to be sacrificed that I can’t stand.
I figured I would come out the other end angry. I didn’t think I was going to come out the other end broken.

3. The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

I believe this was described as a Historical Romance. It was certainly a romance.
I wanted to try a romance book, despite being pretty aromantic, because a good writer will read outside f their own genre and I had never read one before.
I didn’t mind it. The characters were well-rounded and had good chemistry. The plot was okay. I could see it coming a mile away but that didn’t make it bad. There were a few moments that were kinda cringy to me, but not to the point I felt physically revolted by things that were going on.
I wasn’t expecting to like it. But I did.
I’m not going to take this as a point to read a bunch more romance. Maybe a bit more, but I’m not going to change right over to romance as my main genre. I can see it getting very old, very fast.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This one surprised me in the worst possible way because I really wanted to like this book and I didn’t.
I thought the characters were interesting, the plot was amazing, and the conflict was the chef’s kiss, I wanted to love this book. And I was prepared to.
I don’t know if it was the fact I read it in audiobook or just her writing style but I couldn’t get lost in it. I was so sad. I really wanted to like this. And I just couldn’t.
I guess it does go to show that you don’t know if you’re going to like something until you give it a try.

5. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

A fae retelling of Rumplestiltskin.
I’ll be honest, I did not like A Court Of Thorns And Roses. But that’s not what we’re talking about right now. I just wanted to put that out there that my previous experience with Fae-based fantasy wasn’t good.
I liked this one. I liked the premise. I liked the idea of another malevolent force at work that has the power to potentially destroy the Fae and the humans are just kinda stuck in the middle.
I liked the lore of a name is a very sacred thing to the Fae. Of Miryem taking matters into her own hands and going back to the realm of the Fae when she just wanted to stay with her parents. Of love actually blooming between her and the king of the Fae to the point he was willing to do things the human way, specifically the Jewish way.

So those are 5 books I read last year that really surprised me. Are there any on here that you’ve read that surprised you? What are some books you’ve read that surprised you that isn’t listed here? Do you agree with me on any of these? I would love to know if you would like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

10 Books I Wish I Read As A Kid

Being extremely dyslexic growing up I didn’t read a whole lot when I was younger. Almost all of my reading came from either school or someone reading to me. I never really picked up a book myself because it was just so difficult. I really wish that audiobooks were a thing when I was a kid because I would have read a lot more. Today, I’m listing 10 books that I wish people would have read to me that may have sparked a love of reading earlier on for me.

1. Matilda by Roald Dahl

I watched the movie version with Danny Davito many times growing up, and I absolutely loved it. I think I was vaguely aware that it was based on a book, but I never paid any attention to that.
The book really goes into more detail about Matilda and how intelligent she actually is. Maybe seeing a little girl who had superpowers because she read so much would have made me want to read more. I think growing up every kid wants superpowers. It also would have been a very early exposure to a different culture, everything in it having to do with England when the only thing I experienced was Canada. Although, if it was only the book I read, I would have lost out on the infamous chocolate cake scene

2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

It was early on I got tired of seeing boys in the protagonist’s seat and a girl sidekick character that was little more than either a love interest, a character to be constantly saved, or just a token character. So to see a little girl going on an adventure of her own, on her own terms, making decisions, and meeting people while not being controlled by anyone else would have been very refreshing.
And of course, I’ve watched various movie renditions of this, but there’s something so beautifully charming about the written work.

3. Coraline by Neil Gaimon

Another movie that I watched growing up was based on a book. I loved the movie, it was creepy and disturbing, and wonderful. But they changed so much to make the book less creepy. There was no boy to help her out, the cat was even more aloof, and the other father tried to kill her under the control of the other mother. The creepy song the rats sing! The entire scene of her in the theater with the dogs in the audience.
Thinking about it, it’s probably for the best my parents didn’t read this to me. They would have been terrified, especially my mom. But my sister would have been entirely game for it.
I am glad that I was finally able to enjoy Coraline because it was such a wonderful book that I highly encourage any child to read. I do wish I picked it up earlier because I think I would have loved it even more.

4. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

Written and illustrated by Kat Leyh, Snapdragon is a beautifully colourful graphic novel about finding out who you are, magic, and family.
I know that this book only came out in 2020, but it was so beautiful and spoke to me on so many levels I really wish it was would sooner so I could have had this on my bookshelf growing up.
Everything from smashing gender norms to discovering magic to realizing that while you may not be ‘typical’ it doesn’t make you any less wonderful. There are so many questions about sexuality and gender expression and what is true love that I can’t begin to describe them.
Really the only thing I can say is, as a little girl who liked more traditionally boy things but never identified as a boy who also loves everything magic related I felt so much for Snap.
It’s so beautifully illustrated too with such rich and wonderful colours. I don’t think I have enough good things to say about this. I wouldn’t just recommend this for children either, but it can be a wonderful and easy read for adults as well.

5. The Graverobber’s Apprentice by Allen Stratton

This is a typical lost heir, a prophecy that has a double meaning, an evil uncle, and a cast of unlikely characters and allies book.
Heir lost as a baby was picked up by an old man who makes his living as a graverobber. Their heir doesn’t like it but it’s the only way of life he knows. Meanwhile, his evil uncle is marrying his way through young heiresses to steal their fortune before killing them. The latest heiress thinks she’s smart because she’s going to fake her death but she gets locked in the tomb and that’s where our unlikely hero meets her and they set out to save both the kingdom and her captured parents. They meet up with a troupe of french circus performers who are a massive family with like 30 kids that serve as the backdrop for their master escape plan. Evil uncle’s prophecies for losing are things like ‘when the eagle blocks out the sun’, ‘when the forest marches on you’, etc. Good guys win at the end, of course.
It was a really fun and fast read. It was also nice to read about a typical lost hero story where the love interest, who is admittedly a spoiled princess, actually takes an initiative to participate and help out and get her hands dirty instead of expecting everyone else to do things for her.

6. Rowan Hood by Nancy Springer

This is the story of Robin Hood’s daughter Rosemary who goes by Rowan after her mother is killed, she disguises herself as a boy to go and find her father because he had no idea she existed. Along the way, she meets a cowardly boy who can enchant the world with his music, a runaway princess, a wild boy, and a loyal wolf companion.
It’s a nice twist on the classic tale of Robin Hood while bringing a little girl to be front and center.
I think this could be a wonderful read for a kid, especially one who already really likes the story of Robin Hood.

7. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Now would be a good time to mention that if you ever decide to play a drinking game when reading my posts, ‘watched as a movie is probably going to be the most used phrase to drink too. Because I watched this movie growing up, but haven’t read the book until the past couple of years.
I’m sure everyone has at least watched the movie if not read the book, but I encourage you to read it if you haven’t yet. Especially if you have a little girl. Sara is entirely correct, every girl is a princess. It doesn’t matter what they look like, what life they came from, how intelligent they are, etc. As long as a girl is special to someone, she is a princess and I think that is the biggest thing to take away. And the best princesses are the kind ones.

8. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede

This is a beautiful four-book fantasy series about all of the typical fairy tale tropes and magic with an interesting and diverse cast of characters. If you aren’t a fan of dragons, I highly suggest skipping this because dragons are a very large part of this series.
It follows a princess who hates the restraints of princess hood and arranged marriages and doesn’t understand why she can’t study magic or learn to bake or learn to throw a proper punch. So, faced with the reality of having to marry a very stuck-up prince she has no desire for, she sets out to find a dragon. Dragons kidnapping princesses is very common, you know. But through a series of being polite to everyone, uncovering a plot with wizards(the enemy of dragons), and friendship she becomes an advisor and the head cook to the King of the dragons.
Eventually, she meets, falls in love with, and marries the king of the enchanted forest, but that’s because they went on amazing adventures and got to know each other first.
It’s full of fantasy cliches, but it’s done in a way that wants you to roll your eyes at it because the cast also thinks these are ridiculous.

9. Nightbooks by J.A. White

This is a great book about being yourself, no matter how weird you are or what others might think. The backdrop is a Hansel and Gretel witch captor brought into the 21st century.
There is apparently a second book in this series. I haven’t read it yet, so I can’t say anything about that yet.
I think this book resonated so strongly with me because I was weird growing up. People thought I was strange. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and a lot of my classmates didn’t want anything to do with me. To find out that those weirdnesses could be a strength and that my interest in weird things or things not ‘normal’ for little girls, is no different than someone being really into sports or video games.
I think for a little kid, especially one with very niche interests, this could be a wonderful window to see themselves as a hero because of their weirdness not in spite of it.

10. Monster Blood Tattoo by D.M. Cornish

Okay, so. One of my all-time favourite book series is The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, a creepy dark fantasy series full of witches and ghosts and strange terrifying creatures.
When I found this series, I fell in love. Yes, it starts out a little slow because it’s almost time to leave the orphanage and you need to get acquainted with all the characters in the world. But it picks up so fast.
You meet sleazy boat captains, good monsters, people who you think you cant trust but end up being super nice and awesome, celebrities with a heart of gold, and creatures that make your nightmares look like bunnies. Characters keep coming up too, so once someone’s gone, unless they’ve been killed assume they’re going to come back somehow.
It shows how large the world is and how big it can be for people who have only ever experienced their small corner of the world. It starts a discussion of what you want versus what you’ve been told to do. It blurs the lines between what is good and what is evil because despite there being monsters in the world, many of whom feed on or attack humans, humans can be just as if not even eviler.
I love this series. And I highly suggest reading this in the audiobook format because the narrator, Humphrey Bower, is the best person ever! He does voices for every character, he does the sounds, and his monster voices send shivers down your back. I felt like I was a small child being read to sleep the entire time. And yes, I snapped wide awake again when he did the monster’s voice. 10/10 highly recommend.

And there you have it! 10 books I read in recent years that I really wish I read or someone read to me when I was younger. I’m also pretty sure that most if not all of these books have been available as of 2010. And I hope this helps if you have a child in your life who’s maybe not that interested in books or reading, maybe this will give you some ideas.

Have you read any of the books listed above? If so, which ones? Were there any books on my list that you’ve never heard of? Are you maybe considering picking up one now? What were some books you read later in life that you wish you read as a kid? I would love to know if you would like to share.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. If it isn’t wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe, and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.

Life Log #17

Hello. I hope you are doing well.

I really wish I had something more interesting for you, but I really don’t. At least right now.

I’ve been focusing a lot this past week on, not only, my monthly reading review and finishing ‘Anti-Hero’. I finished it, and I have that post up if you’re interested in finding out what I read in January. You can check that out here if you’d like.

So, fortunately, these are good problems to have. I do feel a bit bad having to skip a week last month because I just didn’t have the time. And tomorrow I’m going to be needed in the restaurant to help with a lot of things for a gathering we’re hosting.

My sister is going in for surgery next month, unfortunately not the one on her back, but one equally important for her well-being. So there’s been a bit of stress because she asked me to come and help her out in her recovery. I’m happy to do it, the issue was just finding a way to her. We figured all that out already so that’s no longer a worry. And I don’t have to worry about getting to her until March because that is when her surgery is.

So I guess it would be a bit of an understatement to say there has been quite a bit on my plate the past couple of weeks.

I was able to start on a couple of posts, but I wasn’t able to finish them in time for this week. Hopefully next week there will be something more substantial for you. If not, I hope you understand that I’m doing the best I can and that there’s probably a reason for my silence that week. I am hoping to get a little bit ahead on weekly posts so that way there is more content for you, but like most things in my life, it’s a slow process.

I think that’s all for the moment.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. And if it’s not wonderful, I hope it gets better. Stay safe and I will see you next time.

-T.R. Flynn.