Reading Challenge: October 2019

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (a book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent)
Fun book about girl assassins! Not very deep or memorable, but fun.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (a book set in space)
Just a great as the first book, but heartbreaking and violent.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (your favorite prompt from a past popsugar reading challenge)
A fascinating, well-built world. I loved the characters and felt like I understood them.

Wires and Nerves by Marissa Meyer (two books that share the same title)
LOL this doesn't really count, but these two books were so fun! I loved the artwork and the characters.

Wires and Nerves: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer (two books that share the same title)

Archaeology From Space by Sarah Parcak (a book that’s published in 2019)
Not quite as interesting as I was hoping, but still a great look into how scientific fields continue to overlap.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (a book set in Scandinavia)
Wow, I'm soooo glad I jumped onto the bandwagon and read this one! A lovely, moving book.

Also read, but not for the challenge:

Thick As Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

The Love Interest by Cale Deitrich

Secret Daughter by Shilpa Somaya Gowda

Reading Challenge: September 2019

What To Talk About by Chris Colin and Rob Baedeker (A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter)
A funny book with some good tips, but not extremely helpful.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (A book that includes a wedding)

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Read a book during the season it is set in)

Wildwood by Colin Meloy (A book written by a musician)

Grave Mercy by Robin LeFevers (A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent)

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (A book set in space)

Also read, but not for the challenge:

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

Thick As Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner

Reading Challenge: August 2019

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (a book about family)
The second book in The Queen's Thief series, it's a satisfying continuation. Must like the first book, TQOA is filled with twists, turns and beautiful characters.

What To Talk About by Chris Colin and Robert Baedeker (a book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter)
A professor recommended this book to me. I'm a little disappointed? The book was humorous, but I didn't think the advice was particularly helpful. Didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. 

Also read, but not for the challenge:

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

Reading Challenge: July 2019

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (a book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title)

A fun urban fantasy suggested by my sister! I'm not really an urban fantasy person, so I probably won't continue the series, but good for fans of the genre.

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (a ghost story)

Creepy, detailed and atmospheric, The Ghost Bride takes you through the culture of Malaysia and the story of a girl struggling to save herself against supernatural forces.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows (a book by two female authors)

I guess these three authors got together to write better endings for women in history. My Lady Jane contains a romantic sort of comedy. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief towards the end, but whatever. It was fun.

Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father

Recently, I found this video on churchofjesuschrist.org, part of a series called "Special Witnesses of Christ." It features Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sharing his testimony about Christ.

   

On this Father's Day, I find myself grateful for a lot of things, but mostly for blessings from my Heavenly Father. He doesn't have to go as hard as He does for us.

What sort of blessings have you received from Heavenly Father?

Reading Challenge: May 2019

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (a book set on a college or university campus) - What a lovely peek into the lives of people (like me) who enjoy creating content for our favorite books and movies!

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott (a book with "love" in the title) - It was . . . good? I honestly didn't feel much when I read it and it didn't make much of an impression on me.

The Secret War by Matt Myklusch (a book about someone with a superpower) - My review can be read here.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (a debut novel) - This book took a while to read, but it left me satisfied. An intensely crafted world, real characters and a good ending.

Also read, but not for the challenge:

T. Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Reading Challenge: January, February, March, April 2019

My senior undergraduate year's been pretty crazy, but now it's over! so hopefully I'll have more time to read (crossing fingers). Here's what I've read the past few months:

Montmorency by Eleanor Updale (a book that makes you nostalgic) - A story I read when I was a child about a thief who uses London's sewers to steal from the rich. Better than I remember!

The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones (a book you think should be turned into a movie) - Though they should probably make the first book, Deep Magic, into a movie before this one.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (a book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature) - Not quite as good as his other ones, I thought, but still really interesting!

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (a book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover) - Kinda silly, but cute!

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine (a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore) - Love this story. Love. It.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson (a book told through multiple character POVs) - Again, not as good as the first two books in the Stormlight Archives, but still amazing.

The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute (a book you meant to read in 2018) - What a fascinating story.

Re Jane by Patricia Park (a retelling of a classic) - Loosely based off of Jane Eyre, but nowhere as good. Has some good things to think about, especially if you enjoy reading different perspectives.

Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North (a choose-your-own-adventure book) - Pretty silly.

Also read, but not for the challenge:
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson

The Fairy's Mistake by Gail Carson Levine

The Princess Test by Gail Carson Levine

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck 

The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes