Book Review: Read Me Like A Book by Liz Kessler

Queer and has the words 'read' and 'book' in te title, I should love this, but yet.


Ashleigh Walker is in Love. 

You know the feeling - that intense, heart-racing, all-consumiing emotion that can only come with first love. It's enough to stop her worring about bad grades at college. Enough to distract her from her parents' marriage troubles.

There's just one thing bothering her...

Shouldn't it be her boyfriend, Dylan, who makes her feel this way, not Miss Murrary, her English teacher?

The author started writing this book fifteen years before it was published, meaning starting it in the early 00s and it shows. Especially as it starts with 'I'm not like Other girls' trope: "Actually, wait up a second, I'd better get something straight here, just in case I'm giving the wrong impression. I'm not one of those brain-dead bimbos who talks about boys and make-up all time." There is some girl hate in this book, as well as the main character being overwhelming jealous. I read Haunt Me by Kesser and didn't like it much. It felt old school YA, but in a bad way. It tried, but I didn't think I would pick Kessler up again but this was a Queer book I found in the library and it had 'read' and 'book' in the title so I decided to try again with Kessler. There's a first time sex scene in this, not queer. It's the standard heterosexual stick it in and call it 'sex'. I just wish there's was YA book out there, that didn't have a sex scene where it's just dry penetration, something to break the myth that your first time should hurt and that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It's normal to do sex badly the first time but remember kids, no matter what or how, if penetrating, always prepare and use lube, from the virgin thirteen-year-old who knows more about sex ed than she might ever use. I'm pro-sex scenes in YA, not excessive, but enough to show what normal healthy sex should be like, so they know enough to use a condom. This book also has a pregnancy scare in this book, which is the universal uterus having experience, because who hasn't thought: "Maybe I'm the next Virgin Mary". I guess this done realistically, except that's ends in period happening and that could just be spoting so Ash could be pregnant at the end of the book and just not know it as she never takes a pregnancy test and pregnancy are each unique angels. This book starts in September I think, her period is late during the Christmas holidays so it must have happened in November. Exam results are in August. Okay, so probably not secretly pregnant but what a way to end a book that would have been. Which brings us to another problem this novel has. This novel feels very disjointed, especially in Part three which feels like five epilogues in a role, then some plot, then just ends. It feels like it needed another hundred pages to smooth it out, but I also might have given up if there had been another hundred. This a school year in life of book, but we jump around a lot, not a smooth course through the year. On the pluses, it's own voices and it's queer. Besides, some mild girl hating this novel was okay. It has the typical It got better than first few chapters. I actually almost returned this to library unread due to the first chapter and the way the characters were introduced. I neither regret reading it or would have regretted never reading. If this book has been released during original conception then it would have stood out but frankly, in 2020, there are tons of better Queer girl books out there.  The teacher crush is part of Ashleigh discovering her sexuality and is acknowledged by Miss Murary but nothing really happens if you're looking for a scandalising read, this is not that, which I'm fine with. I know some people like reading teacher-student books, but I'm not here for abuse of power stories unless it confirms the teacher being in the wrong and not romanised.

It also attempts to tackle divorce, which involved the parents arguing all the time and being unbearable to live with, which is relatable. I can't actually think of YA book that deals with the parents divorcing during the book, a lot of have divorced set up before but usually, that's just an excuse to only have one parent around for the majority of the book.

Overall, I give this book 2/5 stars for Dated Lesbianism. If this book had been released during the 2000s then it would have stood out but frankly, in 2020, there are tons of better Queer girl books out there. 

Read 4/5/2019, finished reviewing 15/1/2020 (I had written the majority but never put the finishing touches.

Quotes

Page 8, "Actually, wait up a second, I'd better get something straight here, just in case I'm giving the wrong impression. I'm not one of those brain-dead bimbos who talks about boys and make-up all time."

Page 178, "'What's GSOH?' Mum askes me,
'Good Sense of Humour. God, Mum everyone knows that!" Yeah, I have never seen that term before. Maybe exclusive to online dating.

2020 Goals: The year, not that many goals.

Hello Strangeos, I have returned this week to tell about goals for 2020 and the things I hope to do with my life this year. A lot of these are carryovers.

1. Read a book a week: This one is an obviously one, but I am current danger of not doing at the time of writing this.
2. Finish 10 series: So 12 series a year has never happened so far. Maybe if I lower that number I'll finally do it. I have a very unchanging list for the list. 
3. Read More of My Own Books: I own a lot of books, and the majority of my reading is never the ones I actually own. It's often
4. Get the TBR Down:  Every year I end up with way more books on To Be Read list. 
5. Write a Review a Week: I have finished this year with books unreviewed for the second time. I did not do this. I think I did do more reviews this year. 
6. Write a Post a Week: This is blog is meant to keep me writing all the time, and it's not working out that way. I would feel better about letting this blog go if I was writing outside of it but I am not. 
7. Finish a Novel: This is a goal back for this year. I have ideas that I know the endings but never wrote them down. I want to finally change. I want a completed draft. 
8. Published a Video a Week: I would like to edit in advance including CC, but CC has killed videos for me. I don't know if that's a self-hate thing or just dyslexic brains don't like writing transcripts. I know Dyslexia does make copying things from Audio hard. I think I can do it. 
9. Do More Complicated Videos: I want to do video essays basically. I have ideas so I want them to exist outside my head.
10. Continue Bullet Journaling: I have brought of tons of stuff lately for it, so I better keep up with it. Also, records are nice. 
11. Exercise most days: Obvious one. To clarify I don't mean doing an extreme work out every day; more I have Border Collies so they have to exercise in some way every day. There are Lazy ways of doing this e.g. putting them in the garden to chase each other and the best way of taking them for a long walk. I want to be able to do this most days for them, which will also befit me, in raising my fitness. I do have chronic pain and low energy levels so I don't think I can do this every day of the week without giving myself burnout and killing the project immediately. 
12. Apply for things: I know I'm not going to a foreign country in September so I need to go to uni or something. I just in this chronic illness limbo and I hate it.
13. Read 104 Books: Yeah, that's my Goodreads goal. 

So those are my goals for this year. Yay. 

Book Review: The Child by Fiona Barton

Book CW: Child abduction; Death of a Baby; Rape, Rape drugged; sexual assault; child abuse; paedophilia (a young teenager); sexual crime ring; consent issues; child grooming; grooming; mental illness from trauma; parental negotiate. 

People are the worst.

When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it’s impossible to ignore.

For one woman, it’s a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her.

For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered.

And for the third, a journalist, it’s the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth.

The Child’s story will be told.

This is the second book by Fiona Barton and the second following old school reporter Kate Waters, now on to another case. I did review the first one. This time the body of a baby is found. This book deals with just as heavy subjects as the last book (hence the content warnings). I think pretty well, revalent to real-world events so not a great book for escapism.

Because we've given three POV almost from the start, you know there's a reason why we're hearing these two women. Obviously, Kate Waters is a reporter and slowly come across the other two and their connection to the baby. Once again, I wouldn't call this a thriller, because it's mostly characters reflecting back and there's no urgency to what is going on, besides the slow death of Journalism. Kate is the only one whose present day is the big factor of this story. This for people who like fictional crime cases and exploration of characters dealing with consequences far after the fact.

This deals with lots of characters including ones who are very unlikable. I don't think I really connected to these characters as people, which is not an issue for me. Maybe if I had that would have added stars.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, as read by Finty Williams, Steven Pacey, Adjoa Andoh, Clare Corbett and Fenella Woolgar. This book had a bigger cast with three main voice actors, Clare Corbett is back the Kate Waters character I think. The cast was good, and distinct from each other.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Journalist Ethics. Once again a well-crafted novel; I am planning on listening to the next book in the series, I'm curious about how that will go with it being set in another country from these ones.

Finished reading 5th January 2020, Reviewed 8th January 2020.

2019 Goals in Reflection

It's now 2020, but we still have to wrap up 2019. One hell of a year. Literally, hell is a good word for that went down and sadly the new decade doesn't look it will change much.

1. Read a book a week: Technically no, but in the sprint, I did this. I finish a book for 48 weeks out of the 53 we covered this year. 
2. Finish 12 series: "Okay, I would be happy with five because that's more than last year." I did not manage this. I finished three. There was another one I caught up, that might never be a finished series. So another goal I'll carry. 
3. Read More of My Own Books: I read 37 books of my own books, but I only read 13 books that I brought this year. Though, percentage-wise that is better than last year. This is a win on technicality basically.
4. Stop with the Insane Book Buying:  I have brought 133 books this year. Though it has been 52 days since I brought any books and I brought 255 books last year. I could do better as I was hoping to get that number back under the hundreds. 
5. Write a Review a Week: I have finished this year with books unreviewed for the second time. I did not do this. I think I did do more reviews this year. 
6. Write a Post a Week: No.....
7. Write More in General: Noooooooooooo... Did almost managed to do NaNoWriMo. Okay, Maybe I kinda did this one. 
8. Published a Video a Week: No. 
9. Do More Complicated Videos: Nope.
10. Continue Bullet Journaling: I did this. Not to the most specific details, some months but all months were covered. 
11. Exercise Most Days: No. This started strong but went out of the window with Kidney swapping that happened in January. I stopped doing a lot of things after. Strong starts to nothing happened a lot last year. I did do some walking, but not a lot of cardio. 
12. Apply for things: I applied to one thing, did not get it. This is better in that I finally did make myself apply. But I still procrastination the application meaning it could have been better when I submitted it. There were other things I could have applied for as well. 

I read a lot this year I guess. Moving on.

Book Review: The Widow by Fiona Barton

Book CW: Child Abuse, paedophilia, computer grooming, murder, child murder, infertility, unhealthy relationships, minor domestic abuse (isolating, being in control of life decision, gaslighting), mentally unstable characters, questionable consent porn, sexual crime ring;

This is a case where you shouldn't stand by your man.

When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen …

But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore.

There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.

Now there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth - that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything …

This is a book dealing with crime and investigation. I wouldn't call it a thriller as I think it's too slow pace and there's no big surprise at the end. Yes, there is that climax at the end but no real tension building up to that. I often do read books where I figured out the ending page one, so I don't mind that, but this could be a bit misleading as this is sold as a thriller. I get why the publisher has done so but it's more like a slow exploration through the past of the characters, rather active present as its told.

This is told in multiple points of view: the Widow, the Reporter and the Officer. All talking about their connection to a murder case. The widow, Jean is the wife of a man accused of killing a child and going through their relationship. Kate the reporter is the one who this series turns out to be, as she does her own investigating. She basically what reporters should be like and her best pal the officer who gives her inside information. All the characters are on the older side and near to the end of their careers which is an interesting insight as Journalism and Police investigation have both changed a lot in the past 30 years. Fiona Barton is a retired Journalist which probably why Kate became the stand out character.

Jean is both a sympathetic character and sometimes dislikable. She has let a man dominant her life, which is sort of understandable for her generation, but it also goes to the extreme lengths in the divorce age. The author talks about in an interview included with this book, that she wanted to explore the wives of these men accused/who have done terrible crimes. I believe this woman exists, but not sure if I like her, which is fine as you don't have to like a character for their story to be worth reading. I hesitate to say enjoy because of the terrible subject matter of this book.

I listen to this on audiobook. It's a well-done production, Clare Corbett does a good job of distincting each POV character. Also does announce whose who every time, I know some audiobooks don't. Listening to this book would be a good way to consume this book.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Locked Computers. This is a well-crafted novel, with characters slowing building up a case together and was an interesting idea. I think the idea is strong enough that other writers would do something completely different while both having good books come out of it. I would read a book with this same premise but more importantly more by Fiona Barton.

(Though, her having worked for the Daily Mail is off-putting). I now have reviewed the sequel.

Finished reading  29 December 2019.

Dead Year

Yes, I'm gonna do an actual wrap of goals, but now let's have a nonsense post of post chrismas thoughts.

Book Review: Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green, Lauren Myracle

This book was sponsored by Starbucks. Also Wafflehouse.

The worst blizzard for fifty years.
Three wintry love stories.
One magical night.

It's Christmas Eve and Gracetown has been buried by snow. But the weather is more than just an inconvenience. When one girl unexpectedly steps off a stranded train, she sets off a series of life-changing events.

Soon fourteen pumped-up cheerleaders will descend on the local Waffle House, the Duke's DVD night will be rudely interrupted for a Twister mission, and a lovesick barista will determine the fate of a single teacup pig …

As the three stories collide, strangers cross paths and romance blossoms with heart-warming consequences.

This is a series of interlocking story, taking from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. This is in America, so there do not use the term Boxing Day. This book was written in a time before everyone has smartphones but they all had iPods. My iPod Touch still lives, in my car with the on/off buttons stuck down and he battery is non-existed. This book is dated in more significant ways.

The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson: 4/5 stars for Train Escapes. There's a bit of girl hate in this one, Jubilee hates on Cheerleaders for no reason. It's actually the motivating factor to do something two times in the story. The romance was decent, it was also dealt with being in a bad relationship. A big thing is made of the character's name, which is Jubilee. There are worst X-men to share a name with. I usually love Maureen Johnson's writing but this was a bit of disappointment.

A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green: The girl hate continues in Duke whose not like other girls, because she's one of the guys. This is so 00s that I can't be that mad at it. This story is dated in itself and less on technology. James Bonds films will probably always be a thing. Once, again the cheerleaders are motivation in here. In a bad nash race to get to the Waffle House, because they've called three groups and gonna lock the door in weather that is definitely bad enough for someone to freeze to death after the first one makes it. Risking their lives for girls not at all interested and asinine friend. I just read a whole John Green novel and his characters are very similar but worst in this. 2.5 stars for Carla's Death.

The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle: This involves a teacup pig. Funfact: Teacup pigs do not exist. They are a lie and grow to be big giant pigs that will eat you if you fall unconscious in their presence. The girl hate is less in this story, almost apologetic to the rest of it. You're only a ho if you cheat on your boyfriend in public Starbucks. There is meant to be some sort of lesson to be self-involved but comes out of nowhere. Sure, maybe she is (other reviewers pick this up), but it's more she needs to let go of the fantasy, and learn better communication skills. Also don't make out with creeps, cheating on your boyfriend, just because they are momentarily nice to you. 3/5 for a Normal-sized Pigs.

I listened to the audiobook that has individual voice actors for each other story. They were all good, the only thing is that I had to change the reading speed, which was odd in the middle of the book to do.

Overall, I gave this book 3/5 stars for Not Enough Snow. I kept waiting for the cheerleaders to connect up, for one of them to be POV character, but in the end, it was Starbucks girl whose best friend gets eaten by a pig. I think the girl-hate could have been forgiven if the Cheerleaders were actually humanised, instead of ways to move the plot on.

In which Things get Worst

They didn't manage to ruin Halloween, but they did manage to ruin another goth holiday.

On the 12th I voted, then went to a concent by myself. My sibling was meant to come but had was ill. Thinks she had food poisoning, but maybe the drink was too much for her at the Baby's Brother Birthday, which was a thing on its own. Starters took an hour, they forgot my dinner, steaks came out cooked wrong, wrong drinks that took forever.

The concert was good, I saw Scouting for Girls, the support the Dunwells was good too. It was semi-ruined by my phone informing me at exactly 10pm what the exit polls were and of course, they were wrong, the results were worst. I tried to ignore it until I got home three hours later.

I brought too much Taco Bell to soothe my wounds, my sibling hassled me about whether I was coming home or not. Not because she missed me, but because I had her beer in my car. I had thought about staying at my sister's if the weather was really mad. Like Rain and strong winds, is the worst.

Also so are drunk people and people who get in line before they know what they want and the line wasn't long. Drunk people are worst though. Actually, I don't know since the others steal your time. But so do drunks.

Obvious, the tories and the people who vote for them are truly the worst of all. I just don't get how people can vote for proven liars over and over. Even if people are for Brexit, this a government who missed deadlines twice. These cabinet filled with people who have previously been fired by their own party.

A lot of it does feel like racism and ethnocentrism, or people not realising they are poor. Like a lot of people, this is a terrible outcome for me and my disabled family. But I am Scottish, meaning only some of my country fucked me over for their own self-interest.

I guess they would argue that I voted for my own self-interest. But I don't want to live in a country where people die because they can't afford health care. I don't want to live with starving children, especially when they have working parents. People should be able to survive by working a fulltime job. People should be able to survive on benefits.

I mean maybe we have another election next year, Tories are selfish, maybe even having the most power they've had since the 80s, they still fuck themselves over.

So many people are gonna suffer for this.

Anyway, I live in Scotland and the Scottish Government will take over PIP...still those that year meant be a long one. This is a bad timeline, and I want to stop relating so hard to distopias. We got bored of them and we're still living them.