What I Read In January 2019 | Book Reviews

Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Find it on Amazon
5 out of 5 stars

Like the rest of the world, I watched the film on Netflix when it came out around Christmastime, and then when I saw a $2.99 Kindle eBook deal on BookBub, I snagged it up immediately.  When comparing a book to a film adaptation I will almost always (like we’re talking 99.9% of the time) think the book is better, and Bird Box is no exception.  The book is so much better than the film it is not even funny.  I stayed up way too late reading it and did not want to put it down.  If you had issues with the film – and I certainly did – please read the book.

I like going into fun stories like this as ignorant to the plot as possible, so I won’t spoil too much here.  Bird Box is an apocalyptic fiction novel that starts just before the “inciting incident” and spans several years, focusing on a small core group of survivors.  I won’t say anything else except… read it.  So fun.

 

 

A Dog’s Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron
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4 out of 5 stars

This book came into my possession accidentally when it arrived in a mystery PR box promoting the book and the film (I still have no idea who it was from).  There was a cute puppy on the cover so I did what any dog lover would do and read the book.  The story is told completely through the point of view of a homeless mutt puppy, Bella, who is taken in by a kind person and loved on good ‘n hard.  As is common with many of these dog-centric stories, Bella gets separated from her owner and the bulk of the novel follows her adventures as she gets herself in and out of trouble trying to get back home.  

At first, I thought the synopsis sounded pretty standard and dull, but I absolutely fell in love with Cameron’s portrayal of Bella.  The author obviously knows dogs and knows them well, because this absolutely charming book had me laughing out loud in several parts at the spot-on depiction of Bella’s thoughts and actions.  Definitely worthy of a light read, whether or not you plan on seeing the movie.

 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
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5 out of 5 stars

Yeah, we drank the Marie Kondo Kool-Aid and after watching only one episode of her Netflix show, I marched out to buy a hardback copy of her book.  I see a lot of hate being directed at her, but I found her book simply inspiring.  She comes off as a kind, mindful, and completely non-judgmental person who respects that what sparks joy for one person may not spark joy for another.  She’s all about each individual creating a space that is tidy and joyful for them.

While reading the book, I was initially annoyed that much of what she was saying wasn’t particularly groundbreaking.  But have you ever realized that sometimes you don’t notice the most simple and obvious of things until someone blatantly points it out to you?  That’s how I felt about so much of what she says in her book.  I inhaled it, Matt inhaled it, and then we set out to put her methods into practice in our home and have just completed the “Paper” category.  The book inspired us to take pride in and have more respect for our home and our belongings.  I’ll be blogging all about that soon, but in the meantime, you should read the book!

 

Gleanings (A Changed World Book 3) by Alice Sabo
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3.5 out of 5 stars

I’ve been slowly making my way through this series over the past several months.  This is another post-apocalyptic novel that takes place more than a decade after a strange, ever-changing “flu” has drastically whittled down the human population and returns each season, claiming more and more victims.  The earth in this world also experiences violent weather patterns, with storms regularly laying waste to any who are caught outside in their path.  I was sucked into this series from the first book because I loved how the focus was on the logistics of creating sustainable communities in the wake of an apocalyptic event.  The author goes into details about the struggles of establishing routine for the most basic human needs such as farming, food, education, and the preservation of human history.  I’m here for all of that, man.  Throw in a small population of genetically engineered humans with special abilities (called Biobots) and a corrupt pseudo-government and this series has so much going for it.

Though I have to admit the third book seemed to drag a little bit and the plot didn’t make any major leaps forward (perhaps building for something Big And Huge happening in Book 4?) I’m attached to the characters in this series and I see myself continuing on with the next books to see what happens to them.

 

This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab
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4 out of 5 stars

An urban fantasy set in a time when acts of violence create literal monsters, feuding factions of a city, and an unlikely pair of frenemies (also the heirs to the divided city) who have to decide if they’re going to help each other or stay loyal to their families.  Are you hooked yet?  This Savage Song is a new take on a “monster story” and I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the three species of monsters that exist in this world.  An easy read that is dark but not too doom and gloom, this book was a great way to end my month.

There are two books in this series and I’ll be reading the second of this duology very soon.  Highly recommend for a fun read.

 

 

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