If you read my August goals recap, you’ll see that it was a crappy month. I had NO motivation in regards to anything. It was my worst month all year for both exercising and reading. That said, I only finished two books in August (though I was halfway through two others, but they don’t count). Anyway, I’m sharing what I DID manage to finish last month, which were both great reads at least!
📊 Reading Stats
Books Read: 2
Genres: Fiction (2): YA (1) ◦ Dystopian (1)
Formats: Print (2)
Sources: Library (2)
Average Rating: 4 stars
📖 Book Reviews
📘 The Handmaid’s Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Fiction ◦ Dystopian
Publication: 1985
Format & Source: Print ◦ Library
Dates Read: July 23 – August 8, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆
I’ll be honest… I had no interest in reading this one, and only picked it up because it was a book club choice.
Well… I was pleasantly surprised!
Though it could be disconcerting, both for the content and the writing style (no quotation marks), it was also fascinating. It wasn’t a page turner by any means, and was actually kind of a slow read… but it kept me fully engaged whenever I picked it up. I was just sucked into this awful alternate reality, and how twisted the world had become. The plight of the handmaids and the poor just blew my mind.
I am SO glad I was “forced” to read this one, and at just the right time too: the sequel is about to be released, and now I want to watch the show too!
Note: this was the monthly pick for my personal book club.
📘 Neverworld Wake
Author: Marisha Pessl
Genre: Fiction ◦ YA
Publication: 2018
Format & Source: Print ◦ Library
Dates Read: August 9 – 21, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆
Five friends seek to uncover the truth about the death of one of their own while trapped in a time splinter called the Neverworld Wake. They are, essentially, trapped in time while forced to make an impossible decision.
All in all, I really liked this one which was a pick for my Forever YA book club. I thought the premise was unique in that it was a murder mystery mixed with a bit of fantastical elements. There were a lot of plot twists along the way that kept it moving and engaging, and I was surprised by the outcome and secrecy amongst friends.
I’d definitely recommend this one to YA fans. Though I don’t like fantasy for the most part, this one felt mostly contemporary to me, despite the crazy time warp. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Pessl.
Note: this was the monthly pick for my Forever YA work book club.
🎖️ Favorite Book of the Month
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
That’s a wrap on this month’s reads — here’s to another great chapter! 📚
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