The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister

  • Twitter summary: A girl grows up on a remote island with only her father, who teaches her to rely on her senses above all else.
  • The good: This book makes me want to stop and smell the roses or breathe in the salty ocean air. It is easy to forget how our bodies know exactly what we need and how attuned our senses are. This is a beautiful story about a girl learning about her history, present and life all by trusting her sense of smell. There are hints of real-world magic and mystery as the story unravels.
  • The bad: I struggled reading Part 1 of the book and felt quite disengaged at first. I am glad I persevered! I read 70% of the book in one sitting.
  • Favourite character: Emmeline — oh how she captured my imagination. I felt her curiosity, her wonder and her vibrant emotions as she followed the scents and their associations in her life.
  • Recommendation: Yes!
  • Overall rating: 5/5 perfume bottles
  • Goodreads link

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

  • Twitter summary: A mother-daughter duo come to a perfectly planned town and influence every member of the Richardson household.
  • The good: This is my second* time reading the book, with this time for my work book club, and again, I was beyond engrossed in the book. Ng tells a marvelous tale layering in plot lines for each member of the Richardson family. There are little hints everywhere (haha) as the story beautifully develops.
  • The bad: Sometimes the town eerily made me think about the too-perfect place where horror movies are filmed…
  • Favourite character: Izzie — right from the start of the book, she captured my attention because she doesn’t fit the Richardson or the town’s mold. Mia is a close second.
  • Recommendation: Yes and now I will watch the Hulu miniseries!
  • Overall rating: 5/5 little fires
  • Goodreads link

*I first read the book in July 2018.

The Antidote for Everything by Kimmery Martin

  • Twitter summary: A doctor wrongly accused and his ever (maybe even overly) loyal friend attempts to rectify the situation.
  • The good: Martin weaves a web of complicated characters and slowly unraveling plot points. Georgia’s dedication to Jonah is commendable but on the flip side, demonstrates realistically how far we’re willing to go for a loved one. I couldn’t read fast enough to uncover what happened. Bonus that each chapter actually has a title!
  • The bad: This isn’t a negative to the book itself per se but as a medical doctor, Martin has first hand experience of the medical world and how it functions. Can’t say I am surprised but I’m still in shock that similar (this book is a fiction) situations probably do happen on a regular basis. Also, I see why Mark’s character was necessary for the story but I thought Georgia didn’t need him/the relationship to complete her story.
  • Favourite character: Jonah — vulnerable, generous and so real that I want a friend like him in my life.
  • Fun fact: This book reminds me of the TV show, The Resident given their depictions on the medical system. I love Matt Czuchry and recommend the TV show!
  • Recommendation: Yes
  • Overall rating: 4/5 airplane meets
  • Goodreads link

The Sugar Brain Fix by Mike Dow

  • Twitter summary: Why you’re addicted to sugar, how it’s shrinking your brain and what to do to fix it.
  • The good: Generally decent book for beginners just starting out on a health journey and want to reduce their processed sugar intake, re-balance their serotonin and dopamine levels and learn the basics of a healthier diet and lifestyle. The author does include his 28 day sugar brain fix program and a number of recipes to enjoy.
  • The bad: My expectations for a health/nutrition book are scientific facts layers on scientific facts with more scientific facts on top so that it makes my head spin. I want to learn as much as possible and finish reading the book feeling like I can apply the knowledge.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: To be brutally honest, it was Chapter 1. It nicely summarizes the key points of the book. Included below is the one fact that made me continue to read the book:
    • “The commission’s recommendation on sugar consumption: It must be cut in half. You see, sugercane is one of the world’s thirstiest crops. About nine gallons of water are required to produce just one teaspoon of sugar [WHAT?!]. The increasing demand for sugar has fueled deforestation in parts of the world with the most threatened ecosystems, like Brazil. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 12 countries devote at least a quarter of their land for sugarcane production. To meet the projected demand for sugar by 2050, growers will need to allocate 50% more land to this water-hungry crop.” — page 39, Chapter 1: The Evolution of Sugar Brain
  • Recommendation: Good for beginners but not for me. I am not a health professional but I much rather prefer the following beginner books about sugar — The Diabetes Code by Jason Fung and The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes.
  • Overall rating: 2/5 sugar comas
  • Goodreads link

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

  • Twitter summary: Sister and brother (and their team) try to escape* from their evil father.
  • The good: Clary’s development – slowly but surely she is shedding her young helpless shell and growing into the protagonist role. She still has miles to go but I’m starting to get on board with her character (with the exception of this terrible relationship with BFF turned BF but now back to BFF Simon, of course).
  • The bad: One word – Simon. He’s already outlived his purpose multiple times and this is only Book 2 of The Mortal Instruments series. Also, what is going on with this weird sexual tension between Clary and Jace? There is obviously more to this relationship.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: Read “the good” above.
  • Favourite character: Magnus Bane – I need more details about my dear warlock! I’m also interested in knowing the backstory between Magnus and Alec.
  • Recommendation: As I said here about Book 1, I still think this world is not for me. This book was first published in 2008 and if I had read it at that time would I like it more? Probably. Unfortunately, I don’t think the series is timeless as my favourite series. I am not compelled to finish reading the series but I can’t not finish a series so on to Book 3 I go.
  • Overall rating: 3/5 inherited steles
  • Goodreads link

*I use the word escape because it doesn’t seem as though they are trying to destroy their father. Valentine (their father) is very much 2 steps ahead of them.

Month in Review: March 2020

I love these monthly emails with key Kobo metrics. Let’s dive into March’s Kobo results:

  • Hours read: 32.80 (vs. February: 29.57) — moving on up! I will also remind myself that this is only hours read on my Kobo… *I’d insert a reading emoji here if I had one*
  • Pages flipped: 4,939 (vs. 4,978) — relatively consistent

My favourite book of the month was House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas with Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin coming in second.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

  • Twitter summary: Sworn enemies meet and must navigate a difficult situation while slowly falling in love.
  • The good: I appreciated how Mahurin revealed each aspect of the plot and character development bit by bit. There wasn’t an overindulgence of superfluous details nor an annoying drawn out love triangle. Lou and Reid’s love story captured my attention as soon as she bumped into him. I can’t wait until Blood & Honey.
  • The bad: Jean-Luc’s envy – so over it. Necessary plot requirement but I did not care for him at all. I guess this bullet point should be called “Least favourite character” instead.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay.” — that quote resonated so deeply within me.
  • Favourite character: Lou Lou Lou!
  • Recommend: Yes!
  • Overall rating: 5/5 sticky buns
  • Goodreads link

Unboxing: House of Earth and Blood Authored Signed

On one Friday at 12pm, I diligently logged onto a website to order my copy House of Earth and Blood that would be virtually signed by the one and only Sarah J. Maas! From my book review posted here, you can read that I was beyond excited to read the book (I purchased the e-book on Kobo Books).

Today, I finally opened the box that was delivered a couple of weeks ago because I wanted to be able to do it calmly. The book was beautifully packaged with red crinkle paper and a black piece of construction paper sealed with a red “Sarah J. Maas” sticker, which I carefully peeled off to stick back onto the inside sleeve cover of the book. Three pages into the book, I see Sarah’s signature. Excuse me while I jump around fangirling. Easily my most prized book possession. Well worth the price.

The book is absolutely stunning. The artwork is magical. I don’t even want to touch it. But I will as I plan on re-reading the book, slowly this time, over the next couple of weeks. Then I will wait impatiently for the next book of the series and probably re-read the book a few more times again.

Book Buys: Anatomy Colouring Books

Welcome to my second favourite hobby: buying books. Followed closely by browsing books. I’ve had an urge to be more creative during this stay at home time so I decided to get back into colouring. I was inspired when I saw an Instagram post about anatomy colouring books! I thought to myself:

  • I love books!
  • I love learning more about health and fitness!
  • I want to colour more!
  • Books + health and fitness + colouring = what a perfect trio!

So here I am with two anatomy colouring books:

  • The Yoga Anatomy Coloring Book by Kelly Solloway and Samantha Stutzman
    • First impressions: nice thick paper that will allow me to use markers (my preferred colouring medium because I dislike smudges on the paper). I want to start practicing yoga so this will be a great scientific introduction. The illustrations are crisp, generally span the entire length of the page and sufficiently detailed. Can’t wait to dive in!
  • The Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit and Lawrence M. Elson
    • First impressions: unfortunately the paper is quite thin and will show marker bleed through on the other side. But this gives me a reason to buy a pack of colouring pencils so all is well. Each section is divided into different bodily systems with detailed notes and illustrations to colour. This reminds me of Grade 11 Biology and I’m excited!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

  • Twitter summary: Girl goes clubbing, witnesses a murder and is pulled into a fantasy world while trying to save her mother.
  • The good: Another fantasy world commingling all the usual suspects. Clare has done a fabulous job setting up the storyline for the series…
  • The bad: …but I felt the book was lacking the “gripping, can’t stop reading must know what happen, omg what just happened?” factor.
  • Favourite aspect of the book: The character dynamics – there was more to each relationship than what you found out in the first third of the book. Because *spoiler that is not really a spoiler* you knew there was more, so much more.
  • Favourite character: Jace – I kept wanting to know more about this brooding and also nonchalant amazingly skilled young Shadowhunter as I knew there had to be more to his story. Clary’s character growth is still at its infancy and thus, it is hard to root for her in this book.
  • Recommendation: I don’t think it’s my cup of tea but I will read the second book to give the series another chance.
  • Overall rating: 3/5 body tattoos
  • Goodreads link