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Before summer began I made a promise to myself that I would start reading every night before I go to bed. I enjoy pleasure reading and always have a book on my side table for me to read. Unfortunately I was not always reaching for the book instead opting for Netflix or my phone. It would take me a month or so to finish one book, even though I could have read it within a week or two. So in the beginning of summer I made a vow to myself to read as many books as I possibly had the time for. Since everyone, including myself, is always looking for book recommendations I thought I share what I read this past summer; the synopsis and my honest review of the book. If you haven’t read the book, do not read the review as it contains many spoilers. If you have read the book, look at this like a mini book club. I am always looking to discuss the books I read and am curious as to how liked or disliked the story. SO please let me know in the comment section your thought on each book!
Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy Part 3)
In the beginning of the summer I read the 3rd and final book of the Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy: Rich People Problems. The book series was more than just the love story between Nicholas Young and Rachel Chu, it follows every beloved character’s story more in-depth. From Astrid’s marriage to Su Yi’s past, the final book closes the chapter on Crazy Rich Asians with warmth, tears, family, and love. I can’t give too much away as to what happens in the final book without giving away what happens in the previous 2. What I can say is that my favorite parts weren’t always about the storyline but the knowledge of the culture itself. It was very interesting to read the side notes of the history and language of not only Singapore but of Asia. I watched the movie before I read the book and am actually happy I did it this way. There is a lot of characters in the trilogy and it can be hard to keep track of who is who. Seeing the movie and having a physical person to differentiate really helped me. I highly suggest reading the trilogy!
Review and Spoilers
As I went on to book 2 of the trilogy I was happy that the story line was much more than Nick and Rachel’s love story. In fact Rachel is hardly in the 3rd book. The trilogy is about Nick’s family’s history and I found it to be so much more interesting than the love story. Do not get me wrong I thrive on reading a good love story, but I enjoyed learning so much about Asia and the culture of Singapore, a city/country/continent that I have never been to (yet). Anyway, as I said the story really does move away from Rachel (a little) but we still have Rachel’s family issues with her half-brother and his awful girlfriend/friend Colette. At times when we would follow Colette’s story, as well as a few other characters like Kitty Pong and Eddie Chong, I found to be a bit boring. I wasn’t sure if I was suppose to root for Kitty Pong or not. Eventually I do because she saves Tyersall Park but her character isn’t likable. The storylines that I was invested in were Nick’s, Su Yi’s and Astrid’s. Astrid’s storyline was by far my favorite with her troubled marriage and the unconditional love from Charlie Wu. An ex coming back after all these years, still secretly in love with her–Count me in! I was rooting for Astrid the entire time to find happiness and love. Her relationship with her grandmother Su Yi is something truly special. Su Yi, to everyones surprise, helped Charlie plan the engagement to Astrid. It made me so happy to see the grandmother in a new light; especially upon hearing her history during the war and her love affairs of her past. With Nick trying to get back in the good graces of his grandmother and family before the deed to Tyersall Park was finalized and Su Yi passes away, I found this storyline to be the most interesting as well. Never did I doubt Nick’s good character and grace. You root for him from the moment you first meet him. I did enjoy how in the movies his mother and Rachel made up before the wedding, instead of Eleanor having to crash it in California like in the book. But I found it really didn’t make a difference either way, just a different take on the fundamentals of their relationship. Anyway, back to the deed to Tyersall Park- I really had no clue what was going to happen to the house. When they have you believing it is going to be sold to the Bing’s or be completely demolished, I thought I was going to hate the ending. Luckily that is not the case– well sorta since Kitty is a secret investor. I was happy the house and the land was being preserved and in the hands of Nick and his friends. The entire series was beautifully written with a lot of cultural references. As I mentioned I loved how there were side notes to explain places, history, language and so on. I can’t wait to see how the movies portray the rest of the story and hoping they stay true to the books. Of course parts of the 1st book was different from the movie, but that is typical.
This is a story of a girl named Kya Clark, known to the people in the small town of North Carolina as the “Marsh Girl”. Kya comes from a big family all crammed together living in a shack on the marsh in the outskirts of town. At the age of 10 Kya finds herself abandoned by her entire family, forced to find ways to survive on her own. While we are learning about Kya and her life on the marsh growing up, the book fast forwards to 1969 when Chase Andrews, a beloved young man in town, is found dead (not a spoiler it is in the synopsis on Amazon and you know who is dead on page one). The book flips back and forth between Kya’s life and the search to find out about Chase. It’s about survival, finding family in unlikeliest of places, love and friendship as well as judgment and prejudice. Besides the storyline we learn a lot about nature through Kya’s love for the outdoors and the creatures she shares her home with.
Review and Spoilers
I throughly enjoyed this book. Yes there are parts that move a little slow, but overall I found it to be well written and interesting. Not only was the storyline intriguing but I enjoyed learning about the marsh and nature. The case to figure out Chase Andrew’s death was the cherry on top of an already interesting story. I honestly had no idea who did it; at times I thought it was either Kya, Jumpin’, Mabel even, Tate of course was a suspect, Chase’s fiancé or mother. I even thought it was an accident at one point. I loved how the book gives you a little to think one way but never truly tells you the truth until the very end. Kya is one smart girl that turns into a successful woman. When we found out she was the one who murdered Chase, I was a little pleased and impressed at how well she planned and got away with it. But like, it is still murder so you can’t really be happy about it. Chase isn’t a bad guy, just a product of his town and the times. I was also very pleased to find out she had been the secret poet under a pseudo name. It shows the level of depth that Kya possessed; you can’t judge a book by its cover. The towns people treated Kya with such disrespect because she was not like them, yet she was probably the most accomplished person in town with her book deals and the poem series. My favorite storyline, however, was ofKya and Tate’s friendship and relationships. Tate was so sweet to Kya- caring and looking out for her, teaching her how to read. I was hoping the entire time they would end up together and was thrilled to know that they do live happily ever after with kids. Overall I loved this book and can’t wait until it becomes a movie.
A story between the two unlikeliest of friends, Connell and Marianne. Connell is a popular kid whose mother is the housekeeper for Marianne’s family. Marianne is a reserved loner whose family is very wealthy. Marianne and Connell creates a bond over similarities that ultimately becomes strong and unbreakable. Normal People takes us through a relatable journey of loving and caring for someone as a teenager. The trials and tribulations of not knowing yourself truly and how it affects your relationships, how timing is everything, how we can’t explain our connection to someone even if we wish we could break it. It’s about love and friendship.
Review and Spoilers
I have mixed feelings about this book. I could identify with both characters at certain times during their relationship and other times I found it to be ridiculous. It’s about two people who are so different yet so much alike battling through growing up and trying to figure themselves out. Trying to deal with the pressures of family, popularity, society, and who they are. It’s all relatable, especially being fully in love with someone that at times it was unrequited, situations when it wasn’t the right time. It’s part of growing up. What I did not like is how self victimizing Marianne was all the time. I get she comes from an unloving home and an abusive brother, but Connell was never abusive or really unkind to her. The whole part when she goes abroad and finds herself in a relationship where the guy basically hits her during sex was too much for me. It sorta broke the bond or the connection I had with Marianne. Yes it made for an interesting, juice story, but I no longer felt connected with her like I did in the beginning of the book. Whether we admit to it or not, there are times in our lives when we feel alone, that we do not belong. That was the most humanizing part about Marianne. Yes people do enter into abusive relationships when they themselves grew up in an unloving family, it’s not far off from the truth. I guess I felt it was a little too left field for me. Connell I could always relate to. Loving someone so much but being afraid of being vulnerable, worried what others will think of them. It’s a typical young persons generalized fear of being in love. He cared so much for Marianne that at times it ruined his own relationships. There were moments in the book when I could not put it down and moments when I thought this is ridiculous. The ending however is what really irks me. There is no definite ending. Connell gets an opportunity to go to America and that’s it. We don’t know if they break up, stay together, move to America together. But that’s life– it’s an up and down rollercoaster. They are both so young- fresh out of college– that I get the ending being left on a cliff hanger. They still had a lot of growing up to do. But as the hopeless romantic that I am I wanted closure of either way. With that being said I can’t really give a definite answer as to whether or not I liked the book. Yes I enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down, but I also disliked many parts and hated the ending.
Bernadette Fox is a complex character that was once a scholar architect. She is likable and quirky but obsesses over the smallest things to the point she can be intolerable. She hates her life in Seattle where she lives with her husband Elgie and her best friend and daughter Bee. For high school graduation and receiving excellent grades, Bee wants to take a family trip to Antartica, to Bernadette’s dismay. Certain events happen and Bernadette vanishes, no one knowing where she went. The story is told through emails between characters and through Bee retelling of events. It’s fun, lighthearted, and tells of tale of family and love.
Review and Spoilers
Is it weird to say I enjoyed the movie better than the book? I am a sucker for happy endings and the movie gives a happier ending than the book. I saw the movie first before reading so maybe I am bias on the storyline. However, I hated the whole affair between the husband and his assistant, and how she becomes pregnant. I felt it was so unnecessary– your wife has only been gone for a few days and you are that weak that you are easily seduced by another woman. No thank you. In the movie Elgie is much more likable. Yes he has his moments, but you know it comes from a place of love. In the book you grow to really dislike him. With that being said in the book you still have the wonderful relationship between Bernadette and her daughter Bee. It’s the most intriguing aspect of the book. It’s also still fun and lighthearted with their trip to Antartica and Bernadette’s rival with the Gnats. Overall I loved the book and enjoyed reading it.
