AUGUST | Summer Book Challenge Check-In

August was baby month, so I traded in the time I would normally spend reading, in favor of prepping freezer meals, packing my hospital bags, and soaking up my remaining days using my big, fat belly as my excuse to lay on the couch and do absolutely nothing. I am still in the midst of trying to finish my second consecutive book challenge, however, so I made a modest effort to continue to chip away at my categories for Erin's Book Challenge 5.0. 

Here are the books I did manage to check off my list!

20 points: Read a book from this list of books being made into movies. | Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (330 pages, ★★★★)

Unique and unlike anything I've ever read. The characters were well-developed, albeit all slightly insane and the mystery surrounding Bernadette's disappearance somehow managed to be light-hearted and fun, while keeping you on the edge of your seat, trying to figure out what happened.

20 points: Read a book with twins as characters. | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (870 pages, ★★★★★)

I mean, it's Harry Potter- does this really require much more of a review?

PREVIOUS POINTS: 85

TOTAL POINTS: 125

Extra credit reads:

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (487 pages, ★★★)

I liked the premise of the book and I do find Moriarty's writing to be pretty easy-peasy when I'm in need of a less weighty read, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about her books. I also thought the ending was kind of cliche and predictable.

Falling by Jane Green (384 pages, ★★)

Meh. Not impressed. The plot seemed tired and cliché, I never felt any kind of attachment to the characters so I wasn't very affected by the plot twist at the end. I wanted a mindless read, which I got, but it wasn't very enjoyable.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (323 pages,  ★★★★★)

ALL THE STARS.  

Amy Schumer performs the ultimate beautiful balancing act of tackling serious issues like sexual assault, domestic abuse, gun violence and her Dad's debilitating medical condition with laugh-out-loud hilarious sexcapades and experiences as a stand-up comic. She is candid, honest, heartfelt and her book is so full of girl power, self-love and positivity that I wanted to burst with love and admiration for her.  

She is a sweet, hilarious, and fantastic human being and every man, woman, and child needs to read this immediately. 

Obviously, I didn't make my remaining three book challenge categories much of a priority this month and opted to spend some time with lighter reads. But I'm hoping that taking this little mental break will re-energize me enough to cross three more books off my list and finish Erin's Book Challenge in September.

Wish me luck!