The Cheerleaders- Review

I don’t know where to start with this review.  I was super excited to read a book that was a perfect mashup of “Pretty Little Liars” and “Riverdale” but this book did not live up to my expectations or hopes.  Don’t get me wrong, the actual writing style of the book was great and Thomas does something that I think is hard to achieve when writing YA novels- she writes in a realistic and mature way.  It didn’t feel juvenile in the least.  However, the content and the way the story played out was just not compelling.

In an attempt to make this novel a mystery, Thomas jumps from witness to witness, and some chapters are narrated by different characters.  I had a harder time following along with each successive chapter (and come on…that says a lot for someone who watched all 7 seasons of Pretty Little Liars).  By the end of the book I wasn’t 100% sure about who was who, and it seemed like a far stretch with how everything was tied together.  And the ending?  Don’t get me started with the ending.  While it was slightly unrealistic and out of nowhere, it was mostly just random.  And not in a good way.  Yes, sometimes it’s great to have mystery novels end on a surprising note.  But this ending just seemed like it wasn’t well thought-out.  Characters that make a big appearance at the end of the book aren’t written into the body of the novel enough to make it a satisfying ending.

In conclusion, I had this on my list of books to read for about a year.  And in truth, I’m not mad that I spent a week reading this book, but I wouldn’t recommend this read to anyone else.   

Sadie- Review

   

     This book will haunt you as you do the dishes, fall asleep at night, and sip your coffee in the morning.  But it’s not the kind of haunting that follows you after you read a Stephen King novel or watch a “Blumhouse Productions” movie.  No, it’s the kind of haunting that makes you cling to the thoughts when they surface in your mind.  Because it’s a book that reaches into deep crevices of your mind that you aren’t real familiar with.  It is absolutely one of the most chilling and evocative books I have ever read. 
     From the podcast interviews to Sadie’s firsthand accounts, I felt like I was truly there, watching it all unfold.  I discovered the podcast “Serial” about a year ago and I whole-heartedly loved it.  And, although I’ve had several podcasts recommended to me that my friends have sworn are “just like ‘Serial’”, nothing has even slightly held a candle to it.  That is, until I found “The Girls” (the podcast included in this novel).  I experienced a phenomenon I’ve never experienced until reading this book- as I read the words that were written on each page, I continually had to remind myself that I wasn’t actually hearing each word being spoken out loud.  But ass I laid on my couch and read the podcast script, I truly felt like I was laying there and listening to a podcast.  So many of my senses were heightened as I read through each chapter.
     Summers does a fabulous job depicting the attitudes and personalities of each of the main characters in the novel.  The characters are likable and portrayed in such a way that you end up feeling like you know them firsthand… like they were your next-door neighbors that moved away when you were 8-years-old- people you once knew but haven’t spoken with for several years.  Sadie was my favorite character in the book, and though I couldn’t relate to the demons she was fighting, I could understand where she was coming from and I was rooting for her every step of the day.  By the last few pages of the book I began to become panicked.  Panicked because I could see that I wasn’t going to receive the satisfying and long-winded ending which I expected this book to offer.  But, I do have to relent that the ending completes the book- it’s the ending that creates the “haunting” and lasting impression that will be with you for days to come.
     This is one of my top 3 reads of the year, and I imagine it will stay on the top of my list for a long while.  I will be the first one buying “pre-sale” tickets on Fandango when this becomes a movie one day.  Until then, I’ll be recommending this book to all my friends who gave me mediocre podcast recommendations that were supposed to be as riveting as ‘Serial’.

All my loving,
SGH

Update- November 4, 2019

I have read so many books since I last posted!  And I'm ashamed to admit I haven't written many reviews for them.  But, in the spirit of sharing, I thought I'd list the books I've finished since April 1st.
Spoiler alert- I did, in fact, read Stephen King books back to back.  In fact, I read 3 King books pretty much back-to-back.  How you like them apples? ;)

1) Salem's Lot
2) The Last Piece of my Heart
3) Gods in Alabama
4) The Miracle of Forgiveness
5) The Other Alcott
6) The Bell Jar
7) The Last Lecture
8) Year of Yes
9) Where the Crawdads Sing
10) The Hate U Give
11) Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons
12) Girl, Wash Your Face
13) The Happiness Project
14) Educated
15) The Girl Who Chased the Moon
16) Z- Zelda Fitzgerald
17) These is My Words
18) Born to Change the World
19) The Covered Smile
20) The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
21) Born to Change the World
22) The Summer I Turned Pretty
23) It's Not Summer without You
24) We'll Always Have Summer
25) Misery
26) I've Got Your Number
27) The Screwtape Letters

Annnnd... I'm currently reading
1) Burn for Burn
2) Sadie
3) The Cheerleaders

I'm SO excited to see my "Year in Books 2019"!

All my loving,
SGH

Salem's Lot

Y'all...
Should I do it?  Should I read two King books in a row?  Yes, he's my favorite author, but I have such a hard time reading his books back-to-back.  Remember the last time I tried that?  I went from reading It to reading The Stand.  And 2-years later and I was still reading The Stand...
But really, I'm currently waiting for 3 books to arrive that I ordered last week.  And I need to read something.  And I told my dad I was going to read his favorite King book, Salem's Lot.  So, I think I'm gonna take the plunge!

And of course, I'll keep you posted!

All my loving (and reading),
SGH

Pet Sematary

I love Stephen King and strive to aspire to the title of “constant reader”.  But alas, I haven’t read all of his books, (though I’ve read many!!), and don’t feel like I’m yet worthy of that honor.  However, I’ve read enough of his works to know that Pet Sematary is truly one of his best.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told to stay clear of this book.  I was told it is too disturbing, and that the terror and heartbreak it induces never really leaves.  And I’m a pretty sensitive 25-year-old woman.  (Which is probably why people were so concerned with me reading this book.)  But to be completely honest, this book did not have any sort of negative or scarring effect on me.  Was it disturbing?  Yes.  But not any more so than every other Stephen King book focused on a dark power.

I became engrossed in this book quickly, and I thoroughly enjoyed the lead-up to the main climactic events.  The main character, Louis, is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever gotten to know in book-form.  King does a brilliant job of creating Louis in such a way, that almost anyone can feel his emotions and understand why he does what he does.  Which is just one of the reasons I find this to be one of King’s top 3 books (and trust me, that says a lot coming from me). 

And I think this book really has a way of resonating with anyone who reads it.  Because we’ve all lost people we’re close to.  And we’ve all had those moments where we so desperately think, “They can’t be gone!  How can they be gone?  I just saw them yesterday.”  And we all have those hopeful and fleeting experiences where we think we hear their bracelet dangling or their particular shuffling walk come through the door, only to be disappointed as we remember that they are gone, and that they will never come through the door again.  That’s why this book is so impactful.  It hits home with something we all have in common.  Loss, and the relentless pull our loved ones have in our hearts, even after they are gone.

I encourage everyone to read this book, regardless of whether or not you’re a parent, regardless of whether or not you’re sensitive, and regardless of whether or not you like Stephen King.  It’s a good and powerful book to have in your repertoire.  It really gets you thinking, and the good that comes from these deep thoughts is what stays with you after reading it.  Anything disturbing stays within the pages of the book when it’s closed.

And that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Love you muchly,
Sissy Golden Hair

Girls with Sharp Sticks Review

One thing I will say about this book is that you will never read another one like it.  I’ve read my fair share of dystopian novels and novels with women heroine.  But this one was worlds different from any other book, and for that, I have to give the author credit. 

That being said, I didn’t love this book, nor did I find it a page-turner.  It was simply an average book that filled my time.  I don’t see the content staying with me, I won’t recommend it to my family and friends, and will not be anticipating (or even reading) any sequel that might be released.   

Here are the aspects of the writing I struggled with:

·      The characters:  I share in the opinion of other reviewers in that I just did not connect with these characters.  It isn’t that I disliked them.  I just didn’t feel anything towards them.  While the author does take the time to develop her main characters, I just felt like there was an unexplainable disconnect.  I mean, I even had a hard time picturing what the characters looked like!  As I’d be reading, I’d suddenly realize I didn’t have a clear picture in my head of these characters.  It’s almost like the storyline swallows the characters, and the characters are secondary to everything else. 

·      The theme:  Now, I am a woman and I am for women.  I am 100% opposed to women being pushed down, mistreated, and undervalued.  I need to make that clear, because I don’t want anyone to think I didn’t like this book solely because my values are against what it preaches.  That isn’t the case.  But frankly, I felt like the (not-so) subliminal messages in this book completely took over and dominated the storyline.  I might have enjoyed the book more if I didn’t feel like I was being taught a lesson every few pages.  Again, I’m all for what this book stands for, but it was just too much of it for a 400-page book.

·      The pace:  Unlike other reviewers, I didn’t have trouble “getting in” to this book.  I found it interesting from the first few pages.  But I found that it just moved slowly, even to the end.  Yes, there are some big events that take place, with a big climatic scene right near the end.  But even in these moments, the book tends to drag on.  It’s not ever boring, but it wasn’t ever particularly exciting either.  It’s just kind of “meh”.

I love to read, and YA novels are my very favorite genre to read.  But there are hundreds of YA books that I would recommend reading before this one.  It’s not terrible and it’s not boring, but it just isn’t great either.  It isn’t life-changing or lasting.  But if you’re still itching to read it after this review, go for it!  It may just be your cup of tea!

All my love,
SGH