Rhythm of A Life: books

Hello! It's about that time again. I've made it through 3 more books, and I'm going to share some thoughts today. These are all very different from each other. Hopefully, you'll find something that is right up your alley. If you want to check them out, my previous posts in the Book Nook series are here and here.

The Maze Runner Series

I recently finished the last two books in the Maze Runner series which like a lot of the books I've talked about is being adapted into a movie that is out on DVD (and it stars Dylan O'Brien as Thomas…Does it get any better? I think not). I actually read The Maze Runner before the news about the movie broke, and I always intended on finishing the series. Seeing that trailer in the theater before TFIOS was just the reminder I needed to go and pick the second one, The Scorch Trials, up. It seems to be a giant trend right now in the Young Adult fiction land to write about future dystopias involving teenagers, and this is another one of those. Actually, I stumbled across Maze Runner on Pinterest when I was checking out a list of books to read if you liked the Hunger Games. Once you get into them, they are definitely page turners. This might be weird, but I love how short the chapters are. The Scorch Trials has 65 chapters in 360 pages, so each chapter is about 5 and a half pages. It makes the reading experience way easier in my opinion. This is the kind of book that you can keep pushing yourself to read "just one more chapter" before you go to bed (even though that is never the truth). The Death Cure was very similar to the second book. With this series, I really struggled with too many questions and not enough answers which is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to books and TV shows. Honestly, I would really only suggest reading the first book of this series. I loved that one and couldn't put it down. The other two were a lot more of a struggle to get through, and the story got a little too big for its britches in my opinion. Eventually, it was just too much happening to the same person over and over, and it got tiring to deal with. Everything can't go wrong all the time. The trailer for The Maze Runner is below, so you can see if it piques your interest. I found the movie to be a pretty faithful adaptation, but I'd still read the book first.

Girl Online - Zoe Sugg

I bought this book for two reasons: Zoe Sugg wrote it and the cover is adorable. I had high hopes for the story because she had teased it in her announcement video. I flew through this book and, it was incredibly easy to read. If you need something that will only take you a few days to get through, this could be it. In its first week, it sold 78,000 copies which beat Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone and now holds the record for biggest first week for a debut novel. Now, my actual thoughts on the book. First and foremost, this book made me feel old. It is skewed toward a much younger reader than me. Honestly, I would categorize this as early Young Adult fiction if that is a thing. This is a book that preteens and people early into their teens will love. I say all that because it was all a bit overdone and cheesy for me. The story centers around a 15 year old blogger named Penny. Her parents own a wedding planning business which takes her family on a trip to New York City for Christmas. There she meets a boy named Noah, and they start dating kind of. Early on, it is obvious that Noah has a secret that he isn't sharing which adds a roadblock for him and Penny. Don't get me wrong the story is adorable, but it just doesn't feel real at all. There is at least a twist which was unexpected (well only a little). All in all, it's cute and a breeze to read, but it's certainly not life changing in any realm.

Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

Sometimes, I get in the mood to read a book with a religious message. This time, I went for Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is a retelling of the story of the the prophet Hosea but set in the time of the California gold rush. In case you are unfamiliar, the story of Hosea involves him purchasing a prostitute out of her slavery to be his wife and the ups and downs that unfold after that. Hosea served as a representation of God while his wife Gomer represented Israel. This book is about the relationship of Michael Hosea and Angel. This is a beautiful love story and a reminder of God's incredible love for his people. The book had me in tears, and I couldn't put it down. If you are in the mood for a love story, look no further.

What books have you read recently and loved?

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Hello! This must be an entertainment heavy week because it's time for a few more book recommendations. I had actually finished all of these by the time the first Book Nook post went up. I told you guys I had been reading crazy fast. I've lost count of how many books I have read this summer so far, but I recently joined Goodreads to help me keep track of all of them! If you are interested in what I am currently reading, you can add me on there. I really like it because it is letting me get a list of everything I've read started, and it lets you see what your friends are currently reading. After these, I did take a bit of a break from reading to get sucked into a TV show (more on that next week), but now I'm back. In case you missed it, I talked all about my love of #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso on Wednesday. I've got 3 more to talk about today, so let's get started!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This is another YA novel turned movie that is definitely worth the read before it hits the big screen. You can check out the trailer below. It is another really emotional book. It's about a very talented girl who is trying to decide where she is going to go to college. She has her family and her boyfriend to worry about. All that changes when her family is in a car accident (It happens really early in the book, so I wouldn't count that as a spoiler). From then on she is having an out of body experience, her narration of the story mixes together her observations of the people around her in the hospital and a lot of flashbacks. I found parts of it particularly hard to read because of the car accident that I told you guys about, so it was a bit much for me to look back on that. It is well written and a beautiful story overall. If you like John Green, he thinks very highly of Gayle Forman, so she could be a good author to look into.

Beauty by Lauren Conrad

I don't know about you guys, but I've still got a soft spot for Lauren Conrad. That soft spot particularly applies to the way she styles herself. I love her clothes, and she always looks beautiful. If you are looking for a light read or a serious beauty lover like me, then this one is for you. I read her book Style over Christmas, so I was excited to pick this up! It includes lots of pictures, step-by-step looks, tips, and tricks. Those are always helpful, and I never get tired of tutorials. Also, this book included of ton of information about skin care and harmful ingredients. I found it really educational on that front. If you are looking to be a little more informed in the world of beauty, this would be a good place to start.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

I would say that John Green is my favorite author, so I've been wanting to make sure that I've read everything he currently has out. I've already made my way through everything he has put out on his own, so that left this and one other book that he has co-authored. This tells the story of two boys both named Will Grayson and how their stories eventually connect. I did like this book, but for me it pales in comparison to his others. If you are just getting into John Green as an author, I would certainly start with one of the books that he wrote by himself. If you've made your way through his others like I have, then maybe consider picking this one up.

Recently, I picked up a few books that I wouldn't recommend and figured I should tell you about those too. I've been hearing a lot about an indie movie called Palo Alto, and it's based on a book written by James Franco. I hardly made it through 20 pages before I knew it wasn't for me. It's a book of short stories which is why I felt okay about making a judgement that quickly. I still might give the movie a try, but the book wasn't for me. Also, I picked up a book called One Day by David Nicholls. I remembered seeing the trailer for the movie (starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess), and the concept sounded interested. As the title would suggest, each chapter covers one day in the lives of these two people and their relationship with each other. You get to hear about every July 15 for 20 years. At first, I was excited about this idea because I've never read a book written in this style. I got 150 pages into this one before putting it down. I realized that because of the time jump I was having a hard time connecting to the characters. Personally, I didn't care where their story was going because I wasn't getting enough of the individual pieces of their lives. If you find connecting to characters an easy task, this one could be for you.

As always, I'm open to any book suggestions! What is a book you've read recently and loved?

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Hello! Lately, I've found some things that make me feel a little bit like a boss…a #GIRLBOSS to be exact. Today, I'm going to share those two things with you.

One of my most repinned people on my Pinterest is hands down the Nasty Gal profile (I'm going to put some of my current favorite pieces available from Nasty Gal in this post, so feel free to shop those). That being said when their Founder and CEO Sophia Amuroso was coming out with a book, I saw a lot of promo for it all over my homepage. At first, I was skeptical. To be fair, I'm skeptical of anything with a hashtag in the title (props to you for not judging this post for having a hashtag and reading it anyways). Over time, I kept hearing good things about it. Then, Anna, over on one of my favorite blogs ViviannaDoesMakeup, posted about how much she liked it, and that sealed the deal. I picked it up from the library and decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. If you are in need of some motivation, around my age, or just aren't quite sure what to do with you life yet, I think this is a great book for you. Don't be fooled like I was. At first, I kind of thought this was going to be some kind of weird self-help kind of book, but it isn't. It mostly chronicles Sophia's story as she started and grew Nasty Gal into the business it is today. Nasty Gal is an online store that sells clothing and accessories. All the things you would expect from an online retailer. The thing that separates Nasty Gal from others is the customers ability to shop both new clothes and vintage ones. Sophia Amurosa does know a thing or two about success. Her business did 100 million dollars in sales in 2012 alone. You can trust what she is telling you about how to be a #GIRLBOSS because she is one herself. It is packed with cool quotes and tips, but what makes it interesting is Sophia. Her story is a Cinderella one by the modern day definition, but she had to be her own fairy godmother when building this business. If you are in need of a kick in the pants to get going on a dream, look no further for your inspiration. I've got a few of my favorite quotes from it to share with you all below. I'll be bringing back another quote from this book next Saturday to talk about what I think the most marketable skill you can have when you are job hunting is, so check back for that!

"The energy you'll expend focusing on someone else's life is better spent working on your own. Just be your own idol."
"When your goal is to gain experience, perspective, and knowledge, failure is no longer a possibility. Failure is your invention. I believe that there is a silver lining in everything, and once you begin to see it, you'll need sunglasses to combat the glare."
"Things come to those who wait but only what is left by those who hustle."
"Don't you dare think my shredded T-shirt makes me a sheep in wolf's clothing. I, like every #GIRLBOSS, am a wolf in wolf's clothing."
"When you don't dress like everyone else, you don't have to think like everyone else."
"You can have a ton of money and buy yourself all the designer goodies you can stuff into the trunk of your Mercedes-Benz, but no amount of money can buy you style."
"Clothing is ultimately the suit of armor in which we battle the world. When you choose your clothing right, it should feel good. And there's nothing shallow about feeling good. Owning your style, however, is much more about your attitude than it is about what's on your back."
"An advantage of being naive is being able to believe in yourself when no one else will."

Quickly, I just wanted to share the newest Fifth Harmony track with you entitled, you guessed it, BO$$ (So many capital letters today). When my Nasty Gal motivation hasn't been enough, this has put me over the edge. It's had been the first thing I put on pretty much everyday when I start getting ready since it came out last week. I realize the lyrics are a lot corny, but I'm willing to look past that if you are. The girls sound great on this track. As their name suggests, the harmony is on point. I'd say it's worth 3 minutes of your life to give it a listen. Just let yourself feel the girl power that inevitably flows from any girl group track.

What makes you feel like a boss?

P.S. I'm sharing some more books that I have read recently on Saturday, so be back for that! :)

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So, my 100 Happy Days have ended…I am definitely in need of a break from taking that many pictures. I wanted to keep Wednesdays a day where I share things about my life or that I have been loving. The posts coming up on Wednesdays will be a random assortment of things, and I'm sure some Happy Weeks will pop up in the future. This day will just be open for things that I have been excited about whether it is entertainment, beauty, or fashion. This Wednesday, I want to share a few of the many books I've made my way through this summer. Let's get started!

I have been reading a ton this summer. I don't think I've been this excited about reading as an activity in a long time. It is a mixture of trying to catch up on all the fun reading I did not do while I was at college and getting into some good series. I am also beyond excited about The Fault in Our Stars movie coming out. It is by far my favorite book and attending the event that John Green and the cast were at only gave me hope that this movie would live up to my expectations. It all started with me rereading that book, and I have been on a rampage ever since. I thought I would share some of the stuff that has landed on my bookshelf recently in case you are looking for a good read.

Before I start suggesting things, I should tell you what kind of books seem to grab my attention. Most of the things I read currently seem to fall into the YA fiction category. Those are the books that are being made into movies and the ones that I have had suggested to me recently. I spent a lot of time in high school reading classic literature for my AP Language and Literature classes, so I might be overcorrecting to give my brain the break it somehow still needs. I'm slowly getting my urge to read those kind of books back now. It only took one trip through Barnes & Noble for that to happen. I get sucked into the action-packed series just like everyone else does (I finished the Divergent series over spring break). I'm real sucker for a love story about teenage misfits that seem to never turn out how they are supposed to. Oh, and anything written by John Green. In all reality if someone tells me a book is good, I'll give it a chance. Taking the time to read a few chapters never hurts anybody. That about sums it up. My taste in books is as "all over the place" as my taste in music.

Now onto some quick things about these books. If you are going to read one book this summer (maybe even this year), please make it The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. That novel is beautifully written and emotional affecting. It is just an important book. To quote it, "Sometimes you read a book, and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans have read the book." In short, that is how I feel about TFIOS. It is a book about two kids with cancer, but it isn't about their cancer. As a society, we tend to dehumanize people who are sick, and this book fights against that notion. It also tells a beautiful love story that validates the fact that young people can be in love for real. I could ramble about it all day, but I'm going to stop myself for all of our sakes. If you need extra motivation, check out the trailer for the movie below. It is the number one movie in America currently, so you can be sure this story is a great one. I'm definitely on team "read the book first," so that is what I would suggest. If you have already seen it, it did really capture the spirit of the novel, and it only made me love the book more. Go ahead, and give it a read. The paperback is currently on sale online at Target for only $9!

I also recently picked up Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, and I finished it over the course of three days. It falls into my "teenage misfit love story" category for sure. It switches focus back and forth between Eleanor and Park which makes them coming together a lot more interesting to witness. You get to see the story from both sides. Overall, this novel is a bit dark, as one of the main characters has major struggles at home. That aspect of it is what got me emotionally invested in the characters and their relationship. The movie rights to this just got sold last month, and the author is writing the screenplay. This is a good one to pick up before it hits the big screens.

Same goes for Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler. It is rumored that it is being adapted into a movie starring Hailee Steinfeld. I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. One interesting thing about it is that it has illustrations throughout rather than chapter titles. The novel consists of the narrator looking back on her relationship and going through the box of things that she kept from it. It is set up like a letter to the ex-boyfriend about what happened between them. Each chapter starts off with a drawing of the object from the box that she is going to talk about. I thought that was a very interesting way to make sure the reader is visualizing your story the way you want them to. If you are into stories about relationships between a mega popular boy and a regular girl, this one will be right up your alley. Be forewarned, this book is pretty overdramatic. I felt that way because the relationship that she is talking about really didn't last very long. When you take a step back and look at what she is doing, it all seems a little much. That being said, it is very easy to connect with her emotionally, so I do still recommend it.

I'll be talking about some more books that I have been reading through the summer. I've already got another few that I would like to share with you after these.

What is your favorite book of all time?

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The Maze Runner Series

Girl Online - Zoe Sugg

Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Beauty by Lauren Conrad

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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The Maze Runner Series

Girl Online - Zoe Sugg

Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Beauty by Lauren Conrad

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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