Soundbites About Divergent

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Narrators: Emma Galvin
Rating (Story): ★★☆☆☆
Rating (Narration):★★★★★

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions, each of which prize a particular virtue (intelligence, bravery, etc.). At age 16, children must choose which faction to belong to and changing factions means leaving all friends and family behind. Tris’s choice to leave the selfless faction for Dauntless is brutally hard and she has a secret to hide which will make things even harder.

Non-Fiction Friday

Today is the second Non-Fiction Friday and I’ve decided to add a section where I share some non-fiction news from around the internet. I won’t be adding links from other bloggers, but I will be asking bloggers I know to add some of their great non-fiction reviews and round-ups to the link-up at the end of this post 🙂

What Are You Waiting For?

Title: What Are You Waiting For?
Author: Kristen Moeller
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Summary: I like the author’s story a lot and would have loved this as a memoir, but the attempt at being a self-help book really didn’t work for me.

I find this book difficult to describe because I disagree with the book cover description. Purportedly, this is a book about how to change your life instead of waiting for your life to change. In reality, it largely focuses on the author’s own challenges throughout her life, from early drug addiction and bulimia to her recent loss of her house in a wildfire. She reframes many of these challenges as ways in which she was waiting for something. She also includes thought-provoking questions that challenge the reader to apply the lessons she’s learned to their own life.

Hunter’s Blood

Title: Hunter’s Blood
Author: Marianne Morea
Source: from publisher for review
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review Summary: A fun, steamy read which includes some cliches but also threw out others in a way that made this a great read.

I don’t read much paranormal romance, largely because even the little reading I’ve done has made me acquainted with the cliches of the genre. This book has some of those. There’s the supernatural abilities as an explanation for unrealistically over-whelming sex appeal; the insta-love; the girl who feels overwhelmed by the guy’s magic enhanced mojo; and the guy intrigued because the girl is the only one who can resist his appeal.  However, if you like paranormal romance, I’d suggest you check this one out for the good qualities that make is stand out from the pack (pun completely intended).

Soundbites About I’ve Got Your Number

Title: I’ve Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrators: Jayne Entwistle
Rating (Story): ★★★☆☆
Rating (Narration):★★★★☆

I’ve Got Your Number is light romantic comedy in which Poppy’s loss of her phone leads her to pick one up from a trashcan. Sam Roxton, whose personal assistant owned the phone wants it back but Poppy is desperate to hang on to it because she’s also lost her engagement ring and can only get news about it through the phone. As you can probably guess, the story sometimes surpassed the bounds of believability, but it was a fun adventure throughout. Overall, I thought it was a pretty standard romantic comedy and would make an excellent movie because someone funny is always happening. However… Poppy, while really witty and a ton of fun can also be an interfering, cowardly, stupid woman. There were times I loved her for her good points, but other times I found her so frustrating I almost hoped things didn’t work out! Overall, quite average. I thought the narration was very well done, especially the emotion with with the narrator told the story. Also, bonus points for singing. I did, however, sometimes find the whiny edge to her voice almost as annoying as Poppy.

Indie Books You’ve Got To Read Giveaway

I don’t even know where to start with this post, I have so many exciting things to put in it. First, Doing Dewey is two years old! As of the 8th actually, but who’s counting? Not me, obviously 🙂 I also just hit 250 wordpress followers give or take a few followers on feedreaders and the like.  I think that means a big thank you is in order! And also another minion gif. So thank you all, everyone who has followed, commented, and generally made blogging such a fun experience.