My Rating System

I say that I have a rating system but I really don’t lmao. I find that how I rate a book depends on what exactly I’m reading the book for and my expectations of that book!

In general, my rating system is:

★☆☆☆☆ 1 star:

I really disliked (and maybe even hate) and did not enjoy reading this book and wish I had never read it. I would not recommend this book to anyone. A 1.25 stars, 1.50 stars, and 1.75 stars rating would mean I still dislike the book and wouldn't recommend it, but there were a few redeeming qualities of this book.

★★☆☆☆ 2 stars:

I don’t dislike the book to the point of it being a 1 star, but I would still not recommend it to anyone. A 2.25 stars, 2.50 stars, and 2.75 stars rating would mean there were a couple of things I liked about the book but overall I still did not enjoy nor like it.

July 2020 TBR

I managed to read 4 books in June! Yay! Although I didn’t manage to get through my entire June TBR, I hope to finish off most of it in July and read a couple of new books! My goal this month is to read at least 6 books :D I usually don’t have a general theme or mood for my monthly TBRs, but for July I have decided to read books that are more emotional and reflective than what I usually read (aka these books will make me cry and feel sad). I don’t usually read these types of books but I find myself wanting to read them to like, you know, feel something sometimes. Below are the books that I will (hopefully) get to this month; I also realize these books will be by authors who are new to me!

Books Mentioned:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

June 2020 Wrap Up

Hello! This month was pretty difficult in terms of reading as I had final exams the first two weeks of June and a one week break before starting summer school. I also got way too distracted by mobage and Animal Crossing and may have spent more time playing games than reading (whoops). And with everything going on in the world, it was sometimes difficult to fully immerse myself mentally in a book.  Please check https://currentinfo.carrd.co/ to find petitions and gofundmes to support those facing global tragedies.

I managed to read a total of 4 books this month and will be continuing to read one book into July. Although I didn’t get through my June TBR, I’m still happy I managed to get through most of it! I hope to read at least 6 books next month (though who knows… there’s the Animal Crossing July update coming…)!

Books Mentioned:

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Wicked + The Divine Volume 1 by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

The Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag 2020

It's halfway through the year already!!

I started reading more books last December and have been steadily reading more as this year progressed!

Since I went a few years without reading new books, I was really interested to see how my taste in books has changed since I was younger. I still love reading fantasy books and I don't think I'll ever stop reading them. There is just something about this genre of books that provide a lot of comfort and enjoyment when I read them. I also learned that I am interested in new adult books and contemporaries and I am hoping to read more books of these genres in the future!

I honestly haven't read that many books so far this year, but I still wanted to participate in this tag!! I read 12 books so there might be some overlap! So yeah here we go!

[BOOK REVIEW] Circe by Madeline Miller

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.25 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Trigger Warnings: violence, rape, sexual abuse, war themes

Synopsis:

“In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.”

[BOOK REVIEW] Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4 stars

Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction

“Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there's Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn't know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.”

[BOOK REVIEW] The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

Rating: ★★★★★ 4.5 stars

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Synopsis:

“With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.

A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This evocative debut chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy.”

I really enjoyed reading this book! Although it was only about 100 pages, Nghi Vo impressively expressed a great deal within those pages. The prose was beautiful, though I was a bit confused at the beginning since I jumped into the book without reading the synopsis beforehand. Nevertheless, I was still pulled into the story, with its riveting storyline and flashbacks. I really loved how there were stories within the stories told: stories of resilience, rebellion, and feminism. However, I read this book over a couple of weeks due to school, so the story didn’t have as strong an impact on me than if I were to read it in one sitting. I feel like because of this I don’t have anything else to say, beside that it is a beautifully written and interesting book with a diverse cast! I am excited to read where Chih’s journey takes them next!

- lian