Reading Rush!!

I don't know what it is about internet challenges that just really motivate me.  Challenges like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) really motivate me to write even when I don't want to (especially when other people are writing with me).  Having reading goals for the year pushes me to read lots and lots.  So when Ariel Bisset (link to her YouTube channel HERE!) showed up in my subscription box announcing this week-long reading challenge, I jumped on the opportunity!  So this year, I participated for the first time in the Reading Rush (formerly known as BookTubeAThon) from July 22-28.

There are seven challenges within this week-long Reading Rush.  The books you pick can fit more than one challenge if you'd like and you can participate in as many or as few as you'd like.  The point is to get you reading with reckless abandon for a full week.

I planned to read these books:

• Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki
• A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
• Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider
• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

These are the books that I actually read during this week and the challenges they fulfill as well as a brief review (so these books will be taken off of my July Reads post when that eventually comes out):


The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Challenges:
Read and watch a book to movie adaptation.  CHECK!
Read a book in the same spot the entire time.  FAIL.

I did read this entire book in one day, however!  It just turns out that I am someone who needs to take breaks periodically.  But ultimately, I went from an outdoor hammock to a couch inside when I got too cold.  So, too bad, I did not fulfill one of the challenges I set out to accomplish. 

This is one of my favorite horror movies and this book didn't disappoint.  It had a slowness that drew you in and a really effed-up ending.  I don't even think I can say I preferred the book over the movie or vice versa.  They are both great in their own right.  I think it was even better that I read this book as it was getting dark outside... in a cabin... in Wisconsin... it just added to the creepy feeling to the story.

Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider

Challenges:

Read a book with purple on the cover.  CHECK.
Read a book you meant to read last year.  CHECK.

I can believe I didn't read this book sooner.  It was really charming, super engaging, and funny-sad.  It was a wonderful and light YA read.  I'm not sure if it's appropriate to call it a beach read because it's not that light of a story, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.

I liked the characters very much and thought it represented high school students quite well.  Like, yes, there are those that are quite moody and just seem to hate the world for no reason, but also kids that genuinely seem to enjoy where they are in life and have great friends that will stick together for years to come.  It talks about dissolving and rekindling friendships.  I think there need to be more stories on this subject.  There seems to be this belief that when you get a friend, you're stuck together for life.  But I think more people need to learn that not all friendships are meant to last forever and you have to choose people you want to be around and who bring out the best in you.

With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Challenges:
Pick a book with purple on the cover.  CHECK.
Pick a book that has five or more words in the title.  CHECK.

This was one that I brought to the cabin with me and have really been looking forward to reading since I heard it was coming out.  Elizabeth Acevedo is one of my favorite authors.  She had me at book one.  This book just reinforced my love for her writing.

I love the focus on food in this book.  It really engages the senses in a way that I don't feel like I've experienced in a while.  I also appreciated that this book is written from the perspective of a teen mother.  One pitfall in stories like this is oftentimes, stories will end when the teen mother-to-be gives birth.  But by the time we meet Emoni, her daughter is two years old and she has settled into a groove of being a parent and trying to finish high school.  I appreciate that her life doesn't "end" with parenthood, just changes how she moves in the world.  It's more realistic.  Having these new relationships also added weight to her decision to do something for herself and go to Spain with her culinary arts class. 

I don't think I can say much more other than this was an amazing read and you definitely need to pick this book up ASAP.

To sum everything up, during the 2019 Reading Rush, I accomplished 4/7 of the challenges!  Not too shabby!  I will definitely be participating in the Reading Rush next year!

Thanks for reading!

--Jude