My Latest Book Reads and Reviews

Jul 23
3 min read

Ever since Berkley was born I find very little time to read. This is very different than how things used to be. I devoured books, at least I thought I did, at least good books. Now, I'm lucky if I'm able to crack open a book at all in a day.

But I have been reading--slowly--but I have been reading. And I've enjoyed myself.

Here are my latest three book reads and my book reviews:

Latest Book Reads and Reviews

Straight On Till Morning: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth J. Braswell

This is my latest read, and if you know me, you know I picked it because it is a Peter Pan re-telling. I have loved the story of Peter Pan for forever. I used to hope that Peter Pan was real and that he would fly through my window and take me away to Neverland so I would not have to grow up.

Since that didn't happen, I settle now for reading new tellings of the J. M. Barrie classic.

This telling was good--a what-if story focused on Wendy getting to Neverland a different way. And I loved the relationship that is created between Wendy and Tinker Bell.

Without giving too much away, the story is about Wendy at age 16, now a young woman who still believes in Peter Pan, and still hopes he will come and get his shadow. When he never shows up, she finds a way to get to Neverland through Captain Hook.

The book follows Wendy on her adventures to save Peter and save Neverland. And in the midst of it, she works with a fairy who does not like her but is willing to work together to save Peter.

My only critique is that sometimes I would have liked less description and more action. But I think that's a me thing. The book was well thought out and the story was captivating.

Find the book on Amazon here.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

This is a utopian book that takes place in the future when everything is run by an AI. Hunger, disease, and death have become a thing of the past. It seems the world is perfect. Except for population control. Now that people are pretty much immortal, they must control the population through a society of Scythes who practice the art of taking life.

The story follows two teens who are apprentices to become Scythes. The book explores their friendship, their growth, and the morality of what they are preparing to do.

The book was full of mystery and great character building. I like the main characters and their struggles to come to terms with their new calling in life. And I liked the exploration of ethics and morality.

My only critique is not about the writing or story, but about the AI. The world was "perfect" because of it, as if AI can solve all our problems. I believe their is a place for AI, but not that it can be something so heavily relied on that it can create a utopian world. But maybe that's more a critique on human-kind.

Overall, though, the book was very well written and kept me engaged.

Find the book on Amazon here.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

If you are a book reader and haven't heard of Emma M. Lion, where have you been? This book was recommended to me by one of the moms in Berkley's play group. It seems many other women in my ward (congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have read this book. There was even a "tea party" get together about a month ago that I was unable to attend but I'm sure was super fun.

The books are written in journal form, with each book spanning a three-month period. Told by the character Emma M. Lion, readers are thrust into London 1883 and into a captivating story of characters, mystery, scandal, and intrigue. If you like period books, this is by far one of the best.

Emma has just arrived in London in book one and expects to live a great life of reading and learning in the house she inherited along with the money she inherited. But as she starts to get settled, she learns things will not go the way she had expected.

Read this series. Just read it. It's too good not too. I don't have any critiques. I loved it that much.

Find the books by Beth Brower included in the Emma M. LIion series on Amazon here.