Life's Short, Talk Fast

"For years, I thought Gilmore Girls changed my life in that it allowed me to be my actual self, my earnest, bookish self, without embarrassment or shame." ~ 18%

Fifteen writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this celebratory collections of essays. The classic contemporary television show bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when the premiere introduced us to Lorelai, Rory and the town of Stars Hollow. Almost 25 years later and Gilmore Girls is one of the most streamed TV shows ever.

Each of the writers share their personal relationship to Gilmore Girls through a short essay. The writers are diverse (married, single, divorced, old, young, middle-aged, black, Asian, white, male and female) making their experiences quite different. Almost all compare their own lives to Lorelai and Rory's life choices, love matches and family dynamics. The short essays lovingly center around a theme of what makes a home in that fast-talking, warm-hearted, quick-witted way.

"A girl who read everywhere." ~ 86%

What a lovely collection of essays to read. I nodded my head in agreement. Smiled at the many episode references. Teared up at the shared details of lovely mother-daughter bonds. The show revealed so much about ourselves, our mothers and our daughters. Ann Hood's anthology revealed why it matters. Life's Short, Talk Fast has sparked an interest to rewatch all 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls with my Mom. 

Bookhearts, I recommend Life's Short, Talk Fast for the fellow bookish girlies like Rory and the Lorelai fans. At just under 200 pages, this new book would be a great companion while you watch Gilmore Girls. While I didn't recognize any of the writers, I appreciated their stories enough to keep an eye out for their work.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ann Hood! Life's Short, Talk Fast will be available Tuesday, November 12.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Life's Short, Talk Fast: 15 Writers of Why We Can't Stop Watching Gilmore Girls
Edited by: Ann Hood
Published: November 2024
Pages: 196
Edition: Galley
Genre: Nonfiction Essays
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: In Too Deep

(Jack Reacher #29) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is In Too Deep, the 29th book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. The little possessions he has are gone. He's slightly injured. He has no memory of getting there. The last thing he remembers is hitching a ride, getting run off the road and the driver was killed. The people who attacked have no idea who Reacher really is or how difficult it will be to make him talk.

"You're the perfect patsy." ~ 29%

The title gave it away! I love a clever title and relish the moment when it becomes clear. But don't let the title be a spoiler. Ugh! It totally took away from the thrill, the suspense, the climax and the unsurprising ending. I was already unenthusiastic about the story from the beginning because the beloved character of Jack Reacher has become painfully predictable. I can clock his movements before he can even blink now. It is getting so routine that I can practically outline the next book. I just need to go back to reading the older Reacher books because this new stuff is flat. 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Lee Child and Andrew Child! In Too Deep is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: In Too Deep

Author: Lee Child and Andrew Child

Published: October 2024

Pages: 336

Edition: Galley

Genre: Mystery

Challenge: Perpetual Jack Reacher

Rating: 🖤 🖤 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"Are you #TeamLogan or #TeamJess?"

~ Life's Short, Talk Fast edited by Ann Hood 

Run

Run is giving The Walking Dead/Purge type of plot. I lead with this because had I known up front, I would not have read it. This genre is not for me. But I like Blake Crouch's writing style, unique stories and suspense-telling tales so I read until the very end. Curious to see how his debut novel measured up to recent releases. Let's just say that I can see the growth and appreciate his newer books.

"He was running uphill now, running until his heart felt like it was going to swell out of his chest, and he went on for what seemed ages, and every time he stopped it was still just him alone in the woods and the dark." ~ 46%

Run is a one-dimensional story of a family running. That's it; that's all. Five days ago, an epidemic of rage began. Four days ago, senseless murders swept the nation. Three days ago, the president begged for peace. Two days ago, the killers began to mobilize. One day ago, the power went out. And tonight, the killers are reading the names of people to be killed over the emergency broadcast system. Jack is listening over a battery-powered radio and hears his name and address. This means killers—for an unknown reason—are coming to his house. Jack hurriedly gathers his wife, son and daughter to run for their lives.

"Keep running." ~ 72%

And they run...and run...and run...until the unsatisfying end. No real answers. No climax. No full conclusion. No explanation. Just a family running amongst pointless violence. I am so very disappointed but grateful. Because if Run was my first impression of Blake Crouch, I would have missed out on his much better books such as Dark Matter, Recursion, and Good Behavior / The Pain of Others. Run away from this one, Bookhearts.

Happy Re-Pub Day, Blake Crouch! Run is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Run
Author: Blake Crouch
Published:
Pages: 406
Edition: Galley
Genre: Horror
Rating: 🖤

Super Series Sunday: ACOTAR

(A Court of Thrones and Roses #1-5) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Super Series Sunday pick is ACOTAR, the entire series by Sarah J. Maas. It is comprised of five (5) books with a sixth book in the works. A passionate, violent, daring series featuring a huntress named Feyre, her sister Elain (a boring lapdog), her sister Nesta (affectionately nicknamed Nestle), High Fae Rhysand (Reese Cup) and his made family consisting of a bastard-born warrior named Cassian, a bastard shadowsinger named Azriel, a beautiful wise monster named Amren and his dreamer cousin with the gift of truth known as the Morrigan. Of course there are other characters sprinkled in throughout the series, of which I have strong opinions on too.

Before The Empyrean series (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame), I was new to reading fantasy. I take that back; I was obsessed with Twilight back in the day. But since then, I had no interest in reading about dragons (though I love to watch Dem Thrones and HOTD). I really had no interest in reading about faeries; winged people with powers and pointy ears...no, thank you. Flying winnowing beings, nope. And the whole shapeshifting bit? Nah. 

So it took me three (3) tries to get into the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses. I read the sample and immediately deleted from all devices. Upon urging of a reading buddy, I re-downloaded and tried the first few chapters but put it down again. Then BookTok got me. Every single review video I watched about this darn series was a glowing recommendation. No bad reviews!

Clearly the problem was me. I had to get out of my own head in thinking of faeries as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell with large elf ears. I set aside all preconceived notions of the fantasy genre and committed to third times the charm. To ensure a fair shot and since I am a series junkie, I purchased the eBook bundle with 5 books in 1 for $40. 

Babyyyyyy! Coin well spent. So glad I gave this series another chance after a chance. The world building and developed characters is so beautifully written. The romance, wars, conflict and redemption arcs are amazingly well timed. Bookhearts, I cannot recommend this series enough. Take it from a girlie like me that wanted nothing to do with this faerie romance story.

It is worth all the feels! Worth the nights staying up way past bedtime to read almost 3,000 pages. Worth the scrolling on BookTok for reaction videos. Worth the many Google searches for maps, explanations and theories. It's even better if you buddy read with someone else new to the SJM universe. Okay, I am almost done fan-girling ACOTAR. Thanks for reading this long ass review. Continue for a quick summary and individual rating of each book. Slight spoilers ahead.

"Stay with him, fall in love with him, and all would be righted." ~ pg. 290

A Court of Thorns and Roses 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

Nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods. As retribution, she is dragged to a beautiful yet dangerous magical world she knows about only from legend. The faerie lands of Prythian is where no human would dare go unless they had a death wish. Each of the seven courts are ruled by a High Lord. Her captor is a lethal immortal faerie named Tamlin (nicknamed Tampon for reasons), High Lord of the Spring Court. As Feyre adapts to her new home, her feelings transform from icy fear to a fiery passion. Meanwhile, I adapt to the many different creatures introduced: puca, the Bogge, the Suriel, daemati, naga and more.

"Love—love was a balm as much as it was a poison." ~ pg. 1101

A Court of Mist and Fury 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Feyre Cursebreaker is now granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae. But she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and deeds she performed to save the lives of Tampon and his peeps. Her time is split between the Spring Court and upcoming wedding and upholding her bargain with High Lord Reese Cup in the Night Court. This second book is a dark web of love, politics and power. Even better than the first book!

"A world divided was not a world that could thrive." ~ pg. 1859

A Court of Wings and Ruin 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

This third book though is where I was hooked! Feyre has returned to the Spring Court to gather info and learn whatever she can about the king threatening to bring her land to its knees. It's a deadly game of deceit where one slip-up could bring doom to Feyre and everyone she loves.

"There, between a snarl of thorns. A patch of darkness." ~ pg. 2090

A Court of Frost and Starlight 🖤 🖤

At only 200 pages, this novella is simply a filler. Feyre, Reese Cup and their made family are recovering from the war that changed everything. They all have wounds—both physical and emotional scars. Winter Solstice is coming so the atmosphere is festive but the shadows of the past still loom. Meh. Could have done without this one.

"So, yes. I like to read. I cannot survive without reading." ~ pg. 2430

A Court of Silver Flames 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

And finally the book I was dreading because the point of view changes from Feyre to her most-hated sister Nestle. This prickly bitch has a major attitude, is slow to forgive and full of spite. Sex, music and drinking is how she copes to being forced into a strange world thanks to the horrors of the war. This garners no sympathy from me. The one person who ignites her temper and lady bits most is Cassian, the battle warrior and close friend to Reese Cup and Feyre. This book is spicy with themes of acceptance, healing and a redemption arc that made my head spin.

I am now committed to the SJM universe (total of 16 books to date). What a wonderful way to start.

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: 

Pages: 2895

Edition: eBook Bundle

Genre: Romantasy

Average Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"Perhaps he'll die this time."

~ The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Join the Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club on Patreon!

Series Sunday: The Assassin's Blade

(Throne of Glass #0.5) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"You'll make choices you think are right, and then suffer for them." ~ pg. 109

My Series Sunday pick is The Assassin's Blade, the prequel to Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. This collection of five novellas is an introduction to the main character and deeper history of her deadly world. Celaena Sardothien is the most feared, best assassin on the continent. When her scheming master, Arobynn, dispatches her on missions that take her from remote islands to the desert, she finds herself questioning his motives and acting independently. Defying orders is a dangerous game. She trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam. Together they risk their lives for a chance at freedom.

I am uber late to the SJM universe party. I absolutely adored ACOTAR so immediately began reading The Assassin's Blade since Throne of Glass is the next series per the recommended reading order. I don't know whether it is because I spent the last two months fully immersed in the ACOTAR world or because I am not a fan of short stories, but this was a buzzkill. Yeah, I said it.

"Why do you assume anyone sent me? Can't a girl be independent?" ~ pg. 305

The Assassin's Blade started off strong. A female assassin. How badass of you, SJM! CiCi has beauty, brains, attitude and an ego. She talks big shit but can back it up. A really strong character. But by the third story, I was bored. It became predictable. Quite annoying after a while. CiCi, how are you the best but keep falling for the okey doke? I found myself rolling my eyes so I put the Kindle down for days. When I resumed reading, it was only during commercials while I watched TV. 

Many reviews claim Throne of Glass is even better than A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I also committed to buddy reading so will not let this prequel deter me. Fingers crossed it gets better because right now I am half-interested, at best.

Title: The Assassin's Blade

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: March 2014

Pages: 463

Edition: eBook

Genre: Romantasy

Rating: 🖤 🖤