May Wrap Up
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Premise: The Ministry of Magic is denying that Voldemort has returned. Their interference and restrictions on Hogwarts provide a challenging school year for Harry, along with the pain he is experiencing from his connection to Voldemort.
My thoughts: I detest Umbridge. I forgot how horrible she was, she straight up tortures Harry. The parts about the Order and Harry's connection with Sirius were great. One of my favorite grieving moments in fiction that I have read is Harry's reaction to Sirius's death in Dumbledore's office. I also love Luna, Ginny, Neville's expanded roles this book, they are great additions to the original trio.
2. Inkdeath (Inkworld #3) by Cornelia Funke ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Premise: Meggie and her family navigate a changing Inkworld as Orpheus influences it. Mo also changes, becoming more of the robber Bluejay than himself.
My thoughts: I did enjoy this book, it has a wonderful way of exploring so many characters and their motivations but it was slow. It took me over a month to read, which is unusually for me. Orpheus became a much darker villain than I expected. I loved the friendship between two of the characters and their bond.
3. Priceless: She's Worth Fighting For by Joel and Luke Smallbone with Nancy Rue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Premise: James is a man at the end of his rope. He's lost his wife, and now, custody of his daughter in the aftermath. In desperation for money, he agrees to drive an 18-wheeler truck without knowing what he's hauling. Once he discovers his cargo is two sisters, he decides to risk everything to rescue them from their traffickers.
My thoughts: This is the novelization of a movie made by the band For King & Country. I love the movie and its message of valuing women as our Creator does. This is a dark story that always has me physically repulsed because of the content. It does do a good job of not shying away from the horror of human trafficking while not showing the audience anything too graphic. I love how much more detailed the book is in comparison to the movie, both with characters and plot. It also isn't as cheesy as a lot of other Christian media when it comes to portraying the Gospel.
4. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Premise: This fantasy mainly follows three young women. Miryem is a money lender's daughter who takes over her father's business when his soft heart causes her family to go hungry. Wanda is the daughter of an abusive farmer who is given to Miryem's family to work off his debt. Irina is a duke's daughter who is silently observes the politics of her father's house. Their lives touch when Miryem catches the attention of the Staryk winter king due to his belief she can turn silver into gold.
My thoughts: This is a new favorite. The characters are amazing and so well written. I loved each of their storylines and how they are strong in their own ways. It is a wonderful story with a strong dark fairy tale feel to it. The writing is magical and a delight to read. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because of how a few storylines ended.
5. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer DNF
Premise: A group of scientists explore Area X, a place with unexplained phenomenon. Other groups who explored the land ended up dead. The last one returned, but they were not themselves.
My thoughts: This book has an interesting premise but the way it is written is not for me. It's very slow and the characters felt flat. Once I started skimming a lot, I put the book down. I was hoping it would be a good fit since I've been loving the X-Files.
Read in June so far:
Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery
Loved my reread of this book. The stories in it made me smile and laugh so much.
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Not my favorite Harry Potter book, but I love how Dumbledore's relationship with Harry changes. It's so interesting to see in retrospect the darker side of it to secure Harry's complete loyalty.
Currently Reading:
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
I picked this up on a whim because I wanted a short audiobook to listen to. It is told in verse, which I'm picky about, but so far, I'm loving the audiobook. It is read by the author too, which is great.
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I haven't read this since high school but wanted to read it because of its themes around technology. With the rise of AI and its impact on critical thinking, Fahrenheit 451 has been on my mind more lately.
What I Plan on Reading Next:
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple by Jeff Quinn
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Tagging:
