Here is an overview of the eight books with links to Amazon for price info and more reviews (a separate window will open when you click the images):
Now let's talk about the first four books in detail (see Part 2 of this post for the other four):
| Book #1: 4 out of 5 stars "The Hospital: The First Mountain Man Story" by Keith C. Blackmore Product details:
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"Mountain Man" Augustus Berry is a survivor in undead suburbia. He scavenges what he can from what's left over. He is very careful in what he does and where he goes, taking no chances, no unnecessary risks, and weighing every choice...until he decides to visit the hospital at the edge of town, and experiences terror the likes he's never encountered before. A short story of approximately 9,500 words. The first story of the "Mountain Man" series. Contains language and graphic violence. (description from Amazon.com)
Usually, post-apocalyptic novels are not my cup of tea, but this one happened to be free on Audible and quite short. I had no idea what to expect when I started listening to this book during my walk to the library - which is a 4-mile roundtrip walk. In fact, I didn't even read the description before clicking the 'Buy' button. While I enjoy watching TV shows such as "The Walking Dead" or "Z Nation," I don't care much for novels like this. Surprisingly enough, I actually enjoyed this book, not least due to the author's writing. Blackmore was able to perfectly and vividly describe not only the scenery, but also the emotions and even what Gus, the main character, smelled and heard.
The book had a lot of foul language in it, but that was to be expected since this is a zombie story. Even as a Christian, I could see myself cursing like Gus when faced with the same circumstances in a post-apocalyptic world. Other than that, this book also contains pretty graphic violence. Blackmore is great with words and therefore able to paint some gruesome images in your head in this story that are not for the faint of heart.
"The Hospital" is the prequel to the Mountain Man series. As I mentioned, I'm not into zombie novels. But if this was a genre I enjoyed, I would absolutely read more of Blackmore's books.
In my Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019, this book fits the prompt "books that play in one day" since this prequel covers only a few hours of one day in Gus' life. This book also fits a prompt in the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge: "A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror)." This one fits the horror genre.
The book had a lot of foul language in it, but that was to be expected since this is a zombie story. Even as a Christian, I could see myself cursing like Gus when faced with the same circumstances in a post-apocalyptic world. Other than that, this book also contains pretty graphic violence. Blackmore is great with words and therefore able to paint some gruesome images in your head in this story that are not for the faint of heart.
"The Hospital" is the prequel to the Mountain Man series. As I mentioned, I'm not into zombie novels. But if this was a genre I enjoyed, I would absolutely read more of Blackmore's books.
In my Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019, this book fits the prompt "books that play in one day" since this prequel covers only a few hours of one day in Gus' life. This book also fits a prompt in the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge: "A book from one of the top 5 money making genres (romance/erotica, crime/mystery, religious/inspirational, science fiction/fantasy or horror)." This one fits the horror genre.
| Book #2: 5 out of 5 stars "Braving the Wilderness" by Bréne Brown Product details:
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“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging [...] Brown offers us the clarity and courage we need to find our way back to ourselves and to each other. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.” (description from Amazon.com)
About two years ago, I read her book 'The Power of Vulnerability', well, actually I listened to it on Audible and I loved it. So I had high expectations before picking up this one. My local book club had picked this one as the Book of the Month in January.
First, I read the reviews and they were all over the place from basically calling her a white middle-class privileged girl with First World problems to downright genius. I almost agreed with the negative reviews after reading the first few pages. She did indeed sound like a privileged girl who didn't know what REAL problems are. However, a few more chapters into the book, I realized what she had done...she simply used stories from her own past to explain the concepts she was describing. I have to say that this is what helped me a lot because she uses some 'heavy' words and expressions that made me scratch my head, but the stories gave me this 'Aaaah Moment.'
This is one of the paragraphs that really spoke to me: “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.”
Good book to add to a personal development book list! I highlighted a lot of paragraphs in my Kindle edition, for example a quote by Joseph Campbell: "If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path." Honestly, I didn't quote grasp the significance of this statement until recently after 'breaking some spiritual chains' in a "Freedom" class and the "Freedom" conference at my church. This quote sums Christianity up for me as a new Christian...God knows my path. I don't have to see every step of it, I don't even have to understand it, but what I need to do is step out of my comfort zone, 'brave the wilderness' and trust that God has my back.
This book also fits a prompt in my Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019: A book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter.
First, I read the reviews and they were all over the place from basically calling her a white middle-class privileged girl with First World problems to downright genius. I almost agreed with the negative reviews after reading the first few pages. She did indeed sound like a privileged girl who didn't know what REAL problems are. However, a few more chapters into the book, I realized what she had done...she simply used stories from her own past to explain the concepts she was describing. I have to say that this is what helped me a lot because she uses some 'heavy' words and expressions that made me scratch my head, but the stories gave me this 'Aaaah Moment.'
This is one of the paragraphs that really spoke to me: “True belonging requires us to believe in and belong to ourselves so fully that we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary. But in a culture that’s rife with perfectionism and pleasing, and with the erosion of civility, it’s easy to stay quiet, hide in our ideological bunkers, or fit in rather than show up as our true selves and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism. But true belonging is not something we negotiate or accomplish with others; it’s a daily practice that demands integrity and authenticity. It’s a personal commitment that we carry in our hearts.”
Good book to add to a personal development book list! I highlighted a lot of paragraphs in my Kindle edition, for example a quote by Joseph Campbell: "If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path." Honestly, I didn't quote grasp the significance of this statement until recently after 'breaking some spiritual chains' in a "Freedom" class and the "Freedom" conference at my church. This quote sums Christianity up for me as a new Christian...God knows my path. I don't have to see every step of it, I don't even have to understand it, but what I need to do is step out of my comfort zone, 'brave the wilderness' and trust that God has my back.
This book also fits a prompt in my Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019: A book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter.
| Book #3: 5 out of 5 stars "Dorothy Must Die" by Danielle Page Product details:
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I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a road of yellow brick—but even that's crumbling.
What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.
My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman's heart. Steal the Scarecrow's brain. Take the Lion's courage. And—Dorothy must die.
(description from Amazon.com)
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a road of yellow brick—but even that's crumbling.
What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.
My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman's heart. Steal the Scarecrow's brain. Take the Lion's courage. And—Dorothy must die.
(description from Amazon.com)
Wow, just wow!!! I loved every page of this book!!! Now I'm hooked!!! This book is part of a series and I feel that you have to read these four books first before reading the prequel series...kind of like Star Wars. This book combines a classic fairytale, love, magic, and modern-day struggles, action thriller, mystery, and nail-biting moments!!! I didn't want to put it down! Fantastic book right down my alley!!
Amy is a loner, nerd, and considered as weird by many of her peers. She struggles with bullying and belonging. Just as in the classic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," she is taken to Oz by a tornado, but this Oz is not at all like the Oz we know from the Judy Garland movie or the classic children's book. This Oz has lost or is losing its magic. Amy doesn't know who to trust because none of the characters she knows from the book are what they are like in the book: Glinda and Dorothy are like an evil version of the Kardashians, the Lion seems to feed off the fear of his victims, the Scarecrow, oh my, the Scarecrow acts like a mad scientist, and the Tin Woodman, he has a heart but it is only full of love for Dorothy and otherwise stone cold. It felt like an upside-down world to me. In the midst of all this, Amy falls in love, but will he love her back? This book is definitely what Stephen King would call 'unputdownable.'
While this book is classified as a YA book, I believe that adults will enjoy this book/series just as much!
In the Popsugar Reading Challenge, this book fits the prompt "Retelling of a classic." In the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge, I used the prompt "Two books related to the same topic, genre, or theme" prompt (with this one being book 1 and "The Wicked Will Rise" being book 2).
Amy is a loner, nerd, and considered as weird by many of her peers. She struggles with bullying and belonging. Just as in the classic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," she is taken to Oz by a tornado, but this Oz is not at all like the Oz we know from the Judy Garland movie or the classic children's book. This Oz has lost or is losing its magic. Amy doesn't know who to trust because none of the characters she knows from the book are what they are like in the book: Glinda and Dorothy are like an evil version of the Kardashians, the Lion seems to feed off the fear of his victims, the Scarecrow, oh my, the Scarecrow acts like a mad scientist, and the Tin Woodman, he has a heart but it is only full of love for Dorothy and otherwise stone cold. It felt like an upside-down world to me. In the midst of all this, Amy falls in love, but will he love her back? This book is definitely what Stephen King would call 'unputdownable.'
While this book is classified as a YA book, I believe that adults will enjoy this book/series just as much!
In the Popsugar Reading Challenge, this book fits the prompt "Retelling of a classic." In the Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge, I used the prompt "Two books related to the same topic, genre, or theme" prompt (with this one being book 1 and "The Wicked Will Rise" being book 2).
| Book #4: 5 out of 5 stars "The Potato Chip Puzzle" by Eric Berlin Product details:
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When puzzle addict Winston Breen and his best friends head to an all-day puzzle hunt with a $50,000 grand prize, they’re pumped. But the day is not all fun and games: not only do they have a highstrung and highly competitive teacher along for the ride, but the puzzles are hard even for Winston, the other schools’ teams are no joke, and someone in the contest is playing dirty in order to win. Trying to stop this mystery cheater before it’s too late takes an already tough challenge to a whole other level. (description from Amazon.com)
I give this one 5 stars out of 5 because the author added a nice little extra challenge to the book by including the puzzles the characters have to solve (with the answer keys in the back). I loved it! I put the other books on my to-read list. This one was actually No. 2 of 3, but you don't have to read the books in order. This book is great for younger independent readers, but also a fun and easy read for YA and adults.
The storyline is easy to follow and the writing is easy to understand for kids as young as middle school students. While this book is short and sweet, it might take the reader a little longer to read if said reader loves puzzles. Letting the reader solve the puzzles the characters have to solve in the story first before revealing the answer the Winston and his friends came up with is ingenious. The puzzles include number, word, and scavenger hunt-type puzzles. Very interesting take on a book. The puzzles don't interrupt the flow of the book in any way. The reader can jump right back into the story.
This book fits the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt "A book revolving around a puzzle or a game."
The storyline is easy to follow and the writing is easy to understand for kids as young as middle school students. While this book is short and sweet, it might take the reader a little longer to read if said reader loves puzzles. Letting the reader solve the puzzles the characters have to solve in the story first before revealing the answer the Winston and his friends came up with is ingenious. The puzzles include number, word, and scavenger hunt-type puzzles. Very interesting take on a book. The puzzles don't interrupt the flow of the book in any way. The reader can jump right back into the story.
This book fits the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt "A book revolving around a puzzle or a game."
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