Top 5 Wednesday: Halfway There!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“I’m just saying…I don’t come from any money at all. But I don’t think what you’re born into says anything about where you’re headed.”

A book I never really planned to read yet ended up loving. When I first saw this in my ARC galleys, I didn’t particularly want to pick it up. It was the literary fiction categorization that really pulled me away from it. Despite loving the genre, it’s not something that I want to read religiously. It is something that I read whenever I feel lost and in need of a certain guidance.

In many ways, I believe that reading this at that moment was a perfect timing. I related to them really badly and although it wasn’t as big a struggle as theirs, it was something that really reminded me that I was not alone.

A wonderfully poignant and heart-breaking book through and through. I can’t wait to read more from Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki

“This world is made up of little stories, those modest daily lives, those lives that may seem insignificant, they give the world shape—that’s what I believe. Don’t you think that presenting small stories in detail is precisely the most certain way to depict huge things?”

This is a children’s book I never thought I needed!

Whenever you pick out something to read from the children’s book section, you always expect it to be light, fluffy, and easy to read (unless, of course, you’re trying to read a children’s book by Neil Gaiman); however, this book was none of those. It was dark yet it brings out a brightness that’ll lead you to a elegant and touching story. It is enlightening and truly beautiful!

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

“Besides, if I had a nickel for every time I wanted to smack a kid’s parents for not teaching them even the most basic things…well…I’d have enough nickels to put in a sock and smack those parents.”

Andy Weir is one of those authors that I tagged as my “auto-buy author”. I’m not the strongest fan of science fiction, but I always find his novels easy to read despite exclusively being in the genre.

‘Project Hail Mary’ was something of an interesting read. The way it was written made it easy to digest even with all the scientific facts. The comical characters also added a little lightness to the book and it made it more reader friendly. I do think that Andy Weir is a good starting author if you want to dip your feet into science fiction.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

“She gave up the identity she’d loved to live among people she abhorred, only for the betterment of her children.”

I have mixed emotions about this book, but it was mostly love for the fact that despite the age of the setting, this book is still strongly relevant. It’s beauty shines with the sacrifices, love, and hardship that Belle and her mother went through in order to achieve what they have—harder, still, to sustain it.

‘The Personal Librarian’ is an extremely special novel that I think everyone should read. There comes a point in the story, at least for me, when it becomes quite dragging and it felt as if the points are irrelevant; however, I assure you that each and every bit of this book has a beauty that you’ll see only if you take it slow.

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

“She became a tiny contortionist, fitting herself into all the different-sized boxes of expectations and disappointments that she now realized made up her family.”

I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the capacity of which this book has to offer; however, I do see the beauty of the story. The denial each of has have with which hides the truth and painful reality that we cannot seem to afford other people in.

It does hit a spot in your heart and I think that a huge part of this book really calls out to people. It also encourages us to be a better listener and to see that reality is ugly and it will not always be sunshine and rainbows.

What’s your favourite book published this 2021?

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by the lovely Lainey and Sam. If you’re interested in participating in the topics and such, make sure to visit their Goodreads group page!