Book Review Roundup

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Many of you that have been reading for a while know that whenever I get a break from school I go a liiiiittle crazy with reading for pleasure. Well, these past couple of weeks have been no exception! I got a slow start since reading anything hurt my brain after the Bar Exam, but I found my mojo once I headed home and now I have a few quick book reviews to share with you!

For more book reviews, check out my reviews page!

The first book is Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller. My friend actually gave this book to me after reading it because she thought I’d find it interesting.

  

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If you’ve ever been intrigued by the show, Hoarders, then this is definitely for you. Coming Clean is a memoir of Kimberly’s life, growing up with a father who was a hoarder and a mother who fell into the same habits. It shows the darker side of hoarding and how it can really effect friends and family members, and especially children. The book starts with Kimberly having nightmares and dealing with OCD about being clean and clutter free. After reading the story, I’m not surprised. She dealt with being in a home that was beyond unlivable (so much filth that they had rats, the plumbing didn’t work and rooms were completely abandoned while the rest were stuffed to the brim with small walk-ways). But beyond her house and a few moves and “fresh starts,” Kimbery had to deal with the humiliation of not wanting her friends to know where she lived, of having to find places to shower, and eventually of having to ask friends to help her help her parents every time they needed bailing out.

I found this memoir fascinating and sad at the same time and definitely recommend giving it a read. I finished it in less than two days – I just couldn’t put it down!

 

The second book is If I Stay by Gayle Forman, which was another book I finished quickly and could not put down.

I’d originally heard of this book from Julie’s book club but didn’t have the time to read it back then. Although I don’t want to give too much away, the book is centered around Mia, who is a senior in high school and a very talent cellist and her family. The last thing she can remember is being in a car accident, and from there on she is “watching” herself and those around her while her body is in a coma. The book follows all the coming of age trials that the is going through before the accident and the eventual decision she must reach: whether to stay or go.

The book is written in a way that is easily readable for younger, teenage, audiences but I nevertheless enjoyed the story, especially since I could relate to the story in that I also feel like I’m also at a transitional point in my life, much as she was both before and during the accident.

 

The last book review I have for you today is on The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

The Language of flowers is a story about a girl named Victoria Jones, who was abandoned at birth and spent her childhood in various foster homes and group homes. She knows the victorian language of flowers, which uses flowers to express emotions. For example, honeysuckle means devotion, while a yellow rose means jealousy.

The story follows Victoria as she comes of age, learning how to make it on her own but how to depend on the kindness of others at the same time. I found the story very interesting, especially since throughout the novel we get hints of a story from her childhood and how it plays into her current life, while the full story is revealed near the end. Despite this, I did occasionally have trouble liking Victoria as a main character. Many of her decisions had me yelling “no!!!” at my book and cringing on the inside. However, that’s probably a realistic interpretation of life, since we all make poor choices from time to time. I did enjoy reading this book and would recommend it if you’re looking for an interesting fictional novel.

 

Have you read any of these?

What have you been reading lately?