Here are my June reads. While I may have been in a reflective mood all June, trying to find my place in the world again, reading every self-help book I could get my hands on, the last book I read in June will be the one that stays with me the most.
Top lesson for the month – read more fiction that makes you get lost in another world.
What have you guys read this month?
As always, all my reviews can be seen on Goodreads.com, and fun #bookstagram pictures can be found via instagram on @weekendbookworm. Let’s be friends!
The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I’m torn on this.
In one way, if you buy into the “woo-woo”ness that is Gabby Bernstein, it’s not a bad book. It’s full of interesting takeaways about universe manifestation and the power of thought and meditation. Ok, I’ll buy that.
What I got bored with was the repetitiveness and also the regurgitation of “A Course in Miracles”, which is basically referenced in every chapter. Her personal stories, although interesting, were never relatable.
I personally like Gabby Bernstein (have met her in person) and think she’s a fascinating and motivating speaker, but this book just didn’t grab me like she does. Thus, I had to give the harsh two-stars, just because I think there are better books out there by her, like “Spirit Junkie” or “Add More -Ing to Your Life.”
Recap:
What I liked:
-The format and bullet points of how the universe has your back, aka universe manifestations
What I loathed:
-Personal stories that I couldn’t relate to
-Repetitiveness of common themes
-Regurgitation of A Course In Miracles
The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Loved loved love. Easy read, intriguing storylines, good twist and just a fun book inside the twisted dynamics of family relations. Really enjoyed.
The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy by ShunmyĹŤ Masuno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Such a cute little book. I think you are supposed to read a chapter a day, but I ended up reading all of it. Adorable, insightful, lovely.
WorkParty: How to Create & Cultivate the Career of Your Dreams by Jaclyn Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked this book, don’t get me wrong. It read like a novel and her story was fascinating. How someone so young could go through so much and land up on top is inspiring. I just didn’t get too many “ah-ha” moments from this one. A lot of common sense items . But again, I may be the wrong demo, if I was a 20-somethinger who was lost in my life, this would definitely be something I’d gravitate towards.
You’re Not Lost: An Inspired Action Plan for Finding Your Own Way by Maxie McCoy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book definitely had some valid points, but was a little too “skimming off the top” for me. Some quotes stuck to me for obvious reasons, but nothing mind-blowing new.
“Imagining the unknown is like watching wind: You can’t see what you’re meant to feel. It’s a waste of time. The unknown will always (forever and ever) be there. There’s no beating it. The only chance any of us have is to learn to live hand in hand with that fear of what’s next, making the most of today with the hope it’ll all turn out OK tomorrow.”
“When someone is consciously or unconsciously squashing your self-expression—whether that’s a partner, family member, boss, friend, or just the goddamn internet—you’ve got to fight like hell to gain distance from it. Because you need your differences, your true expressed self, as much as the world does.”
Recursion by Blake Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Inception meets The Matrix meets Looper.
A stunning, unique masterpiece.
Holy hell, Batman! This book is a mind-bending trip, in all the good ways. Set aside the mind-boggling physics lessons for a second, and you still have a novel with plenty of character development, intriguing storylines and some really amazing rollercoaster of emotional adventures.
Look, I too hated physics, and even I could grasp this unique complex road that Blake Crouch is taking us on. I’m not going to spoil it here, but just know the first half really explains the premise, so once you buy in, it’s down the rabbit hole of “what the f*ck did I just read…holy hell, I can’t believe that just happened…ow, my head hurts, but I can’t put this book down!” (all direct quotes from your truly). And yes, I’ve looked up what the title means and I still don’t understand it. But don’t let that stop you.
A masterpiece worthy of multiple reads, a cinematic literary journey into mind-bending (and sometimes mind-numbing) narratives that take you on an unbelievable journey.
Five Goodreads Stars. Cannot recommend enough.
Liked:
– The premise alone is enough to entice you into this world.
– The character development, the adventure storylines, the twists and turns, and never quite knowing where this story would end up.
Loathed:
– At times, very mind-boggling and made my brain hurt multiple times with its complex storylines.
– Once I hit the middle portion of the book, I literally could not do anything but keep reading!
View all my Goodreads reviews
