Lilly Gamma Reading Jouney 2023-2024 by Lillian Gamma

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff

2409042 — 2023-09-30 19:31:36 UTC

This was the first book I picked out of Mrs. Shupp's library, and I'm pretty satisfied. I picked this out because I have a guilty pleasure obsession with cults, strange religious choices, and religious polygamy. Any book relating to that goes straight on my "Must Read" list. The description of this book checked every box. Since reading some of it, it is WAY different than I expected. I was not aware that the 19th Wife was a murder mystery modern spin on Ann Eliza Young's book, Wife No. 19, published in 1875. Between each chapter of the murder mystery story, a historical excerpt, college paper, or actual letter from Mormons at the time. I am finding myself more fascinated by the excerpts than the actual murder mystery, but no one can hate a good ol' murder mystery. I am going to continue reading it because every time I think I don't like the book, an event happens that draws me back in.

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

2409042 — 2023-09-30 19:37:46 UTC

I have wanted to read this book for a very long time. I have never heard a single bad opinion about it, and my favorite genre of books is historical fiction, so I knew I had to read. In all honesty, what really forced me to read the book was seeing clips of the movie on TikTok. I am a person who believes in "Book first, movie second", so I finally got around to the library to check it out. From what I have read so far, I love it!! It is so well done. It makes you feel such anger towards specific characters (which means Kathryn Stockett did her job), and totally root for others. I have been in a bit of a reading slump for a while, but this book has gotten me out of it, and interested in reading again.

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

2024-05-26 22:42:59 UTC

I have been eyeing this book for a really long time because I can remember my mom reading it at one point. I love historical fiction and I have never really read about Japanese history so I was excited to give this a try. I believe everyone should read this book at one point because it truly draws you in. I felt like I was right there with the Geishas. I would have moments where our 10 minutes of readin would be up and I was so enthralled with this book that it would change my mood depending on the point in the book. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

2024-05-26 22:48:08 UTC

I decided that this point in the year I wanted to try to start reading books that I own and have never touched. I believe my aunt got me this book one Christmas a really long time ago. I am not sure why I never read it, but when I saw it on the shelf in Mrs. Shupp's room, I remembered that I owned it as well. This was an amazing book. It is so simply written because it is from the perspective of a little boy who does not understand WWII or the Holocaust, but that is what is so creative about it. The main character is only focused on what he deems important to him, rather than understanding the true nature of the situation around him. At one point, embarrasingly, this book almost made me tear up in class.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

2024-05-26 22:52:57 UTC

This book was a complete rollercoaster for me. The Book Thief is another novel I own that my Aunt also got me for Christmas. I had tried to read it once years ago, but I had a hard time following the beginning and ended up dropping it. However, now that I am older and hopefully more literarily diligent, I wanted to give it another chance. The beginning had the same effect on me as it did years ago. It was a slow, long read until about half-way through when it really peaked my interest. The book began to dive more into concentration camps and the relationship between a fugitive Jewish man and the main character, a little girl who is obessed with reading. The second half ended up being really good and would make me say that the struggling beginning is worth it.

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

2024-05-26 22:56:01 UTC

This is another book I received as a gift and is sitting on my shelf. I actually received the entire series which makes me really want to read them all. I have tried probably 4 times to read this book. I even watched the show with my mom because I love the concept and usually this type of novel is right up my alley. For some reason however, I just cannot get through it. I being to loose interest and put it down only to start it again in another half a year. Maybe I will try again in a few years.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

2024-05-26 22:59:16 UTC

I started this very close to the end of the year and won't be able to finish it in class, but will definitely be finishing it over the summer. So far, this is a really good book. I love how each detail is drawn out and talked about in the family's daily life, even if one wouldn't deem it important. My mom really likes this book and she gave her copy to me that is sitting on my shelf, so I decided to give it a shot and I am really glad I did.

The Book Thief (PART 2)

2024-05-26 23:00:27 UTC

I am putting this twice because this book took me a REALLY LONG TIME to read. With the confusing plot line and the mass amount of pages it stretched over two quarters for me to finish.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2024-05-26 23:04:01 UTC

This feels truly embarrasing, but I could nto sink my teeth into Pride and Prejudice. For someone that loves Bridgerton and Downton Abbey AND could never speak poorly about Jane Austen's writing, I wish I had more of an urge to finish this. It is such a classic and I want to be able to say I read it. I will have to give it another shot in a year and try to finish it because it is embarrasing to say I like reading and have never finished Pride and Prejudice