Welcome to my Reading Rush !!
Before I get into it, if you partook in the reading rush and you have videos or blog post up, please leave a link in the comment and I will be sure to check it out. This is the first time I am partaking in the weeklong (July 20-26th) reading challenge and I recently found out that readathons are the necessary motivation I need to actually get some reading done. Over the years, I have watched a lot of videos of my favorite booktuber partaking in the challenges, and now that I have a blog I decided to partake in this. I have decided not to upload different TBR or wrapup posts rather I will just make one post where I review all the books I was able to read during the rush. I was unable to complete the Water for Elephants before the end of the reading rush. I will complete it later on.
However, I felt I need to address something that went on with the live show which I actually did not watch, I felt that one of the issues that people have with this readathon is how insensitive the creators are about social and health issues. I also didn’t know that they didn’t read the group book that they picked which is also a book by a Black author. PERSONALLY, I want people to read more diversely but not because they must to save face but because they enjoy it. There is no need to pick a book when you will not read it, regardless of the author’s race. I didn’t read the group book because I didn’t know about it at that time. I also will not be participating in the reading rush again.
I tried to battle the challenges and also fit books I already have on my TBR into the readathons, that way I can hit two or more birds (No Animals were injured). I am also participating in the Twitter Reading Rush Sprints which has been great so far. You can also earn badges (mine below) as you complete the challenges. I think earning badges is just a fun way to increase interaction in the Reading Rush.
THE READING CHALLENGES
- Read a book with a cover that matches the color of your birthstone – Aquamarine (Honestly the only book I have with this color or similar is Helium by Rudy Francisco
- Read a book that starts with the word “The” – The Ship of Shadows by Maria Kuzniar
- Read a book that inspired a movie you’ve already seen – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Read the first book you touch – Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
- Read a book completely outside of your house – There are things I can’t tell You by Edako Mofumofu (A graphic novel)
- Read a book in a genre that you’ve always wanted to read more of – Helium (I want to read a bit more poetry)
- Read a book that takes place on a different continent than where you live- Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins (Takes place in the US, I live in the UK, okay)
The Ship of Shadows by Maria Kuzniar
Review
I read this book as part of a blog tour hosted by TheWriteReads and I absolutely loved it. THE SHIP OF SHADOWS REVIEW
Rating
I gave this book 4.6 out of 5 stars
There are Things I Can’t Tell You by Edako Mofumofu
Review
Thanks to #netgalley for making this book available to me.
Here we follow Kasumi Amemiya and Kyousuke Shiina who have been friends since their elementary school days and we see snippets of their relationship from then till now that they are both 27 years old and are functional people in the society. Kyousuke is a graphic designer at a company and he is always trying to prove himself and this sort of stems from the insecurity he feels and his childhood trauma of having a father who seems to never see good in him. He has a very loveable and outgoing personality that overshadows his pain. Then we have Kasumi whose parents made him feel he was a mistake and they wished he was never born so they never treated him as a son. So he has been carrying that baggage around. When they met in elementary Kyousuke helped Kasumi be more outspoken and participate in activities and they were friends until Kasumi confessed his love for Shiina and everything broke apart.
Years later they meet again and the feels they had before still existed. With Shiina still battling with his feeling for Kasumi (he believes that everything is either right or wrong) and the society focused father he had definitely drilled that into him. He believes that showing his love for Kasumi would be wrong and it would make him unhappy.
This book just makes me think “what really is happiness?”
I hope you check it out
Rating
I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
Review
Set in Virginia city in the 1970s we follow Eddy who has just been dupe out of her money and left in the middle of the desert. Close to death, she is saved by Rhine and his business partner who take her back to his saloon (how scandalous) to treat her back to health with the help of his friend Slyvia. I will not say too much about this book because I believe it is enjoyable when you read it without knowing too much. The times did not allow a white man and a black woman to be together and it was putting too much on the line for them to have the love they want. However, as expected they fall in love and they get together.
Rating
I gave this 4.7 out of 5 stars
Helium by Rudy Francisco
Review
I enjoyed reading this book. It was such a quick but powerful read.
This book is filled with poetry that criticizes and reflects upon societal standards, police brutality, political and pretentious beliefs, race, and family.
There are a few quotes that I remember in specific poems that touch me and shed light on how Black people see and are treated by people in a society that profits off racial inequality and discrimination.
Adrenaline Rush “Being black is one of the most extreme sports in America” I mean every day you are playing dodge and save with the systems that constantly racially profile to my disadvantage.
Then there is also the poem title “Rifle II” in which Rudy addressed gun violence and how the guns aren’t the problem but the fact that they are in the hands of people without sufficient training (which includes the police because they seem to be shooting first and asking questions later). He also addressed toxic masculinity and how males (I have decided not to call them men, personal choice) are so afraid of their emotions and feelings that they only rely on anger and hatred because they are afraid of appearing weak.
I enjoyed this and I hope you check it out.
Rating
I gave this 4.5 out of 5 stars
Thanks for reading.