This song being so good, what did she put in it

2024 reading challenge books:

A Little Life-Hanya Yanagihara

It's true what they say about this book, there is a LOT of trauma and sadness that goes on. Where at times I would say ok they've had enough let them be happy!! And I think that is where this book gets a lot of criticism, pointing out that the author is writing/relying on trauma p*rn. So I can see where that criticism comes from. I definitely cried.

Everyone has their own interpretation of this book, and I like to get opinions from different parts of the internet. I don't know what to take away from it. That life is suffering, sometimes others suffer more (Jude deserved better). Spoilers ahead: It was also very graphic in what happened to Jude while he was with Brother Luke, and even worse when he fell into the hands of Dr. Traylor. Then finally the book takes you on a happy little ride until we hit a tree, and that tree is the death of a certain character. That part was infuriating, but it is part of the book.. So there ya go.

Anyways, I do give a 4/5 stars to A Little Life, I do hate that there is a lot of suffering in it but I would say it was a good book, though a very long one.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI-David Grann

This book is definitely part of that group of nonfiction that is just GOOD! Being from Oklahoma, and the more I grow I come to find that I didn't really learn much about my state as I was growing up. The Tulsa Race riots had been mentioned slightly, and this was not mentioned at all. It wasn't until the announcement of the movie in which I had heard about the case.

While everything in this book comes to no surprise, I still found myself in shock at the content throughout. I love how the writer does not focus solely on Mollie Burkhart's case, which was the one that really sparked the investigation. It focuses on other cases as well such as Henry Roan's. It goes to show how back then if you were of color, even a Native American on their own land, you would try to be stopped from progressing at any cost. Even if that cost was your own life.

I think David Grann tells the story well without straying from facts. I give this book a 5/5. Definitely a good nonfiction read.

Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov

As a heads up there may be spoilers!! This book being my first read of 2024 was an odd choice for some reasons. I wanted to get back in the groove of reading and I had no idea what to choose. I had started reading Lolita years back so I thought this would be a good choice. It was challenging because of the words used, they are a little more advanced than one is used to. (At least what I am used to). Another reason is obviously the content in Lolita that is a big red flag.

Overall, I give this book a 4/5. Sometimes I find it difficult to give it this rating because the content in it (age gap, sUPER AGE GAP) is disgusting and vile. But Nabokov's ability to write in the pov of a sinister abuser is just wild. It almost reminds me of a sort of Parasite vibe to it as Humbert Humber infiltrates this family and ultimately drains the life out of Lolita even as she grows up. When she grew up, I thought why doesn't she just run away. But that is part of abuse, no matter how bad she wanted to run away he manipulated her into thinking a life without him and her being alone would be much worse.

When discussing it with someone who had read it before, they had pointed out that Humbert Humbert is a downright pathological liar, manipulator, etc. With that information, as I was reading the book, I wondered that since it's written from his point of view if what he was actually saying all true. I mean in terms of situations like is his name actually Humbert Humber, did the mom actually die on her own or was their malice behind the reason for her death.

So, with that yes I give Lolita a 4/5.

2024 reading challenge complete!!

Well, last year (2023) I set a goal of reading 15 books. Out of those 15 I only reached 7 books, which, not too shabby but I didn't complete my goal.

This year I challenged myself with 20 books and actually finished with four months to spare!! I think I partly have my kindle to thank because it made it so much easier for reading and honestly i would recommend 100%. I definitely used to be an e-reader hater because I wanted to "feel the physical book." Though, having a physical copy of books will always be superior!! But anyways, here's my list for 2024!! These are in the order I read them, NOT in ranking.

1.) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

2.) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

3.) The Pearl by John Steinbeck

4.) Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

5.) The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

6.) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

7.) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

8.) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

9.) A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck

10.) Tu lengua en mi boca by Luisa Reyes Retana

11.) Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

12.) Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk

13.) Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

14.) Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza

15.) Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin

16. The Stranger by Albert Camus

17.) The Price of Salt (Carol) by Patricia Highsmith

18.) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

19.) The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

20.) Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Wow, so many books this year!!! I do wish to continue reading, and will see what new books I end up taking on. For this year I would have to say my number 1 pick is Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza. I will probably end up writing some thoughts of each book here in the future. I think I would like to transform my page as a place where I dump my thoughts about books into the void where people may (or most likely may not) stumble upon them and read my opinions.

Though, let me just say one thing, I did not major in English nor am I an expert in analyzing books. All of my thoughts are purely how I interpret these books and sometimes I've gotten other peoples thoughts about the books in question which makes me change my perspective!! I will say I'm not hard to please when it comes to books and am easily impressed I think most of these got 4 stars or higher (out of 5 stars). With some of these I will say I took in more than others (meaning I retained more from different ones) so I may have to say more about one book than I might another.

Okay, that's it for now!!

studied kanji some more…

practicing my kanji, I need work on it ik ik😩

have today and tomorrow to write a 6-8 page paper…

ok maybe i was over them already idk, but i think now i can say im over over ex oomfie. like our last encounter i had to draw my own line cause i was close to being like ok lets start over djsjjsj

it only took a very depressing semester and realizing things afterwards sksksk

NEW SZA IS OUT