Welcome to my e book replace publish the place I share what books I completed lately + my sincere ideas and star scores of them.
My Studying Targets for 2021
For 2021, I set a objective of studying 3 books per week — 1 fiction e book, 1 non-fiction e book, and 1 audiobook every week. I do know that is an audacious objective, however studying is one thing I like and it’s a means I be taught, problem my thoughts, enhance as a author and communicator, and am refreshed and inspired by means of inspiring tales.
I’ve a couple of cabinets filled with books (principally that I’ve gotten free), so I made a decision to decide on 52 books from off my shelf to learn this 12 months (see my listing of 52 books I plan to learn in 2021 right here). I’ll additionally learn different books that I discover/am despatched that pique my curiosity. Plus, I plan to undergo a number of audiobooks (I get mine free from the Libby app and simply began making an attempt out the Hoopla app).
Listed below are 4 books I completed lately:

Candy Like Jasmine
I obtained to learn an early version of this memoir on discovering identification by Bonnie Grey. It traces her upbringing as a Chinese language woman in America and the struggles she went by means of to seek out love and belonging. Her story is each heartbreaking and heartwarming and regardless of your ethnicity or childhood, I believe you’ll find your self figuring out with elements of Bonnie’s story. What I most appreciated was her honesty and vulnerability on this e book!
I additionally liked how she artfully wove a lot about Chinese language tradition and traditions all through the chapters.
Verdict: 3 stars

Religion to Foster
This e book chronicles the story of T.J. and Jenn’s journey as foster dad and mom. Whereas they’ve a totally completely different foster care story than us (they’ve taken in lots of extra children of all completely different ages and haven’t any organic youngsters of their very own on the time this e book was written), it nonetheless resonated deeply with me. A lot of what they’ve skilled is stuff that we’ve walked by means of or have pals who foster who’ve walked by means of it.
In actual fact, for a couple of days, I needed to set the e book apart as a result of studying about saying goodbye to a couple youngsters that they had of their residence for a very long time interval hit so near residence. I like their views, the teachings they discovered, and the way candid they had been about what they struggled with.
If you’re a foster household, are contemplating fostering, or would identical to to have a greater peak into what fostering seems like, undoubtedly learn this e book.
My solely critiques could be that the story appeared to leap round some and I had hassle conserving monitor generally and I additionally don’t like individuals utilizing the phrase “least of those” when referring to youngsters in foster care (see the subtitle). For me, it simply feels prefer it makes it very a lot an us vs. them or a pity undertaking or that we’re doing a lot to assist “these needy children”. I do know it’s semantics, however I believe it issues how we speak about youngsters who’re in foster care and our perspective shapes the way in which that we love and stroll with.
Verdict: 3.5 stars

When Twilight Breaks
So I had excessive hopes for this e book. The premise appeared attention-grabbing. I like World Battle II books. And I’d heard nice issues concerning the writer.
But it surely ended up kind of falling flat for me. It wasn’t horrible, however I simply felt like I used to be slogging by means of a number of it. I often actually get sucked into novels and have hassle placing them down. This one, I felt like I needed to preserve making myself choose it up in hopes that it could get extra attention-grabbing.
Sure, I most likely ought to have simply deserted it early on, however as soon as I made it to the 40% mark (as a result of I saved assuming it could get extra attention-grabbing!), I felt too invested to set it apart.
Possibly it was simply the timing of after I learn it (there was quite a bit happening to distract me!) or possibly it’s as a result of I’ve principally been listening to novels by way of audiobook lately (I don’t have as a lot time as of late to get misplaced in a novel for hours if I’m studying it, however I’ve extra time to activate an audiobook!) or possibly it was as a result of I’ve completed so many World Battle II books this 12 months? Regardless of the case, I felt just like the e book was lacking one thing — possibly depth, extra character improvement, or one thing that will make me suppose extra or impression me in a private means? General, it simply felt a bit of too “fluffy” for me.
Verdict: 2 stars

The President is Lacking
Jesse listened to this e book lately and inspired me to hearken to it, as properly. It’s undoubtedly a departure from the entire World Battle II fiction I’ve been listening to and I felt it was a enjoyable change.
I loved the story line total and located it to be the type of audiobook I didn’t need to flip off as a result of I wanted to know what was going to occur subsequent. It was additionally very properly narrated with a number of voice actors.
As well as, I discovered the kind of “inside scoop” on what it could be wish to be the president to be intriguing (since a former U.S. president was one of many co-authors, I felt that gave the feelings and emotions the primary character was experiencing extra credibility).
I did really feel just like the e book was about 2 hours too lengthy. I believe a number of the sections might have been condensed and the very finish of the e book was crammed with fairly a little bit of political rhetoric (packaged as a presidential handle). I additionally want they hadn’t solved one of many huge mysteries of the e book fairly so early within the e book (who the mole was).
That mentioned, when you like political drama and fiction audiobooks which can be properly narrated, I believe you would possibly take pleasure in this e book. (Do observe: there may be some PG-13 language in it, so don’t hear when you have little ears round!)
Verdict: 3.5 stars
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