A few weeks ago, I read something quite interesting, and I'm not sure whether I agree or disagree. A blog author mentioned that he felt it better to avoid posting negative comments on social media. I can agree. Because of the political/social situation in the U.S.A. right now, many of my friends on Facebook post rants about policies, happenings in which all of the facts may or may not have come out yet, etc. Honestly, I find a lot of it rather childish, because most of those posts only serves to pour fuel on the fire, rather than actually looking at constructive ways to fix the situations (and technically, I think I just posted something negative, whoops).
He goes on to include making negative comments about someone else's work (which I'm guessing would include products and books), and whereas I can agree with part of that (why on earth would you go online and just rant over how much you hate a book?), another part of me is unsure. I read reviews for different products I'm interested in because I respect the posters' opinions, and want to get an idea of how that product affected that person's life. And although I don't always read book reviews before I get the book, there are some books I've started that I wished I had read the reviews before I picked it up, or that a review had warned me of the content (such as tons of profanities or sex scenes).
I agree with him, though, that we need to consider carefully what we post on social media (including blogs and review sites like Goodreads or Amazon). So for now I'll keep writing reviews for books I don't like, but I will try to make them constructive criticism rather than I-hate-it rants.
Fortunately for this month, I have no negative reviews to leave. All three books I read I really enjoyed.
1. The Happiness Project*, by Gretchen RubinRating: ****
Gretchen Rubin embarks on a one-year project to determine whether she can become happier without undertaking a huge life change, and discovers it's the little things which add up in the happiness equation.
After reading a couple of her more recent books, I decided I needed to read this one again. I love the simple tips she gives, the cute stories, and the practical applications. Her writing is entertaining, and yet I feel like I'm learning something. If you don't like anecdotes, you might not like this book, because it is full of them. But I find it helpful when people talk about different things they tried, and whether it worked for them or not.
2. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane AustenRating: ****
With her father's estate to go to a male cousin after his death and her mother's income not enough to support them, Elizabeth and her four sisters have the best chance of security if they marry well. But Elizabeth is convinced there must be love and respect in a marriage, something which she and a certain gentleman definitely do not hold for each other...
Emma is my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, but I love this one too. It teaches the importance of looking beneath the surface. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy both mistake the other for being worse than they truly are because they were too quick to judge each other. Both of them judge others either better or worse than they truly are based on surface relationships. And of course, the absolute ludicrous behaviors of certain characters makes this book hilarious in a cringe-worthy way.
3. A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter
Rating: ****
Desperate to go to high school and afterwards college while her mother is either unable or unwilling to help her pay for it, Elnora discovers she can sell moths and other things from the Limberlost Swamp in order to pay her way.
I'm honestly not sure why I enjoy this book so much. I've read it three or four times. Elnora's life and situation growing up isn't even one I can relate too. I think I enjoy it because of her sheer determination to find a way to reach her goals, no matter what (something which I definitely can relate to). Although it's a very long book, it engages you throughout Elnora's journey through high school and her growing up.
I've also left reviews on GoodReads and Amazon (although probably not for the same editions).
Thanks for sticking with me as I try to find time to post these. The rest of the year seems like it might slow down a little (haha), so I'm hoping to post my Reading Challenge Updates the first Tuesday of each month, and go back to posting once a week in January. I hope you enjoyed my reviews. Which of these books have you read? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!
*For the sake of brevity, I have not included the subtitle of this book.
Links to books may not be the same format, version, or edition that I read.
