Recent Reads

Here's this weeks recent reads. 

Ever since I read the plot synopsis for this book, I've been waiting for it to come out. I almost bought the e-version to read the day it came out, but then used my library powers and had a copy the next day. This book is about Castella whose father believes he's a prophet and their family are the only ones who will go to heaven. He's raised them out in the woods with some pretty messed up beliefs. However, the kids end up having to go to high school, and Castella starts to grow in drama class. With some room to breathe, Castella starts to question her beliefs and her family. Then, her dad announces that they'll be going to heaven very soon. 

This book was a bit dark, but I absolutely loved it. Probably because I wrote a story about a cult and a girl leaving it for school, but ended up getting a B- because I struggled to flesh out the belief system in my story. So I wanted to see how someone else did that. I also love reading about other takes on religion, and people questioning what they believe. I went through my own crises of faith for a bit, and now I'm very strong in what I believe, but it's interesting to see other's takes on those. 

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone! It's fantastic. It's about Madeline, who is allergic to everything so she hasn't left her house in seventeen years. Then, a cute boy moves in next door, and her entire life changes. This book has such a clever take on Rapunzel, I absolutely loved it! It's funny, lighthearted, and a fast read. The love story in it is so ridiculously adorable, I was being extremely extra snuggly with Sammy for like two days afterwards. There's so many other things about this book I'd love to write about, but I don't want to spoil it, so I'll stop there. READ IT! 

I also finished up the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. I read the Golden Compass for school a few years ago, and finally got around to reading The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

I actually started reading The Golden Compass  as a kid, right before the movie came out. However, as I was a few chapters in my mom told me what everyone else was saying about that book, and about how it was about killing God. She didn't tell me to stop reading it, but said it was something to think about. I stopped reading it, fearing that if I did I would be disrespecting God.

Now, much later I've actually gotten around to finishing that series, and am so glad that I actually read them. I'm also glad that I read them as an adult, rather than as a kid. There are so many things in these books that would have gone over my head as a kid that I was able to appreciate as an adult. These books are FANTASTIC. It took me much longer to read them because they're so complex, and the language is absolutely beautiful. I was picking everything apart and just stunned by how well they're written. Philip Pullman is amazing. 

I actually read Everything Everything in-between The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass because I was worried that Everything Everything would make me really sad, and I wanted to have another book to jump into immediately to fix that. I should have saved that book for after the Amber Spyglass  because that's what gave me all the feels! I absolutely loved those characters so much, and was simultaneously very satisfied with where everyone ended up, and also heartbroken! So many feelings! But they were so worth it. 

As for the killing God thing? No. I don't think that's what they're about at all. I did not feel like I was disrespecting God at all by reading these books. My faith was not shaken dramatically or in anyway. Religion is definitely a HUGE part of these books, and I definitely had to text some friends because I actually missed a few of the references, but I don't think that they are bad. If anything they take a look at what happens when truth gets corrupted, and people are manipulated with false truths, and destroying those false truths. 

Have you read any of these books? What have you read recently?