It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What if the gods fell to Earth?
What if I were a demigod?
What would my godpowers be?
Wait, no, that’s not right. We ask these three W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
★★★✩✩ || Goodreads
This book took me forever to read, and it’s not even that long, but I had an awful time getting into it. I think it was because even though it’s written in first person present tense, the story is mostly told through exposition, which doesn’t really pull me in. Took me a week to get through 75% of this, and then it really kicked up a notch and I flew through the last 25% in a day. All in all, though, it was an enjoyable read. Okungbowa paints a very realistic post-apocalyptic Nigeria, and it’s very obvious that it’s an #ownvoices story. The world is so rich and descriptive, and I loved the incorporation of the different languages (English, pidgin, Nsibidi, and Yoruban) and the code-switching, though I can see how this would be annoying to some people (especially pidgin, which can be hard to follow at times). The Orisha, though … that’s why I read this book, and they were badass! I loved all their personalities and how they were brought to life. No disappointment on that front, for sure. My full review will be up tomorrow, for any who are interested.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Status: 32%
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
I should preface this by saying this book is chick lit … and wow, I didn’t realize that until I started reading, and it was very obvious very early on. I clearly don’t pay attention. It’s not a bad thing, per se, but I have pretty much almost never read a chick lit book I really liked, and I’m reminded why.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill has been pretty enjoyable so far. The writing is super easy to get into, very conversational, and it goes by pretty fast. I’m amazed at how far I got in so little time. Nina is relatable, but almost too relatable in that there’s nothing really wow that draws me to her character. She’s both plain and a very obvious (and probably harmful) stereotype of bookish people and even though I’m enjoying it, I keep waiting like, “Okay, aaaand?!”
There is basically no plot that I can really tell. It’s basically a character study all about Nina. There’s this little bit from the blurb about discovering her new family, and I’m interested to see where that leads, but so far it’s just … I don’t know. It’s the sort of book that if it were a movie, I’d turn it on for background noise and pause to watch it now and then. There’s no stakes, and there’s some pretty just bizarre scenes, like a four-to-five page discussion about a guy’s penis during book club (because one of the members had been sent a dick pic) and an off-tangent discussion of Nina’s morning routine versus the way she imagines it should be and a peek into Nina’s thoughts on bullet journaling and setting up her own schedule. The whole book so far sort of feels like it derails itself every so often.
I know this sounds like a lot of negatives, but at the same time, I’m genuinely enjoying it. It’s funny and there’s sarcasm, which I’m always for, and it’s something I can just shut my brain off and read at the end of a long day.
Since David Mogo, Godhunter took pretty nigh on forever to finish, my TBR looks largely the same as last week, which is disappointing. I’d hoped to have gotten through more books. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep will be next, because that releases soon and it takes me an eternity to write reviews because I’m slow. Ditto with Shatter the Sky, though I have an extra week on that one, at least.
With a little bit of thought, the new addition this week will be They Both Die at the End because I’ve heard such good things about it and my library hold finally came through and I’ll be darned if I have to wait that long again for it to come round.
I don’t ever read chick lit either, but I have been reading a lot of rave reviews for Nina Hill. I guess as long as you don’t mind a story without much plot!
I’d read a lot of rave reviews, too, which is what made me request it, and I was so excited to get an ARC! I’m the sort that needs a plot, even if it’s a largely character driven story. I’m clearly in the minority here, as people seem to absolutely love Nina and the book. xD She comes off a bit snobbish and inconsistent to me, but then again, she’s super relatable in other aspects, so I can see why people like her so much.
All I could thing about upon seeing The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep was “Wait…the gross dude from David Copperfield? And apparently, yes, it’s referring to that character lol I’m curious to read more about it as you go through it. I hope you have a good week!
http://musewithmeblog.com/2019/07/10/www-wednesday-july-10-2019/
Sounds interesting, right?! I’m excited. Which may not be the right reaction when you hear that Uriah Heep is going to be just casually strolling around the world, but hey, what can I say? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
omg you’re going to read They Both Die at the End?! Good luck <3 That book actually made me cry even though I know what's going to happen, but you don't know HOW it's going to happen, and when it does you're still kind of like wtf that hurt. I don't really pick chick lit books either and idk. I don't get it sometimes.
I ammmm. I sort of have to at this point, don’t I?! Pray for my feels. xD I will keep in mind that I need to read the last part at home, with plenty of tissues handy.
Oh yeah you’re gonna need plenty of tissues in hand <3 But I wish you luck, and I know you're going to like it.
I loved They Both Die At The End! And I totally feel the same about chicklit and normally stay away from them as I just know the genre isn’t for me. I’ve been tempted by this particular title as well though (who doesn’t love bookish books?!), but I think I’m going to pass based on your comments. Have a wonderful week and happy reading!
I can’t wait to read it! Everyone seems to have really liked it. xD I normally do, too, but … welp, this is a fail for me for not paying attention haha. I think it’d be a good light book if you wanted something just funny and brainless between some heavier stuff. I do sometimes look for books like that, since I tend to read a lot of dark stuff.
It’s true that having a good light book at hand is always useful in between darker reads! I always try to have some at the ready as well since I read a lot of thrillers and historical fiction.
I’m glad you were able to enjoy David Mogo for the most part. It took me about a week to get through 30% (I saw something about it being split into three parts? If that’s the case, I didn’t even finish the first one.) and I was really confused most of the time. I really hate it when this happens, though, as I really want to support #ownvoices authors where I can. Good luck with your current read!
Yeah, it was really hard to get into, and most of it was spent on the first part. Honestly, I think that was the slowest part. Once it hit the other two sections, it was basically non-stop action and moving the plot forward with a little bit less exposition, etc. Sometimes that happens, though. I live under the theory that not all books are for us, as much as we wish they could be, and that’s okay. Someone else will love them. xD
It’s good to know that The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is chick lit which I don’t read. I had The Bookish Life on of Nina Hill on my TBR, but I think it may come off now. Also, I want to read They Both Die at the End.
Oh my gosh, so many people are saying that. I don’t feel so alone. xD Not that I think there’s anything wrong with chick lit. It’s just not my sort of thing. I hope you do! I’ve had it recommended by soooo many people that I can’t imagine I won’t love it. Either that or I need better friends. 😛
Shame David Mogo, Godhunter wasn’t as good as the cover! 😂
It does have a pretty spectacular cover, doesn’t it? xD
I just read a short excerpt of David Mogo and it sounded really good! I noticed some Pidgin already in the conversation and I do think that might be tough to follow but maybe it won’t be so bad when you’re immersed in the story? So I’m looking forward to your review 😃 I’ve also been hearing lots of rave reviews about Nina Hill so I’m looking forward to hearing what you think about it. Although tbh, I’m a sucker for a good chick lit just coz most of the time they’re so easy to read and leave me feeling pretty content! I hope you enjoy They Both Die At the End! 😍 That was my first Silvera book and I wasn’t expecting to feel so attached or surprised by what happens, knowing that there’s only one way the book will end. It’s a tear jerker (but I’m also an epic crier lol) Happy reading!
The pidgin is really most obvious when talking to Papa Udi. I don’t think the others use it as often. So at least you know when it’ll show up.
You’re one of the chick lit people! I knew they had to be around here somewhere, with everyone commenting they don’t read them, either. xD If you like chick lit, I highly recommend Nina Hill! My review for it should be posted tomorrow, I hope, or Saturday at the latest. 🙂
This will be my first Silvera book, too! I’ve heard great things about both the author and the book, though, so I’m looking forward to it. I’ll also probably cry like a baby haha.
Yes! He was in the excerpt and at first I was like wait, what am I reading?! Haha it’s definitely unique though. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with pidgin in it!
Oh girl, I have no qualms admitting to being a chicklit chick! Haha I love me a good chick lit and honestly, I think when I first “came into adulthood” *cough* the first books I picked up were by Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes and all those other lady authors! Looking forward to reading your review on Nina! Hopefully it wasn’t too painful for you? 😅
You might cry. Probably. Silvera has a tendency to make me cry often haha. Hope you enjoy it!
Pidgin is fun. I have a friend from South Africa, and he likes to throw random Afrikaans into conversation just because he knows I can’t speak it. But I’ve gotten pretty good at picking things up now, and I find it fun haha.
It wasn’t painful at all! The book is enjoyable, and I can see why people like it. Just not quite what I’m looking for, personally. But it was hecka funny.
Haha that’s really cool. I’ve always wished I was better at picking them up, although having lived in several countries I’ve picked a few words up here and there. I love languages!
Language is sort of my thing. :3 I’ve always picked it up really easily, from foreign languages (French, Spanish, ASL) to programming languages. Unfortunately, I also have a bad memory, so if I don’t use it … well, let’s just say I’m not exactly fluent anymore in anything except English. And sometimes only barely that.
That’s super cool 🙂 My mum and sister are really great with languages but the rest of us are *womp-womp-womp* 😅 for sure it’s hard to retain unless you’re forced to use it every day, so I’m also basically only fluent in English, not even my “mother tongue” lol the life of a third culture kid 😂
They Both Die at the End is AMAZING- and I can’t wait to read STS