Tome Topple Readathon 2017- Recap

So a couple of weeks ago I wrote this very excited post: 

"Having insomnia really is a blessing and a curse. I decided last night to go crazy and do the Tome Topple read-a-thon. This is a readathon where the whole purpose is to read the big books that may overwhelm us. I have always had a problem reading anything over 500 pages, so I thought this might really challenge me. 

The challenges this time are: 

1. Read more than 1 tome 

2. Read a graphic novel (still over 500 pages!)

3. Read a tome that is part of a series 

4. Buddy read a tome
5. Read an adult novel" 

I had all of these intentions of finishing this read-a-thon strong. The problem is that I was seriously ambitious and really fell short. I completed one challenge. 5. Read an adult novel is the challenge I actually completed. Some sing, Some Cry is the only book I finished that was a Tome during this week. 

I was hoping to be more successful but you know what sometimes life happens and things go a different way than expected. I really wanted to write this post to sort of put an end to the Tome Topple Read-a-thon topic for 2017 and show that not every read-a-thon is successful! 

Book Review: 1984 (Classics)

This is a series that involves spotlighting interesting classical literature that I read. In an effort to be a more well-rounded reader. I also am participating in a classic literature challenge Feel free to check out the series here. Below is a running list of each post in this series. 

Title: !984
Author: George Orwell
Page Count: 328 pages
How I received it: I believe I have had it since middle school
Genre: Classic, Dystopia, Science fiction, itature  


Actual rating: 5/5 Stars

I have read this book so many times. I am surprised the pages haven't fallen out. This was one of my first "me" books. It was a book that I had earned, so I decided to just work on reviews instead. My first introduction to Orwell was not always my favorite author. He sort of had to earn that title. And as I get older and re-read his books, I realize how truly gifted he was.

The first time I read this book I thought the government was out to get me. I struggled showering because I might have run into someone bad. I eventually grew up and realized all of that was super silly.   have this love affair with this mans work and at this point, I don't remember how to fix it with out deleting my data.

This book is super dark and depressing. I believe it's even scarier because we can see some of these things by ourselves. The one thing that always stuck with me was War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is a strength. I do not ever wish we got to know more of the main characters and they would actually take pictures with her.

This book shares a very interesting view of utopia. One that is sort of not a utopia. They live in a country that has a totalitarian system. This really changed my mind set because it is where we are going somewhat. I am super anxious and what not, even though big brother isn; 't that exciting.

I hope you give this book a chance!

Goodreads Description:  

The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell's prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of "negative utopia" -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. 


No one can deny the novel's hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time

Book Review: The Windfall

Title: The Windfall

Author: Diksha Basu

Page Count: 295 Pages

Where I received: Crown Publishing

Actual Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

This is a pretty enjoyable read. Although it is quite depressing. I am unsure of what I expected going into this book but I don't think it lived up to my expectations. I really was drawn to the cover of this book. It is simplistic but yet powerful. The typography is quite beautiful. 

Windfall is centered around a newly-rich Indian family. Which is very unheard of in India and causes the characters to suddenly have a new identity and some life adjustments. Ultimately, they end up experience a lot of confusion about who they are now. A quote that displays this perfectly is, 

"His India was neither rich nor poor. There were no huge homes and elaborate weddings, nor were there slums and water shortages and child laborers. The middle ground was too confusing to explain to an outsider. It was neither exotic enough nor familiar enough" 

The main issue of the book was the depressing vibe that it gave off. I really disliked the main character Jha's son Rupak. He was arrogant, irresponsible, and completely lacked any accountability. He got away with everything. He has bad grades and really doesn't try in school. Does he acknowledge his actions in these facts? No, of course not. Instead he blames his parents new wealth for his actions. He says he has no reason to study, that it interferes with his life and hobbies. He doesn't want to be independent or ever stop living off of his parents. This just rubbed me the wrong way. 

This book is a classic look on how money changes people. Either better or worse, no one is the same after money. Often it takes hitting rock bottom for us to see what is really important in life. What makes sense and who we are. The classic story of finding who you are. 

Disclaimer: Thank you Crown Publishing  and Blogging For Books for sending me a free, finished copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review!

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

For the past thirty years, Mr. and Mrs. Jha’s lives have been defined by cramped spaces, cut corners, gossipy neighbors, and the small dramas of stolen yoga pants and stale marriages. 

They thought they’d settled comfortably into their golden years, pleased with their son’s acceptance into an American business school. But then Mr. Jha comes into an enormous and unexpected sum of money, and moves his wife from their housing complex in East Delhi to the super-rich side of town, where he becomes eager to fit in as a man of status: skinny ties, hired guards, shoe-polishing machines, and all.

The move sets off a chain of events that rock their neighbors, their marriage, and their son, who is struggling to keep a lid on his romantic dilemmas and slipping grades, and brings unintended consequences, ultimately forcing the Jha family to reckon with what really matters..

Book Review: #BabyLove

Title: #BabyLove: My Toddler Life

Author: Corine Dehghanpisheh 

Where I received: Publisher

Actual Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

In a world surrounded by technology and smart phones, comes a book that reminds us to get back to the basics. The amount of time kids and adults spend on smartphones is so alarming. We are more interested in technology at times than we are making memories with our own children. 

The book My Toddler Life reminds us of all the little things a kid should be doing. Actives such as reading, playing, painting, and what not. Things that a child can do while the mom is present, but she isn't playing or creating memories she is only taking photos. In each image of the book, you can see that each image has the presence of a phone, and you see the screen which displays what the child is engaging in. Sadly when the mom does decide to put the phone down and play. The child then picks it up and starts taking some adorable selfies, but he is only mimicking what he sees his mom constantly do. 

Although this is a children’s picture book, the message is for adults. Which I think is a brilliant idea. To remind us that one day our children will look back on their childhood and realize parents were too busy preserving memories that they weren't actually engaging in those memories. 

The art in this book is cute and bright. It will engage your child and keep them entertained throughout the book. I really liked the minimalistic design and adorable, pictures throughout. 

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

In #BabyLove: My Toddler Life, a new children’s picture book by Corine Dehghanpisheh, a curious toddler loves to play… Especially with his mommy’s smartphone!

When Mommy finds him using her phone without permission, it’s the perfect teaching moment.  Mommy reminds her little one that what matters most in life is time together filled with love and attention.

Her simple reminder:  Put down our phones.

#BabyLove: My Toddler Life is the second book in Corine’s #BabyLove Book Series.  The first book in the series, #BabyLove: My Social Life, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Picture Books 0-5.