This Week In Books is a weekly update on what you’ve been reading hosted by Lipsyy Lost & Found . A similar meme is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
My one-book-a-week rule applies starting today *cries endlessly* With the hundred books I need to read as part of my studies, I won’t be able to squeeze in more of my personal choices. Now is the time to pray the assigned titles I was asked to buy are interesting enough to prevent a slump!
∧ Then ∧ Manipulated Lives, H.A Leuschel
Five stories – Five Lives.
Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance?
Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim.In this collection of short novellas, you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Next, there is Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself and finally Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.
Another slow paced book, sort of. Many things are happening but this is a book you read slowly and carefully to try and understand the detailed narration of how manipulation is a tricky and often silent mean used by people to get what they want. Review to come!
≈ Now ≈ Queen of Shadows, Sarah J. Maas / The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
The queen has returned.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
Time for some Maas fun! I am buddy reading the series again with the adorable Flo @ Flowless Books
Mark Twain’s tale of a boy’s picaresque journey down the Mississippi on a raft conveyed the voice and experience of the American frontier as no other work has done before. When Huck escapes from his drunken father and the ‘sivilizing’ Widow Douglas with the runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures that draw him to feuding families and the trickery of the unscrupulous ‘Duke’ and ‘Daupin’. Beneath the exploits, however, are more serious undercurrents–of slavery, adult control and, above all, of Huck’s struggle between his instinctive goodness and the corrupt values of society, which threaten his deep and enduring frienship with Jim.
If you’ve been around for some time, you know I am not a fond of classics. Let me tell you, this book should not be on this post. I have a terrible feeling I will hate it and struggle to read it until I end up crying in fetal position on my bed, wondering why what on Earth I was thinking about when I asked to be transferred to English studies.
∨ Next ∨ Lolita, Nabokov
Humbert Humbert – scholar, aesthete and romantic – has fallen completely and utterly in love with Lolita Haze, his landlady’s gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.
Another torture! I really don’t feel in the mood to reread this book I DNF earlier this year but if I want to have the slightest idea of what the teacher is rambling about, I need to peruse it. Entirely. Let’s remember reading is fun! *coughs painfully*
Have you read any of these books? What is on your list this week?
Do share in the comments
Happy reading!
“Another torture! ” hahaha Girl, pick up an addictive thriller now 😀
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I CANT!!!!! I’m so stuck! I’ve studied all day and now I don’t even have the energy to read the assigned books. I want my freedom back! You need to read thrillers for me, okay??
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I will. I promise you. As god is my witness!!! 🤓😂
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Good luck with your studies!! I’m currently reading South Sudan: The Untold Story from Independence to Civil War, which is a difficult read for different reasons, but utterly fascinating.
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Thank you! 🙂 Things are going great, except for those assigned books! Your current read really does sound fascinating! I must admit I don’t know much about the country, but I love discovering new places.
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Sorry to tell you this, but I didn’t enjoy Huck Finn at all. I only read it a few years ago, it having managed to slip past me, and to this day I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. Tom Sawyer is much better, probably because he’s a funnier narrative voice than Huck Finn. Good luck!
At least you have Queen of Shadows to cheer you up (if Aelin doesn’t drive you mad!).
Here’s my WWW: https://clairehuston.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/www-wednesday-5th-october-2016/
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That’s not reassuring at all! haha! I still haven’t started Huckleberry yet, but I will have to very soon before my willpower entirely gives up. I started classes and working on the author’s life has gotten me a little curious, but not enough to grab the book!
I can always count on Aelin to cheer me up, I can’t thank Flo enough for buddy reading with me again 🙂
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Have fun with the buddy read! I need to start the second book 😊
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Thank you! 🙂 This series is so much more fun with a buddy!
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Have fun with the buddy read! I hope you have a much better experience than me haha. I need to start the second book in that series 😊
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This series is a good buddy reading material 🙂 thank you!
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I however, am not good buddy reading material haha.
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Oh my, Lolita… I DNFd it as well… it was the first book ever I DNFd… and I feel guilty at times because perhaps I was reading it from a wrong angle or something, but I’m not in a rush to re-read either… Hope it goes ‘well’ for you! ha… 🙂
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I am dreading rereading it, haha. I haven’t dared touch the book. Maybe the memory is making it worse and the second read will turn out enjoyable… Or not! I don’t understand why this story is chosen as an assigned read, there are so many awesome stories waiting to be picked!
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I understand your hesitation… I’d be reluctant to pick this book up myself… But… I’m sure we’ll hear about your second round experience? 😀
You’re right, there are many awesome stories out there… Even sticking to classics… I wish you luck with Lolita! 😁
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I was thinking about a teeny tiny review for the classics I’m reading if I survive 🙂
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That would be awesome! 🙂 I hope you do survive and even read something you’ll really enjoy 🙂
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I have very fond/horrific memories of trying to force myself to read L’etranger for French class in school so I definitely feel your pain. My approach was generally to just try and get the gist of it (I still have no idea what it was about).
Who knows though, maybe you’ll suddenly discover you love them 🙂
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I never read l’Etranger, and I’m glad about it, haha. When I’m not connecting with a story in some way, any way, I have a hard time finishing the book, and my love for classics is weak. Still, I told myself to keep an open mind and to prepare a dozen of Rum-flavored waffles to help go through the books. Miracles happen! 🙂
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Mmmmm sounds good. I love waffles and I love rum so sounds like the perfect combo. Should make anything more enjoyable;)
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It always works 🙂
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Good luck with those classics! Hope you can get through them!
Happy Reading 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂 With a bit of luck, I’ll finish them quickly and will be able to grab a couple of good thrillers!
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I have heard alot about Lolita though have never picked it up. It sounds quite disturbing though due to the age of the young girl. From your description of your experience with it. It sounds like a complex read or is it boring? Good luck though:-) Classics are not the best reads. I am reading Eyre which is interesting but I have read 3 other books in between and I am only at 50% so far. I hope the books end up somehow surprising you in a good way though. Happy reading:-)
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I found Lolita both boring and too disturbing. I read dark and heavy stories but to follow a guy referring to a young girl as his nymphet is too much for me. I hope my second try will be a little more successful, but my hopes are low. I really liked Jane Eyre and finished it in two days. Too bad it’s not on the menu for me! Classics are a real problem, I have so much trouble connecting with the stories… But I’ll fight! 🙂
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Good luck with your school reading!
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Thank you!
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I know what you mean about the classics….I try to read them too but just end up feeling deflated. Good luck, you never know you may just like it 🙂
Here’s my WWW – https://bookboodle.co.uk/2016/10/05/www-wednesday-october5th/
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I really hope I will like some of the books we were assigned, or I might end up with a reading slump! Classics are not my cup of tea, but I’ll keep trying 🙂
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Haha poor you! I never wanted to read any of the books I was supposed to for my studies. I totally feel your pain. I quite liked Lolita though, give it a chance 🙂
https://lipsyy.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/this-week-in-books-5-10-16-twib-horroroctober/
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I feel punished, haha! I will try and read Lolita as if it were the first time. Fingers crossed, miracles happen! Thank you for the link!
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Ugh I always hated required reading! Not only being forced to read titles I wasn’t in the mood for, but all the analyzing afterwards as well. At least Queen Of Shadows is a great distraction from all the classics. Good luck!
Happy reading! Here’s my WWW.
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I’m already working on the analysis (I forgot / wouldn’t read the books before, so I left it last minute, oops!) and it does not help. I don’t care about the books so I don’t want to spend hours scrutinizing every little detail!! It’ll be over soon…ish. In April xD
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Ouch! I can definitely feel your pain… The same happened to me all the time during my literature courses.
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Good luck for all the required reading Sweechie, YOU CAN DO THIS ❤
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Thank you! ❤ I will fight!!
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I hope the ol’ classics won’t put you in a reading slump either! Huckleberry Finn is still on my TBR. Has been for ages. Crosses fingers for you to like it 😀 Good luck (and hopefully lots of fun as well) with kicking off your studies again!
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That’s my fear, I’m really not inspired by those books! I’m hoping for a miracle, haha. I want thrillers to be added to the assigned reads. Thank you! 🙂 It feels good to follow (a home-made) timeline and give myself homework xD
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Yes, come to think of it…why aren’t there any thrillers on there?! Haha, you’re your own crazy teacher that way! 😉 I do the same with my studies from home. DISCIPLINE! *cracks whip* *and runs downstairs in between to grab some chocolate ^^*
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At least you have the fun buddy reading to look forward to!! lol 🙂 Good luck with your studies girl!
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Thank you! 🙂
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How is old Celaena? I feel like it’s been ages and yet I just finished ToG last week. I have so many books on my TBR it’s crazy. 😂
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I don’t care enough about her to remember her age xD
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That sounds like such a tough rule!! Looks like you’ve been doing some awesome reading. Wish I could say the same….
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Are you in a slump or just busy? I hope you get some good reading time soon 🙂 I wish I could just grab all the books on my TBR, but I’m stuck with classics 😦
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I’ve just been very busy. Darn, hopefully you’ll be able to read what you want soon!
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I hope you get plenty of down time! I hate it when life gets in the way of my reading:)
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I hope so too! I’ve gotten some good reading in but definitely could get more.
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I was supposed to read Lolita for my second year American Literature class and I barely got through it, definitely didn’t finish it. I struggled but I also found it super creepy, the whole 12 year old girls thing is horrible. I couldn’t be doing with it.
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Exactly. We should not have the obligation to read it if it makes us uncomfortable. I don’t care that it’s for the sake of studies, I don’t see what this book will bring me other than headaches and disgust. The mere memory of reading “nymphet” a hundred times makes me cringe.
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Exactly! Some people on my unit absolutely loved it and I didn’t get it at all. It was far to weird for me, urgh ‘Nymphet’. The fact that is also now a craze is even weirder considering its really about being 12 years old and having 40+ year old men leer at you
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Ahh Lolita is torture!! I can’t stand that book- I don’t care how well written it is, the subject matter is just… ughh
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I couldn’t agree more. I don’t care that some random teacher decided it was a good piece to study, don’t make me read something that makes me uncomfortable.
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I know right- I just don’t understand the point of the book either- I mean it successfully made me feel disgusted, but what was the point of that?!?
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I’m reading Queen of Shadows at the moment too (well, listening to the audiobook). Only a short way in but I’m already hooked… have to force myself to parse it out though so I don’t spend my days just sitting around listening to it and not doing any work 🙂
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I can’t believe I am enjoying Queen of Shadows a lot. I haven’t even started complaining about Aelin! 🙂 Haha, I know the problem all too well!
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I think you’ll like Huckleberry Finn! It’s one of the few Classics I actually enjoyed. But maybe you’ll hate it. Lol It’s a love it or hate it kind of book, tbh.
As for Lolita… Yeah, no. I’m sorry you have to go through that again..
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I’ve been reading Twain’s life and the first part of the Finn analysis, and I doubt I’ll enjoy the book. It’s the first semester I really have issues with the assigned books. Let’s hope next semester’s picks will be better! 🙂
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Looks like you’ve got your hands full. The first book looks interesting and informative. My Reading Check-In.
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Manipulated Lives was a very interestint read 🙂
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