Author: Katisha Smith

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Today is my uncle’s birthday, so Happy Birthday, Uncle Rick! He passed away some years ago, so this is a heavenly birthday shoutout. Instead of sending him the usual birthday card and chatting with him a bit on the phone, I have to settle for posting a message on Facebook. I was an adult when my uncle passed away, but I was touched reading a picture book about a young girl attending her uncle’s funeral.

What I found most interesting about The Funeral is how much the book doesn’t focus on the actual funeral. The story is mostly about Norma’s experience during the entire day of Uncle Frank’s funeral. Although she knew the funeral was for saying good-bye, it was hard for Norma to feel sad because going to the funeral means having a day off from school and seeing her favorite cousin. I appreciated that honesty in Norma because it lets kids know it’s okay to not feel the same way as the adults around you. It’s also a good reminder for adults to not expect certain behavior from young people during a funeral, especially when the first three letters are “F-U-N,” as Norma points out in the story.

It surprised me how much I was smiling while reading The Funeral, but I couldn’t resist its charm. The book looks like it was created with the young reader in mind. The illustrations look like they were done by Norma sharing the details of her day, and the story highlights the aspects of the day that stood out to her most and would likely stand out to most kids. The Funeral probably won’t be an everyday bedtime story, but it’s nice to have around for kids who are dealing with the death of a relative.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

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Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Yesterday, Daylight Savings Time ended, which means winter is coming. Boo! My neck of the woods will soon be covered with snow, and I won’t be a happy camper. Although I am not looking forward to losing daylight, I am excited about having an extra hour for more exercising sleeping reading. With more time to spend with a good book, why not pick up a big book? 

While it is not one of the longest novels, Anna Karenina is certainly one of the longest books I have read in recent years. It is also one of the best books I have ever read. After reading it, I now tend to agree with those bibliophiles who declare Anna Karenina to be the greatest work of literature. This is a dense story with an array of characters and an intricate storyline, but I had no problem following the various characters and their escapades. Although readers come for the torrid affair between Anna and Count Vronsky, it will most likely be the story between Levin and Kitty that will satisfy your romantic heart. 

Anna Karenina is one of the “classic” books I missed during school. I’m glad I didn’t let the size of the book keep me from reading it because I enjoyed every minute of this novel. The story never dragged or felt dull. Despite being published centuries ago, it also never felt dated and still feels relevant. If you’ve been avoiding Anna Karenina because you don’t like big books and cannot lie, then I implore you to embrace these unusual times and break out of your reading comfort zone. You’ll be singing a different tune in no time!

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

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Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

There are still a few days left until Halloween, which means recommending another book bound to leave you thrilled with chills. Since I prefer psychological thrills over gory chills, today’s book is for readers both young and young at heart. 

I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about Neil Gaiman’s books, so I decided to finally dive into his works starting with the beloved Coraline. Although the story was a rollercoaster ride of pleasure and disappointment, the hits are what make this book enjoyable. For starters, Gaiman holds no punches when it comes to creepiness factor. There was serious tension as Coraline battled The Other Mother, and I wasn’t sure if Coraline would be successful in the end. 

What I loved most about Coraline was the titular character herself. Coraline is a self-assured, courageous young girl who speaks her mind. Best of all, Coraline isn’t afraid of just being herself. She has a curious nature that definitely leads her into a very precarious situation, but she also has the smarts to solve problems. Above all else, I loved how Coraline showed the importance of bravery and independence. That’s an important quality for young readers to learn, especially young girls. However, Coraline is an excellent book for readers of all ages.

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Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Halloween is drawing near, dear reader, so it’s time to recommend picking up some creepier types of book … if that’s what you’re into, of course. No worries, I’m not a blood and gore kind of reader, so my reading recommendations will definitely be more on the tame side. What better book to read this week than the story Mary Shelley dreamt at the age of 18 about a scientist who created life and was then horrified by the results. The novel inspired by that dream continues to influence pop culture centuries after it was first published. In fact, the creature in the story is still one of the most popular and iconic Halloween costumes. 

It’s likely you haven’t read Frankenstein since high school, so you may be reluctant to revisit the book since there are so many books out there already and not nearly enough time to read them all. However, I always enjoy reading books as an adult that I read in my younger days. There are always parts of the story that went over my head in the past that make total sense now. Also, it is interesting to learn if certain feelings toward the characters have changed or remained the same. 

As a teen reader, it was easy to choose sides because life was less complicated. Situations were black and white, good or bad. The Creature was obviously the bad guy because he caught bodies left and right. As an adult reader, I saw both of the protagonists as villains. Although, Victor is more of the bad guy than the monster he created in my eyes. Frankenstein is the story where there are no true heroes. That makes this book all the more interesting. It is quite rare I read a book where I am not rooting for either of the main characters. If you are looking for a similar Gothic read, then Frankenstein is an excellent choice. 

Also, I’m eager to know how you refer to what Victor Frankenstein created.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Howdy fellow book nerds! Did you know it’s been five years since Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled to October 21, 2015 in Back to the Future: Part II? That’s right, it’s Back to the Future Day better known as the day Doc and Marty time traveled to the day when the Chicago Cubs could theoretically win The World Series! Funny enough, they missed the actual date by a year or so since the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. In honor of this day about fictional time travelers, I’m recommending a book about another fictional time traveler. 

Despite being called The Time Traveler’s Wife, the book focuses more on Henry, and his time traveling exploits, than on the wife, Clare. However, I’m glad the story focused on Henry traveling through time because that’s the aspect of the story I was most interested in reading. What I absolutely enjoyed about the book was although time travel is a sci-fi concept, it felt plausible and realistic in the story. Henry’s ability to time travel is a genetic condition, and he even sought medical help to cure his disorder. 

What also makes the story grounded in reality was Henry being unable to change what has already occurred in his past, so there are no ways for him to change the course of history both in his own life and within greater society. Before reading The Time Traveler’s Wife, I was a bit apprehensive about the idea of Henry being in his 30s and Clare being decades younger when they first met. However, it didn’t actually read as creepy in the book as it sounded in the description. 

Overall, I enjoyed The Time Traveler’s Wife as an unconventional telling of the traditional boy meets girl love story. I would recommend it for readers who want to experience a little science fiction in their romance.

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Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

I freaking love rom-coms! I love the good ones. I love the great ones. I even love the bad ones. Although I’ve been enjoying romantic comedies in movie form for years, I have started reading them in their bookish form only recently. Today, I want to talk about a must-read love story that got me through the early stages of quarantine. 

Although The Bride Test is referred to as The Kiss Quotient #2, this story is completely separate from The Kiss Quotient. The one link between the two novels is the brief mention of Khai in The Kiss Quotient. If you have been avoiding The Bride Test because you haven’t yet read The Kiss Quotient, then I’m here to tell you to dive right in! These are two separate love stories that stand on their own. 

This is another book I finished in record time because I couldn’t get enough of it. Every time I finished a chapter, the end was so juicy that I couldn’t just end my reading session. My favorite character was Esme who showed the importance of self love. She was not just in this to find a husband, Esme wanted to improve herself and do it on her own terms. I also appreciated Hoang’s ability to once again write Khai as a character with autism who doesn’t feel one dimensional.

The romance between Esme and Khai was electric, and I loved watching their blossoming love. Them coming together in the end felt satisfying and left me wanting more. Overall, The Bride Test is the perfect read for rom-com lovers, readers in need of a feel-good book, or for fans of The Kiss Quotient. 

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Tomorrow is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, and I would be remiss if I let this celebration end without recommending a book written by an Hispanic author. Hopefully, you’ve had the opportunity to read at least one book written by an Hispanic author within the past month. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about the recently published Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia for the horror / fantasy crowd. For the scaredy cats like me, today’s recommendation is definitely more family friendly.

Although this story takes place around 2005 and 2006 when ICE Raids were historical almost everyday occurrences, Return to Sender feels as current as ever when America’s new “Deporter-in-Chief” and his administration gleefully continue separating families at the United States-Mexico border. Mari and her family are constantly in fear of being captured by la migra and being separated. While Mari and her parents were born in Mexico, Mari’s sisters were born in North Carolina, so are technically American citizens. Return to Sender will help readers find the humanity behind the headlines. 

I enjoyed this middle grade book, and it didn’t take long for me to become engaged in the story. Moreover, I think it’s a great book for parents and children to read together, then use the discussion questions included in the back of the book to share their thoughts on the book’s key themes of citizenship and immigration.

I recommend reading Return to Sender no matter your stance on the issue of immigration. The book may confirm your suspicions, or it may help you see the issue from a different point of view. Characters in the story like Tyler and Mr. Rossetti learn the issue of immigration is complicated, and it is hard to be against undocumented Mexican workers being in the United States once you know their stories and how they contribute to the American economy.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

It’s October 12, 2020. Have you checked your savings account today? If you haven’t, then you should immediately log into your account right now! Why today? Well, today is National Savings Day, the unofficial holiday founded in 2017 by Capital One “to empower people to feel more confident about their relationship with money by educating them on how saving money can be a simple straightforward experience.” In honor of National Savings Day, I’m recommending you read (or re-read) one of the godfathers of personal finance books, The Millionaire Next Door. 

Despite sometimes struggling through The Millionaire Next Door, I without a doubt value everything I learned from this book. I used to believe the best way to become wealthy was to make a lot of money, but I quickly learned the amount of money one brings home doesn’t matter. What matters the most when it comes to reaching millionaire status is the amount of money one saves (and invests). In fact, those with the millionaire mindset are striving for a high net worth instead of concentrating on getting a bigger paycheck.

In this book, people are referred to as either a PAW (Prodigious Accumulator of Wealth) or an UAW (Under Accumulator of Wealth). Most Americans are UAWs. Not only are we not accumulating wealth, we are swimming in debt. If we want to reach  the rarefied air of millionaire status, we have to take the road less traveled. With anecdotes, data, and plenty of tips, The Millionaire Next Door is an excellent map to get you from the poor house to millionaire’s row.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

October 7th is Frappé Day, so make sure you stop by your favorite coffee shop and order this infamous frozen caffeinated treat. Did you know the frappé has Greek origins? That’s right! During the 1957 Thessaloniki International Fair, Dimitris Vakondios couldn’t find hot water to make his Nescafe instant coffee, so he improvised by mixing Nescafe with cold water and ice. What resulted was a refreshing foamy cold coffee beverage that became the first Greek café frappé! Today, it is still the most popular coffee beverage in Greece and its official national coffee drink!

Whenever I think of Greece, my mind automatically visualizes Rory Gilmore Lena Kaligaris traipsing through Santorini with Kostos on some serious summer loving. Although their love story is sweet, I still prefer Lena’s story in the book. If you only know The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants through the movie, then I highly recommend reading the book.

I was surprised with how quickly I finished The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It usually takes me up to a month to finish a book, but I devoured this book in less than a week! All of the summer stories were engaging from beginning to end. I was laughing. I was crying. What I absolutely loved about this book was this being a story for teenagers that didn’t talk down to them. The book does a good job handling heavier topics like death, sex, and cancer for a teenage audience. If you enjoy The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants as much as I did, then remember the story continues in The Second Summer of the Sisterhood.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot. 

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

My original plan was to celebrate the big opening weekend for the Wonder Woman sequel. However, I have to hold off on all of that because Wonder Woman 1984 has been delayed until Christmas. Although, with the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if the movie was further delayed until 2021. That may be good news for book nerds who want to get in plenty of Wonder Woman reading before seeing Gal Gadot portray her once again on the big screen. If you’re looking for a quick bite of Wonder Woman goodness, then pick up Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. However, when the opportunity comes, she throws it away (and breaks Amazon law) by rescuing a mortal.

Alia Kerlias just wanted to spend a semester at sea away from her overprotective brother. After a bomb detonates aboard her ship, she is forced to accept the horrible truth. Alia is a Warbringer. As a direct descendant of Helen of Troy, she is fated to bring about an age of global bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia form an unlikely alliance in the hope of stopping the tide of war and finally ending the Warbringer curse.

What I enjoyed most about Wonder Woman: Warbringer is getting in this book what I didn’t get in the first Wonder Woman movie, which was more time on Themyscira and a deeper dive into the associated mythology. Although the majority of Warbringer takes place in the World of Man, the book still spent plenty of time on the island. I also appreciated the beautiful damsel in distress needing protection being a young Black woman.

Overall, I absolutely loved Wonder Woman: Warbringer. It’s an adventurous hero’s journey that can be enjoyed by both teen and adult readers, and it will most certainly have you geeked about Wonder Woman’s return to theaters.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

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