Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts


About a year ago I started my 101 in 1001 Challenge. My goal was to read 101 books in 1,001 days. Not too steep of a goal, right? Well throw in 17 hours in class weekly, homework, working, and occasionally sleeping, and that goal became much more difficult than I thought it would be. I've read a good handful of the books on my list, but at this rate, it doesn't look like I'll be getting all 101 done in 1,001 days. That being said, I'm going to restructure my list from X number of books to read in Y days, and instead to X number of books to read.

The new page is titled Reading List. All of the books I'm interested in are listed in alphabetical order, not numbered like they used to be. Each book will be listed with a link to their Goodreads page and, as I finish it, their review. This list is a little better than the 101, because I'm not forced to fill it up with books just for the sake of the number, but also I'm not limited by the number either. Head over to the list here to see the changes!

In the mean time, I definitely own you guys an update on the books I've finished! You can check out all my reviews on my Goodreads page here!



I finished Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train a few months ago and let me tell you, I don't remember the last time I read a book this fast. At around 300 pages, the isn't particularly long nor short. Once you get about halfway through, the pages absolutely fly by! The story is told from the perspective of three different women whose lives just barely touch. Seeing the best and worst of human nature, everything begins with Rachel, the girl on the train. The book is an intense psychological thriller, that'll have you absolutely hooked until the very, very end.

The film for The Girl on the Train is slated to come out this October, and I cannot wait to see it in theaters! The cast looks amazing, especially Scott.




Both my reading of  E. Lockhart's We Were Liars as well as the review were a long time coming. If you were one of the people to attend BookCon 2014, you definitely saw the We Were Liars both. It was pretty intense, and left everyone hanging on the cliff, waiting for the book to come out. Everything comes from the perspective of Cadence. Through her, we follow the story of the summers of a distinguished family on a private island near Martha's Vineyard. I read this book on a recent flight to Chicago. I read about half of the book on the way there, and finished it 2/3 of the way back. The beginning is a little slow and confusing. There are a lot of characters and the map in the beginning of the book is much needed. Once you figure out who belongs to who and where, it's much smoother to read. Even though the beginning grinds a little bit, once the plot starts moving, it just doesn't stop.

The end of the book is stunningly written. All I can say for the end without giving it away is that you'll finish the book smiling.



Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See was another stunning piece of literature Absolutely worth the Pulitzer! The story follows two main characters, Marie-Laure and Werner, as they traverse their worlds during World War II. Their stories parallel through the book. Though it does take place during World War II, it's completely different than I expected it to be. It isn't a sad story. Yes, there are sad parts, but in the end it's a story of adventure. Doerr's writing will take you all over in your herat and mind. I was a little bit exhausted after I finished this book, but it wasn't exhaustion from a difficult read, it was exhilarating! I held my breath in suspense, I whispered the words in my mind when it was quiet, I felt like I was actually there, seeing and feeling the same things that Marie-Laure and Werner were seeing and feeling. Doerr's writing put me in the moment like very few novels had recently. It really reminded me of my true love for reading.




Those three are the big one's I've read lately. Check out my Goodreads page for a few more recent reads that I didn't have as much to say about this time around. Also check out My Reading List to see what's up next on my TBR list and what I'm currently reading. Don't forget to follow me on all of my social media links below, I always post what I'm reading and when I get a new book. Let me know your recommendations for books to try out too! I always love hearing what you all have to say too! I'm about to go crack open a new book, so until next time,

Writing to you from M, Personally


P.S. BookCon will be back in New York next year, and I'm already saving up for my tickets!
On May 25th, after not reading for much of my freshman year, I was fed up and decided to challenge myself to read 101 books in 1001 days. Since then, I've made some pretty good progress, but there's still a ways to go!

Just Finished: Break Your Own Rules by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt


So I'll be honest, this post has been a long time coming. I finished this book about a week ago, and this is the first time I had time to actually sit and write about it. And I'm glad I waited so I could give an accurate write up because I just cannot say enough about this book! The ladies of Flynn Heath Holt Leadership did a fantastic job of explaining what holds women back in their own minds. We as women have this mindset and these rules in our own heads what we so strictly follow. While not every woman is the same, but a lot are.
Even though it's meant for those in the business field, It can really be applied to anything. The book really helped me in terms of looking at my future political career and even just in my position with groups on campus. It asks questions and explains things in such a simple way, but without tearing you down or making your previous actions seem negative. It's such a fantastic read, I would 100% recommend it to ANYONE, and I already have recommended it to so many other amazing ladies!


Currently Reading: I'm not sure yet! I'm taking a break with Anna Karenina, It's just too big to drag around campus! I'll be sure to pick a new book out by Sunday, and I'll do a mini update then!
But for now, I'm off to the dining hall for dinner!


Writing to you from M, Personally
On May 25th, after not reading for much of my freshman year, I was fed up and decided to challenge myself to read 101 books in 1001 days. Since then, I've made some pretty good progress, but there's still a ways to go! Check out the master list here!

Just Finished: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling


Mindy Kaling takes the reader on a trip through her psyche. It's great because it feels very personal and conversational, much like the way I write. You learn so much about her personal life and how she views everything. I loved the chapters discussing her body and how designers hate her size. Speaking as a fellow size 8, it's an awkward size to shop for. We're not skinny and gorgeous, we're not heavy and gorgeous, we're just hanging out in the middle, uncommitted to an extreme, living life with an elliptical and a pint of Ben &Jerry's. 
Through Kaling's writing, I feel like I know enough to be her best friend. Honestly, she seems like she would be an awesome friend. Let me know girl, I'm always up for an online shopping marathon!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but I think that any almost-twenty-something or just-after-twenty-something woman would love it.

Check out my review on Goodreads!


Currently Reading: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy




Yes, I am still reading this absolutely massive novel! It's a bit difficult to get through, based on the sheer size of it. It gets a little easier every time I crack it open. And as anyone who's every read any Russian literature know, the names are just insane sometimes. Lots of characters with 3 very complicated names, and a seemingly endless amount of nicknames. It's a process to read, but I'm fighting through!




In  the mean time, I'll keep reading, and you can add me on Goodreads to see what I'm reading and get updates when I finish a book!


Writing to you from M, Personally
If you remember, I recently decided to read 101 books in 1001 days. And so far, I've made pretty good progress! Kind of. I haven't read as much as I would have liked. Between work and applying for jobs in DC and working on college stuff and occasionally sleeping, reading got (once again!) tossed on the back burner.

Aside from all that, I am still (stiiiiiill) reading Anna Karenina, which is turning out to be a much more challenging read that originally anticipated! I'm sure once I get more into the book and the plot it'll go by easier.
I did finish The Great Gatsby last weekend! A nice easy read, it took me about 3 days to finish, through I probably could've done it in one! It's a real favorite of mine and it's been a while since I had read it. I love the way Fitzgerald describes some things through Nick's voice. It's such a strange view sometimes and some of the passages I could read over and over and over again. One thing I really dislike about the book is Daisy. I never disliked Daisy's character until I saw the movie.
I mean the movie was amazing, Luhrmann is an AMAZING director (um, hello, Moulin Rouge) and Carey Mulligan looked exactly like I imagined Daisy would. But she was just so much more eh in the movie. I guess I always pictured her a little less helpless and whiny when I read the book. Now that I've read it again I don't know if she was always helpless and I never noticed it or if I'm just really noticing it now that I have Mulligan's character in my head. And therein is a literary life lesson, kids! Always take notes on books! Yes, even the ones you read for fun! Because you can read things different every time.

After all of that, I just have to mention it! That amazing final line!


While Fitzgerald wrote so many fantastically memorable lines, this has to be one of my favorites.


Check out the 101 in 1001 list and my 101 in 1001 Bookshelf on Goodreads to see what else I've finished so far! 

Writing to you from M, Personally


Inspired by Mackenzie Horan's 101 in 1001, I have compiled a list of 101 books I want to read in the next 1001 days. I'm hoping to read more books in less time, but for the sake of a good section title, I'm going to set a low goal for myself at the start. For this list, I won't count my current read, The Right Women.
I'll include link to each book's Goodreads page as well as my review post about each book as I finish them. I put the first four books up top, but you can check out the whole list here!

Writing to you from M, Personally