#COLLABOREADS: A Summer Read
If you're new to #COLLABOREADS, welcome!
Every month, Kristin from Taz + Belly and I host this fun little book-loving link-up, and we're so happy you've stopped by!
Here's how this works: We pick a theme every month, you pick a book that fits (we all read different books! it's fun that way!) and then all link up and share our thoughts (with a handy-dandy R.E.A.D.S. acronym usually--see below!) and link up and become BFFs. You can read more about this whole thing here.
If you're looking for an easy way to be reminded of when #COLLABOREADS is coming up, just sign up for our mailing list and we'll shoot you a reminder when it's time to get those posts ready!
This month's theme was: A Summer Read
I chose: Jaws by Peter Benchley. (Head over to Kristin's site to see what she chose, too!)
(Because when you say summer, I think SHARK WEEK, and there we go.)
You can grab this book HERE (affiliate link).
Riveting.
What part of the book could you NOT get enough of? SHARKS. If you have been following me on Instagram, you KNOW I'm very, very into sharks. I just love them so much, you guys. SO MUCH. But the thing is, I've never love fictionalized shark stuff. I much prefer the Discovery Channel informative/research-based/sciencey stuff over the "sharks are the villain" kind of stuff. So, because of that, I've never had a desire to see the movie (I also hate anything remotely scary) but I figured I could handle reading the book since I could easily stop reading at any point. And I have to say, the story is pretty good. It's told well (I don't know how it compares to the movie, though, clearly) and kept me hooked the whole time without being TOO gory or gross or anything. I didn't love the shark hunt aspect of it, because come on people, YOU are going into THEIR home. If they think you are food, that is them being 100% shark, which is what we should expect from them! So, didn't love that part... but still, a suspenseful and entertaining story overall.
Elements.
How did you relate to/care for the characters? What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? I didn't really love any of the characters, to be honest. They were all a little rough around the edges and several made some really poor choices throughout the book, and there wasn't a ton of character development that really would have made a reader want to root for or care for these characters. Honestly, my favorite character was the shark. Are we surprised? (We shouldn't be.)
Associate.
What other books are like this one? If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? I mean, #SHARKWEEK, clearly. And the movie made from this book. Any other fictional shark things (like the new 47 Meters Down movie) are things I always ignore, so I'm not much help there.
Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? This cover is awesome. It's bold, dramatic, shows the subject and storyline simply and perfectly, and definitely grabs your attention. Plus, big fan of the retro/vintage kind of look my copy had -- anyone else love old typography?!
Stars.
How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend? This one was a 3 out of 5 star book for me -- on Goodreads that means "liked it," which I did, but love it, I did not. And I probably still won't watch the movie.
LET'S LINK UP NOW.
FOR THE FUTURE:
August's theme is "A Book in a Series". (Take that however you want!) Find any book that feels like summer to you, read it this month, blog your thoughts (you can use our R.E.A.D.S acronym or whatever style you want!) and link up at the end of the month!
Kristin from Taz + Belly and I are so excited to have you joining us, and we can't wait to see this fun little link-up grow this year!