BOOK REVIEW: Swim by Jennifer Weiner

Swim is a short story that I had previously downloaded for free on my kobo. In my goals of cleaning up all of my devices  (so I can fill them up with new and better things!) I came across Swim.

The short story that inspired Jennifer Weiner’s forthcoming novel The Next Best Thing.Ruth has left her job writing for a hit television show for reasons she’d rather not discuss and is supplementing her increasingly dwindling savings with freelance writing projects—namely, helping anxious high school students craft a perfect college essay and lonely souls craft captivating online dating profiles. When she’s not working, she’s swimming—lap after lap at the local indoor pool, in a desperate attempt to wash away the sting of professional failure and heartbreak that she can’t seem to shake. It takes an unexpected client to show her that appearances can be deceiving, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply dive back in.


While it is a short story, I felt like it should have grabbed my attention more. I didn't want to read anymore about Ruth.  I felt like I wanted to read more about Cailtyn and her attempts to get into college. And that's saying something!  Based on this I'm not sure if I want to read the novel this inspired to be.

I know this is a short and shitty review, but it was kind of a short and shitty story. Alas, I really don't have much to go on. So, I will talk about the cover. Judging by it I would assume it would be more of a beach swim book. I mean, look at that suit!. A red ruffled, vintage inspired suit.  (probably a mirclesuit!) The book was about fitness swiming. They should have put a polyeseter racerback suit up there. That red suit wouldn't make it!

(yes I did work in a bathing suit store once upon a time).

Judge A Book By Its Cover

When I first saw this thumbnail I thought "why the hell would they put a tampon on a cover?" Upon closer review I realize its a flower in a vial, but still very tampon-esque.

Based on this I would not attempt to read this book., also the fact that it is the thrid book in the series. But yup. I do judge a book by its cover. and this shows nothing about being abandoned.

Unless they forgot to put it in the trash.

But after that intial shock of the cover, I was thinking what it might actually be about. I have a feeling that some chickie was abandoned and all she has left of the love of her life is this last flower she was given.

What it's actually about accorinding to goodreads:

seduced by power,
broken by control,
and consumed by love...

Vi has made her choice between Jag and Zenn, and the Resistance may have suffered for it. But with the Thinkers as strong as ever, the rebels still have a job to do. Vi knows better than anyone that there's more at stake than a few broken hearts.

But there is a traitor among them...and the choices he makes could lead to the total destruction of everything Vi has fought for.

Vi, Jag, and Zenn must set their problems aside for the Resistance to have any hope of ending the Thinkers' reign. Their success means everything...and their failure means death.


Nope, nothing about tampons or flowers.
 

Judge a Book By Its Cover

This cover makes me laugh. Something about having a head in the box makes me chuckle. Immature...maybe? It actually reminded me of the good ol' BSD days (For all you non University of Calgaryg goers, BSD is the last day of classes aka a good ol' drunken bash) playing Sociables with me always picking the boxhead card.

I have no idea what this book is about when I picked it up, but I instantly wanted to read it based on the cover alone.

And after looking at the synopsis on Goodreads:

The true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus.

So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor's bizarre family, and befriending a paedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock-therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy's survival under the most extraordinary circumstances

 

I kinda feel like I shouldn't have laughed at the cover.  And I also would have liked to see a pair of scissors in his hands. Now thats somethign, runnign with scissors while wearinga box on your head.

 

I am intrigued to read this though.

Judge A Book By It's Cover: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenhy Lawson

 

 

This is another case of buying the book based on the cover. I didn't even read the back. I have no idea what it is about other than some medieval superhero mouse named Romeo.

 

I have a sneaking suspicion that that is not what this is actually about.

 

 

Please don't disappoint!

Judge A Book By Its Cover

This is going to be a new series I do. Its called "Judge A Book By Its Cover"

Basically I am the worst at picking up a book based on the cover, never even reading the synopsis. I know. I know. I've learnt nothing.

So, Judge A Book By Its Cover is when I randomnly pick a cover from my To Read pile and judge what it will be about, then eventually once I read it I can tell you how psychic I am!

The first victim book is:



My predition: Based on the cover art I am assuming it will be about a death/murder caused drowning.This book will be about the human skeleton (see what I did there? 206 bones in the human body...what?!) and how different forensic clues will lead them to how it all happened.

I also am intrigued by the cover.

Fun hey?

What do you all think it will be about?