Minor: Volume One (The Journals of Meghan McDonnell Book 1)

 

 

Title: Minor: Volume One (The Journals of Meghan McDonnell Book 1)
Author: Meghan McDonnell
Published: December 2015
Format Read: Kindle for PC
Genre: Memoir, Non-fiction
Date Read: February 7, 2016

I was sent a copy of Minor by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Minor is the first book published from the authors personal collection of journals. Beginning in 1987 at the age of 8 years old, readers follow McDonnell until the end of high school at the age of 17 in 1997. She chronicles her adolescence, relationships, feelings and experimentation with drugs and alcohol. This journal also serves as a time capsule for the formative grunge scene of the western United States in the 1990’s as there is much mention of popular culture from that time. 

Dear diary...

I enjoy reading books that are written in diary or journal format. I find that it gives a great inside view on the main character, or in the case of Minor, the author herself. This particular journal showed how young teens are heavily influenced by the people around them, most specifically their friends. Growing up in a city with a large population, McDonnell made friends and entered relationships with many different people. And these people opened the door for her experimentation with drugs and alcohol. 

Express yourself.. 

Her experimentation with these vices would lead her parents to send her away to a survivalist program. The time she spent in the wilderness was probably the most interesting part, for me because she really began to express herself in her writing. 

However.. 

Unfortunately I had a hard time relating to McDonnell and her experiences during her formative years. Sure I tried new things like any teen, but not to the extent that she had. 

The people she mentioned throughout this journal, weren’t really described in detail so they became faceless names to me. Although I do understand that these entries were written for her own personal records and therefore at the time, there wasn’t any need to be descriptive. This first journal would also pave the way for the following books in the collection. However I think that it may have been more enjoyable to the reader, had the author included some footnotes to explain portions in better detail. 

In closing..

Because this is a true journal I struggled with how I would rate it. In the end I decided not to give it one at all. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but simply because how do you put a rating on someone’s life? I would recommend Minor by Meghan McDonnell to other who like reading memoirs and to those who intend to read the entire collection. 

 For more information on this book and the rest of the collection visit the Goodreads links below:

Minor: Volume One

Novice: Volume Two

Limbo: Volume Three

Monthly Wrap-up: February 2016

Goodbye February and hello to one of my favourite months of the year. Why is March one of my favourite months of the year? Because the 1st is my birthday! Because of the leap year I had to wait one extra day to celebrate but that's ok.

But I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself. Lets see how February went..

• I'm really enjoying posting my weekly wrap-ups. Its a great way to keep track of my progress and connect with other bloggers. 
• I've also been enjoying my colouring books. It really is relaxing.
• Valentines day was on the 14th and two of my favourite men (my boyfriend and my daddy) surprised me with beautiful flowers.
• Had a blast from the past when Fuller House made its Netflix debut on the 26th. Stay tuned for a ML's Worth a Watch about that coming up soon. 

All in all not overly exciting, but that's okay with me.
 Now lets talk books..

Do you ever have one of those months where you thought you read more than you actually did? Well that is how I am feeling now as I do this wrap up. I only completed 5 books in February, which pales in comparison to January's 8. I'm not going to beat myself up about it though because I read some really good books this month.

Note: Click on the links for the Goodpages pages. 

1. Minor: Volume One (The Journals of Meghan McDonnell Book 1) by Meghan McDonnell 
   Rating: Not rated.
   My Review Date: March 3. 2016
   
2. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
   Rating: 4/5
   My Review Date: March 17, 2016
   
3. The Girls from See Saw Lane (Brighton Girls Trilogy Book #1) by Sandy Taylor
   Rating: 5/5
   My Review Date: March 8, 2016
   
4. The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy
   Rating: 4/5
   My Review
   
5. The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew #1) by Carolyn Keene Audio Narrated by: Laura Linney
   Rating: 3/5
   My Review Date: March 19 2016

The Stats

Favourite Book of the Month: 

Favourite Book Cover: The Girls from See Saw Lane (Brighton Girls Trilogy #1) by Sandy Taylor

Favourite Setting: 1960's Brighton (The Girls from See Saw Lane)

Favourite Character: Dottie (The Girls from See Saw Lane)

Total Books Read: 5

Total Number of Fiction Read: 4 

Total Number of Non Fiction Read: 1

Formats:

Physical Books: 2
eBooks: 2

Audio Books: 1

Currently Reading:

I hope you all had a wonderful February. What did you read this past month? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? I'd love to hear from you. Leave me a comment below and don't forget to include your own links as well.

Links:

Hosted by: Book Date

 

 

TLC Blog Tour: The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

About The Mapmaker's Children

 • Paperback: 336 pages • Publisher: Broadway Books (February 9, 2016)

Have you ever wondered if your decisions could change the course of history? Questioned whether or not bad things happen for a reason?
 In Sarah McCoy's THE MAPMAKER'S CHILDREN: A Novel (in paperback February 9, 2016), two women's lives are inextricably linked as they struggle through personal conflicts and wade through mysterious secrets. As the chapters alternate between these two commanding female protagonists, the reader must redefine courage, family, and destiny alongside these two remarkable women. Sarah Brown, the fiercely independent daughter of abolitionist John Brown, is a talented artist in 1860s West Virginia. When Sarah discovers that she cannot bear children, she turns her skills toward helping others and becomes one of the foremost mapmakers for the Underground Railroad. Taking cues from Slave Quilt codes, she hides maps within her paintings as the United States moves toward a bloody civil war. Over one hundred and fifty years later, Eden Anderson, a modern-day woman struggling to conceive a child, moves into an old house in West Virginia as a last-ditch effort to save her marriage and start a family. When she stumbles across part of an old porcelain doll in the root cellar, Eden slowly uncovers a dramatic connection to the Underground Railroad.  McCoy, whose novel The Baker's Daughter was a nominee for the 2012 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction, spent three years researching the Brown family history. This research became the basis for her inventive narrative, one in which McCoy honorably portrays the spirit of the real Sarah Brown and imagines her ties to the fictional Eden. Skillfully plotted and magnificently transporting, THE MAPMAKER'S CHILDREN highlights the power of community and legacy, illustrating the ways in which history and destiny are interconnected on one enormous, intricate map.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

My Rating: 4/5

The Mapmaker’s Children is a dual time period story that alternates between 2014, New Charlestown, West Virginia and pre-Civil War America. It wasn’t until I reached the end of the book that I learned that McCoy’s character Sarah Brown was in fact a real woman. Although this is a fictional account of the abolitionist’s life, it shows a great deal of research done by the author.

In the beginning I found Sarah’s storyline to be rushed and skipped ahead, leaving out some background detail. I also admit it took me some time to get into this story and to warm up to Eden. However the beautiful writing and my curiosity of how the two characters would connect, kept me reading. 

In the end I was glad I continued reading, as I would learn a lot about the Underground Railroad and even come to have a better understanding of Eden. A cute puppy named Cricket, next door neighbour Cleo and a town-full of wonderful residents also helped to make The Mapmaker's Children more enjoyable.

An added bonus to this book was the inclusion of a readers guide, an essay by the author and a music playlist to pair with the story. 

I would recommend The Mapmaker’s Children to those who are interested in reading about the abolitionist movements and the Underground Railroad.   

About Sarah McCoy

SARAH McCOY is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the 2012 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction nominee The Baker's Daughter as well as The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico and the novella "The Branch of Hazel" in Grand Central. She has taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. She calls Virginia home but presently lives with her husband and their dog, Gilly, in El Paso, Texas. Sarah enjoys connecting with her readers on Twitter at @SarahMMcCoy, on her Facebook Fan Page or via her website, www.sarahmccoy.com.

I received a copy of The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy from the publisher and TLC Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.