Reading Challenge – 73% done!
Goodreads reading challenge 2016! Well it’s now the middle of August, the sun is back out and the garden with the Insect Hotel is crying out for attention and clearing up. That aside, how has my reading being going? Well, progress wise, well. I’ve reviewed a few more books given to be by Netgalley for an honest review, and dipped my toe back into the genre of Historical Fiction which I’ve left alone for a while as I’ve discovered new interesting genres (as per previous blogs). So what have I read since my last blog?
Book #31 – Warp by Lev Grossman
This book has been re-released by the author, Lev Grossman, who I understand has had some success with more recent works. I Believe they’ve even made a TV series about them! So although I’ve not come across him or them books yet, thought let’s give this a try, let’s see where it all began.
The new foreword, by the author himself, is an interesting read and clearly he poured a lot of time (6 years), his heart and soul into this, his first book. So I’m gathering he’s clearly thought, now with a bit of a name, some success and no doubt followers behind me I will re-release this book and get the acknowledgement my earlier efforts deserved. As gather this originally didn’t sell well.
And I’m afraid I can see why, only in that for me personally, I have no idea what the story is about or what is about to happen, going to happen or is happening. I have, sadly, given up after reading 50% of the book as have lots of other books on my ‘to-read-shelf- that I’m looking forward to and this has not grabbed me or piqued my interest in the slightest. Sorry to say I was bored, with no interest or like of the character(s).
So interesting new foreword, but after that…thumbs down. One star out of Five. Sorry.
Book #32 -The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 by Hendrik Groen
This is an amusing, heart warming read from a style of book or genre I don’t normally read. I think it also hit a little emotional note with me, as my 95 year old Grandma with dementia is currently in a care home, so this book reminded me and made me think of her and how her life is now a lot. My next visit I suspect will have me observing things a little differently I suspect.
The book is a diary written by Hendrik Groen, following his life and adventures in a care home, which is scattered throughout with little bits of wisdom, amusing tales him and his friends get up too as well as giving us readers a glimpse into the world of the elderly, getting old in a care home.
An entertaining, insightful, amusing and thought provoking read. 4 stars out of 5.
Book #33 – King Maker – Winter Pilgrims by Toby Clements
This book was passed to me by a family member who enjoyed it, so thought I’d give it a try, and I’m glad I did. It is an engaging tale of two characters (Thomas and Katherine) travelling and surviving a lawless and war ravaged 15th Century England.
I did on the whole enjoy the detail, the descriptions and research that clearly has gone into the book which made it really easy to imagine what life was like that back then. The grim, the mud and the cold. Although I’m now going to contradict myself by saying that likewise at times, this got a bit much, and I felt bogged down or even tired reading it all.
The battle scenes are well written, and adequately gory enough for the readers out there that enjoy that side of a historical yarn. I myself, like some things to be left to the readers (mine) imagination. I also felt, especially at the end, this book is clearly the first of a series, leading to more books, so was reading towards the end knowing….it wasn’t going to be the end, which normally does disappoint me. Do like stand alone books.
So a nice, steady 3 stars out of 5. I liked it.
Right then. Now off to the garden for some more clearing up, followed by choosing my next read[image error]
