Megan’s Comments (group member since Jan 05, 2009)

Megan’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

20. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

21. Ophelia by Lisa Klein

22. Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

All YA books. Skin Hunger was the best. Ophelia was a retelling of Hamlet, but I thought it was fairly weak. I don't feel like it was very well done, or added anything to the play.

19. The Body Artist by Don Delillo

I actually read this earlier on in the year and forgot to add it to this list. It was an interesting book and was well written, but I came away from it wondering if I really understood it or if I was missing something. I wish I had read it for school so that I could discuss it. That being said, I really enjoyed it and it gave me a lot to think about.

17. Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates.

I love the choppy way the novel is written. It works to reflect the frantic nature of the story. I have now read 2 Oates novels and am becoming a fan. The title could mean many different things, but none of them obvious, or callous.

18. Summer of My Amazing Luck by Miriam Toews

Another author I am falling in love with. She is funny and poignant. One of my new favourite Canadian authors.

Hello!

16. East by Edith Pattau

A well written children's/YA fairy tale adaptation. It is one of the better adaptations I ave read recently (I am still on my fairy tale kick). The characters are round and it is inventive and engrossing. I gave it 4 stars.

14. Brier Rose by Yolen

I expected more out of this book. I didn't feel like there was very much going on below the surface.

15. Ever by Gail Carson Levine

This was alright I guess. Levine has become a one hit wonder for me. I loved Ella Enchanted. It is one of my favourite Children's novels, but none of her other novels have even come close. The only ones I have even liked other than Ella Enchanted are the Princess Tales, but they are not real novels. Her characterization and pacing seem poor. I think I should just stop reading her books b/c they are such a disappointment.

33.

11. "Drop City" by T.C. Boyle

from the 1001 books to read before you die list. One of the less academic, more fun books on the list. I really enjoyed it.

12. Smoke and Mirrors by Niel Gaiman

Very well written. This collection of stories made me want to read more.

13. White as Snow by Tanith Lee

A version of Snow White for grown ups. It is a bit overlong, but interesting and well written.

Mary Todd wrote: "congrats on 10!"

Why thank you! :)

Gloria wrote: "MEGAN
I'm actually a big fan of a lot of the YA books. As good or better plot and writing as many of the "adult" books without gratuitous and explicit scenes.
"

I can totally relate to this. I find YA books and Children's novels to have a certain magic to them. I get drawn into the stories more, for they seem to be more about character and feelings than "literary importance". It is only when I am reading a YA book that I stay up til 4 in the morning bc I can't put it down!

What kinds of books do you like? Maybe I can give you some recs.

10. Spindles End by Robin McKinley

I was torn between giving this a 2 and a 3. I enjoyed it, but it was too ambitious perhaps. There were too many things going on and I didn't love the two protagonists.

9. Beauty by Robin McKinley

What can I say? I am a sucker for fairy tales and romance. :)

What have you read so far in 2009? My list includes

1. The Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind
2. Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind
3. Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind
4. The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson (YA)
5. A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson (YA)
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusac (YA)
7. The Body Artist by Don Delillo
8. The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

As you can see I haven't been on a very serious book binge. I have been reading a lot of light stuff and Young adult literature. From my list, I would recommend "The Book Thief" the most. "The Body Artist" is also quite good, but it is very literary, to the point that I wish I had a book club or something so I could try and make better sense of it.

Ok, your turn!

Oh, this isn't a series, but if you like Twilight you will probably like "Blood and Chocolate."

For Fantasy YA series, I would recommend

The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix
The Queen's Thief Series by Meghan Whalen Turner
Phillip Pullman's trilogy starting with The Golden Compass

I don't tend to worry too much about reading quickly to get the books done. I love love love to read, so any time I lose the joy in reading, I take a step back and change how I am doing things. For example, I am working on the 1001 books to read before you die list, but I tend to alternate between those books, which can be tedious, children's/YA books ( I am a teacher) and entertaining books. If I start feeling frustrated by the situation (Exmaple, reading Saturday by Ian McEwan) I put the book aside and cut my losses. I think I should go back to that one though, when I am in a more academic mindset.

8. The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.

Fairly well written, if predicable children's novel. I liked it better than Hale's The Princess Academy.

7. Serpent's Tale by Franklin

I finished this novel in 24 hours. It was entertaining and the historical setting was convincing.

Ok, lately I have read
3. Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind
4. "The Morning Gift" by Iva Ibbotson (children's lit) 5. "The Song for Summer by Ibbotson which was fairly terrible.
6. The Book Thief which was excellent.

Right now I am working on Saturday by Ian McEwan, Smoke and MIrrors by Niel Gaiman, The Serpent's Tale by Franklin and The Ugglies by Westerfield.

I read to be entertained, so I have no qualms about putting aside a book I don't like. That being said, if I am reading a book, such as a classic that I feel I 'should' read, I put more effort into getting through it. I rarely actually put a book down, for even if I didn't like it, I can find things about it that I appreciate. Often with books that I don't finish, I end up coming back to them at another time when I am more in the mood for them.