Watcha Reading in August/September

[Michelle, Overrun By Pets]

I finished Ender's Game which was recommended by my husband. I didn't get through it as quickly as I had hoped. I liked the book, but was not thrilled with the genocide of a race without any real justification. I also was not impressed with adults lying and manipulating children to the extent that occurred in the story. I enjoyed the concept of genius kids becoming militarist tacticians and leaders. I was definitely interested enough to start the next book in the saga Speaker for the Dead. I am at the beginning of the second book in the series and am still somewhat confused as to how it relates to the first story. Hopefully this is cleared up soon.

I'm still working through Crime and Punishment. I have read through section five and have really enjoyed it so far. I took a pause in reading this book due to a delay in posting topics for discussion. I'm looking forward to finishing it. It has been a much faster and easier read than I initially anticipated.

[Andrew, Wound Up]

Super slow reading months for me!

I started August with Use of Weapons base on a friends recommendation/loan. I didn't love it for a few reasons: unconvincing (almost juvenile) intimacy and an unnecessary storytelling convention that felt forced. The book tells the story forwards and backwards from a common starting point - but then cheats itself by adding in flashbacks and other shenanigans.

Speaker for the Dead was superb! I had my doubts about how it could keep the original story moving forward. This is a very different book then the original Ender's Game - but in many ways I thought it tells a better story. There are many similarities to my favorite Vorkosigan books.

I Capture the Castle had been recommended to me by at least one person, I thought it had a few other nods too. I think it had been sold to me as a fine and unexpected example of an untrustworthy narrator. I want my money back! If you are a teenage girl or want to listen to the ramblings of a teenage girl for a few hundred pages then be my guest - enjoy!

And of course I'm reading C&P and have started next months book. My reading this whole year has been slow due to too many good video games. I'll need to get reinvigorated for next year.