The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
>
<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Bound – Donna Jo Napoli – 4****
This YA novel is a retelling of the Cinderella story, set in the Ming dynasty era of China. I loved the way this story unfolded. I particularly appreciated the occasional poem which so eloquently expressed Xing Xing’s feelings. I’m a great fan of magical realism; Napoli incorporates this literary technique seamlessly.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*Reading:
The Bone People
The Three-Body Problem
A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea - Kindle
Also:
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - over 2000 pages
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice - Own and a slow read
The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise – Matthew Crow – 3***
There are some scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but in general, as “teens-with-cancer-romance” genre books go, this is pretty entertaining. It held my attention and was a fairly fast read. And yes, I did tear up.
LINK to my review
Three Wishes – Liane Moriarty – 3.5***
Moriarty excels at exploring relationships within an ensemble group of characters. Here she looks at the Kettle sisters, a set of adult triplets, their partners and their parents. As she did in Big, Little Lies Moriarty begins at the end, and then backtracks to lead us up to that climactic event. It's a story of sibling rivalry, and love found / lost / and found again. A fast read and quite entertaining.
LINK to my review
Capital Gaines – Chip Gaines – 2**
I’m a great fan of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. One thing that has struck me in the TV show is how immaturely Chip behaves at times. And this book is FULL of his immaturity. I don’t find his antics funny. I find them irritating. On the other hand, his sincere belief in “Go for it,” in taking life by the horns and going all out clearly comes through. I think he’d probably do well on the motivational speaking circuit.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*Reading:
The Bone People
The Three-Body Problem
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - over 2000 pages (30% done)
On backburner:
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice - Own and a slow read
In the Distance – Hernán Díaz – 5*****
A 14-year-old Swedish immigrant tries to make his own way in the mid-19th-century American West. This is a Western unlike any other I’ve ever read. The “romance” of the West is nowhere to be found here. This is often a barren, dangerous place with few allies and many enemies. The novel covers decades, taking Håkan from age fourteen to “white-haired” old age. In places the novel takes a philosophical turn as Håkan ponders his fate and occasionally despairs of every achieving his goal. I loved the poetic writing. I think fans of Jose Saramago would like this. Final verdict: Marvelous writing and a fascinating character.
LINK to my review
Fat Cat At Large – Janet Cantrell – 1*
Great premise, set in a city I love, with a lovely cat. But this amateur sleuth is just too stupid to live. My stars but Chase got on my nerves. She is whiny and a terrible businesswoman. Oh, well, it was a fast read and it satisfied a challenge, but I’m not likely to continue to series.
LINK to my review
The Devil and Winnie Flynn – Micol Ostow – 1*
I read this only because I needed to fulfill a challenge for a paranormal read, and this YA novel was readily available at the library. Basically it’s a “woo-woo” teen horror flick book. I rolled my eyes so often I made myself dizzy. Didn’t find anything scary about it. Dialogue was stilted. And basic premise was terrible.
LINK to my review
The Marseille Caper – Peter Mayle – 3***
This is book two in the Sam Levitt crime caper series. Think James Bond with less danger and more emphasis on enjoying life. Beautiful (and smart) girls, fantastic yachts, private jets, mansions with gorgeous sea views, political intrigue, sumptuous repasts, and good wine. A fast, fun, romp of a comedy crime caper that reminds me how much I will miss Peter Mayle.
LINK to my review
Reading:The Bone People
Cover Her Face
Port Eternity
On backburner:
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice - Own and a slow read
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - over 2000 pages (33% done)
Blind Justice – Bruce Alexander – 4****
Alexander has written a mystery featuring a real historical figure: Sir John Fielding. I loved the characters in this book and found myself looking up various references to real people to get more back story. Alexander paints a vivid picture of 18th century London and the many injustices that her poor endured. Jeremy is a wonderful narrator – intelligent, studious, dedicated, eager to please, and observant. I’ll keep reading this series.
LINK to my review
Around 100 pages into The Huntress. I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.Planning on The Dead House, and The War of the Worlds next.
Finished
today.★★★
A fun bit of escapism. More silly than sexy.
Finished Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883Just started
Before the Broken Star
Palace Walk
Just finished
.★★★★
I really enjoyed the mix of darkness and whimsy.
I finished Valley of Amazement and started Anna Dressed in Blood
I really liked it and I thought it was interesting. It reminded me of "Memoirs of A Geisha". I loved that book too.
I’ll Give You the Sun – Jandy Nelson – 2**
It’s been nominated for a slew of YA awards and I can see the attraction for the target YA audience, but not my cup of tea. I found it over-written and melodramatic. Not a fan of the dual timelines/dual narrators device either, which, in this case, just served to confuse and drag out the story line.
LINK to my review
Just finished these two books:
*****Tyrant's Throne by Sebatien de Castell
This was definitely the best book in the series ... and the last one.
Sniff! I have always been a big fan of Alexandre Dumas and the four books in the series capture the feeling of excitement and adventure of AD's books. Now, I just need to start reading De Castell's other series - Spellslinger.
*****The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch
This is number sixth in the series and the best one yet. I think Peter Grant is slowly but surely replacing Harry Dresden in my estimation. The humour in the book is wicked! Only two books left in the series, then I will just have to wait for the next one to be published.
Evicted – Matthew Desmond – 5*****
Subtitle: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Fascinating. Frustrating. Horrifying. Compassionate. Informative. Distressing. Enlightening. Desmond thoroughly explores the effects on impoverished residents of being repeatedly evicted and contrasts the plight of the poor with the profits made at their expense.
LINK to my review
The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge, and India's Quest for Independence-really great
The Disappearing Spoon – Sam Kean – 3***
Subtitle: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. Who could have imagined such a volume written about that chart that hangs in every high school chemistry classroom? Kean’s enthusiasm and fascination for the periodic table comes through. But, it was just too much even for this admitted science geek. Some parts were far more interesting to me than others.
LINK to my review
The Map of Salt and Stars – Zeyn Joukhadar – 4****
Joukhadar uses dual story lines (2011 and 12th-century Syria) and two young heroines to tell this story of family, loss, perseverance, grief, love and success. I liked both Nour and Rawiya, and loved some of the supporting characters. I preferred Nour’s modern-day story, probably because I’m less inclined towards “fairytales” at this stage of my life. Still, Joukhadar gave me a compelling read with well-drawn characters and some interesting parallels. At one point Nour reflects on a scar left on her leg: Life draws blood and leaves its jewelry in our skin. This novel doesn’t draw any blood, but will definitely leave its mark on the reader.
LINK to my review
The Heist Society – Ally Carter – 3***
First in a series featuring Katarina Bishop, born into a family of art thieves, but desperate to get out of the family business. Or is she? This is a fun, fast, young adult novel with a likeable main character and a totally implausible plot. I did like the intricate plotting, and was glad that the romance was kept somewhat on the back burner.
LINK to my review
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street – Helene Hanff – 4****
In a follow-up to her hugely popular 84 Charing Cross Road Helene Hanff takes us to London. Written as diary/journal entries on her first (and last) trip to the city she had dreamed of visiting. Definitely read 84 CCR first, but you’ll want to read this one as well … especially if you’re planning a trip to London.
LINK to my review
Finished: Silent Spring - 3*The rating does not reflect the importance of this work, but rather it is because it was written in 1962 and may be outdated. I really wish there was an addendum bringing some of the issues up to date.
Reading:
Twelve Bar Blues
Maud's Line
Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Audible - 24 hours
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - 2033 pages - 48% done
The Arrangement – Sarah Dunn – 4****
Somehow, I had the impression that this was going to be a fun, farcical comedy of manners type book. It isn’t. There are some scenes that are quite entertaining, but by and large this is a pretty serious look at modern marriage and the work of commitment – to your partner, to your child, to your values. I thought it was interesting that Dunn gave the couple the added responsibility / stress of an autistic child. My sympathies changed through the book as a result of how they interacted with their son and each other.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3.5*Reading:
Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Audible - 24 hours
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - 2033 pages - 48% done
The Ronin's Mistress
To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine
Cooking For Ghosts – Patricia V Davis – 2**
I expected a chick-lit light story with some ghosts and recipes to add flavor. The basic premise might be good, but it failed in execution for me. I did like some of the history / background of the RMS Queen Mary, though.
LINK to my review
--------- * * * * * * * * --------
Mrs Jeffries and the Silent Knight – Emily Brightwell – 2.5**
In general, I like this cozy series set in Victorian London and featuring the somewhat clueless Inspector Witherspoon and his house staff, who do much of the investigative work, while giving him the credit. However, I’m noticing how repetitious it is – not only from book to book, but within one book. Well, at least they did sometimes talk about Christmas decorations and shopping for presents. And it was a Christmas carol that gave Mrs Jeffries the “clue” she needed to solve the case!
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*,
- 4*Reading:
Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Audible - 6/24 hours
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - 2033 pages - 58% done
Medicus
Second Honeymoon – James Patterson & Howard Roughan – 1.5*
Book two in the “Honeymoon” series featuring FBI agent John O’Hara. I’ll say this about Patterson (and his co-writers): He knows how to craft a thrilling plot that keeps the reader turning pages. On the other hand, the writing is simplistic, and the characters are straight out of central casting. The two serial killers didn’t really work for me. Seems the authors couldn’t come up with enough material for either of these storylines, so they combined them to give us a sufficiently long book.
LINK to my review
Picture Miss Seeton – Heron Carvic – 3***
What a fun romp of a cozy mystery! Miss Seeton is a retired art teacher who has just inherited a cottage in the village of Plummergen, Kent. Whether she’s in London or Plummergen, she and her trusty umbrella do manage to wind up in the middle of all sorts of altercations. A bit slow to start, but once I got used to the style, I was hooked. Miss Seeton is a hoot, and I want to keep reading this series.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*Reading:
Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Audible - 11/24 hours
Relics and Runes: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Anthology - Kindle - 2033 pages - 65% done
Xenocide
The Redbreast
The Fifth Witness
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Opposite of Everyone (other topics)Small Wonder (other topics)
I, Alex Cross (other topics)
Fox & I (other topics)
On Gold Mountain: The 100-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gill Paul (other topics)Elizabeth Peters (other topics)
Rainbow Rowell (other topics)
Liam Moiser (other topics)
Barbara Mertz (other topics)
More...
Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins – 3***
Book 3 in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I’m not a great fan of dystopian / post-apocalyptic novels in general, and have only tolerated this series. I’m glad that Collins chose to make the central figure a strong female, but in this episode, I find Katniss a bit whiny at times. It is a fast read, though.
LINK to my review