Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2015
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Summer's 50 Books in 2015
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27) The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew SolomonChecklist Success:
- A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
- A book you started but never finished
Many years back, I went to college to get a degree in psychology. However, some of my professors were... erm, not great when it came to caring whether you did homework and stuff. Hell, most days we'd just sit in a circle in one of my classes and chat about life.
So, well, when you have a full class load and you have classes that will let you sneak by without doing the work without it really affecting your grade that much? Yeah, you do it. Well, at least I did it. I'm not proud of that fact, but there it is. (Don't worry, folks, I'm not in the psychology profession!)
In this book's case, I should've just continued not reading it. I remember reading the first 50 pages back when I was in school and falling asleep. Over and over again. We went over a specific chapter that dealt with poverty and so I took some notes on that part. And yup, that's about it.
It's worse offense, however, is not that it was dull. It was. It soooo was. But the bigger issue I had with this book was that the author used it as a medium to blather on and on about himself. And not in an insightful, helpful way. Worse than that, he continuously made it clear that the only way to have any chance at relief from depression was from pills. And then he went off about how annoyed he is that pills are being over-prescribed. *Hits head against desk*
It was also clear that Solomon only thought two sorts of people had depression: the well-off with a decent childhood and the dirt poor with life horrors. There was no middle ground considered (unless you count brief asides where "all" is included in something).
Long story short, this book made me feel worse after reading it. That... should not be its aim.
And lastly, I give you an excerpt from a reviewer that said it way better than I did: "This book is lethal: alternately depressing readers, boring readers, and making readers roll their eyes so hard they pop out of their heads." (Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
Oh, and one last thing (I swear!): He stated in one part that it is impossible to attain certain goals. His example? "Like a fat woman wanting to be a supermodel." That, right there, is really all you need to know.
Mod
So, well, when you have a full class load and you have classes that will let you sneak by without doing the work without it really affecting your grade that much? Yeah, you do it. Well, at least I did it. I'm not proud of that fact, but there it is...
I doubt you're alone. I mean, I know I'm the same way. I would guess nearly 100% of college students have skipped reading at least *some* material they were supposed to read. Yes, we may feel guilty about doing it, but we're definitely not alone!
Tiffany wrote: "I doubt you're alone. I mean, I know I'm the same way. I would guess nearly 100% of college students have skipped reading at least *some* material they were supposed to read. Yes, we may feel guilty about doing it, but we're definitely not alone!"Fair enough! ^_^
28) The Best American Short Stories 2010 (The Best American Series "by" Richard RussoChecklist Success:
- A book of short stories
There were two or three short stories in this collection that I really liked. Another one or two that I didn't like parts of, but I thought it ended well enough that I forgave the meh parts. And the rest were just... literary bleh.
All in all, it was a mixed bag that did have some great bits in it, and honestly, I'd rather think highly of those than grumble about the meh, boring, or disappointing.
In fact, I highly recommend reading "Delicate Edible Birds" by Lauren Groff. That story stayed with me for days afterward.
The book itself has inspired me to write my own literary fiction piece (which is out of my usual genre, for sure!), so I give the book props for that as well.
29) The Silver Wolf by Alice BorchardtChecklist Success:
- A book at the bottom of my to-read list
I picked this book up at a used book store over a decade ago. I love werewolf stories, and thus nabbed it... but, well, it just never really appealed to me to actually read. Perhaps it might have slightly been due to not particularly liking Anne Rice's work (this book was written by her sister), but considering my love for one Bronte sister and bleeeeh to another, I can't say that held more than a small sway.
Anyway, the book... Yeah, my instincts, unfortunately, were spot on. The prose was too damn flowery, which more often than not when I read such things comes off as phony and causes a disconnect for characters and story alike. (Borchardt was also obsessed with adverbs--often redundant adverbs, the worst kind!)
One last thing about the writing: I was constantly being shoved to the next scene and taken aback by it. We would go from eating a meal in a person's home to the main character wolfing about in snow trying to find dead people in about two paragraphs.
As a snob when it comes to supernatural creatures, I also have to grumble about werewolves not, uh, actually being werewolves in this story. They were these beings that could turn into wolves whenever they wanted, who lived for centuries, could see dead people, and could make the wind come at their call.
In other words, these werewolves were vampire ghost-whispering witches...
The plots, while frequently jerked about, were often predictable and the characters were more for props to keep the story going. The main character was an idiot purely for contrivance, which I never appreciate.
And lastly, this book was marketed as "erotic." LIES. LIIIIIIIIES.
30) You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia DayChecklist Success: N/A
I zoomed through this book! Felicia Day has an inviting and fun voice that lends well to fast-read chapters. I even looked forward to the oncoming chapters! WHAT MAGIC IS THIS?
Ah, yes, right. Good writing. I remember you! You haunt my dreams.
The book was inspirational and yet silly, which I found to be the perfect combination. There were bits at the start that made me hate on myself a little bit (the girl is a type-A genius!), but that's all on me. Everything else hit the perfect tone.
Go go female gamer power!
31) The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim ButcherChecklist Success: N/A
I was super excited about Jim Butcher's new book, because, well, it's Jim Butcher! ... Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good as I was expecting.
The writing was good (although he uses more adverbs than I would like at times), the characters were likeable, and the plot was so-so. Enough for 3 stars, perhaps even a 3.5, but not enough for anything higher.
The airship fights were long and drawn out, causing me to be highly bored. The three teenage characters were great when together (and sometimes apart), but each lacked... something. There was a half-assed romance that I didn't care a lick about. And the most hideous crime: puppeteering was present. From a craftsman as well established as Butcher, that CANNOT stand.
What I mean by puppeteering is that he had an entire 20 page segment where one of the main character's sole purpose is to walk onto the deck of a ship and ask questions of its captain in order for the audience to understand what was going on. NO. NO NO NO NO NO. I might have felt slightly less acidic if the character would have been useful during the scene in some way (it was during an airship battle), but instead it felt like she was some bothersome little kid asking the adults what they were doing while in the midst of life and death. ... Actually, that's exactly what it was. Except, "little kid" in this case meant "16 and out of character." Nooooooooooooooooo!!!
It was a decent enough read that I'll buy the next book, but my excitement for the series has definitely dimmed.
31.5) Empowered Volume 9 by Adam WarrenChecklist Success:
- A graphic novel
I had a discussion with my fiance about whether I should count this as a novel. After all, it is a "graphic novel." But, well, even as far behind as I am on my 50 reads at this point, I just don't see it. Too many pictures, not enough text. *Shrug* It's a personal choice. No judgement to anyone else who would (or has!) count it as part of their 50!
In any event, I have two more things to check off my reading challenge list before it's completed, which is pretty exciting! Woot!
Oh, uh, and as for the graphic novel? Not bad. It had a lot of slow and annoying parts (something that has been a gripe of mine for awhile now for Adam Warren), but I did appreciate Empowered totally rocking both physically and psychologically in this issue. Even more so, I appreciated the head-on discussion of whether Empowered should be considered sexually objectified outside of a meta sense.
32) Cinder by Marissa MeyerChecklist Success: N/A
I decided to try one of the group reads... but yeah, I won't type anything there about this as I don't have much of a positive spin to provide.
Fact is, the book was sloppy. It was okay enough, prose wise, for a YA book, and the setting was decent (although ignored too much for my liking). The cyborg bit was a nice, different take on the Cinderella story, but it bombed hardcore due to being constantly discussed while never actually providing any substance. That, uh, is actually somewhat impressive... I guess?
The characters were two-dimensional, the "romance" forced and unappealing, the "twist" at the end not actually a twist (helloooooo, obvious cliche inbound there!), and I swear this was a partial rip off of Sailor Moon.
I will not be reading anything further in this series. "In the name of the moon, I will punish you!" *Throws her tiara at the book foe and runs away*
33) Sins of a Duke by Suzanne EnochChecklist Success: N/A
I actually rather liked this book. The sex scenes were good (and the kisses/other bases leading up to it also good). The characters weren't cardboard cutouts, although perhaps in specific romantic zones (surly and unemotional man with sassy woman with a secret), but it worked.
I also appreciated that the male lead didn't have to "save" the female lead. Really, they saved each other because they wound up trusting in each other and, for the woman, grew as a character by upping her morals.
My one gripe is that, while I love characters who don't like each other, but are oddly attracted to each as a schtick, I don't like it when it comes out of nowhere. As in, "I hate you, let's make out!" five minutes after meeting. I like watching the hate buuuurn a little and for it to actually breed the attraction. (Or the attraction to breed from getting to know parts of them they don't hate.)
My point being, I like make-out sessions to make sense, you know? *Shrug*
34) The Professor by Charlotte BrontëChecklist Success: N/A
Jane Eyre is my favorite novel of all time. And so I think perhaps the reason it took me so long to read another Charlotte Bronte book is because I feared it would, I don't know, lower that pedestal I had her on a bit?
The Professor shows itself to be a first novel. It has long bits of boring blathering from the main character that I kept spacing out on because he would just go ooooooon and ooooon. (This is particularly painful in the last chapter.)
It's also not a great romance. And come on, Jane Eyre? The best romance there is! So I was a bit surprised that the romance was fumbled so badly in this. I didn't hate either character (although Will really was a bore), but they just... didn't do anything for me. I really couldn't have cared less if they got together. *Shrug*
But worse than either of these things was that there was just too much French in the book. Now, hold up, let me explain. I mean there was too much French that was never translated. There were bits of the book I had NO IDEA what was going on because I couldn't translate the French. Entire conversations would happen without one bit of assistance from the narrator. RUDE and sloppy.
Now here's why this book is good: Frances Henri. She's the main character's love interest (well, it's a poorly written love triangle (square?)... sort of? for parts of it). She is the backbone of this book and when she speaks (especially when she's impassioned), I am entirely attentive.
I also love that this girl is a survivor. She gets a terrible lot and just proceeds to get her life back on track over and over. Freakin' inspirational, I tell you!
[Spoilers ahead!] And after she's comfortable financially, Frances tells her husband that she's not happy with their current situation and wants more. Even better, the main character says, "Hell yeah, let's do that huge project that you want so much. I'm all in!"
That's the one time I loved their romance!
35) Gossip Girl by Cecily von ZiegesarChecklist Success: A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit (New York)
Yes, I was a fan of the TV show. I was actually rather impressed with how closely the TV show fits with the first book (with a few natural changes for the screen).
Sure, the book itself is written... hrm, how to put this. It's not bad writing or even sloppy... it's just... simple? There's not much depth to the book. It's 200 pages long, so it didn't take much time at all to read when I actually started trying. Big print, few pages, and not too much plot going on.
But, well, it worked okay for me. I'm not really sure why. Perhaps the nostalgia? The snark? Yes, I do like the snark in it, I will give it that. Put me down for both of those reasons!
36) Dracula by Bram StokerChecklist Success: A banned book
And my reading challenge is complete! Huzzah! I'll have to scout for another list for next year! ^_^ The rest of the books shall be 100% of my own choosing... which, considering how many I still need to read, will likely be 300-ish or less page books. ... And perhaps a lot of YA. *Cough*
Okay, onto Dracula! I had NO idea that this book would be so good! I expected cliched gothic vampire silliness (that granted, Stoker caused to be cliche, but you get what I mean), but it was so... original. And the characters were multi-layered and flawed. And they screw up a LOT due to sexism, idiocy, and some bad luck, and I just LOVE that.
Mina is pure awesome-sauce and I love how she is both cherished/revered, but then completely dismissed for how much of an asset she is (which causes trouble later... but then possibly helps? Tough call what would've wound up being better in the end!).
And honestly, seeing all the vampire tropes saunter onto center stage excited me instead of causing me to groan. I was surprised by how little Dracula actually... shows up though. It's much more centered on the character interactions of the "good guys." (Not a complaint, just interesting.)
The only negative I will give the book is that Stoker had moments of rambling that would occasionally bore me. (And toward the end Van Helsing and Mina started talking in some weird tense that caused me to reread their lines too frequently to not be annoying. I have no idea what that was about...)
But beyond that? Fabulous!
Mod
Yay! *confetti*
Tiffany wrote: "Summer wrote: "...And my reading challenge is complete! Huzzah!..."Yay! *confetti*"
^__^
37) Never Have I Ever by Sara ShepardThis is the second book in the Lying Game series. I actually thought Shepard felt more comfortable writing this one. It was less... weird? how it's written in first and third person. I still don't love it, but it wasn't a glaring fault like it was the first time around.
I also just liked the story better in this one. I was always interested in heading to the next chapter. The characters and relationships were also well done.
It still feels... juvenile. As in, the twists are frequently obvious and a lot of pages can go by without a lot of substance. But, well, this is YA. *Shrug* That happens a lot.
Summer wrote: "36) Dracula by Bram StokerChecklist Success: A banned book
And my reading challenge is complete! Huzzah! I'll have to scout for another list for next year! ^_^ The res..."
Thank goodness you ended your challenge on a high note. Congratulations!
Donna wrote: "Thank goodness you ended your challenge on a high note. Congratulations!"I know, right? Thank you!
38) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. MaasI loved this book! The main character is witty, but not to the point of getting on my nerves (there's a fine line!), and I rather liked most of the other characters as well! The action was good and the fight scenes just about right for my attention span.
I have Amazon Prime and the next two books shall be at my house tomorrow! (That's how much I liked the book. Ahem.)
I will say, however, that there was a rather glaring downside, which took off an entire star for the book: The so-called "mystery" of the novel was so incredibly obvious that I was convinced that, surely, there was some twist to show it wasn't at any moment... and no.
Granted, at least there was more to the plot surrounding the mystery than that, but with the main character being smashed over the head with so many obvious clues, it really made her seem a bit of a half-wit. I mean, she didn't even *consider* the person despite the person practically doing jumping jacks at her.
Despite that, I am looking forward to the next book. (And yay for good books; those are read far far faster!)
39) Blood Oath by Kit Tunstall... I have no idea where to start. So, I guess I'll just get right into the nitty gritty. So, if you're offended by sex lingo, uh, stop reading now?
Okay, here we go. First off? Pussy *can* be a sexy word. Unless it is the ONLY word you use to describe a woman's vagina *ever*. And then it starts sounding absurd.
Also, this book was only 216 pages long, which meant that we fast-forwarded a *lot*. And those fast-forwards took out any tension that this poorly written piece could have enabled. For example, the male lead is in love with the female lead before he even meets her. Because, wait for it: DESTINY.
I absolutely abhor the whole "we were meant to be based on our blood... or the stars... or some other crap." It gives authors lazy license for characters to do things out of character. Like, you know, have sex with some dude you met yesterday who just took you away from the only home you've ever known.
I've seen the destiny stuff done... okay before, but it's rare and still doesn't make me happy.
So, I'm dealing with sex between two people who barely know each other, and the dude is already whispering "I love you"s at the female lead. There's all this "love making" while the author keeps using the words "pussy" and "cock."
There was not a single sex scene that had enough passionate force to even ALLOW those words to work. *Cries*
Oh, and there were rape scenes via the female villain. Look, when a book is rated "erotic"? That means that I shouldn't have to endure reading about rape. That's... just not okay. (Not that I ever want to read about it, but I hope you get what I mean.)
There's plenty more I hated, but I just want to put this book far away from me and forget it ever happened... and hope that someday I can hear "cock" and "pussy" without wincing. Someday...
(PS: She also used the word "moist." She loses immediately just from that alone.)
Mod
... I have no idea where to start. So, I guess I'll just get right into the nitty gritty. So, if you're offended by sex lingo, uh, stop reading now?..."
hehehehehe... Great review! :)
Tiffany wrote: "hehehehehe... Great review! :)"Thanks! ^_^
40) Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas10 to go... *Runs around in impossible circles*
Alas, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first in the Throne of Glass series. The first half was just as good, but the second half was just... so damn contrived that I couldn't stand it.
(Spoilers) If you want to mess with my OTP after only allowing them to be together for five seconds, fine. I wouldn't have been happy, but fine. But it was the *way* it happened. It was like the author thought, "Hrm, how the hell do I break these two up and make it incredibly dramatic?"
Also, in order to do this, the author killed the only other strong female character. And sure, her death set off plenty of other things in motion, but to me, it just felt like there could only be one strong female protagonist. I mean, after all, if another strong woman stayed about, maybe a dude would fall in love with her and *not* the main character and we couldn't have THAT.
In other words, the main character was pushed from being a strong, kickass character into the only girl around... who has men following her to the ends of the Earth. *Makes a face*
Oh, and then we find out she's Fae and she's known it all along. Fine fine, whatever. And then she's a lost princess... and that's when I officially placed her in the Mary Sue category.
I still plan on reading the next book, but I'm not excited about it. To give you an idea of how this book went for me: It took me less than a day to read the first half of the book. It took me six days to finish the second half.
Mod
You can do it! You can do it!!
*cheers and jumps* *shakes imaginary pom-poms*
Tiffany wrote: "Summer wrote: "... 10 to go... *Runs around in impossible circles* ..."You can do it! You can do it!!
*cheers and jumps* *shakes imaginary pom-poms*"
^_^
41) Storm of Visions by Christina DoddThe plot was... okay. The writing... was mostly okay. But that's about where it ends for positive notes.
The book was sappy (in an uncomfortable and unbelievable way), the romance conflict was too easily overcome, and the mystery bad guy was obvious.
But let's talk about the beginning of this book, which was just... wrong. The female lead sees a good-looking man that, in her 3rd person PoV, doesn't seem to know, but is uncomfortable with him. He stalks her. She buys a weapon to attack him with. She comes home; he's naked in her shower. She stabs him with scissors. He tears her clothes off.
So, uh, yeah, I think I'm dealing with a weird rape scene. And I say weird because the female lead noted to feel desire while she was getting attacked. And yup, then we the readers discover that she does know this guy. And they've fucked before. And they're going to do it again! Right now! Who cares that she's mad at him (so much that she hid from him for two years) and that the readers are hella confused!
So, uh, yeah, no. No no no no no. On so many levels, no.
Also, in a flashback, we learn that the female lead is a virgin until she has sex with the male lead (9 years her senior). Since she's twenty... I guess I'll let that slide... I guess. But it's still annoying.
I think the annoyance partly comes from the book constantly shoving female stereotypes in my face. When in danger, the boys in their group are allowed to go out because they have dicks, and thus, can protect themselves in case someone attacks. Oh, and women are the only ones competent enough to wrap a present. Etcetera, etcetera.
And lastly, the female lead runs from this man (for hurting her) for two years and doesn't have sex with anyone. (Thus, she's only had sex with the one guy her whole life.) But we're expected to believe the guy has loved her (and still does) for years... and yet he didn't keep it in his pants for the two years they were apart. *Sigh* Stupid double standards. (Also, they were together, like, a week or two. That's it. ... That poor poor sex-deprived girl.)
PS: Not as bad as "moist," but the author used the term "nether lips." Nooooooot sexy.
42) Trapped in the Mirror: Adult Children of Narcissists in Their Struggle for Self by Elan GolombI bought this book due to Wil Wheaton suggesting it in a post about his depression. After finishing it, I am rather puzzled as to why he thought it was so helpful.
Honestly, the book was a bear to get through. The author spends the majority of the book in what I can only describe as stream of consciousness. Golomb talks about her childhood, talks about her adult life, and that's fine. But it's all a little bit everywhere. Bits and pieces of other people's lives in similar situations occur, but it seems only so that she can judge them.
In fact, I was rather shocked by just how judgy she came off through parts of the book. Her writing also felt stilted and clumsy as if she really wasn't sure what she was trying to say and so she just keeps repeating herself and then going off in random directions.
There were a few nuggets I took from this book, and for that I gave 2 stars instead of 1. But I would not recommend this book to anyone for any reason.
Wil Wheaton... why? (Wow, now *I* sound judgy!)
Mod
lol
Donna wrote: "WHEATON!!! (fist shaking)"Ha! Yes, exactly! ^_^
43) Storm of Shadows by Christina DoddLook, I bought the first two books in this series as a pair at a library sale. Thus, I figured I might as well read the second one while the overall plot was fresh in my head. Alas, it doesn't get much better than the last read.
Granted, I would say that this book *is* better than the first, but not to a degree that really matters. The sexism is still very present and frustrating as ever. The main female character is a trope I've seen far too damn many times, but is somehow an even worse version of it. (Mousy librarian that doesn't care about her looks falls for super handsome man.)
She's supposed to be super smart, but then she keeps doing so many contrived-for-plot stupid things that I started groaning out loud. Literally.
And the romance? Wasn't really there. This book focused so much on the plot (which, actually is the only reason it got two stars) that I'm still confused as to how these two "fell in love" in the first place. Oh, wait. I know why!
Because the female main was a virgin! And then she had sex! And wham, bam, love was formed! *Rolls eyes* And the guy got all possessive because he was the only one she'd ever "mated" with (yes, she used that word!).
Why is every woman in this damn series a virgin? This is set in the 21st century! STOP IT.
44) The Maze Runner by James DashnerI absolutely HATED the film based off this book. I ranted about it on Facebook when I saw it in theatres and was then told how completely different and awesome the book was.
I was lied to.
Granted, it was better than the film, but really, I'm not sure how it could've been worse. The writing was... meh. Not bad, not great. Similar to the plot. Like eating something without taste.
What started grating on me is that the same issues I had with the movie were also in the book, and more so in some cases. For example, the sexism. Good gods, the sexism.
(Spoilers) The book is about genius boys given amnesia in order to "solve" a maze (and to show which ones were the most courageous and such). There is a whole ONE girl in the entire book considered a genius. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the only smart teens have dicks. Except this one special girl! (And it's not even her story. After all, the main character needs her as his love interest instead! Yippee!)
Basically, it was like Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game but without any of the depth or soul. (I love that book, but it's still seriously sexist as hell.)
And then, there's this subtle feel of the one and only girl being like Eve in the Bible. After all, she gets there, wakes up from a coma, and suddenly the boys' paradise is changed into hell and death. *Sighs* (Pretend she ate an apple when she woke up.)
Lastly, I just need to point out that these "genius" boys (and one girl!) are incredibly stupid. They don't actually solve anything. They just get the answers fed to them. And don't get me started about the last "puzzle" that is so incredibly obvious that I wanted to throw the book across the room as I read the three characters looking at it and scratching their heads.
Good gods, will I ever find a book in December that deserves more than a 2-star rating? (Apparently, my average for the year is 2.3. *Shrug*)
"Good gods, will I ever find a book in December that deserves more than a 2-star rating? (Apparently, my average for the year is 2.3. *Shrug*)" I can suggest a few......
Donna wrote: "I can suggest a few......"Heh, well, it's a little late in the month for me to be picking up books. I'm all for recommendations for 2016, but I'm just going to nab books from my to-read shelf for the next two weeks.
Feel free to throw some suggestions my way for next year though! ^_^
You post a genre, I'm sure we'll come up with something good.
Donna wrote: "You post a genre, I'm sure we'll come up with something good."That's tough! Well, the genres I read the most are: urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and YA.
I figured I could give you options! ^_~
45) Fated by Benedict Jacka5 to go! I'm getting nervous...
Another disappointing book, I'm afraid. Which is too bad, because this book was supposed to be Harry Dresden in London... it so very much wasn't.
First off, Jacka just isn't that great of a writer. He's not terrible, but he doesn't quite know how to breathe life into his characters. None of the characters, including the protagonist, really have much in the way of personalities aside from the very basic. And bad guys are just... bad guys. And the people you expect to betray... betray. There's no mystery and no surprise.
Pretty much the entire story and the characters within were tropes and that never changes. I liked the idea of the main character's powers (he can look at different ways events can go before actually deciding what to do next), but I felt that the author made the powers too limiting and then, five minutes later, too over-powered. The main character basically became a plot device for the book and that's never a good thing for your protagonist to be.
Mod
You can do it!!!
46) Charming the Prince by Teresa MedeirosThis book actually started off with a lot of promise. It was an amusing take on Cinderella (dad marries a woman with 10 children and the step-daughter is forced to raise them).
So, the male lead also has a ton of kids and is looking for a mom for them... and someone so homely that he won't have sex with said wife-made-mom so that no more kids occur. The female lead is, of course, gorgeous but doesn't know it (*rolls eyes*) and is the one brought in due to knowing her way around kids.
The reason the book got good was that it seemed clear that neither of the leads wanted to deal with kids (and the kids were awful, so who could blame them). I thought we were going to do this thing where we learned about birth control and how that can work, too! (And that they could warm up and love the kids already present.)
Instead, the book turns ho-hum and tropey sentimental (The male lead *finally* tells the female lead he loves her! Oh happy day!) Oh, and he's super happy because he knocks her up, despite their "pull-out-and-pray" efforts due to him being so damn fertile. And she's happy, too! Because people who have babies are HAPPY.
And aren't we just so HAPPY about MORE BABIES. *Slams head against desk*
In other news, this book failed miserably in the sex department. There was a whole whopping ONE sex scene and it went by pretty quick. In fact, all the foreplay before that one sex scene went by super fast and without much detail. *Yawns*
So, in other words, bleh (and mostly absent) sexy times combined with too many kids combined with main female lead knocked up at the end. Oh, and she gets damseled.
Whee.
47) First Grave on the Right by Darynda JonesAh, finally a 3-star rating! Sure, I would've liked a 4 or a 5, but hey, I liked the book and that's all I can really ask for at this point in the month!
This is the first book of a series following a woman who is a (the?) grim reaper. We follow along as she has a main PI mystery case, her own mystery case (which really wasn't a mystery, although I suppose her mystery man's specific identity was a toss up of a couple possibilities), and a mini case that goes bad. Very bad.
I actually really appreciated that something strung along on the sidelines of the plot turned out badly. What I hated was that it turned the main character emo. When, really, this girl is like the poster child for good cheer. It felt forced and silly.
Also, this lady's snark was decent... occasionally. But most of the time it was annoying. Mostly because she would snark to the audience when it wasn't necessary. Or a good time. Or at all funny (and frequently cliche in that "it's not a cliche when you put it like this, except it's the new cliche from the old cliche." ... If that made any sense).
I did like the plot. I did like the dead people. I even liked some of the live people. And I did like the sexy bits. So, all-in-all, it's enough to get me to read the next book.
48) The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel CaineThe amount of disgust and hatred I have for this book is so vast that the only positive note I can give it is this: It was short.
I am so ANGRY at this book. And I've been angry ever since the part where the main character is roofied and almost gang-raped at a party ... then the main character moralizes them.
Let me give you a link to someone's review that quotes what I'm talking about: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In other less important news, the story sucked, the characters sucked, the main character had little to no point, the writing was subpar, the beginning was amateurish and confusing, and it took all of my willpower not to hate Cain's other books due to the backlash of this piece of crap.
*Drops the book*
49) Rapture Untamed by Pamela PalmerYou know what I love in a romance novel? Sexual harassment followed by sexual blackmail. Because nothing says "ooooh, baby" like a guy talking about doing a girl in front of a bunch of people and then finding out a secret about said girl so she'll, you know, do him.
Oooooh, baby.
Look, I get what Palmer was trying to do. She wanted them to have this lust/hate thing where they want each other, but don't want to want each other... or something. Or maybe that's just on the female protagonist's end. Anyway, it's supposed to not make it rape because she really did want to have sex with him... it's just that it makes it so much easier when the guy takes away all of your choice so that you either A) have sex with him or B) die or get ostracized due to him blabbering your deeply damning secret.
Oooh, baby, that's right, tell me to suck your dick or else you'll get me killed or banished. Oh gods, yeah!
Look, lust/hate sex can be hot. And when I pushed away the facts of the beginning of the two characters... intermixing, it *was* kinda hot... but then I remembered the blackmail and felt entirely guilty for thinking anything of the sort.
Of course, then there's luuuurve talk and a boring sex scene of "love making" that is then instantly ruined (if it wasn't already ruined by "love making" scenes, by nature, being boring as hell) by the jackass male protagonist spilling her secret in an attack of anger. (Calling her a "life-sucking bitch" right after sex and it being overheard. This may or may not be worse than the time he used his "special Jaguar powers" to cause her not to have an orgasm as a way to punish her.)
Oh, and then the female protagonist gets kidnapped and has to be rescued. *Sighs loudly* She's a fighter, dammit. LET HER FIGHT AT THE END OF THE BOOK.
In other news, my rating for this book just went from 2 to 1 just from me writing this review. *Goes to change it*
50) A Baroque Fable by Chelsea Quinn YarbroI... really have no idea how I managed it, but here I am, 50 books read! Huzzah! *Runs around in happy circles*
That... was a LOT of reading in one month! Yikes! Hopefully things won't get so out of hand next year...
Anyway, the book!
What a book to end the year with! SO GOOD. It was hilarious, fun, and quirky. And it had songs! Good stuff!
Sure, it needed a better editor and there were times the book went over the top even for me, but all-in-all, this was a novel to be enjoyed and not to be taken seriously... at all.
The archetypes and tropes were present, but Yarbro had them dance for her. I adored each and every character (although, Princess Felicia stole my heart!).
I recommend this to anyone with a good sense of humor who has a love for fantasy.
Summer wrote: "49) Rapture Untamed by Pamela PalmerYou know what I love in a romance novel? Sexual harassment followed by sexual blackmail. Because nothing says "ooooh, baby" like..."
Seriously, we need to find you better books. This sounds like paranormal/shifter, so have you tried Shelley Laurenston? Bawdy, funny, sexy. The wolf shifters are down and dirty, the lion shifters are metrosexuals, and the bear shifters are hysterical. Nalini Singh's Psy/Changling series is distinctly lacking in rapey "romance". And then there's Meljean Brook. Her Guardians series -complete now so you can binge read- is the ultimate paranormal series. She's the one who got me started in the genre, and is still the best.
And congrats on your 50! Hope 2016 has fewer clunkers for you!
Donna wrote: "Summer wrote: "Seriously, we need to find you better books. This sounds like paranormal/shifter, so have you tried Shelley Laurenston? Bawdy, funny, sexy. . ."I've never read Laurenston or Singh... at least, as far as I can remember!
I do have a Meljean Brook book on my to-read shelf! It's called Demon Moon.
I'll have to check out your recommendations when I get the chance. Thank you!
(And thanks for the gratz on my 50! ^_^)
Mod
You know what I love in a romance novel? Sexual harassment followed by sexual blackmail. Because nothing says "ooooh, baby" like a guy talking about doing a girl in front of a bunch of people and then finding out a secret about said girl so she'll, you know, do him.
Oooooh, baby.
...
Oh, and then the female protagonist gets kidnapped and has to be rescued. *Sighs loudly* She's a fighter, dammit. LET HER FIGHT AT THE END OF THE BOOK.
In other news, my rating for this book just went from 2 to 1 just from me writing this review. *Goes to change it* "
Oh my God, I LOVE your reviews! Especially of the books you don't like -- they make me laugh so hard!
Summer wrote: "I... really have no idea how I managed it, but here I am, 50 books read! Huzzah! *Runs around in happy circles*"
Yay! Congratulations! I also second what Donna said -- let's hope for few clunkers for you in 2016!
Tiffany wrote: "Summer wrote: "Oh my God, I LOVE your reviews! Especially of the books you don't like -- they make me laugh so hard!"I even put that review up on Goodreads! ^_^
Yay! Congratulations! I also second what Donna said -- let's hope for few clunkers for you in 2016!
Thank you! And thank you and Donna both for the positive thoughts for 2016! *Crosses fingers*
I must admit, Tiffany brings up a good point. Your bad book reviews are pretty entertaining.
Donna wrote: "I must admit, Tiffany brings up a good point. Your bad book reviews are pretty entertaining."Well, if I can't have good judgment when picking out books, I might as well have good wit when talking about them? ^_~
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Rapture Untamed (other topics)Rapture Untamed (other topics)
A Baroque Fable (other topics)
Rapture Untamed (other topics)
The Dead Girls' Dance (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Pamela Palmer (other topics)Pamela Palmer (other topics)
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (other topics)
Pamela Palmer (other topics)
Rachel Caine (other topics)
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Checklist Success:
- A book with a love triangle (the draw for why I picked this book up)
I realize that Brooks is one of the supposed "greats" of fantasy writing. I read his Kingdom of Landover series many years back and I absolutely hated it. I also read some other book of his a long while back and didn't like it either. His writing just doesn't do it for me. It's dry and, uh, well, he hates women.
Yes, he hates women! Because, good gods, how else to explain it? Elfstones had two women "main" characters and three others... sort of. One was a tree, so, uh, sure, we'll count that? There were brief mentions of women in other places ("Hey, look, an old lady driving that carriage!" "Hey, look, someone has a mom!"), but other than that, the world was completely bereft of women.
Why? Because women are second class citizens. No women fight in the huge war of demons vs. elves. I mean, sure, numbers are stacked against them, but women have boobs, how the heck can they help?
And don't forget the Rovers. Gypsy-esque people who think of women as property (including the leader buying his daughter as a child and now planning to sell her now that she's sexable).
But hey, this story is about a tree having all these chosen followers who are men, but she actually chose a woman as well this time around! That hasn't happened in centuries! Why? (Spoiler ahead) Why, because only women can bore life and thus, can only become trees in order to sacrifice themselves for the land (long story). *Sighs*
So, let's break this down. Main female character: the only woman to be picked to be awesome in 500 years; turns into a tree to protect the world from demons and thus sacrifices her own life and happiness for the world.
Other "main" character: Didn't want to be sold to a dude for sex, so despite being shown as a character who can take care of herself, chooses to practically beg the main male character to save her. Over and over again. Why can't she save herself? Why, because she doesn't have a penis! You need one of those to not be helpless, you know!
Love triangle: Ends when main character falls in love with girl that turns into tree. Goes with second choice girl because, hey, she's not a tree, so she'll do!
Two mini bad witches: Are evil sisters who live in The Hollows. Oh, and they hate each other. Why? Because they wanted the same man! They fight over him and accidentally kill him. Centuries of hate ensues that ends with them killing each other so that the main male character doesn't have to.
Look, I could on and on about the other awful bits of this book that don't deal with women hate (like mediocre writing, constant contrived plots, boring fight scenes, etc. etc. etc.), but I think that just says it all.
Yeah, I think I'll skip the TV series. >_> <_<