VIRTUAL Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2021 discussion
Stormness Head (60 books)
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Karen is still obsessed with Narnia
Good luck, Karen! Hopefully you'll find Aslam at the top!
1. Why Women Read Fiction: The Stories of Our Lives by Helen Taylor.
4 stars. I enjoyed this book particularly the earlier sections on genre fiction, childhood reading and the continuing impact of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Less interesting to me are the sections on book clubs and literary festivals. The author does attempt to bring BAME writers and readers into her discussion, but there is still work to be done in this area, as is an examination of working class readers.
Borrowed from the library.
2. Patito y Sus Amigos by Charlie Gardner translated by María José Guitián.
4 stars. I have never studied Spanish in my life but I couldn't resist this gorgeous book in my boyfriend's collection. Using my miniscule knowledge of Portuguese and my Spanish-speaking partner I translated it. All 19-25 words of it! (depending on if you are counting repetitions!)
Borrowed from my partner.
3. Thorn by Tracy Lorraine.
3 stars. This fell a bit flat. The plot sounded good but the reason for the bullying was somewhat lame and I struggled to connect with the characters.
Borrowed via Kindle Prime.
4. The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell.
3 stars. The first in a series of short story fairytale retellings by different authors. I enjoyed this story of "Adam" and the bridge troll and its take on climate change and consumerism. But I did prefer the other one I read today:
5. Hazel and Gray by Nic Stone.
4 stars. A Hansel and Gretal retelling where a boyfriend and girlfriend get lost in a forest and come across a house where the outside is definitely better than the inside. Nice twist at the end.
Both borrowed via Kindle Prime.
6. The Princess Game by Soman Chainani.
4 stars. Someone is going round murdering school "princesses". I really liked this one; it was my second favourite of the collection, and it was interestingly written even though the twist was a little obvious.
7. The Cleaners by Ken Liu.
3 stars. This one may be my least favourite, although I like the concept of memories leaving a physical trace on objects.
8. The Wickeds by Gayle Forman.
4 stars. My favourite. I probably wouldn't have read this series if Gayle Forman had not been one of the contributing authors. It does not surprise me that her contribution is my favourite. The "Wickeds" (Snow White's stepmother, Cinderella's stepmother and the kidnapping witch from Rapunzel) team up to challenge their daughters. Good fun but also thought provoking.
All borrowed via Kindle Prime.
I feel a little guilty about adding such short stories to the list...but I really wanted to read them.
9. The Gilded Cage by Camilla Lackberg.
2 stars. Well, even Agatha Christie wrote books I don't like.
Borrowed from the library.
10. Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate.
2 stars. I am a series completest. That is the only reason why I am continuing on with this dire series. It is totally cheesy and awful and since this installment is set in Medieval England it would have been nice if the author had read a book about the period and not just relied on stereotypes. But that is probably expecting too much. Gets 2 stars because I did not completely hate Roland's story.
Borrowed from the library.
11. The Coming of the Wolf by Elizabeth Chadwick.
5 stars. This is a story I have been wanting to read since I first read The Wild Hunt nearly 20 years ago. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. I am totally buying this in paperback format when it is released.
Borrowed from the library.
JANUARYTotal books read in December: 27
Total qualifying for this challenge: 11
12. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel.
3 stars. By the skin of its teeth. I picked this up because I had insomnia at 4 this morning. On the plus side the book was better than the first in the series. On the negative side that was the first 90%. She spends the last 10% being one of the most idiotic characters I have ever read about.
Borrowed from the library.
13. Union Street by Pat Barker.
4 stars. Set in the 1970s,this book looks at the poverty stricken lives of the women of Union Street and their struggles against the socio-economic climate and abuse of various kinds. Quite depressing but very gripping. Most of the women's stories are hinted at in the first story (but, of course, you only find this out later on). Well-written.
Borrowed from the library.
14. Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon.
4 stars. I have had this series recommended to me by so many people. It was good, but I think overall I liked her Aspects and Anchor series better. Also, this is WEIRD.
Borrowed from the Kindle Users Lending Library.
15. Daddy by Emma Cline.
3 stars. Emma Cline has an interesting writing style but I found these stories a little too similar.
Borrowed from the library.
16. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith.
5 stars. Finally I can rate a Strike novel 5 stars. Despite its huge size this was an absorbing book with a complex cast of characters and some further development of Strike and Robin's lives and personal relationships. I didn't guess who did it.
Borrowed from the library.
FEBRUARYTotal books read in February: 20
Total qualifying for this challenge: 5
17. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward.
4 stars. Zsadist and Bella. A good instalment in the series. This is only the second time I have read it.
Borrowed from the library.
18. Our Bodies, Their Battlefield: What War Does To Women by Christina Lamb.
4 stars. A very painful book to read. Would have liked a little more analysis and more comprehensive conclusion.
Borrowed from the library.
19. The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli.
3 stars. Not awful but totally forgettable.
Borrowed from the library.
20. The Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri.
4 stars. I was not a huge fan of the first book in this series but I am glad I continued as I do enjoy them now. Atmospheric.
Borrowed from the library.
21. Boys Will Be Boys: Power, Patriarchy and Toxic Masculinity by Clementine Ford.
3 stars. Enjoyable, witty reading style but there is not alot new here and not too many suggestions for improvements.
Borrowed from the library.
MARCHTotal books read in March: 26
Total qualifying for this challenge: 5
22. Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis.
4 stars. I struggled to get into it as it was not really what I was expecting, but eventually found it a valuable book; I went back and read parts of it twice.
Borrowed from my partner.
23. Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
3 stars. I loved Winter Born (Pandora and Dante) which I had read before but it has been a while since I regularly read the Dark Hunter books and I had forgotten some of the characters (I feel sure that I should remember Zeke). A mixed bag, but enjoyable to read.
Borrowed from the library.
24. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black.
3 stars. Not actually sure this book needed to exist but I like the world Holly Black has created and it is beautifully designed with lovely artwork.
Borrowed from the library.
25. The Miracle on Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle.
4 stars. This was super cute and amusing. Everybody should have a purple reindeer in their life.
Borrowed from the library.
APRILTotal books read in March: 19
Total qualifying for this challenge: 4
26. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus.
4 stars. This was a good book, although perhaps my least favourite of McManus's books. I figured out most of the twists, but I am not sure I liked the ending.
Borrowed from the library.
27. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.
4 stars. This is the second book I have read by Maggie O'Farrell and I wish I connected better with her writing style. I love the ideas behind her writing but her style just does not connect well with me. The book improves noticeably after Hamnet passes away.
Borrowed from the library.
28. Rafael by Laurell K. Hamilton.
3 stars. The first half of the book is a waste of time as we get yet another rehash of Anita's issues with multiple members of her polygroup. However, it did get better and one of the loose ends from a previous book is tied up. In her author's note she writes that she received fan requests wanting a book about the rats. Really. I want a book with more Jean-Claude and Asher in it. That is it. I finally want the wedding to take place and I want this series to wind down to a close. (And most of all I want a suitable ending to the Merry Gentry series but she seems to have forgotten about that one).
I am not abandoning this series as I have made it to book 28, I think, but I only ever re-read books 1-9. When the series was compelling.
Borrowed from the library.
29. Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales.
4 stars. Really interesting, particularly the first chapter dealing with with the killing of Amazons in ancient myth and ties it to the Isla Vista killings. Violence against women is portrayed as being integral to the creation of macho heroism in the myths. Also liked the section on Diana. I would have liked more depth though, and I was a little lost in one of the chapters because I have never seen the Beyonce video set in the Louvre mentioned (and since I don't like her voice, I have no inclination to do so; sounds interesting though).
Borrowed from the library.
30. Death and the Maiden by Samantha Norman (continuing on for Ariana Franklin).
3 stars. An enjoyable end to the series but I was not expecting a 20 year time gap and a different narrator. I like Samantha Norman's writing but there were a few things in the plot I was not satisfied with - the villain's motivation etc.
Borrowed from the library.
31. Frost In May by Antonia White.
5 stars. An interesting little coming-of-age story, set in a Convent school at the turn of the century. A look at the hold that patriarchy has, even on a society with few men, and at how society is both longed for, and resented for the restrictions it imposes.
Borrowed from the library.
MAYTotal books read in May: 24
Total qualifying for this challenge: 6
32. Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston.
4 stars (just). A mysterious wood, a cute fox and the secret behind the crown of the kingdom of Aloriya. This was good, but not as gripping as some of her other books.
Borrowed from the library.
33. Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish.
3 stars. Amusing. Kind of ran out of steam.
34. You, Me & the Sea by Elizabeth Haynes.
4 stars. One of my mum's library books that I sneakily read. I loved the island setting and wasn't expecting parts of it to be based in Norwich (If you wanted a drink in the Birdcage pub - sorry, it was a victim of the pandemic).
Both books borrowed from the library.
35. The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen,
4 stars. Elizabeth Bowen is one of those writers who I wished I appreciated more. However, I am discovering that I get on better with her earlier work (this is her second novel).
In a doomed society, the inhabitants can only cope by trying to ignore the worsening situation. So much of the story is told through repeated objects and phrases so I think it will fare well on a re-read. And the last 3 paragraphs are outstandingly beautiful.
Borrowed from the library.
36. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.
4 stars. This is one of the few times I have ever changed my mind completely about a book. I read this in my mid-teens and it put me off reading Hardy for nearly 20 years (I re-read Far From the Madding Crowd a few years ago and enjoyed it). The language is beautiful and I have rarely read a book where the landscape reflects the character's emotions and life so well.
Yes, it is Victorian in the sense that innocence defeats the "master" obsessed with power and control over Tess, and the traditional Victorian morality which Angel Clare succumbs to, even while he feels himself to be more "modern". But in its presentation of the idea what women are more than vaginas, that rape victims can still be worthwhile and not defined by that incident alone, and that both women and the working class have stories to be told, this book is vitally important.
Borrowed from the library.
37. The Storm Keepers' Battle: Storm Keeper Trilogy 3 by Catherine Doyle.
3 stars. I love this author; her Blood for Blood trilogy might be my favourite YA series and I love her middle grade re-telling of A Christmas Carol (see entry 25) but this series has never really gripped me and I just think the finale was a little disappointing and the pacing was too quick. Also, their master plan was basically to do the same thing as had been done before. Great.
Borrowed from the library.
JUNETotal books read in May: 23
Total qualifying for this challenge: 6
38. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal.
3 stars. I wanted to like this more than I did. I liked the idea behind the plot better than its fulfillment.
39. The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs.
4 stars. Would have preferred this book not to mention Covid or be based on a disease-related plot, but this was a good installment. And my favourite charm-free detective Claudel turned up for the first time in forever! Yay! Made my day.
Both books borrowed from the library.
40. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths.
5 stars. I really loved this. It was very Norfolk. Now I want to go see the seals at Blakeney...
41. John Baptist de la Salle: The Spirituality of Christian Education by Jean Baptist de la Salle.
3 stars. A selection of his writings. These actually were more "modern" than I expected.
Both borrowed from a library.
42. Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea.
4 stars. I bought this in paperback when it came out and loved it. But, I don't really like the characters and it seems more shallow than it originally did. Or perhaps it is just that I am older. There could have been more character development.
However, I enjoy this book's cultural insights and the quotations from other authors. I highly recommend if you are a teenager or in your early twenties, but I think I am rating this a touch too high because of nostalgia.
Borrowed from the library (my copy was unhauled in 2015).
43. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty.
4 stars. A novel about coping with death, coming to terms with your memories and relationships in a small American town.
Borrowed from the library.
44. A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands.
2 stars. I never picked this up in my 20s when I was really into paranormal books... I might give the series another shot but this book was not good.
Borrowed from the library.
45. We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman.
4 stars. Ticks so many book lovers boxes for me. Well plotted, set in a book shop, lots of references. I always go into a Gayle Forman novel expecting to 5 star it even though the last few have all been 4 stars. There was just something missing in this one.
Borrowed from the library.
46. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell.
3 stars. An interesting novel set at the time of the Indian Mutiny (there has to be a more suitable name for this - must google). It follows a small group of British residents in India who are besieged in the residency building in Krishnapur. It gets its anti-colonial message across well and I am not sure if the use of native Indian voices in the text would have improved it.
Borrowed from the library.
47. The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh.
3 stars. Very bland in all honesty. Not really sure yet why this was set in the past as the characters were very modern; many of the characters are "woke" and everytime (it felt like) one of the characters Arjun appears he has anti-British things to say despite the fact that this is set in America. Sigh. At least The Siege of Krishnapur was more subtle. It seems to be fine in this book to be anti-colonial but fine to kill lots of people (as it is suggested Nicodemus has). I guess he was an equal-opportunities killer but the author didn't quite spell this out. Anyway, I didn't expect this from a book about vampires which is why I am mentioning it. And the revelation about who the serial killer was completely underwhelmed me because I had forgotten who he was. And could not be bothered to go back to find out. I was so sure I was going to love this that I have already ordered the second volume from the library. Kind of regretting it.
Borrowed from the library.
JULYTotal books read in July: 23
Total qualifying for this challenge: 10
48. Summer by Edith Wharton.
4 stars. The story of a young girl and first love. But since it is written by Wharton expect it to turn darker. The ending is ambiguous and well-written (and I read it in a dark way).
Borrowed from the library.
VIRTUAL Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2021
Books mentioned in this topic
Tipping the Velvet (other topics)The Christmas Pig (other topics)
Gods of Jade and Shadow (other topics)
A Christmas Promise (other topics)
A Marriage of Lions (other topics)
More...
Note to self: Remember Kindle Prime.