Ioana's 2024 Independent Challenge

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "For me, the best books are 1) well written, 2) either entertaining or informative, and 3) enjoyable. A Little Life only meets criteria #1 for me."

I agree. This explains our similar taste in books. Most of the time :-)
I don't think I've read a more depressing book than that one, ever.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "I felt much the same about Ring Shout and A Little Life. :-)"

I really don't understand how or why some people think this (A Little Life) was the best book they've ever read."

Trauma-bonding? "Watching" something so horrific, and you find it compelling; like a train wreck? Finding the beauty in the writing itself, and the execution of the story? Who knows? If it makes people cry and tear at their emotions, then its considered worth reading.

[Ioana]

Summer Frost Speculative fiction, at least for now. Maxine is a secondary character in a video game, and by a coding accident she becomes able to escape the confines and cross the game boundaries. Then Riley, the developer, keeps adding to it: a lot of knowledge, a voice, a body, feelings and self-awareness. Then she develops feelings for Maxine. What can go wrong?
3.5 stars

[Ioana]

Alondra wrote: "Trauma-bonding? "Watching" something so horrific, and you find it compelling; like a train wreck? Finding the beauty in the writing itself, and the execution of the story? Who knows? If it makes people cry and tear at their emotions, then its considered worth reading."

I know what you're saying, and I think that's why I couldn't put it down either. It's definitely worth reading, but not enjoyable. I think I felt the same about Lolita and My Dark Vanessa.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I agree. This explains our similar taste in books. Most of the time :-)
I don't think I've read a more depressing book than that one, ever."

I agree. I keep hoping there would be something uplifting and the writing was beautiful, but I just felt sad and depressed at the end. Well, you've read it now. My reading club mentioned reading Yangaihara's The People in the Trees, but thankfully seems to have moved to other options. I'm not sure I have it in me to read more by her.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "I know what you're saying, and I think that's why I couldn't put it down either. It's definitely worth reading, but not enjoyable. I think I felt the same about Lolita and My Dark Vanessa...."

Yep; that makes sense. I haven't read those either, but I want to. *sigh* decisions, decisions. I want to read more literary works this upcoming year; but I don't need to get triggered.

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "My reading club mentioned reading Yangaihara's The People in the Trees, but thankfully seems to have moved to other options. I'm not sure I have it in me to read more by her."

That one is not even on my TBR, and I'm good with that. I don't always agree with our book club's picks, but they are a lot lighter than that, which works for me, because my general picks are not. Sometimes light is good.

[Ioana]

Alondra wrote: "I want to read more literary works this upcoming year; but I don't need to get triggered."

I don't know what I **want** to read this upcoming year, I'm still trying to decide. And I'm not talking about a list, which we all know I cannot do, but at least a theme or a genre.... I know I will read more NF, and I will try again to work on series. I failed miserably in 2024, I think I only finished 1 or 2.

[Ioana]

The Birds A very short book, Hitchcock's inspiration for the movie. Great little book, I'm so glad I got to read it. 3 stars

[Ioana]

Dark Sacred Night When in a reading slump, once again Harry Bosch to the rescue. Just what I needed, this time one once again partnered with Renée Ballard. 3.5 stars.

[Bill, Moderator]

Ioana wrote: "The Birds A very short book, Hitchcock's inspiration for the movie. Great little book, I'm so glad I got to read it. 3 stars"

I read the Birds in a collection of du Maurier's short stories. All excellent.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Ioana wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I want to read more literary works this upcoming year; but I don't need to get triggered."

I don't know what I **want** to read this upcoming year, I'm still trying to decide. And ..."

I did okay on the series; but I really need to get further along. I think I'm ready and managed to get the books I needed, to get started.

[Ioana]

Bill wrote: "I read the Birds in a collection of du Maurier's short stories. All excellent."

I didn't know she wrote short stories...I'll try to find and read more.

[Ioana]

The Humans An alien is sent from the planet Vonnadoria to destroy all evidence that Andrew Martin, a Cambridge professor solved the Riemann hypothesis. Humans are too primitive to be able to cope with the knowledge this achievement will provide, so the alien kills Andrew Martin and takes his place in the world.
Through his eyes we see how silly some of our habits are, and in the end we get to appreciate our humanity. Everything is noted: work, food, smoking and drinking, love, sports and news, marriage, fidelity and infidelity, friendship, money and religion, happiness and pain, parenting, cars and driving, recycling, poetry, and a lot more. It's a funny feel-good book, where every sentence can be/is a poignant quote. The 97 pieces of advice for Gulliver are priceless; all spot on. We should all follow them. 4.5 stars