Autumnal Update - Top 5

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Been chugging along, progressing in all challenges, but the blog has taken a hit due to time constraints. A new job has me focused, and currently, NaNoWriMo is well on its way.

As an update, I'd like to come up with my top 5 books I'd like to finish before the new year.

1. Turtles All the Way Down ~ John Green
I listened to John read the first chapter and I was intrigued. Having read his stuff before, his writing doesn't always jive with me, so count me surprised that I'm reading this.

2. Tower of Dawn ~ Sarah J. Maas
Gotta find out what happened to Chaol. Reviews are coming back positive, so I'm looking forward to this read.

3. Autonomous ~ Annalee Newitz
Read the ebook sample, fell in love with the story set up and idea. Immediately bought it.

4. Daughter of Blood ~ Anne Bishop
I've begun reading this but had to put it on the back burner to read the ones due back at the library. It's SO GOOD so far.

And finally, number 5 will be perfect for December. At the beginning of the year, I set a number of goals for myself. I have achieved all of them except for "Reread 5 books". I have one more to read. There are a number I can read, so it might be cheating but I don't know which I'll pick yet. Will get back to you on that one ;)

~Happy Reading~

July Summer Reading

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Officially on holiday. Planning to read as much as my eyeballs can take. There's the Book-Tube-a-Thon with fun challenges (July24-30). There's also the High Summer Read-a-Thon (July 17-30). It's a summer of reading!

For the next two weeks, I'd like to knock off some TBR choices and then delve into some middle-grade books that have been languishing on my TBR-later shelf.

Off we go!
~Happy Reading~

300 ~ Wrap Up

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Month of 300 a success!

In total: 10 books read with an average of 256 pages per book. My summer has officially begun. Love my month of 300. (no idea what I'm talking about, see beginning post here)


Flame in the Mist
By Renee Ahdieh
Pages: 392
Review here.
3/5 STARS

 

Micromegas

By Voltaire

Pages: 38

References a whole lot in 'Too Like the Lightning' by Ada Palmer. Had to find out what all the fuss was about.

STARS undecided.

 

The Passage
By Justin Cronin
Pages: 766
Listened to on audiobook. A carry over from May. Did not like.
2/5 STARS







Nine Princes in Amber
By Roger Zelazny
Pages: 119
The start of a ten book series. Totally loved the first half. Battle scenes were poorly constructed.
4/5 STARS





Black Unicorn
By Tanith Lee
Pages: 138
Beautiful, short adventure. Whimsical and magical.
4/5 STARS







Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
By Oscar Hijuelos
Pages: 422
Musetta Bookclub pick. Absolutely hated this.
1/5 STARS




Beastly Bones (II)
By William Ritter
Pages: 295
EXCELLENT! The second book of the Jackaby series. Like the tv show "Supernatural", set in early New England. A wonderful story.
4/5 STARS






Margaret the First
By Danielle Dutton
Pages: 160
A beautiful tale of a very real woman. The perfect summer read.
4/5 STARS






The Awakening
By Kate Chopin
Pages: 133
A classic feminist story. Melancholy and beautiful.
4/5 STARS




The Island of Doctor Moreau
By H.G.Wells
Pages: 192
A classic science fiction story of man's experiments-gone-wrong. Really great read.
3/5 STARS

Onto the best summer month!!!
~Happy Reading~

Mildly Misty, Mildy Ruined

A Court of Mist and Fury
By Sarah J. Maas

Feyre and her people are in the midst of a great showdown against Hybern - the most evilist-fae because he hates humans.

Please know, that this review contains non-specific spoilers, in the attempt to discuss the weakest part of this book.





War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

Unless you're on Feyre's side, then you escape with barely any lasting damage. Superficial cuts and bruises.
Death? No.
Sacrifices? Almost.

Just this time, EVERYONE LIVES!!!

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed every single moment of reading this book. It was slow going as this book is 700 pages. BUT Maas's writing is candy - you munch and munch and want more.

The ending bothered me the most. There were lost moments where Maas could've really made what was being fought for seem that much more impactful. Only side-side characters lost their lives. None of the main characters suffered. People lose their lives in war. Good people. Yet, by the end, anyone who did make some serious sacrifice it was softened with magic and loopholes.

I do not like fantasies where it's too easy. I want to fear for characters. When characters don't die (and in their situation, should have), it feels cheap. Like Maas just couldn't go there.

Best advice from a professor:

KILL YOUR DARLINGS

Save your darlings for your own drafts, but they only bog down the main material.

I'm only hoping that in her 'Throne of Glass' series, she decides to be a little more ruthless.

4/5 STARS

Biggest elephant in the room: The cauldron? Where people go in it and become something different. I've read this exact fantasy item before. EXACTLY. Lloyd Alexander - an original of fantasy - came up with the cauldron. I'm incredibly angry at the blatant rip off. See my review for "The Black Cauldron" here. 

"Samurai" Bandits

Flame in the Mist
By Renee Ahdieh

Mariko finds herself in heaps of trouble when she is betrothed to the Prince's brother and on the way is attached by bandits. With thorough smarts and a willingness to adapt, she manages to join the bandits in the attempt to destroy them from the inside out.

Sold to me as a Mulan retelling, I can comfortably say this is NOT. It's closer to the 47 Ronin story - the Japanese setting, the disgraced Samurai, and a fight against the throne.

The writing is smooth and poetic. Always in the right places, staying away from bogging down action in any form. Ahdieh finds her moments of peace well. A Japanese-inspired fantasy (I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be that) lends well to gentle poetry.

Mariko as the main character: thorough, logical, adaptable. These three traits help her to analyze and assess situations before jumping headfirst in. It is refreshing to have a character that you get to read their thinking through actions first.

There is a romance. Only know that it was a good, slow build with a cliff-hanger on their status. 

The story was lacking for me. There was no spark. I love me some Japanese culture. This felt a little too much like a checklist: kimono - check, samurai - check, hot springs - check, geisha - check, etc. Which makes me wonder if she termed it a "fantasy" in order to escape criticism for lack of research. She could pick and choose what parts of the culture she wanted and made up the rest. The only part that read like 'fantasy' was the hints at something sinister...

The only part that I sat up straighter while reading was the itty-bitty interjections of magic. *gasp* what?! Magic?! Yes, but very slight. And I was hanging onto every bit. Sadly, it left as soon as it appeared.

If you want a Japanese-inspired "fantasy", an analytical main character, and poetic writing, definitely give this a read.

3/5 STARS