What I’m Reading

AND WITH THIS POST, I am totally up-to-date on what I’ve been reading the past few months! Easier said than done.

• The Fifth Wave (Amazon) (Rick Yancey) – Sci-fi… skimmed it. From the small sampling of books I’ve read or tried to read, I think I’m less likely to enjoy a book if it’s written by a male author. Just an observation worth sharing.
• Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Amazon) (April Genevieve Tucholke) – You know, the story itself was okay. The main character frustrated me a little by her naivete but I still enjoyed it… but… the ending? DRIVES ME NUTS. I hate when I find out that it’s “Book #1” in a series when I was expecting a resolution. Ugh. Book #1s should have a resolution!
• The Spectacular Now (Amazon) (Tim Tharp) – Underwhelmed. I really wanted to see the movie, and now I’m still curious, but less so. Didn’t love the narrative voice (male author, again!) and didn’t love the ending, but can see how it’d make a good movie.
• Fingerprints of You (Amazon) (Kristen-Paige Madonia) – Simple, sweet, mother-daughter tale… finding-yourself, etc. Liked, didn’t love.
• Warm Bodies (Amazon) (Isaac Marion) – Better than I hoped, but not great. Just watched the movie trailer and like how they applied the humor of the novel. Zombie love story, but not exactly…
• Reconstructing Amelia (Amazon) (Kimberly McCreight) – Another adult novel I picked up because of all the sales and press. I actually liked this BETTER than GONE GIRL which I know everyone loved and was a huge blockbuster (does that word apply to books too?). The ending and the final twist weren’t entire surprises (I feel like it’s been done before, to an extent), but I did like all the little twists and turns along the way. And oof, the heart of her mother…
• Soon I Will Be Invincible (Amazon) (Austin Grossman) – Started, because it was well-regarded in the world of fantasy/sci-fi, but couldn’t finish it. Never got into comic books, so shouldn’t have been surprised that I didn’t love a book that was essentially a spin-off of the comic world.

• Something Strange and Deadly (Amazon) / A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Amazon) (Susan Dennard) – Yet ANOTHER trilogy with a female heroine. Should that be a drama? YA paranormal trilogy with strong female heroine and multiple love interests? This one is set in earlier America, with a twist of zombies and magic (and some science), but still entertaining. I guess the formula works!
• A Really Awesome Mess (Amazon) (Trish Cook) – REALLY liked this. Takes place in an … what do you call it… alternative care facility? Kind of like rehab for teenagers, who come together with a motley of issues. The two main characters struggle with anger/feeling loved (boy) and eating disorders/feeling loved (girl). Unexpectedly funny with a lot of sass, big thumbs up.
• The Name of the Wind (Amazon) / The Wise Man’s Fear (Amazon) (Patrick Rothfuss) – And the grand finale… Patrick Rothfuss. Oh, Patrick Rothfuss. I won’t say that these are MORE fun than the Game of Thrones series because I know that’d raise havoc… but I will say that they are of the same caliber. Set in similar worlds, but I like that these focus on ONE character (Kvothe) and it is a coming-of-age story, just that of an extraordinarily clever, smart, observant, resourceful, powerful, and talented … arcanist? Not sure what we should call him. SO SO SO SO SO good. Gave both 5 stars, which I don’t very often on Goodreads… but high fantasy seriously at it’s best. Cannot wait for the third book, though I’ll probably have to wait ages given it’s apparently not done being written yet!