Reading Challenge 2016 #5

This is the one I've been dreading to do. I really don't like listening to audio books. The only ones I ever remember enjoying were the harry Potter novels. Other than that, I would find myself drifting off to sleep with boredom. I guess it's because the narrator just didn't do it for me. And the pacing would drag on and on. My friend, on the other hand, does not reject this form of reading as I do. He often listens to books while driving, which is something I don't do. He says it can help with a long drive, helping you zone out on the boredom of being stuck in a car. I'll just take his word for it.

Kiss the Girls by James Patterson (her)

And with that, I'm done with the Alex Cross series. The novels are decently written and the suspense is definitely there. But I just don't connect to the story or characters in any way. I found myself lacking sympathy for the people being tortured, raped, or murdered in this book. That might say something to me being a secret sociopath or Patterson's lack of empathy towards his own characters. Another thing, I cannot get the image of Morgan Freeman as Cross out of my head. So when the romantic scenes play out, it's hilarious to read. The last nail in the coffin was listening to the novel as an audio book. I am not a fan of them so I was already out of my element. The voice actor was okay but didn't fit my auditory image of Alex Cross. It didn't sound like a black man, which isn't a fair comparison because the actor is not black. Either way, listening or reading, I'm done with                                                                                                                          these mysteries/thrillers.




Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (him)

I agree with most reviews I have read about Ready Player One. To recap, a near disturbingly large amount of 1980s references creates an obnoxiously slow start. The upside is that when the action finally occurs, it feels like an award for patience and adds another layer of pleasure to the read.

Add to that snippets from your favorite review of this book and you just about have my thoughts.

With that said I will use the rest of this review to share a thought, rather a public statement of appreciation. I was referred to the audio version of Ready Player One as entertainment for a long distance drive. I must admit, I probably would not have picked it up on my own, or if I had, finished it in book form (see obnoxiously slow start). But the resulting pleasure I got from listening to it reminded me of how fortunate I am to have someone who is not only an avid reader but also has the savoir faire to pair books with persons and activity, like wine with food (or she just got lucky). Whatever the case, I appreciate this blogger's enhancement of my literary life and encourage everyone to recognized such a person who you may have the rare fortune to have in your life. 

May Flowers

I have found my stride again with fining books to read and wanting to actually finish them. I was feeling discouraged that I would be in this rut until summer but I've read a few good books that gave me hope. They weren't life changing or core shaking but I still enjoyed them.


The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
BOOK CLUB READ

Such an easy read. The characters were a bit stiff and predictable but I liked them all the same. The final fight scene was awesome. I'm glad that this is a stand alone novel. I am always happy and impressed when an author feels confidant enough to complete a story start to finish in one shot. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a YA romance with a kick.




If You Were My Man by Francis Ray
Last novel of the Invincible Women series

This book became stupid very quickly. I was feeling the chemistry between Nat and Rafael but the conflict that drove them apart was completely dumb. I'm not looking for a grand twist with my romances but I appreciate a little bit of thought. This seemed forced and directionless. The saving grace of the novel was the relationship with Clarice and Jake. I would have loved the book more if it was told from their POVs only.




The Bitten by L.A. Banks
The fourth novel of the Vampire Huntress Legend series
BOOK CLUB READ

I feel like these books go on for too long. There are so many unnecessary scenes and dialogue between characters. It has the awful effect of pulling me out of the book and losing my interest. But I still absolutely loved everything that went down in the Aussie's mansion. The tension was delicious. After that, the book lost me. I mostly skimmed so I'm confused on what actually happened at the end.


Deadman Wonderland by Jinsei Kataoka
The last volume of the series

It's finally over. The last volume has been consumed and it left me feeling giddy. After everything that these deadmen have gone through, they came out on the other side with lives to live and happiness that is well deserved. I was most nervous about what would become of Ganta and Shiro. My bet was that they were gonna kill each other. Thankfully I was wrong. It wasn't what I would have expected but their conclusion made a lot of sense and was so darn sweet. I would have been happy enough just to look at the cover instead of reading the book though. It's gorgeous.


The Winter Girl by Matt Marinovich

What a strange little book. It was a very disturbing read. Every character was god awful, even worse than everyone in The Girl on the Train. I know two stars seem like a bad review but I did have moments of entertainment reading this novel. It was just buried under an avalanche of WTF am I reading. The story is sadistic and I honestly have no idea if the author had a hidden message he was trying to convey or if this was just a story stuck in his head that he just had to get out. Either way, this novel left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm just glad it wasn't any longer than 200+ pages.



Don't Go to Sleep by R.L. Stine
The 54th book of the original Goosebumps series

This was a good one. The plot was just interesting enough to keep my attention to finish this in one sitting. The reality police almost lost me though. And I still will never understand why the protagonist's family has to be borderline psycho. It seriously upsets me.

Reading Challenge 2016 #4

Yadda yadda yadda, I used Goodreads (again) to find a book for this month's challenge. We had to read a book that takes place in another country. I've been using these lists to knock books off of my to read list that fit the criteria for the challenge. So far, it has been working out for me. My friend chose this book because of a previous experience with the author, I think. I just know that I felt pressure to find a good book since he had already found his. I went to Afghanistan to re(read) a popular school book and he traveled to Italy for a dark comedy.


Afghanistan 

So few books devastate me like this one has. I haven't cried this much reading a novel since The Book Thief. It completely gutted me, forcing me to feel things that I wasn't in the mood to feel but had to because of the words I was absorbing. I had forgotten that I had read this book once before for school so I never gave it a rating on here. But after finishing the first chapter, I realized that I was in for a familiar emotional roller coaster. My heart was broken again and again. From that destruction came a sense of rebirth, similar to what Laila and Miriam go through. This is one of those novels that changes you. I'm glad I forgot that I'd read this years ago so I could experience it as I am now. But I know I have no plans to reread this in the future. I don't think my heart could handle it a third time.





Italy

How do I describe the Serpent of Venice? For those that have read Christopher Moore’s The Fool, all I have to say is Pocket is at it again. But what if you’re not familiar with this salacious treatment of the Bards works? How do I describe the comedic interplay of status, station, situation and ambition which whirls from Venice to Corsica to Genoa and back with Pocket, the Motley fool at its center? That where Pocket goes plots and counter-plots, love and betrayal, wealth and debauchery of an absurdly outrageously inventive form follow. Oh, and a ghost, there’s always a bloody ghost. I describe it with one word, entertaining.

Fantasy and Contemporary

I usually lean heavily towards fantasy/sci-fi novels. I love to read about things that are otherworldly. It helps me escape from my sometimes boring, stressful life. But in the past few weeks, I've been craving regular old fiction. I failed to satisfy that craving though, having only read two non fantasy books. And one of them was a reread. I still hold out hope that someday soon, I'll read a great novel based in real life. Whether it be adult, young adult, or children based.

Gangsta Vol 1 by Kohske
4 STAR RATING

Hello, new obsession. The high point of this novel is definitely the art. Just Nic's face alone is enough to have me read the entire series. Every character stands out on their own but are still able to play well together. I would love to have more back story in the next book. I am interested in seeing more from Worick's dark past.



Family of Lies by Mary Monroe
BOOK CLUB READ
1 STAR RATING

I think I knew deep down that I was not going to like this book. I rarely read AF-AM and from what I've heard, Mary Monroe is not my cup of tea. This is the only book I've read by her and one is definitely enough. The dialogue, the characters, the plot; everything was just awful. I hated every person and every thing that they did. I wish I had left this book club pick unread.


The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
First novel of the Ravenspire series
BOOK CLUB READ
3 STAR RATING

This was so close to getting the dreaded DNF. I found myself extremely annoyed with almost every character. The only chapter POV I was enjoying was the evil queen's. Every one else was whiny and stupid. But the action kept my attention. The ending was satisfying. Just enough action to get the blood pumping. I just hope that the next book learns from this one's mistakes.


Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward
First novel of the Black Dagger Legacy series
4 STAR RATING

Thank the romance gods that this book was great. Ward had me worried for a second there with a few of her BDB novels. I felt she had lost what made the series great in the first place. But she's definitely found her footing again and came back full force with this spin off. The characters, old and new, seem like a breath of fresh air to me. The only fault I have is when a character says, "Aaaaaaaaaand..." I don't understand why this is incorporated into the inner dialogue now. The internet lingo is one thing but I get super annoyed at the drawn out words for emphasis.


Lessons From a Younger Lover by Zuri Day
BOOK CLUB READ
REREAD
3 STAR RATING

I had originally gave this book 4 stars but I'm knocking off one because this book is a tad bit ridiculous. I still loved the melodrama and characters but it's just too much. It makes me question whether I'll like other Zuri Day books as much as I used to. Either way, this way a fun romance read and I was more than happy to reread it for book club. I couldn't get a good image of Ransom in my head but I had no problems connecting with Gwen. She's a likable protagonist and I'm glad she got her happy ending.

A Book Club Miracle

March marks the first month, in a really really long time, that I read every book club read assigned to me. I'm a part of three different clubs, two online and one in person. I always find it difficult to read all of the books because I read so much other personal picks on my own. But I finally did it. I can only hope to continue the streak in April.

Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti 2 STAR RATING BOOK CLUB READ This was just a sad horrible attempt at a thriller romance. I felt no chemistry between Shane and Josie. I found them to be equally annoying and hard to root for. The fact that Josie kept saying she was AFRAID of Shane turned me off completely. Why would that make me hot and bothered, to think about this woman worrying if she'll get hurt by the man she loves? The saving grace of this novel was the appearance of Shane's brothers. I really liked them a lot, although I'm sure they have even more issues than their little brother. Too bad I'm not interested enough to read the second book in the series. I've had my fill.   A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston 4 STAR RATING BOOK CLUB READ I have found a rarity in the YA novel universe. A fantasy teen novel without a love triangle or any love interest at all that wraps up in a neat little bow at the end. No sequels, no waiting, no angst! I will admit that the beginning was boring and stiff. I had recently read a retelling of this old folk tale and wasn't keen on reading another. But our heroine, who I'm pretty sure is never named, won me over with her wit and restraint. The villain gets his own mini chapters which were very well written and exciting. I wish he had more of a voice in the book but it definitely doesn't lack because of it. I'm glad I gave this book a chance because it is easily one of the best I've read this year.                                      Soul Eater Vol 6 by Atsushi Ohkubo 3 STAR RATING The Kinshin battle at the end wasn't as epic as I was hoping but I'm confidant he'll be back and creating madness. The best part of this volume was Maka fighting against the black blood or whatever was making her crazy. The little souls of her and Croana were so darn cute. I wanna see more of that. Attack on Titan Vol 17 by Hajime Isayama 3 STAR RATING This was a slower volume but it makes sense to take a breather after all the craziness of the last book. Eren and Historia have good chemistry and I hope it blossoms into a romance. This story could use a light-hearted love story. The ending with the monkey titan was great. Anytime he shows up, I shout with joy.