What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: September 19, 2022
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What are you reading? What have you recently finished reading? What do you think of it? We want to know!
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Stephen Colbert's Midnight Confessions, by Stephen Colbert
Well this was a thing that I noticed on the shelf at the library by chance that I polished off in about 10 minutes. I'm serious, this is a thing you can breeze through in 10 minutes or less. But whatever. It was good for a chuckle.
The Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins
This was a unique read. It started off slow and got exponentially more zany. Although the dialogue was occasionally weak, the humor was occasionally corny, and the plot was confusing at times, the premise was creative and the story really drew me in. Overall an entertaining read, though, which is what matters!
Finished The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan. #2 in the Wheel of Time series. I enjoyed it more than #1, at least. The world is interesting and I like the big scope of it. The problem is I just don't enjoy reading about Rand. I don't ever need to be told again how he won't let anyone use him and also Selene is hot. And all this "the chosen one all the girls are in love with" stuff gives of major "teenage power fantasy" vibes. Anytime the focus shifts away from him I'm liking it a lot more, but that probably doesn't bode well for the future. I might read on at some point but will definitely take a break from it now.
Finished:
Sign Here, by Claudia Lux. I really liked the concept of this (a story about a guy who works in Hell convincing mortals to sell their souls to the devil) and I was invested in seeing how the mystery turned out. But at the same time, most of the characters aren't particularly likable so I had trouble rooting for them.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care, by Ashley Herring Blake. I loved this! It was meant to just be the book I read on my commute, but I ended up devouring it in a single day. I thought there was a great balance between the romance and Delilah's healing relationship with her sister. I'll definitely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out!
Currently reading:
Becoming, by Michelle Obama (Audio) (65%)
Gallant, by V.E. Schwab (59%)
The Haunting of Tram Car 015, by P. Djèlí Clark (6%)
The Souvenir Museum, by Elizabeth McCracken (50%)
To Paradise, by Hanya Yanagihara (50%)
Finished:
Provoked, by Joanna Chambers 2 stars- This was another romance genre miss. The actual plot was not engaging or interesting and the relationship between David and Murdo was… boring? Lackluster? The book wasn’t bad beyond being uninteresting but I fail to see the appeal. Still trying to feel out what sort of romance books I enjoy
The Sunbearer Trials, by Aiden Thomas 3.5 stars- I’m tired of magic tournaments, y’all. This had enough unique elements and worldbuilding to keep my interest and that was a great cliffhanger. Best parts of the book were the times between trials, that’s when we got meaningful character growth. Parts of the book definitely lack maturity in both the characters and the writing but I find it far more tolerable than authors like TJ Klune. A fast, easy read and I’m looking forward to the sequel since the trials are now over
Currently Reading:
The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie
Exodus 20:3, by Freydis Moon
Finished:
Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
Definitely think this is one of my favorite books after reading it. Not too long, ending was great, and truly a great horror story.
Started:
The Scandal/Beartown by Fredrik Backman.
His writing style is a little weird. I find his repetition unnecessary and constant and the dialogue is ... off. Not sure if that's the translators fault or not. I'm enjoying the story a lot and it's by no means a bad book but at times it seems like he's just trying to hit a word count than actually tell a story. There's all these passages of inane questions like "What is a community?" or "How do you define leadership?" and the answers he gives the reader feels like he's trying to be poignant but it just falls flat.
Finished up I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy this week. Really enjoyed this one overall, which feels odd to say given the subject matter. It’s divided into two parts, before and after her mom’s death. The first part was stronger, I thought. The second half strays away from her coming to terms with her mom’s abuse, and focuses on her recovery from eating disorders (which her mom taught her, yikes). I was expecting more time to be spent on how she got to the place of being able to say she’s glad her mom died, which wasn’t discussed as much. But I liked the candor and dark, deadpan humor of the writing, and I couldn’t stop reading this book once I picked it up.
So, I’ve only just gotten started on Titus Alone, by Mervyn Peake. This book is very different from the first two so far, and I’m not as immediately in love with it as I was the others. I’ll see how it goes!
Also reading What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, by Randall Munroe.
Finished Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak. The Messenger remains my favourite book of his but this was genuinely beautiful. It's written in that very specific Zusak prose style which I will say starts to drag in a book so long, but he writes love and different kinds of love so well. Not a five star but it did make me cry.
Started The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy.
Reread Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce as I've been working my way through the series again.
I've finished reading (in the last 3 weeks):
Spiegelpaleis Europa by Joep Leerssen. This was a very interesting book, concerning the europese culture from the perspective of myths and iconography starting from ancient greece till the end of the 20th century. It also zooms in on how different parts of europe see eachother, and how those viewpoints depend on what the underlying intentions are.
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Great book, bleak but somehow warming story on poverty & alcoholism in Glasgow during the 1980's, seen from the perspective of a young mother and her youngest son.
Putin's people: how the KGB took back Russia and then took on the west by Catherine Belton. Very highly recommended, not an easy read especially due to all the characters/companies and shifting alliances but worth your time if you're interested in this part of Russian history.
Continuing through:
Framley Parsonage, by Anthony Trollope
Again, I'm loving Trollope's writing style and his asides and general dry wit.
Ten Thousand Stitches, by Olivia Atwater
Had intended to get this one finished in a week but it just wasn't mweant to be. Not the books fault as I'm really enjoying this one but just life in general getting in the way.
Started:
Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
Where to even start? I love different POV characters but my favorite is probably Lightsong. I guess I have a thing for snark. I'm about halfway through (audiobooks at work FTW!) and can't wait to see where the story goes.
Finished: Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee
Interesting little book with unexpected turn of events and meditations on aging, shame, and post-apartheid South Africa. I don't think it deeply resonated with me in an emotional sense, but it did make me think.
Started: Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury
I think I'm going to really like this one! The writing is gorgeous and it's all about the glory of childhood summers, which were the happiest times of my life.
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