36 Hour Read

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Did I like it:  Yes

Should you read it:  Yes (see more below)

Synopsis:  3rd book in the Hunger Games series where Katniss's conflict with her crazy government comes to a conclusion.

I started this book the night before last, shortly after I finished the previous book, and I just finished it now, 10AM this morning (no I did NOT read through the night, I pride myself on having the self control to not do that). 

This is the kind of book that sucks you in  like quicksand and refuses to let you go until you read through the very end including the acknowledgments.  I would recommend this book but a few won't like it, either because of the plot, the sci fi, the YA-ness... but overall, I'd say most people would start and keep going and going and going...   Most likely a library book (or rather, trilogy) instead of actually buying it.  The other two are Hunger Games and Catching Fire

Back at School

I've just finished (literally, within the past minute) three books in one volume.  While this seems like quite a convenient way to read books, it can actually become quite annoying when you want to bring the book with you, as this thing is rather gargantuan.  Luckily I am done now, and will shortly move on to smaller books.  (On the topic of book size though, I really quite like mass markets because they sometimes fit into my coat pocket, and then I can actually take the book anywhere!  If the book is bigger, when it is raining or snowing, I'll zip the book into my coat, but then I look like I have an odd rectangular lump on my stomach, which is not desirable...) 

The book(s) I just finished are called The Abhorson Trilogy by Garth Nix, and the three are: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen.  Quite frankly, odds are that you would not like this book(s).  They are most definitely "high fantasy" whatever you want to take that to mean, and they are also young adult fiction which has its drawbacks.  I thought that the first book was not written very well, and I found myself laughing at the absurd fantasy most of the time.  Once I really got into the story though, I started to enjoy it.  I think the second book (Lirael) is the best of the three.  It was interesting, the main character is fascinating and likable, and the fantasy isn't so terribly absurd for most of it. 

Should you read these books?  Well if you don't generally read, I would *not* suggest you try and start with these.  If you read non-fiction, don't read these.  If you've never read fantasy before, don't read these.  If you don't like young adult, don't read these.  Et cetera, et cetera.  On the other hand, if you are an adventurous reader, and don't mind some really crazy stuff then try these books!  They are kind of cute, and really best suited for a 12 year old (or thereabouts) but some of us really like books like that!  Overall, I'm definitely glad I gave the books a chance, I had fun reading them.   

First Post

I wasn't sure I was actually going to make this blog, so here are some posts that would have gone up earlier:

1/8/11

I am a reader.  I am always reading.  I learned how to really read (more than just sound out the letters) in second grade, and since then, I cannot remember a time when I have not been reading a book.  I estimated that I read a book about every week or so during school, and about two books a week during break but since I don’t keep track of the books I read, I don’t know if this is accurate.  Here I will record what I read as I finish it, and perhaps a thought or two on each book.  (Don’t expect feats of exceptional writing ability, I am a scientist and they train us to write in the most obscure and un-understandable manner)

Since the new year began, I’ve read three books, Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, Aravind Adiga’s White Tiger, and just a few hours ago, Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto.

The Lost Symbol was mostly very predictable, as all of Dan Brown’s other books have been.  Like Jodi Picoult, he has a formula for bestsellers that he follows very closely.  The first book of his that I read was The Da Vinci Code (some would say this is his best book) which I enjoyed.  I was let down when I read the other books because I was able to predict plot points before they occurred since he follows his formula so rigidly.  I would recommend The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons as beach or plane reading, but don’t read The Lost Symbol.  (Or, if you insist, get it from a library)  The story was simply not compelling, and I read through hundreds of pages wondering when the fun would start.  For me, the worst part was that he got D.C. geography wrong!  I’ve lived in the area for a while now (I know some of you would roast me on a spit for saying I’m from DC, so I won’t even try) and I think I have a general grasp of how the city works.  I’m sorry, Metro Center is not at Freedom Plaza, and no cab driver would ever call the Metro the subway.  Long and short:  don’t read this book.

White Tiger was entertaining.  It reminded me a little of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children.  It is, more or less, about the life of a guy in India.  There is probably a lot of hidden literary “stuff” that totally went over my head, but I still enjoyed the book and found it quite funny at times.  It’s a bit of a slow book though, so its probably better for exam time (because you can put it down easily) than for reading while waiting for your brother to get out of the airport already.  (Note:  this last activity is a clear sign that you are not about to leave, and it makes the cops come and flick their hands at you so you will move.  If you want to keep your spot, don’t read.)

Bel Canto, a recommendation from a fellow reader and a book obtained at the Brandeis Book Store in Florida (apparently it’s a fund raiser) was absolutely fantastic and a pleasure to read.  You must read it.  It takes some time to really get started, but that works well for the structure of the book.  The start is slow enough that it might take some perseverance to get hooked, but trust me, it is very much worth it! 

In short:

Lost Symbol:  Don’t read

White Tiger: Read, but I’m not sure I’ll read it again

Bel Canto: Read, and I will read it again.

I’m already well into my next book and have four more lined up after that, so I’ll be posting again soon.

1/12/10

I’ve been sick the past few days, so I’ve finished two more books:  Godless by Pete Hautman and The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. 

Godless was cute and entertaining, but definitely young adult literature.  It’s a good book for when you want a quick read.  I’d suggest getting it from the library though.

The Raw Shark Texts was a crazy crazy book.  Granted I read most of it between midnight and 7AM for 3 days when I was unable to sleep because I was sick, but still, very trippy.  It reminded me a lot of House of Leaves.  In high school, a copy of House of Leaves was passed around and everyone who read it (myself included) insisted to those who had not read it that “it will change your life”  I’m not so sure about the life-changing thing anymore (maybe its just because I haven’t read it in a few years) but I would recommend both of these books.  (Although House of Leaves is better than Raw Shark Texts.)  Both can get a bit tedious at times, so don’t expect a super fast read.

I don’t plan on re-reading either of these any time soon, but I did enjoy both of them.