January, Feburary, March 2013

I have been incredibly delinquent in updating this blog and for that I apologize, dear non-existent reader.

Here's what I've read recently:

Blackout, Connie Willis,
The Good Wife, Stewart O'Nan
The Traveler, John Twelve Hawks
The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

Dear non-existent reader, I am ashamed to have read so few books in 2.5 months!  However I have been quite busy, yes, I am plotting to take over the world!  Actually no, but I am plotting to get my PhD and that has been draining.  The end is in sight though!

Comments on these books:
Count of Monte Cristo was good albeit slow.  It was an interesting look into a different time and place.  The Traveler was actually quite interesting and grabbing, although pretty far into the scifi realm.  The Good Wife reminded me of Room in the way I wanted to know how it ended but wasn't really interested in it.  And Blackout was interesting but excruciating in that the characters just seemed so dumb!  There is a sequel that I would have read, but I couldn't stand reading through an entire additional book of the characters being incredibly dimwitted. 
 
   

I'm a big fat liar

Three books in three days, reviews to come soon.

Title: Laddertop
Author: Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card
Did I like it: Its by Card so I liked it, but its definitely kid material
Should you read it: Don't bother unless you are 10.
Synopsis: Some kids are chosen to work at the tops of huge elevators into space given to mankind by aliens.

I only read this because I'm kind of on an unofficial mission to read everything Card has ever written.  Please don't read it.  Its a graphic novel for kids.  Maybe buy it for that kid who needs a holiday gift who likes scifi. But get the kid Ender's Game too.

Title: Stonefather
Author: Orson Scott Card
Did I like it: YES!  Prequil to The Lost Gate which I read earlier this year, very nice.
Should you read it: Unless you are as obsessed with Card as I am, don't.
Synopsis: Runnel leaves his unloving family and ends up living with a stonemage...

I need to read The Lost Gate again.  I love Card, seriously.  This book was cute, not quite as skillful as most of the stuff he writes, but it was a nice little taste of his writing, which I love and miss.  I wouldn't really recommend it to others though.  Like I said, its not his best work, if you are going to read anything by him at least try The Lost Gate, or Ender's Game.  For Card lovers though, its a nice morsel. 

 

Title: Room
Author: Emma Donoghue
Did I like it: Slightly addictive, interesting POV
Should you read it:  Probably more mainstream than most of the stuff I read.  Realistic fiction. You might like it.
Synopsis: Jack and his mom live in Room and that is their whole world...

This was an interesting and different book...  Definitely playing on the whole sensationalist thing of kidnapped-girl-raped-and-found-with-her-kids thing.  Because of that the story is compelling.  The writing isn't awful though, unlike so many other books with this 'compelling' nature, so this would probably make a great airplane or beach read.  (Readers of this blog must live far away indeed if they are going to the beach now!)