May, June

The Angels Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Snow Crash, Neil Stephenson
Divergant, Veronica Roth
The Gate Thief, Orson Scott Card
The Lost Gate, Orson Scott Card

I've been reading a bit faster I think lately.  Also really these are mostly great books. 

The Angels Game is a prequil to Shadow of the Wind, which I loved.  I have to say I felt that this one was not quite as good, but thats really not a bad thing since Shadow of the Wind was so epically good.  I'd definitely suggest this to people who read fiction on a semi-regular basis.

Snow Crash was an excellent romp through 'An America so strange that you'll recognize it immediately'  (Or something like that...  its a quote from the cover which was actually quite apt)  Its simultaneously hilarious and a commentary on modern commercial culture.  And the plot/imagery/characters are great too.  Definitely check out this book. 

Divergant was a Hunger Games esqe book.  Good, but only because thats a fantastic formula to write good books.  Great for the beach.

I'd already read the Lost Gate and liked it.  I enjoyed it this time too, but the second reading wasn't as good as the first.  And The Gate Thief was great because its always nice to follow up with characters and because I love Card, but probably isn't actually objectively good.  Read only if you like Card and scifi. 

MORE BOOKS!

Two books this time because I forgot one last time.

Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Did I like it: Yeah, I've read it a million times.  Plus the painting is one of my favorites.
Should you read it: If you like historical fiction, YES YES YES.  If you don't like books, don't start with this one.
Synopsis: Due to misfortune, Griet needs to start working in the house of the painter Vermeer... 

I love this book, I find the story enchanting and catching every time I read it.  Also the look of the girl on the cover absolutely haunts me, even now as I'm typing and looking down at her face staring up at me from my desk.  I guess the only fault is that its not the greatest book in the universe (huge fault really) so you won't necessarily love it, or even like it if you aren't a book type.  But I love it, I feel like its good in the way Shadow of the Wind is good, but just not quite THAT good.  (I seriously need to re-read that book I keep going on and on about it...)

Title:  The Lost Gate
Author:  Orson Scott Card
Did I like it:  DUUHHHHHHHH.  Card better keep writing and never die I am ADDICTED.
Should you read it:  Well if you love Card as much as I do, then you should, and I really can't tell you NOT to read it because he is my favorite author of all time ever, but being more sane, there are people out there (whoever doesn't like fantasy) who won't like this book.
Synopsis:  Danny North seems totally untalented in a family full of magical talent, and therefore his family will probably kill him soon, but one day...

What can I say?  I love Card, and this book just solidified my amorous feelings.  Every last little thing he writes I love.  Now I have two new series of his that I need new books from:  This and Pathfinder which I read in February.  Really when it comes to Card you should just not listen to me because you know what I'll say.  I think most (but not all) people like Ender's Game/Shadow, but fewer people like the Alvin Maker series or the Homecoming series (yes I've read all of those) and even fewer would like this book or Pathfinder.  I think I liked Pathfinder better now that I think of it.  I still can't help but recommend this book though.  Of course not everyone will like it, and if you've been reading this blog at all (which apparently some people actually do!)  then you'll know that non-readers and non-scifi/fantasy types shouldn't even try.

Lastly:  I've officially read 5 books this month, likely to be 6 since there is about a week left in the month.  School and moving really slowed me down!