A dip in blog enthusiasm

Title: Oryx and Crake
Author: Margaret Atwood
Did I like it: On a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 best, I'd call it a 7ish.
Should you read it: I'm so-so about this one.  Not a good book for beginners, but interesting and unusual for readers.
Synopsis: A few days in the life of Snowman and a lot of reminiscing about his past when he was Jimmy.

I'm starting to feel like I'm reading for the blog a little bit, which isn't very good.  I feel more pressure to finish books that I would usually put down.  I am enjoying the current plethora of books though!  Its really nice to have library access again, and I hope to never be without in the future.  I have started to think of the future of the blog beyond this year.  Originally I'd planned to just keep doing the same, but now I'm thinking of ways to scale it down.  We'll see what happens in a few months.

I'd read The Handmaid's Tale at one point in the past so I had high hopes for this book!  While it wasn't a bad book, it didn't quite capture me in the same way.  I suppose I prefer one type of a dystopian future to another!  (I hope that doesn't give away too much about this book) At points there were also bits of science that bothered me, and at other times, I felt that the book became very very slow.  

Definitely not the best book I've ever read, or even best book I've read this year, and honestly I'll probably never read it again.  But it was interesting and I'd definitely suggest you give it a try if you've liked books like 1984, The Giver, etc. 

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!

 

 

Progress

Two Posts at once... whatever shall you do with me?  I just wanted to update on my progress now that half the year has gone by (where has it gone?) A graphical representation, because thats what scientists do:

 

As you can see I read a ridiculous number of books in January (mostly due to the killer cold that wouldn't let me sleep) and significantly fewer books in March and April due to the Thesis-Of-Doom illness, a symptom of which was Stay-In-Lab-All-The-Time.  May was difficult too because of my move, but I'm looking forward to having TONS of time to read now!  (And some to juggle too :P) 

Settled

Title: The City of Ember
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Did I like it: Yes, I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn't call it a high quality book.
Should you read it: If you like reading YA fiction books like The Hunger Games (or if you are YA-aged) you'll probably like this.
Synopsis: Lina and Doon live in a city where the only light comes from lamps on the buildings, but blackouts are happening more and more often...

I mostly enjoyed this book a lot.  It seemed a lot like a slightly-more-poorly written Hunger Games (except that the story is 100% different)  I found this book in a list of utopian/dystopian fiction books, which I usually love (I'd read all of the first few books on the list including 'We', a dystopian book that actually preceded and partly inspired 1984)

Its clear that I'm finally really starting to settle into my new apartment because I found the library (2 blocks away!) and I have a big stack of books to read and a big list of books to order from the library.  My branch has the 3(!) sequels to The City of Ember and I'm very excited to go check them out after I finish the other 4 books I need to read first.  In conclusion:  I would definitely recommend this book to YA readers who are willing to put up with some frustration over the writing, I enjoyed it and I hope you do too! 

Another Circumnavigation Book!

Title: Dove
Author: Robin Graham
Did I like it: I liked the book, its a cool adventure book.
Should you read it: You might like this if you like adventures, but if you are a non-reader it might not hold your attention.
Synopsis: Young boy sets off to sail around the world...

After reading True Spirit I remembered reading this book for 7th grade geography.  I decided to give it a try again.  It was a pretty quick read and I definitely got more out of it this time around!  His descriptions of his leisurely path around the world were very romantic and nice to read.

I was kind of mad at the author/main character sometimes.  Maybe this is a sign of a good book but since its non-fiction and I was mostly mad at him for being dumb, maybe its not such a good thing?  I also think that a person would not be able to duplicate his journey today.

Either way, I wouldn't exactly call this a beach read.  Pick it up if you read often and are looking for a change of pace.  I don't generally read non-fiction but this is one of the few NF books I'd recommend (although not with great enthusiasm.  For great NF enthusiasm try A Long Way Gone by Ishamel Beah)

Its been a while!

I can't believe its been so long since I last finished a book!  The cause is a combination of bad book choices (I decided to put down not one but TWO books halfway through) and life craziness including senior week at school (fun!) and moving into my new apartment (exciting but somewhat less fun)  Anyway things are finally settling down so I finished a book just last night.

Title: Fragment

Author: Warren Fahy

Did I like it: It (mostly) held my attention but it was very generic.

Should you read it: Don't, you can find other books that will be much more exciting and unique.

Synopsis: A boat full of biologists featured on a reality TV program find new creatures on an isolated island...

So like I said this book was perfectly sufficient as something to hold your attention, but it was one of the most cliche and ridiculous things I've read in a long time.  The book included a lot of boring and unnecessary talk and many  plot turns were predictable in their absurdity.  I'm not going to read it again and it has already faded into the background of my reading past.  Don't bother with this one.

As Promised!

TONS OF BOOKS!  So here we go:

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Did I like it: Its a holocaust book so its depressing, but I did like it.

Should you read it: If you are OK with holocaust books, then yeah, its one you should read.

Synopsis: In 1939 a girl is on a train with her mom and brother being taken to a family who will adopt her.  Story is about the next few years of her life with the adoptive family.


I'm not usually into holocaust books what with their depressive nature but this one hooked me in.  (And was recommended by a friend who insisted it was good) The book is narrated in a unique way and also approaches the holocaust from an unusual angle.  


Its a holocaust book so, duh, its depressing.  But its also good!  I couldn't put it down even when I had been traveling for 24 hours and was still in an airport.  Definitely check out this book.

Title: Many Waters

Author: Madeleine L'engle

Did I like it: Even more than last time I read it!

Should you read it:  Oh please do!

Synopsis: Sandy and Dennys, two side-characters from her other books, get transported to a 'warm sparsely populated place' by their father's experiment, and then...


Oh what a wonderful book!  An amazing adventure mixed with a sort of antique feeling which I love.  I think its the least trippy of her books that I've read.  In this one she really gets the mixture of wishy-washy new-agy-ness and adventure-y-ness just right.  I've read this book over and over since I was little and I've loved it every time.  Odds are you will too!

Title: True Spirit

Author: Jessica Watson

Did I like it: It was alright

Should you read it: If you like uplifting stories of human triumph, go for it.

Synopsis: Young girl decides to sail solo and unassisted around the world... and does it.  (True story)


So oddly, this book suggestion comes from the PI (aka the professor) of the lab one of my friends works in at school.  I suggested he read Shadow of the Wind and he suggested this in return.  I'd read a book called Dove in 7th grade about a similar story and had liked it so I inter-library-loan-ed this one.


And its OK.  Exactly what you'd expect from a book written by a 16 year old who recently finished sailing solo & unassisted around the world.  Its kind of an interesting adventure and uplifting and she tries to sound inspiring sort of, but shes also 16 and, not to minimize her achievement, its a huge deal, but it sounds like she kind of got lucky with weather conditions most of the time.  Its not an awful book though, check it out if you are jonesing for something to read but can't decide on anything.  Sooo, I'll end this post now before you all die of comma overdose...