The Oh-Shit-The-Book-Is-Due-To-The-Library-Tomorrow-And-I-Have-300-Pages-Left Book

Title: Game of Thrones
Author: George R.R. Martin
Did I like it: It was OK
Should you read it: If you are a fantasy fanatic and need to read all the popular books, go for it.
Synopsis: In the land of the Seven Kingdoms, the King's Hand had just died and the King needs a replacement, setting off a cascade of political shtuff

I don't know if you were aware, but this book was promo'd like CRAZY.  There is a TV series about it, it was in the front of all the bookstores, on the top of everyone's list, sold out from used bookstores...  and there was a HUGE wait from the library.  I waited several months for this book.  Not even Hunger Games took that long to come. 

For all that wait and suspense, was this seriously what was supposed to be such an amazing fantasy book?  SERIOUSLY?  Its not a bad book, I'm going to read (am currently reading) the second book, but its not as good as you'd think based on the publicity.  There are too many characters introduced too fast I got them all mixed up, they are fairly clearly divided as Good and Evil, and I didn't feel like the book was a well rounded story.  Where was the beginning middle and end??  

Also, when I was about halfway through the book I got a notice from the library that it was due in 2 days and I couldn't renew it because it was so highly requested.  And thus began 2 days and 2 nights of nearly non-stop reading.  It was due yesterday and I returned it this morning before the library opened.  I win!

Oh, and should you read it?  Like I said above, basically if you feel the need to read it because you've been hearing about it left and right, give it a try.  Otherwise, leave this one on the shelf.

Calming

Title: The Pillars of the Earth
Author: Ken Follett
Did I like it: Yes!
Should you read it: It wasn't fast but it was fulfilling.
Synopsis: Many lives are lived as a cathedral is built in the 1100's in England.

I loved this book.  It really captured me, and I felt very involved in the lives of all the characters.  I also felt that most of the characters really had depth and were well rounded people, not just text on the page.  

The premise might sound sort of cliche, you know, pick some event and describe how several people's lives intertwine around the event, bla bla bla... And yeah, thats been done, but Follett really does it well.  This felt like reading a slice of life, and I had a short but very effective history lesson in the process!

This book might frustrate newer readers because it does move along at a steady but sedate pace.  I would suggest it for anyone who loves to curl up with a good book (especially now that its cooling down outside, this is the perfect curl-up-in-bed-with-fuzzy-socks-thick-blanket-and-steaming-mug-of-hot-chocolate book.  The best part is that its huge so it really puts off that awful 'damn the book is over' feeling!)

More to come soon... I just keep forgetting these!

Title: The Other Wind
Author: Ursula Le Guin
Did I like it: Yeah :)
Should you read it: It's a niche book but soooo good!
Synopsis: We return to Earthsea as one man is having dreams of the wall that separates the living and the dead...

Ok so I suck and its been almost a month since I originally posted these...  I loved The Other Wind, something about the way Le Guin writes fantasy feels so poetical to me.  It was very nice to read this and return to the world of Earthsea (I read a few other books in the series last summer)

Recommended for scifi and fantasy readers, but not for others... this is definitely deep in the fantasy genre.   

 

Title: Are you there God?  It's Me, Margret
Author: Judy Blume
Did I like it: SO CUTE!  What a slice of life!
Should you read it: Again, you won't all like it.  American women might like it because its reminiscent of childhood.
Synopsis: Margret is 11 going on 12 and learning what it means to be in 6th grade.

This book was TOO CUTE!  It really captured a lot of what it was like to be an 11/12 year old in America (and maybe elsewhere too?).  Some things were slightly different obviously because it was written a while ago, but somethings apparently don't change.  For example, I too was in a secret club which we called MMCD after the first letters of the secret names we gave ourselves.

Apart from being a good book for tween American girls, its a really cute and funny book for older women to look back and see how ridiculous we were back then.

Picking up speed again

Title: The Host
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Did I like it: Yeah in a trashy-book kind of way
Should you read it: Its good to fill your reading schedule with something quick in a pinch
Synopsis: Think Animorphs only told from the Yeerk's perspective.

Yeah yeah I know she wrote the Twilight books.  (And yeah yeah, I've read those too)  This wasn't quite as bad as Twilight.  It definitely held my attention.  Also being a huge Animorphs fan, I liked the similarities.  (When I was 10 I won 3rd place in a nationwide Animorphs writing contest!)  It is true that sometimes the writing felt forced and her characters seemed to be intentionally acting dumb in order for the plot to work out correctly.  Think Bella in the entire 2nd Twilight book. 

So basically don't come into this expecting a luxurious experience full of depth, but if you need something to pass the time, this is your book

Title: A Clockwork Orange
Author: Anthony Burgess
Did I like it: It took a bit for me to get into it, but in the end I liked it.
Should you read it: I'm 50/50 on this one.  Don't try it if you don't read often.
Synopsis: The daily life of a teenager in a dystopian future.

About 1/4 of the way into this book I felt as though I'd been reading it forever.  My slew of slow books was never ending and I was seriously considering putting this book down in order to start something I knew I'd like, such as Ender's Game.

But I'd already done that enough recently (100 Years of Solitude I'm so sorry I just couldn't do it!)  and I stuck with it.  I'm so glad I did!  When I finished this book I felt like it had changed my life.  Maybe thats a bit over dramatic especially because I couldn't tell you quite HOW it did that, but it certainly left an impact.  I also find myself referring to friends as droogs, guys as malchiks, and so on.  I want to watch the movie soon too, but I hear it is quite trippy... 

I'd suggest this book in the opposite of the situation I suggested the previous book, its definitely not for when you need something to pass the time! 

Slow Books Lately!

I seem to keep picking up slow books lately... 

Title: Blindness
Author: José Saramago
Did I like it: I didn't dislike it but I didn't really like it either.
Should you read it: If you are a literary type, sure.  Otherwise probably not.
Synopsis: Blindness is spreading in the city like a disease... 

This is supposed to be a good book.  And its not that I didn't like it, its just that I found it very very slow.  It took me a very long time to finish, and I really wasn't in the mood for a slow book.  So I would suggest you read it, but don't expect a quick paced book.

Title: The Diamond of Darkhold
Author: Jeanne DuPruau
Did I like it: At least it wasn't as bad as The Prophet of Yonwood!
Should you read it: Skip the Yonwood book and come straight to this one.
Synopsis: Lina and Doon decide to venture back to Ember one last time...

I was really worried for this after the complete and utter failure of the Yonwood book.  Thankfully it wasn't quite that bad!  It was nice to hear from Lina and Doon one last time, and interesting to re-visit Ember.  Of course the writing isn't spectacular, and everything works out a little too well, but if you liked the other Ember books I'd suggest checking this one out too.

Title: The Ritual Bath
Author: Faye Kellerman
Did I like it: It held my attention
Should you read it: Its not the best thriller novel in the world, so probably not unless you are interested by the Jewish twist.
Synopsis: A woman is raped just as she is leaving the mikvah (ritual bath)...

My aunt lent me this book while I was visiting her and had nothing else to read.  Oddly I kind of liked it, even though I don't usually like cop/thriller/mystery type books.  I was interested by the Jewish stuff, but also kind of annoyed by it because I thought some of it was wrong (but then again I could be wrong)  Some people might be annoyed by the occasional Hebrew without translation, but its very very simple Hebrew that even I could understand.  So if you are looking for something new/different, maybe try this book.

 

Title: Changing Planes
Author: Ursula LeGuin
Did I like it: Yeah, it was a cute little book!
Should you read it: Be aware that its sci-fi, if thats OK with you, I'd definitely recommend it.
Synopsis: While waiting for your plane in the airport you can travel to another plane...

I read a series but Ursula LeGuin last summer and was enamored by what I would call her very classical writing.  (Classical scifi/fantasy that is...)  So I was willing to give this book a try.  It seems to be a sort of funny and entertaining book to read while waiting in the airport.

I really liked this book, there was a good mix of serious and funny.  I don't know how to describe her writing style other than to say it feels luxurious.  If you are bored and want an entertaining read, this book will definitely help you!  And if you aren't bored, look at it anyway, you might like it!

 

And as a disclaimer, my current book is another slow one...

Lost my momentum

Title: The People of Sparks
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Did I like it: It was so-so
Should you read it: If you liked The City of Ember, why not?
Synopsis: The people of the city of Ember finally escape their underground city...

I was interested to see what happened to the people of Ember once they got above ground... I suppose the book was OK, but it very childish... appropriate I suppose given that it was a kids book?  If you want to know what happens after the first book, check this one out, its not an awful read.

Title: The Prophet of Yoonwood
Author: Jeanne DuPrua
Did I like it: No, I really didn't.
Should you read it: Only for real Emberites... The book itself was awful and didn't add anything to the series.
Synopsis: Pre-Ember, in the not-so-distant future, we see a bit of what lead to the destruction that was in the past in The People of Sparks

Ugg this *was* an awful read.  The premise is completely absurd, the characters were shallow, the book is totally unrelated to the rest of the series... really, why would you read it?  

I've been caught in a book slump for a while now...  Ever since those Card books maybe?  I just picked up some promising books from the library but I have to finish slogging through my current book first.

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.