Posted on July 4, 2014 in Books
It’s been a fun couple of years reading Georgette Heyer novels. They have been great summer reads. While I have not read every book in her oeuvre, I have covered all her romance works now. I own one of her mysteries so it’s to be determined if I’ll enjoy them as much as I have some of her romance novels.
When on vacation, I discovered I had six unread Heyer novels on my Kindle. These books were great for the boring and slow days I had. Not all of them were good so let’s summarize quickly on which are the ones I enjoyed.
Posted on July 2, 2014 in Books
These were the first books I read on my holiday last month. I started Deadlocked on the plane and more or less finished it by the end of my sixteen hour flight.
I avoided reading these last two installments to the Southern Vampire Mysteries / Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood series for a couple years now. I first mentioned the series on this blog back in 2008 and reviewed it in 2009: Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries True Blood Books 1-8. From that review, I noted how “excellent” the series was and how much I adored the characters especially Sookie. At that point, the books were easily my favourite modern vampire series. While I knew this series wasn’t great literature, it was fun.
Basically, the series lived far past its prime. They were suppose to end originally around book ten, but the books had become so popular that the author and the publisher extended it to Bbok thirteen. I think this was a terrible idea. After certain events, the characters became depressing. Sookie was no longer fun and it felt like she had regressed even. The last three or four books have been boring. The last book was terrible when compared to the earlier books. The author was clearly running out of ideas for plots and adventures. She was also unsure how to breakup the most popular couple in her fandom, and did so terribly.
Harris maintained for years that she hadn’t decided who she wanted Sookie to end up with. While reading the first couple of books, it was obvious to me based on Sookie’s personality and goals. As a result, it felt anticlimactic for me and really rushed. It didn’t feel earned or natural how Sookie broke up with her previous (and probably the love of her life) boyfriend.
I could rant a bit more, but then I’d be spoiling the series. Then again, I am not recommending anyone finish reading these books. I think they stopped being alright around book ten.
If you want pulpy, silly vampire and southern book series, read the first four or so, then continue a bit more. Just don’t go beyond book ten.
Finished reading May 9 and May 13, 2014 on the Kindle.
Posted on April 2, 2014 in Books
I review this book as a fan of the show and movie. To read and appreciate this book, you must have watched some of the “Veronica Mars” show and definitely the recent movie. I was never a huge fan of the show in the sense I was not vocal about it, but I loved the first season. I grew to adore some of the characters. When the Kickstarter for the movie was announced, I became excited. In summary, I was satisfied with the movie. It was not perfect, but it made me excited like when I had first watched the first season.
This novel takes place two months after the movie and it continues Veronica Mars’s return to Neptune. Veronica spends a lot of the novel with her best friends Mac and Wallace, her father Keith and a couple of returning characters. The novel felt true to the spirit to the characters and reminded me of an episode of the show.
The book is darker though. There are more F words, scary scenes, and suspense. I liked it though. It’s not the best written book ever, but it has my favourite characters and it was entertaining and a quick read. There was not enough Logan, but I did not mind. I think the new difficulty in the relationship is much more realistic and enjoyable for me than to watch their trust issues play out ad-nauseaum like it did in the final season of the show.
The audiobook is narrated by Kristen Bell and she does a pretty good impression of her best friends too. It’s fun hearing the book read by the lead actress of the show.
Recommended to all my fellow marshmallows.
Read March 30, 2014.
Posted on March 10, 2014 in Books
This book was difficult to finish. I did not warm to the style and it dragged. I can not pinpoint why exactly since I love social history books. The author has a meandering style and this is usually fine for me as I myself have meandering mind. The book brushes only the tip of the matter on some subjects. Perhaps the subject matter was too broad.
I did learn a couple of neat things as I should with a nonfiction history book, but I was not engaged when reading this book. I found myself wandering off mentally. The book reminds me of Bill Bryson’s Home and Kate Fox’s Watching the English which Hitchins references several times. I found the latter too more better written and focussed. I recommend the latter too if you’re interested in social history and England.
I feel like I am in a reading funk and minor rut. Hopefully the next books are better.
Read March 2-8, 2013.
Posted on March 4, 2014 in Books
This book has been on my to read this for a couple years now. It was featured in a book club show that I enjoyed and sounded intriguing. I largely forgot about it, but managed to pick it up again the last few months.
The writing is dry. Very dry. It’s clipped and not overly descriptive. It takes a bit of getting use to or maybe that was because I hadn’t read a novel in over a month when I picked t up.
The novel is about two hit men in the old west. It is violent. It is also quite sad at times. The descriptions and writing about the horses pained me the most. On the other hand, there was some extremely dry and dark humour which made me laugh a couple of times. I have a dry and deadpan sense of humour too.
I definitely think the book had its moments verging on beauty. The ending left me a bit dissatisfied though as it is the sort of ending that just happens. It leaves you wondering about the characters afterwards. There were moments where I did not feel very engaged to the story. I would not recommend it to a lot of people I know since the style is very distinct. I did not mind it, but I did not like this book as much as I had hoped.
February 26-27 2014.
Posted on January 21, 2014 in Books
Young adult books writers like John Green are the reason I still read young adult and children’s literature. When reading this book, I found it sweet. I mean this as big compliment as I rarely find books sweet and endearing to this degree. I even want to find a partner who is sweet as the characters to each other in the book. There is a loving thread that goes through the friendships, the romance, and the parental-child relationships of the book.
This book is extremely popular at the moment, and I can see why. I don’t find it mawkish or maudlin. I like that both the protagonists have physical disabilities. I like that they deal with things realistically. I find Green writes teenagers that believable and true.
Aside from the characters, I loved the interlude in Amsterdam. I remember that city fondly and would go back.
I look forward to seeing how they adapt the movie.
“And in freedom, most people find sin.”
Read January 19, 2014.
Posted on January 19, 2014 in Books, Fitness, TV
Hello, everyone! It’s been a busy time for me, both with work and personally. I have been recovering from this cough that I’ve had for a month. It was very cold earlier in the month, but we had a milder week. Still, I’ve felt a touch of the January blues with my work load and personal responsibilities.
Today, I am going to read John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.
Yesterday, I went on my first run in about 5-6 weeks. It felt good, but the last 1km of the 6km was a bit tiring! I hope to get back to shape for my first 10km race in two months time. I started swimming lessons which were really difficult for me. I didn’t go this week, but I really hope I get proficient soon as I want to become at least decent at it.
In book news, I read Georgette Heyer’s The Talisman Ring over a week ago. It was average and had some nice Heyer moments, but nothing worth a blog post.
This week, I watched Netflix’s Norwegian-American comedy show “Lilyhammer” based on a friend’s recommendation. It is quite funny and I enjoy watching a foreign show with a touch of American influence. Sometimes, it was a bit too violent and dark more than funny, but still entertaining.
How is your January shaping up?
Posted on January 8, 2014 in Books
This is a tale of a couple who circumnavigate the globe without flying in a plane. I picked up this book because I I really liked Stevenson’s prose. He appears more than once in the Best American Travel Writing series. His sense of humour seems closely aligned to mine. It’s sometimes dry, often observant and understated
The way he describes horrible travel conditions is hilarious, even when it shouldn’t be. I love travel as much as Stevenson does, but is is quite awful yet wonderful all at once. At the same time, the book offers some intelligent observations about cultures and above all else, transportation and means of travel.
While this book was written about seven years ago, the discussion about the airline industry and flying is still relevant. Flying sucks, and like Stevenson, I much prefer trains or even boats. He also has criticism against cruises in general. All of this inspires me that if I had the means, I would do a similar travel voyage around the world with as few flights as possible.
Read January 5, 2014.
Posted on January 4, 2014 in Books
An analysis of books consumed in 2013. This year, I read 68 new books with a total of 19800 pages.
Memorable Books from this year: This is not a definitive list by any means:
- Cooked by Michael Pollan
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton
- Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
- Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman
Longest Book: Game of Thrones with 811 pages.
Most Challenging Books: Walden by Henry David Thoreau
New-to-me Authors I look forward to reading more: Robin Sloan, David Mitchell, John Green
Classics Club update: I’m up to 17 books now, and I am quite behind.
Most Read Author: Georgette Heyer and Neil Gaiman.
Poetry: None! Sad.
Month Read the Most: August
Total number of books read: 68 out of projected modest goal of 65.
2013: 68
2012: 65
2011: 50
2010: 67
2009: 20
2008: 83
2007: 52
2006: 61
2005: 83
2004: 71
2005: 66
2002: 66
2014 Reading Goals:
As I am spending less time online and more time in the real world, I have decided to simplify my reading goals a little bit more. As much as I enjoy joining reading challenges, I am going to make one definitive list of goals I’d like to accomplish and review it at the end of year.
- Read 70 books – This is simple enough as I have been reading in the high 60s ever year, but I would like to push myself a bit more. I think the most I ever read as 83 at one point. As I have a lot of hobbies already, I don’t think I’ll be a hundred books a year kind of girl anytime soon.
- Focus on the Classics Club – I am running behind on the challenge so will aim to read 5-10 from my list.
- One French language book – At least one French language is good enough for me.
- One Poetry book – One does not sound like a lot, but since I did not even manage one in 2013, it’s a good way to start.
- Read more from my cookbook collection – I have a lot of lovely cookbooks, many of which I can actually read as well as try out. I should read and review them more.
- Continue reading more nonfiction – I’m quite proud of the amount of nonfiction I’ve read this year.
- Read things out loud more – I wish to speak slower, more clearly, and enjoy the joy of reading out loud again.
- Authors to read more of because of series an and other reasons: George R. R. Martin, J. K. Rowling, and a slew of other classic authors
Finally, a complete list of books for 2013 which can all by accessed via the 2013 Books tag: Continue reading →