Kiwiria's August Adventures
Sep. 1st, 2014 10:52 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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christianreaderI can't remember when I've last read this many books in one month! Obviously being on vacation has been good for me ;)
Where'd You Go, Bernadette - Maria Semple, 4.5/5, 330 pages
Smart, funny, awesome book. I enjoyed every minute of it.
It's an epistolary novel, which I know isn't for everybody, but to me a good book tends to be even better if it's written in that form - so I was inclined to like it even before I started.
But even so, the book lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. It was brilliantly clever, and I simply couldn't put it down. I loved the twists and turns the novel took, and how the epistolary form meant that we got many sides of each story.
My only problem with the book is that it's too short!
Dyer Consequences - Maggie Sefton, 2.5/5, 320 pages
Not as good as the previous books in the series unfortunately. This one was lighter on the knitting and heavier on the mystery, and since I'm not really a huge fan of mysteries, it didn't really work for me. On the other hand it was a more realistic mystery than in some of the previous books, so I guess it had that going for it.
But Kelly REALLY needs to take a class in self-preservation! It's getting old.
Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder*, 5/5, 412 pages
Felt like rereading this after having read the "Glass" trilogy - especially as I'd "read" it as an audiobook on my first read-through. Loved it every bit as much as last time :)
Voyager - Diana Gabaldon*, 5/5, 1059 pages
It's a tribute to Diana Gabaldon's writing that no matter how many times I read this book (I think this is my 6th reread? At LEAST), I still get completely drawn in. The only problem is that now I want to reread other books in the series as well and they're all looooong. So I may just leave it at this.
Hævnens gudinde - Sara Blædel*, 4/5, 420 pages
(Goddess of Revenge)
Just like many of Sara Blædel's other books, Goddess of Revenge is slow to start, but once it picks up, it's well worth the effort. This one especially because I loved the secondary plot-line of Louise's issues with getting used to having a foster son.
Sara Blædel is good at introducing believable twists to the story that neither seem forced nor are spotted a mile away (not by me anyway!). Her writing is tight, and any small detail is likely to be picked up again later in the book.
The Giver - Lois Lowry*, 5/5, 180 pages
I've read a lot more dystopian novels now than when I first read this book, so it no longer comes across as quite as unique, but I still think it's one of the best, and am impressed by how elaborate a world Lois Lowry manages to create in so few pages.
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer*, 4/5, 500 pages
Reread this for the first time in 7 years, and found myself having to downgrade from 5 stars to 4. I still enjoyed it, but some of the emo-ness got to me a bit more this time around... and honestly, if I hadn't had a similarly intense relationship at much the same age, there's a lot of Edward and Bella's interactions I wouldn't have found the least bit believable. But I did, so I know such a thing can happen... but that doesn't stop me from scoffing at it.
It got better as the book moved along though, but I had forgotten HOW much of a Mary Sue Bella really is.
New Moon - Stephenie Meyer*, 4.5/5, 563 pages
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer*, 5/5, 629 pages
Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer* 5/5, 756 pages
Read these in 2 days each - Stephenie Meyer does write ridiculously readable books!
Stephenie Meyer's talent for writing shows clearly in the first few chapters of "New Moon" - few authors can convey that much heartbreak that eloquently. I may have my own feelings about the amount of heartbreak, but since Meyer knows how to show rather than tell, I found it easy to empathize with Bella.
Weirdly enough, New Moon used to be my least favourite in the series, but now I actually think it's Twilight!
To Have and To Code - Debora Geary, 4/5, 364 pages
Matchmaker 2.0 - Debora Geary, 4/5, 70 pages
To Love a Witch - Debora Geary, 4/5, 71 pages
... and that probably concludes my reread of Debora Geary's books... for now ;)
Yarn Harlot - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, 4/5, 219 pages
This and "Free-Range Knitter" are still my two favourite essay collections.
Twenty Miles Per Cookie - Nancy Sathre-Vogel*, 4/5, 198 pages
Even though I've read it before, I still find it fascinating how the Vogel family take several years out of their life (approx. 1 year here and 2+ years for their other trip) to go biking around the country. What an amazing experience!
Assassin Study - Maria V. Snyder, 3/5, 15 pages
Never have been a huge fan of short stories, but it was nice to see a bit more of Valek.
Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder, 4/5, 396 pages
Maria V. Snyder's books are somewhat formulaic, but they are readable enough that I don't really mind, and so far I've enjoyed every book I've read by her. This was no exception, and I actually really loved how magic was defined here. I'm eager to see where the next books take us.
Book of the Month: Where'd You Go, Bernadette? - no doubt there!
Biggest Disappointment: Dyer Consequences
Where'd You Go, Bernadette - Maria Semple, 4.5/5, 330 pages
Smart, funny, awesome book. I enjoyed every minute of it.
It's an epistolary novel, which I know isn't for everybody, but to me a good book tends to be even better if it's written in that form - so I was inclined to like it even before I started.
But even so, the book lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. It was brilliantly clever, and I simply couldn't put it down. I loved the twists and turns the novel took, and how the epistolary form meant that we got many sides of each story.
My only problem with the book is that it's too short!
Dyer Consequences - Maggie Sefton, 2.5/5, 320 pages
Not as good as the previous books in the series unfortunately. This one was lighter on the knitting and heavier on the mystery, and since I'm not really a huge fan of mysteries, it didn't really work for me. On the other hand it was a more realistic mystery than in some of the previous books, so I guess it had that going for it.
But Kelly REALLY needs to take a class in self-preservation! It's getting old.
Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder*, 5/5, 412 pages
Felt like rereading this after having read the "Glass" trilogy - especially as I'd "read" it as an audiobook on my first read-through. Loved it every bit as much as last time :)
Voyager - Diana Gabaldon*, 5/5, 1059 pages
It's a tribute to Diana Gabaldon's writing that no matter how many times I read this book (I think this is my 6th reread? At LEAST), I still get completely drawn in. The only problem is that now I want to reread other books in the series as well and they're all looooong. So I may just leave it at this.
Hævnens gudinde - Sara Blædel*, 4/5, 420 pages
(Goddess of Revenge)
Just like many of Sara Blædel's other books, Goddess of Revenge is slow to start, but once it picks up, it's well worth the effort. This one especially because I loved the secondary plot-line of Louise's issues with getting used to having a foster son.
Sara Blædel is good at introducing believable twists to the story that neither seem forced nor are spotted a mile away (not by me anyway!). Her writing is tight, and any small detail is likely to be picked up again later in the book.
The Giver - Lois Lowry*, 5/5, 180 pages
I've read a lot more dystopian novels now than when I first read this book, so it no longer comes across as quite as unique, but I still think it's one of the best, and am impressed by how elaborate a world Lois Lowry manages to create in so few pages.
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer*, 4/5, 500 pages
Reread this for the first time in 7 years, and found myself having to downgrade from 5 stars to 4. I still enjoyed it, but some of the emo-ness got to me a bit more this time around... and honestly, if I hadn't had a similarly intense relationship at much the same age, there's a lot of Edward and Bella's interactions I wouldn't have found the least bit believable. But I did, so I know such a thing can happen... but that doesn't stop me from scoffing at it.
It got better as the book moved along though, but I had forgotten HOW much of a Mary Sue Bella really is.
New Moon - Stephenie Meyer*, 4.5/5, 563 pages
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer*, 5/5, 629 pages
Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer* 5/5, 756 pages
Read these in 2 days each - Stephenie Meyer does write ridiculously readable books!
Stephenie Meyer's talent for writing shows clearly in the first few chapters of "New Moon" - few authors can convey that much heartbreak that eloquently. I may have my own feelings about the amount of heartbreak, but since Meyer knows how to show rather than tell, I found it easy to empathize with Bella.
Weirdly enough, New Moon used to be my least favourite in the series, but now I actually think it's Twilight!
To Have and To Code - Debora Geary, 4/5, 364 pages
Matchmaker 2.0 - Debora Geary, 4/5, 70 pages
To Love a Witch - Debora Geary, 4/5, 71 pages
... and that probably concludes my reread of Debora Geary's books... for now ;)
Yarn Harlot - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, 4/5, 219 pages
This and "Free-Range Knitter" are still my two favourite essay collections.
Twenty Miles Per Cookie - Nancy Sathre-Vogel*, 4/5, 198 pages
Even though I've read it before, I still find it fascinating how the Vogel family take several years out of their life (approx. 1 year here and 2+ years for their other trip) to go biking around the country. What an amazing experience!
Assassin Study - Maria V. Snyder, 3/5, 15 pages
Never have been a huge fan of short stories, but it was nice to see a bit more of Valek.
Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder, 4/5, 396 pages
Maria V. Snyder's books are somewhat formulaic, but they are readable enough that I don't really mind, and so far I've enjoyed every book I've read by her. This was no exception, and I actually really loved how magic was defined here. I'm eager to see where the next books take us.
Book of the Month: Where'd You Go, Bernadette? - no doubt there!
Biggest Disappointment: Dyer Consequences
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