Kiwiria's January Jaunts
Feb. 1st, 2018 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kiwiria posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
christianreaderFinally February First!!! Seems like January has been 3 months long this year! Hope February will behave better.
Løvehjerte - Ståle Solbakken, 4/5, 192 pages
(Lion Heart)
I hadn't quite expected my first book of the year to be a book about football (=soccer)!! My husband is very proud ;-) But I've long been intrigued by FCK's trainer, Ståle Solbakken, so when my husband came home with this book a few days ago, I immediately picked it up. As it turned out, I'm glad I did, as it turned out to be a really interesting read - even for a non-football enthusiast like myself. It was interesting to read how Ståle came to FCK in the first place... and how he came back again, after a few years elsewhere. He's always come across as a no-nonsense person to me, and that also seemed the case in this book, where he took a down-to-earth and informal attitude to most things.
There is of course a lot of name-dropping in this book (there'd have to be, under the circumstances!), but I'd picked up enough through my years of being married to an FCK-fan to be able to follow along just fine, and at the end of the day, I'm glad to have read it.
And After - Sarah Lyons Fleming, 4/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
Almost impossible to review this book without spoiling the first one, so this will be short 'n' sweet.
Not quite as good as the first book in the series (but then, they almost never are :-P ), and where the first book focused more on world-building and the "apocalypse" this was definitely a lot further over into the horror genre. And unlike the first book, this one made me cry :-(
I was still totally captivated by it though, and have moved right along to the third book in the series.
All the Stars in the Sky - Sarah Lyons Fleming, 4/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
A really good conclusion to the series. I was afraid that it would end on too "open" a note, but fortunately that wasn't the case (though I really wouldn't mind an epilogue a few years later). I'd seen a certain relationship change coming from a mile away though - that really was too obvious.
But all in all, a really great series, although the first was by far the best.
Murder on Birchardville Hill - Ruth Buchanan, 3/5, 123 pages
Not very christmassy, despite taking place at that time of year, but a fun suspense novel with some twists I hadn't seen coming. I liked Morgan, Pat and Levi and Reed definitely grew on me too :)
The end seemed slightly contrived, but never mind - it was still a fun read :)
Now That You Mention It - Kristan Higgins, 4.5/5, 416 pages
This is the first book I've read by Kristan Higgins, but it definitely won't be the last. It's chick-lit with substance, and immediately drew me in and held me captive till the very end. It made me laugh and cry in turns (happy tears!) which automatically makes this a 5 star read. I was thoroughly invested in the story.
My heart broke for Nora's childhood / teenagehood, and I loved seeing her return to her island and get the form of closure she would never have gotten otherwise. Audrey was just lovely, and Poe's growth so, so touching.
I wish we had gotten full closure on the Big Bad Event, but the way it ended was realistic, so I can live with it.
The Host - Stephenie Meyer*, 5/5, 631 pages
Ridiculously readable book. It's my 3rd or 4th time reading it, and I love it just as much every time around. While I really hope Meyer will eventually publish a sequel to it, I don't actually expect it or need one - it's nicely contained as it is.
On the Banks of Plum Creek - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 235 pages
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 236 pages
By The Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 220 pages
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 251 pages
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 223 pages
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, 237 pages
I reread this series every few years, and it felt like it was time :-)
Book of the Month: Well, obviously The Host, but if I don't count rereads, then Now That You Mention It.
Biggest disappointment: None. I enjoyed all the books I read this month.
Løvehjerte - Ståle Solbakken, 4/5, 192 pages
(Lion Heart)
I hadn't quite expected my first book of the year to be a book about football (=soccer)!! My husband is very proud ;-) But I've long been intrigued by FCK's trainer, Ståle Solbakken, so when my husband came home with this book a few days ago, I immediately picked it up. As it turned out, I'm glad I did, as it turned out to be a really interesting read - even for a non-football enthusiast like myself. It was interesting to read how Ståle came to FCK in the first place... and how he came back again, after a few years elsewhere. He's always come across as a no-nonsense person to me, and that also seemed the case in this book, where he took a down-to-earth and informal attitude to most things.
There is of course a lot of name-dropping in this book (there'd have to be, under the circumstances!), but I'd picked up enough through my years of being married to an FCK-fan to be able to follow along just fine, and at the end of the day, I'm glad to have read it.
And After - Sarah Lyons Fleming, 4/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
Almost impossible to review this book without spoiling the first one, so this will be short 'n' sweet.
Not quite as good as the first book in the series (but then, they almost never are :-P ), and where the first book focused more on world-building and the "apocalypse" this was definitely a lot further over into the horror genre. And unlike the first book, this one made me cry :-(
I was still totally captivated by it though, and have moved right along to the third book in the series.
All the Stars in the Sky - Sarah Lyons Fleming, 4/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
A really good conclusion to the series. I was afraid that it would end on too "open" a note, but fortunately that wasn't the case (though I really wouldn't mind an epilogue a few years later). I'd seen a certain relationship change coming from a mile away though - that really was too obvious.
But all in all, a really great series, although the first was by far the best.
Murder on Birchardville Hill - Ruth Buchanan, 3/5, 123 pages
Not very christmassy, despite taking place at that time of year, but a fun suspense novel with some twists I hadn't seen coming. I liked Morgan, Pat and Levi and Reed definitely grew on me too :)
The end seemed slightly contrived, but never mind - it was still a fun read :)
Now That You Mention It - Kristan Higgins, 4.5/5, 416 pages
This is the first book I've read by Kristan Higgins, but it definitely won't be the last. It's chick-lit with substance, and immediately drew me in and held me captive till the very end. It made me laugh and cry in turns (happy tears!) which automatically makes this a 5 star read. I was thoroughly invested in the story.
My heart broke for Nora's childhood / teenagehood, and I loved seeing her return to her island and get the form of closure she would never have gotten otherwise. Audrey was just lovely, and Poe's growth so, so touching.
I wish we had gotten full closure on the Big Bad Event, but the way it ended was realistic, so I can live with it.
The Host - Stephenie Meyer*, 5/5, 631 pages
Ridiculously readable book. It's my 3rd or 4th time reading it, and I love it just as much every time around. While I really hope Meyer will eventually publish a sequel to it, I don't actually expect it or need one - it's nicely contained as it is.
On the Banks of Plum Creek - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 235 pages
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 236 pages
By The Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 220 pages
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, 251 pages
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, 223 pages
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, 237 pages
I reread this series every few years, and it felt like it was time :-)
Book of the Month: Well, obviously The Host, but if I don't count rereads, then Now That You Mention It.
Biggest disappointment: None. I enjoyed all the books I read this month.
