christianreader | Kiwiria's September Sonnets

Less - Andrew Sean Green, 2.5/5, 273 pages
I almost gave up on this book a LOT of times. But every time I considered it, I picked it up to "just read a few more pages, to make sure it's the right decision" and found something to convince me to give it a second chance.

So in the end I finished it... even if it did take me almost two months.

I can definitely see why it won a Pulitzer Prize. Objectively speaking, it was clearly very well written. But quite honestly, that's probably exactly why I didn't care for it. The writing style didn't work for me, but seemed pretentious rather than literary, and Arthur Less came across as having the spine of a wet noodle and as somebody who had things happen to him, rather than actually take any charge himself. Even his trip around the world was because of invitations from others, rather than through any deliberate choices he made himself. And unfortunately the ending really didn't work for me - perhaps because that again was something that happened to him, rather than him actually stepping out and taking action. Did he learn anything during the course of his trip? I'm not convinced.

Why did I keep reading it then? Fortunately there were aspects I enjoyed. I enjoyed reading about his stay in Germany and his aborted trip across the desert and I found his antics in airports amusing and relatable. (It is NOT a travelogue though, and shouldn't be mistaken for one). So I'm glad I stuck with it, but it's not a book I'm likely to recommend to others, and even less likely to reread.

Deadly Sweet - Lola Dodge, 5/5, 294 pages
Why did it take me this long to get started on this book? A witch who works magic through baking? I am so there!

The book is quickly read and utterly charming. Perhaps slightly predictable at times, but that's part of its charm. It's a fantastical cozy mystery with a twist. I loved reading about Anise's joy of baking and how she slowly but surely gathered a group of friends with whom she could be herself.

First book in the Spellwork Syndicate series. I'm definitely keen to read more.

Sugar Spells - Lola Dodge, 5/5, 270 pages
Just as delightful as the first book in the series. There's more cooking, there's more witchcraft, more magical creatures (both good and bad) and - best of all - finally an explanation of Wynn's past. Seeing him finally actually TALK to Anise was worth the wait!

Like the first book in the series, "Sugar Spells" is uncomplicated enjoyment. What you see is what you get. It's cozy fantasy at it's best, filled with charming asides - just the way I like it!

Year One - Nora Roberts, 4/5, Audiobook ~12.5hrs
An interesting read in that it was SO similar to "Until the End of the World" by Sarah Lyons Fleming in genre, style and plot that I kept expecting zombies to turn up sooner rather than later! Fortunately, this wasn't the case (and the plot started diverging at some point too) and the dead people actually stayed dead, but it still made for a bit of a disconnect at times.

I mostly really enjoyed it, but got so frustrated with the Purity Warriors. I hate bigotry in any way, shape or form, and really don't enjoy reading about it either, so I'm kinda conflicted about whether or not I want to read the next book in the series (due out in December), as it seems like they'll feature even more heavily there. On the other hand, I do want to know what happened to the other people at New Hope, as that was left quite open, so we'll see.

Wolfsong - T.J. Klune, 5/5, Audiobook ~18hrs
This book is made out of cup cakes and pine cones. Of epic and awesome.

Though very different in plot and style from The Lightning-Struck Heart I can definitely recognize T.J. Klune's 'voice' here, and the book itself is almost as good (although not quite as surreal). It has definite shades of parts of the "Twilight" series, and knows it too, as it pokes fun of it at every chance it gets.

Ox is awesome, and I loved seeing him grow into his role through the book, but my absolute favourite thing about the book is the relationships shown in the various packs. The natural love and accept flowing from Thomas Bennett down through the pack to Ox and his mother, and how that philosophy lives on in Ox and grows to include other humans as well. T.J. Klune writes relationships very well indeed.

The ending was perhaps a bit cheap, and I'd seen it a mile off, but the rest of the book made up for it. I ended up listening to it at every chance I got, and finished this +18hr audiobook in just little over a week.

Lighter than my Shadow - Katie Green*, 4.5/5, 528 pages
Wow... this book really packs a punch.

An extremely poignant story about a teen battling an eating disorder and sexual abuse and the long-term effect on her life from both. It did an excellent job of explaining how having an eating disorder isn't just a phase that a person can grow out of - it takes years of work, setbacks, therapy and relapses and is probably something the person has to battle in some form or the other, for the rest of their life.

I liked the drawing-style and found it fascinating to see how Katie Green used the media to depict the specter of an eating disorder without having to use any words at all.

I did miss getting full closure on her battle with sexual abuse (mainly knowing whether or not she ever reported it), but appreciate that in real life we just don't always get that kind of closure, and that reporting it would probably have taken more strength that she had at the time.

A really brilliant graphic memoir that I highly recommend.

How to Fight Loneliness - MadLori*, 5/5, 350 pages
Once in awhile you have the pleasure of finding a fanfic that's so true to the original characters that you WISH it were actually part of canon, so you could get to see it 'for real' on screen.

That's how I feel about this one. Not only is it ridiculously well written (just like everything else I've read by her), but she's managed to capture all the characters so spot on, that I can actually hear them say their lines in my mind. There's no strain of trying to get a character into a role that doesn't quite fit. They just do.

Add that to the fact that the story is a whirlwind of action, character development, humour and despair (I laughed out loud and had tears rolling down my cheeks in equal measure), and you end up with a season of Criminal Minds (this is far too much to be boiled down into one episode - even a two-parter) I'd pay good money to see. Even if it is by now somewhat AU.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis*, 5/5, 172 pages
I was "in between books" and in the mood for a quick and cozy read, so it just felt natural to turn to one of my favourite comfort series. I've always loved the story of Narnia, and TLTWTW is one of my favourites in the series.

But I can't even begin to imagine how it must have been to return to 'our world' after having not just been all grown up, but kings and queens too!

Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis*, 4.5/5, 208 pages
One thing that takes me by surprise every time I read it is how short it is. Probably thanks to the various movie adaptions, I keep adding details and stretching out scenes, only to discover that the book really is quite fast moving, and Lewis doesn't dwell much on neither characterizations, descriptions or action.

Book of the Month: Wolfsong. I neglected all other books while I was reading this one. Usually I only listen to audiobooks when on my bike or while cooking, but this became my go-to at any possible moment.
Biggest disappointment: Less. I'd hoped it would be better... or at least that I would like it more.