Kiwiria's May Reads
May. 31st, 2023 11:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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christianreaderThe Forgotten Room - Lincoln Child, 3/5, 290 pages
Fairly boilerplate suspense novel, but enjoyable enough. It's listed as the fourth book in a series, but absolutely works as a stand-alone novel as well. I never even noticed it wasn't a stand-alone novel until I came to goodreads to register it, and saw how it was listed.
It'll probably turn out to be one of those books that you read and then forget all about, as there's nothing that really stands out about it, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it, and found the plot engaging and the suspense believable, so a good read - even if possibly not one I'm likely to read again.
In the Lives of Puppets - T.J. Klune, 3.5/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
I'd probably categorize this as "good, but not great", and as I'm used to T.J. Klune being great, it was a bit of a let-down. I liked it, but it never blew me away like some of his other books did. I liked Victor and Nurse Ratched and Rambo was cute with his definite shades of Wall*E. But I never really took to HAP. I think there was too much telling and not enough showing when it came to him, so he just never really grew on me.
The plot itself didn't do much for me either, but I didn't really realize that until after finishing the book. T.J. Klune's strength has always been his characters, and many of his books are far more character-driven than plot-driven, which has never really been an issue for me.
You'll Be the Death of Me - Karen M. McManus, 4/5, 326 pages
Most of the plot of this book took place over the course of a day, which I thought was an interesting change from the other books I've read by Karen M. McManus. I did find it highly unrealistic in places, but it stayed reasonably true to its own universe, so it didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise.
I liked how the relationships between Ivy, Mateo and Cal evolved and changed through the day, and appreciated how realistic they felt. Sometimes people do rotten things - sometimes those things can be forgiven.
Slaget om Kejserstaden - Claus Holm, 3.5/5, 455 pages
Last book in Claus Holm's trilogy. It's not quite as good as the two others, although I cannot say exactly why. Perhaps just because there are so many threads to tie together?
I still enjoyed reading it though, so rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads.
The Single Mums' Book Club - Victoria Cooke, 3.5/5, 304 pages
Chick-lit for an older audience. It doesn't have anything I haven't seen done before in other books, but I appreciated that it focused just as much on making friends as an adult, handling co-parenting in a sensible way and handling how to introduce children to a new partner as on the romantic aspect... in fact, in some ways the romance seemed almost like an afterthought!
I did occasionally put down the book in frustration over some of Stephanie's less intelligent decisions, but they were always made with the best intentions at heart, and she did quickly get over herself, so in the end it did actually come across more as a realistic depiction of dating with kids than Angst!(TM), and even the "third act breakup" was handled a lot better than I often see.
It never turned into a page-turner, which is why I rounded down rather than up on goodreads, but it was an enjoyable read all the same.
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, 5/5, 476 pages
Just as good the second time around :-D I loved "The Martian" but actually think this one is even better.
It's best not to know too much about the story going into it, so I'll just leave it at that I loved Grace, I loved Rocky and I wish the book had been much, much longer than it was. I couldn't put it down, but didn't want to see it end.
Awesome book!
Interworlds - Neil Gaiman & Michael Reaves, 2.5/5, 239 pages
Quick read, but very easily forgettable. It was an interesting concept, but I don't think they got quite as much out of it as they could have. There was a LOT more to explore, and while I do know that that may happen in the next books in the series, there wasn't enough in this one to make me interested enough to continue on with the others.
Books Read: 47
Book of the Month: You'll Be the Death of Me (since I don't count rereads)
Fairly boilerplate suspense novel, but enjoyable enough. It's listed as the fourth book in a series, but absolutely works as a stand-alone novel as well. I never even noticed it wasn't a stand-alone novel until I came to goodreads to register it, and saw how it was listed.
It'll probably turn out to be one of those books that you read and then forget all about, as there's nothing that really stands out about it, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it, and found the plot engaging and the suspense believable, so a good read - even if possibly not one I'm likely to read again.
In the Lives of Puppets - T.J. Klune, 3.5/5, Audiobook ~12hrs
I'd probably categorize this as "good, but not great", and as I'm used to T.J. Klune being great, it was a bit of a let-down. I liked it, but it never blew me away like some of his other books did. I liked Victor and Nurse Ratched and Rambo was cute with his definite shades of Wall*E. But I never really took to HAP. I think there was too much telling and not enough showing when it came to him, so he just never really grew on me.
The plot itself didn't do much for me either, but I didn't really realize that until after finishing the book. T.J. Klune's strength has always been his characters, and many of his books are far more character-driven than plot-driven, which has never really been an issue for me.
You'll Be the Death of Me - Karen M. McManus, 4/5, 326 pages
Most of the plot of this book took place over the course of a day, which I thought was an interesting change from the other books I've read by Karen M. McManus. I did find it highly unrealistic in places, but it stayed reasonably true to its own universe, so it didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise.
I liked how the relationships between Ivy, Mateo and Cal evolved and changed through the day, and appreciated how realistic they felt. Sometimes people do rotten things - sometimes those things can be forgiven.
Slaget om Kejserstaden - Claus Holm, 3.5/5, 455 pages
Last book in Claus Holm's trilogy. It's not quite as good as the two others, although I cannot say exactly why. Perhaps just because there are so many threads to tie together?
I still enjoyed reading it though, so rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads.
The Single Mums' Book Club - Victoria Cooke, 3.5/5, 304 pages
Chick-lit for an older audience. It doesn't have anything I haven't seen done before in other books, but I appreciated that it focused just as much on making friends as an adult, handling co-parenting in a sensible way and handling how to introduce children to a new partner as on the romantic aspect... in fact, in some ways the romance seemed almost like an afterthought!
I did occasionally put down the book in frustration over some of Stephanie's less intelligent decisions, but they were always made with the best intentions at heart, and she did quickly get over herself, so in the end it did actually come across more as a realistic depiction of dating with kids than Angst!(TM), and even the "third act breakup" was handled a lot better than I often see.
It never turned into a page-turner, which is why I rounded down rather than up on goodreads, but it was an enjoyable read all the same.
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir, 5/5, 476 pages
Just as good the second time around :-D I loved "The Martian" but actually think this one is even better.
It's best not to know too much about the story going into it, so I'll just leave it at that I loved Grace, I loved Rocky and I wish the book had been much, much longer than it was. I couldn't put it down, but didn't want to see it end.
Awesome book!
Interworlds - Neil Gaiman & Michael Reaves, 2.5/5, 239 pages
Quick read, but very easily forgettable. It was an interesting concept, but I don't think they got quite as much out of it as they could have. There was a LOT more to explore, and while I do know that that may happen in the next books in the series, there wasn't enough in this one to make me interested enough to continue on with the others.
Books Read: 47
Book of the Month: You'll Be the Death of Me (since I don't count rereads)
