On My Nightstand - March

On My Nightstand is going to be a regular feature this year, as I read my way through 40 books in 12 months (yusssss!!!!  Best challenge everrrrrrr!!!).  These are not typical reviews, just some short (and sometimes longer) responses to the books that end up on my nightstand.  So far - 11/40 books completed.

The Iron King - Julie Kagasawa

This wasn't absolutely terrible, but it can't be a good thing when the only character you find remotely likable is... a cat.  That right there, that's a fail.

The protagonist was super bland, and annoying.  So, so annoying. In addition, I found it really hard to really locate myself in this story world (probably there are others who would enjoy it more), it just seemed really grim and uninviting to me.  There was an element of fun, and some interesting bits.  However, the story felt like a retelling of other, better stories, and I just didn't caring enough to enjoy being pulled along.

Added: I gave this book to my 14 year old niece who read it in one night, went to the library the following day, borrowed the next two in the series and finished them by the weekend.  So I'm thinking I just didn't fall into the target ;-) 

Prized - Caragh O'Brien

Yuss!  After spending several weeks struggling through The Iron King, Prized was such a welcome relief!  I really like O'Brien's writing style, super easy to slip into, and she surely knows how to draw a scene.  Gaia the 16 year old midwife is kicking all sorts of ass in this second installment (okay, so not exactly ass-kicking, but you know, delivering babies and standing up to peops and fighting to uncover truths - all that exciting stuff).  The new setting is quite divine, I much prefer it to the Enclave, and there is still plenty of mystery to solve, so attention equals grabbed.

I feel a little conflicted about Gaia after the second round.  In a lot of ways my opinion of her grew, but I found her fickleness and naivety confusing at times, especially as she was super competent and up front in most situations.  The whole love square thing... Too much for me (though I have to say, I am Team Will, all the way - and yes, I realise that you have all now lost any respect you may have had for me :-P).  I felt like perhaps just concentrating on building some (less angry maybe?) tension between Gaia and Leon would have been enough, but you know, whatevs.

One thing I have to say is that these books have some weighty themes (which I love) and some really loaded social commentary.  There's potential that some readers could be upset by some of the content, I think, though O'Brien deals with these subjects very sensitively.

Promised - Caragh O'Brien

Again, superb, clean, colourful writing.  Gaia and her new clan return to the Enclave (doom) and a bitter hostilities ensue.   The dislikes: Urgh, the Enclave.  I actually felt physically distressed each time Gaia re-entered the place and this became an overriding issue with the book.  I get that there was pressure to keep the plot moving, and interesting, and full of action (because apparently this is what teenagers want *shrugI'mnotsureIbelievethat*), but I would have enjoyed this book infinitely more if Gaia had just stayed the heck away from that place.

I felt like Leon's character became murkier and murkier throughout the second and third books.  What I loved about him initially, felt lost along the way.  I can't exactly put my finger on what it was, but...  Sadly, many of the characters I found super interesting in previous books, were overlooked or undeveloped.  A shame, I think, to sacrifice character development for (more) action.

The likes: I was hooked the entire way through, even during the parts that were hard to read.  So riveting, and interesting.  The amount of research she must have done prior to writing these, wow.  It definitely adds.

This book really ups the ante in terms of scary, evil antagonists.  Creeeeeepy.  Definitely more edge-of-your-seat that way.  And Gaia is pretty awesome, I have to say.  Tough breaks, but she so handles it.  It was a strong and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.  Recommend, totally.

On My Nightstand - Jan
On My Nightstand - Jan/Feb
On My Nightstand - Feb/Mar

On My Nightstand - Feb/Mar

On My Nightstand is going to be a regular feature this year, as I read my way through 40 books in 12 months (yusssss!!!!  Best challenge everrrrrrr!!!).  These are not typical reviews, just some short (and sometimes longer) responses to the books that end up on my nightstand.

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

Oh. My. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!  This book has stayed with me, and maybe it will always stay with me a little bit, kinda like Claire and Henry from Time Traveler's.  There's a feeling you get when you pick up a book and the writer is SO skilled that you automatically feel your limbs just relax, even as your excited anticipation grows.  That might sound pretty weird, but it's just what happens.  Weeeeelllll.  To me.  I did a bit of an internal fist-pump when I began this book.  I had just spent two weeks getting through Across The Universe (felt like I really was road-tripping across the entire universe, just sayin'), and devoured How I Live Now in two nights.  That's not to say it was an easy read.  It was hard.  Painful, devastating, and utterly utterly beautiful.  Oh my freaking goodness, I can't even handle.

Disclaimers:  I definitely would not recommend this novel to every reader (firmly Edgy Contemporary YA, with some pretty heavy imagery and a fair amount of 'mature' content) but if you can handle a good dose of pathos and, and you like your romances to be tinged with sadness and a little bit of weird (not that I do, but it is) then maybe probably you will love this book as much as I did.  It got that pretty gold sticker for a reason y'all!

The Fault in the Stars - John Green

While I don't always love listening to audio books (in comparison to reading by torchlight into the wee small hours), this story is read superbly, making it such a pleasant listen.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, actually.  I read Looking for Alaska several years ago and didn't overly enjoy it, which made me a little bit dubious about trying Green again.  But I needed some try-to-pretend-I'm-not-running audio distraction and I figured I had nothing to lose (thank you e-library!  Did you know you can rent e-books and audio books from your library?  Okay, you did.  Just me who found this news shocking in the very best of ways), aaaaaaand I actually really loved it.

Hazel and Augustus are super adorable, smart, funny and outright lovable.  It's sad, yes, but also unexpectedly uplifting, and gave me a much clearer picture of something that I have always felt quite terrified of.  Mostly it's just a good story, cleverly told, with a cool leading voice.  I really liked it, and my evening runs just won't be the same without these two sweet characters chatting in my ear.

I Quit Sugar - Sarah Wilson

Okay so I'm still actually reading this, but it's non-fiction so I figure it's okay to publish all my initial thoughts (there's not going to be any epic finale that changes everrrrrrrythiiiiiiiiing).

I bought this book on impulse because I have tried intermittently to give sugar the boot, and I figured it was time to enlist some expert help.  Overall, I think this book will be super helpful.  There are lots of pros.  For instance, the layout of this book is super organised and easy to dip into when and where needed.  The back of the book is dedicated to recipes, many of which I was immediately drawn to, and some that I want to try this minute.  Sugar-free baking never looked so good (but okay, I'm so not an expert on this).  The programme itself (I didn't actually realise prior to purchase that there was a programme, but all good, I'm down with programmes) looks simple enough to follow.  Even maybe too simple, but we'll see (I haven't actually read past week two, yet).  There are handy shopping lists, and lots of useful tips.  So yeah.  I think it will be helpful-as.

Anyway, there is enough that is useful to make the book feel absolutely worth the purchase, for those (like me) who are keen to 'recalibrate' their bodies (Wilson's term - I like it) and live without sugar.  But I must say, I'm a tad tempted to pull out my twink pen and attack certain sections.  Haha!  I would never do that... or would I?  Yeah... I would.

On My Nightstand - Jan
On My Nightstand - Jan/Feb

On My Nightstand - Jan/Feb

The Wednesday Wars - Gary D. Shmidt*

Okay, I LOVED this book.  Sinking into it each night was such a treat, the perfect way to end a long summers day.  Shmidt deftly weaves events together, tying up loose ends neatly and in such a satisfying way.  If at times it became a little formulaic (and thus, predictable) this was more than made up for by a cast of truly lovable characters that I found myself really rooting for (sounds rude).  Holling's voice felt very authentic, and he is an all round ridiculously sweet protagonist (right up there with my fave literary characters).

The historical content is interesting, though this isn't pushed at all, serving more as a backdrop for a slice of life type novel.  I also enjoyed watching out for all the Shakespeare tie-ins, because I'm a geek, and I dig stuff like that.


Birthmarked - Caragh O'Brien*

So I definitely feel like I need a bit of a break from YA Dystopian novels, but this one was worth the read.

O'Brien's writing is smooth and confident, fairly well paced, and very gripping - the kind of story you sink into for several days before waking from your book coma.  Just my kind.  The set up is a little flawed and you definitely have to put your doubts aside and just enjoy the story, but that was easy enough to do.  There is so much about the premise that is original, and where there are gaps, this is made up for (in my opinion) by some well-researched background.  Most of the twists are fairly predictable, but the characters move in so many directions that at least in this respect you are left guessing.

Gaia is an unlikely hero, which was refreshing.  Plus, she's a 16 year old midwife.  So, already winning.  As far as romance goes, this came and went for me just a little bit.  I really enjoyed it up until about the halfway point, and then the tension fizzled a little and I lost some interest.  Still, I look forward to seeing what happens to these two lovebirds.  Because I'm totes reading more.  Totes.


Across the Universe - Beth Revis**

Oh no.  This was... Bad.  I picked this up when in search of some YA Sci-Fi escapism.  What a bummer.  First up, I felt veeeeeeery disconnected from each and every character, especially the two leads.  D'oh.  I really could have quit at any point, and never given any thought to either Amy or Elder ever again.  So there's that.  Theeeeeeen, there was my utter discomfort with so many of the choices Revis makes.  I can't really go into this without giving out spoilers, so if you do give it a try, let's talk.  The premise is outright terrifying in so many ways (not a book for the claustrophobic - AKA me - ten years ago), and it just. gets. worse.

I'm not recommending it, so I guess I'll just leave it at that.  And actually, I had a quick google while reading this, and discovered something I did love about this book - the interactive diagram on the Across The Universe site.  FUN!!!  So, all is not lost.

*Recommended by Angela of Striking Keys
**Found via recommendations on Goodreads