(Side note: I really like keeping track of what I'm reading and publishing it for all to see. Accountability is a good thing. However, I'm often disappointed when I click on someone's blog to read what I think is a book review, as I'm always looking for new books, and it's just a bunch of pictures of book covers..pictures are pretty but do you really not have access to the google to figure that out for yourself?…and I'm pretty sure what the cover art looks like has nothing to do with the book. Also, the publishing company already wrote the book's summary, therefore I won't be rewriting it here.)
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity B
Another book that takes place in Australia. This story, by the author of Big Little Lies, is pretty fascinating. It held my attention. Alice, after hitting her head, loses the last ten years to amnesia. She goes from 29 to 39 in a split second. Given that I'm almost 29, the thought of this is terrifying. In 10 years, she goes from happily married and pregnant to on the brink of divorce with 3 kids. I enjoy the way this author creates such complex characters. They all have a backstory, so I enjoy the process of getting to know these people who seem so real. However, it was kind of a sad story too, seeing how a person's life can become so different. Alice at 39 is very different from Alice at 29. The whole book was a little depressing. There's death and tragedy and regret and so on. But it was a good book. I can't argue that. I would recommend it if you're looking for a realistic fiction read.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell A+++
I can't lie: I didn't like this book at first. I wasn't really sure what it was about, but I like the Rowell books so obviously I had to get to it eventually. However, I related to it not at all. The characters are 18, starting college, and are Simon Snow fans. Simon Snow is the fictional-character-within-a-fictional-story and is, essentially, Harry Potter. I hate Harry Potter. So listening to the excerpts from the fictional Simon Snow books about put me to sleep. However, as the story progressed, it got better. I came to care about the plot and the characters and that was that. I was hooked. In fact, I started listening to it on my computer while I was at home, painting, two weeks ago. I couldn't stop. It's another fractured love story that you just don't want to end. I'd liken it to Attachments. I've discovered that I only like fractured love stories, not traditional ones. Rowell is the queen of the fractured love story. This might be my favorite Rowell book just because it takes place now (well, in 2012). The others are set in the 1980s, 1990s, or contain mainly flashbacks.
Promised by Carmagh O'Brien B-
The third in the Gaia Stone series. Not as good as the first and weirder than the second but still worth the time. I'm glad I was able to finish this series before 2014 is out. I don't want to post spoilers because it's a series, but if you like young adult dystopian books, give it a try. Gaia is more Katniss-like than that girl from Divergent (I forget her name) is.
I didn't quite finish…
Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
Geez, Charlaine. Just end it already. Sookie is insufferable. And there's so much fairy nonsense in the books, as compared to the show. I can't deal with the Dermot and Niall and Claude storyline. Maybe I'm just bitter and full of hate because True Blood ended so terribly. Or maybe the books just went downhill fast. Who knows.
One of the greater disappointments in life so far is that this series of books has become so entirely awful. The first 5 or so? Fantastic. The last 8, not so much.
Is Dead Ever After even worth it? I do have it here on the shelf. Where it's been waiting to be read for the better part of a year…
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I'm starting to think about what my book goals for 2015 should be. As I look for books, I often look for quality. Not just any old book will do. Plus, if I'm not going to enjoy it, why bother? Are you looking at book/reading goals for next year? Perhaps I'm a bit ahead of myself. I've still got 7 books to read and only two months left. Oy.
