CKs Book Reads
I like turtles and I have concerns. Also books.
Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective!
Zoe and I took turns reading this to each other and I really really enjoyed it. Zoe says, "Awesomely fantastic (also loved it)." The mystery is a bit simple, but the rest of the story is rich in feeling and vocabulary. Perfect for 8-11ish.
The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit (Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective)
I read this with my 8 year old daughter (we took turns reading to each other) and both of us thought it was awesomely fantastic (also loved it) (her words)!!!!!!!!! The mystery itself was fairly simple, but the strong female lead, the relationship development between the kids, and the great vocabulary was what really made this book shine. I would definitely recommend this for 9-12 to read on their own.
Graceling
Amazing story, amazing characters, amazing dialogue, amazing world. Just amazing and delightful, a pure pleasure to read.
The 5th Wave
Wow what a story. I think Yancey was channelling Ender's Game a bit when he wrote this. He does a really great job writing these kids and intertwining their stories. The only parts I wasn't 100% in love with are Cassie's. She just feels too much and I found there wasn't enough action to keep me riveted like the rest of it.So I'd rate pages 1-375 4 out of 5 stars, but 376 to the end were definitely 5 outta 5. I LOVED the ending!
Inside
It was okay, but I didn't bother to finish it. I know why would I rate it a 3 then? Well I think other people will like it.
Night Film
This was a brilliant attempt at what could have been an epic mysterious horror story. I love the premise and enjoyed most the brief glimpses into the movies within the story. I really wanted to believe everything, but the telling fell short in convincing me. It could have used a heavier hand in the editing room and better casting for the main character. I feel conflicted in my review. I really enjoyed reading most of it. I liked how it ended. I loved the way she described everything. I just kept getting lost along the way.
Shadow and Bone
Just so good. So many feels. Why isn't real life like that? I want to be a kick ass chick in real life.
Wool
So normally when I rate a book at 3.5 stars I round down for GoodReads purposes. But the first 3 parts of this book were just too good to let it stand at 3 stars. I found the writing, world building, and intrigue in the first 3 parts was so tight I would have used the word epic to describe this story. And I'm not saying the ending is all bad. I just think a lot more thought went into the first half and things got wild and loose in the second half. Like the story was driving Howey and not the other way around. In fact the only part I feel completely negative about is the Prologue - major disappointment. One page just tacked on the end. What was that about? I've decided not to acknowledge the prologue for rating purposes or for anything for that matter. It doesn't exist and I am currently waiting for a prologue to be written.
The Great Gatsby (Vintage Classics)
This was worth the read. I wonder what I actually thought of it in high school.
1
House of Secrets
I really wanted to like this. The premise is great and the three siblings have well thought out and realistic personalities and relationships with each other. Now I'm not the target age for this book so maybe that's why I found it boring. I'm more than happy to invest my time in 1000 pages, but make me care what happens first. I honestly don't know what was missing from the beginning that didn't hook me or why I found the twists and turns jarring rather than intriguing. I would give this a 2.5 because it was better than okay, but I didn't quite like it.Edited to better articulate my opinion with less negativity
Tampa
This book is officially too explicit, too graphic, and too weird for me to finish. The things in this book are not okay. Legally the definition of child pornography is any visual depiction (real or manufactured) of a minor engaging in a sexually explicit act, but this author is overly skilled at describing in vivid lascivious detail that it is near impossible not to visualize the sexually explicit acts. Is it okay because no real child is being victimized? I tried to evaluate the book from that angle - Does this book have merit for making us feel how awful this crime is? Maybe, just maybe, she brings to light the other side; women seducing young teens that we often don't hear about, but I don't need to feel repulsed by "getting inside her head" to acknowledge how awful this crime is. I have a daughter and I would rather read a book on how to prepare her to avoid, defuse, and report any situation before it got out of control. And maybe the mother of a son would like something equally appropriate for the opposite sex.
I haven't read something this great in a while. Memoirs of a Geisha meets Gossip Girl. It is just. so. good.
Currently reading
Naked Lunch
The Crystal Cave
The Passage
Fire
Clockwork Princess
The Blondes
The Son
The Iceberg Express (Dodo Press)
