Well, I joined/started a bookclub. So far there are only 4 girls in the bookclub. Three of us had just finished the Hunger Games series and were starving for another, really awesome, series of books. We debated between Divergent (my pick, and hopefully coming soon!!) and Darkfever. In the end, the Karen Marie Moning book was chosen because all 5 books are currently out. Whereas, the Divergent series hasn't been fully released yet. I typically jump on board with a popular series well after they have become a "thing" (e.g., Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight) and so I am not used to waiting (e.g., the Matched series that I started last year).
Darkfever is WELL outside my comfort zone. But, as Matt reminded me, that is the point of a bookclub. So with a bit of trepidation, I started the Fever series. It starts off simply enough, like a murder mystery. A young girl, Mackayla Lane (Mac, for short) finds out that her sister Alina has been murdered overseas in Ireland. The police are unable to provide any information or leads about the case. Scared, heartbroken, and angry, Mac heads to Ireland to see if she can find her sister's killer on her own. Though her parents greatly discourage the trip, Mac has to know what happened to Alina. When she arrives, her world is turned upside down. Mac discovers the world of Fae, dark fairies that are preying on the human race. And Mac discovers that she is not just an ordinary girl either. She can sense the presence of Fae, while other humans are oblivious to their existence. She encounters a man, Jericho Barrons, who begins to partner up with her in the fight against Fae. Not sure if she can trust him, Mac joins forces with him because she simply has no other options. The book is a fast, easy, read (I feel like I say that about almost every book!). But again, well outside my comfort zone. There is a particular Fae who uses humans for sex and they become addicted to it, until the point of death. I found that really disturbing and gross. It was particularly graphic during some parts as well. And honestly, I felt as though the story would have been just as powerful without that particular aspect. There were plenty of other scary creatures on nearly every page, without including the sexual perverseness of a fairy. I'm not sure whether I will finish the series. I am willing to bet my curiosity will win over, as well as the fact that I think the rest of the bookclub will want to read them all.
This one had 342 pages.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
L #4- Lethal
Lethal, by Sandra Brown is about a woman, Honor Gilette, who finds a man accused of murdering seven people sprawled in her front lawn. As he makes his way into her home, holding her at gunpoint, she'll realize things aren't always what they appear to be. He is looking for something left behind by Honor's late husband that will expose a crime ring in Louisiana. This is complicated by Honor's 4 year old daughter, who is also dragged on the run with them. This was a real page turner and easy to read. I did find it a bit predictable, but in the fiction world, that's sometimes ok.
325 pages.
325 pages.
Friday, January 6, 2012
L #3- Mockingjay
I finished the trilogy last night. I honestly don't even know what to say about this book. I'm conflicted about my feelings. I feel like the progression of the books was pretty intense. And then at the very end, it just.....wraps up. Weirdly. I don't think she slapped it together hastily, but I just wish it hadn't been so anticlimactic. I guess maybe that would have added another 100 pages, though.
I'm disappointed in Katniss' character. I kept waiting for a moment when I'd start to like her, and it never really happened. She is blind to the love other characters feel for her and I never cared for the way she treated Peeta. I'm glad she ended up with him, though, I was always rooting for that. I also was upset with the way she voted to have one last hunger games with the Capitol children. I don't personally understand how on earth she could think that was a good idea after everything she had been through.
As for the main plot and the way it ended. I think Katniss made the right choice with not allowing the district 13 president to reside over Panem. But I was really disgusted with the scene where the children are murdered. That is hard for me to stomach and I felt very angry at the thought of it. I still think the whole plot of this series is disturbing. But it is also gripping and easy to read. I had to get through them all, quickly, because I needed to know what happened. It was an interesting take on what happens to people and their motives during times of strife. I'll admit, I had a lot of discussions with Matt during the course of reading these books about how this represented the world we live in. And that shows the mark of a great writer....one that gets you thinking.
This one had 283 pages.
I'm thinking maybe I need to devote my time to more series type books this year. I am much more inclined to keep reading, and rather quickly at that, when I am attached to a story line and want to get through it all. I'll have to look into it.
I'm disappointed in Katniss' character. I kept waiting for a moment when I'd start to like her, and it never really happened. She is blind to the love other characters feel for her and I never cared for the way she treated Peeta. I'm glad she ended up with him, though, I was always rooting for that. I also was upset with the way she voted to have one last hunger games with the Capitol children. I don't personally understand how on earth she could think that was a good idea after everything she had been through.
As for the main plot and the way it ended. I think Katniss made the right choice with not allowing the district 13 president to reside over Panem. But I was really disgusted with the scene where the children are murdered. That is hard for me to stomach and I felt very angry at the thought of it. I still think the whole plot of this series is disturbing. But it is also gripping and easy to read. I had to get through them all, quickly, because I needed to know what happened. It was an interesting take on what happens to people and their motives during times of strife. I'll admit, I had a lot of discussions with Matt during the course of reading these books about how this represented the world we live in. And that shows the mark of a great writer....one that gets you thinking.
This one had 283 pages.
I'm thinking maybe I need to devote my time to more series type books this year. I am much more inclined to keep reading, and rather quickly at that, when I am attached to a story line and want to get through it all. I'll have to look into it.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
L #2- Catching Fire
Well, I guess it was obvious this was my next stop. I started Catching Fire yesterday morning, after finishing The Hunger Games at 2 am. I only had 80 pages left yesterday when I decided to do the sensible thing and actually get a decent nights' worth of sleep. So I finished it today.
This story picks up where the last left off. Katniss and Peeta have returned from the Hunger Games. Their lives are never to be the same. Katniss is on thin ice in the Capital, where it appears as though she has defied them in order to bring Peeta home alive with her. However, the citizens adore her. They see her and Peeta as star crossed lovers. Halfway through the book, a twist is revealed, and Katniss and Peeta are faced with their lives in danger yet again.
I really enjoyed this book as well. Despite the fact that the story has the same type of premise, I found it to be less violent and easier to read in that sense. My love for Peeta only grew stronger and I can't wait to find out what the future holds for all of the districts of Panem.
271 pages
This story picks up where the last left off. Katniss and Peeta have returned from the Hunger Games. Their lives are never to be the same. Katniss is on thin ice in the Capital, where it appears as though she has defied them in order to bring Peeta home alive with her. However, the citizens adore her. They see her and Peeta as star crossed lovers. Halfway through the book, a twist is revealed, and Katniss and Peeta are faced with their lives in danger yet again.
I really enjoyed this book as well. Despite the fact that the story has the same type of premise, I found it to be less violent and easier to read in that sense. My love for Peeta only grew stronger and I can't wait to find out what the future holds for all of the districts of Panem.
271 pages
L #1- The Hunger Games
To ring in the new year, I started reading Suzanne Collins' trilogy. Both my sister and Matt have tried to convince me to read these books. But I've held out, thinking the premise was too sickening and gruesome. Turns out I wasn't wrong. But neither were they.
This is the story of Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12 of Panem. Each year, as a reminder of why no district should ever try to rebel, the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games. This is when a boy and girl from each district are placed in an arena to fight to the death. Only one can walk away. Katniss volunteers for the Hunger Games when her younger sister is chosen. A boy named Peeta is chosen from her district as well.
Collins writes wonderfully. It is a very easy read, so quick to get through. I grew attached to Peeta and thought his devotion to Katniss was incredibly selfless and heartwarming. I must admit, the games themselves were hard to read about. I felt so heartbroken that children would be put in such a terrible life and death position. And I felt disgusted with the gamemakers and the president of Panem. While it's an "easy" read, it is not light subject matter. Even still, I found myself engrossed and stayed up till 2 am to finish the book.
262 pages
This is the story of Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12 of Panem. Each year, as a reminder of why no district should ever try to rebel, the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games. This is when a boy and girl from each district are placed in an arena to fight to the death. Only one can walk away. Katniss volunteers for the Hunger Games when her younger sister is chosen. A boy named Peeta is chosen from her district as well.
Collins writes wonderfully. It is a very easy read, so quick to get through. I grew attached to Peeta and thought his devotion to Katniss was incredibly selfless and heartwarming. I must admit, the games themselves were hard to read about. I felt so heartbroken that children would be put in such a terrible life and death position. And I felt disgusted with the gamemakers and the president of Panem. While it's an "easy" read, it is not light subject matter. Even still, I found myself engrossed and stayed up till 2 am to finish the book.
262 pages
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