<–The State of the Reader: 3/14/18 The State of the Reader: 4/11/18–>
A weekly post updated every other Wednesday detailing my current reading projects and what new titles I’ve added to my to-read list. Title links go to Goodreads, and if you have an account there feel free to friend me! I’d love to see what you’re reading and/or planning to read.
Books Purchased: 0
Books DNF: 2
Title: Strange Luck
Series Title: Strange Luck
Author: Amie Irene Winters
Date Added: February 26, 2016
Date Started: March 13, 2018
Date DNF: March 21, 2018
Reading Duration: 8 days
Media: eBook/Kindle
I had such high hopes for this book, and I remained pretty engaged throughout the beginning, but I have little time for stories where female protagonists put up with dickish male characters who act entitled to her time and affections just because they’ve liked her since their first meeting. Then he throws a goddamn hissy fit about it *rolls eyes* fucking please. Roger also makes her feel guilty for needing empirical evidence before she believes in fantasy worlds. It was one of the many traits I liked about Daisy: her need for evidence/proof despite the fact she works in a “magic” shop. Her dreams were to move to London to be a writer, but her father’s selfish need for her to take over the shop so he can search for Utopia overrides his daughter’s life wishes. She has zero interest in doing this, but he doesn’t give a shit, and yeah, I feel bad that he’s sick, but she doesn’t want that life.
Daisy had such potential to be an interesting character, but as the story goes on, she becomes more and more passive, letting Roger take the lead and boss her around, and, to put it plainly, I have absolutely no interest in reading about any romantic relationship with these two characters, because it’s SO FUCKING TRITE. It’s like “oh how convenient. The male best friend likes the girl he’s known for years, tells her about it not long after the story starts, throws a hissy fit when she doesn’t realize how long he’s been mooning over her, shames her for not believing in things without empirical evidence, and then all of a sudden she likes him while they’re swimming and they kiss even though there’s been zero chemistry shown between them. At least FFX did that before having a watery make out scene. I called it quits after that and I don’t regret it at all.
You can count the rant above as the only review I’ll post for this on my site. I’ll probably put this on Goodreads. What gets me is the book has a 4.47 rating there! Granted, this is only out of 62 ratings, but I’m unsure what people are seeing in it. It might be the YA crowd, though, so they’re more forgiving with this kind of thing. I, unfortunately, am not.
Title: Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Date Added: September 23, 2012
Date Started: March 24, 2018
Date DNF: March 24, 2018
Reading Duration: >1 day
Media: Paperback
NOPE NOPE NOPITY NOPE. The book has the same bullshit ending as the movie that pissed me off for weeks. I am not doing that to myself again. *spoiler* Susie’s rapist/murdered is never brought to justice. He winds up dying by random icicle (yes REALLY) while trying to seduce another girl. While one could argue he does die, I don’t see this as justice for Susie or anyone else he might have killed. He’s never brought to task for his atrocities, and it’s absolute bullshit. *end spoiler* Initially, I asked a question on Goodreads, but then decided I’d just skip ahead to to the end to see for myself. It’s exactly the same, and it wouldn’t do me any good to read it.
I disagree with many of the reviews on Goodreads about the writing, though, which I quite enjoyed. It’s more of a purply stream of consciousness, which I guess some people dislike? In particular, I adamantly refute the most popular review’s insistence that using “eye” imagery is a sign of an amateur writer, and this is not because I do so, but because the authors I enjoy and respect do, and they are far from amateurish. I modeled my earlier writing style off of such writers, because I liked it so much, so if I use that kind of imagery, it’s because established artists did so.
I think Sebold was going for the karmic approach to comeuppance, but she and I have a different idea of what constitutes karma.
Books Finished: 1
Title: The Vagrant
Series Title: The Vagrant
Author: Peter Newman
Date Added: March 20, 2017
Date Started: December 30, 2017
Date Finished: March 21, 2018
Reading Duration: 80 days
Media: Paperback
This is going to be a tough one to review, because I see both the merits and issues with it. I was surprised at where it ended up, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one. The end is a bit confusing insofar as the Vagrant’s actions. I…think I have an idea what was supposed to have happened, but I may need to search out some answers on a wiki somewhere.
Currently Reading: 3
Title: The Habitation of the Blessed
Series Title: A Dirge for Prester John
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Date Added: September 28, 2012
Date Started: March 26, 2018
Media: Paperback
Progress: 10%
I added this book years ago (as you can see from the Date Added) and started reading it not long after I bought it, but I wound up physically shelving it. I had some trouble getting into it, but I knew I wanted to give it another chance. I’m also trying to read my books in order added so I can clear some of the older ones off my TBR list. This goes for both physical and Kindle.
So far I’m not having nearly as many problems getting into the narrative as I did before. I love Catherynne M. Valente’s writing. It’s definitely purple prose, but I’ve never had a problem with that. I love the lush, beautiful descriptions almost mad in their eloquence. I read her first book in The Orphan’s Tales and will give the other one a try along with Palimpsest, which I also shelved. I suppose a few years changes your perspective and preference of certain books.
Title: The Bone Doll’s Twin
Series Title: The Tamir Triad
Author: Lynn Flewelling
Date Added: June 9, 2016
Date Started: March 22, 2018
Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress:10%
This is a dark, fucking book. It opens with a prologue by Arkoniel, the young wizard, now old and haunted by the part he played in the beginning. I’m trying to read a chapter a day, because this book is long, but the chapters are long, too. It’s worth it though.
Title: Dune
Series Title: Dune Chronicles
Author: Frank Herbert
Date Added: September 4, 2013
Date Started: March 6, 2018
Media: Paperback
Progress: 9%
Interesting to note is Baron Harkonnen’s given name is Vladimir, which is clearly Russian, and this was written in the midst of the Cold War.
The issues I had with the book are less now for some reason. It could be because I’m now more used to sci-fi and/or since I know so many stories are derivative of it, I’m more forgiving.
Princess Garnet had her first vet appointment this Monday, and she did not like the carrier. I was hoping she’d be okay since she was very quiet on the ride home from the SPCA, but it was a struggle getting her into it then the poor baby peed herself on the way there 😦 I felt so bad for her. You don’t want to frighten them, but they have to go to the vet for checkups and whatnot. I’m happy it’s only five or so minutes away, but still. They cleaned off her bottom, wiped out the cat carrier for me, and put the little blanket into a plastic bad since it had gotten soiled. Thankfully, my husband was doing laundry that night, so it’s already washed. The little princess is doing well, too. I was worried about her heels, because it looks like the hair has been rubbed off, but the vet thinks that’s due to sitting on a hard surface in the shelter, and it should grow back. She’s currently on the cat tree we bought for her and Cid. There was ACTUALLY peace in the kingdom the other night.
That tiny face!
There’s no doubt who rules the roost! I’m also still working on my photo album of Kin-mei on Shutterfly. I haven’t been as diligent with it as I’d like, and I’ve been thinking a lot about him and missing him this week ;_; I’m hoping I’ll get sometime this weekend since it’s three day for Easter (a Good Friday indeed!).
How did my reading update also become the cat repository? Not that I’m complaining, though I suppose books and cats go well together. Throw some tea in there and you may have concocted a party I’d show up to on time.
Until next time then!
<–The State of the Reader: 3/14/18 The State of the Reader: 4/11/18–>
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I look forward to seeing what you think of The Bone Dolls Twin. I have it on my TBR list and dark is my thing. 😉
My cat hates the vet too. Except instead of peeing, she releases her anal gland. It’s the worst smell.
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It’s so damn good. Creepy AF and just so well written. I’ve been reading it all weekend and am around 30% done.
Arghhh, that’s awful! They can do that??! D: I know dogs will do that sometimes, but I didn’t know cats did it, too! I’m going to try the cat-in-a-bag with her next time. Kin-mei hated the carrier, too, but he was good with the bag. I think he felt trapped even though he was obviously in a bag lol.
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I’m lucky enough to have a cat AND a dog that does it! Wooo! Stinky anus’! lmao. I have never tried to put a cat in a bag. I imagine Zelda would slice me up good.
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It’s this product I found on the interwebs. It was like $30, which is about the same amount as any other carrier. I thought Kinny was going to murder me, but I was shocked he was cool with it. Granted, he was also sick at that point, but other people seem to swear by them. I’ll let you know the verdict when I try to get Princess Garnet into it 🙂
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Please do. Zelda needs to make an appearance at the vet in the next year. Bu then again, she usually waits until she’s on the vets table and then releases her anal glands. She mostly resists the carrier but then just yowls the whole ride.
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What’s hilarious is Cid is the total opposite. He’ll go right into the carrier, come right out, purr up a storm, and go right back in. Nothing seems to phase him, though he can be startled, it doesn’t really last.
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Books and cats are the best combination! 🙂
I remember quite liking Lovely Bones, but you’re right, as a reader you want stories to have better justice than real life. I’ll be curious to hear about your take on Dune, it’s one of those books many friends talk about, but I’ve never got round to reading.
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The writing is fantastic, but the ending just burned me up. I still don’t get the harsh critics of that. If it’s not your cup of tea that’s fine. I think that’s something many commenters don’t understand the difference between: not liking something stylistically and it being bad.
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Some people seem to take writing they don’t like very personally, they’re genuinely affronted that somebody didn’t write the story they wanted. I think it must be quite intimidating if you’re a successful writer and people have definite expectations of how you’re supposed to write, and become indignant when the writer doesn’t fulfil them. It’s one thing I like about your reviews, you’re very aware of your opinion being subjective,
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I try to write reviews in that way because I know how much critiques can suck. You want to give and accept them because they’re integral to improving writing, but you also have to remember that there are stylistic differences in writing. I’m really picky with what kind of YA I like so I always take that genre with a grain of salt, because honestly, it’s not really written for me. I think the harshest critics had an issue with purple prose, which yeah, can be over the top, but it’s still a stylistic thing!
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Aww, I like the cat updates! 🙂
I remember reading Lovely Bones as a teen, and ugh . . . it left me feeling really depressed and frustrated. Granted, I was much more sensitive to that subject matter as a teen, and although I might fare better with it now, I don’t really have a desire to revisit it. Maybe I’ll get around to watching the movie someday.
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I saw the movie and was just so irritated with what happened to her rapist/murderer. The movie was very beautiful especially in its portrayal of the afterlife/heaven, but the lack of justice for that monster just soured me on it.
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The YA crowd is the reason why I don’t trust any rating on Goodreads, haha. I stick with reviews from trusted blogger friends, thank you very much 🙂
Yikes! I’m glad Princess Garnet made it through the vet appointment okay. It’s a hard thing to force a kitty to do, that’s for sure 😦
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Right?? There have been some books with pretty high ratings and I wonder if there’s something wrong with me. Then I realize the book isn’t aimed at my demographic and then it makes sense.
She’s such a little sass pants lol. She made it through okay and I’m going to attempt the cat-in-a-bag carrier next time. She might be better with that.
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Kitties and books are the perfect combo! 😀
Ugh, I didn’t like the ending in The Lovely Bones movie either. (Haven’t read the book.) The ending made me so mad, though, so it’s nice to know I wasn’t alone in that. lol
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I went on a week long rant after I read it lol. The book has the same ending. I checked 😡
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I saw The Lovely Bones on a plane and was so upset at how it ended too. I agree with how you feel completely. I had hoped the book had a different ending, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading it. Now I know that there’s no point, so thanks for saving me the trouble.
Also, your cat updates are amazing.
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I remember ranting for a week after I watched it. I was SO mad. The only consolation was that I’d borrowed it from Netflix, so it was a simple matter of shipping it back.
Yay! I’ll keep doing them then 🙂
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