<–The State of the Reader: 6/30/21         The State of the Reader: 7/28/21–>

A biweekly 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.

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Purchased: 3

• Song of the Forever Rains by E. J. Mellow (Mousai) – $4.99 @ Amazon Kindle
• The Forest Bed by Shaily Agrawal – $3.90 @ Amazon Kindle
• The Tindalos Asset by Caitlín R. Kiernan (Tinfoil Dossier) – $3.99 @ Amazon Kindle

Total: $12.88

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Books DNF: 1

Title: The Magnum Opus: Seek and You Shall Find
Authors: Christopher & Christine Kezelos
Date Added: October 7, 2020
Date Started: July 1, 2021
Date DNF: July 14, 2021

Media: eBook/Kindle
Progress at DNF: 43%

I had such high hopes for this after watching the charming (if a little creepy) short film (thank you By Hook or By Book for featuring this on your Whimsical Wednesday post!).  The novel promised to expand upon the story and show what happened after the making was done and the original Maker disappeared into glitter.  Initially, I was intrigued if saddened by the turn of events, but still interested even though where the plot was going was blatantly clear.  I almost shelved it a few times before, but things kept happening to hold my interest for a little longer, but I have to be honest: the novel direly needs a good editor.  There were not only the little errors e.g. missing commas in dialogue tags and misspellings, but the chapter would just switch perpsectives without a break, and I mean characters that were in completely different places.

This pales in comparison to some of the major issues with the pacing and problems with the story itself.  When I realized I wasn’t even halfway finished and it was already  a struggle to read, I knew it was time to call it quits, though the catalyst for it had to do with the romance angle I just knew they were going to shoehorn in.  It’s…kind of Oedipal but…weirdly so.  Like it’s supposed to come off as cute and charming, but it’s just creepy.  Each Maker makes the next so you can probably guess what I mean by this.  Also the way Ario, the main character is treated by the other Makers in the Winter City just didn’t sit right with me.  It is very common for oppressed people to take out their frustrations on someone either in their group or also marginalized who “gets them in trouble,” but it’s presented without critique.  Additionally, Melody, Ario’s Maker, acts like an abusive parent in blaming their “child” for not being perfect.  I think this could’ve been handled in an insightful way, but I don’t think the authors had the range to tackle such issues.

The idea behind the novel is really good, but the execution leaves much to be desired.  Don’t let this dissuade you from watching the video though.  It was made by the same people who wrote the book, and I think they’re far better filmmakers than authors.

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Currently Reading

Title: Women, Monstrosity and Horror Film: Gynaehorror
Author: Erin Harrington
Date Added: July 20, 2019
Date Started: June 29, 2021

Media: Paperback
Progress: 5%

The author references Irigaray, a name I haven’t heard in years, but still remember (even if I don’t remember her theories lol).  I studied her as a grad (or undergrad…I can’t remember that now either).  I might do the same thing with this that I did with the Jung volume: read the introduction than go onto something else as I figure out where they all will fit in the rotation.

Title: The Oedipus Trilogy
Series: The Theban Plays
Author: Sophocles
Date Added: July 25, 2020
Date Started: March 18, 2021

Media: Paperback
Progress: 45%

The second part isn’t really providing me any notes for my research, but I think it’s still worth it to read.

Title: A Sky Beyond the Storm
Series: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Date Added: November 1, 2020
Date Started: March 17, 2021

Media: Hardback
Progress: 41%

I’m constantly putting this book off to read, but every time I read it I’m completely drawn in.

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I need to give my teacher friend some recommendations for dystopian that features POC, which means I need to go through my Goodreads list lol.  This came about due to a post I shared with a massive list of fantasy by and featuring POC.  Hell I need to go through it myself and add things lol.  

I didn’t add another Kindle to my “To Read Next” shelf so now I need to figure that out tonight.  Granted I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to read anything tomorrow since I need to use my lunch to go to a doctor’s appointment.

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<–The State of the Reader: 6/30/21         The State of the Reader: 7/28/21–>