Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Recently Read - Vol. 19 (May '17)


It's the second Tuesday of the month and if you're a regular reader, you know what that means - it's the Show Us Your Books link up day with Jana and Steph.

May was the same as April in terms of quantity of books that read.  (I did attempt four, but only finished three).  Here's what I read last month:


The City by Dean Koontz
Format: Audiobook | My Rating: DNF

Goodreads describes The City as a "riveting, soul-stirring coming of age story of a young man with exceptional gifts." Within the description, words such as extra-ordinary, heart racing, and unforgettable saga are also used.  I'm not sure what book they are talking about, but it's not the one I attempted and finally abandoned.

For me, The City was slow out of the gate, but I persisted and gave it a chance. It continued to be slow moving, so much so that I couldn't listen to it during my morning commute because it was literally putting me to sleep.  Four hours into the book, the plot was no more clear to me than it was when I first started the book.  I had no idea of where the book was going nor did I have any idea of what the point of the story was and, honestly, this frustrated the dickens out of me.  During the two weeks that I attempted to listen to this audiobook, I managed to finish two other audiobooks in their entirety.  At that point, I said screw it and I threw in the towel.  Life is much too short to suffer through books that you don't enjoy.

*As I did not finish this book, I can't recommend it.  A friend of mine suffered (his words, not mine) through it and he said he wouldn't recommend it, despite being a Koontz fan.

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves
Read May 6-10 | Format: Audiobook | My Rating: 4/5

Think - How Stella Got Her Groove Back meets Castaway

Thirty year old Anna is hired to tutor sixteen year old TJ with his family one summer while on vacation in the Maldives.  En route, their seaplane goes down.  They survive and wash up on an abandoned island where they must adapt and learn to survive.  Not the best writing that I've ever read and it was heavy on the dialogue, but overall it was a very enjoyable reading experience for me.

*I recommend this book.

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Read May 12-15 | Format: Audiobook | My Rating: 4/5

Think - Modern Classic Worth the Time

If you've seen the classic movie staring the heartthrobs Matt Damon Dillion*, Rob Lowe, and the late Patrick Swayze in their youth, then you know the story.  The movie closely resembles the classic novel, but, as in most cases, the book provides more details.  It was a very quick "listen" and I'm sorry that I didn't read/listen to it sooner.

*I highly recommend this book.

May 16 - June 1 | Format:  Audiobook | My rating: 3.5/5

Think - Murder Mystery Meets Lifetime Movie

This book started out with a bang, I mean, like a horse out of the gate.  It captured my attention quickly.  The premise was very interesting - a man goes to a grocery story and sees a woman who looks just like his dead girlfriend of twenty years.  The next day, the woman is found murdered and she has the name of the man on a piece of paper in her pocket.  

But, as the story unfolded, it started to lose momentum.  By the time I reached the last hour to hour and a half, I increased the narrator speed from 1.0 to 1.25 just to get it over with.  I'm not sure where the book's energy started to fizzle, but it did, at least for me.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.  

*As far as recommendations, I am neutral.  My advice - proceed with caution.

~~~~~

So, have you read anything lately worth recommending?  If so, please share.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!


Linking up with:

*Thanks Jana...

30 comments:

  1. I read the Outsiders in grade school and loved it. I think I am past due for a re-read.

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    1. It was a very quick book, you could easily re-read it in a few hours. It would be interesting to know how your experience changed (if at all) if you re-read it.

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  2. I love how you gave the little blurb on what the book is like at the start of each review. On the Island sounds like a fun summer read-- I feel like I just heard about another book (or movie?), where people end up on an island, but now I can't think of what it was and it's driving me crazy!

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    1. Thank you! I've been toying around with different layouts, per say, and I think I've settled on this method.

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  3. The Island has been on my TBR for some time. Everyone seems to enjoy it and now might be a great time to read it. I read a Koontz book this month. It started a bit slow for me too but eventually I got sucked in but I do prefer books that grab you from the get-go. When they don't, I find myself always distracted by the thought I should just quit!

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    1. With it being summer, this might be a good time to check out On the Island. I think it would make a good beach read.

      The City was my first attempt at Koontz. I haven't written him off, but I'm in no hurry to give another one a go just yet. LOL! Too many other books I'm really anxious to read.

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  4. somebody I used to know is on my nightstand... I think my next book to start!

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  5. Matt Dillon was in the movie not Matt Damon.

    Fun fact: that's the book that made me want to write.

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    1. LOL! Thank you! I must've been having a "junior moment" when I composed that (I'm too young for a "senior moment"). I've corrected it. :)

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  6. Oh gosh, I love The Outsiders. It's such a favorite of mine and I just recently bought the 50th edition of it. I also love the film!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. A friend of mine in school was absolutely INSANE about the movie and she was in love with Rob Lowe. I wonder now, if she ever read the book for I don't remember her ever mentioning that. We've lost touch now, so I'll never know.

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  7. I absolutely made it through school without ever reading The Outsiders. Hmmm

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    1. I don't recall it ever being mentioned in school. I was familiar with the movie and that's how I learned it was based on a novel, but I don't recall it ever being brought up.

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  8. I read The Outsiders for the first time last year and agree that I should have done it sooner!

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    1. Now, as an adult, I often wonder why I never tried certain books earlier in my life. There is no answer, I just, for whatever reason, didn't... Glad to know that I'm in good company!

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  9. On the Island sounds like a nice beach read!

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  10. Love love love The Outsiders.

    I read On the Island and liked it much more than I thought I would.

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    1. I was a little hesitant about On the Island, but I think I caught it on sale through Audible, so I decided to give it a go. It wasn't necessarily earth shattering for me, but it was enjoyable none-the-less.

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  11. I'm so glad that you liked On The Island! I really enjoyed it as well! And I totally agree with you that life is too short to read bad books!

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    1. Yes, I did enjoy it! Yeah, I used to suffer through them, sometimes until the sad, bitter end, but I decided a few years ago that it was ok to abandon a book that I wasn't enjoying. I mean, it's not like I'm in school anymore and this is required reading! LOL!

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  12. I always find Dean Koontz to be a bit hit and miss. Some books I've read have been great, others... not so much.

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    1. This was my first Koontz book. I'm will to try another later on, but I'm in no rush right now... LOL!

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  13. i LOVED the outsiders!! such a classic book!!

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    1. I haven't had much luck in terms of classic books, but this one was definitely worth they hype.

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  14. I read the Outsiders in school, but don't remember it a bit.. ha! I should give it another chance. I think that On the Island is on my TBR, it sounds good to me. :) Bummer about the Koontz book. Oh well, life's too short! Here from SUYB! XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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    1. The Outsiders... If you've seen the movie, then you know how the book is/will be. There are some changes of course, but they are very similar. If you are wanting to give it another go, the good thing is that the book is quite short.

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  15. I love the cover of On The Island. I need a light beach read for this summer. My TBR is very drama heavy. Yikes! I wonder if this book would be what I'm looking for? What do you think?

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    1. This would be a good book to offset the heaviness of the books you have on your TBR.

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