I missed last month's linkup because... You know, looking back, I'm not entirely sure. My guess is going to be because work was crazy last month and both my reading and blogging took a big hit as a result.
Anyway, here are the books that I read in August and September:
Format: Audiobook
My Rating: 4/5
THINK: An über enthusiastic fan of Outlander goes to Scotland on an epic journey to find "her Fraser."
Disclaimer: I liked Outlander, so much so that I've read it twice. I'm also a big fan of the television series on STARZ that are based on the novels. And, I must also disclose that I have a thing for men in kilts. So, having said that, much of my enjoyment of this book is related to those disclaimers.
Finding Fraser is a very cut book and I enjoyed it a lot. I do think it could've been a bit shorter (some parts just seemed to drag on forever) and there were times in which I seriously just wanted to slap the main character and tell her to quit being so naive and open her damn eyes. But, all in all, it was fun and I enjoyed it.
Final Verdict: Recommend
THINK: An über enthusiastic fan of Outlander goes to Scotland on an epic journey to find "her Fraser."
Disclaimer: I liked Outlander, so much so that I've read it twice. I'm also a big fan of the television series on STARZ that are based on the novels. And, I must also disclose that I have a thing for men in kilts. So, having said that, much of my enjoyment of this book is related to those disclaimers.
Finding Fraser is a very cut book and I enjoyed it a lot. I do think it could've been a bit shorter (some parts just seemed to drag on forever) and there were times in which I seriously just wanted to slap the main character and tell her to quit being so naive and open her damn eyes. But, all in all, it was fun and I enjoyed it.
Final Verdict: Recommend
Format: Audiobook
My Rating: 3.5/5
Think: High Fidelity meets time travel.
What if you discovered a wormhole that allowed you to go back in time to see any musical acts of the past? That's what initially peaked my interest with this book. But, here's the thing about writing about time travel - you have to be careful because the zipping back and forth through time can be tricky, confusing, and sometimes you can lose sight of where your story is going. I liked the book initially, but then it got... weird and complicated and it started to lose its magic. I finished it, but wasn't overly impressed.
Final Verdict: Pass
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Format: Audiobook
My rating:
Think: A teenage girl witnesses the shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer.
There is a reason this book won two Goodreads Choice Awards in 2017 (Debut Goodreads Author and Young Adult Fiction) - it is powerful. It deals with a very sensitive, yet timely topic and offers the reader a glimpse into the lives that are affected. The author's writing is impressive and she offers so much voice in her writing that the dialogue flows effortlessly. Also, the performance of the audiobook's vocal artist was spot on!
Final Verdict: Recommend
What have you read lately? Any recommendations? Until next month, happy reading!
Think: High Fidelity meets time travel.
What if you discovered a wormhole that allowed you to go back in time to see any musical acts of the past? That's what initially peaked my interest with this book. But, here's the thing about writing about time travel - you have to be careful because the zipping back and forth through time can be tricky, confusing, and sometimes you can lose sight of where your story is going. I liked the book initially, but then it got... weird and complicated and it started to lose its magic. I finished it, but wasn't overly impressed.
Final Verdict: Pass
Format: Audiobook
My rating:
Think: A teenage girl witnesses the shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer.
There is a reason this book won two Goodreads Choice Awards in 2017 (Debut Goodreads Author and Young Adult Fiction) - it is powerful. It deals with a very sensitive, yet timely topic and offers the reader a glimpse into the lives that are affected. The author's writing is impressive and she offers so much voice in her writing that the dialogue flows effortlessly. Also, the performance of the audiobook's vocal artist was spot on!
Final Verdict: Recommend
What have you read lately? Any recommendations? Until next month, happy reading!
I found THUG to be very much more YAish than I expected, which makes sense because it is YA and all. While I thought the storyline was good as a jumping off point, I felt like she could've done more with it? I felt like I was being really picking with books this past month!
ReplyDeleteI go through spells like that, too, where I'm more picky about books than I am at other times. :)
DeleteI'm not familiar with Outlander at all, but Finding Fraser does sound really cute!
ReplyDeleteBasically, Outlander is the story of a woman in the 1940s, Claire, who accidentally travels back in time to the mid 1700s in Scotland where she falls in love with Jamie Fraser. They have a deep and bonding love that transcends time. It's a great book, long, but great.
DeleteI own The Hate U Give but still need to read it. I'd like to do that before I see the movie, but we'll see. Sorry to hear about the other two not being AMAZING.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Ah, well... at least the other 2 weren't stinkers or complete duds. LOL!
DeleteTHUG was a great read! It was a heavy book for me so not sure I could have done it in audio format, but glad to hear that version was done well.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely heavy, but definitely worth reading. Audiobooks take some getting used to (if you're not used to them). The vocal artist really made the book for me. She was great.
Deleteglad you liked finding fraser - i also love outlander, though i am behind on the show because i keep meaning to read book 2 (at this point, i need to reread book 1). i also wanted to slap the main character in that one though. she was so naive. glad you liked the hate u give!
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy it, just wished it was a tad shorter. Yes! She was so freakin' naive and BLIND! I was like, "Girl..." LOL! I own Dragonfly in Amber but don't think I'll ever get to it bc I've seen season 2 on STARZ and because of it's sheer size!
DeleteTHUG was awesome and I really loved it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I read it.
DeleteBummed about Every Anxious Wave because the premise is really awesome. Time travel books are always tricky. Some get too caught up in "the rules" while others have none. It's confusing. I still have not read The Hate U Give. There is no doubt in my mind that it's worthy of all the love it gets but I'm not sure if my heart can take it right now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, time travel books are just... tricky. This one was hard to pinpoint exactly where/why it went awry, but it did. THUG is definitely a book that I wouldn't consider a "great at anytime book." It's definitely worth reading, though, just when the time is right.
DeleteI wish The Hate You Give was required reading for all ages.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely high schoolers, maybe even late middle schoolers.
DeleteI'm so glad that you enjoyed Finding Fraser! I loved it too, but then again I also have a thing for Outlander and guys in kilts! I need to read The Hate U Give, but I just having gotten to it yet. Probably because I feel like I need to be in the right mindset for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think one would need to be in a certain mindset for THUG. It's not one of those feel good books and as I listened to it, much of weighted heavily on my mind.
DeleteThe Hate U Give is SO good!
ReplyDeleteI felt like it definitely was worth the hype.
DeleteEveryone needs to read THUG. EVERYONE.
ReplyDeleteOutlander is on my big book TBR :) I am reading 11/22/63 the month of November so maybe I'll get to Outlander in the new year! Gone with the Wind is also on that list. Pam :)
ReplyDelete