A weekend at home makes all the difference!
FINISHED SINCE THE LAST UPDATE:
Alma Katsu’s reimagining of the Donner party tragedy is creative and spooky. It touches on more than a few interesting ideas, the least of which include women’s roles as a pioneer and bloodthirsty monsters. Most of the story took place before winter, which was surprising but welcome as so many stories about this particular group of pioneers focuses on what happened when they were trapped by snow. The liberties she took with the truth make sense and are surprisingly seamless in the end. More than a bit terrifying at times and always intense, it is well worth the time and energy to read, especially now that spring should be here soon.
You know those books that have the potential to get really good as the story progresses, so you keep reading even if some of it has you looking askance at the pages? Amy Lloyd’s novel felt like that to me the entire time I was reading it right until I finished it and realized that not only did not it not get really good but it never surpassed mediocre and annoying. There are so many things wrong with the story and the main character that I could be very cruel pointing out each and every issue. Instead, I am going to move on and fervently hope my next novel is not drivel.
Jesse Ball’s newest novel is one of those where I wonder if I missed something. The world-building is nonexistent. The mysterious census for which the unnamed narrator and his son partake their journey has no purpose from what you can tell. Instead, it is almost an ode to the narrator’s son and dead wife, a reminiscence of past joys and hardships that formed his life as a parent and adult. It is quiet and yet beautiful, and it is not for everyone.
DID NOT FINISH:
It should have been at least one.
CURRENT READ:
CURRENT LISTEN:
Less than two hours left!
NEXT UP:
March Review Copies:
So, what are you reading?
The way you felt about The Innocent Wife is how I felt about Unraveling Oliver, I haven’t even wrote a review.
I can’t wait to read The Flight Attendant, hope you enjoy. Everyone seems to be reading and loving Let Me Lie, I will get to it this year for sure.
Oh, that’s not good. My feelings for The Innocent Wife are not nice. It was one of the easier reviews to write but most definitely not one of my kinder ones.
The Donner Party scared me enough as it was! The Hunger sounds wild. I heard of the Census — and the son is handicapped or autistic, right? I’m checking out The Woman in the Window now.
The Hunger is SO good, but I do love dark stories. The son in Census has Down’s Syndrome. It is such a lovely book.
I just started An American Marriage which I’m loving so far. I’m about 90 pages in.
That is such a beautiful book; enjoy!!
I’ve been reading The Broken Girls. Really slowly. Not a problem with the book, just haven’t had time to focus. I’m also interested in reading Let Me Lie, but it may be a bit before I get to it. Have a good week!
I totally get it. The lack of focus is almost as annoying as a book that doesn’t capture your interest! I hope you get some time to sit down and make headway into The Broken Girls this week!
Ha – don’t you love those “should’ve DNF’d” books. I had one of those this week, but it was by a trusted author, so I finished it. It wasn’t painful, just Meh.
I still have to write the review for that book too. Normally, I would try to be diplomatic and polite about my dislike, but I am so disgusted with myself for finishing it that I fear there is going to be a lot of snark. And spoilers.