The Weekly Read: 17

This week, I continue my newfound obsession with audio books. Also, bookclub!

READ: Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything | E. Lockhart

After listening to Abraham Lincoln in my car for over 2 weeks, once it was over, it felt strange to switch back to music. So, when dropping that one off at the library, I went in and picked a couple others to listen to. This is the first! This was a quick, fun story about a girl getting to hear what goes on behind closed doors of the boys locker room. Believe it or not, she ends up realizing that her life isn't as horrible as she thought it was, and everyone else isn't as perfect as she thought they were. Gretchen is a sympathetic character who is likable despite having a woe-is-me attitude in the beginning. Her life isn't perfect, but neither is anyone else's. What's important is you go for what you want and stay open to change. The slang the kids used was kind of annoying and unrealistic, but you get used to it. I was surprised at how graphic it got for a teen novel. I do wish there had been a little more resolution to some of the storylines - whatever happened with Gunther? Did he get in trouble for beating up Carlo and his friend? Who knows. In the end, I thought there were some realistic and honest moments, and it was a fun read - or rather, listen.

READ: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks | E. Lockhart

After listening to Fly on the Wall, I went back to the library AGAIN and hit the teen section of audiobooks. Luckily, they had another one by Lockhart. This one was longer, and harder to listen to if only for the fact that I kept wanting to know what happened next! I got through about half the discs, and then had some free time on Thursday, so I went to the bookstore and just read the rest. :) One of the reasons I like fluffy teen fiction is that the books generally have happy endings, like fairy tales in a way. I can say this is one of those books, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I expected this to be one of those books where the girl stands up for gender equality, stands up for what's right, and gets everything she wants in the end. I revelled in Frankie's masterful behind-the-scenes takeover of her boyfriend's all-boy society because I believed, like Frankie herself did, that when they found out, they would applaused and accept her, impressed with her cleverness. But this book is more honest and true-to-life, and I was as surprised and hurt as Frankie when the boys ignored her, and Matthew rejected her. It doesn't seem fair, but thus is life, I suppose. I loved Frankie as a character, as well as Alpha, even though he was a jerk a lot of the time. What is it about those bad boys that is so attractive - at least in fiction? Overall, I liked the book, but I still wish Frankie had gotten her happy ending.

READ: The Lost Symbol | Dan Brown

This was our book club pick for this month, and I had been looking forward to reading it for months. I can pretty much sum my feelings up for this book in one sentence: "It was ok, but I liked it better when it was called National Treasure." For the most part, I liked this book, but I felt a little let down after reading it. It seems like the secret history of Masons was pretty well covered by those movies. Maybe it's just that I didn't find the mystery or storyline as compelling. So, the world is going to end if the secret mysteries of the Masons get out? Seriously, it's a matter of national security? I don't buy that. The history and information about the capital was interesting, but it felt too spread out - I wanted more! It's true, the plot was secondary to the history info, but I was ok with that because, to be honest, it was way more interesting. So maybe what I really wanted was a more interesting plot? I would have loved to hear more about the Smithsonian, and taking courses from either Robert Langdon or Peter Solomon would be awesome. :) I'm glad I read it, but it didn't live up to Angels and Demons for me.

STARTED: Lock and Key | Sarah Dessen

I've been hearing about what a great writer Sarah Dessen is ever since I joined Goodreads, but had never really jumped on the bandwagon before. Not for any particular reason, mostly because I've been trying to diversify my reading, and it seemed like something I would have picked while browsing the YA section as I used to do. Luckily, I came across this one while picking through the audiobook section of the library, and have been listening to it while driving since Thursday (aka, the day I couldn't wait to finish The Disreputable History and went to the bookstore). So far, it's good! Already I'm fighting myself not to find a copy and read it through. We'll see how far I get before it comes to that. :)

Coming up next week: I need to read a few library books that I have to return in a few weeks - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. But I'll probably sneak in a Vampire Diaries re-read, too. :)

The Weekly Read: 16

To celebrate actually finishing The Island, I managed to finish 3 books this week! Yay! Hopefully that means I am back on track. :).

READ: The Island | Aldous Huxley

This one was really hard to read. If it wasn't on the Lost Lit List, and I wasn't so stubborn, I would have given it up weeks ago.  The main reason this book is even on the Lost List is the reason I was initially so excited to read it: "Lying there like a corpse in the dead leaves, his hair matted, his face grotesquely smudged and bruised, his clothes in rags and muggy, Will Farnaby awoke with a start." This is almost exactly how we first view Jack on Lost.  Unfortunately the rest of the book doesn't live up to it's promising and dramatic beginning. The plot was sparse and every time something interesting happened, it was bogged down again by the author's overwhelming philosophical treatise. There were a few good ideas here and there, but if I had wanted to read a philosophy book, I would have picked one up. Instead, I got a philosophy book disguised as a novel.  The characters were secondary to the descriptions of the ideal society of Pala, and I didn't really get to know any of them. It was disappointing. 

READ: How to Train Your Dragon | Cressida Cowell

A few weeks ago, I went to see the movie based on this book and loved it! I immediately wanted to read the book, as I was sure it would be just as great. After reading it, sure, it is cute - the book has a great design, with funky, engaging fonts, sketches, and info pages about dragons. But other than the main character, it didn't really have much in common with the movie. Not only was the plot entirely different, but the world they lived in and how they interacted with dragons was entirely different as well.  I was most disappointed in the differences between the movie and book versions of Toothless, Hiccup's dragon.  I doubt that the order I met them plays a part in my preference for the movie version, because the book-Toothless is really whiny and obnoxious, without any of the movie-Toothless' lovable quirks and mannerisms. Pretty much the only likable thing he does in the book is save Hiccup at the end, and even that is rather begrudgingly. Overall, it was a cute, fun read, and would be great for kids (provided they know that it's not really like the movie).  I'll probably pick up the rest in the series from the library eventually, but certainly not with as much enthusiasm.

READ: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter | Seth Grahame-Smith

This was delightfully interesting and fun to read - and by read, I mean listen to in my car on my way to and from work. :) I've tried listening to audio books before, but haven't had much luck in the past. This time was completely different, and I very much enjoyed listening to it - it made my commute a much-anticipated part of my day.  The book itself was a surprisingly well-mixed history of both Abraham Lincoln and the rise (and fall) of vampires in America. In this book, Grahame-Smith had none of the monster-integration problems that plagued his first book, probably because all of the writing was his own work.  The interweaving fact and fiction felt real, accurate, and natural, especially the details about the disappearing Roanoke settlement and Lincoln's motivations behind the Civil War and abolition of slavery. I didn't necessarily like the beginning - a vampire gives Grahame-Smith Lincoln's lost journals - mostly because it was an awkward transition, and set up a strange shift between first and third person that persisted throughout the novel, as we switched from biography to "excerpts" from the journals. This part probably would have been easier to follow had I been actually reading instead of listening, but I eventually got used to it.  Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, and can't wait to read a proper Lincoln biography!

STARTED: The Lost Symbol | Dan Brown

I really enjoyed both Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code when I read them about 6 years ago, so I was very excited when I saw Dan Brown had a new novel coming out. The only reason I've waited so long to read it is because we picked it for our book club, and I wanted to wait to read it until right before the meeting, as I can be forgetful. That meeting was initially scheduled for today, but luckily we pushed it back a week, as I didn't have enough time to finish the book this past week, and now I can savor it. :)

Up next week: Finishing The Lost Symbol, and then reading whatever I feel like. I'm sort-of straying from the Spring Challenge plan I set up, mostly because The Island put me in a weird state. Right now, I just want to read happy, fluffy stuff. Happy reading to all of you, too!

The Weekly Read: 15

STILL READING: The Island | Aldous Huxley

I'm embarrassed to admit that I still haven't finished this book. There just hasn't been that much time for reading this week. Gah. I will say, though, that I only have about 75 pages left to go, so if I don't finish it next week, there is something seriously wrong with me. And then I can go on to everything else that I mentioned in my last post. That is all. :)

The Weekly Read: 14

I am sad to report that this is the first week I have failed to finish a book. :( I blame it on The Island.

STILL READING: The Island | Aldous Huxley

I just don't feel inspired to read this one. It's taking a massive effort, and I can't seem to let myself read any other book, because I feel like I would never pick this one up again. Ugh. I'll try again this next week, but I might have to abandon it. :( I hope it doesn't come to that.






STARTED: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter | Seth Grahame-Smith

When I heard about this book, I was instant interested in reading it. I was reluctant to buy it, though, because I had been really disappointed after reading Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which didn't live up to my expectations. I requested it from the library, and when it finally came in on Saturday, I swung by to pick it up. To my surprise, I had accidentally requested the audiobook version! Rather than return it and wait for the actual book, I checked it out anyways, and popped the first CD right into my car's CD player. So far, it has been great! A fun mix between vampire lore and Abraham Lincoln biography. I'm definitely going to have to read an actual biography when I'm done, to separate fact from fiction. I'm on disc 3 of 9 right now, and so hopefully will be able to finish this one up in about a week on my way to and from work. Turns out getting the audiobook was a blessing in disguise. :)

Next week: I WILL finish The Island, or stop reading it. Oh, and I just got How to Train Your Dragon, which I am very excited to read as I loved the movie. That is all.

The Weekly Read: 13

Another week of not reading as much as I wanted. When did my life get so busy?

READ: The Betrayal of the Blood Lily | Lauren Willig

This one was pretty easy to read. :) The Pink Carnation series is my favorite kind of fluffy fiction because it involves happily-ever-after romances and history. This story had a lot of potential with the added benefit of being set in India, but I felt like parts of it were really slow. I wish that the Marigold had been more central to the plot, as in the end, I didn't really care who he was or really get what was so bad about him. The characters were enjoyable, but I wanted more from them. Also, about this title - where does the Blood Lily come in at all? I read in the front of the book that it was suggested by a reader, but it doesn't have any relation to the actual book it seems. If they wanted to go with that for the title, they should have changed the name of the spy to the Blood Lily instead of the Marigold. I'm glad I read it, and will read the next, but it just wasn't as good as I expected.

READ: The Diaries of Adam and Eve | Mark Twain

I love reading retellings of Biblical stories, and this one was recommended to me as both funny and a quick read. In this little tale of Adam and Eve, we get to look into their lives and see what life might have been like for them, told in short, first-person accounts. This was sweet and lighthearted, though I'm not sure I love how Adam originally viewed Eve, and why she never explained to him where babies come from. I just wish that this book was longer - we didn't get to hear nearly enough from Eve. I especially was looking forward to hearing the bits about the snake and the fall, as well as the babies being born from her perspective. The biggest drawback for me, though, was I didn't really feel God. One of the major aspects of the Bible story is God's relationship with Adam and Eve in the beginning, and that is completely absent from Twain's story. I enjoyed reading it and laughed quite a bit, but it left me wanting more, both in content and spiritual depth.

STILL READING: Island | Aldous Huxley

Yep, that's right. I'm STILL reading this one. It's just moving SO slow, and I don't feel motivated to read it. Normally, I would have just stopped reading it altogether, but I really don't want to give up on it, not just for my challenge, but because it's on the Lost List. Humph.

Next week, I am really hoping I finally finish Island. And then, who knows. My sister-in-law is in town, so I don't anticipate getting too much reading done. Here's hoping you have been luck than me! :)

The Weekly Read: 12

Not much reading done this week, either, but I at least got my book finished for book club, so yay! I need to pick up the pace, though, before I fall too far behind.

READ: Stardust | Neil Gaiman

This was my pick for our local book club, and I put off reading it for six months so I could have it fresh in my mind when we discussed it. I was very much looking forward to this book because the basic premise was interesting, and then I could watch the movie afterwards. I was therefore slightly disappointed when I started reading and realized I HAD seen the movie, and just hadn't know what it was. I don't know why this bugged me so much, but it did.  Luckily the book is quite different from the movie, and it becomes more and more different as it progresses.  This book was easy to read - it flowed well, and sort-of skimmed along the surface.  The characters were interesting and likable, and I enjoyed the slow, natural way that Tristran and Yvaine's relationship developed. I just wanted to know more about them. You could feel all these details simmering below the surface, but Gaiman just wouldn't tell us. He could fill up several more books with their adventures, as well as the history and workings of the whole Castle group, and I would happily read them (so get to it, Neil Gaiman!). In the end, I liked the story and the writing, and would gladly recommend this book. Just for me personally, it was tough to shake the disappointment.

STARTED: The Betrayal of the Blood Lily | Lauren Willig

This is the 6th book in the Pink Carnation series, which I've been reading for about 4 years. This is my favorite kind of fluffy fiction because it involves happily-ever-after romances and history. This particular series is sort of a story embedded into a story: About 15% of each book is about Eloise and her quest to research and write her dissertation on English spies from the nobility during the Napoleon War. The bulk of each book, though, is a story involving one of the spies she is researching. The characters are all interconnected, so you see them popping up in each other's stories, which I love, because it feels like you are checking in on old friends. This story has been as entertaining as the previous ones so far, with the added benefit of being set in India.

This coming week I will hopefully finish both Betrayal of the Blood Lily and Island, which I started last week. After that, who knows? I have a busy weekend coming up yet again, so it all depends on how much free time I end up with.

The Weekly Read: 11

I didn't find much time to read this week. The fact that I watched a whole season of Angel on DVD probably didn't help. :) Also, I just wasn't as in to the ones I was reading this week.

READ: The Book of Samson | David Maine

This was an interesting and innovative retelling of the Biblical story of Samson, but something about the style rubbed me the wrong way. I'm not a fan of the "If I knew then what I know now" style of flashback storytelling - it feels so depressing, and doesn't let you live in the moment and really experience the story. I also didn't feel like I really got to know Samson as well as I did Noah from The Preservationist. He remained fairly one-dimensional throughout the story; though we heard about his life, his battles, his women, we didn't hear enough about who he was or what he felt. There were certainly entertaining moments, but overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It could be that I just don't like the story of Samson as much as the story of Noah.

STARTED: Island | Aldous Huxley

This is another book from the Lost Lit List. I was looking forward to reading it, and the first chapter or so has a very Lost feel to it, but it's moving pretty slowly, and I'm not quite sure what the point is yet. I'll keep reading though.

Next week, I'm hoping to finish Island, and then I finally get to read Stardust, my pick for our book club. The meeting is next Sunday, but I shouldn't have any problem getting it read. :) Happy reading!