Book haul for February
These have been stacking up over the last few weeks, which is why there's so many, and I've already read a few of them. I'm still really behind in posting reviews though, so I don't have any links yet. My scanner has been put away - I refuse to buy expensive printer ink just so the scanner will work! and I've yet to buy a new one - so I've had to rely on Google images which isn't always best, or accurate.
Monster by A. Lee Martinez - comical urban fantasy. I wanted something fun to read and it was fun, even made me giggle a few times. But like most comic Fantasy, it left me feeling unsatisfied.
Wild Heart by Lori Brighton - historical romance. Recommended by a friend on Goodreads. It's a Tarzan-esque story and apparently not as formulaic as most historical romances.
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost - paranormal romance. I do have a review of this one, here. It was good but not as good as her other series (of which this is the first spin-off book).
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond - children's. Who doesn't love Paddington? I can't remember if I ever read this was I was a kid, but I picked it up mostly out of nostalgia. It's a quick read and very fun; Paddington is so endearing! I can see I'm going to have to start looking for the other books in the series.
Need by Carrie Jones - YA romance/horror - I didn't like this one. It's a debut author and I think she needs to hone her craft more, and maybe get a different editor. And I've no idea what genre it really fits into. It's not really one thing or the other. Grr.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - YA horror. I think I prefer the hardcover cover. This one is too tacky. I wasn't interested in reading this before but a friend on GR recommended it and when I read the blurb again, I dunno, it just sounded more interesting this time. It sounds a lot like the move The Village though. We'll see.
Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande - Fiction. I saw this on Eva's blog (A Striped Armchair) and thought it sounded interesting. Set in Mexico, if I remember correctly. Once I've decided to read something, I don't look into it too deeply. It's more fun - and often a better, more open-minded reading experience - to approach a book in ignorance. Not always, but often.
Petals From the Sky by Mingmei Yip - Historical fiction. I'm not familiar with this author but the cover caught my eye in Chapters the other day and it sounds interesting. I have quite a few books set in China that I need to start reading ...
My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young - Historical fiction. Recommended by firefred. Set during WWII in, ah, Poland I think.
War Child: a Child Soldier's Story by Emmanuel Jal - Memoir. I really enjoyed (if you can say that about a book on this topic) Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier and when I saw this I wasn't at all put off by the harrowing topic. I simply like to know/learn more. One person's experience is one person's experience - it's good to get a broader perspective. I think they are different country's civil wars, but it will be interesting to get the parallels as well as the differences. I don't read this books for an uplifting, moral, self-indulgent, everything's-okay-now kind of feeling; in fact, I hate that. I read them partly because their story deserves to be told, and partly because I don't want to be ignorant, and partly because I'm lucky to be who I am, where I am and that makes me feel too lucky, and the least I can do is understand and empathise.
The Architects Are Here by Michael Winter - fiction. I've been wanting to read something by Winter for ages, and when this turned up on a display table at Chapters I thought "a-ha!" here's your chance. I've recently developed an urge to visit Newfoundland, in the summer naturally, so this feeds into that.
Some Great Thing by Colin McAdam - fiction. Set in Ottawa. Part of my attempt to read more Canadian fiction, especially the lesser-known authors, and books set in Canada. Like Aussie authors, Canadian authors tend to write about other places more often than not. Oh I do have Consolation to read which I think is set in Toronto, and The Amazing Absorbing Boy as well. I want to get a new book that's out, The Parabolist which is also set in Toronto, but I can't justify buying the hardcover.
Up in the Air by Walter Kirn - fiction. I finished this last night. I haven't seen the movie but everyone was telling me about it and it sounded so good/interesting that I thought I'd try the book. To be honest, the way the movie was described makes it sound like it's better than the book. I started out loving it. Then halfway through I dropped down to really liking it. When I finished it, I was struggling. Disappointing, especially after such a promising start.
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FEBRUARY BOOKS
Books Read: 7
Books Read to Date: 18
Books Read for "2010 TBR Challenge": Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Most Enjoyed: A Bear Called Paddington and Finding Nouf
Least Enjoyed: there wasn't anything I really didn't like this month. Nothing below 3 stars.
Currently Reading: Mélusine by Sarah Monette (Fantasy)
Upcoming Book club Read: Pride and Prejudice. I'm not planning on re-reading it.
BOOKS READ:
Ferraris, Zoe: Finding Nouf
Frost, Jeaniene: First Drop of Crimson
Heller, Joseph: Catch-22
Banks, Maya: Sweet Seduction
Martinez, A. Lee: Monster
Bond, Michael: A Bear Called Paddington
Penman, Sharon Kay: Here Be Dragons
Monster by A. Lee Martinez - comical urban fantasy. I wanted something fun to read and it was fun, even made me giggle a few times. But like most comic Fantasy, it left me feeling unsatisfied.
Wild Heart by Lori Brighton - historical romance. Recommended by a friend on Goodreads. It's a Tarzan-esque story and apparently not as formulaic as most historical romances.
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost - paranormal romance. I do have a review of this one, here. It was good but not as good as her other series (of which this is the first spin-off book).
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond - children's. Who doesn't love Paddington? I can't remember if I ever read this was I was a kid, but I picked it up mostly out of nostalgia. It's a quick read and very fun; Paddington is so endearing! I can see I'm going to have to start looking for the other books in the series.
Need by Carrie Jones - YA romance/horror - I didn't like this one. It's a debut author and I think she needs to hone her craft more, and maybe get a different editor. And I've no idea what genre it really fits into. It's not really one thing or the other. Grr.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - YA horror. I think I prefer the hardcover cover. This one is too tacky. I wasn't interested in reading this before but a friend on GR recommended it and when I read the blurb again, I dunno, it just sounded more interesting this time. It sounds a lot like the move The Village though. We'll see.
Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande - Fiction. I saw this on Eva's blog (A Striped Armchair) and thought it sounded interesting. Set in Mexico, if I remember correctly. Once I've decided to read something, I don't look into it too deeply. It's more fun - and often a better, more open-minded reading experience - to approach a book in ignorance. Not always, but often.
Petals From the Sky by Mingmei Yip - Historical fiction. I'm not familiar with this author but the cover caught my eye in Chapters the other day and it sounds interesting. I have quite a few books set in China that I need to start reading ...
My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young - Historical fiction. Recommended by firefred. Set during WWII in, ah, Poland I think.
War Child: a Child Soldier's Story by Emmanuel Jal - Memoir. I really enjoyed (if you can say that about a book on this topic) Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier and when I saw this I wasn't at all put off by the harrowing topic. I simply like to know/learn more. One person's experience is one person's experience - it's good to get a broader perspective. I think they are different country's civil wars, but it will be interesting to get the parallels as well as the differences. I don't read this books for an uplifting, moral, self-indulgent, everything's-okay-now kind of feeling; in fact, I hate that. I read them partly because their story deserves to be told, and partly because I don't want to be ignorant, and partly because I'm lucky to be who I am, where I am and that makes me feel too lucky, and the least I can do is understand and empathise.
The Architects Are Here by Michael Winter - fiction. I've been wanting to read something by Winter for ages, and when this turned up on a display table at Chapters I thought "a-ha!" here's your chance. I've recently developed an urge to visit Newfoundland, in the summer naturally, so this feeds into that.
Some Great Thing by Colin McAdam - fiction. Set in Ottawa. Part of my attempt to read more Canadian fiction, especially the lesser-known authors, and books set in Canada. Like Aussie authors, Canadian authors tend to write about other places more often than not. Oh I do have Consolation to read which I think is set in Toronto, and The Amazing Absorbing Boy as well. I want to get a new book that's out, The Parabolist which is also set in Toronto, but I can't justify buying the hardcover.
Up in the Air by Walter Kirn - fiction. I finished this last night. I haven't seen the movie but everyone was telling me about it and it sounded so good/interesting that I thought I'd try the book. To be honest, the way the movie was described makes it sound like it's better than the book. I started out loving it. Then halfway through I dropped down to really liking it. When I finished it, I was struggling. Disappointing, especially after such a promising start.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FEBRUARY BOOKS
Books Read: 7
Books Read to Date: 18
Books Read for "2010 TBR Challenge": Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Most Enjoyed: A Bear Called Paddington and Finding Nouf
Least Enjoyed: there wasn't anything I really didn't like this month. Nothing below 3 stars.
Currently Reading: Mélusine by Sarah Monette (Fantasy)
Upcoming Book club Read: Pride and Prejudice. I'm not planning on re-reading it.
BOOKS READ:
Ferraris, Zoe: Finding Nouf
Frost, Jeaniene: First Drop of Crimson
Heller, Joseph: Catch-22
Banks, Maya: Sweet Seduction
Martinez, A. Lee: Monster
Bond, Michael: A Bear Called Paddington
Penman, Sharon Kay: Here Be Dragons