Wednesday Reading Meme
I'm still working... today all the files dropped late so I need to have a late night. But dropping in quick for books, yay!
What I Just Finished Reading: Since January 1st I've read 4 books: The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele, Outpost by Ann Aguirre, Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth, and Woof by Spencer Quinn. Reviews below.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm about 1/4 through the final book in The Last Policeman trilogy, World of Trouble and enjoying it. I fear the end will gut me, though.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I have 2 books waiting to be picked up at the library and one more in transit. Of those, I think I will read Horde, the last book in the Razorland trilogy by Ann Aguirre, because I realllllly need to find out what happens next.
01. The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele
After economic collapse and widespread illness causes the breakdown of society, high school principal Carson undertakes a cross-country journey on foot to find Beatrix, his online romance. He does this even though he’s only met her in person, what, twice? Surely it must be true love.
There is so much wrong with this book it’s hard to know where to start. I guess I’ll begin with the characters. Beatrix is a strident, self-righteous and judgmental fair trade activist who inexplicably seems to be universally loved by her friends group. Carson is bland and boring. He fancies himself a historian and archivist but when he gets the chance to interview the country’s rising “messiah”, he sits there with his mouth open. It’s hard to root for people that you actively dislike.
The setting is unrealistic to say the least. The country has broken down. There is no food, electricity, police or government. It’s every man for himself. And… everybody just kind of gets along. People start bartering their goods. They share meals and supplies. The biggest issue in Beatrix’s neck of the woods is a gang of literal children who mend their ways for some chocolate and a role in a radio play. I MEAN. While it’s wonderful to think that *some communities* would bond together, it’s mind-boggling ridiculous to think that that would be the norm. It’s worse than that out in the world *now* and we haven’t had an apocalypse and been left homeless and starving.
And then there’s the actual writing. The author tries very hard for her prose to sound meaningful and special. But what we get is stuff like this (when someone asks Carson to stay on his farm): “Carson considered it, grateful. But he wanted to stay in the river of momentum.”
The. River. Of. Momentum.
In the end, this is a pretentiously written novel populated by boring characters and featuring unrealistic scenarios. I’m sad that it was my first read of the year.
Dates Read: January 01 to 03, 2024
Page Count: 325
2 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (17/19)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - January R - initial from author last name in WINTER (01/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 33 - involving travel (01/52)
+ Challenges & Fandoms Fan Favourite - Prompt 01 - published year I joined Goodreads [2019] (01/16)
02. Outpost by Ann Aguirre
The second book in the Razorlands trilogy picks up shortly after the first, with Deuce and her traveling companions getting used to living Topside and trying to find their places in the settlement. There’s a slow pace to this book that I think was really important, because it let Deuce’s transformation - or rather, her coming acceptance of the duality of her nature - feel more realistic and natural. There’s a significant amount of action too, as we learn more about the Freaks and the denizens of the outpost.
This is a YA book so of course there’s some miscommunication, but it wasn’t horribly overdone. And why do these young women always choose the wrong boy? LOL One thing I do enjoy about this trilogy is that I think Deuce is an excellent role model for young women. She’s confident in her abilities and no one is going to get the better of her without a fight, but she’s also willing to listen and learn.
Dates Read: January 04 to 06, 2024
Page Count: 320
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (18/19)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - August A - by an A author (02/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 01 - title ends in A, T, or Y (02/52)
+ Challenges & Fandom Fan Favourite - Prompt 02 - 3 tags in common with fave book [The Stand] (02/16)
03. Call The Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth
The third of Jennifer Worth’s memoirs may have been the most interesting of the lot. She alternates between more stories of her time as a midwife in London’s East End with some history lessons on various issues of the times. She ties in several chapters about a publican family that suffered the great losses of many of their children due to tuberculosis with a history of the disease, how it was spread, and attempts to come up with a vaccine. It’s also in this section that she perhaps fails the most though, straying almost certainly into pure fiction as she relates events and scenes that happened many years before her time at Nonnatus House.
Most shocking was a section on the Contagious Diseases (Women) Act of 1864, which allowed women walking alone to be pulled off the street, held without charge in jail, and forcibly “examined” for sexually transmitted disease. It served to highlight both how much the times have changed and also how quickly parts of the world - I’m looking at you, USA - are slipping back into this debasement and violation of women’s rights.
The combination of history and personal stories works really well in this volume. There’s a mix of heartbreak - tales of the things families will do when they simply cannot afford another mouth to feed - and amusement in the continuing misadventures of Sister Monica Joan. And finally, Ms. Worth ends this memoir by giving us closure on the lives of Cynthia, Trixie, Chummy, and the various Sisters. A very satisfying read.
Dates Read: January 06 to 07, 2024
Page Count: 314
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (19/19) - this subtask of the challenge complete!
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - February A - ICE in title (any order) (03/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 45 - not a novel (03/52)
04. Woof by Spencer Quinn
This middle grade book, written by the author of the Chet & Bernie Mysteries, shows us the Louisiana bayou through the eyes of a big, slobbery mutt named Bowser. He’s had a rough life, as his occasional memories of time spent with a city gang attest, when he’s adopted by 11-year-old Birdie from a shelter. He gets on like a house afire with Birdie, and when there’s a robbery at the bait and tackle shop owned by her grandmother, it’s Birdie & Bowser on the trail of the bad guys.
Bowser’s internal voice is like a more innocent version of Chet’s, and he’s equally willing to put his life on the line for Birdie. The dog POV is, of course, absolutely wonderful. The mystery is simple enough for a kid to follow, and there’s some action sequences involving the bad guys and the swamp that probably would have kids on the edge of their seat. I did think that Grammy was pretty darned mean for a kid’s book, but I suppose adults in these books need to be rather inexplicable so that the kids can be the heroes.
I think the prose does get very flat with the kids’ conversations, but overall this is a super cute story.
Dates Read: January 07 to 08, 2024
Page Count: 293
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 20 - set on water/water on cover/coastal town (12/20)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - February B - MC’s name starts with B (04/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 15 - author’s name includes either J, Q, Z, or K (04/52)
+ Fandoms & Challenges Fan Favourite - Prompt 04 - start or finish a book or series by the same author as your favourite series [Chet & Bernie Mysteries] (03/16)
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What I Just Finished Reading: Since January 1st I've read 4 books: The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele, Outpost by Ann Aguirre, Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth, and Woof by Spencer Quinn. Reviews below.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm about 1/4 through the final book in The Last Policeman trilogy, World of Trouble and enjoying it. I fear the end will gut me, though.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I have 2 books waiting to be picked up at the library and one more in transit. Of those, I think I will read Horde, the last book in the Razorland trilogy by Ann Aguirre, because I realllllly need to find out what happens next.
01. The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele
After economic collapse and widespread illness causes the breakdown of society, high school principal Carson undertakes a cross-country journey on foot to find Beatrix, his online romance. He does this even though he’s only met her in person, what, twice? Surely it must be true love.
There is so much wrong with this book it’s hard to know where to start. I guess I’ll begin with the characters. Beatrix is a strident, self-righteous and judgmental fair trade activist who inexplicably seems to be universally loved by her friends group. Carson is bland and boring. He fancies himself a historian and archivist but when he gets the chance to interview the country’s rising “messiah”, he sits there with his mouth open. It’s hard to root for people that you actively dislike.
The setting is unrealistic to say the least. The country has broken down. There is no food, electricity, police or government. It’s every man for himself. And… everybody just kind of gets along. People start bartering their goods. They share meals and supplies. The biggest issue in Beatrix’s neck of the woods is a gang of literal children who mend their ways for some chocolate and a role in a radio play. I MEAN. While it’s wonderful to think that *some communities* would bond together, it’s mind-boggling ridiculous to think that that would be the norm. It’s worse than that out in the world *now* and we haven’t had an apocalypse and been left homeless and starving.
And then there’s the actual writing. The author tries very hard for her prose to sound meaningful and special. But what we get is stuff like this (when someone asks Carson to stay on his farm): “Carson considered it, grateful. But he wanted to stay in the river of momentum.”
The. River. Of. Momentum.
In the end, this is a pretentiously written novel populated by boring characters and featuring unrealistic scenarios. I’m sad that it was my first read of the year.
Dates Read: January 01 to 03, 2024
Page Count: 325
2 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (17/19)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - January R - initial from author last name in WINTER (01/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 33 - involving travel (01/52)
+ Challenges & Fandoms Fan Favourite - Prompt 01 - published year I joined Goodreads [2019] (01/16)
02. Outpost by Ann Aguirre
The second book in the Razorlands trilogy picks up shortly after the first, with Deuce and her traveling companions getting used to living Topside and trying to find their places in the settlement. There’s a slow pace to this book that I think was really important, because it let Deuce’s transformation - or rather, her coming acceptance of the duality of her nature - feel more realistic and natural. There’s a significant amount of action too, as we learn more about the Freaks and the denizens of the outpost.
This is a YA book so of course there’s some miscommunication, but it wasn’t horribly overdone. And why do these young women always choose the wrong boy? LOL One thing I do enjoy about this trilogy is that I think Deuce is an excellent role model for young women. She’s confident in her abilities and no one is going to get the better of her without a fight, but she’s also willing to listen and learn.
Dates Read: January 04 to 06, 2024
Page Count: 320
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (18/19)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - August A - by an A author (02/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 01 - title ends in A, T, or Y (02/52)
+ Challenges & Fandom Fan Favourite - Prompt 02 - 3 tags in common with fave book [The Stand] (02/16)
03. Call The Midwife: Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth
The third of Jennifer Worth’s memoirs may have been the most interesting of the lot. She alternates between more stories of her time as a midwife in London’s East End with some history lessons on various issues of the times. She ties in several chapters about a publican family that suffered the great losses of many of their children due to tuberculosis with a history of the disease, how it was spread, and attempts to come up with a vaccine. It’s also in this section that she perhaps fails the most though, straying almost certainly into pure fiction as she relates events and scenes that happened many years before her time at Nonnatus House.
Most shocking was a section on the Contagious Diseases (Women) Act of 1864, which allowed women walking alone to be pulled off the street, held without charge in jail, and forcibly “examined” for sexually transmitted disease. It served to highlight both how much the times have changed and also how quickly parts of the world - I’m looking at you, USA - are slipping back into this debasement and violation of women’s rights.
The combination of history and personal stories works really well in this volume. There’s a mix of heartbreak - tales of the things families will do when they simply cannot afford another mouth to feed - and amusement in the continuing misadventures of Sister Monica Joan. And finally, Ms. Worth ends this memoir by giving us closure on the lives of Cynthia, Trixie, Chummy, and the various Sisters. A very satisfying read.
Dates Read: January 06 to 07, 2024
Page Count: 314
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 19 - read 19 books with an outdoor cover (19/19) - this subtask of the challenge complete!
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - February A - ICE in title (any order) (03/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 45 - not a novel (03/52)
04. Woof by Spencer Quinn
This middle grade book, written by the author of the Chet & Bernie Mysteries, shows us the Louisiana bayou through the eyes of a big, slobbery mutt named Bowser. He’s had a rough life, as his occasional memories of time spent with a city gang attest, when he’s adopted by 11-year-old Birdie from a shelter. He gets on like a house afire with Birdie, and when there’s a robbery at the bait and tackle shop owned by her grandmother, it’s Birdie & Bowser on the trail of the bad guys.
Bowser’s internal voice is like a more innocent version of Chet’s, and he’s equally willing to put his life on the line for Birdie. The dog POV is, of course, absolutely wonderful. The mystery is simple enough for a kid to follow, and there’s some action sequences involving the bad guys and the swamp that probably would have kids on the edge of their seat. I did think that Grammy was pretty darned mean for a kid’s book, but I suppose adults in these books need to be rather inexplicable so that the kids can be the heroes.
I think the prose does get very flat with the kids’ conversations, but overall this is a super cute story.
Dates Read: January 07 to 08, 2024
Page Count: 293
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges Pyramid of Books - Task 20 - set on water/water on cover/coastal town (12/20)
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - February B - MC’s name starts with B (04/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books - Prompt 15 - author’s name includes either J, Q, Z, or K (04/52)
+ Fandoms & Challenges Fan Favourite - Prompt 04 - start or finish a book or series by the same author as your favourite series [Chet & Bernie Mysteries] (03/16)
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