Wednesday Reading Meme
What I Just Finished Reading: 3 more this week, and all good ones! How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab, and Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm almost finished Game Changer by Neal Shusterman. Great concept, iffy on the execution.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I have two more library books to go, so either Serpico by Peter Maas or Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.
41. How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
This is not so much about a haunted house as it is about a haunted… puppet.
Which sounds maybe not so great, one might even think cheesy, but it’s probably what actually *makes it great*. Because it’s got this sort of old school vibe and it’s sincerely creepy, and then there’s a dysfunctional family and some unreliable narration, and a strong female lead that really holds it all together. There is, as always with Hendrix, a fine thread of dark humour throughout.
But honestly the horror is done *so well* that I completely bought into it even though the big bad is a hand puppet. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.
I did deduct a star for the initial characterization of Mark, though. Yes, the big man has been through a lot of trauma, but I felt he was SO unlikable and his actions SO inexplicable at first that it impacted the first half of the book in a negative way.
Dates Read: April 08 to 10, 2024
Page Count: 419
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October T - word that begins with T in title (41/74)
42. A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab
The conclusion of the Darker Shade of Magic series is a doorstop at 624 pages, and I loved every moment of it.
The story picks up right where the second book left off, with Kell in trouble in White London and Lila to the rescue. And when Red London is faced with the same magic-stripping fate that doomed the other lands, it’s up to the Antari and Alucard to figure out a way to stop it. I really enjoyed the addition of the POVs of Rhy’s parents and the little hints of castle intrigue. There were definitely some surprises there with the visiting royalty from the other houses. I also enjoyed Rhy’s growth and his learning to deal with not being quite so human anymore.
Were there issues? Sure. Neither Kell’s nor Lila’s origins were explained. I felt like Ms. Schwab was leading up to something, some hints in regard to the Queen, and I thought perhaps there was going to be a link between the Queen and Lila… and then nothing. Despite the length of this book, I honestly thought it might have been better served had the story been split into two 400-page novels, and then the little missing pieces that were hinted at could possibly have been filled in. And then there’s that ending in Grey London… is a sequel coming, perhaps?
Regardless, I felt those were fairly minor shortcomings. I couldn’t put this one down.
Dates Read: April 10 to 13, 2024
Page Count: 624
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October B - author with B in name (42/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books 12 - on TBR for over a year (41/52)
43. Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay
Loved this! Someone is using tech to cause elevators in New York City to malfunction, causing the gruesome deaths of those inside. Meanwhile, several coastal cities are also besieged by bombing attacks by a domestic terrorist group called the Flyovers, who may be responsible for the elevators as well. Then there’s a traumatized cop and his kickass partner investigating a murder, a corrupt mayor and his browbeaten son, and a reporter who’s trying to get to the bottom of things.
It all comes together smashingly. I thought I had a few things figured out, and then all my theories were turned upside down by the final pages. Plotting, characterization, and pacing were all top notch. If I had a single complaint it would be that I’d wish the reporter character was more of an investigative journalist and less strident opinion-piece writer, but they can’t all be perfect.
Dates Read: April 13 to 14, 2024
Page Count: 453
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October E - with a 5 in page count (43/74)
+ Around The Year in 52 Books 42 - sound-related word in title (42/52)
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What I'm Reading Right Now: I'm almost finished Game Changer by Neal Shusterman. Great concept, iffy on the execution.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I have two more library books to go, so either Serpico by Peter Maas or Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.
41. How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
This is not so much about a haunted house as it is about a haunted… puppet.
Which sounds maybe not so great, one might even think cheesy, but it’s probably what actually *makes it great*. Because it’s got this sort of old school vibe and it’s sincerely creepy, and then there’s a dysfunctional family and some unreliable narration, and a strong female lead that really holds it all together. There is, as always with Hendrix, a fine thread of dark humour throughout.
But honestly the horror is done *so well* that I completely bought into it even though the big bad is a hand puppet. You’ll just have to trust me on this one.
I did deduct a star for the initial characterization of Mark, though. Yes, the big man has been through a lot of trauma, but I felt he was SO unlikable and his actions SO inexplicable at first that it impacted the first half of the book in a negative way.
Dates Read: April 08 to 10, 2024
Page Count: 419
4 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October T - word that begins with T in title (41/74)
42. A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab
The conclusion of the Darker Shade of Magic series is a doorstop at 624 pages, and I loved every moment of it.
The story picks up right where the second book left off, with Kell in trouble in White London and Lila to the rescue. And when Red London is faced with the same magic-stripping fate that doomed the other lands, it’s up to the Antari and Alucard to figure out a way to stop it. I really enjoyed the addition of the POVs of Rhy’s parents and the little hints of castle intrigue. There were definitely some surprises there with the visiting royalty from the other houses. I also enjoyed Rhy’s growth and his learning to deal with not being quite so human anymore.
Were there issues? Sure. Neither Kell’s nor Lila’s origins were explained. I felt like Ms. Schwab was leading up to something, some hints in regard to the Queen, and I thought perhaps there was going to be a link between the Queen and Lila… and then nothing. Despite the length of this book, I honestly thought it might have been better served had the story been split into two 400-page novels, and then the little missing pieces that were hinted at could possibly have been filled in. And then there’s that ending in Grey London… is a sequel coming, perhaps?
Regardless, I felt those were fairly minor shortcomings. I couldn’t put this one down.
Dates Read: April 10 to 13, 2024
Page Count: 624
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October B - author with B in name (42/74)
+ Around the Year in 52 Books 12 - on TBR for over a year (41/52)
43. Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay
Loved this! Someone is using tech to cause elevators in New York City to malfunction, causing the gruesome deaths of those inside. Meanwhile, several coastal cities are also besieged by bombing attacks by a domestic terrorist group called the Flyovers, who may be responsible for the elevators as well. Then there’s a traumatized cop and his kickass partner investigating a murder, a corrupt mayor and his browbeaten son, and a reporter who’s trying to get to the bottom of things.
It all comes together smashingly. I thought I had a few things figured out, and then all my theories were turned upside down by the final pages. Plotting, characterization, and pacing were all top notch. If I had a single complaint it would be that I’d wish the reporter character was more of an investigative journalist and less strident opinion-piece writer, but they can’t all be perfect.
Dates Read: April 13 to 14, 2024
Page Count: 453
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - October E - with a 5 in page count (43/74)
+ Around The Year in 52 Books 42 - sound-related word in title (42/52)
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