Books of 2013
*format stolen from greenconverses @lj
I am going to read 50 books this year. 100 seems a bit ambitious, so I'll start small.
1. Mastiff (Beka Cooper #3) by Tamora Pierce
2. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
3. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
4. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
7. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Thoughts on the books:
-Mastiff was an immensely satisfying conclusion to the Beka Cooper Trilogy. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Farmer as a love interest. He's so perfect and dreamy in a totally non-Gary Stu way. He just fits with Beka so wonderfully. I loved the slavery issue and how high the stakes were. My complaints are that there were some unresolved plot lines, like the fire-starter at the inn, and other seemingly random happenings. I felt a tad detached from this book, more so than Pierce's other books, but I think that's just an issue I had with the other books in the trilogy as well. These are in first-person, journal-entry style and while I understand more of Beka's thoughts, the world isn't quite as rich. Also.... Tunstall! /cries I do think Beka may be in the running for my favorite Tortall-verse heroine though.
-Lips Touch: Three Time was a collection of three stories, all based on Irish, Indian, or Zoroastrian mythology. I had heard such great things about Laini Taylor and her writing, that I was almost a little cynical as I entered into reading. I WANTED to love it, but I was so scared of disappointment. Let me just say that Taylor rights beautifully. She has some absolutely gorgeous prose, and certain sentences just make you stop and stare. But because I had been reading a little about purple prose lately, I went in with a critical eye. Taylor knows her boundaries. She doesn't quite cross into purple territory, and most of the time it's just wonderful to bask in her writing, but sometimes she's pushing it. I like the twists and turns that her stories take, and the fact that things DON'T always get resolved nicely. The last story "Hatchling," is probably my favorite. Mihai is an awesome male character, and his love for the Queen is breathtaking. I can't wait to check out Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
-I started reading Saving Francesca with extremely high expectations. So many reviewers on goodreads have raved about it, and I was thinking "This book better deliver." And it did, boy did it ever. Melina Marchetta REALLY knows how to pack an emotional punch, but not in an obvious, forced manner. Her work is subtle and beautiful. I loved how realistic it was, and how Francesca realizes who she belongs with, who she can be, and resolves her issues with her mother. The characters were lovely, and I've really developed an appreciation for how precise Marchetta's language is. It was enough for me to go back to Finnikin of the Rock and change my goodreads rating from 4 stars to 5 stars. Before, I have always connected better with earthy prose, something that grounds me and surrounds me with the world of a book. It's why I adore worldbuilding so much. Part of why I hate Divergent as the clinical, sterile feel the book gave me. It was just such a cold, uncomfortable feel. But I'm slowly learning to appreciate other styles, and yes Marchetta is more solid in her modern novels, but I've realized how much I love her characterization and subtlety in her fantasies as well. She can paint anguish and emotion better than most authors I've ever read, and I'm learning to expand the style of book that I can appreciate. She is wonderful. I'm still not done with Froi of the Exiles, but it is ever such a strong book.
-What can I say about Froi of the Exiles? It is the closest to a perfect book I've come in a long time. Marchetta's writing is just so precise and cunning. It presents raw emotion in a very real way, not hitting you over the head, but letting it come naturally. You feel alongside the characters, and the grief, anguish, frustration, and helplessness of various characters never feels overdone. Froi is a wonderful character, and his relationship with Quintana of Charyn is so deep and intriguing. Theirs is not an easy path. But you really root for them every step of the way. Like another reviewer has said, no character written by Marchetta is ever wasted. Lucian of the Monts has a more explored story in this book, and the conflicts between the Lumaterans and Charynites is taut and nebulous, and very real political and social issues are addressed in a natural manner. I love, love, love this book. And that ending was wonderful too. I cannot wait to read Quintana of Charyn.
-Ah.
I am going to read 50 books this year. 100 seems a bit ambitious, so I'll start small.
1. Mastiff (Beka Cooper #3) by Tamora Pierce
2. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
3. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
4. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
7. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Thoughts on the books:
-Mastiff was an immensely satisfying conclusion to the Beka Cooper Trilogy. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Farmer as a love interest. He's so perfect and dreamy in a totally non-Gary Stu way. He just fits with Beka so wonderfully. I loved the slavery issue and how high the stakes were. My complaints are that there were some unresolved plot lines, like the fire-starter at the inn, and other seemingly random happenings. I felt a tad detached from this book, more so than Pierce's other books, but I think that's just an issue I had with the other books in the trilogy as well. These are in first-person, journal-entry style and while I understand more of Beka's thoughts, the world isn't quite as rich. Also.... Tunstall! /cries I do think Beka may be in the running for my favorite Tortall-verse heroine though.
-Lips Touch: Three Time was a collection of three stories, all based on Irish, Indian, or Zoroastrian mythology. I had heard such great things about Laini Taylor and her writing, that I was almost a little cynical as I entered into reading. I WANTED to love it, but I was so scared of disappointment. Let me just say that Taylor rights beautifully. She has some absolutely gorgeous prose, and certain sentences just make you stop and stare. But because I had been reading a little about purple prose lately, I went in with a critical eye. Taylor knows her boundaries. She doesn't quite cross into purple territory, and most of the time it's just wonderful to bask in her writing, but sometimes she's pushing it. I like the twists and turns that her stories take, and the fact that things DON'T always get resolved nicely. The last story "Hatchling," is probably my favorite. Mihai is an awesome male character, and his love for the Queen is breathtaking. I can't wait to check out Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
-I started reading Saving Francesca with extremely high expectations. So many reviewers on goodreads have raved about it, and I was thinking "This book better deliver." And it did, boy did it ever. Melina Marchetta REALLY knows how to pack an emotional punch, but not in an obvious, forced manner. Her work is subtle and beautiful. I loved how realistic it was, and how Francesca realizes who she belongs with, who she can be, and resolves her issues with her mother. The characters were lovely, and I've really developed an appreciation for how precise Marchetta's language is. It was enough for me to go back to Finnikin of the Rock and change my goodreads rating from 4 stars to 5 stars. Before, I have always connected better with earthy prose, something that grounds me and surrounds me with the world of a book. It's why I adore worldbuilding so much. Part of why I hate Divergent as the clinical, sterile feel the book gave me. It was just such a cold, uncomfortable feel. But I'm slowly learning to appreciate other styles, and yes Marchetta is more solid in her modern novels, but I've realized how much I love her characterization and subtlety in her fantasies as well. She can paint anguish and emotion better than most authors I've ever read, and I'm learning to expand the style of book that I can appreciate. She is wonderful. I'm still not done with Froi of the Exiles, but it is ever such a strong book.
-What can I say about Froi of the Exiles? It is the closest to a perfect book I've come in a long time. Marchetta's writing is just so precise and cunning. It presents raw emotion in a very real way, not hitting you over the head, but letting it come naturally. You feel alongside the characters, and the grief, anguish, frustration, and helplessness of various characters never feels overdone. Froi is a wonderful character, and his relationship with Quintana of Charyn is so deep and intriguing. Theirs is not an easy path. But you really root for them every step of the way. Like another reviewer has said, no character written by Marchetta is ever wasted. Lucian of the Monts has a more explored story in this book, and the conflicts between the Lumaterans and Charynites is taut and nebulous, and very real political and social issues are addressed in a natural manner. I love, love, love this book. And that ending was wonderful too. I cannot wait to read Quintana of Charyn.
-Ah.