The Host by Stephanie Meyer
I've read this so many times before, but this time it was an audiobook. I was having trouble falling asleep one night, and reading always makes me sleepy, so I thought a book being read to me would be just as good if not better. I borrowed this one from my online library, and I was asleep in no time. Then I fell into the story again, and put it on whenever there was some silence that needed filling: while cleaning my room, while driving in my radio-less truck (seriously, it's just a plastic dash--I don't even have the option of a cassette!) or any other time.
Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
Another solid installation of the Temeraire series, although to be honest, this one took me so long (for whatever reason) that I can't really remember what happened in this book or the one(s) before it. Regardless, the story is still progressing! I'm excited too, because judging from the ending, with Laurence and Temeraire getting shipped off to Australia, I think there might be a bit of a break from all the military combat. It's very well done, but these little breaks that Novik works in the series are perfectly timed to keep me going. I'm looking forward to the next one (which I already have downloaded!).
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Yay, I finished it! I actually finished this so early in the week that I forgot I finished it this week and had to edit this in here after checking the other entries! I plowed through this once I got home for break, and it was incredibly well done. It was very exciting to go to a new land, and the new potential allies and enemies there have me all excited for what's coming next. This one had a lot of back story and revelations and lore, but it was woven into the action so as to prevent it from becoming a dull historical recitation. Maas seems to be very good at that, because I made similar comments about the last book (noting that the second book in a series is often the dull "character development" one). I'm glad the main character finally got herself together and moved past the wallowy sadness phase, although even that wasn't overdone or annoying. However, I'm excited to see what she can do when she's actually thinking and in control of herself. As for the romance plot, I'm actually pretty unsure of any of those possible tangled ends, for any of the characters. Very well written! And thank goodness that those are taking a bit of a backseat to the true drama of the world. Romance is good as a spice, but not so much as the main flavor, at least not here.
How odd...
This is the last post of the year! Kind of anyway: next post will be a few days of this remaining year and few days of THE FUTURE! Whoohoo, and look out for a new label!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
December 14 - 20
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
This is the second book in the Throne of Glass series, and it was better than the first because there was more freedom for the main character, which isn't surprising considering the first one had her shackled and trailed by guards and such. Now she's able to move about more or less freely. I plowed through this book in about a day (again) despite the piles of work that I was wading through for finals week---THAT'S how you know it was good! There were some really great twists, especially at the end that TOTALLY caught me off guard, which is again, pretty impressive because I'm usually pretty good at predictions. It ended on a super strong note! Very impressive! Basically, yeah, I'm a fan of this particular book (and series, so far).
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Unfortunately this book just came out in September, so waiting lists and such are quite long. Fortunately, I managed to get a copy anyway! :D This one takes you to a new land with a bunch of new creatures, including some chapters narrated by those creepy Ironteeth witches. The King is planning some crazy evil stuff, as any good evil King does. I'm probably about a third of the way through this one because finals work finally needed to be done. It's pretty solid so far though.
On another note...
Now that I'm home for a bit, I went to the used bookstore that's part of the town library and picked up a bunch of promising new titles. Can't wait to dive into those! I got a few Malcolm Gladwell books, as well as Ishmael which my brother has been encouraging me to read for years now. Also, it's an odd thought that soon I won't be using the 2014 tag! We're getting close now!
This is the second book in the Throne of Glass series, and it was better than the first because there was more freedom for the main character, which isn't surprising considering the first one had her shackled and trailed by guards and such. Now she's able to move about more or less freely. I plowed through this book in about a day (again) despite the piles of work that I was wading through for finals week---THAT'S how you know it was good! There were some really great twists, especially at the end that TOTALLY caught me off guard, which is again, pretty impressive because I'm usually pretty good at predictions. It ended on a super strong note! Very impressive! Basically, yeah, I'm a fan of this particular book (and series, so far).
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Unfortunately this book just came out in September, so waiting lists and such are quite long. Fortunately, I managed to get a copy anyway! :D This one takes you to a new land with a bunch of new creatures, including some chapters narrated by those creepy Ironteeth witches. The King is planning some crazy evil stuff, as any good evil King does. I'm probably about a third of the way through this one because finals work finally needed to be done. It's pretty solid so far though.
On another note...
Now that I'm home for a bit, I went to the used bookstore that's part of the town library and picked up a bunch of promising new titles. Can't wait to dive into those! I got a few Malcolm Gladwell books, as well as Ishmael which my brother has been encouraging me to read for years now. Also, it's an odd thought that soon I won't be using the 2014 tag! We're getting close now!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
December 7 - 13
The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett
Well, I finally finished this! And... it continued in largely the same vein. We learn about the characters when they tell us stories. The narrator left and then it ended. I wish we had had class to discuss this because I'm still not feeling like I got much from it. Discussing it with a group of intelligent people would have helped.
Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age by Kenneth J. Guest
Its finals week, and I have re-read several chapters of this in-depth now. I have mentioned it before, and it's still holding up okay...for a textbook.
Victory of Eagles: A Novel of Temeraire (#5) by Naomi Novik
This book is so exciting! I love hearing from Temeraire's perspective. Also, I was totally right: he led a rebellion of epic proportions and became a ranking officer! HA! I guess the joke is on them now! Anyway, it's just fantastic. After trying to kill all the dragons in the world, those officers deserve such an appropriate kind of embarrassment. I'm still suspicious of Iskierka, though she's acting all obedient and such now. I just don't see it lasting. Temeraire and some of the others are headed off to the front to keep Napoleon at bay, so we're getting to the exciting ending, I'm guessing!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
This was one of the books I found by browsing through books that were available as an e-book through my library at home. What a find! While it wasn't anything insane or totally new, it was enough to draw me in and keep me in until I finished it. I almost let myself be late for a dinner date so that I could finish it! I managed to put it down for a few hours though, and finished it in about a day. So, definitely a solid book. An 18-year-old female assassin of incredible renown is taken from a slave labor camp and entered into the king's competition for royal assassin, basically. There's some magic sprinkled in, and of course a love story with a handsome prince. **SPOILER UPCOMING** LUCKILY, their love story was ended before the end, thank GOODNESS, because I didn't really like that direction. It ended as well as it could, but the prince was all dramatic and "I could never be with someone else now that I know her!" so we'll see how he does with it, I guess. I'm glad she's going for the guard instead. He's more real, and I suspect he has ties to magic somehow...maybe he can see it too? He also has a way cooler name. **END SPOILERS*
Anyway, I'm currently waiting for a copy of the next one in the series. It made for a nice day's light read in a time of turmoil (so much work for finals!!).
Well, I finally finished this! And... it continued in largely the same vein. We learn about the characters when they tell us stories. The narrator left and then it ended. I wish we had had class to discuss this because I'm still not feeling like I got much from it. Discussing it with a group of intelligent people would have helped.
Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age by Kenneth J. Guest
Its finals week, and I have re-read several chapters of this in-depth now. I have mentioned it before, and it's still holding up okay...for a textbook.
Victory of Eagles: A Novel of Temeraire (#5) by Naomi Novik
This book is so exciting! I love hearing from Temeraire's perspective. Also, I was totally right: he led a rebellion of epic proportions and became a ranking officer! HA! I guess the joke is on them now! Anyway, it's just fantastic. After trying to kill all the dragons in the world, those officers deserve such an appropriate kind of embarrassment. I'm still suspicious of Iskierka, though she's acting all obedient and such now. I just don't see it lasting. Temeraire and some of the others are headed off to the front to keep Napoleon at bay, so we're getting to the exciting ending, I'm guessing!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
This was one of the books I found by browsing through books that were available as an e-book through my library at home. What a find! While it wasn't anything insane or totally new, it was enough to draw me in and keep me in until I finished it. I almost let myself be late for a dinner date so that I could finish it! I managed to put it down for a few hours though, and finished it in about a day. So, definitely a solid book. An 18-year-old female assassin of incredible renown is taken from a slave labor camp and entered into the king's competition for royal assassin, basically. There's some magic sprinkled in, and of course a love story with a handsome prince. **SPOILER UPCOMING** LUCKILY, their love story was ended before the end, thank GOODNESS, because I didn't really like that direction. It ended as well as it could, but the prince was all dramatic and "I could never be with someone else now that I know her!" so we'll see how he does with it, I guess. I'm glad she's going for the guard instead. He's more real, and I suspect he has ties to magic somehow...maybe he can see it too? He also has a way cooler name. **END SPOILERS*
Anyway, I'm currently waiting for a copy of the next one in the series. It made for a nice day's light read in a time of turmoil (so much work for finals!!).
Saturday, December 6, 2014
November 30 - December 6
Empire of Ivory: A Novel of Temeraire by Naomi Novik
I finally finished this one! It was pretty solid, and introduced some new issues and elements. I also finally got o the point where I found out in the eighth book which I accidentally began what Laurence does to commit treason (!!). It was pretty much excellent, especially the ending. It dropped off in the middle of the action on a cliffhanger---very well done!
Victory of Eagles: A Novel of Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Luckily, this one picked up right where the last one left off, so I didn't really have to wait to see what happened. I"m only about a third of the way through, but the threat of death is hanging over Laurence's head (pretty literally!). I really like that I'm getting the novel straight from Temeraire though since he's super interesting. He seems to be up to something, something rebellious and exciting!
The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett
So far, not much has really happened in this book. The majority of our class discussion was "does this book have a plot?" Not "what is the plot?" but does it even have one. We also talked about old people. So yeah, not a lot going on. Unsurprisingly, it takes place in Maine. ;) It's largely an examination of the characters of the old people who live in the town that the narrator is visiting. Not much really happens. I'm genuinely not super sure what... was... why it was written, I suppose. My thought is that it was somewhat meta, and the novel was sort of a post-product of an actual experience of the writer that was hinted at in the novel. That doesn't really sound right either, but I can't think of anything else despite lengthy group discussions.
I finally finished this one! It was pretty solid, and introduced some new issues and elements. I also finally got o the point where I found out in the eighth book which I accidentally began what Laurence does to commit treason (!!). It was pretty much excellent, especially the ending. It dropped off in the middle of the action on a cliffhanger---very well done!
Victory of Eagles: A Novel of Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Luckily, this one picked up right where the last one left off, so I didn't really have to wait to see what happened. I"m only about a third of the way through, but the threat of death is hanging over Laurence's head (pretty literally!). I really like that I'm getting the novel straight from Temeraire though since he's super interesting. He seems to be up to something, something rebellious and exciting!
The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett
So far, not much has really happened in this book. The majority of our class discussion was "does this book have a plot?" Not "what is the plot?" but does it even have one. We also talked about old people. So yeah, not a lot going on. Unsurprisingly, it takes place in Maine. ;) It's largely an examination of the characters of the old people who live in the town that the narrator is visiting. Not much really happens. I'm genuinely not super sure what... was... why it was written, I suppose. My thought is that it was somewhat meta, and the novel was sort of a post-product of an actual experience of the writer that was hinted at in the novel. That doesn't really sound right either, but I can't think of anything else despite lengthy group discussions.
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