January 2018 Wrap Up
Hello All,
Since I've finally started reading again I wanted to give you a quick update on where I am and what I've read over the last month, as I don't feel comfortable enough to really write reviews on any of these. Obviously there are spoilers ahead.
1. Price and Predjudice and Zombies
This is the first book I read this year, and it was a strange experience as I have never read Pride and Predjudice so maybe I went about it in the wrong order, but I have seen the TV adaptation so I know the rough storyline. To be honest, I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it I have quite neutral feelings about it to be honest. I thought Elizabeth were strong and times which was interesting considering the setting but then they would so something so weak and submissive it would just ruin it. Although, I've got to say my favourite thing they kept in Elizabeth's awesome speech directed at Mr Darcy and that was quite entertaining paired with a fight. So if Zombies is your thing if this is for you, if you don't love Zombies you can skip this.
2. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
I flew through this book within 24 hours and really enjoyed the whole thing. I like Meria and how she interacts with her companions, although I wasn't very keen on Mather from the start something about him just felt off. I think I didn't like Mather too much because I'm tired of that whole: 'I love you but I can't be with you, but I'll lead you and be kinda controlling' male character trope that's featured in a lot of YA; so I wasn't that upset that didn't end up together. The 'plot twist' that meant Meria was actually heir to the throne did not surprise me, I kinda saw it coming and it increasingly became obvious as the book went on what was going to be revealed at the end. I'm still quite confused on how the magic works in this world, I don't quite understand how Meria is able to have magic without a conduit, but I think that will probably become clearer to me as I read more of the trilogy as I'm sure it's just something I need to revise.
3. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
I loved this. It was a really entertaining read that I just kept wanting to go back to and I didn't really want it to end, which unfortunately it did. I found all the characters to be quite entertaining, and I thought the trio of protagonists we're given was an excellent and new mix I hadn't seen before. I also really enjoyed how this book was structured, you've given multiple perspectives that are in the present and past and I really enjoyed the way it jumped from the other as shapes my perspective on the story well. Overall, I think it was well written and very entertaining, however if you've got something against elephants don't pick up.
4. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
I've got to say I was really disappointed with this story from Sepetys. There was a lot of hype around this book when it first came, and I was very excited because I read Between Shades of Grey a few years and thought it was amazing. This was not. I really struggled with this story. Don't get me wrong though, I think it's an interesting concept and the character of Alfred is very interesting and I liked that, I also liked how it didn't shy away from the brutality of the Second World War on either side. Also, several of the characters were great like the young boy and the Shoe Poet. However, even though I'm saying all of this, I was disappointed. I don't like the way this is structured as it felt very forced and the chapters were usually too short for me for what they were meant to convey. This book also involved quite a lot of romance between two of the protagonists that I didn't think was necessary at all, it wasn't the point of this story and I think it could have been with less focus on it even. I just have very mixed feelings about this, and maybe that is because I read Between Shades of Grey first so my expectations were too high.
5. Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller
Now this is a play I have to read for the tragedy side of my English Literature A Level, and this was a re-read. However, this is probably of my favourite and I would love to see it because I think Miller manages to do in two Acts is genius. The play is basically one big commentary on capitalism and the American Dream and how basically it's shit, which not everyone likes but a lot of the things Miller critics do ring true. Miller also able to do this in such a tragic way with the character of Willy, because you know from the very start he's doomed because the American Dream has completely ensnared him and it's fascinating. Also, it's very interesting to see the impact this has on the characters of Biff and Happy, and how the learn this - or in Happy's case not at all. It's a very quick and one I highly recommend, and I just think it's a good one.
Since I've finally started reading again I wanted to give you a quick update on where I am and what I've read over the last month, as I don't feel comfortable enough to really write reviews on any of these. Obviously there are spoilers ahead.
1. Price and Predjudice and ZombiesThis is the first book I read this year, and it was a strange experience as I have never read Pride and Predjudice so maybe I went about it in the wrong order, but I have seen the TV adaptation so I know the rough storyline. To be honest, I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it I have quite neutral feelings about it to be honest. I thought Elizabeth were strong and times which was interesting considering the setting but then they would so something so weak and submissive it would just ruin it. Although, I've got to say my favourite thing they kept in Elizabeth's awesome speech directed at Mr Darcy and that was quite entertaining paired with a fight. So if Zombies is your thing if this is for you, if you don't love Zombies you can skip this.
I flew through this book within 24 hours and really enjoyed the whole thing. I like Meria and how she interacts with her companions, although I wasn't very keen on Mather from the start something about him just felt off. I think I didn't like Mather too much because I'm tired of that whole: 'I love you but I can't be with you, but I'll lead you and be kinda controlling' male character trope that's featured in a lot of YA; so I wasn't that upset that didn't end up together. The 'plot twist' that meant Meria was actually heir to the throne did not surprise me, I kinda saw it coming and it increasingly became obvious as the book went on what was going to be revealed at the end. I'm still quite confused on how the magic works in this world, I don't quite understand how Meria is able to have magic without a conduit, but I think that will probably become clearer to me as I read more of the trilogy as I'm sure it's just something I need to revise.
3. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
I loved this. It was a really entertaining read that I just kept wanting to go back to and I didn't really want it to end, which unfortunately it did. I found all the characters to be quite entertaining, and I thought the trio of protagonists we're given was an excellent and new mix I hadn't seen before. I also really enjoyed how this book was structured, you've given multiple perspectives that are in the present and past and I really enjoyed the way it jumped from the other as shapes my perspective on the story well. Overall, I think it was well written and very entertaining, however if you've got something against elephants don't pick up.
4. Salt to the Sea by Ruta SepetysI've got to say I was really disappointed with this story from Sepetys. There was a lot of hype around this book when it first came, and I was very excited because I read Between Shades of Grey a few years and thought it was amazing. This was not. I really struggled with this story. Don't get me wrong though, I think it's an interesting concept and the character of Alfred is very interesting and I liked that, I also liked how it didn't shy away from the brutality of the Second World War on either side. Also, several of the characters were great like the young boy and the Shoe Poet. However, even though I'm saying all of this, I was disappointed. I don't like the way this is structured as it felt very forced and the chapters were usually too short for me for what they were meant to convey. This book also involved quite a lot of romance between two of the protagonists that I didn't think was necessary at all, it wasn't the point of this story and I think it could have been with less focus on it even. I just have very mixed feelings about this, and maybe that is because I read Between Shades of Grey first so my expectations were too high.
5. Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller
Now this is a play I have to read for the tragedy side of my English Literature A Level, and this was a re-read. However, this is probably of my favourite and I would love to see it because I think Miller manages to do in two Acts is genius. The play is basically one big commentary on capitalism and the American Dream and how basically it's shit, which not everyone likes but a lot of the things Miller critics do ring true. Miller also able to do this in such a tragic way with the character of Willy, because you know from the very start he's doomed because the American Dream has completely ensnared him and it's fascinating. Also, it's very interesting to see the impact this has on the characters of Biff and Happy, and how the learn this - or in Happy's case not at all. It's a very quick and one I highly recommend, and I just think it's a good one.
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