I read Matched because someone in my young adult book club recommended it. She said she read about it in the New York Times Magazine so I got it and read it.
I will admit that it was a fast and good read. However, I still didn’t like it as much as Graceling or Fire. Even though it was more science fiction than fantasy which would normally be more appealing to me. But the characters weren’t as deep and developed. I don’t even know how to explain it except to say it felt more elementary to me.
With that, I still really enjoyed it and look forward to more books from this author.
I picked up Left Neglected because something about the cover really spoke to me. I kept reading about it and seeing it in several places. I was worried it would be depressing and I am really trying to stay away from sad books lately.
While it was a sad story, the book wasn’t depressing at all. It was told in the matter-of-fact manner of the main character. And I think I related the story somewhat because many parts of her life are just like mine.
In the end, I loved the novel. It was sad but not dramatic. It felt like normal life and things were not tied with a bow at the end but enough things resolved that I felt fulfilled and not shortchanged and I also didn’t feel like it’s was super-happy (which would have felt unrealistic). I really enjoyed the author’s style as well. It was easy to read and I kept wanting to pick up the book and read more.
I know she’s written Still Alice but I am told that one’s too depressing so I will just wait for future novels from her and hope they are more like this one.
After finishing Fire I am officially a huge Cashore fan! I loved Graceling and several people had told me Fire wasn’t nearly as good.
I disagree.
I loved Fire even more. This was a much more character-driven story than Graceling and even though I’d loved that one a lot, this one was more powerful and even more interesting because I learned more about each character and grew to like them all in their unique way. I loved that several of the characters matured throughout the story and others had more layers than what was visible. I really really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read more of Kristin Cashore.
I hear Bitterblue is coming next!
After I finished Flash Burnout I immediately downloaded The Mermaid’s Mirror. This book is very different from the other. Even though I liked this one less (maybe due to its more magical plotline) I really loved that the author had such differing books. Her great voice carried over from novel to novel and I loved it in this one, as well.
If you’ve never read her, I recommend either of the books. Just make sure to read the plot on amazon first so you know which one speaks to you more. For me, it was Flash Burnout.
Here is the author’s blog and her story in her own words.
I decided to buy Flash Burnout because I read about the author on my friend Charity’s blog. Charity is a Young Adult writer and she mentioned that this author had recently been diagnosed (again) with cancer and this time it wasn’t likely that she would recover.
They were giving away many of her books but I just wanted to buy it myself. I liked the premise and wanted to support the author. I am so glad I downloaded it. I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked each of the characters, the several plotlines and overall I loved the tone of the story. I just liked the author’s voice and many of the details in the story.
Here is the author’s blog and her story in her own words.
I read Fly Away from Home because I was between books and wanted to read something light but not for kids and not too fluffy. Jennifer Weiner is usually good for that and she was this time, too. I can’t say that I loved the novel and am so glad I read it but it was definitely a pleasant book and I enjoyed the time I spent reading it.
I liked that most of the characters weren’t overly dramatic despite the situation and each had its own collection of strengths and weaknesses so they were three dimensional and easy to relate to. Overall, if you’re looking for a fun read that’s not fluffy I’d put this on the list.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was another one of my kids’ book club books. I specifically remembered reading and loving this book as a kid. I must admit that I didn’t remember any of the content but I did remember the book having a special place in my heart.
As I reread the novel, I was, yet again, astonished by its simplistic writing. Compared to today’s young adult novels, this book is so basic and simple. However, the subject matters discussed are anything but. Even though it was a relatively boring read for me, I still related to the awkward nature of being a teenager girl. And moving and trying to make friends and all those things that Judy Blume is flawlessly good at portraying.
It still felt much more simplistic than I remembered from my youth. Maybe this is because the young adult books I read now are for older kids compared to the audience of this one. Regardless of this recent experience, Judy Blume still holds a special place in my heart.
Forever was one of my kids’ book club books. As a young teen, I loved and adored Judy Blume and read many of her books. But I had never read this one.
And I didn’t like it.
I can’t even really put my finger on why. I felt the characters weren’t as developed as I would have liked. I never really liked the main character as much as I wanted to. The writing felt too simplistic. The big change in the story wasn’t really expected in that it didn’t fit in with the character of the girl, in my opinion and kind of came and went all too quickly. I guess maybe that was the point.
I know it’s a young adult book but I still figured I’d enjoy Blume more than I did. I have one more of hers scheduled in book club so let’s see if that one fares better for me.
I heard about Raising Jake from one of the women in my book club. She mentioned she liked it and I wrote it down to check it out.
I am so glad I did. While it wasn’t high literature, I actually really enjoyed it. I liked the parts with the son better than the Dad which made it a bummer for me that the dad was the narrator but, of course, I understand why he was. As the mom of a boy, I found the son exceptionally mature and good. I sure hope my sons grow up to be like that. (Except getting kicked out of school of course.)
It’s a relatively quick read but with some good bits. I’d recommend this book.
I picked up Room mostly because everyone else I knew was either reading it or had read it. And I had a hunch I wasn’t going to like it so I picked it up and put it down many many times before I finally decided to read it.
I was totally right. I hated it.
Well I liked the way it was written from a little boy’s point of view. And the story was interesting. But the sense of doom and feelings of being haunted never left me throughout the whole book. I know that was on purpose but it still sucked. I felt so sad and depressed the entire time. And I know these things happen in life which made the whole thing even worse.
Yes, life can suck, but do I really need to read about it?
I normally like to save sequels of books I liked for a time when I am in need of a good book but I decided to read, The Scorch Trials because I really needed something exciting to read while I exercised. And this was the perfect book.
While it wasn’t nearly as good as the Maze Runner, I did really like it and I am very much looking forward to the last one. I’m told he’s going to tell us all the details and resolve every little bit in the final book. He’d better!!
It just sucks that I have to wait patiently for it.
After all the fast-paced or deeply inspiring books I’ve been reading lately, Labor Day was a return to typical fiction for me. And while I read it really quickly, and for the most part liked it, I can’t say I loved it.
I thought the overall plot was a bit contrived. But the characters were wonderful. To me they were real in so many ways and I felt so sorry for them even as I related to bits and pieces of them. As a mom to two boys, I also thought a lot about what it means to raise boys.
I hadn’t read a book by Joyce Maynard before and there’s one more in my queue. I do like her enough to try another one but not right away.
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projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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