Books 43-49

[deense]

43. City of Bones, Cassandra Clare. Decidedly mediocre and very unimpressive. It could have been awesome, it really could have. The underlying world she created was intriguing, but the writing was average and the book had more boring bits than not. The plot was tired and predictable, and the supporting cast paper-thin. The main character is a Mary Sue unlike any I have ever seen, developing the SECRET WORLD SAVING POWERS after knowing NOTHING. Overall blech.

44. Fearless Fourteen, Janet Evanovich. Another in the Stephanie Plum series. See, these books manage to be light and entertaining without ever being the complete and utter crap that many other series descend into. They're fun, a bit silly, and pretty well written.

45. New Moon, Stephanie Meyer. Oh god. Just don't get me started.

46. Urban Shaman, C.E. Murphy. I really liked this one. A bit different, good use of the hunt mythology, and not your typical urban fantasy. In fact not very much typical about it at all. I was a bit apathetic over the beginning chapter, but once I got past that, it really was enjoyable.

47. The Rhinoceros who Quoted Nietzsche and other odd acquaintances, Peter S. Beagle. A collection of short stories from different parts of his writing career. All slightly fantastical, and most of these one reinterpretations of very traditional myths.

48. Motor Mouth, Janet Evanovich. I actually prefer these to the Stephanie Plum series. Not sure why, I think it might just be that I like Alex more. It might be her writing style for them is a little different, or it was stronger when she started. Again, light and fun.

49. Love Walked In, Marisa de los Santos. This is actually a book I picked up in Canada last August (yes, I do this with books AND dvds, welcome to my world). The story of a girl abandoned by her mother and another woman who crosses her path I really loved it. I loved the narrative style and the story she was telling. It flips between perspectives, and I really enjoyed the different details that would come from each.

The rest of what I've read this year

So, it's August and I'm almost at 50 books. Not bad, not great. I have some non-fiction on the horizon and that often takes longer to get through, but we'll see. It's not like it's a race!

Comments

[violet_quill]

I actually read City of Bones recently and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

Oh, and I started reading some of C.E. Murphy's books not long ago as well. I actually like her other series better than Urban Shaman I think, the one that starts with Heart of Stone.

Since we obviously have similar taste in books, let me give you a rec. If you have not already done so, go read Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr. Run, don't walk.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I expected a lot out of City of Bones mostly because it was a Staff Pick at a really good local bookstore. It just fell flat for me.

This was the first CE Murphy I've read. I think I'm going to have to find some of her others. Thanks for the info on the other series.

Awesome! I'll see if I can find it. I have a bunch of credit at the one bookstore nearby that has a good selection.

[violet_quill]

I might just like the other series better because the main character is a young lawyer. :-p As a general rule I don't care for cops as protagonists. (Though I did still like Urban Shaman quite a bit, I just haven't read the sequels yet.)

Marr's books are faeries. Reminded me of Tithe a little but I think I like these better. And Ink Exchange is way dark for a YA book. I think I prefer my faeries ready to kill you rather than sparkly. ;)

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Hee, fair enough. She's not your typical cop, so I figure we're doing okay ;p

Yes. I prefer them that way too actually.

[moongirli.livejournal.com]

Yay, Tithe!!! (and all of Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tales)

[Sorry, just had to sneak that in there. :) ]

[moongirli.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall there being some kind of scandal on the City of Bones thing... If memory serves (and it may well not), it's widely suspected that she plagiarized or somesuch...

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I was just looking that up and it appears to have been a wash. I mean, there are accusations all over the place, but even without it, the book doesn't need it cause it's pretty crap. The prose is weak and well, the plot is cliched, and the main character is a mary sue.

In fact, i'm editing my review slightly.

[picklefairy.livejournal.com]

I read three chapters of city of bones and got bored and brought it back to the library. I agree with you it could have been sooo much more interesting.

I am reading the stephenie meyer series right now.

I liked New Moon. It could have been sort of more to it. For awhile there I thought nothign would ever happen. And She was just sooo depressed over edward and all and then hooks up with jacob then poof! she is in italy preventing edward from revealing his secret to the world and then makes a deal with the devil sort of speak and poof!.. she can't see jacob no more... or at least she wants to and edward says it be a bad idea. It was good but there was the boring bits there and now I started eclipse. So far it isn't so bad. My friend is getting breaking dawn today and when she is done reading it she is tossing it to me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_shades_/]

Janet Evanovich's books are about my area! I'm not from trenton, but i went to school there. I shop at the mall she's always at and when she bitches about roads/traffic/psycho people of Trenton I'm all, OMG I KNOW, THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Come here. I'll give you a tour.

[deensey.livejournal.com]

IS IT! NOW I REALLY HAVE TO COME VISITING!

[blakmagjick]

Last August is nothing...I still have books sitting on my shelf that I've owned since before I moved outta the parentals...and still haven't read...I've been living on my own for 4 years...