Book Challenge 2013

Well I just finished my last book of 2012 (World War Z). My Goodreads goal was to read fifty books this year and I read fifty-nine. I initially started with a list of 30 specific books and I did read twelve of those, but the lesson I've learned this year is that I'm a free-spirit reader and I embrace that. NO specific list for 2013. I'm just going to read with abandon. However, I am going to try and do at least one non-fiction book per month.  I need to increase my knowledge base of just about everything so a little non-fiction infusion on a monthly basis will do the trick. I am also going to stick to my personal goal of fifty books per year.  It's a nice round number that I can appreciate and it's more of a tracking number than anything else.  As always, keep the recommendations coming throughout the year.  :-)

2013 List

1) Whatever I feel like

!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

***Reading Quotes***

“My alma mater was books, a good library.... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” ― Malcolm X

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” ― Groucho Marx

“I read the f*** out of every book I can get my hands on.” ― Nick Hornby

World War Z

I'm getting into the habit of seeing movie previews and then picking up the book if I think it will be interesting or if I've heard good things about it.  So was the case for World War Z. I saw the preview and picked up the book because I'd heard good things.  The book was a solid offering.  I felt it dragged in some parts when some of the technical military descriptions went on long.  The stories of personal escapes or triumphs were the ones I gravitated towards.  The Z in World War Z stands for zombies.  You have every right to roll your eyes here.  If it's not for you, it's not for you and that's understandable.  Basically, there is a patient zero who kicks of this worldwide plague and then it's on.  All the nations have their own ways of battling the zombies and reclaiming their nation and their stories reflect that.  The book is written in a documentary style.  The narrator is traversing the world and interviewing survivors of the war in order to preserve their tales of survival.  It is an interesting way to tell this particular war story and it does work.  Some of the descriptions were so vivid that I did actually have a bad dream or two.  If an author can affect your mind in that way, I think that is evidence of a well done job. 

Beautiful Creatures

I tore through this book in about two days because it's another teen fantasy book (i.e. quick read).  I ended up reading this because I saw Viola Davis will be in the movie and I like her. Since the book is always better than the movie, I downloaded it to my Nook for $3.99 and got to reading.  Anyway, it's your typical, new kid in school is kind of weird/magical; one of the regular students falls for new kid; they love each other but can't really be together (physically) because of the magical weirdness; and they have to fight some dark evil, story.  Yes, it's a plot we've seen ad nauseum, but I will haltingly admit that I enjoyed it for what it was. The key words in that sentence are "for what it was". You have to go into the story understanding that it's a teen fantasy.  If you know and accept that, you'll more readily accept some of the plot holes and leaps of logic that have to be made.  You also have to understand that you will know what's going on in the story about five chapters before the characters do. I must have thought "It's a trap you idiot! Don't do it!" at least twenty times.  Those are the things you expect when you're an adult reading a teen novel.  If it went deeper psychologically, it wouldn't be a teen book. However, the escapism is often enough of a trade-off that it's worth it. In this case the escapism was worth it.  Will I read the complete series?  Possibly in the summer since they are quick reads.  Seems like a series I could take on vacation.

The Diviners

Yes, this book can be found in the "Teen" section of your local library or bookstore, but it was a great read!  The setting is New York City in the 1930s and there is a supernatural killer on the loose.  A group of teenagers with supernatural powers (but they don't really know or understand why they have these powers) are coming into their own while also trying to stop the killer.  I'm assuming this is going to be a series even though the title doesn't specifically say "Book One" or anything like that.  It has an awesome cliffhanger at the end so I'm hoping for a second book...maybe a trilogy! Also in this tome, we are just starting to get to know the characters and their specific powers. There are two dream walkers, a healer, a young boy who can see the future, a boy who can become invisible, a robo-boy and a girl who I think controls heat or fire (it was unclear).  Some of the characters only crossed paths with one another while others became fast friends. Many of the characters don't even know what to do with their powers yet.  This book was a great introduction and set up.  You can just tell that they will eventually form a group and battle evil.  Or perhaps there will be some who will fight for good and some for evil.  It's the oldest battle in the world, good vs. evil.  It was a fun, fast read that I'd recommend over Twilight any day!  If you are going to let your child read it, just a heads up that there are murders with mutilation in this book (i.e. one person is killed and the hands are removed). Nothing is described in too much gore, but if you have a sensitive reader, be forewarned.

Till We Have Faces

I've been reading this book off and on for at least two or three years.  I guess that already tells you that it took me a little while to get into it.  I also would always put it aside in favor of books I'd borrowed from the library.  I figured since I owned this book, I could get to it whenever.  Finally I just picked it back up last month, determined to finish it.  I had to start over from the beginning because it had been so long since I last tried to read it.  In the end, I liked it, but I didn't love it.  It certainly made me think and I even highlighted some passages that I found to be very moving and introspective.  With that being said, I felt like it fell off at the end.  There were two sections to the book. The first section is about 90% of the book and there there are about 40 pages in the second section. I would have been totally satisfied if the book was completed at the end of the first section or if the second section was more concise and to the point.  The book is a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Orual, Psyche's put-upon, less attractive sister. I found the new perspective refreshing and found myself both understanding, yet feeling sorry for, Orual. The author being C.S. Lewis, one can't help but to think about theology while reading this book. There are plenty of religious themes and ideas presented as food for thought. I have to say though, when I finally finished it, I was just glad it was over.
 

The Tea Rose

I have always been a sucker for a good epic saga.  The Tea Rose is the first in a series of three books.  I stayed up nights, bleary-eyed reading this book because I enjoyed it so much.  I skipped sleeping on two flights in order to read this book (and I'm usually that person that immediately puts on headphones and takes a nap on a plane). So it's safe to say I really got into it. While there is a fair amount of sappiness, that is to be expected when you set a book in late 19th century London and New York and have two young people torn apart by a string of events, yet still so in love with each other.  It's a given that there will be forlorn looks and sweet caresses so just give in and enjoy it.  I also found it refreshing to finally have a heroine with some gusto.  I often lament to my friends about the lack of a good strong heroine in current fiction.  Well the main protagonist in The Tea Rose (Fiona) may be grieving over her poor schmuck of an ex-boyfriend, however she channels those feelings of betrayal, sadness, and anger into a life full of success instead of laying around the rest of her life whining. I think that's what kept me going. Fiona is strong-willed and takes on the world. This is a good winter book, because at 545 pages you can settle down with a cup of tea, get cozy and enjoy losing yourself in late 19th century London and New York.