It’s Monday! What are you reading? –From Picture Books to YA–is a weekly meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts. Head over to their blog for links to many great blogs and a plethora of good book suggestions.
This week’s post will be short and sweet. I have been feeling sick for a few weeks and finally got to the doctor on Friday. What was the diagnosis? Sinus infection and bronchitis. No wonder I felt so crappy! The antibiotic has now cleared out the sinus infection but the bronchitis is still holding on. So although I had time to read last week, I actually preferred television because I didn’t have to think so hard. (Being a nerd, this is a big sign that I am actually really sick).
Books Finished This Week:
I LOVED Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. It is such an incredible fantasy world with deep and rich characters. Seraphina is such a likable character and I loved the love story that isn’t quite a love story yet. I will certainly look for any and all books that come next from this author and will anxiously await the sequel to this one. Thanks again to Cindy Minnich for this bookswap book!
Requiem by Lauren Oliver was a good conclusion to the trilogy. I read it quickly and was engaged in the story and curious to see how it was all going to turn out. The only thing I wasn’t so thrilled about is the love triangle. I am kind of frustrated by these young adult books where teenagers act stupid and lie to themselves about their feelings or believe the other person who is lying about their feelings. Maybe it reads as a realistic situation for teens but I just get annoyed with it. I would still absolutely recommend this trilogy to fans of dystopian fiction. It is well thought out and an intriguing world to read about.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell was a fascinating read. It is really interesting to think about how our definitions of success have developed and how there may be many other factors involved. I was particularly fascinated by the idea of cultural influences and how they could be affecting our behaviors. Definitely a book worth reading.
Books I am Currently Reading:
I am reading Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko. My husband is taking a vampire literature course and this one is on the syllabus. It is interesting so far. I am also reading two graphic novels: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Foiled. Both are really good so far.
I am still listening to Days of Blood and Starlight. As you might imagine, working out has not been on my schedule this week. I did listen a little bit yesterday while resting. This one is definitely as intriguing as the first one and I love this narrator.
What’s up Next:
I don’t know what I will read next. I will have to see what I feel like reading this week.
What are you reading? Have a great reading week!
How heartbreaking is the end of Days of Blood and Starlight? I totally get it, but still…:(
Feel better and have a great reading week! http://wp.me/pzUn5-1u9
VAMPIRE LIT course?? Awesome! I love vampire stories (as long as they are done well). I adore the Wizard of OZ graphic novels – are you reading the Marvel ones? Amazing! And I loved Jane Yolen's Foiled books.
Also glad you loved Seraphina. It was so heartbreakingly beautiful!
I still need to get to Seraphina. . . I love that it is consistently well reviewed by Twitter and Goodreads friends. I too found Outliers to be just fascinating!
Lorna
I have Seraphina on my shelf at home and really want to get to it soon. Maybe when I start to read more. 🙂
The Monster Report
I'm currently listening to the audiobook of Requiem. I agree that I'm tired of love triangles. I'm also tired of cliffhanger endings, which Oliver managed to do twice in this series. And yet I still love her. Her writing is so hypnotizing that I just can't quit her.
I LOVE the narrator of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series!! She's so fabulous. I think she narrates Beautiful Creatures, so I've thought about listening to that.
Hope that your bronchitis finally kicks! I got a steroid pill for mine, and it has worked for now.
I was "meh" about Requiem. Wasn't as awesome as I was expecting. I have Seraphina on my summer read list.
Hope you get feeling better soon, Andrea! Sometimes a good veg session in front of the tube is what you need… I read Outliers years ago and I still think about it all the time. I have not been reading much fantasy recently–might have to dabble in it over the summer so I'll keep this post in mind. Thanks!