19. One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde - The latest in the Thursday Next series was the rockiest book in the series so far. The POV while is a Thursday is not necessarily the Thursday we've all come to know and love. Or she could be, but that is the course Fforde sets us on in the latest mystery as Thursday searches for herself amid all the craziness that is the newly reformed Bookland. Recommended for series fans, but if you're new start at the beginning with The Eyre Affair.
20. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Collins much touted novel absolutely blew me away. It wasn't until a family member told me I had to read the series that I really took notice even though there are scads of reviews singing its praises. I was quickly draw in and now can say everyone young or old should be reading this series if they aren't already. Gripping characters and a story the drags you through every gully kicking and screaming that it can't get better and than it does. Dystopian at its best with heart. Highly recommended.
21. The Lifecycle of Software Objects by Ted Chiang - Chiang has created an amazing AI story surround furby type creatures that tugs at the heart strings, but leaves you feeling very unfinished. Recommended, but read Chiang's collection Stories of Your Life first.
22. Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan - This is best and most honest use of Norse mythology and history I've ever read in fiction. Review to come. Highly recommended.
23. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss - Was it worth the wait? Hell yeah. The story does come off a bit long in the tooth, but I can't complain too much as this a world I never leave voluntarily. Rothfuss passes the sophomore slump with flying colors and remains the Prince of Fantasy; in my eyes at least.
24. Equations of Life by Simon Morden - After the long haul that was WMF I needed something quick and lighter to lug around. So enters Morden's Cyperpunk series into my life, which I'll definitely be following. The book although a start to a series does standalone very well with its foul talking protagonist. Think Gibson crossed with Morgan only with a bit more humor. Full review hopefully to come.
25. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - So after The Hunger Games I knew I couldn't wait too long to get to the next volume. It was nearly as good as the first and gets us deeper into this world and in deeper with the characters as well. Mockingjay here I come.
26. Grandville by Bryan Talbot - A Steampunk comic with anthropomorphic animals? As if I could pass this gem up. Talbot creates his own Sherlock Holmes and Sexton Blake mash-up as a walking-talking badger. Who says we don't need no stinking badgers? Not when Insp.-Det. Archie LeBrock is on the case of a mysterious murder, which leads to secret societies and all sorts of explosions. The art is gorgeously done as is the packaging.
27. The Unremembered by Peter Orullian - This one took me quite a while to get through. I actually started it a month before, but had to put it down halfway through as I was not in the right mindset to catch everything. But I'm glad I got back to it. For those expecting some massively original series opener you'll be a bit disappointed, but if you're after something in the mold of now classic Fantasy doorstops ala Wheel of Time you'll gobble this right up. Review to come.
28. Black Halo by Sam Sykes - I quite enjoyed Sykes' debut Tome of the Undergates, but his second offering was even better. We finally get more on the characters and their motivations. Plus all the weirdness that started in the first book just gets weirder this go around, which I quite liked. New races and a new POV from a more experienced magical practitioner all enliven this world. Review to come. Highly recommended.
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Mad Hatter's Reading Log Vol 3.
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While I enjoyed the first two Hunger Games books well enough I was let down by the third. The main character felt like a sideshow to the real action. I had no sense anything that she did was worth a damn except that the author said so. Well except for the very last part. I will be curious to hear what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteWise Man's Fear was great. While it was a long book and objectively not much happened, I enjoyed every page of it. That man could write a cookbook and make it gripping.