21
Oct
2010
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The first half of this book is slow-paced and unlike the first book. The second half involves the Games and is fast-paced and much like the first book. Both of these are good things.
20
Oct
2010
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park. What can I say? I liked it far better than I thought I would. But it made me think about a lot of things, not least of which about Jane Austen herself.
8
Oct
2010
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
I’m not entirely sure why this was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. It was good. But it wasn’t Man Booker good.
5
Oct
2010
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG! I am amazed not just by this book, but the fact that finally–finally!–a book–a YA book–has lived up to its hype.
9
Sep
2010
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
The Bean Trees was Barbara Kingsolver’s debut novel, back in the ’80’s. One chapter in, and you can already see the foreshadows of the voices she would create over the next few decades.
5
Sep
2010
Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi
If I have anything to complain about this book, it’s that it’s too short. We’re transported into the world of Marjane Satrapi’s family for an afternoon, but left wanting more.
10
Aug
2010
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Spoiler: the guy lives at the end. But you and I already knew that, considering that the sequel, Linger, is already out. I actually would have really enjoyed some delicious tragedy where he died and the next book could have been about some of the other werewolves, but this is YAPARANORMALROMANCE and that just isn’t going to happen. Thus I never felt any sense of urgency whatsoever, which might’ve brought the book up from “meh” to pretty ok.
2
Aug
2010
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I…actually liked this book. I had invited my Inner Teenaged Self up from the basement where she’s usually kept and we read it together. She liked it, too. So, here is is Inner Teenaged Self (you can picture her has having purple spikey hair, fishnet tights, and doc Martins, and that will be a pretty accurate description of me my Sophomore year of high school).
14
Jul
2010
Hidden Wives by Claire Avery
This book is riveting. For reals. In fact, the pace could have been slowed down a bit, particularly the last few chapters. But as it was, I found myself totally engrossed.
1
Jul
2010
L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad
Oh. My. Fucking. God. Why would anyone ever read this book? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? O.K., say you’re a fan of “The Hills” or whatever (though I don’t really get that either…scripted reality? don’t you people have enough drama in your lives?). And say that since you’re a fan, you want to learn more about the show, some behind the scenes type stuff. You might then pick up a tell-all by Lauren Conrad. Sure, it’d be as atrociously written, but at least it might legitimately shed light on this show that you keep watching.
