Tuesday 17 October 2017

Red Planet

by Robert A. Heinlein

As a preface, I'm kind of about to harsh all over this book, but there were a lot of aspects of it that I really enjoyed, as well. I have some super mixed feelings about this book. It was originally written in 1949, but was reissued later in 2009. To start with, I adored the Martian creatures. All of them. The roundhead bouncers, the three-legged, flap-handed Martian natives, and the Elders. I felt like they were well handled, and beautifully created. Love these guys. I also love the setting. I love his envisioned Mars colonies, the cities they have set up, the cities the Martians set up - they're beautiful.  As for the human characters though, I felt like many of them who became important weren't well handled. We know very little about some of the people who become main characters, but the two students, Frank and Jim who we follow for the entire story, are decently well written. 

When it comes to the plot, this novel was incredibly predictable. Not much happens that is unexpected, and the story plods. I kept hoping that something would happen that was unexpected and surprising, but made it to the end of the book without. I anticipated most of the things that would happen, and kept waiting for something to be surprising. Then, tragically, the ending was wrapped up with very little real conflict. Heinlein set up a situation that could have had a very dramatic and exciting conclusion, but instead, it just tapered off, and all the loose ends were tied up in neat little bows. Granted, it's written for kids, but it still felt like he went too far in the "easy" direction. 

Lastly, for such an imaginative and futuristic premise, Heinlein's views on gender roles were very 1950s. Which, considering when he wrote it, isn't surprising...but still incredibly frustrating. The comments about how boys are considered men when they can carry guns and girls are women when they can cook and care for babies, or when Jim comments about not being able to trust women with anything important...The only women characters are Jim's mother and sister (Phyllis), and Mrs. Pottles. Jim's mother and Phyllis are there only to flesh out Jim and his father's characters slightly more - literally as soon as there's a crisis they go and lie down and leave the men to handle it, and Mrs. Pottles is the hysterical, annoying, women who is there only to make a point. 

Despite these things, I didn't hate the novel. I did enjoy it, and found Heinlein's idea of the colony on Mars fascinating, though I probably won't read it again. 
-Cat

This book was a reread for me...sort of. I read this back in 6th grade, and for those of you playing along at home, that was a long time ago. When I put this one on the list, I couldn't remember much more than the title and the setting, and Willis.

Heinlein wrote this book in a different time, and it shows. The things that Frank and Jim say are quite dated at this point, though Heinlein did throw in some of his own slang (to "burn" someone meaning to shoot them with a raygun). Gender roles are super prominent here, though I'm glad to see adult men thinking it's ok for Jim's sister to get her own gun. Small victories, right?

Anyway, the story. THE STORY. I'm going to have to agree with Cat, it's pretty simple and straightforward. Really cool setting, the Martians are pretty nifty. The conflict isn't terrible, but it's resolved pretty quickly. I remember really loving this book in 6th grade, and I can see why. All these years later, though, and it's just a book.

Red Planet is not bad by any means. It's a sci-fi book written for younger readers. It's well-written and coherent. It is, perhaps, too safe. If you're looking for an easy science fiction romp, you could do far worse than Red Planet.
--Mikie

Friday 6 October 2017

The White Boy Shuffle


by Paul Beatty

Okay, so I adored this book. This book is hilarious, and condemning, and vivid, and reflective. The language Paul Beatty uses is lyrical and I felt myself pulled head-first into his reality. Every single line, word, thought is so carefully crafted so as to be both uproariously funny and beautifully poignant. It's a satirical take on taking black power and autonomy into black hands - while constantly fighting the "whiteys praying for their black poet god." 

I feel like getting to read this book made up for the misery of putting myself through Proof of Heaven. I wanted to take out a pen and mark up my book on every page - which would have been tough, since I read on my phone. The choice of words - like "shtetl" and "chutzpah" and "bombastic" and "prestidigitator" and "eleemosynary" gave me shivers, and to see them surrounded by casual slang was beautiful and haunting. 

I genuinely loved this book, and completely geeked out over it - I highly recommend it! 
I think, though, that this is the first time Mikie and I have been in disagreement over one of our booklist books...so take that as you will. Also, this is one of those books that I would have LOVED to have a discussion over, and I'm super looking forward to reading Mikie's take on the story. Definitely missed my roommate during this one!
-Cat

It's interesting, Cat and I both had very different experiences with this book. I did not enjoy this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if Cat & I were co-located during its reading.

Ok, so was it a total loss? Absolutely not. The author's writing style was fresh, and I enjoyed both Beatty's word choices and phrasing. It was hard to read more than a couple of sentences before some interesting use of language demanded to be heard.

The story overall was interesting...to a point. This might be a book I'll have to revisit in a few years. It's something that just didn't resonate me, and it became a slog to get through. Beatty's exceptional use of language is reason enough to read it, even if I didn't enjoy the story.
--Mikie

Sunday 3 September 2017

Proof of Heaven

by Even Alexander

I have to admit - this book was not my favourite. This book is about Eben Alexander, an American neurosurgeon who survived bacterial meningitis and had a Near-Death-Experience, or NDE. As a neurosurgeon, he understands the brain in a different and deeper way than most of us, so the book deals with his disease and the science behind what was happening to him very well. 

The novel also deals with Eben Alexander's experience during a coma, while physically his brain was pretty much in shut down. He writes of his memories of visiting with the divine, and journeying to a realm beyond Earth. I had a hard time getting through this novel - it took me weeks, and for a very short book it should have been finished in days. 

In my opinion, the book was far too heavy on 'heavenly cliches'. While there wasn't a "bright white light", at least, it felt like any other NDE story, and considering Eben Alexander's background, I was hoping for more than that. 
-Cat

The premise of the book is what made me want to read it: a neurosurgeon goes into a week-long coma where the parts of his brain that are responsible for consciousness are pretty much dead has vivid visions of the afterlife and now feels that Heaven is real. Cool premise, based on a true story...

Dude's a better neurosurgeon than author. Like Cat, I should have finished reading this quicker than I did (although I did finish before her 😛). There was a lot of repetition, and I feel like a lot of the terms he used jive a little too closely with other NDE stories, which reduces credibility.

I'm glad I read it, but I think I'll only read this one once.
--Mikie

Ready Player One


by Ernest Cline

Well hey there! It's been a loooong time. I went on a trip to Canada last month, and then Mikie moved back to the US, so there's been lots of upheaval in our lives the last couple months! We're a few books behind on our blog now, so let's jump right in with Ready Player One. 

Ready Player One was an awesome book. I've never read anything like it, and it was really cool. If you're into 80's pop culture, or gaming, you will LOVE this book. I had a hard time following many of the references (I'm not an 80's baby...), but that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy the story. It's a future-dystopian book, that imagines a world ruled by a virtual reality technology. Ernest Cline creates a vived, and scarily realistic possible future, and I was fascinated. 

The book was incredibly detailed, and really fun! Interestingly, there is now a Ready Player One movie being made, which is something I didn't think would be possible, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out! 
-Cat

Holy crap, this book was a nerdgasm on every page for me. The references to '80s and '90s pop culture made me smile a lot. I knew almost every video game that Cline mentioned in the game (a few of the older PC games weren't familiar to me because we grew up with Atari, not PC games). The point is I found myself marking out on every page, and that made it even more awesome.

"What if I'm not a nerd?" you ask. Shame on you! Also, Cline gives enough information so that the important references have meaning, and the lesser ones can be taken in without much confusion.

The juxtaposition of the idyllic Oasis and the crumbling real world gives the quest in the book some interesting layers of meaning. I don't want to give anything away, I really want you to go read this.

And holy crap, how the heck are they making this a movie? The licensing issues alone would be a nightmare! I really hope Ready Player One will be more than one movie, because otherwise they'll have to cut lots of stuff.
--Mikie

Sunday 2 July 2017

The Handmaid's Tale


by Margaret Atwood

So a couple weeks ago we finished The Handmaid's Tale (we're so bad at updating the blog...). This book was such a great read. It was tough to read in some places - mostly because the things Atwood wrote about are much too close to our current reality. It's amazing to think she wrote this book in 1985.

The Handmaid's Tale is written about a dystopian future, in which, through humanity's own folly, fewer and fewer children are being born. An extremist Christian community took over the United States, and created "Gilead", a city run by the Commanders, and revolving around women's roles. Their roles are based around women in stories in the bible (Martha, Jezebel, Bilhah & Rachel), and there are many other Biblical allusions (the Rachel and Leah center, the Angels), which actually make the story an incredibly creepy read, particularly in the current climate. 

In all, though, this book was incredibly thought provoking and it was an amazing story. My cousin & aunt told me that there's a new show based on the novel - I'm definitely going to be looking into that!
-Cat

I love dystopian lit. While I definitely need to read more of it, Atwood's book is easily one of my favorite dystopian stories. The world that Atwood crafted is really interesting and just a little bit frightening, in that it's plausible. Gilead is an extreme nation based heavily on the Bible, and I know there are many people in the States today who would welcome such a regime. The way Atwood slowly reveals more and more of the truth, and the ending itself, are masterful.

The TV show is, as far as I understand it, exclusive to Hulu. I might have to subscribe to Hulu once I'm settled in the States just to watch it, because I would love to see some of the things in this book brought to life on the small screen. Until then, y'all should read this.
--Mikie

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Redwall

Sorry for the late update, I'll take the heat on that one.

Brian Jacques

I think the first time I read this I was in middle school. 7th grade, perhaps. I don't know, that's ancient history at this point. Fast forward to 2017 and this reading of the story. It's still just as beautiful as I remember it. Honestly, I think it's better than I remembered. There were a few parts where I had to stop and reread a paragraph, marveling at my middle-school self's ability to comprehend these things. There were other lines I reached and thought, "damn, this is a kid's book, right?"

If you've never read Redwall, please do. It's a fantasy novel with woodland creatures. Cluny the Scourge was--is--one of my favorite villains ever. Matthias is an interesting and believable protagonist. The tale may be aimed at a younger audience, but it is thoroughly enjoyable as an adult. The various subplots are interesting and engaging.
--Mikie

ohhhh myyyy goodnesss you guys! How long has it been since these were the "it" books? I can remember reading these and trading them around between my three best friends (and co-AR Stars!) at Rasco Middle School! Brian Jacques' Redwall was such fun to reread. It's been more years than I can count since I first read these books, and while I remember bits and pieces, reading this story felt new again to me. 

The characters - all the mice of Redwall, Constance the badger, Ambrose Spike the hedgehog, Basil the hare - are so much fun, and all are unique. The writing is beautiful, and each animal has it's own dialect or vocabulary to suit it. I had the same kind of moment as Mikie did when we first picked up the book, where I couldn't help but think "I read this in fifth or sixth grade??? Really? Dang I'm smart!"

Honestly such fun and enjoyable books, and if you missed the craze back in the day, read them now!
-Cat

Wednesday 24 May 2017

I Am Nujood

by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui

Where do I even begin? This was a book I couldn't put down. It was a difficult read, however, but knowing that Nujood managed to come through things ok makes it easier to read.

I don't want to give away any plot details because I WANT YOU TO READ THIS BOOK. You can already guess a lot just from the title. That "divorced" part is key. It's amazing to me that she had the guts and the fortitude to get the help she needed, against all odds, at such a young age. I look at my students who are her age and I cringe thinking of them in her shoes, yet I wonder if they'd be able to do what she did. It's a scenario I pray never plays out.

That's the mind-boggling part, though. She was 10. I know 10-year-olds. That anyone ever should have to suffer what Nujood did is beyond awful, but that one so young did is sickening. She wasn't the only one--in reading about what happens to Nujood, you read about what happens to countless women all over the world.

This is a fantastic read. I would love to use this in a classroom someday. I want more and more people to read Nujood's story, to marvel at her strength, and hopefully make the world a safer place for young girls.
--Mikie

I wanted to hug my girls while reading this book. I wanted to gather up all my students and hold them close and let them know just how special they are, and how lucky that they live in a country where this will never happen to them. 

This book was so eye-opening. It's one thing to know that this happens objectively, and another thing altogether to read a first hand account. Nujood is the author of this book. These are her words, her experiences, and that makes it harder to take. She is a beautifully positive young girl, who doesn't dwell on the horrible dark past that she lived through, but instead uses it to empower herself, and to motivate herself. I

Mikie and I read this book in about a day and a half (on working days, nonetheless). It's the kind of book you can't put down - you have to know what happens next. And it's not just Nujood. The rest of her family has different (and also awful) troubles that they are living through, and there's constantly something to push you onwards. 

Like Mikie, this is a book I think everyone should read (we're saying that a lot...but really. READ THIS ONE.) If you only ever pick up one book off our list, let this be the one.
-Cat

Tuesday 23 May 2017

The Outsiders


by S.E. Hinton

I first read this book in an airport, waiting for a delayed flight home. I was enjoying being in a bookstore with a selection of books that were in English, and I remembered my university roommate and best friend insisting that I should read this book. I picked up The Outsiders, fumbled my way through American money (much harder than I was expecting it to be, considering I grew up using it), and then sat down to read it. I finished it before I even boarded the flight. 

This book is one of my favourites. The writing is simple - the narrator dedicates the first chapter to giving a detailed physical and personal description of each of the characters - but as you continue reading, it just works. Ponyboy Curtis, and yes, that's his real name, thank you very much, is the kind of character that appeals to his audience, no matter who he's addressing (even if you're not a greaser!). The story becomes unexpectedly deep and emotional, and even on this rereading, I found myself crying as I reached the end of the book. 

I could reread this over and over again and still enjoy it, and this is one of the books that is on my "recommend to literally everyone you meet" list. I thought about ending my part of this blog with a "Stay gold, Ponyboy," but to me that line deserves more than to be used as a tag to the novel - it's so much bigger than that. So instead, I'll just say, do yourself a favor and pick up this book if you haven't. It's beautiful.
-Cat

This is a book I had never read until now. It's not a title that I was ever introduced to, and honestly, I have only been vaguely aware of its existence. When I taught in Alaska I was forced to use Scholastic's "READ 180" program with my 8th-grade students. It was a hot mess, let me tell you, but I had several copies of The Outsiders on hand as a result. Most of my students read far below grade level (2nd or 3rd grade was the norm), but one girl asked to borrow The Outsiders. I was thrilled that anyone would want to borrow from the classroom library, so I sent her off with one of the books. She not only finished it, she enjoyed it! That got me thinking I should probably read it at some point.

As a huge fan of the movie Stand By Me, I don't know how I managed to stay in the dark about this one for so freaking long. This is an excellent story that I would have loved when I was younger! That phrase is almost a recurring theme for me this year, isn't it? I'm glad I finally read it. Ponyboy's story is troubled, heartwarming, and bittersweet. I was moved by several scenes in the story. Next time I hand this book to a student, I'll be able to share her enjoyment! Next time I read this (and there will be a next time), I'll be moved again. Until then, I just hope I can "stay gold."
--Mikie

Friday 5 May 2017

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency


by Douglas Adams

Oh my gosh, you guys, it's been so long. We've just (this week) finished Dirk Gently - this book took us (well, me, really) almost a whole month to read. This book was fabulous, but it takes a lot of patience. I genuinely had no idea what was going on for the first three quarters of the book. No joke - my kindle was at 75% by the time I got fully sucked into this book. Once it gets to that point, though, it's SO GOOD. I got to 75% on Tuesday, and finished the book on Thursday, after spending three weeks reading the first bit.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is one of the most bizarre books I've ever read - knowing that it's by Douglas Adams, is anyone really surprised? Even when everything started coming together there was no logical progression - I couldn't predict any part of that book. Now that I've finished, and enjoyed it, next up may be the TV show!
-Cat

I haven't read this book in many many suns. I think I enjoyed it just as much on this reading as I did on the first. Douglas Adams weaves a wonderfully weird tale full of interesting characters and extraordinary situations, all wrapped up in his signature writing style. Now that we've read this we can start watching the series on Netflix! Huzzah!
--Mikie

P.S. Next book on our list is The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton!

Wednesday 22 March 2017

March/April books!

For the (like, 2) of you who are interested in seeing where we're going from here, I'll continue to post these little updates every now and then of what our next four books will be. We're kind of off-track of the monthly posts, simply because we've taken time from our list to read sequels of novels. Technically this should be the March post, but we're simultaneously ahead and behind because of our detours.

(Ahead of our total book count, but behind when it comes to our original list. )

So without further ado, the next books are:

14. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
Mikie added this to the list - I've never read it, so I'm excited to see where it goes! - Cat
I haven't read this in a long time. Totes excited! -Mikie

15. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Another one of Mikie's choices, but one of my favourite books. I'm excited to read it again! -Cat
I haven't ever read this :( -Mikie

16. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali, Delphine Minoui, Linda Coverdale
One of my choices, this book looks like it'll be a tough read, but I'm also super excited about it. -Cat
Yeah, definitely looks emotional. Should be interesting. -Mikie

17. Redwall by Brian Jacques
Who of our generation didn't read these books as a kid? I used to devour them! Mikie brought this one to the list, and I'm so excited for the nostalgia. -Cat
I loved this book in middle school. Never read the whole series. Excited to revisit this. -Mikie

The Name of the Star


by Maureen Johnson

I bought this book back in 2011 when it first came out, cause I was SO EXCITED about it. I read a chapter, then got distracted by school reading and never went back to it (despite having had a chance to actually 'meet' Maureen Johnson that same year...). So this year, I decided it needed to be on our list.

The Name of the Star is about a girl who moves from New Orleans to London, and right as she arrives, a Jack the Ripper-style murder occurs, right in the area of town she'll be living in. She, of course, gets swept up in the Ripper-mania that spreads through London, as well as her own new-school, new-life drama.

On top of that, she suddenly has a lot more to worry about when one of the Ripper murders happens on her campus, and she becomes a witness, of sorts.

 I don't want to say too much, so that I don't spoil the novel, but it was a fun read, and it created a whole new world within our own world that we got to explore with Rory!
-Cat

I must say that I'm glad I'm reading this one AFTER completing NaNoWriMo 2K16, because around about that time I also started working on Danielle Was Dead, my ongoing novel about a ghost. It was interesting to me to draw some parallels between the two stories as I read The Name of the Star.

This was one of the books Cat put on the list, and I knew hardly anything about it when I sat down to read it. I wasn't expecting what happened to Rory at all, so that was a pleasant surprise. The book wraps everything up nicely at the end, and though I know there are more in the series, they aren't absolutely necessary in the way that other series are written. Anyway, go read this book, then come back here and leave us a few comments.
--Mikie

Monday 13 March 2017

Two Boys Kissing

by David Levithan

I'm just gonna dive right into this book. The title comes from two friends (and former boyfriends) who decide to break the world record for the longest kiss. There are other characters, other plots, but the two boys kissing forms the framework for the rest of the story. Oh, and there are no chapter breaks--if Harry and Craig don't get a break, neither do you!

I found the narrator to be the most striking aspect of this story. The narrator is the collective souls (?) of LGBTQ people who came before the characters in this book. The last generation watches on as the new generation tries to maneuver through life. They watch Harry and Craig's kiss and understand its greater significance. They watch Ryan and Avery, a relationship just forming. They watch the troubled Cooper reach the end of his rope. And though the narrator(s) see so much ugliness, pain, and hatred, their message is a positive one. They don't lose hope, they don't give up, even though they can't affect the living world any longer.
--Mikie


You. Guys. This book has been an emotional rollercoaster. Seriously rough, in the BEST way possible. Like Mikie said, the narration is done by those who have come before, and who have passed on - mostly the AIDS generation from the 80s/90s. They follow this new generation of boys living in the internet age, rooting for them and quietly providing their support, watching over them as best they can. They marvel at the openness that exists around these boys now, even with the prejudices that still exist, and reminisce about their own stories. They cheer the boys on, and the stories told are incredibly well juxtaposed, and they show that there isn't a collective "narrative", even as it's being told BY a collective.

This book brought me to tears several times, and it's well, WELL worth the read. I super super strongly recommend Two Boys Kissing. It's really hard to do it justice without giving away the whole story - just do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK.
-Cat

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Song of the Lioness




Alanna: The First Adventure
In the Hand of the Goddess
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
Lioness Rampant

It's been a while since we last posted an update to our reading challenge - and that's because we've been reading a series of four books. The Alanna books are a series that I read as a child, that I absolutely adored. Alanna was my hero, and I wanted to be her. We only had the first book on our list, but Mikie enjoyed them (and I will NEVER say no to reading these books), so we ended up reading all of them. 

At the start of this quartet, Alanna is a young girl who is being sent to a convent to learn to be a lady. She - surprise, surprise - doesn't want to go. Instead, she wants to learn how to be a knight. The books follow Alanna's adventures as she trains (disguised as a boy, of course), and works to get her shield and become a knight. On this read through, I found that I still enjoy it just as much as I always have, and I'm super glad to have been back in Tortall (Alanna's city), and reliving all the adventures once again. 

Well, we certainly got sidetracked...but in a good way. Cat introduced me to The Song of the Lioness Quartet, and I'm sad I never read this series when I was a little girl (spoiler alert: I was never a little girl). Anyway, these were fantastic books!

Tamora Pierce created an interesting world that feels very real, even though magic is a thing in her books. I grew up reading various fantasy novels (mostly Dungeons & Dragons novels), and it's always interesting to me to see how each world works. Magic in this world is a Gift, and while training isn't necessary to use it, you need to be gifted in the first place. Alanna is a noble, so we get to experience her life at the palace--BUT she's a knight-in-training, so we see the world of the nobles through that lens.

I enjoyed the four-novel story thoroughly. I have a few quibbles with decisions Pierce made in the telling, but overall, I would recommend The Song of the Lioness Quartet. I'm already planning to give the set as a gift.
--Mikie


PS. Next up: Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan! I'm SUPER excited for this one - fingers crossed it's as good as I hope it is!

Friday 17 February 2017

Tarkin


When I went and saw Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens in theaters, two characters I was excited for were Captain Phasma and General Hux. I left theaters hoping that Episode VIII would give us more of the "Imperial" side of the First Order. It's something I really felt was lacking in the original trilogy. The Empire isn't just Vader and Palpatine, and I feel like the Empire really gets overlooked.

So, Tarkin, a novel delving into the first Grand Moff in the Star Wars canon. Tarkin was an excellent villain in Episode IV, and I was excited to see him in Rogue One. When I learned about this novel I knew it was a must-read. The plot stays safely in its lane within the established canon, developing an anti-Empire scheme that is resolved by the book's conclusion. That's all fine and dandy, but where Tarkin shines is when it goes into Wilhuff's backstory. The reader learns why he is who he is. There is also some excellent backstory/character development for Vader and the Emperor, as well. I really enjoyed this book, if only for the character development of this unholy triumvirate.
--Mikie

Like Mikie, I was really interested in seeing more of the Imperial side of the universe. Tarkin is an interesting character, and I was excited to get to know him better - especially considering his relationship with Darth Vader in what little we see of them in the movies. 

I found this novel harder to get through than the last few we've read - only because of the pacing. I found Tarkin's history and backstory fascinating, but it always felt as though they only delved into these flashbacks during moments of action in the actual timeline. I would have enjoyed the novel more if it were laid out differently. On top of that, the anti-empire scheme felt forced, and as though it hadn't been fully thought out. Their goals weren't clear, and it never really felt like they had a chance. 

DESPITE the plot holes, I really enjoyed getting to know Tarkin better - especially since this is one of the novels that Disney has decided is still part of Star Wars canon, and hasn't been wiped clean with much of the EU. 
-Cat

Monday 13 February 2017

In the Beginning


Virginia Hamilton

This wonderful collection of creation myths is a book I've had my eye on for a few years now. I rapidly devoured this book, as most of the creation myths are only a page or two, and there are beautiful full-page illustrations throughout. There were a handful of myths I was familiar with, and I think there were only two myths in the entire collection I did not enjoy. Toward the end of the collection, Hamilton presents myths I found very familiar--Greek myths and Judeo-Christian myths. I feel that most readers would be familiar with these tales, so it makes sense to save them for the end of the book, but as I read them I found myself longing for more "original" tales from Africa, from North America, from Russia. Perhaps a second volume of creation myths is necessary; it's one I'd gladly read!
--Mikie


Mikie brought this book to my attention when he added it to our list, and I was really excited to read it. (I actually ordered it months in advance - since we had to have physical copies of this one. With my parents visiting (yay!) I got started reading it after Mikie did, but it went super fast when I started reading it. It was a beautifully written book, and it was really interesting to read all the different creation myths. I agree with Mikie - I found myself enjoying the ones I wasn't familiar with more than the ones I'd been semi-aware of. 
I listen to a podcast called "Myths and Legends" and it's a similar concept - a telling of basic myths and legends from all over the world. I always find these interesting, and I enjoyed reading these ones, too. 
-Cat

Wednesday 8 February 2017

Second set of books

We did it! We made it through the first month! We actually ended up part way into February, because we chose to read the sequel to one of the books as well as Adulthood is a Myth, putting us up to 6 books instead of the 4 we had previously selected, but we're actually pretty much on schedule!

The next set of books are:

7. Tarkin, by James Luceno.
                This one was Mikie's pick, the story of the only person who ever seemed to have any real control over Darth Vader. It'll be the first Star Wars novel I've ever read!
This will be the first Star Wars novel I've read in a little more than a decade. I've always been interested in knowing some more about the Imperial side of the Empire. Tarkin might not have made it past Episode IV, but he was a pretty big deal in it. --Mikie

8. Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce
                 Alanna was my pick - I read these books when I was a child, and adored them. They were some of my favorites, and I love rereading them. Alanna was one of my heroes, and I always wanted to be her.

9. Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
                 Also one of my choices, I've been thinking about reading this book for aaaages - probably since I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson. It sounds ridiculous, and yet wonderful.

10. The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson
               Aaaalso one of my picks, Maureen Johnson is not only one of my favourite authors, but also one of my favourite humans. She's wonderful, and I've enjoyed everything she's ever written.


I'm super looking forward to our February selections! If you choose to read any of them with us, let us know what you think, too!

Soon I Will Be Invincible

Austin Grossman

This book was a big change from Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, but not an unwelcome one. The story is told in first-person from the perspectives of Doctor Impossible, villain extraordinaire, and Fatale, a newcomer to the hero scene. It's really interesting to get an inside look at being a supervillain, as well as a new member of an established and storied superhero team.

Of course, I was drawn to Doctor Impossible from the get-go. He is an interesting character, a supervillain who is trying (again) to take over the world. There is something uplifting in his never-say-die attitude, his constant plotting and scheming. Usually, a villain is the reason we have hope, not the cause. It's an important difference. I found myself thinking fondly of Dr. Horrible (if you don't know who that is we can't be friends anymore), and the comparison is a valid one.

I have had my eye on this book since 2009, and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. Soon I Will Be Invincible was worth the wait.

--Mikie

This book was super bizarre. I spent a long time wondering where this book was going, and how exactly we would get there. 

I was fascinated by the interactions between the superheroes on the team - rather than being one cohesive unit, they had a lot of personality clashes, and a lot of issues working together, and it was really interesting to read about that kind of a dysfunctional team, rather than a team that (for the most part) worked well together (i.e. Avengers, Justice League). 

The other big draw, for me, was the connections between the superheroes and super-villain (Doctor Impossible), that only Doctor Impossible seemed aware of. They had a shared history that gave their rivalry a different, and more interesting connection. 

This is one that I definitely wouldn't have picked up on my own, but having read it, I really enjoyed it.

--Cat

The next book on our list is In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World, by Virginia Hamilton. 

Tuesday 31 January 2017

Crooked Kingdom

I finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo about 3 minutes ago. Mikie is only moments behind me. This book was equally as amazing as, if not better than Six of Crows. 



Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo

Picking up exactly where the first book left off (thank goodness, because that was a MISERABLE cliffhanger), Kaz Brekker and his crew have even more amazing and ridiculous and unimaginable stunts lined up for this story. I'm constantly in awe of Leigh Bardugo's mind for having created this world and the characters in it. I spent the majority of the book debating if things that had happened were part of the plan, or if things were going wrong again, and if they WERE going wrong again, how the heck did Kaz intend to get them all out of it. 
These books are works of genius, and I know for a fact I will revisit them. I can't wait to read Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, although we're not going to push our list back any further to do those ones at this moment, we are potentially going to add them in later during the year. She created a world that I feel a part of - it's a fantastical world, that has just enough of our reality to make you feel like you belong there, too - and I'm not ready to leave it. (PLUS: Leigh Bardugo just announced another book set in this world to come out soon, and I CAN'T WAIT.)

-Cat
P.S. our next book is Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Austin Grossman.

OH. YOUR. GOD.

I think the highest praise I can give Bardugo is the solemn vow that I will champion Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom to every lover of books I come across. I've already begun. I know I'll come back to these books in the future, and I shall explore her other works in this same world (The Grisha Trilogy and an upcoming book of short stories) as well.

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom introduced me to a world and a group of characters that quickly became new favorites. These two books have burned literary memories into my mind that I shall hold dear and recall fondly in the years to come.

Do yourself a favor: read these two books.
--Mikie

Saturday 21 January 2017

Adulthood is a Myth


Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen


This is technically book #3 in this year's #52BooksIn52Weeks challenge, although it stretches the so-called "rules" of the challenge ever so slightly (there is no narrative arc to this collection of whimsy).

I have seen many "Sarah's Scribbles" comics on the Internet in the past, but this is the first time I've read an entire collection of them. I enjoyed it so much that I pre-ordered the next set on Comixology.
--Mikie


While in Cambodia earlier this year, I started reading Adulthood is a Myth, and thought it was adorable. The book is, as Mikie said, a collection of Sarah Anderson's comics, but it's very fun and quick to read. The comics take real situations and provide a way of looking at them with a sense of humour. They're cute and often hilarious. 
I recommended that Mikie read it, especially since we're a week behind on our challenge (Six of Crows is so looong), and though it may not count as a 'book', it's still worth talking about!
Well worth the read, especially if you enjoy Sarah's Scribbles at all! 
-Cat

Six of Crows



Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is amazing. Genuinely and truly amazing. I have enjoyed every moment of this book. It's a heist novel, set in a brilliant new world, filled with magic and adventure. The characters, in Leigh Bardugo's own words:
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
 

feel real and relatable.  They've each got their own reasons to be a part of Kaz Brekker's crew and involved in the heist, but they don't all like each other. Somehow, though, the fate of the world is relying on them...

I thought I'd end the novel able to say who my favourite character was, and why - but I grew so fond of all of them, that I couldn't pick. The story is written so well that every revelation about the characters makes you more fond of them, and they come at exactly the right moments. 

Mikie and I enjoyed the book so much that we're postponing our next book (Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman) in order to read the second book in the sequel, Crooked Kingdom! 
-Cat

FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! Oh, now I definitely feel like I'm off on the right foot for this #52BooksIn52Weeks challenge. "Six of Crows" does so many things right: world building, character development, storytelling. The blending of fantasy tropes with elements usually not a part of fantasy (firearms, neckties) creates a world which is both familiar and fresh. After reading a quarter of the book I knew I'd want to read its sequel, and now that I've finished it I'm looking forward to reading The Grisha Trilogy at some point down the road.
-Mikie

Saturday 7 January 2017

Rebirth: War of Shadows

Our first book was Rebirth: War of Shadows by Tyler Golec. Tyler is a friend of mine, and so we decided to start the year off with this book.




Rebirth had an amazing premise. It was a world of magic set in our world in some potential future. The world had fallen apart and war had torn everything apart. The USA was divided into New America and the RUSA (Republic of the United States of America), and the two factions were at war. The main characters are discovering magic, and dealing with the Civil War. 
The story is interesting, and the idea is great, but the book could benefit from a lot of revision and editing. It's definitely a first draft, and I'd love to see an edited version. -Cat


It's a shame that the revision this book sorely needs most likely is not coming, because I really like the story concept. It's a brilliant idea bogged down by mechanical errors and missed opportunities. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it, just that I could have enjoyed it quite a bit more.-Mikie


The next book we're reading is Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo, we start today! 

Sunday 1 January 2017

2017 Challenge

Hello any and all, and welcome to Cat and Mikie's book blog!

Starting the first week of January, 2017, Mikie and I will be attempting the 52 book challenge! We've already selected our 52 books, and we're going to try to post blogs about the books we read, to keep us accountable!

The first four books, for January, are:

1. Rebirth: War of Shadows, by Tyler Golec
                  Chosen by Cat: This is my former coworker and friend's published book!



2. Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
                  Chosen by Cat: Six of Crows is a book I've been eyeing for months, but haven't gotten around to reading.



3. Soon I Will be Invincible, by Austin Grossman
                   Chosen by Mikie: A Superhero novel written entirely in prose.


4. In the Beginning, by Virginia Hamilton
                    Chosen by Mikie: Creation stories from all over the road.



I'm pretty excited about the books on our list, and I'm looking forward to getting back into really doing some reading! I'll try to keep posting little updates like this at the beginning of each month, so if anyone is interested in keeping up with us, or reading any of the books we're looking at, you'll be able to follow along with us!

-Cat
               
Y'all:

Mikie here. I started the #52BooksIn52Weeks challenge in 2016 because, though my love of reading has remained strong, my actual consumption of books has declined over the years. What a year of reading it has been!

At the time of this writing I'm wrapping up book 31 of 52--in other words, I've fallen short of the mark. Being the "it doesn't matter if it's half full or half empty, as long as there's something delicious in the glass" kind of guy that I am, I'm totally excited that I got through so many interesting and varied books this year (you can check that out here).

Now I'm super-stoked that Cat is also getting in on this. It's going to be an awesome year of reading!

--Mikie