Sunday, May 14, 2017

March/April Reading Wrap Up

It's been two months since my last wrap up when I only had two books and now there are too many!
Library of Souls is the final book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Trilogy 4 Stars.  It had all the action and intensity of the first book that was very much lacking in the second.  If you liked the first book then be sure to read the third and final piece of the story.
If you are an old style Dean Koontz fan, this book may not be for you.  However, since I don't have a deep history with the author, I enjoyed this book.  The story is coherent and the main character is engaging.  My only issue is that the big reveal comes about 3/4 of the way through and it completely ruined the story for me.  From that point, I no longer cared what happened although I did read it to the end.  Also the last paragraph ends on a very jarring note which is probably supposed to make the reader go 'oooh' but really just feels like he forgot to write the next sentence.  3 Stars  Note - I listened to the audio book so that possibly made me more tolerant and I didn't really have to concentrate on the story the whole time.
This book was for the Central Library book club and the author came to our discussion group.  The book is somewhat a retelling of Dante's Inferno.  While I never quite connected with the main character or his quest, as soon as the supporting characters made their way into the scene, I was hooked.  I loved their individual voices and sense of humor with occasional bits of wisdom thrown in.    I gave this book 4 stars with a caution that it won't be for everyone; a tolerance for gore is definitely needed.
This was my February blind date with a book and yes it really did take me through April to finish.  I gave it 2 Stars because the story just never came to life for me and I was bothered some jarring notes through out which did not feel authentic to the time period.  This is the second Amanda Quick book I have read and I did not care for this one any more than the first one.  They sound good but they just aren't my style.
March Book for Dogwood Belles Book Club 2 Stars This wasn't Spark's best story.  It was very cliche and I think he was out of touch with two of his main characters.  They were written too mature and experienced for the age they were represent.  It didn't feel true.  Ira's story was the best part but even that was very predictable down to the big 'surprise' ending.  
April book for the Central Library book club.  Fantasy genre, 3 Stars.  My first Heinlein and he is a good writer.   There are a lot of great sentences that stand out but the overall story is lack luster and feels very very dated to me.
April Book for Dogwood Belles Book Club, 4 stars.  Very well written and complex but very character driven so it was slow in places.  I prefer plot driven stories but I wouldn't be averse to reading the next one in the Dublin Murder Squad series.
YA, dystopian and not necessarily original but very well done.  I really connected with the main characters and can't wait to see what happens next.  I listened to the audio book and the narrator was pitch perfect for the tone I imagine goes with the words. 4 Stars

Summary:  The Perfect Poison was the worst book of these 2 months with The Longest Ride a close second.  The Red Queen was the best book with In the Woods a close second.

Happy Reading Y'all


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