Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2017
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Summer's 50 Books in 2017
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Good luck on your reading, and your publishing, too!
Tiffany wrote: "Aw, but I love your rants! Good luck on your reading, and your publishing, too!"
Ha. Well, we'll see how the ranting goes. Who knows, I might not be able to help myself. ^_~
And thank you! Good luck with your list as well!
1) Furies of Calderon by Jim ButcherBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 0
Books I've read before and loved: 1
Fiction E-books: 0
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
Goodreads showed me just how bad of a year I had when it came to star-ratings on the books I read in 2016. And, yeah, so so true when I look back on it. And it got me thinking about books that I love that I've never read a second time and decided that in order to be a good writer, I need to remind myself of good writing. And thus, I am rereading Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series.
The thing is, this book is a little clunky. There's some rushed romance and far too damn many adverbs. But, well, said rushed romance is my favorite in the series, so I forgive him. ... No forgiveness on the adverbs, but hey, it's his first book in a series, so I'll give him some slack.
But the rest? Ah, the rest is so GOOD. All the main characters are interesting (a lot of great side characters are as well). The villains are multifaceted and well-written. The hints of secrets revealed in later books feels so... well, obvious now that I know stuff! And isn't that the best way to hint? Obvious once it's known, but well-hidden before you know the facts. Love that stuff!
There's a lot of battle description and I never once got bored with it. *That* takes insane skill. And while Butcher has let me down in some of his books when it comes to female characters kicking ass, he never once does so in these books. (At least, as far as I remember... and definitely not in this one.)
Looking forward to rereading the second book in the series!
2) Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth GilbertBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 1
Fiction E-books: 0
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I got this book to help me feel inspired going into my self-publishing journey this year. Oi, this so didn't do that. At all.
Gilbert had a couple kernels of helpful advice between the pages, but I almost wonder if it was on accident. For the most part, the writing is filled with random babbling, talking about how awesome she is (but trying to sound humble about it... and failing), judging other people, and a batshit crazy hypothesis about where ideas come from.
I'm really glad I found this on sale...
3) Academ's Fury by Jim ButcherI can't add this to the "books I've read before and loved" since I only gave it 3 stars after the re-read. *Shrug*
Butcher's writing is still sloppy with adverbs, but I think there were less this time around. But the biggest issue I had was that there was so much combat description in this book that it started feeling like a slog. It went from one battle in one chapter to the next being about a different battle going on somewhere else. My brain screamed for a break multiple times! And even worse, I had to force myself to sit down and finish the story. That's not a great sign!
The romances were well-done (although I feel like there could have been a little more drama with one of them) and probably the highlight of the story for me. There was a touch of political intrigue, and honestly, I think if more was concentrated there for plot, it would've been a four or even five-star book.
It'll be interesting to see how the third book goes for me! (Older me is far more stingy with stars, I think!)
4) Cursor's Fury by Jim ButcherBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 2
Fiction E-books: 0
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
Butcher still needs to calm the "quietly" repetition down (and a few other little darlings), but on the whole, I'd say adverbs were better than before.
The fighting is much better controlled so that you don't get overwhelmed, so I appreciated that as well!
Ah yes, *this* is what I remember about the books being good! Good war story, good underdog story, great lead-up to a romance... and meh for the follow-through on said romance. (I swear Butcher doesn't understand how to steer romance to save his life in this series. But I still like the ships anyway, so I guess he gets half points.)
I had completely forgotten about one twist reveal and highly enjoyed re-living that a-ha moment.
For the most part: good stuff!
5) Succubus Shadows by Richelle MeadI decided to take a break from Butcher's Codex Alera and read the next book in the succubus books from Mead! And I am so glad I did! Not only was it a super fast read, but it was really really good!
I love how the characters in this series are just... not really good people. Not BAD people, but not saints. And I appreciate that. Because that's, well, normal. People are selfish. People do stupid things. And, well, that includes main characters.
(The only thing that bothers me is when main characters do stupid things purely to move plot along. THAT pisses me off. And that was not what Mead did at all.)
Also, the twist that I was starting to dread due to being predictable actually wound up taking an interesting turn. Eeexcellent.
This is a great set-up into the last book of the series (and had some damn good sex scenes in it, too).
6) Succubus Revealed by Richelle MeadThe last book in the series! And it was good! Not mind-blowing good, but hey, that's pretty normal for a series book ender.
The twist I expected came to be, but in a way that worked really well. Mead didn't make it easy and I appreciate that. Also, there were a couple of fun turns along the way.
The ending was a bit too much sap for me personally, but my sap max is pretty low and I know that. *Shrug*
All in all, I'm happy with the book and very happy with the series as a whole. Mead continues to be one of my favorite authors!
7) Captain's Fury by Jim ButcherBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 0
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
Lots of good stuff in this book! Everyone got at least one awesome moment. Men and women fought with equal vigor and strength, and neither gender always in the way of literal steel and brawn.
The relationships were there, but just a weaved part of the story, which plays to Butcher's strengths, I think.
In other news, I just bought a ton of self-published e-books on Amazon and can't wait to sink my teeth into the new experience! (Can you believe I've never read one before? Crazy!)
8) Bearly Awake by D.R. PerryBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 1
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I didn't add this book to my "read" section on Goodreads because I didn't want the self-published author's rating to lower. Maybe some day when I'm self-published, some hateful soul like me will be kind enough to do the same. *Shrug*
But, well, I still read it. And thus, I shall share that experience here.
There were a lot of little things that bothered me about this book. It needed another edit round. It was 160 pages, but it actually wasn't, since page numbers would skip ahead randomly. (It might not have been intentional, but if it was, it was a psychological manipulation that's just gross.)
There were two big things that bothered me: The lack of plot and the raced romance. I mean, if you're not going to have a plot, shouldn't the romance at least be, you know... attempted?
No sex scenes, which might have miffed me if I cared more. But, as noted above, there really wasn't a chance to care.
Not a great experience for my first crack at reading self-published e-books, but hey, this book has insanely good reviews. So, uh, either I'm just way too critical, or the community is just reeeeally kind.
9) Omega Reclaimed by Tanya ChrisBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 2
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
This was better than my first e-book experience... but still not great. It was my first M/M read, so that was kinda cool to experience for the first time.
The writing was all right, but the pacing was off. The sex was decent... but then also kind of gross. The omega werewolf was frequently in heat, which caused tons of "slick" to drip... all over the place (no, I mean, ALL OVER THE PLACE). I mean, sure, yay no loob for sexy sake, I guess, but... ew. Also, the word "slick" just isn't sexy. Maybe one step up from "goop."
Also, the alpha werewolf kept calling the omega "little one," which just didn't sit well with me. It makes me think of a father/son dynamic, not lovers. So, every time, it made me cringe.
Things got resolved in the book, but everything occurred just too damn quick. Their relationship start, their other problems encountered and triumphed over, blah blah. I needed more... chase in the werewolf story.
10) Dream Stalker: Talented: Book 1 by Amy HopkinsBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 0
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I think this book had potential... but the author got too excited about publishing and decided to stick up the first draft she concocted. Grr.
I'm not just talking about the book needing an editor (although it did). I'm talking about content. The main character goes to random places for random reasons throughout the entire book. She interacts with different people and creatures that are never fleshed out. Her magic is described one way and then changes over time to fit the need of the plot.
In essence, the product needed a content edit, big time. And that's NORMAL. But not as a final draft.
11) The Lover by Marguerite DurasBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 1
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I was entirely enraptured by this book from page one. The tone, the words, the muted pain. Ugh, so good! The language and scenes are so intense and powerful that you can't help but pause and think of their effect. So damn harsh, this world, and Duras leads you right through.
I will say that about halfway through, things start to become less... organized in chaos? If that makes any sense. It starts to feel draining to read some of the bouts that land out of nowhere. And yet, I feel like that is more from my own shortcomings than Duras'.
In either case, I feel like I've grown as a writer merely by reading Duras' work.
12) Princeps' Fury by Jim ButcherYears ago, I rated this book 4 stars. Erm, well, apparently older Summer has higher expectations and gave it 3. *Cough*
It's a decent book, don't get me wrong, but it was just... too drawn out. And I'm tired of the "villains" in this series. They've dragged on too long. And the relationships haven't grown. They just stay where they've been since they bloomed into something more. And the main character is starting to grate on me with his golden child routine.
But the book pushes past expectations, allowed for conflicts that weren't battles of war, and gave a new piece of scenery.
(Note: I'm starting to feel like re-reading books I used to love is like rewatching 80s cartoons that I adored. ... Well, okay, maybe not that bad, but yeesh.)
I know the feeling about rereading favorite books. Kind of like a mystery piled on top of it: what was in that book that rocked my world 30 years ago? Sometimes I have no idea.
Susan wrote: "I know the feeling about rereading favorite books. Kind of like a mystery piled on top of it: what was in that book that rocked my world 30 years ago? Sometimes I have no idea."I know, right? Was I more open-minded and filled with wonder years back... or do I just know what really good writing looks like now and have higher expectations?
13) Catch-22 by Joseph HellerBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 2
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I have read many books in my life... and I hate this one most of all. It was poorly written drivel that went on... and on... and on in some supposedly "genius" attempt at showing us the horrors of war through ridiculous events that spotlight the tragedies.
But no. No no no NO NO. Even *if* I could forgive the near constant adverb abuse (*constant*), the repetitive narrative and dialogue (so glad getting paid by the word is a thing of the past), and the pure randomness of the prose itself, it's still a horribly, disgusting piece of literature.
Why? Because I have never been so completely SICKENED by female presentation in a piece of literature EVER. Women are basically depicted as walking vaginas. Wanton, frequently whores, and most noted by how ugly they are or how smooth their thighs. They're shown as greedy, as insane, and as highlights to a man's weak character.
And don't get me started about our "hero" Yossarian, who thinks one nurse is pretty hot, so he needs to slide his hand up her skirt while she's tending to him. Then his buddy cops a boob feel as she recoils in fright from the original assault. And it's soooo funny, guys. Soo funny, the sexual assault of this woman that turns into a bit where they deny it due to being accused of what the other man did. (A couple chapters later, it's then noted that Yossarian is sleeping with said nurse all the time now. Because that's a fantastic message.)
But hey, at the end of the book, there's a short bit about one of the characters raping and killing a woman and Yossarian is APPALLED by this. And it's supposed to be this notation of how awful the world is because he's not punished for it. Which just says to me that everything before it was fine, but this, THIS, was not okay and depicts a savage world.
*Screams out in frustrated rage*
I never could get past the first 20 pages.
Susan wrote: "I never could get past the first 20 pages."It took me a month to read those stupid 450 pages. I had several moments of weakness where I considered quitting. But I have this stupid policy of always finishing a book, no matter what. Bleh.
I don't have enough years left in my life for that policy.
Susan wrote: "I don't have enough years left in my life for that policy."That's completely fair!
Books on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 3Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
14) Une vie by Guy de Maupassant
(Title in English = A Woman's Life)
This book showed so much promise at the start. I loved "The Necklace" (a short story by Maupassant), which is what steered me in this book's direction. But, well, as another reviewer stated, he should've stuck with short stories.
The prose was well-written. The little details lovely and thought-provoking. Not the setting necessarily (although that was fine), but just those little moments of reflection that hit straight against one's gut when they read something entirely true about life.
But the thing is, that's all there is to the book. We see a woman suffer. That's it. Just suffer, over and over again, until she's entirely broken. Until I finally stopped pitying her and started hating her for being so weak and feeble. Just as I hated every other character in this book.
And while I'm not a huge fan of suffering, I would say that I do believe it can be done right if done with purpose. (*Points up at The Lover.) This... didn't. It was just suffering to describe suffering. And the ending was this slap in the face that was entirely poppycock. What a terrible tone change with a chaotic message of intent!
Also, dogs and puppies were killed. In detail. And I shall not forgive it!
Books on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 4Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
15) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I wasn't a fan of this book for the first few chapters, largely due to the lack of quotations on verbal speech and the present-tense choice. Both allowable, certainly, but I dislike both in my fiction.
However, as it turned out, the lack of quotations was purposeful and added an entirely new element to the narrative once quotes were introduced. As for the present-tense, that seemed appropriate as well, considering the subject matter.
In either case, this book is glorious. Not just because it's relevant in our current political climate (which makes it insanely terrifying), but also because of it being relevant to the human condition.
And by that, there are so many things I am referring to. The idea that survival is so instinctual that We're willing to do anything to have it. What We're willing to endure provided We're offered crumbs. How education is feared by those in power. How religion is used as a weapon. How women have an everlasting struggle to become more than what they can produce.
And while I normally hate endings that don't tell me a character's fate, I was honestly grateful in this case. She was both ruined and saved. Both given a chance to fall or a chance to rise. Because both happen in this world. Both are real. And both are important.
And lastly, while I normally don't quote from books in reviews, I have to share these few lines that pulled on me so tightly that I could barely breathe:
"But I keep on going with this sad and hungry and sordid, this limping and mutilated story, because after all I want you to hear it, as I will hear yours too if I ever get the chance, if I meet you or if you escape, in the future or in heaven or in prison or underground, some other place. What they have in common is that they're not here. By telling you anything at all I'm at least believing in you, I believe you're there, I believe you into being. Because I'm telling you this story, I will your existence. I tell, therefore you are" (pg 267-268).
16) Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette WintersonBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 3
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
I've never really liked postmodern work on the whole, but there are exceptions, so I try not to assume the worse until I've experienced it. But, well, this is one those examples of me just not "getting" postmodern literature.
I actually liked Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. It managed to have a steady narrative while also inserting fairytale elements between as metaphor for the narrative.
This book... was a mess. It prattled about with little desire for clarity, as if it was the Emperor without his clothes and we're mere peons that pretend his "garb" is fantastic so he doesn't have us executed. There were occasional bits of wisdom throughout, but honestly, that only made me more angry. Because I feel like Winterson has the ability to say so much in a compelling way... but chose this instead.
I have little tolerance for poetry prose that works so hard to sound pretty that it has zero substance unless you force it. I felt like this is one of those books I could have been forced to read in English class so that we could all go around the room and ramble about the genius in the chaos.
Bleh.
17) Lord of Shadows by Cassandra ClareNot as good as the first book in the series (trilogy?), but really really good! There was definitely some things lacking, and some choices that annoyed me. And the ending was tragic, but not in that "Oooh, nice!" way, but more of a sigh with a, "That made no sense and was purely done for drama. Ugh."
But still, it did a lot more right than it did wrong and I'm still very much looking forward the the next (last?) book! Which, apparently, will be in two years. Blah!
18) 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success by Amy MorinBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 4
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
While there's a chapter in this book I still hate (she's way off course and out of line with most of it, in my opinion), I do think this book is great to re-read every now and then to get myself sorted (or maintain) a good path.
So, uh, woot?
19) The Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussThe first 50 or so pages of this book were just... not good. They were slow, stunted, and awkward. I thought I was going to have a really long road ahead of me, what with the book being almost 700 pages and all.
But then something happened. The main character started telling his story. So instead of this 3rd person boring slaw, we got into this fantastic fantasy story that held my attention the entire way through. And while we occasionally moved back to that 3rd person crap, I found that it started getting better. I still prefer all the 1st person story stuff, but the 3rd person bits were, of course, necessary.
I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because I didn't particularly care for his take on the few women in the story. But it's one of those rare instances where I could dislike bits in a book and still love it more than I dislike the bad bits. (Like Ender's Game. Such a horribly sexist book, but I can't help but be in love with it anyway. *Shrug*)
I've been super busy, but I wanted to stop by and chat real quick about two books I've finished recently.20) First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
Oof. Ooooof. Thank the gods this ride is officially over. I'm sorry, Jim, but good gods, your work is much better as nostalgia. The real thing just makes me so damn depressed.
It's weird, because I think Butcher really wants to be a feminist. Maybe he even is one... but he just doesn't quite get it. Equality doesn't just mean putting a lot of women in your books. It means they deserve just as much awesome. Just as many cool moments. Instead, they're used as props. Props for the male characters, no less. Are they strong women? I think so... but they just never get the chance to show it. Not really.
Even still, I've decided to count all 6 books on my list, because, well, I started this year off thinking I absolutely loved this series. The least it can do is count for something on a list I made up.
21) Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
I've reread this book multiple times in my life. And all those other times, I've given it a 5-star rating. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good fantasy romance. But now? Well, now I wouldn't give it that high of praise. The prose is often weak. People cry too damn much. But at the same time, I refuse to change the rating because of one important detail: I still got the feels. I still got the feels in parts of the book that I remember getting the feels every other time. And damn, if I can still get that level of satisfaction from bits of this book? Then it can have its 5 stars.
Books on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 1
Books I've read before and loved: 8
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
22) Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin KleonI needed a little writing inspiration boost, so I grabbed this off the shelf and gave it a read. Super short, but super sweet!
There were parts of this that meandered a bit too much (and felt a little too much like general fortune-telling), but there were plenty of little nuggets of wisdom and inspiration that I nabbed hold of. So, all-in-all, I'm glad I picked this up!
23) How To Market A Book by Joanna PennBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 3 (I forgot to add #22!)
Books I've read before and loved: 8
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
Good book! Lots of info, lots of other places to find info... although, I would say, that it felt more like a book that pointed more toward other people than actually tangible help in and of itself. Sure, the author goes into her own experiences, but I'm not a fiction AND non-fiction author, so I felt like her experiences weren't helpful to me much.
But still, I got a lot out of it, so I'm happy.
In other news, I really miss trashy romance novels. I missed my local library's annual book sale and feel like that really left my poor shelves bare of such things. Clearly, I need to work on this!
24) The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success by Darren HardyBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 4
Books I've read before and loved: 8
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 0
Joanna Penn recommended this book to help kick-start discipline in a general way... and general is very right. It's so general that's it's only semi-helpful. Like a Tarot reading, you have to do all the work to make it fit you and then figure out where to go from there.
Also, some of the things Hardy states are... well, as someone else put it on their review: bullshit. He says all television is trash and that news is bad for productivity because it'll make you depressed, so just stay away from it!
Okay, we can debate TV. (I happen to find it helpful for thinking and learning about entertainment, plus sometimes finding good doses of inspiration). But news? NEWS? Good gods, yes, let's all just hide underneath a rock so we can have a higher chance of success. *Shakes head* I mean, again, it depends on the news source. Because, sure, I think some news sources that are utter crap should be taken out of one's routine. But still. -_-
One last negative: He has all these lists and such you can download from his website so you can print and fill it out. Well, it's been a few years since he published. Now you have to sign up for the pages, giving your email and other personal info. So not cool.
This book wasn't all bad though. Hardy makes some good, general points about building habits and working on momentum that have given me some things to chew on. He gets props for that!
25) Kiss of Fate by Deborah CookeBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 4
Books I've read before and loved: 8
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 1
Remember that time I talked about how I was missing my trashy romance novels? Oof, well, maybe I was too hasty.
So, yes, I skipped to the third book in this series. *Shrug* I do that a lot. Apparently, that meant that a bajillion different plot points needed to be noted, aside from the ones introduced in this novel.
Gods, I hate it when authors have so many things juggling that you can't keep anything straight. And then plots would end out of nowhere! BAM, dude, your son's dead. You thought him being evil was supposed to be a main plot point? Pfft. The male main only talked about him all the time. But sure. And then it really didn't affect him much. Ah, the inane cares of mortals.
Anyway, let me get to the basic gist of this book so you can see why I kept opening my mouth in horror every two pages: Dude's a dragon. Every so often, one of the dragon dude's (always a guy, unless a prophetess dragon... don't even get me started on that) gets a firestorm. What does that mean? It means he finds a human woman that he gets to screw, impregnate, and continue on the male dragon line via hoodoo magic that makes them WANT EACH OTHER SO BAD. Go go dragon breeding!
"But, Summer," you say, "It's super sexy when divine powers intercede and make two people want to fuck like bunnies despite not knowing each other!" Uh, sure, if that's what you're into. But it kinda creeps me out. Feels a little too close to not giving consent for my taste in this instance. (I mean, the firestorm is STRONG.)
Also, there's the whole thing about the dragon dude foisting a baby on some unsuspecting woman. But aww, this guy really likes this girl that's actually the reincarnation of his first firestorm that wound up killing herself because of dragon... stuff (>_> <_<). And thus, he totally pulls out when he orgasms.
Yes, ladies, what a gentlemen. He was totally planning on getting the sex and then taking off, her finding out about the pregnancy later on, but then he went and *liked* her. I... I... I just... *Holds head down*
Oh, but it gets BETTER. So, she finds out about it. And what does she do? She demands that he impregnate her. I mean, they've only known each other 72 hours, but she wants a baby! And it'll help dragon society and stuff! (She makes a *speech* about this. In front of a bunch of others who cheer her on.)
But this is a feminist book, guys! The main female lead has a job! A professor job! She's smart! And she's had sex before! And even was married! But, you know, she never truly loved or trusted those guys. Because none of them were her Prince Dragonly.
I mean, good start, Cooke, I always appreciate a non-virgin female lead... but then you went and ruined it. *Sighs*
I could go on, but one last thing: There is never any resolution to the villains in this story. I still don't really get how the Big Bad got away when he was separated from his allies and *surrounded* by his enemies. But the end of the chapter said he needed to get out, so, you know, we just had to figure it out for ourselves how that happened. *Facepalm*
26) The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick RothfussMaybe not as good as the first, but still soooo damn good! Alas, I'm now in that group of readers that are impatiently waiting for the third book in this trilogy! *Cries*
In other news, I'm now officially over halfway done with 50 books... near the end of October! Huzzah, this is going well!
Oof, I think I need a nap.
27) The Mirror of Her Dreams and 28) A Man Rides Through by Stephen R. Donaldson
Books on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 4
Books I've read before and loved: 10
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 1
This... was really really REALLY hard for me. I *loved* these two books when I was in my early twenties. I loved them so much that I named my main character in World of Warcraft after one of the characters.
Now? ... Now I'm starting to re-think this whole re-reading books I loved thing. It's just... soul crushing.
I'm not going to talk much, because my heart just hurts too much at the moment. But in a nutshell: Donaldson objectifies women throughout the entire two books. Breasts are fondled a LOT without consent. All the men want to get it on with the main female lead. (And she totally doesn't get it. "*I'm* pretty? Get out of here, you sillies!") Even worse? There's a character that's considered a tragic war hero who brutally cripples a woman for being in his bed to proposition him. Nobody cares after the villain gets what he wants from the situation.
And lastly: The king in this story sets up events so that he basically pairs off his daughters (through their "freewill") so that them screwing these two powerful dudes winds up changing the tide of a war. This, ladies and gents, is how Donaldson tries to show strong women. *Cries*
*Mourns in a corner for her naive past self*
29) New Spring by Robert JordanBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 4
Books I've read before and loved: 10
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 2
Oof, moving is taking a lot out of me! Still, I decided that I needed to read this book so I could give it back to the friend who lent it to me... and so I didn't have to pack it.
It was good! I haven't read The Wheel of Time series in many years (and never actually finished it...). This not only made me want to go back and re-read/finish the series (good gods, that's a project!!), but it also made me sort of like one of the characters that I'd spent a good deal of my early twenties hating. Damn you, Jordan!
The ending was a bit anti-climatic and rushed, but before that, it's grade A awesome.
Ah, Lan, my first book crush that wasn't evil...
30) Priceless by Shannon MayerBooks on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 4
Books I've read before and loved: 10
Fiction E-books: 3
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 3
I'm hoping to get one last book read before the end of the year so I can finish my non-fiction reading goal. But, well, we'll see.
This book was... eh. The plot was okay, but the characters were... not really likable. Or made much sense. The romance was between two people who hated each other for a decade and then POOF, for a really dumb reason, things started changing.
The humor was too corny and cliche, the characters needed more fleshing out, and another edit session would've gone a long way.
Umm... Merry Christmas?
Mod
28) A Man Rides Through by Stephen R. Donaldson
...
This... was really really REALLY hard for me. I *loved* these two books when I was in my early twenties. I loved them so much that I named my main character in World of Warcraft after one of the characters.
Now? ... Now I'm starting to re-think this whole re-reading books I loved thing. It's just... soul crushing.
..."
Oh, that's so sad! I know how you feel, though. It's sort of that "You can't go home again" sentiment.
Tiffany wrote: "Oh, that's so sad! I know how you feel, though. It's sort of that "You can't go home again" sentiment."Exactly! And you know what they say: Reading a book more than once means you'll get different things out of it because you're a different person than who you were.
... I'm not sure what that says about old me, but there it is!
I have found that same truth in rereading favorite books from my past. Sometimes I can't even figure out what it was I liked about them. One part of book that I romanticized about throughout my life took up merely one page of the book, and my imagination added so much to it. Don't know how old you are now, but I think most of us in our twenties were looking for grand passion, while as we get older we realize kindness, mutual interests and a sense of humor are better in the long run.
Susan wrote: "I have found that same truth in rereading favorite books from my past. Sometimes I can't even figure out what it was I liked about them. One part of book that I romanticized about throughout my lif..."Well, I still love the passion stuff, but I agree with the rest as well. ;) Honestly, I think my biggest difference is that I was very blind to messed up ways women are A) represented, and B) objectified.
Susan wrote: "So were a lot of people."Yup. :(
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Mirror of Her Dreams (other topics)A Man Rides Through (other topics)
Priceless (other topics)
New Spring (other topics)
A Man Rides Through (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen R. Donaldson (other topics)Shannon Mayer (other topics)
Robert Jordan (other topics)
Stephen R. Donaldson (other topics)
Patrick Rothfuss (other topics)
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This is a very exciting year for me, since I'm pushing forward to self-publish. That also means I need to read a ton! And, well, I'm going to try to be, uh, nicer. Not let any author off the hook, mind, but maybe try to hold the rants down... a bit. After all, while I don't expect everyone who reads my stuff to love it, I do recognize there are levels of kindness. (Thus why I don't tend to write actual reviews.) So, yeah, working on that.
I don't really have anything big planned out, reading-wise, but I had some basic ideas:
Books on that Books to Read Before I Die list: 5
Non-fiction books: 5
Books I've read before and loved: 10
Fiction E-books: 10
Books on my shelves collecting dust: 5