June 03, 2010

May reading update

Is it seriously June?

Where has 2010 gone? It's almost halfway over!

JANUARY
1. SUITE SCARLETT by Maureen Johnson (Young Adult)
2. THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE by Lauren Willig (Historical/Spy Thriller/Romance)

FEBRUARY
3. THE HORSE AND HIS BOY by C.S. Lewis (Christian/Fantasy)
4. TITHE by Holly Black (YA/Urban Fantasy)
5. PRINCE CASPIAN by C.S. Lewis (Christian/Fantasy)

MARCH
6. THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER by C.S. Lewis (Christian/Fantasy)
7. THE OPPOSITE OF ME by Sarah Pekkanen (Women's Lit)
8. NIGHT by Elie Wiesel (Memoir)

APRIL
9. LIFE, AFTER by Sarah Darer Littman (YA ARC)
10. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K. Rowling (reread)

MAY
11. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan (YA/Horror/Romance)
12. THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY by Lauren Willig (Historical/Spy Thriller/Romance)
13. LAUGHING WITHOUT AN ACCENT by Firoozeh Dumas (Memoir)
 
I met my goal this month, which means I'm only 2 behind for the year. That is manageable, at least.
 
I had few expectations for FOREST, except that it would frighten me the way WORLD WAR Z did (Not a good thing. If WWZ wasn't such an amazing book, I would have stopped reading after the first chapter. I had nightmares for 6 months after finishing it.). I was pleasantly surprised to find myself anxious for the characters, but not personally frightened. FOREST is a book I have trouble talking about without giving too much away, but rest assured - all the praise it has received is well deserved.

Firoozeh Dumas is an Iranian American author married to a Frenchman. I devoured Dumas's first memoir, FUNNY IN FARSI, because of its unique perspective, hilarious anecdotes, and unfailing optimism. LAUGHING is chock-full of cultural mishaps, wacky extended family, shared humanity, and made me burst out laughing at least once a chapter. Very high on my recommendation list.
 
I feel like I've talked about the genius that is Lauren Willig a lot lately, so let me just say that BLOOD LILY, the 6th in Willig's PINK CARNATION series, did not disappoint.

Finally, 2 of my winners haven't contacted me to claim their prize yet. Be sure to check Monday's post to see if you won.

8 comments:

Glenna said...

This is an AWESOME list; and I'm dying to read Forest and WWZ now more than ever...

Rachel Bateman said...

I am so glad you liked FOREST so much. :) I just adore those books. I liked The Dead-Tossed Waves even more than the first one!

firoozeh dumas said...

Thank you! Your comments made my day.

-Firoozeh Dumas

Anonymous said...

I am utterly captured by LAUGHING's cover; coupled with your recommendation, it's definitely going to my reading list.

Remilda Graystone said...

Ooh, Laughing Without an Accent (funny, funny title) has a nice cover. Going on my TBR! Great list of books so far!

Unknown said...

Can't wait! Also need NEED to get my hands on FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH before all the mystery is gone a la Harry Potter nowadays.

Krispy said...

I like the cover of Laughing Without an Accent. May have to check it out.

I enjoyed Forest, but I had a similar experience to you in that I was anxious for the characters but not personally invested, I guess? It was kind of weird for me because despite the close 1st person perspective, I felt oddly distant from everyone and everything. But I mean, I still liked the book. :) I need to get my hands on the sequel.

Abby Stevens said...

Sorry I'm just now getting around to responding to these comments - last week was rough. :P

Glenna - You really must read WWZ. It. is. amazing.

Rachel - I can't wait to read DTW! And I heard there is a third in the trilogy, too - coming out next year, I think?

Ms. Dumas - I am honored that stopped by my blog and read my thoughts on your books. I would love to read more about your fantastic life and will certainly be purchasing anything you publish from here on out.

Sandy & Remilda - It's honestly laugh out loud hilarious. Let me know what you think if you read it.

Sarah - Yes, definitely read it! It's great. :)

Krispy - You explained what I meant far better than I did. I did feel somewhat detached from the story, but it didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. It was just one of those books where I felt a little further from the character, I guess. Not necessarily a negative, just a different way of experiencing it.

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