Okay, I've been away awhile again, but just trying to read. Putting together one of these posts takes a good bit of time, and well, most of the time--I'd rather be reading. But this morning finds me between books again, so I thought it would be the perfect time to recap my March titles while I wait, hopefully, for a text from the library confirming my hold for the next book on my list:
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig (for my A to Z author challenge) Fingers crossed!
But, meanwhile, March was a great reading month for me! I started off with Stephen King's
End of Watch, the final book in his Bill Hodges/Mr. Mercedes trilogy. So good, he never disappoints. His imagination is truly staggering. I really am in love with that man's mind!
After Mr. King, I dipped back into the world of Westeros with
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George RR Martin. I had hoped there would be more insight into the back story and history of the Song of Ice and Fire series, but there's not. It is a great story about hedge knight, Dunk, and his squire (secret Targaryen) Egg, and it was wonderful to be back in that world again, rather like being back at Hogwarts with
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. But, it's more of a tease than a truly satisfying novel. I am excited about the new HBO season in July, and George is also publishing another Westeros story in an anthology due out this October,
The Book of Swords (you can click on the link to place your pre-order if you wish--you know I have!) So, whether or not 2017 sees any sign of Winds of Winter, at least there is that to look forward to, right?
Following Knight, I read Philip Roth's
Plot Against America, which is politically disturbing in light of Trump's America First campaign--the same campaign slogan used in this book, a twist on the history of post WWI election where Lindberg beats Roosevelt for the presidency and befriends Hitler, the nightmare of the Holocaust touching American soil...Frightening. Read it.
Perhaps that's what made Jennifer McMahon's
Winter People seem not so scary to me? It just read as a frivolous ghost story--not very haunting at all. It might make a good movie if they'd beef it up some, otherwise it came off as a super lame read. Pass.
Next, (I told you I had a good reading month!) I took up a customer's recommendation and read Murakami's
Kafka on the Shore. I'd heard lots of great things about Haruki and lover of big fat books that I am, have been eyeing his
1Q84 for some time. So I bought both before our blizzard last month, and devoured Kafka (saving 1Q84 for now...) Really great, trippy read. I love that sort of twisted, keep you guessing, transcendental story line. Five stars all the way!
I followed Kafka with Donna Tartt's
The Goldfinch. I wanted to love this book but so didn't. I just didn't buy the story line, it doesn't read true to me. I also didn't see the comparison of Donna to Charles Dickens that so many reviewers share--a novel about an orphan doesn't make your book 'Dickensian'. Sorry.
I did pick up
Oliver Twist after The Goldfinch--so much better!! I always have enjoyed Dicken's voice and his depth of characters. And, I also realized I think he's spoiled me for always having happy endings (one of the problems with Goldfinch (*spoiler*)--Theo is still a drug addict at the end and doesn't get the girl...) I like justice. I need resolution. I want the happy ending. Period. That's not asking for too much, is it?
Finally, I just finished
Watership Down by Richard Adams this morning. I'd read this several years back when I was working at Books-a-Million in Tennessee and loved it. Rabbits. Justice. Happy ending. Of course I loved it! I've wanted to re-read it for a while and it was perfect for the Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt for a book from a non-human point of view. Love, love, loved it. Cried. Bill said something about me always reading sad books, but it's not a sad book...just the ending will bring on the tears. If you haven't read it, do. So good.
Now I'm waiting to hear from the library and if I can't pick up World of Yesterday today, then I'll start Andy Weir's
The Martian and order Yesterday for reading later on. What was your reading month like? Share any recommendations? Let's hear it below...
