STARTING: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Recommended repeatedly by John Green of the Vlogbrothers and I wanted to read something very different to anything I've read recently, I'm not sure how much of the plot you're meant to know before you read it so I'll let you all google it if you want to know, I think it's one of those you're meant to discover for yourself along the way.

FINISHED: Uglies

Disappointed, very disappointed.

I loved the world building of this novel, it was a fantastic idea and one that really appealed to me, but the story and characters remained uncompelling and predictable, I didn't care about what happened to them, I was never worried if they were in danger as I was convinced everyone would be fine.
Too predictable for my tastes and I won't be reading the rest of the series, possibly better for younger readers not old enough to cope with the violence of The Hunger Games.

4/10

Currently Reading: Uglies (spoilers with warnings)

Well it all started off so well, the world building was excellent and as this is only my second dystopian novel I was wondering if it would hold up as well as the Panem of the Hunger Games did.

But it's heading downhill, it's starting to become unbelievable, not technologically, but just with regards to a major plot point...

HERE BE SPOILERS

STARTING: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

A book recommended by the people of YouTube who helped me find The Hunger Games.
Let's hope this is as successful a find!

(Oh and I'm reading on a kindle now so the pictures of my hard copies of books will be few and far between, I'm relying on google images for covers now)

FINISHED: The Loop

So I finished The Loop by Nicholas Evans last night, don't have a huge amount to say about it other than it was very easy to read, I enjoyed the reading experience but I didn't get a whole lot from it, but that was what I was expecting and what I wanted from it.

For a girl who really likes wolves this was definitely the one of his books to read and I found it fascinating when occasionally he chose to narrate a segment from the point of view of the wolves, especially on the hunt.

If you like wolves, if you like American ranches, unambiguous love stories and something that is easy to read I'd definitely recommend this for you!

6/10

Oh and I've started updating my GoodReads page again after starting it last year and then never touching it. Bear in mind this doesn't contain every book I've ever read, only some of the ones I have read or reread since July last year, I stopped updating it in around October and am just starting again so stick with me!
http://www.goodreads.com/fivebyfivewhat

STARTING: The Loop - Nicholas Evans

First Nicholas Evans book in quite a while. I read the Horse Whisperer long before I should have, I was far too young, but I remember thinking it was good... let's see if his second book holds up.
This was given to me by my mother knowing how much I like wolves, although I get the feeling the wolves won't feature a lot...

FINISHED: The Marriage Plot (minor spoilers)

I finished The Marriage Plot on Saturday night, but needed a while to let myself mull over it.

I loved it, I absolutely sped through it. And when I got to the end, much to the amusement of DB, it got so emotionally intense that I had to put it down 3 pages before the end and go back to it later.

The story follows three Brown University students through their graduation and beyond, Madeleine, Leonard and Mitchell entangled in a love-triangle, although not all of them realise the triangle exists.

Mitchell was by far my favourite narrator and character, mostly because I empathized with him most, his drawing to theology despite his lack of belief, his introspection. I was at my most comfortable when the book was being narrated by him.
Madeleine, although I started off thinking she was a brat, grew on me massively, we start the book not knowing why she wakes up on the day of Graduation hung over and mortified, and as the book reflects on previous events, whilst running chronologically at the same time (an impressive feat for the author, fantastically done) I decided I liked her a lot more.
I found the book uncomfortable to read when Leonard was the narrator, but I feel that was Eugenides' intention although it would be a spoiler to reveal why.

It made me laugh and it made me cry, often very close together, but it has stayed with me, possibly as I find myself approaching the time of my life described by the characters in the novel.

'The Marriage Plot' was very different to both of the previous Eugenides books, but one thing remains the same, Jeffrey Eugenides' prose is to me, the most beautiful to read anywhere in contemporary fiction, I just hope he keeps it up.

9/10

Currently Reading: The Marriage Plot

Oh Jeffrey Euginides, you've pulled it back for me again.
I started off this book really disliking the main character, Madeleine, feeling she was spoilt and arrogant but, not only have my feelings changed, but I have been drawn so significantly into the plot in such a short time. I started reading this book yesterday and am already over a quarter of the way through.

To sum up how I'm feeling, here is a what I posted on my tumblr about 2 hours ago when I put the book down after reading a substantial amount in a short amount of time:


"You know when you get so engrossed in a book that you can’t remember turning the pages, you don’t remember what was playing over your headphones, all you can think about is the story and the characters and the pain and the joy in their heads.
It’s been so long since I had that.
Thanks again Jeffrey Eugenides."

I was so stuck in the book I didn't want to stop reading, but I had to force myself to, not only because I had to read about German Federalism for my first exam next Wednesday, but also because I didn't want to finish it too quickly. All too often I can get engrossed in a book, finish it in a day and then feel this enormous sense of loss and a feeling that I wished I'd spread it out a bit more. So here's my attempt today. I have put it down. Because I want to spend more time with these characters, even if the majority of it is simply inside my head.

STARTING: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

I love Jeffrey Eugenides.
And that's why I'm slightly nervous about finally getting to read his new book. I devoured The Virgin Suicides and adored Middlesex (which I reread over Christmas), they're very different and again he seems to be following his trend of having no trend when it comes to the subjects of his books.
But as long as his writing continues to be as soulful and beautifully paced as it has been in the past I'm sure I'll be very happy.

I'll keep you updated!

FINISHED: The Fist of God (no spoilers)

So, after starting it what must have been about 6 weeks ago, I finally finished Fist of God last night! After slowly trudging through the first half before and during the Easter holidays I picked it up after returning to uni and got really into it. I absolutely flew through the last third which I think I read in a matter of days.

Had this been a book I had picked up myself, rather than a recommendation from DB I think I would have put it down after the first couple of chapters but I'm so glad I didn't! It was a very rewarding read in the end. The narration is split between varying characters in different states and different ranks, from civilians who work in banks to the highest of the high in the Israeli Mossad.
I had varying theories as to who the mysterious 'Jericho' was (the spy leaking information to the coalition forces throughout the lead up to the war), but was left laughing out loud at the final revelation as I had completely failed to guess correctly.

Not the easiest read in the world, but as this genre and style of writing was completely new to me that is not hugely surprising. Forsyth was definitely in his element in the last third of the book, intertwining the viewpoints and actually getting to the meat of the story. If I had problems with this book they were that there was too much build up to events and too many viewpoints. Some of the narrators of certain points of the book were entirely unnecessary but, in Forsyth's defence, they may have been included to throw people off the scent with regards to 'Jericho'.

Overall a very satisfying read, I felt a sense of achievement when I got to the end of this book, rather than my usual sense of loss at having left a fictional universe. Perhaps not the best book with which to start my foray into recent historical fiction, but I'll definitely look into Forsyth's books again!

7/10