book review – Page 7 – Pixel Reads Books

author: Adam Silvera

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): YA, Contemporary, Lgbtqa+

my thoughts: under the cut for spoilers

Finish date: 05/12/2018

I liked reading this book. It wasn’t amazing and out of this world, just okay. I really did like the plot but I think some things could have been done better. I’m just a reader though, not a writer and it’s always hard for me to really describe what it is that was lacking, just that something was missing.

The characters could be very one dimensional at times and I felt no connection to them, I wasn’t sad when they did die or that they were scared about dying, I just didn’t care that much. I did like how all the different characters lives intersected with each others without them knowing. To them it was just another person passing them by on the street, to the reader you could see just how their lives connected. The world building seemed almost incomplete or like it could have been more fleshed out.

I read the book as well as listened to the audio book. I gave up on the audio book not even half way into the story because it was bad. The voices changed with some of the characters, one female was being done by the guy but then later in a different chapter she had her own female voice actor. I couldn’t follow along with the recording.

8. A book with a times of day in the title – Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire

Finished 05/14/18

I loved the title of this book and the summary peaked my interest. Paranormal fantasy? I’m in. Just the first paragraph had me hooked. I could have easily read this book in one sitting; unfortunately it was the weekend, my family was home, and they were being loud. I really enjoyed reading this story, it was fun and interesting. The world Seanan McGuire created was otherworldly with it’s rules on death and time. I recommend this book and I’m going to check out more of McGuire’s work.

*keep in mind this book dealt with some heavy subject matter*

title: Zodiac (Zodiac #1)

author: Romina Russell

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction

my thoughts: under the cut for spoilers

Finish date: 05/11/2018

Okay so I rounded up to 3 stars instead of the 2.5 to be generous. I love the cover and that went towards the .5, as well as me wanting to find out how the rest of the series plays out. The love triangle was seriously off putting, I don’t know why I judged this book so harshly. Maybe because I was hoping for more, the plot was intriguing and the side characters interesting but the ending and overall story just fell short of my expectation. The main character could be annoying at times, she went back and forth many times and seemed to be constantly throwing herself a pity party. The book was also a little predictable, of course nobody was going to believe her and of course she wouldn’t triumph at the end, that’s just how it goes.

The plot and setting were interesting. I liked the different take on the Zodiac. I recommend to those who like books with love triangles or don’t mind them.

32. A book from a celebrity book club – Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein

Finished 05/10/18

This book is from Emma Watson’s book club, Our Shared Shelf, found on goodreads. I’ve never heard of Sleater-Kinney, in fact I didn’t even know Carrie Brownstein had been in any bands. I only know of her from Portlandia, of which I am a fan. While browsing through the books I saw this one and recognized Brownstein’s name and decided this was the book I would read for prompt #32.

I love memoirs! I’m the kind of person that can listen to someone tell me about their life no matter how mundane (not to say this book was mundane). I don’t know if I’m trying to live vicariously or just I’m just plain nosey, maybe a little of both. Regardless I love reading about other people’s lives.

Reading this book made me feel both on the outside looking in as well as included. There were parts I could connect with and thought yeah exactly. I really like Brownstein’s writing style, she paints a picture with her words. If you’re looking for a music memoir with the nitty gritty sex, drugs and rock n roll, this isn’t that. It’s Brownstein’s experiences during her time as a member of the indie music scene in Olympia and a look at how she dealt with all that came along with being in Sleater-Kinney. I enjoyed reading this and being able to have a glimpse at Carrie Brownstein’s life.

24. A book with a weather element in the title – The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Finished 05/08/18

I’ve been meaning to start this series for a long time and I’m glad I finally did. I loved reading this book. It was a fun and easy read. I loved the characters and the descriptions of the monsters. The world Rick Riordan built was great and gave a different twist to the mythology. I’m looking forward to continuing on with the rest of this series.

17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift – Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Finished 04/30/18

This book was borrowed from my sister after she recommended it to me. It is a graphic novel and a very fast read, only took me three hours. The story is based off Marjane Satrapi’s life growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution and the art is drawn by her. I loved it, it was very informative and emotional to see this told through her experiences. I’m looking forward to reading the second part when I can get my hands on a copy.

3. The next book in a series you started – Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Finished 04/29/18

The book originally planned for this prompt was from the Heartsick series by Chelsea Cain. After reading the first book, Poison Princes, I needed the second in the series. I couldn’t wait and thus the book for this prompt was changed.

Now I am loving these books so far, the arcana aspect of the story really has me hooked and I want to see how this all plays out. The books aren’t perfect, there’s a lot teenage drama/angst but it’s understandable considering all the main characters are teenagers. The main character can also be annoying with her naivety and woe is me behavior. She is growing… slowly. The boys tend to be a little archaic and set in that patriarchy mindset. I don’t mind reading through that. I’m able to enjoy the book, the story and still know logically that not everything in this book should be considered healthy regarding friendships/relationships. Now if you don’t mind that stuff, I recommend this series. Its very intriguing and a fun easy read.

A2. A cyberpunk book – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Finished 04/25/18

I was having some trouble finding a book for this in the beginning, it’s not a genre I had ever explored before. First I settled on Warcross because the cover caught my eye and I figure why not? Then my brother bought Ready Player One. I liked the cover (yes I judge books by the covers but I try not to, honest) and the summary was interesting. I read the first chapter just to see and I was hooked. I loved the plot and I was immediately sucked into this world Cline built. I could not put it down. Sure there were some things that seemed unnecessary to the plot and world building but overall I really enjoyed this read. The story was interesting as were the characters. Cline was able to give you a lot of information without it seeming like a bombardment and still being interesting. I loved all the pop culture references, I’m a 90s kid but I was able to recognize the majority. Amazing, it had me hooked all the way through the end. 100% recommend this book.

2. True Crime – Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker

Finished 04/21/18

I love watching ID channel but I hardly ever read true crime books and after reading this book I’m going to be changing that. I really liked the format Kolker used to tell this story and the backgrounds he provided of the girls. I remember watching the special on this that was on the ID channel, it was a very interesting and sad story. When I was looking through true crime books to read for this prompt the cover pulled me in first. Then I read the summary and knew this is the one I want to read first.

The story intrigued me because of the mystery surrounding it all and this book was very informative and unbiased. Kolker provided facts, he spoke to the people involved and the families. He didn’t assume, he just reiterated the facts of the case and the conspiracies as well without pushing his own thoughts/opinions on the reader. I appreciated the tone of the book. Very well written imo. I recommend this book to those who like the true crime genre or for those interested in this particular genre. Also go check out the People Magazine Investigates on the ID network, it was filmed after this book and has even more info and Kolker is also in the episode.

19. A book about or involving a sport – Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

Finished 04/20/18

The summary of this book really interested me and decided to give it a go. I wasn’t planning to read this for the 2018 popsugar challenge. After reading it I realized hey horseback riding totally counts as a sport and it was very much involved in this story.

The book was great, I do think it needed a little more background regarding the conflict of the kingdoms in the beginning. It sort of just drops you in the middle and you have to swim or sink. Other than that the story was awesome, strong female lgbt+ characters, adventure and magic. Who doesn’t love books with magic? I definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series as well as the prequel.