What I read: The Halloween Edition

BOOK COUNT FOR THE YEAR: 103

• January: 14
• February: 5
• March: 12
• April: 8
• May: 7
• June: 12
• July: 15
• August: 16
• September: 8
• October: 14
• November:
• December:

WHAT LITTLE BUN READ

• Peacemaker – We started on it as part of school reading
• Shakespeare’s Stories – We started on it as part of schooling too; the plays are very easy to read and interesting to discuss

A few Louis Sachar, his new favourite:

• Is he a Girl
• Kidnapped at birth
• A Magic Crystal?

WHAT I READ

The Christie Affair

[ THRILLER, AGATHA CHRISTIE, FICTIONAL BIOGRAPHY, DETECTIVE ]

I didn’t even know Christie disappeared for 11 days and then reappeared. Nevertheless, I read this book and enjoyed their speculations on what happened and where she went, their imaginations of her 11 days was very interesting.

SOMETHING BLUE

For some reason this book doesn’t exist any more? It was written by Alexis Sarkis. Kind of forgettable chicklit, so I guess no big loss I can’t link to it here.

Diplomat’s daughter

[ THRILLER, SPY, MYSTERY, WORLD WAR II, ENEMIES, SIDES ]

What a gripping book. I won’t spoil it, but the theme is World War II, and it goes through the different ‘sides’ of the war with its characters, with the main one being centered on Emi Kato, the daughter of a Japanese diplomat. Very well, and skillfully written.

THe Piano Teacher

[ HONG KONG, 1940s, CASUAL RACISM, PERSPECTIVE ]

On the one hand, I really enjoyed the book because it went into such detail going up and down about the lives of the privileged living in Hong Kong.

On the other hand, the casual racism peppered throughout the book, with descriptions of any person of colour, were obviously meant to provoke the reader, and they did their job well. The whole thing really exposes the underbelly of things, from various perspectives. I wouldn’t say I want to rave about the book because I found it uncomfortable to read in some parts, but I will say it is an interesting read.

The good daughter

[ THRILLER, MYSTERY, KIDNAPPING ]

I do not know where these authors get their themes but this was one chilling. The writing is skillful as always, and I will read everything of Slaughter’s (quite an apt name for a horror thriller author, wouldn’t you say?), but the theme of it as a kidnapping sort of struck a nerve for me as a parent. I dislike those sorts of themes, but was able to overcome it as it wasn’t too much of a focus of the book…

The Thursday Murder Club & THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE

[ MYSTERY, FUNNY, WITTY, SENIORS ]

I did not expect much out of this book and it surprised me! I loved it so much, and read its sequel immediately ( a sure sign of a great book ). It features seniors (LOVE THIS) and their witty quips, discoveries, while being whip smart and interesting. A great series to read. I already have the third one (discovered there was a third), ready to go as my next read.

Sherlock Holmes + The Lady in Black

[ MYSTERY, SHERLOCK HOLMES, SPINOFF ]

Told from the perspective of Watson, as if there were unfinished journals with more Holmes exploits, these are very VERY short mysteries, without much twisting and turning. Not awful, but not as skillfully written as other Sherlock spinoffs in the past. Nevertheless, I read them anyway because I am a Sherlockian.

Watcher in the Shadows

[ MYSTERY, THRILLER, HAUNTING, MAGIC ]

I can’t believe I didn’t read the last book in the Niebla series of Zafón but you can be sure I corrected that IMMEDIATELY. He did not disappoint, even though his timelines and his organization of events and people don’t quite match up at times, I just read the books and ignore inconsistencies. I just get sucked into his writing, his wild world of thriller (chilling) fantasy, and it always ends satisfactorily with me knowing the answer (or most of it anyway). I will read anything by him! He is a great author.

Carrie Soto is Back

[ CAREER, SELF-AWARENESS, TENNIS, AMBITION, COMEBACK, UNEXPECTED TWIST, FAMILY, FEMINIST ]

Another author I will read anything by. I started off with her Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I was hooked from that day on. This is a story about a tennis star, coming back, and finding herself in the process. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is a beautifully written story of ambition and finding out who you truly are without your career. I could not help but draw parallels to GOAT (greatest of all time) Serena Williams in many of her characteristics, but this is clearly not Serena! The writing was superlative, as usual.

THE DARK SHIP

[ SHORT STORY, FANTASY, DARK THRILLER ]

I read this ONE story in a collection of stories in this book Heroic Hearts, because I am an Anne Bishop fan. I did not read the rest of the book. I did not count it in my ‘count’ of books read, but I should mention I enjoyed this book from her “Others” series, immensely. It made me want to reread her books again.

Worn stories

[ CLOTHING, HISTORY, STORIES ]

I absolutely love fashion, but what I love more, is a story behind a garment or an item. A lot of my clothing has that sentimentality for me, and I loved reading and seeing other pieces people wore and what they meant to them. What a great book.

THE QUEEN OF TEARLING TRILOGY

[ CROSSOVER MODERN + FANTASY, DOOMSDAY, ACTIOn, ADVENTURE, SOCIETY ]

 

WOW. WOW. From page one I was hooked. I tore through these books in a day and a half, and was satisfied with the ending, though it was such an unexpected twist. I still have yet to read the fourth one, I am saving it for my next book run. It is both futuristic and modern, as in we can see it tied into things in our modern society today, and yet fantasy with magic still live through the pages even though they shouldn’t. She has crossed and mixed up futuristic writing with fantasy and magic. It’s quite a feat, really. All three were page-turners. I read until I stopped, and ignored everything around me (within reason).