I'm not a huge dystopian lover and I also get contrary about books that get highly praised so I wasn't to thrilled to be reading this one. However, I was enjoying it until I got to the first night in the arena. That was kind of my stopping place before going to bed and as I put it down I thought I just don't want to read this anymore. I don't want to read things going even worse. Luckily, I talked myself into picking it up again and ended up really loving it. I still haven't read the next 2.
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Review)
I actually did put this down for awhile and if I hadn't gotten it for review purposes I probably wouldn't have picked it up. The first 30% or so just didn't grab me. I couldn't keep Beth and Jennifer straight and just thought Lincoln was a loser. However, when I really started reading it I ended up find a really sweet story that I really enjoyed.
The Other Side of Paradise: Life in the New Cuba by Julia Cooke (Review)
This is another one where the writing just grab me until I actually focused on this book alone. It ended up being a really interesting eye opening look but at the beginning I thought it was going to be a disjointed mess!
The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson (Review)
The part before the girls actually get on the train is slllloooooowwww. However, when the girls finally get on the train and the story picks up.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I spent most of this book wanting Jane to grow a backbone. I had to read it for the first time in high school and HATED it until I got to the part where Mr. Rochester shows up. All was forgiven.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
I had to read this for book club last summer and while I really liked the writing style it hit a point where everything just seemed to grim and hopeless. I hung end there and ended up really enjoying the book.
Books I Should Have Put Down But Didn't
Looking for Anne of Green Gables by Irene Gammel (Review)
I read this book last year because I had read all of the Montgomery books and felt I should read a biography of the author. By the end of the book I was annoyed - annoyed with the author of the book, annoyed with Montgomery, annoyed with Montgomery's characters. I probably should have just put this book down and quietly walked away.
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James (Review)
I kept expecting this book to get better. I mean it's P.D. James, she's one of the big names in British mysteries. I'm glad it was short but I still feel like I wasted a few hours of my life that I'll never get back!
Books I Did Put Down
Possession by A.S. Byatt
I was so excited by the premise of this book. Historical research, digging through letters and journals, a mystery and love affair in the past. It sounds like it was written for me. Unfortunately reading it felt a little bit like wading in mud. I know people loved it but it definitely didn't end up being for me.]
Home Again by Mariah Stewart
Stewart is normally one of my go-to authors but I never was able to really get into the 2nd entry of the Chesapeake Diaries series. I didn't care for Dallas, the main character, and the plot just didn't grab me. I decided to skip it and go back to it but I'm halfway done with #3 and really enjoying it and don't see myself going back to Dallas's story anytime soon.
I'm so on the fence about Attachments! I figured I would try to get it from the library but it's not at my library so now I'm really conflicted.
ReplyDeleteI put down Possession and never picked it up again too. The movie was ok but the book just didn't do it for me. In an attempt to read more Booker Prize Winners though I might give it one more try.
Jessica@The Bathtub Reader
I ended up liking it but it took awhile. It didn't help that I was going back and forth between about 4 other books because it took awhile to figure out who was who.
DeleteI know people like Possession and are glad they made it through. Hopefully you'll enjoy it if you decide to pick it back up!
I like that you broke this list up. I know how you feel about Hunger Games. It's so widely loved that if you don't love it too then a Book God will smite you. I only got through the first one and couldn't even pick up the second and third. I am not sorry.
ReplyDeleteGreat List!
Thanks for stopping by Disappear Into Reading!
My daughter read the whole series and I asked her a bunch of questions and decided I was good leaving the story as it ended after the first one! Glad I'm not the only one who rebels against book hype!
DeleteI was surprised at how much I liked The Hunger Games trilogy, given I wasn't a big fan of YA at the time. I'm still not the biggest fan, but I like it now and then. I haven't convinced myself to try Rowell yet. She's getting such good press for her books, but I find myself dragging my feet when it comes to trying anything by her. Maybe it's the YA label.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised how much I enjoyed it too once I read it. I'm still not the biggest fan of YA either though I've been reading more of it lately. I'm on the fence about Rowell myself. I ended up liking Attachment but not as much as I expected given the praise Rowell gets. I think it might have liked to book more if I'd gone into it without such high expectations. From what I've read I'm going to give Fangirl a miss but think I will try Eleanor and Park.
DeleteI LOVED THE SNOW CHILD! But it was a bit different to get into, for sure! I never finished Jane Eyre when I had to read it in high school, but one day I will go back and read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stoppin' by! Hope you have a great week!
I did too! It's one of those books that the writing itself really stood out to me. The writing was beautiful and wonderfully stark. I was really glad I continued reading it. The ending of Jane Eyre is definitely the best part - a reward for getting through the first part of the book!
DeleteAh, you need to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay! I'll admit the first book is my favorite and Mockingjay was hard to get through, but it was worth it in the very end. And I LOVE the Catching Fire movie.
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me about Possession recently and she thought I would like it. I'll keep in mind what you said though if I ever do check it out, and won't be afraid to DNF if I need to!
I know I know! My daughter has read them all and loved them and probably owns them so I really have no excuse.
DeletePossession got a bit too academic for me. I know people who felt it was worth the read but I never got to the part!
You know, I wasn't too keen to read THG either. I don't care for dystopian fiction, but my daughter wanted to read it. We ended up reading it together and then moving on to the next two books. After that, it was The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the Anne of Green Gables books. I also loved the series.
Thanks for visiting The Book Connection.
My daughter had read it before me and told me that I had to keep going. She's read the entire series and really enjoyed it. I'll have to look up The Eleventh Plague. She is always looking for more books to read.
DeleteI adore Montgomery's books too but this biography really didn't work for me. I need to find a better one!
I audibly gasped when I saw that you almost didn't finish The Hunger Games! I was borderline obsessed with that series and went through major book withdrawal after finishing the last novel. I'm glad to see you persevered and ended up liking it after all. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Angela's Library this morning!
I know, I know! You're not the only person who had that reaction! My own daughter was shocked and horrified. I ended up really liking it - far more than I expected too.
DeleteI still want to read The Hunger Games, although I've already seen the movie and liked it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the book and really didn't expect too. I haven't seen the movie but I've heard it follows pretty closely. As usual of coarse the book is more detailed. It's a quick read - especially given the subject!
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