September & October Reading Wrap Up

Scythe by Neal Schusterman

I read this as a challenge for myself to try some YA books. I went in with low expectations but was really pleased for the most part. This book takes part in the future of our world where a device known as the Thunderhead has helped achieve near-utopian existence. Death is no longer a natural end, therefore scythes are appointed to carry it out as part of a quota. Although the Thunderhead sees and polices all, it has no jurisdiction in the scythdom, where human nature is once again the deciding factor in the rise or downfall of humanity. 

I was happy to find that while this was accessible to younger readers, it wasn't a completely young read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters and thought it was a fine start to a series. 

★★★★

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King

I listened to this on audiobook, which can factor into my final conclusion, but I find it hard to get through some of King's short stories traditionally. This is a collection of four short stories, so I figured I'd try to do a little review of each.

The Langoliers

This one was read by Willem Dafoe, a good start to the book. In this story, a group of passengers asleep on an airplane awaken to find that a majority of the passengers have vanished. King is good with tension and fleshing out characters so that you care for them to some degree. Unfortunately, it was a tad long-winded for me.

Secret Window, Secret Garden

I actually really enjoyed the movie adaptation of this when I was younger, so I knew this story going in and I'm not sure if that made this less effective. I still enjoyed it, but maybe not as much as I would have to go in blind. Also, I think I prefer the differences in the movie? 

The Library Policeman

This one was a journey. Just when you think you're at the peak of weird and disturbing, you look up and realize you're still standing at the base of the mountain. There were parts of this book I loved, and some not so much, but it was the scariest of the bunch for me.

The Sun Dog

This one had some interesting tension building, but it just didn't do it for me. Luckily it was the shortest. 

★★★½

Sealed by Naomi Booth

Sealed takes place in Australia and follows a pregnant journalist, Alice, who is moving to the country amid her rising paranoia of a disease she believes is spreading. Though short and precise, this book delved into many topics that plague us mentally, and what happens when it becomes physical. The fear of not being taken seriously, of bringing a delicate life into a dangerous world, and sealing ourselves off from the world. I think this book handled it simply, yet beautifully. 
★★★★½

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

This was our compromise for a bedtime story. Well-written, interesting and engaging for us. Dinosaurs for the kids. I really enjoyed this, and while no one needs a synopsis, just know it's worth it to read.

★★★★½ 

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

I was interested enough to jump right into the Scythe series second book. I enjoyed this one a bit more, it is able to get into the meat of things. It introduced more questions that I hope will have good answers in the next one. And the ending will make you want the next book now. Luckily it comes out in a few days. I can't wait to see how this one ends.

★★★★½ 

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

This book checked all my boxes. Historically accurate while taking liberties in all the right places. This is my favorite way to learn about a time period and those who inhabited it. It takes place in thirteenth-century Wales, focusing on the bitter rivalry between King John and the Prince of Wales, Llewelyn the Great, which was further complicated by the face that Llewelyn was married to John's daughter, Joanna. Often from Joanna's point of view, it details the probable hardship of being married to a stranger of a strange land and the pain that came from witnessing the two men she held dearest in a war against each other. 

I adored this book. I tend to stay away from all internet searches of these historical figures until I am finished to further the experience. I will definitely be picking up more of her work, hopefully soon. I highly recommend it if this is your sort of thing.

★★★★★

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Another YA experiment, sadly gone wrong for me. Wilder Girls is about a group of boarding school girls quarantined on the island where their school resides after a strange disease begins to plague them. 

I really thought this was going to work for me. It was an interesting enough idea, I just didn't like the execution. I never really connected with the characters, which is pretty important in a survival story. I'm sure I would have appreciated it a bit more if I were younger maybe, but it didn't do it for my current hopes or taste. 

★★

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Another bedtime story. My kids are still a bit too young to understand some of the scary themes, so I'm sure it was mostly an ignorant experience for them full of their mom making funny voices in an attempt to impersonate men from ancient times. Though sometimes long-winded, this was an endearing story with fun little adventures and true heart. It's one I'll read to them again when they're a bit older.

★★★★

Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft 

I had high hopes for this after the first became one of my favorites of the year. I was so pleased that it didn't let me down. The adventure continues with more interesting world-building and great character building. I really love this series and can't wait to continue. I was also under the impression that this was going to be a trilogy, but I saw that the author is planning on making it a four-book series. Honestly, I just want to stick with these characters for as long as possible so I couldn't be happier with the prospect.
★★★★★

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I was excited to read this to the kids and to see what the source material of one of my favorite movies was like. I was delighted to find some pretty big differences that made it a different experience, and some fun surprises that I didn't expect. I love Jones's descriptive writing style. There was a nice balance of detail in her world-building without becoming boring. Also, the characters were a bit different than they were in the movie and I really enjoyed getting more dimensional, human sides of them. 

★★★★½

In the Tall Grass by Stephen King and Joe Hill

A short story by King and his son about a brother and sister on a car trip, whose plans are derailed when they stop for lunch and hear a small child calling for help from some tall grass. This goes against what I usually dislike in King's short stories, which is its length. It has to be more precise, which I liked, but I just didn't connect with the story all that well. I appreciated the horror of feeling lost, but once the story got more complicated, it lost the feeling of reality and became less scary to me. I think the aim was to scare and ultimately shock, but I was left wanting. 

★★★

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

October was the perfect month to dig into more Shirley Jackson short stories. This collection was a mixed bag. Some, like The Lottery and The Tooth, was loads of spooky, suspenseful fun. And I found a few forgettable. I appreciate her writing style so much, and her wit when crafting tales on social commentary. Even if every short isn't for you, you're sure to find something that chills.

 ★★★★

Whew, this was a long one. We are currently buying our first home, so things have been a little crazy, but I hope to get back into the full swing of blogging and adding more lifestyle content again. As always, thanks for reading.xx