books i've read/are reading/plan to read
Sep. 14th, 2023 04:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
svgurlI keep meaning to do this more frequently but I just forget about it. My reading has definitely slowed down (and my TBR list is growing, especially with the books I keep putting on hold at the library lol) but these are the books I've read the past few months.
What I've Read:
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - a groundshog day type mystery where the protagonist has to solve a murder and wakes up in a new body of a guest at the manor he's at until he finds out the truth. It was interesting and a page turner, though I ended up being really curious about the outside world building that resulted in a place like that existing and what the future held for the protagonists, even though I know that wasn't the point. One of those books that I would read a sequel for but it is probably best left to the imagination.
The Flatshare by Beth O' Leary - a woman and man share a one bedroom apartment, the deal being that they will be there on opposing schedules, but slowly get to know one another via notes and messages. I think this counts as a 'DNF' really because I couldn't handle the chat text in the male character's POV but I skimmed the rest. Fairly predictable except for how much the drama with the female MC's ex boyfriend escalated. I don't feel like I missed much.
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie - a series of threatening letters have been causing havoc in a quiet village and Miss Marple is on the case. It's interesting how with Poirot, he's usually there from the start but with Miss Marple, you never know. It was the last of the MM books I've been reading and I did like it. Good for those who enjoy her books.
Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March - set in late 1800s British ruled India, a former Captain turned investigator looks into the deaths of two women that have been suggested to be suicide when the widower of one insists it wasn't. Fairly good. Some parts did drag and other parts were well paced. The politics was a little beyond me, and I have to admit I shipped the main character with the guy who hired him rather than his actual love interest, though they were fairly sweet too. A little sad too at parts but well done overall but I can't say much to the accuracy.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - an oral history of a fictional 70s band called Daisy Jones and the Six. I had my issue with Evelyn Hugo but I figured I'd give her another shot. The format made for a fast paced read, though I did many characters, namely the title one, pretty unlikable. I was not a fan of the twist or the ending. From the two books I've read, I do think that the dramatic twist is definitely the weakness in her writing.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary - After an unexpected run in (in this case, literally, in the form of a car accident) a woman and her ex boyfriend end up in the same car going to the same wedding along with her sister, his best friend, and another guy. Since the format was the issue with the first one and not her writing, I figured I would try another book of hers. At least she kept it consistent with the format and it was okay, a quick, mindless read. I did find the guy a little annoying and his best friend was worse. I saw the 'reveal' coming too. Hard to root for them to get back together because of him.
The Deja Glitch by Holly Jones - A time loop story, where the main character runs into a guy, only to find that he has been reliving the same day over and over again and he thinks the key to it all is her. I was hoping that it would be more of a time loop type, since I love those but it isn't focused on the loop. Some of the characters feel a little 'caricature' esque, especially the exes, and some of the messages that the book was sending wasn't for me, like the MC's relationship with her father, but I read the book in a day so it was easy to get through at least and somewhat entertaining.
Whose Body by Dorothy Sayers - A historical mystery, first of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, where a dead body is found in a tub, and the identity is unknown to the people who live there as well as the police, who have a suspicion but aren't positive. I thought the main characters and their dynamics were interesting, but the mystery itself was not for me. The period type racism and prejudice is more blatant in this book that I have experienced in other historical mysteries, especially toward Jewish people early on. The monologues were long and my eyes glazed over a lot because the storyline itself didn't keep my attention. I did finish and was curious enough to keep reading more of her books to see if it would get better.
Clouds of Witness - Dorothy Sayers - The second of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories, where his brother in law to be (sister's fiancee) is found dead and his brother is the primary suspect. More interesting than the first one but it probably could've been condensed a little. I didn't figure out what happened but it did work. I liked the character dynamics best.
Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers - an old woman is dead, a little sooner than expected, but there seemingly is no foul play. After hearing the account of a doctor who was convinced it was murder and had his reputation ruined over it, Wimsey decides to investigate. There is period racism is involved at some point, directed at black people this time (including the use of the 'n' word, which I wasn't expecting) and wills/legalities surrounding it did play a big part so I didn't like it as much as 'Clouds of Witness'. The villain wasn't given much depth but I also didn't see the twist coming either but I will probably continue reading her books.
What I'm Reading:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - A story that explores the lives of two friends as they grow up and reach fame making video games. I'm early into this book but so far so good.
I Wish We Weren't Related by Radhika Sanchani - a stressed lawyer has to go back home to India for the funeral of the father she thought was already dead and reunites with her two sisters, from whom she is estranged. I'm only a couple pages in but I'm curious to see how it will go.
What I'm Going to Read:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - a take on the Achilles and Patroclus story.
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter - a romcom about a woman with amnesia who discovers she's the identical twin sister of a rogue spy and has to team up with another operative to stay alive
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey - A stranger poses as another man, posed to inherit a large fortune
Pride, Prejudice, and other Flavors by Sonali Dev - a story about a rich Indian family living in San Francisco and a clash between the daughter (already a black sheep, despite being a successful neurosurgeon) and a chef who needs a job that her family offers and her help saving his sister's life.
What have you all been reading? Any recs? :D
What I've Read:
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - a groundshog day type mystery where the protagonist has to solve a murder and wakes up in a new body of a guest at the manor he's at until he finds out the truth. It was interesting and a page turner, though I ended up being really curious about the outside world building that resulted in a place like that existing and what the future held for the protagonists, even though I know that wasn't the point. One of those books that I would read a sequel for but it is probably best left to the imagination.
The Flatshare by Beth O' Leary - a woman and man share a one bedroom apartment, the deal being that they will be there on opposing schedules, but slowly get to know one another via notes and messages. I think this counts as a 'DNF' really because I couldn't handle the chat text in the male character's POV but I skimmed the rest. Fairly predictable except for how much the drama with the female MC's ex boyfriend escalated. I don't feel like I missed much.
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie - a series of threatening letters have been causing havoc in a quiet village and Miss Marple is on the case. It's interesting how with Poirot, he's usually there from the start but with Miss Marple, you never know. It was the last of the MM books I've been reading and I did like it. Good for those who enjoy her books.
Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March - set in late 1800s British ruled India, a former Captain turned investigator looks into the deaths of two women that have been suggested to be suicide when the widower of one insists it wasn't. Fairly good. Some parts did drag and other parts were well paced. The politics was a little beyond me, and I have to admit I shipped the main character with the guy who hired him rather than his actual love interest, though they were fairly sweet too. A little sad too at parts but well done overall but I can't say much to the accuracy.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - an oral history of a fictional 70s band called Daisy Jones and the Six. I had my issue with Evelyn Hugo but I figured I'd give her another shot. The format made for a fast paced read, though I did many characters, namely the title one, pretty unlikable. I was not a fan of the twist or the ending. From the two books I've read, I do think that the dramatic twist is definitely the weakness in her writing.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary - After an unexpected run in (in this case, literally, in the form of a car accident) a woman and her ex boyfriend end up in the same car going to the same wedding along with her sister, his best friend, and another guy. Since the format was the issue with the first one and not her writing, I figured I would try another book of hers. At least she kept it consistent with the format and it was okay, a quick, mindless read. I did find the guy a little annoying and his best friend was worse. I saw the 'reveal' coming too. Hard to root for them to get back together because of him.
The Deja Glitch by Holly Jones - A time loop story, where the main character runs into a guy, only to find that he has been reliving the same day over and over again and he thinks the key to it all is her. I was hoping that it would be more of a time loop type, since I love those but it isn't focused on the loop. Some of the characters feel a little 'caricature' esque, especially the exes, and some of the messages that the book was sending wasn't for me, like the MC's relationship with her father, but I read the book in a day so it was easy to get through at least and somewhat entertaining.
Whose Body by Dorothy Sayers - A historical mystery, first of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, where a dead body is found in a tub, and the identity is unknown to the people who live there as well as the police, who have a suspicion but aren't positive. I thought the main characters and their dynamics were interesting, but the mystery itself was not for me. The period type racism and prejudice is more blatant in this book that I have experienced in other historical mysteries, especially toward Jewish people early on. The monologues were long and my eyes glazed over a lot because the storyline itself didn't keep my attention. I did finish and was curious enough to keep reading more of her books to see if it would get better.
Clouds of Witness - Dorothy Sayers - The second of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories, where his brother in law to be (sister's fiancee) is found dead and his brother is the primary suspect. More interesting than the first one but it probably could've been condensed a little. I didn't figure out what happened but it did work. I liked the character dynamics best.
Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers - an old woman is dead, a little sooner than expected, but there seemingly is no foul play. After hearing the account of a doctor who was convinced it was murder and had his reputation ruined over it, Wimsey decides to investigate. There is period racism is involved at some point, directed at black people this time (including the use of the 'n' word, which I wasn't expecting) and wills/legalities surrounding it did play a big part so I didn't like it as much as 'Clouds of Witness'. The villain wasn't given much depth but I also didn't see the twist coming either but I will probably continue reading her books.
What I'm Reading:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - A story that explores the lives of two friends as they grow up and reach fame making video games. I'm early into this book but so far so good.
I Wish We Weren't Related by Radhika Sanchani - a stressed lawyer has to go back home to India for the funeral of the father she thought was already dead and reunites with her two sisters, from whom she is estranged. I'm only a couple pages in but I'm curious to see how it will go.
What I'm Going to Read:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - a take on the Achilles and Patroclus story.
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter - a romcom about a woman with amnesia who discovers she's the identical twin sister of a rogue spy and has to team up with another operative to stay alive
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey - A stranger poses as another man, posed to inherit a large fortune
Pride, Prejudice, and other Flavors by Sonali Dev - a story about a rich Indian family living in San Francisco and a clash between the daughter (already a black sheep, despite being a successful neurosurgeon) and a chef who needs a job that her family offers and her help saving his sister's life.
What have you all been reading? Any recs? :D
no subject
Date: 2023-09-15 03:35 am (UTC)I've actually done some reading recently, which is sadly kind of unusual for me (I'm impressed by how much you've read!). But I liked everything I've read recently, so I guess these are all recs:
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: Set in a dystopian future, the story of an AI and the sick child she is a companion for, from the POV of the AI. Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go is one of my all time favorite books. This one doesn't rank as high, but I did like it a lot. The AI POV was a fascinating way to tell the story -- both in terms of the emotional heart of the story and the way it allowed worldbuilding to be very subtle and a lot of it by implication. And Ishiguro's writing is just so freaking beautiful.
Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas: A queer prep school story with shades of A Secret History, set just post-9/11 and tackling the world of early-aughts fan-fic in a way that I have simply never seen before. Like, it gets it. It's hilarious and a page turner, and the fraught friendship at the heart of it is really compelling. The climax didn't really land for me, but it was still well worth the read IMO.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. A history of how free market advocates exploited crises to implement their policies (and the terrible results). While I felt like the central metaphor between literal shock therapy and economic policies was sometimes strained like...damn. I learned a lot that maybe I already should of known, or kind of did know but not REALLY. I'm going to be thinking about this one a lot.
no subject
Date: 2023-09-19 05:09 pm (UTC)Yay for reading though! It is hard to find time for it all. These are the past ... 4 months or so and August/Sept was probably worse than June/July lol
All of those sound really interesting though. I'm going to keep an eye for the first two especially. Thanks for sharing! :D
no subject
Date: 2023-09-16 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-09-19 05:10 pm (UTC)