Now is the time to do a roundup (a late one, but one nonetheless!) of my January reads!
1) Shatter Me \\ Tahereh Mafi \\ 2 Stars
I like me a good figure of speech, but this conglomeration of--poetry?--and metaphors nearly every single sentence--whoa. Just. Whoa. The only thing saving this from a one-star rating is the fact that the plot intrigued me. MC has an interesting "ability". There were a handful of solid character interactions. Other than that, I don't know where to start...I want to be open-minded regarding different writing styles, but the writing in Shatter Me felt so...melodramatic. Silly. Like a hormonal teenager who overreacts with every. single. fibre. of. their. being. And I can handle a lot of melodrama and still get to the heart of the matter and enjoy something, but I just found the writing so jarring. Like the author was trying to write a YA Fantasy, but also a poetry book at the same time?
I love it when an author says something and it's eloquent and as a reader you're like "Whoa, that was a stunning capture of the English language. Simple stunning." But it was like the author was trying super hard to be a poet with every single line, and it felt unnatural and super cringy. Some writers can wax eloquent about a sunset, or a puddle in the middle of the freaking road, and it works. It works! It makes you smile and think about the beauty of life while feeling inexplicably warm and fuzzy inside.
Here are some examples of Shatter Me's prose that just didn't float my boat down the poetical river. Though I tried.
"I've always wondered about raindrops. I wonder about how they're always falling down, tripping over their own feet, breaking their legs and forgetting their parachutes as they tumble right out of the sky toward an uncertain end. It's like someone is emptying their pockets over the earth and doesn't seem to care where the contents fall, doesn't seem to care that the raindrops burst when they hit the ground, that they shatter when they fall to the floor, that people curse the days the drops dare to tap on their doors. I am a raindrop." Just wow. That's one talkative raindrop, Juliette.
"I close my eyes until I've sewn them shut." What. What? I understand metaphors, but honestly...I like them used sparingly. Also, exaggerations. If they're used often, it makes the characters unbelievable and annoying.
"Every organ in my body falls to the floor." I see. Or do I? I don't know.
"...my cheek is pressed against his chest and he smells like strength and courage and the world drowning in rain." The world drowning in rain sounds pretty awful, honestly.
"His gaze is fixed on me: calm, unflappable; 2 buckets of river water at midnight. I'd like to cry into his eyes." You'd like to cry INTO his eyes? That sounds creepy AND painful, girl.
"My jaw falls off." Like...right off, off? Or kinda sorta off?
"I'm dripping red paint on the carpet." I wasn't aware you were holding a paintbrush. And I get this is a metaphor for being COMPLETELY HUMILIATED, but...that's a lot of red.
"He's stolen my bed my blanket my pillow." I think the lack of punctuation was on purpose, but I found it pretty jarring to read.
"I take 2 steps backward." I never knew seeing ACTUAL numbers and not having them spelled out could be so jarring. 2 steps vs. two steps. I cringe. And Shatter Me is filled with numbers. Everywhere. Not spelled out. Just 323453. 2 fingertips. 2 lips. 2 eyes. 4 trucks. But then I stumbled across "Five five five five" spelled out, just like that. And I was confused. Again. And jarred. Again.
Admittedly, I'm not much of a dystopian fan, definitely not a dying earth fiction fan, but I've enjoyed a few in my time and really got into them. But this one...yikes. It was just a whole lotta something that was too much but not enough, all at once. Like I said, the plot did intrigue me. It was interesting in its own way. The characters had some good chemistry and moments. But that cannot carry a book the whole 100 for me as a reader.
The way the author tried to make almost every sentence a sonnet or a line of heartrending poetry, it grated. It didn't flow. It didn't captivate. It annoyed me. I tried hard to like it and be open to a different creative expression, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way.
2) Sky in the Deep \\ Adrienne Young \\ 4 Stars
This is YA fiction done right. I LOVED Sky in the Deep. The atmosphere was just different. Really unique from all the other books I've read and I was definitely digging it. I also loved how the characters were so raw and intense, and how life for them was so...primal. The character development and arcing were so beautiful to watch! Also--the way Fiske and Eelyn weren't gobsmacked-attracted-to-each-other immediately, went against the popular YA flow of the river--and it worked quite well.
The only thing I felt was a bit of a plot hole was the Herja people group...I felt they weren't explained enough, considering how they were practically legendary, more spiritual than human beings? Like...where did they come from, who are they and the like. That never really got explained, which I would've liked, considering they were like THE BIG BAD DUDES. But ah well. It didn't cramp my style enough to make me mad, lol.
From the plot, to the writing style, to the characters--SKY IN THE DEEP had me reading this book with major heart eyes. It was a bit slow in parts, but I loved it nonetheless!
Definitely better than the first book. The odd poetry thing that was an issue in Shatter Me was definitely more toned down in Unravel Me, which majorly helped matters. I like being surprised with plot twists--I was surprised, a lot, actually, with all that went down. The creep factor was pretty high in some parts, but that comes with the...ahem...Warner territory. Can the monster be redeemed? I guess I'll have to wait and see.
I wasn't a fan of the quasi-sex-scene thing that spanned like FIVE pages that I just kept skimming and being like--ARE WE DONE YET EW--but...yeah. I hope the characters decide to make better decisions in book 3, lol.
4) Eyes Wide Open \\ Ted Dekker \\ 1 Star
Ladies and gentlemen…here comes a wee little rant. And I don’t want to rant—but this book…*shakes head in abject frustration* I’m sorry, because I tried to like it. I tried so hard, and yet…Eyes Wide Open was not the jam to my toast. The honey to my tea. Rather, it was the burr in my sock.
This is my third or fourth Ted Dekker read. I read two or three of his YA fiction books and found them rather odd…no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get into his writing style and I often found myself confused, so I didn’t continue the series. I thought, hey…why not give his writing another shot, but this time try some of his adult fiction books. So…
I have come to the conclusion after three books…I think Dekker’s writing style just rubs me the wrong way. I know he’s one of the most popular Christian fiction writers out there and a New York Times bestseller and all that, but his writing style and me as a reader…we don’t play nice in the sandbox. Uh-huh. Nope.
I find it so abstract that I don’t find it enjoyable—and in all truth—I love a good abstract concept.
While the plot of Eyes Wide Open was fairly fast-paced and a sort of psychological thriller, it seemed to last forever while still feeling like it lagged at times. I felt like Dekker was telling most of the time rather than showing, and somehow, at the end of the book, I felt like I’d never really even met the characters because their story was told in such a…one dimensional way. I really struggled with Dekker’s tone of voice, as it were, in telling the story. It really didn’t make me dance for joy as a reader. It made me feel like I was reading someone’s grocery list rather than actually walking through the store with them—but also like I was reading the list after drinking Benadryl on the rocks.
The characters. I don’t know if I was supposed to like them or empathize with what was going on, but honest first, second and third impressions? They seemed pretty dumb and weak of mind. Christy was a far worse offender in that regard than Austin, but honestly, they felt like pretty flat and bland characters to me.
The psychological element of the plot was just…weird. So weird. The plot interested me, what with two young people being committed to a psych ward when they’re not crazy and everyone thinks they are. I was intrigued, but the execution of the plot just left me shaking my head and kinda giving the whole book one stupidly long moment of side eye.
The preaching bit at the end of the book felt somewhat stiff and in-your-face, and by the end of the book I was just peeved…on so many levels.
I cannot say I didn’t try—and hard—at that. I tried to love Dekker’s writing. I read three or four of his books. I. TRIED. But I think his writing is just not for me. His tone of voice as an author rubs me the wrong way. The way he writes his scenes honestly confuses me—and I read a lot and don’t encounter that—thus I find it frustrating when I do, and the three plots I’ve read thus far just haven’t grabbed my attention.
I don’t like it when I feel like an author is “poking” me with their abstract, probing ideologies. If a worldview comes through naturally, and the thoughts come about organically, as it were—that’s great. But when I feel like an author is trying to “poke me” as a reader and get inside my head, I feel inclined to dislike them, no matter what.
I wanted so badly to board the Dekker train and shout my love of his writing for the world to hear—because people keep telling me to read his books because he’s ‘the best author ever’. Obviously he has a niche readership that LOVE his books. I’m glad that’s the case! He writes for an audience that appreciates his writing style. And as writing is a rather relative thing, I can respect and appreciate Dekker’s writing from a distance, but not read it myself if I want to keep from having a hissy fit because his writing frustrates and confuses me, as a reader.
I hate saying anything negative about a book (or not having something positive to say about the book—honestly I hate doing that) because I know the hard work and effort that goes into creating one. I can tell that Eyes Wide Open took a lot of creative effort, brainpower and brainstorming. Like a ton. It was a complex situation, to be sure, so kudos to Dekker. I want to say all the things I enjoyed about it, but I’m just being completely honest in that it was really not my style and it did frustrate me. I hate to say it, but it’s true. But for all of you fans of Eyes Wide Open, I’m happy it was such a hit!
As I say, I like being surprised by characters and plot twists, and that doesn't happen often. While the first book did drive me somewhat crazy with the overtly flowery prose that I found annoying--this series has come far and I'm glad I stuck with it.
I loved how each character was starkly different from the others. The character arcs in this book were amazing. Yes, everyone was pretty dramatic, but...what's a person to expect from a bunch of parentless teens who haven't learned much by way of controlling their emotions that live close to the surface while the world is going to end, like, yesterday? Exactly. Explosions to the left. Explosions, to the right.
It's dramatic, I'll admit, but entertaining.
I never go into a YA book expecting the characters to be calm, cool and collected. I go in for a colourful brouhaha, brought forth by my favourite teen characters. If I want sensible and logical and under control--I know to look someplace else.
The pacing was fast--and as I said before, I was always being surprised by the twists in the plot and how different characters reacted to different scenarios. It was heartily entertaining.
The sexual content was a wee bit heavy for my tastes in certain "let's take off all our clothes and touch and kiss EVERY square inch of each other's bodies" scenes. I like romance and some sensual content, but I'm not much for graphic foreplay in books--but I'm a good skimmer when something doesn't suit me.
All in all--I loved Ignite Me. Warner and Juliette's character growth was so cool to watch.
6) The Cost of Betrayal \\ Henderson, Pettrey & Eason \\ 3 Stars
I enjoyed each of these short stories, but I didn't have an over the top reaction to any of them, hence the three stars. I struggle with novella's because it's hard to get across a relationship in such a short period of time.
With Betrayed by Dee Henderson...
I was super intrigued by the plot. Such a cool idea. But...the novella was 152 pages, and we didn't actually "meet" the MC Janelle, until page 52. In full-length novels usually the MC is introduced on the first page--or at the very least the first, maybe second chapter. In this short story, Janelle wasn't introduced until a third of the way through the novella.
Add to that, we never actually ever had, even ONE scene, told through Janelle's POV. What is with that? I honestly don't know, but it really irked me that each scene was told through one of the secondary character's POV (point of view) and never the primary character's--AKA Janelle.
I was so into the plot! I loved Greg's character and would've been all over a full-length novel of his and Janelle's story--if only scenes were told from both his and Janelle's POV's.
Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey...
Interesting plot. Teni and Cullen's relationship was cute--I would've liked more time for it to unfold, because it felt somewhat rushed, considering the surrounding events at the time, but they did have a sweet relationship and I totally would've been into a full-length novel where things could've come about a bit more...organically and not in the space of twenty-four hours.
Code of Ethics by Lynette Eason...
In all honesty--I started but didn't finish the third novella in this collection. I had so many other books on the go, the plot nor the characters were really grabbing my attention, so I skimmed through the second half and called it finished. It's not that the writing, plot or characters were bad--Eason is a great writer, I just wasn't that interested in the atmosphere or pacing of the novella.
7) Life of Lies \\ Sharon Sala \\ 3 Stars
The atmosphere in Life of Lies was so on point. Kinda Nancy Drew-esque but with some good Southern charm.
Loved the plot. So intricate and multi-faceted.
If not for all the sex scenes, I would've rated Life of Lies at four stars, but...there were a lot of graphic sex scenes, which isn't what I look for in romantic suspense. But, sex scenes aside--great book.
I struggled with the narrator's depiction/voice for Brendan...it was so goofy and overplaying his deep man voice, like seemingly all female narrators do, but...I still enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
8) The Choosing \\ Rachelle Dekker \\ 1 Star
Was given rave reviews/recommends on this book, but honestly, when I wasn't apathetic regarding the plot & characters, I was fuming mad about how sadistic & twisted the mindsets showcased in The Choosing were.
Now, I have to say Dekker's writing was good, stylistically. But the characters she penned didn't jump off the page to me, nor did the plot or atmosphere really pique my interest as a reader. If the book had have been about something else & the characters had really come alive, I'd have been totally into it. But that just didn't happen with this book.
From early on in The Choosing, I found myself apathetic about the plot, characters & atmosphere of The Choosing—but because I’d heard such rave reviews about it I committed to reading all of it. I wish I hadn’t finished The Choosing, honestly.
This was probably one of the most sadistic books I’ve read in my time. Just so creepy, what was going on with the bad dudes. How they’d twisted the Bible & added to it & turned it into something perverted & really sideways. It made me cringe and feel somewhat sick, reading all the half Bible verses & the add-ons that were so gross. I wish the author had have made up an entirely different referencing point for the bad guys, instead of taking from the Bible, twisting it & not ever referencing that this was some really demented spin-off from Christianity. Or something. What is annoying is that if someone doesn't have any real background with Christian theology, they might confuse the deranged insanity of the bad dudes for supposed "sound theology". Nope. Not working for me.
Honestly, it was just so messed up. Apart from the disgust this book made me feel regarding the bad guys, I felt nothing while reading this book. Nothing but a mild disinterest.
And that is what makes a book flop for me. Not caring or feeling invested in the characters or their plight.
3 Stars
A well-crafted murder mystery with likeable characters. A bit much on the sexual content for my tastes, but overall, Promise Not to Tell was a fast-paced, well written romantic suspense read!
10) Restore Me \\ Tahereh Mafi \\ 3 Stars
Felt somewhat disjointed and lagged for a considerably large chunk of the book...but it was still an enjoyable read :)
Best book on Line Drawing I've found yet! I found the examples clean, beautiful, and easy to replicate. Such a good book for those wanting to get into the basics of illustrating nature :)
12) Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger \\ Beth Harbison \\ 2 Stars
An intriguing plot with some witty writing at moments, but altogether too much smut, crazy amounts of woolgathering, an unlikable, wimpy Quinn (the MC), more talks with Quinn's gay best friend than the love interest(s) combined...I felt like this book had so much promise, but the execution of it all felt rather...disjointed.
I strongly dislike it when a character says something like (and this is theoretical, by the way), "I'm making coffee. You want some?" and then proceeds to reminisce in their mind for like FOUR PAGES, about some obscure memory regarding coffee, or just explaining their internal world in general, at that moment in time. It's okay if it happens, once or twice, but from the first chapter it seemed every sentence spoken was followed by about two pages of mental rabbit trails. After the first few chapters, I no longer felt gracious regarding the never-ending bunny trails. No one could carry on a conversation with all those needless inner dialogue interruptions! In all the books I've read, I don't think I've ever seen the likes of the bunny trails I encountered in Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger.
Also, Quinn was one of the most unlikable main characters I've come across in a while. She was whiny, weak-willed, had seemingly zero sense of confidence or self-worth, and though ten years had passed since her non-wedding, the way she behaved and talked made it seem as though she'd done nothing but mope. For ten whole years. She hadn't grown as a person, hadn't changed for the better.
Regret. Mope. Pine.
Regret. Mope. Pine.
Repeat.
And that daily challenge that her best friend Glen set up, each day getting her to do something different (of his choosing) that would help her get out of her comfort zone? Watch the sunrise, go speed dating, wear your hair in a side pony-tale, go commando for a day, have a one night stand, be drunk all day...firstly, bad friend. Secondly, Glen got wayyy more airtime than both of the love interests combined. Thirdly, most of the fringe characters introduced were either gay or lesbian...and reading a heterosexual romance I was just like...why so many? Isn't that a little more down the appropriated labelled Lesbian/Gay genre?
The writing of Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger wasn't bad at all. In fact, it WAS good. It was quite witty in parts, in fact. Made me laugh a time or two. But, good writing does not a good book make, to me as a reader.
The level of crass/smut factor was just too high for me to enjoy reading my way through the book, Quinn was so insecure and annoying as a character, and the relationships were purely physical & chemistry related...I mean, I love me some good chemistry, but not without the basics. Personality's jiving. Attractive elements BEYOND just the physical. And I get it, this is a chick-lit novel so it's not gonna be deep or profound, but honestly...a sexual response to someone is gonna get old fast if there's nothing else to back it up or add to it. At least for me.
Yeah...so, this one was a bit of a miss for me. I was hoping for a great chick-lit, but...not for me on this one.
And there you have it for January!
A month of reading, with some real hits, and some REAL misses.
Have you read any of the titles from this month? What were your thoughts? Leave them down below!
Also--let me know your favourite book you read in January & why you liked it!
