The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Amy  

fantasy

What was the point of The Library at Mount Char? It somehow includes a couple likeable characters while, at the same time, placing them into the most far-fetched, incomprehensible story arc I’ve ever read. Well, that’s not quite true. Just recently, I read The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin which was another mind-boggling novel. But, The Library at Mount Char was more character-based (at least, the situations were character-based) and was set in a current America (instead of some unknown future world) so it was a bit more relatable. And yet, it was completely bizarre. Nothing seemed believable. Nothing made me feel invested in the characters or settings or storyline. It was all just a giant mind-blow as if the author wrote down his drug-induced, nonsensical dreams. And yet, there were a few moments that were really fun to read about, especially all scenes involving lions.

Overall, I did not like it. I prefer novels that tell a definite story or have purpose. This novel just is. It serves no purpose that I can determine other than to mystify. I think Scott Hawkins was trying to provide a fantastical explanation for things which humans ascribe to God. But, I wasn’t buying it. It was just crazytown.

I just read a few reviews by people who loved this book because I want to understand why it is highly rated. Several of the reviews started the same way mine did—variations of “What did I just read?” But, where they think this author is a fantasy genius, I am not an appreciator of the level of craziness. Several mentioned that they had no idea what was going on at the beginning. I don’t remember thinking that so much but, then again, I had just recently read The Fifth Season which seemed much more incomprehensible to me. So, I guess it’s all a matter of perspective. I agree that the author is extremely creative. This novel is definitely unique. But it didn’t do it for me. I'd only give it two stars but I'll add another half for the humor in the novel, which was appreciated. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Amy    

young adult

What a relevant novel. The Hate U Give is told from the viewpoint of an African American 16yo girl, Starr, who witnesses the tragedy of her good friend being murdered by a white policeman during a traffic stop for a broken tail light. It covers serious topics such as racial injustices, gang life, inter-racial relationships, underprivilege vs. wealth, family issues and resolutions, teen drama, loyalty, and advocacy. It’s very well done and gives the reader insight into Starr’s life including her complicated family situation, her rough neighborhood, and her private school in a better part of town. It highlights bravery among those who are able to rise above their life circumstances. For example, Starr’s father, Maverick, has improved his life over time to become a better person who looks out for his family and is a leader in his community. And Kenya who, despite her father being the leader of a gang, understands right and wrong and maintains her friendship with her father’s enemy’s daughter. And, Seven, who is willing to put aside his own chance for success at college in order to protect his family. These people are all brave despite adversity. They are an inspiration.

My biggest complaint is that when it’s not hitting the main issues, it’s just a teen drama of the kind that doesn’t generally appeal to me—high school and teen relationships and all the drama that goes with it. Those sections were slow for me. However, I think this viewpoint of Starr’s world is important to read. And Angie Thomas’ choice to make this a Young Adult novel probably allows the story to target an audience who is more likely to receive and internalize the message. I loved that the author was able to inject some really funny comedy into the story--especially three scenes which made me laugh out loud during the second half. It's hard to make me laugh out loud while reading/listening to a book!

The audio book was read by one of my favorite narrators, Bahni Turpin. I believe this is the fourth novel I’ve heard her narrate. She’s terrific, once again—nailing the voice acting and using several unique voices for characters. A+!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

 

Amy  

young adult, fantasy

I enjoyed, Heartless, a creative explanation of why some things in Wonderland are the way we know them to be from Alice’s story. (Similar to the way Wicked explains Oz.) This story is not about Alice but, rather, everyone else from Wonderland. While it was a fun tale and quite ingenious, it felt geared toward the younger side of YA. I think it felt more childish due to the world of Wonderland itself, what with animals and plants interacting with humans.

The narrator of this audiobook, however, was fantastic. She had a million different voices and accents and was so animated in her roles. I give her, Rebecca Soler, an A+. Between her narrating and the creativity in Marissa Meyer’s writing, I enjoyed the novel. However, it’s not as good as her Lunar Chronicles series, in my opinion. If you’re an Alice in Wonderland fan you would enjoy it. 

What It Means When A Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

Lynnie 

short stories, contemporary fiction, magical realism
 
Lesley Nneka Arimah has created a fascinating short story collection focusing often on the generation gap between African families. The stories in What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky can shift from a portrayal of domestic life to tales that illustrate modern desires vs. tradition, the shifting beliefs of generations, and the cautionary stories passed down through families.

The individual stories are all beautifully written though there is a melancholy that runs throughout-- these are generally not happy vignettes. There is some magical fantasy throughout and even one story that stands out as bordering on horror. It's certainly not a boring book to read and it will keep you thinking about it even after you've put it down.
 

The Likeness (Dublin Murder Squad #2) by Tana French

Amy  

mystery

I had hoped to really like The Likeness by Tana French based on a recommendation from my friend and the fact that I mostly enjoyed the prequel to this novel (which is high praise for me since I don’t love mysteries). But, here at the end, I really just feel like it’s a sad story. The mystery itself was only slightly interesting—more odd than intense. The undercover detective broke rules and did not share critical information with her boss which, in one big instance, did not make sense. The fact that she looked just like the victim should have had more of a reason behind it to make it more engaging. And the story was really about the detective’s state of mind and her own issues more than it was about the crime and the potential suspects. Even though that is what I liked best about the prequel, in Cassie’s case, I was mostly unimpressed by what I learned about her. The most interesting aspect of the novel was the relationship of the housemates but it was obvious that their lifestyle was doomed—even without a crime. The whole thing felt anticlimactic and never really went anywhere exciting. But, remember, I don’t love mysteries. So, maybe that explains everything.

As for the audio book narrator, Heather O’Neill, she did a decent job. Pretty darn good voice acting although her Australian accent needs some work (I won’t hold that against her) and the way she chose to play one character gave a strong clue as to his involvement, in my opinion. Nice pacing, no saliva, and she did her best on the various male voices. I’ll give her an A-.

I'm tempted to give the book 2-1/2 stars from dissatisfaction but am going with 3 since I did like several of the characters and they kept me interested.

Generation One by Pittacus Lore

Lynnie 

 

science fiction, sequel


Okay, so here's the thing. If you read the original Lorien Legacies books, you know what's going to happen in Generation One. Kids develop abilities, fight bad guys, rinse & repeat. It's fun to read but it's basically the same story you already read 7 times. Sure, there are new kids, new legacies & a boarding school for super-powered kids (not even kidding) but this book & the series that will follow are totally unnecessary.  Granted, Pitticus Lore has given us a good distraction while continuing to build on the world created in the original series. Will I read the sequels? Probably, eventually, but I won't be rushing out for any of them. 





 

Seeker (Riders #2) by Veronica Rossi

Amy       

Lynnie  

young adult, fantasy, action/suspense

Seeker picks up 8 months after the events of Riders took place.  Daryn has lost her gift of Sight and is not sure how to proceed.  She has also remained hidden from the Riders.  They locate her and work together in their quest to free Sebastian from the Rift.

Amy's Review

I love Veronica Rossi's imagination and creativity. She can spin a great yarn and keep the reader interested. Seeker, the closing novel to the duology of the Riders series, did a nice job of being intriguing on its own while still bringing closure to the story arc. However, the general situation in the rift was obvious and it was most surprising that the Riders and Daryn did not figure it out. Granted, the story did still hold several surprises and certainly held me in suspense while satisfying my itch for adventure and action. I also enjoyed the happy ending although others may not like how neatly everything tied up. I'm one of those people who do like to have things wrapped up in a bow. 

As with many other series, I don't have a lot to say about this second novel. However, I did enjoy it.

Lynnie's Review

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Riders, so I was looking forward to the next installment.

Unfortunately my least favorite character in the first book, Daryn, is the main focus in this second book which is obvious by both the title & the book's description. The problem with that is that every single chapter she narrated was as flat as she is. She's so full of self-pity, so lacking in confidence, and so busy second-guessing herself that her chapters never connected with me. They felt repetitive, even as the adventure was moving forward & by the last quarter of the book I found myself skimming them to get the relevant information & move past the pity.

That said, I really enjoyed the chapters narrated by Gideon (the narrator of the first book) & particularly enjoyed the book when the Horsemen were working together, whether just themselves or with the larger group. I wish more of the book had been about the Horsemen as a team & that there had been less of a focus on Daryn & Gideon's relationship because I honestly didn't care about them as a couple.

This seems to be a duology which is good as I'm not sure I'd continue if the series did. However, if another book came out that focused on the Horsemen, I might be convinced. So, 3 stars for the half of the book I enjoyed.