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13. Christensen, Elizabeth
SGA-07: Casualties of War
I believe this was the only Atlantis book in the system, so thought I should read it (even though I was hoping to find the Legacy series). It was a good read, though terrific fanfic has spoiled me in this !Verse. There was a good mix of team in handling the emergency-du-jour.
14. Weir, Andy
The Martian
I so loved this book and am thrilled for the author's success. I'm always intrigued by the differences between an adapted screenplay following an original work. No kidding where the screenwriter assured us (in the extra features on the movie disc) he'd been diligent in staying as faithful as possible to the book. Actually, there were a few minor points in the book that were changed in the movie for far greater impact! Though I could have done without all the extreme danger (with the looping tether) in the rescue scene. Still, I enjoyed reading the mostly first-person journal so much that I renewed it, so I could read it again.
15. Ondaatje, Michael
In the skin of a lion
Even though I endured his "English Patient", I was still curious to read this book. OMG. It was almost completely unbearable with one rare saving grace. The author is so obsessed with very vivid and precise descriptions, painting with words as it were, but the effect is marred because that's what the entire book was like. ( Read more... )
16-18. Marsh, Charis
Love You, Hate You
You're So Sweet
I Forgot To Tell You
After the brain-wrenching effort of finishing Ondaatje, I needed a break. I put "ballet" in the search box and got these three easy reads. They're part of a series about students at a ballet academy in Vancouver, B.C. Much of the books revolved around regular teen problems and behaviours (crushes, cattiness despite avowing BFF-ness, skipping classes, dropping out of school, bulimia, deceiving self and parents) overlaid with the intensity of the ballet world, especially with competitive parents added to the mix.
Despite a lot of toxic behaviour and situations, there is one redeeming message where several of the dancers feel sorry for the general population that will never know what it feels like to fully use every single muscle of their bodies.
19. Braun, Lillian Jackson
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales
After the ballet series, I turned to mysteries. It was easy to move to the author of "The Cat Who" series. When I still had my vision, I remember devouring these books on a regular basis. As I wasn't sure where to begin (it would make sense to start where I'd left off), I decided to reread this anthology. Some stories were better than others. An easy read.
20-23. Fletcher, Jessica
Manhattans & Murder
Design for Murder
Murder on the QE2
Murder in a Minor Key
So, obviously, not "written" by the TV detective character. I just thought I'd coast through some mysteries. Felt definitely queasy when reading about crossing the North Atlantic via the QE2. Felt the most emotion when I finished the last one, with a tear rolling down my face. The victim had been a passionate gay man who was obsessed with finding the mythical wax cylinders of recordings by a deceased New Orleans musical legend. But he was the third man to fall prey to the killer. He was honoured with a "Jazz Funeral" at the end. Though I'd once wanted to visit Nola, just reading about how unbearably hot and humid it was made me feel lucky that I'd never been, despite my love of the food and certain types of music (like Zydeco).
24. Martel, Yann
The Life of Pi
Odd book, didn't really grab my attention. But there were some parts that intrigued me. The first was how Pi decided to follow three religions: the expected Hinduism, but also Christianity, and Islam. Why? Well, he was just trying to find God ... to the confusion of his parents and consternation of his spiritual mentors. The second was when his family was deciding to relocate to Canada, Winnipeg to be exact, which Pi described as having "minus-two-hundred-degree winters". Ha! I loved it. The third was when he was in the lifeboat, now only with the tiger as foe/companion and I was informed that "only small cats purr breathing both ways" – inhaling and exhaling.
( Read more... )
AAAAAAAAAAAND that wraps up May. I'm really happy about the number of books I got through, using both the iPad or the desktop when the iPad was recharging.
SGA-07: Casualties of War
I believe this was the only Atlantis book in the system, so thought I should read it (even though I was hoping to find the Legacy series). It was a good read, though terrific fanfic has spoiled me in this !Verse. There was a good mix of team in handling the emergency-du-jour.
14. Weir, Andy
The Martian
I so loved this book and am thrilled for the author's success. I'm always intrigued by the differences between an adapted screenplay following an original work. No kidding where the screenwriter assured us (in the extra features on the movie disc) he'd been diligent in staying as faithful as possible to the book. Actually, there were a few minor points in the book that were changed in the movie for far greater impact! Though I could have done without all the extreme danger (with the looping tether) in the rescue scene. Still, I enjoyed reading the mostly first-person journal so much that I renewed it, so I could read it again.
15. Ondaatje, Michael
In the skin of a lion
Even though I endured his "English Patient", I was still curious to read this book. OMG. It was almost completely unbearable with one rare saving grace. The author is so obsessed with very vivid and precise descriptions, painting with words as it were, but the effect is marred because that's what the entire book was like. ( Read more... )
16-18. Marsh, Charis
Love You, Hate You
You're So Sweet
I Forgot To Tell You
After the brain-wrenching effort of finishing Ondaatje, I needed a break. I put "ballet" in the search box and got these three easy reads. They're part of a series about students at a ballet academy in Vancouver, B.C. Much of the books revolved around regular teen problems and behaviours (crushes, cattiness despite avowing BFF-ness, skipping classes, dropping out of school, bulimia, deceiving self and parents) overlaid with the intensity of the ballet world, especially with competitive parents added to the mix.
Despite a lot of toxic behaviour and situations, there is one redeeming message where several of the dancers feel sorry for the general population that will never know what it feels like to fully use every single muscle of their bodies.
19. Braun, Lillian Jackson
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales
After the ballet series, I turned to mysteries. It was easy to move to the author of "The Cat Who" series. When I still had my vision, I remember devouring these books on a regular basis. As I wasn't sure where to begin (it would make sense to start where I'd left off), I decided to reread this anthology. Some stories were better than others. An easy read.
20-23. Fletcher, Jessica
Manhattans & Murder
Design for Murder
Murder on the QE2
Murder in a Minor Key
So, obviously, not "written" by the TV detective character. I just thought I'd coast through some mysteries. Felt definitely queasy when reading about crossing the North Atlantic via the QE2. Felt the most emotion when I finished the last one, with a tear rolling down my face. The victim had been a passionate gay man who was obsessed with finding the mythical wax cylinders of recordings by a deceased New Orleans musical legend. But he was the third man to fall prey to the killer. He was honoured with a "Jazz Funeral" at the end. Though I'd once wanted to visit Nola, just reading about how unbearably hot and humid it was made me feel lucky that I'd never been, despite my love of the food and certain types of music (like Zydeco).
24. Martel, Yann
The Life of Pi
Odd book, didn't really grab my attention. But there were some parts that intrigued me. The first was how Pi decided to follow three religions: the expected Hinduism, but also Christianity, and Islam. Why? Well, he was just trying to find God ... to the confusion of his parents and consternation of his spiritual mentors. The second was when his family was deciding to relocate to Canada, Winnipeg to be exact, which Pi described as having "minus-two-hundred-degree winters". Ha! I loved it. The third was when he was in the lifeboat, now only with the tiger as foe/companion and I was informed that "only small cats purr breathing both ways" – inhaling and exhaling.
( Read more... )
AAAAAAAAAAAND that wraps up May. I'm really happy about the number of books I got through, using both the iPad or the desktop when the iPad was recharging.
