Loved it! - 5 star reads
by Kristin Cashore
Purchased / Paperback / For Book Club
I probably wouldn't have picked this one up if it wasn't scheduled for book club, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I haven't read the companion books yet, but really want to. It's quite chunky, but I didn't want to put it down!
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by Michael Barakiva
Borrowed from Library / Audiobook
Fantastic narration! This was SO excellent as an audiobook and broke a string of 3-star reads. Contemporary YA is not usually my thing, but this was just a really, really great book. Funny and sweet -- I absolutely loved it.
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by JK Rowling
Purchased / Hardcover / Re-Read
Goodreads
Before the entire series was published, this was my least favorite Harry Potter book. (Though let's be honest, least favorite is a relative thing when it comes to a favorite series -- it was always a good book for me, I just liked other installments better). After I knew the whole story, I had a much greater appreciation for the events of this second book and thoroughly enjoyed my re-read. This was at least the third time I read this one, if not the fourth -- I've lost track!
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Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
Purchased / Paperback / Re-Read
Goodreads
An all-time favorite adult book series of mine. After the mid-season finale of the Starz show, I just couldn't leave the story hanging, so I started a re-read. I'm on the 2nd book now and am hoping (wishing? dreaming?) I will finish all 8 before baby arrives in April. We shall see.
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by JK Rowling
Purchased / Hardcover / Re-Read
Goodreads
Before the entire series was published, this was my least favorite Harry Potter book. (Though let's be honest, least favorite is a relative thing when it comes to a favorite series -- it was always a good book for me, I just liked other installments better). After I knew the whole story, I had a much greater appreciation for the events of this second book and thoroughly enjoyed my re-read. This was at least the third time I read this one, if not the fourth -- I've lost track!
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Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
Purchased / Paperback / Re-Read
Goodreads
An all-time favorite adult book series of mine. After the mid-season finale of the Starz show, I just couldn't leave the story hanging, so I started a re-read. I'm on the 2nd book now and am hoping (wishing? dreaming?) I will finish all 8 before baby arrives in April. We shall see.
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With the volume of books I've been reading/listening to, I think this format will work better for me going forward without totally closing up shop around here. After I play catch-up, I'd like to do monthly round-ups. Hopefully I will continue to read more than one book in a month to make that possible though! Not a problem at the moment, but once the spring rolls around it may be a different story. But like I said before, I'm going with the flow :)
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Reading Challenges:
New to Me
Banned Books
Scotland
Audiobook
Book to Movie
Prequel & Sequel
Re-Reading
Chunkster
Lucky No. 14
Diversity on the Shelf
Historical Fiction
New to Me
Banned Books
Scotland
Audiobook
Book to Movie
Prequel & Sequel
Re-Reading
Chunkster
Lucky No. 14
Diversity on the Shelf
Historical Fiction
Chamber of Secrets is probably my least favorite HP book. I first read the series all in one go, after the seventh book came out, and while the first book had a sort of fairy-tale wonder to it, I just couldn't get into this one. I'm not a big fan of #5 either, but that one at least plays an important role in the lead-up to the finale. This one, even though you find out much later that things were more significant than they seemed at the time, still feels like more of a stand-alone story that I'm just not as invested in.
ReplyDeleteI love doing monthly round-ups, especially since I've never been one to write a full review for every book I read.
Five is definitely low on my list as well, though it does have a lot of significant stuff happening, it's just not a favorite. I think the round-ups are the way to go if I want to keep things going around here -- and they're fun to write without the pressure of needing to find a lot to say about every single book.
DeleteGreat round-up! I like the format -- just enough to share your thoughts, but keeps it quick and simple. Hurray for re-reading the Outlander books! I've had Graceling on my shelf for years, and I guess I really do need to read it one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to try Graceling -- it was a nice surprise for me! And I'm TOTALLY loving my Outlander re-read -- I got a little side-tracked by book club books for a little while, but I'm getting back into Dragonfly in Amber now :)
DeleteIf this is working better than sitting on a load of reviews then definitely go for it! I found Fire in a store one day and put it on my to-read list not knowing about Graceling, but it's been a few years now and I've not made it there yet. I know I should.
ReplyDeleteHope you're able to read a fair amount (at least - if not all!) of Outlander.
I've heard from a lot of people they like Bitterblue better than Fire, but since I liked Graceling so much, I definitely want to read them both.
DeleteAnd thanks! Even if I don't, I figure if/when I do have time to read with an infant in the house, at least they are so long I won't have to worry about deciding what to read next -- such chunky books will keep me busy (and from needing to make a decision!) for quite a while :)
I like these reviews! If you don't feel like writing long reviews then don't. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed Graceling. I want to finish the Outlander series so bad. I just know it will take time. I need to find time. I think I will love them all. I hope you get to finish them before the baby!
I'm definitely liking this better! I should have my post with 4-star books ready soon :)
DeleteDo it! You won't regret it :) I know it's hard to find the time though -- as the series goes on they just get longer! But hopefully you'll be hooked by then!
I like the format of this post - high five for not writing reviews if you don't want to! I'm completely in the same boat right now :) I'm glad you've been enjoying some brilliant books lately. One day I really must read the Outlander series, I can't avoid the excellent reviews any longer.
ReplyDeleteI have such a soft spot for Outlander! There are a lot of excellent reviews, but also a good amount of mixed ones for various reasons -- with a book so insanely popular, that's bound to happen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I can't wait to finally get to the new books I haven't had a chance to read yet :)
DeleteHopping over from the Chunkster Challenge....
ReplyDeleteI loved Graceling and the other books in that series, too. It's been years since I read Outlander -- but I mentioned Diana Gabaldon in my chunkster review today, so she's been on my mind!
I am totally hooked on my re-read of the series -- a sure sign of a favorite, especially considering the page count! I hope to read the rest of the Graceling series this year, but we shall see. Thanks for stopping by :)
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