I read two reads this month. I feel like I've read more, but I'm not sure why I feel that way... possibly because I am still only halfway through ESL Writers, which is painful and mostly stupid. Anyway, here are my two reads:
The End by Lemony Snicket: 0 Stars. I thought this final book ruined the whole series. It felt like one big cop out to all the mysteries that had been raised throughout the whole series. It was dreadful, though not for the reasons intimated by the author, but because it basically went, "Oh, well, you can never know everything" and ended. It was as though the author got sick of writing and just stopped. I do not recommend the series based solely on this book. Up until this book, I enjoyed the series a great deal.
The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket: .5 Stars. It could be because I read this book after the last book of the series when it technically came out prior to the series, but I hated this book too. It's written in the form of letters from two Beatrices. In addition, it has several punch-out letters which are supposed to be arranged to reveal an anogram. Whatever. In addition, there are a ton of words and dates that are repeated and letters of the alphabet scrawled on the correspondence letters throughout the book. Looking at various reviews, it appears that it was supposed to give enthusiasts a chance to decode some of the 13th book, in which case, I suppose it does that. Otherwise, unless you like torturing yourself with word puzzles that require a large, flat surface and probably a Boudelaire orphan to solve, skip it. It's not worth it.
WARNING, SPOILER AHEAD IF YOU STILL THINK YOU WANT TO READ THEM...
In fact, I would skip the whole series. It doesn't even deliver what it promises, which is a wretched ending. It merely delivers a stupid ending. I add boo to its overall score. BOOOOO has been added.
On the whole, I didn't read any good books this month, but I am savoring my current read, which is sure to get at least a few stars next month. See you soon with more books! Feel free to share your own reads in the comments.
Posted by LoWriter at September 4, 2007 10:51 PMwow... your reading month apparently sucked! i enjoyed mine (please view blog for full reviews) with the book club's novel The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, and my lingering enjoyment of the Harry Potter finale.
i too feel like i read a lot more in august than i really did. i was contemplating this, and perhaps it's b/c i was so busy at work and gone on so many trips that any spare moment i had (that i wasnt watching Entourage or Flight of the Conchords) i was reading voraciously. did that happen to you too?
Posted by: dr gonzo at September 5, 2007 09:27 AMI read a lot this month, mainly in the beginning of the month. The search for The Yiddish Policemen's Union slowed me down, and the reading - or should I say attempted reading - of it slowed me down even more.
Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro
SciFi but with a romance twist. The SciFi aspect of it is interesting. LoWriter I would recommend it based solely on their discussions of light-speed travel and past/future travels. The author has a degree in science and is married to a NASA scientist, which makes her more believable to me.
Magic Study by Maria Snyder
Second in the series, I thought the first was weak and this picked up the some of the threads, but built on them more. It was a good read, but not an amazing book. It was more solid than the first novel, but it seems she dumped a lot of the first story to build the characters in this story.
Catch the Lightening by Catherine Asaro
Second in the series. I liked it, but it was hardcore SciFi. I then tried to read the third one in the series and got bored after about 75 pages. I may try more in the series later when I figure out the next books.
Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos
This book is BEAUTIFULLY written, I cannot stress that enough. Her word play and sentance structure is enough to send you over the moon. (the author is a poetess) Loved the writing and the first 3/4 of the book; but at the end it begins to tread water and comes to a predictable and lackluster close. I would have liked something more dramatic even though I will admit the ending fits. I would still read this book again, even with the ending.
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Didn't finish, read only about the first 7 chapters / 60 pages.
I have to say your strong reaction to Lemony Snicket is ... wow. I can't remember you ever denying a WHOLE series based on the last book, so I know it has to end terribly. He copted out, we all know it.
Posted by: 10lees at September 5, 2007 01:31 PM