Weekly Reading Round-Up
It’s been a very YA-heavy week for me. Here’s what I’ve been reading:
— Meg Cabot, Abandon Book 2: Underworld
This was one of the freebies from the Romantic Times Convention. The plus side of freebies? I get to read books I might not otherwise have stumbled upon. The downside? Sometimes I come into series mid-stream. This is Book 2 of Meg Cabot’s new Abandon series, based on the Persephone/Hades myth. Despite my having missed Book 1, it was a quick, fun read, and an interesting reboot of the old myth.
— Simone St. James, The Haunting of Maddy Clare
This isn’t YA– but I’d been wanting to read it for quite some time, so it jumped ahead in the queue. It was very, very much worth it. It’s a wonderful ghost story, love story, and mystery all in one, set in the aftermath of World War I.
— Franny Billingsley, Chime
This was recommended to me by the wonderful Rosemary Clement-Moore (one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite people). If Rosemary says read it, I read it. I’m not even sure how to describe this: a lyrically written young adult novel set in an alternate, early twentieth century England. The prose was beautiful, peppered with the sorts of casual literary allusion that makes the reader feel very clever.
— Heather Dixon, Entwined
This re-telling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” has been recommended to me by a number of people, including here on this page. I’ve only just started it, so I’ll let you know how it goes…. It’s making me want to re-read Robin McKinley’s The Door in the Hedge
What have you been reading?
I really really want to read Entwined too! I’m sure I’m going to like the book!! Can’t wait for you to tell us what you think about it!
As to my reading…
Inbetween chapters of A Dance With Dragons, I read Revealed, by Kate Noble. A spy romance recommanded here (by you, Lauren, if I remember correctly). Another hit for Ms Noble! I liked the book even better than Follow My Lead, which I read last week!
And for the fun, with friends of mine, we’ve been re-reading Shadowfever, the last book of Karen Marie Moning Fever series…
Glad you liked The Haunting of Maddy Clare!! Loved Matthew and Sarah’s relationship. I just started Teresa Grant’s Imperial Scandal…can’t wait to dig into it this weekend.
Hooray, you’re reading Entwined, Lauren! I hope you love it as much as I did.
I read Royal Flush, the third in the Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen. I always get a kick out of those books; they’re a fun, fast read.
I’ve been slogging my way through Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, which is a Chick Lit/Paranormal mishmash about a librarian who discovers a secret cache of magical books and finds out she has witchy powers. The book’s just okay, but I’m determined to finish it since it was recommended by a friend.
I don’t read a lot of YA, but I am ridiculously excited about the release of The Selection by Kiera Cass on Tuesday. The book is being described as “Hunger Games Meets The Bachelor,” and the CW has already shot the pilot for a potential TV series. I, along with three other friends, have agreed to read The Selection as a group and have discussions about it. Fun!
I’m reading The Thoreau You Don’t Know by Robert Sullivan about Henry David Thoreau. It’s quite interesting. I read Faery by Signe Pike, which was absolutely great.
This is a bit off topic, but I hope it’s okay to put a link to a great Levar Burton PSA for reading….It nearly brought me to tears, which sounds strange but if you watch, I think you’ll understand. 🙂
http://now.msn.com/living/0419-reading-is-fundamental-psa.aspx
I’m so glad you have these reading round-ups, Lauren. I always come away with more to add to my list. It’s such fun! Thanks!
I finished T.Alexander’s Tears of Pearl and am now waiting for Dangerous to Know to come in. Loving those books!!
Also started C.A. Belmond’s Rather series! I’m having a blast reading Penny and Jeremy’s adventures! I’ve read the first and second books and also have the next two on order!
I also enjoy these reading round ups! If not for here I wouldnt found these great books!
I finished the new Mary Robinette Kowal book, “Glamour Glass” which I adored, and picked up “The Enchanted April” which I’ve been meaning to read for years, and is so far not really enchanting me.
I’m so very happy (though finals week is near…gah!) to have started The Salmon of Doubt, a collection or random works by Douglas Adams discovered on his computer when he died. While I would hate to have someone salvage random things and publish them after I was gone, I’m so glad someone did for him. It’s completely wonderful.
I’m re-reading The Forsyte Saga (am about finished with the “In Chancery” section) and am also reading Pure by Julianna Baggott. Two very different books, but both are really good.
Almost finished “O Jerusalem” by Laurie R. King and I have only one word to describe it – “peevish”. My least favorite of the series but I’m a finisher. The last 1/3 of the book is better than the first 2/3. Lots on the TBR but not sure what is next. My daughter asked for HGtotheU for Christmas, maybe I’ll get her the Salmon of Doubt this year.
Thanks for your take on The Haunting of Maddy Clare. I started it earlier this week, but it wasn’t grabbing me so I set it aside for something else. Good to know it’s worth coming back to.
I’m glad you enjoyed Chime too! It was one of my favorite reads of 2011.
I just finished reading and reviewing My Particular Friend: A Charlotte House Affair. In all of Austen fan-fiction this story is totally unique. Author Jennifer Petkus combines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, and Frances Burney into tale of absorbing entertainment. I predict you’ll be hearing more of Jennifer Petkus because she is a promising literary talent.