[Wrap-Up] The End of a Slump (hopefully): September 2019
The end of another month and the year is slowly coming to an end. But this slump I found myself in for some time seems to be over for now. I'm back in a reading mood and that is also because of the great stories I got to experience this month. It still isn't a lot but I also do not have the time to read as much as before because of work.
This month I read four books which amounts to 2618 pages, which means I read on average 87.3 pages a day. Three were paperbacks and one an ebook. And my average rating this month is 3.75 stars.
"Pan's Labyrinth" by Guillermo Del Toro and Cornelia Funke
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Young Adult
Year of Release: 2019
Read in: English
Original language: English
Anyone who knows the movie will love this book. It is a gorgeous novelization of the script which mixes the styles of Del Toro and Funke really well. I was curious to see how she would write in English and I wasn't disappointed.
Magic is everywhere when you are a child. From the ground you're walking on to the stars in the night. Wherever you go things aren't explainable, yet. So it's no surprise that our story's heroine, Ofelia, sees exactly this magic. But is it real or part of her imagination?
For anyone who hasn't seen the movie: This book tells the story of Ofelia who with her mother travels to the Spanish countryside during the early days of Franco's reign to her mother's new husband. Ofelia doesn't feel comfortable there as her stepfather is a horrible person and when she meets a Faun who tells her that she is the missing princess of the underground kingdom she takes the Faun's offer to do a few tasks that will allow her to return.
It is a fantasy story but it is so much more. It is a parable, it is a bit of a psychological exploration of a frightened adolescent, it is a modern fairytale of sorts.
I would recommend the book to anyone who loves the movie but also to those people who enjoy magical realism and classic literature. But in general if you do not mind creepy stories you might want to check the book out. Or the movie if you can't see yourself spending time on a book. Both are fantastic.
Magic is everywhere when you are a child. From the ground you're walking on to the stars in the night. Wherever you go things aren't explainable, yet. So it's no surprise that our story's heroine, Ofelia, sees exactly this magic. But is it real or part of her imagination?
For anyone who hasn't seen the movie: This book tells the story of Ofelia who with her mother travels to the Spanish countryside during the early days of Franco's reign to her mother's new husband. Ofelia doesn't feel comfortable there as her stepfather is a horrible person and when she meets a Faun who tells her that she is the missing princess of the underground kingdom she takes the Faun's offer to do a few tasks that will allow her to return.
It is a fantasy story but it is so much more. It is a parable, it is a bit of a psychological exploration of a frightened adolescent, it is a modern fairytale of sorts.
I would recommend the book to anyone who loves the movie but also to those people who enjoy magical realism and classic literature. But in general if you do not mind creepy stories you might want to check the book out. Or the movie if you can't see yourself spending time on a book. Both are fantastic.
4/5★
"Tunnel of Bones" by Victoria Schwab
Pages: 272
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Middle-Grade
Year of Release: 2019
Read in: English
Original language: English
After loving the first book I had to read this one as well, obviously. And I can't say how happy I am about this cute and creepy story for children. I would have loved it as a kid and I now as an adult I definitely love it.
We accompany Cassidy and her ghost friend Jacob to Paris this time as her parents are filming more for their tv series there. And as in Edinburgh, Cassidy can feel the Veil a lot and stronger than in the US.
Overall I can say that this story is right for anyone who wants to feel a bit nostalgic for their childhood but in general for those who love ghost stories. Also, I would say that one can read these at about the age of twelve. I'm pointing this out because sometimes I feel that age ratings aren't properly done. It's especially like that in YA but as this is middle-grade the age rating usually fits a bit better.
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Middle-Grade
Year of Release: 2019
Read in: English
Original language: English
After loving the first book I had to read this one as well, obviously. And I can't say how happy I am about this cute and creepy story for children. I would have loved it as a kid and I now as an adult I definitely love it.
We accompany Cassidy and her ghost friend Jacob to Paris this time as her parents are filming more for their tv series there. And as in Edinburgh, Cassidy can feel the Veil a lot and stronger than in the US.
Overall I can say that this story is right for anyone who wants to feel a bit nostalgic for their childhood but in general for those who love ghost stories. Also, I would say that one can read these at about the age of twelve. I'm pointing this out because sometimes I feel that age ratings aren't properly done. It's especially like that in YA but as this is middle-grade the age rating usually fits a bit better.
4/5★
"Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell
Pages: 384
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Young Adult
Year of Release: 2017
Read in: English
Original language: English
What can I say about this book as someone who definitely is not the target audience at all? Well, it was readable, I give it that. Carry On is the story of Simon Snow, who is the Chosen One of a magical community set in our world, and what he is supposed to do to save everyone. At the same time he also falls in love with his roommate Baz, who is a vampire and seen as evil because of his family.
On paper, this is a cute idea for a YA urban fantasy story that also includes a same-sex relationship as the main couple. And that is also most likely the reason for the hype around it. This is something I've seen a lot by now and it annoys me. There was potential in this book but as many YA romances before, their relationship was strongly based on a mutual liking of pissing each other off and acting as if they hate each other paired with a too sudden, head over heels kind of confession of feelings and getting together that you will usually see in fanfiction a lot. Banter is good and normal but this isn't banter!
Which brings me to my next point. I do come from fanfiction as well and I enjoy it sometimes, but there are things that just do not work in a book for me. And next to the problems I have with the romance aspect it is also the constant jumping from one problem into the next. You need to do this gradually and not treat every chapter like an episode of a TV show, which is something that is done a lot in fanfiction as it keeps people glued to their screens, waiting for the author to upload the next chapter. This is a book. You do not have to wait for the next chapter.
Like I said, it is readable and fun in some parts but for something that is not supposed to be the fanfiction from Rowell's other book but a standalone while also probably not being seen by her as a loving parody of Harry Potter and other similar stories I can only say that the tone is off a lot. The characters read like middle-grade ones except for the violence and some sexual aspects, which are mentioned and are nothing big.
I do not know if I would recommend this to anyone to be honest.
2.5/5★
"The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson
Pages: 1258
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Adult
Year of Release: 2011
Read in: English
Original language: English
This is for the high fantasy fans who can't wait for the next installment of The Kingkiller Chronicles and need something as epic and grand. A world in which strong storms are a danger to living beings, in which things are maritime in look, and the magic system is as vast as the story.
We follow four main characters but also many side characters who intersect the lives of these. It is a slow story but in a good way, giving as a gradually growing story that will grab you and never let you go. This story has war, it has magic, it has different ways of life, it has a history strongly based on religion, and it has various people who look very human or a bit more alien.
The four characters we follow are all on the human side. There is Dalinar, a highprince, who seems to have lost his way as a warrior and is now obsessed with a book which gives us the title of this novel. We meet Shallan who wants to save her family from ruin and does so by means that could get her killed, despite the fact that she is the scholarly type and not really a criminal. Kaladin Stormblessed is another character we accompany as he learns to live as a slave and former soldier, a combination that is rather unlikely as the world he lives in needs every soldier it can get. And we follow an assassin in white, Szeth, struggling to meet his master's demands while dealing with his own morals.
This is a colorful world that even separates their drinks by color to show which drink contains what amount of alcohol. It is lit by stormlight infused gemstones that give off colorful lights. And it has so many more things to offer.
I recommend this to anyone who loves epic high fantasy. It definitely isn't something for people who are new to grand stories like this. Though they might enjoy it if they've read Lord of the Rings. Still, it's more a story for veteran fantasy readers. And if you loved Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind I'm sure you will enjoy this one as well. But be warned, the Stormlight Archive series is supposed to be ten books long in the end. The fourth one isn't out yet. But I guess this won't take as long as waiting for the next Game of Thrones book or the last in the Kingkiller Chronicles. Sanderson is a bit more like King in the way he churns out his books. And he has so many books out, you can just read them in the time being.
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Young Adult
Year of Release: 2017
Read in: English
Original language: English
What can I say about this book as someone who definitely is not the target audience at all? Well, it was readable, I give it that. Carry On is the story of Simon Snow, who is the Chosen One of a magical community set in our world, and what he is supposed to do to save everyone. At the same time he also falls in love with his roommate Baz, who is a vampire and seen as evil because of his family.
On paper, this is a cute idea for a YA urban fantasy story that also includes a same-sex relationship as the main couple. And that is also most likely the reason for the hype around it. This is something I've seen a lot by now and it annoys me. There was potential in this book but as many YA romances before, their relationship was strongly based on a mutual liking of pissing each other off and acting as if they hate each other paired with a too sudden, head over heels kind of confession of feelings and getting together that you will usually see in fanfiction a lot. Banter is good and normal but this isn't banter!
Which brings me to my next point. I do come from fanfiction as well and I enjoy it sometimes, but there are things that just do not work in a book for me. And next to the problems I have with the romance aspect it is also the constant jumping from one problem into the next. You need to do this gradually and not treat every chapter like an episode of a TV show, which is something that is done a lot in fanfiction as it keeps people glued to their screens, waiting for the author to upload the next chapter. This is a book. You do not have to wait for the next chapter.
Like I said, it is readable and fun in some parts but for something that is not supposed to be the fanfiction from Rowell's other book but a standalone while also probably not being seen by her as a loving parody of Harry Potter and other similar stories I can only say that the tone is off a lot. The characters read like middle-grade ones except for the violence and some sexual aspects, which are mentioned and are nothing big.
I do not know if I would recommend this to anyone to be honest.
2.5/5★
"The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson
Pages: 1258
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: Adult
Year of Release: 2011
Read in: English
Original language: English
This is for the high fantasy fans who can't wait for the next installment of The Kingkiller Chronicles and need something as epic and grand. A world in which strong storms are a danger to living beings, in which things are maritime in look, and the magic system is as vast as the story.
We follow four main characters but also many side characters who intersect the lives of these. It is a slow story but in a good way, giving as a gradually growing story that will grab you and never let you go. This story has war, it has magic, it has different ways of life, it has a history strongly based on religion, and it has various people who look very human or a bit more alien.
The four characters we follow are all on the human side. There is Dalinar, a highprince, who seems to have lost his way as a warrior and is now obsessed with a book which gives us the title of this novel. We meet Shallan who wants to save her family from ruin and does so by means that could get her killed, despite the fact that she is the scholarly type and not really a criminal. Kaladin Stormblessed is another character we accompany as he learns to live as a slave and former soldier, a combination that is rather unlikely as the world he lives in needs every soldier it can get. And we follow an assassin in white, Szeth, struggling to meet his master's demands while dealing with his own morals.
This is a colorful world that even separates their drinks by color to show which drink contains what amount of alcohol. It is lit by stormlight infused gemstones that give off colorful lights. And it has so many more things to offer.
I recommend this to anyone who loves epic high fantasy. It definitely isn't something for people who are new to grand stories like this. Though they might enjoy it if they've read Lord of the Rings. Still, it's more a story for veteran fantasy readers. And if you loved Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind I'm sure you will enjoy this one as well. But be warned, the Stormlight Archive series is supposed to be ten books long in the end. The fourth one isn't out yet. But I guess this won't take as long as waiting for the next Game of Thrones book or the last in the Kingkiller Chronicles. Sanderson is a bit more like King in the way he churns out his books. And he has so many books out, you can just read them in the time being.
4.5/5★
Latest Obsessions:
As last month, I'm still obsessed with Floor Jansen on Beste Zangers but it would be redundant to talk about that again. What I do enjoy at the moment are a bunch of new music releases. Insomnium released a few videos for their newest album and everything so far has been gorgeous! It's not the hardest stuff out there but it is beautiful.
I also cannot not talk about this one band I heard people mention a lot after Wacken and I totally get why. The mixture of Indian folk music and Nu Metal just works really well for Bloodywood and I definitely recommend to check them out. Even if you aren't into metal, you might have enjoyed some Nu Metal before (Linkin Park is one of the typical mainstream acts most people name in this moment) and you might enjoy this as well.
Another song I'm obsessed with is one that combines 50s/60s rock'n'roll with 80s hair metal, and it will get stuck in your head!
And to round everything up, after going to a renaissance fair again this month I also got this funny song by the "grogg'n'roll/aggro shanty" playing pirate folk band from "Caribbean Osnabrück" stuck in my head. And I'm not complaining at all!
___
Disclaimer: I wasn't asked or payed to talk about any book, CD, artist or show mentioned. Anything is my opinion only!
Follow me: Instagram | Goodreads | Letterboxd
I also cannot not talk about this one band I heard people mention a lot after Wacken and I totally get why. The mixture of Indian folk music and Nu Metal just works really well for Bloodywood and I definitely recommend to check them out. Even if you aren't into metal, you might have enjoyed some Nu Metal before (Linkin Park is one of the typical mainstream acts most people name in this moment) and you might enjoy this as well.
Another song I'm obsessed with is one that combines 50s/60s rock'n'roll with 80s hair metal, and it will get stuck in your head!
And to round everything up, after going to a renaissance fair again this month I also got this funny song by the "grogg'n'roll/aggro shanty" playing pirate folk band from "Caribbean Osnabrück" stuck in my head. And I'm not complaining at all!
___
Disclaimer: I wasn't asked or payed to talk about any book, CD, artist or show mentioned. Anything is my opinion only!
Follow me: Instagram | Goodreads | Letterboxd
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