I had hoped to read more last month but alas that didn’t happen. Granted, I had also hoped to grow past age 10, but Lord love a duck that did not happen either. You just gotta roll with it, I guess. To be completely fair, it was my choice to not read more in September; it was NOT my choice to stop growing in the fifth grade. 😀
The Books I Liked in September
Two books read and two books liked, so I really can’t complain too much.
Leverage In Death by J.D. Robb
Book Description: A bizarre suicide bombing puts Lt. Eve Dallas and Roarke in the crosshairs of a team looking to profit from mayhem.
Book Review: This is book #47, which is a little mind-boggling, and one of my all-time favorite series. I love almost all of them, although this one falls in the middle for me, not bad or excellent. Normally, her books are very fast-paced and I love the character interactions (they are like family to me after 47 books) but this one drags a bit. I weirdly didn’t know whether to be relieved it was less murdery — thus less stressful on my stressed mind — or disappointed in all the blah, blah, blah versus blood, guts and gore.
To Read or Not to Read: Sure. If you’re a fan of mysteries with strong, female leads and an excellent supporting cast, this is a great series and one worth checking out.
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Book Description: Cultural identity, class, gentrification and the thrill of first love take center stage in this YA reimagining of Pride and Prejudice.
Book Review: I really like the switch to people of color in this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Zuri (aka Elizabeth) is kinda awesome. I like her, especially her pride in her community, her poems/raps/haikus and her desire to be more. She definitely embodies the spirit of Elizabeth Bennett, if she lived today and was Haitian/Dominican. My only quibble (and it’s kind of lame because in no way was this part of the original book) is that I wish Zoboi had explored a bit deeper Zuri’s prejudice against Darius and her lack of understanding (and empathy) towards his situation. Many Caucasians don’t realize the class structure that exists with different ethnic groups and the prejudice to outright racism they can have towards each other.
To Read or Not to Read: Yes, fans (but not necessarily P&P purists) will enjoy this. And non-Pride and Prejudice fans should too. Zoboi does a good job of modernizing this beloved classic while being true to the spirit of the story.
To More Great Books
Reading is my happy place, where I go on adventures and whatnot with some awesome fictional characters. But lately, it brings less joy to me because my preferred books are a little dark, which was fine when the world seemed sane. Now that it seems less sane (and safe), those books stress me out because I don’t have the balance of coming out of a dark book to a light world. So a smart Tanya would read another genre but that capricious Tanya whines and moans through them for being lame. Whether or not they are lame, is debatable. But I refuse to give up reading, even if I’m reading a bit less than before.
As usual, I’m participating in the Show Us Your Books Link-Up hosted by Jana and Steph. It’s also the fourth anniversary of SUYB which is completely awesome. Congratulations Jana and Steph! You’ve created an amazing community of book lovers who have helped so many people discover awesome books and authors. I am forever grateful to all of you!
What great books or not-so-great books did you read last month?
Tanya
I’m reading Firefly Lane (Kristin Hannah) and it’s so good!
I’ve only read The Nightingale by Hannah but I hear so many great things about her other books. Need to check out more of her catalog!
I read American Street by Zoboi last month and really enjoyed it, but haven’t looked at any of her other books yet and don’t think I’ve seen her books talked about very often on this linkup.
She was new-to-me author and I’m definitely interested in checking American Street now.
My weekly recommendation email from my library had Pride in it — so I added it to my ‘hold’ stash. 🙂
Yay! I hope you enjoy it. The ending felt a little rushed but overall a really solid retelling of P&P.
Not the biggest YA fan but Pride sounds pretty good!
I typically like the more dystopian or fantasy YA over romance YA but this one worked for me. Maybe because Zuri had so much pride in her Haitian/Dominican roots.
I’ve heard good things about Pride, so I’m glad you liked it. I do like darker books, but you’re right, if you’re looking at the world at large, they can sometimes hit a little too close to home.
-Lauren
Absolutely, that’s been my problem lately. I read for entertainment so when my dark books mirror too closely the real world, it doesn’t give me that escape I want.
I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t like P&P or its retellings.
We like what we like, right? 😀 I definitely like P&P but I’m not diehard purist.
Pride sounds super interesting! And I totally get what you mean. I tend to like more darker, emotional stories but also…sometimes it’s just too much when my fiction and the news kind of sound the same 🙁 It’s okay to have some “fluff” and give your mind a rest (or that’s what I’m telling myself, anyway).
Exactly! When I finish a dark, intense thriller, I want to come out to a happy, safe place or my fiction to feel fake compared to the real world! I tried the “fluff” hoping that it would help but I just got irritated with it. Like how you can be so naive, dense, stupid and I’m pretty sure that was not the response I was supposed to have. LOL!
i’m so glad you liked Pride! I have it from the library and i am excited.
my mind is seriously so boggled when i think about 47 books about roarke and eve. i’m only on like book 6 or 7 but i do like them. i will fully admit, the eve and roarke relationship is my favourite part, not the murdery/mystery stuff haha
I hope you enjoy Pride. I know your a big P&P fan so I’ll be interested to see how you like it. Or don’t. Gulp. Honestly, every time I review an In Death book and put what # it is in the series, I always have to triple check because it seems insane that there are so many books AND that I’ve read them all. But it’s not like I read them all at once; I’ve been reading this series for years! I had to laugh, though, I like the books for the murder/mystery and the supporting characters and less for Eve and Roarke!
I get the reason why its difficult to read right now in this crazy world. That’s why I dont mind YA – give me the light hearted feels of young love 🙂 Hide me from the dark world.
I love a good re-telling of the classics & I hadn’t heard of that P&P retelling.
YA would be a solid choice, except I don’t like the strictly romance YA. It needs to dystopian or fantasy for me, which is typically dark(ish). I may just have to put on my big girl pants and get over it. 😀
Can’t wait to read Pride. Thanks for the recommendation! Pam 🙂
Hope you enjoy it, Pam!
No worries with only two books. I had two this month, too. (I know you’re usually a much more voracious reader than me, though!) Glad yours were “likes”!!
Normally reading is my happy place but it hasn’t been for the past few months. I keep checking out books that I truly do want to read at some point but when it comes to actually sitting down and reading them – no can do. And yet I desperately miss reading. 😀
Pride is on my TBR! I LOVE Austen retellings and this one so sounds unique and well done. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!!! I cannot BELIEVE there are that many in death books. Talk about a long series! It must be one of the longest ever, is it?! Besides maybe Sweet Valley high or Nancy Drew or something…lol.
I hope you enjoy it, Heather. Overall, I thought it was really well done and liked the PoC switch. It’s kind of insane that there are that many In Death books AND I’ve read them all. Again, not all at once. It wasn’t a binge marathon or anything. I’ve been a faithful In Death reader for years! Honestly, I’m not sure what the longest series is but it has to be up there! I read all the Nancy Drew books as a kid, so maybe I’m just a fan of long series. LOL!
Reading two books is totally cool. More time to watch Hallmark Movies and Mysteries 😉
You know me so well, Mackenzie. 😀
I’ve been struggling a little bit with reading, too. I think it has to do more with the crappy books I’ve read than anything else.
Crappy books do NOT help. I think if I had a real WOW book that might help too. I’ve been saving that new TJR book and maybe I should just read it now!
You are in good company, if I do say so myself. My reading has been “off” for quite away; I’m not devouring them like I did a year or so ago. A few months ago, I starting giving my permission to read whatever I read and quit worrying about the quantity. Three years ago, I read/listened to 70+ books; last year it was 44. This year, I probably won’t even make 30. But, you know what? It’s ok. Life happens and things change. The important thing is that I (and you) are still reading. 🙂
I don’t set reading goals so normally how many books I read per month doesn’t bother me, but this not enjoying reading is what truly bothers me. It feels like I’m almost forcing myself to read, even though I enjoy it once I do. But before you couldn’t keep me out of a book! If I could just hit a good streak of a couple awesome books, maybe then I could break through this reading hump. We can do it!
A series with 47+ books would stress me out! I cannot commit to a series like that, even though I’ve heard great things about J.D. Robb. Pride sounds like a good read with the twist on race. I’m probably one of the few out there who are not huge P&P fans, so maybe I’d enjoy this.
Honestly, it would give me pause if I was to start reading it today but since I started when she was maybe on book #20 or so, it didn’t seem so daunting. 😀
I’ve never read a J.D. Robbbook, but I do love a good series. I may have to check this one out!
I love it. She’s built a great world with fantastic supporting characters. There are, of course, a few duds but there is a point where she hits them out of the ballpark back-to-back-to back for me, which I guess is why I’ve read all 47!
I find myself in that place sometimes where the books I am reading are either a bit too fluffy or too dark. I try to take a break but I love to read! I hope you find a good place again!
Some days I feel like Goldilocks when it comes to books: too dark, too fluffy, too silly …. ah, just right! 😀
I only read two books in September as well. I can definitely understand your reasoning for reading less these days. I’d say we have similar taste in books (based solely on your posts and any interactions we’ve had through this link-up), so I get that feeling of “the world is fucked up enough that I don’t need to immerse myself in even MORE fucked up shit in my books.” Although it’s not the reason I’ve been reading less (I blame exhaustion, stress, and pregnancy for my lack of reading these days), it’s something I’ve thought about as I’ve selected books. I still go for dark and disturbing, but I’ve been trying to break it up a little more.
On the plus side, at least you liked both books you read! Hopefully you’ll continue to find some enjoyable books that relieve stress instead of add to it.
Girl, you nailed it. I can read dark books where lots of bad, bad things happen and normally be okay afterwards. I’m not a sociopath, so sure it bothers me but I get that it’s fiction. Now I can’t separate things, ya know? I’m pretty sure pregnancy would make reading harder for me too, from just being super busy getting ready to not really being able to handle dark stories, especially anything dealing with moms or kids. Hopefully you and I will be able to find some happy medium books to keep us enjoying reading!