I’m the kind of reader that will never truly give up on a book because I take a great deal of pleasure in finishing what I started. I love reaching the place where there are less than 100 pages to go, because that means a book is going to move off my currently-reading shelf tonight.
Since I never give up on a book, I can even recall that I started reading Ivanhoe in third or fourth grade and still haven’t finished it. My reason? I got discouraged because I couldn’t understand it. Go figure.
Yes, I’m a book addict. And this chapter of Book Addicts Anonymous is titled: Books I Haven’t Finished (YET).
A Darker Shade of Magic
by V.E. Schwab
This book had me extremely interested at the start of the first chapter and completely hooked by the end of the second. It’s the best fantasy novel I’ve read in a long time. The main character, Kell, can travel between parallel versions of London, because he was born with a special magical ability. Each version of London has some degree of magic at work, but the degrees vary, and the societies have developed differently because of the way they interact with magic. Something deep, sinister, and mysterious be lurking here. I haven’t finished it because I was only given a 150 page excerpt. The full book will be published on February 24, and you can bet that I’m going to be buying it if my library doesn’t get an e-copy ASAP.
The Poem and the Journey: 60 Poems for the Journey of Life
by Ruth Padel
My new year’s resolution in 2014 was to learn how to better appreciate poetry. Ruth Padel is a tremendously successful author and poet, and in this book she takes apart a variety of poems to help you see what works, what doesn’t, and why. Academic Alisa was giddy at the possibilities of learning how to deeply appreciate poetry by reading this book. Reality Alisa got bored and preferred to read poems on a superficial level.
Mr. Fox
by Helen Oyeyemi
This author was aaalll over the book critic world 2013-2014, so naturally I wanted to see what everyone was talking about. I like reading literary novels because I enjoy trying new things and appreciating more esoteric and artfully-written books. I checked this book out multiple times from the library, but never reeaally got into it. After my latest loan expired, I couldn’t be bothered to sign up on the request list again.
Boy, Snow, Bird
by Helen Oyeyemi
I listened to an interview with the author on NPR’s Fresh Air and was so intrigued that I decided to get it from the library, despite my cool dates with Mr. Fox. Fairytale retellings, literary novel, postmodern angst, beautiful cover design that wooed my heart… it was all there. I do want to finish this book soon, but other books are more urgent at the moment.
The Silkworm
by Robert Galbraith
I bought this book in Portuguese, with the intention of reading something a little more difficult than my current ability. Turns out this is much more difficult, and reading this is more discouraging than helpful. O Bicho-da-Seda is staying shelved for a few more months.
What books got pushed to the bottom of your currently-reading stack?
Since I never give up on a book, I can even recall that I started reading Ivanhoe in third or fourth grade and still haven’t finished it. My reason? I got discouraged because I couldn’t understand it. Go figure.
Yes, I’m a book addict. And this chapter of Book Addicts Anonymous is titled: Books I Haven’t Finished (YET).
by V.E. Schwab
This book had me extremely interested at the start of the first chapter and completely hooked by the end of the second. It’s the best fantasy novel I’ve read in a long time. The main character, Kell, can travel between parallel versions of London, because he was born with a special magical ability. Each version of London has some degree of magic at work, but the degrees vary, and the societies have developed differently because of the way they interact with magic. Something deep, sinister, and mysterious be lurking here. I haven’t finished it because I was only given a 150 page excerpt. The full book will be published on February 24, and you can bet that I’m going to be buying it if my library doesn’t get an e-copy ASAP.
by Ruth Padel
My new year’s resolution in 2014 was to learn how to better appreciate poetry. Ruth Padel is a tremendously successful author and poet, and in this book she takes apart a variety of poems to help you see what works, what doesn’t, and why. Academic Alisa was giddy at the possibilities of learning how to deeply appreciate poetry by reading this book. Reality Alisa got bored and preferred to read poems on a superficial level.
by Helen Oyeyemi
This author was aaalll over the book critic world 2013-2014, so naturally I wanted to see what everyone was talking about. I like reading literary novels because I enjoy trying new things and appreciating more esoteric and artfully-written books. I checked this book out multiple times from the library, but never reeaally got into it. After my latest loan expired, I couldn’t be bothered to sign up on the request list again.
by Helen Oyeyemi
I listened to an interview with the author on NPR’s Fresh Air and was so intrigued that I decided to get it from the library, despite my cool dates with Mr. Fox. Fairytale retellings, literary novel, postmodern angst, beautiful cover design that wooed my heart… it was all there. I do want to finish this book soon, but other books are more urgent at the moment.
by Robert Galbraith
I bought this book in Portuguese, with the intention of reading something a little more difficult than my current ability. Turns out this is much more difficult, and reading this is more discouraging than helpful. O Bicho-da-Seda is staying shelved for a few more months.
What books got pushed to the bottom of your currently-reading stack?
I really want to read A Darker Shade of Magic! Is there a library in Sao Paulo that gets new releases? Ebooks? Or do you use from another country? I need a good library to join! Portuguese is hard though. I probably wouldn't know it if it wasn't my first language.
ReplyDeleteI usually get my ebooks from my library in the US, and they are pretty good about getting new popular releases. The other day I went to a local library in SP that's 2km from my house, and it was really cute but I didn't see any new looking books there. I don't know if it's possible to request inter-library loans or not... my Portuguese isn't very good, so I was too shy to ask, hehe.
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