If you’re new around here, WELCOME. Basically, I’m behind on everything, the TBR is overflowing, and I can’t read fast enough to get through everything I want to read. But I’m trying! So, buckle up, here’s some details on the backlist bonus reads for September.
Statistics
Age Category: 3 YA, 1 A
That’s a LOT of YA, even for me! Usually this is more balanced … I think.
Genres: 1 Contemporary, 1 Science Fiction, 1 Short Story Anthology, 1 Historical Fiction
Well that is typical. I read a little of everything and this pretty much proves that.
Indie Authors: 4 N
Yes, that’s why these are backlisted titles. I tend to move indie authors up the list and get them read first. There are exceptions to that, of course, but clearly there weren’t any exceptions in September.
Total Pages Read: 1878
Average Pages per Book: 469
YAY! I consider anything over 300 to be good. This is GREAT.
Ratings: 2, 3, 4, 4
Only one problematic book in the bunch. Not too shabby!
Notes and Details
Smoke
- Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664957-smoke
- This was an audiobook I borrowed from the library.
- I will mention this one would have been better as a physical book. Audiobooks lose the magic of the poetry that is this series, I think. I did get hints of it but it just wasn’t the same.
- The Verdict: 3 Stars. While I adored the original in this series (Burned) this one felt a bit too similar to that one for my tastes. Sequels should have something new they bring to the series.
The Kill Order
- Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13089710-the-kill-order
- This was (also) an audiobook I borrowed from the library. Don’t judge, I can borrow them for free and listen in the parent pickup line or while I’m driving to work. It’s genius, I tell you!
- Anyway, this one was disappointing. The sentences were choppy (not helped by the narrator) and the characters were flat. When you read a prequel like this you hope for things that spark reminders of the series. You want twists that explain unanswered questions or hints of the characters you loved. This had NONE of that. It was dry.
- The Verdict: 2 Stars. I didn’t fit into the series and it didn’t stand on its own, which makes this one problematic.
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
- Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23512999-the-bazaar-of-bad-dreams
- This was (ALSO) an audiobook I borrowed from the library.
- I love a good short story and Stephen King is (arguably) the king of the short story. He’s able to get me to buy into the world and the scenario in just a few pages, which is amazing. I also enjoyed the fact that King himself narrates the introductions to each story.
- The Verdict: 4 Stars. If you’re a short story fan, a horror fan, or a Stephen King fan, get this one. It’s worth it! Side note: If you do audiobooks I highly recommend this one with it’s narration by the author and the celebs that voiced the stories.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
- Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29283884-the-gentleman-s-guide-to-vice-and-virtue
- Audiobook from the library (are we surprised?)
- I heard a LOT about this book before diving into it, but I had my skepticism. Firstly, I don’t always love historical fiction. I can be strangely critical about it. But this one was GREAT. As far as I can tell, this one works for the story it’s trying to tell and the time period it’s set in.
- The diversity is 100% the reason to get this one. Seriously. If you believe books (specifically historical fiction) should have diverse casts, you need this book. Have this one in your classroom or teenage-acceptable libraries, too. I loved this one for that and the messages about acceptance it brings alone.
- The Verdict: 4 Stars. This is a good YA historical fiction and it’s packed with diversity so that is even better. Get this one!
That’s it!
I finished 3 of the required 4 books I wanted to get to in September and 4 bonus reads (audiobooks, in this case). NO wheel spins. Can you believe that? Anyway, stay tuned for what I can only hope is a better October.