As I’m just back from a flying visit to the UK, I’m a little late with my update this month, but I’ll be linking up with Julie over at Mama OWL in her 50 books challenge February round-up!
As I said in my first update I had only managed to get half way through my first book during January, so I have a bit of catching up to do if I’m going to succeed in hitting the 50 books target! The best thing so far about taking part in this challenge is that I am reading much more again, I clearly benefit from having a challenge, and taking full advantage of Kindle Daily Deals I have a rather random mix of books lined up to read which is great fun :) I’m discovering new authors as well as making time to catch up with some of my favourites. I have just finished my sixth book and made a start on book number seven…
Book 1
A Memory of Light – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The last book in the Wheel of Time was a fitting end to a wonderful series of books. After 14 volumes, the story was brought to a conclusion with all the magic, excitement and pace that we have come to expect. There were moments of sadness, we lost some dear friends, and moments of joy as our heroes ended their epic battle. I wasn’t disappointed with the ending, it was just right and although I am sad to finish this last book I know that this is a series I will return to and re-read from start to finish – and enjoy just as much as I did the first time.
Books 2, 3 and 4
The Soulkeepers Series – G.P. Ching
The Soulkeepers, Weaving Destiny and Return to Eden
After finishing A Memory of Light I wanted to read something a little lighter and I had downloaded the first in this series when it was on offer (free!) a while ago and thought I’d give it a go. This is a YA series about the Soulkeepers, individuals gifted with a talent to allow them to fight evil. A fairly typical good versus evil story, but with enough inventiveness, along with well developed and likeable characters, to keep me interested. So much so that as soon as I had finished the first book I downloaded the next two and I’m keeping an eye out for the fourth!
Book 5
Critical Incident – Troy Blackford
This is actually a novella so maybe shouldn’t count as a whole book! I follow a number of writers on twitter and I am often followed by new/unknown/developing authors (not really sure what the right descriptor is?!). Some of them I follow back (!) and this is one – so I though it only fair to try one of his books! I actually quite enjoyed it, the storyline has potential and I will read the follow up ‘Emergent Pattern’ to see where he takes the ideas next.
Book 6
Breathe – Sarah Crossan
Slightly reminiscent of The Hunger Games, Breathe is another YA dystopian read and I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book. Set in a future where there are no trees and the oceans have been poisoned, those who have survived are forced to buy air from a ruthless corporation who control their lives within protected domes. It is a plausible plot and the story is clever and well executed. The characters, on the whole, are believable and well written – and while a couple of them were quite unlikeable, I was drawn into the plot and raced through the book to find out what happened to them all. This is the first in a series and I will definitely pick up the sequel when it’s released.
After a run of sci-fi/fantasy I am now reading something a little more grounded in (current!) reality –
Breaking Night by Liz Murray. It is subtitled A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard which I think is enough of a summary of the plot for the moment! I don’t often read memoirs, but this sounded interesting… I’ll tell you what I think next month.
