July, July! This Month’s TBR List

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It’s baaaack–my monthly TBR blog post. Ain’t that exciting? Yes, I said ain’t. During the course of this past year, and maybe more in the recent months, my reading preferences have become less focused on genre and more focused on story. As much as I love YA, and still read a lot of it, I have recently moved on to different genres and books. This month is no exception; with a list mostly comprised of different genres. Surprise! There is only ONE YA book listed. Wow. I’m surprised too. But, as I looked through my books (and asked someone for suggestions) I came up with these six. Hopefully I get to them all this time. I am trying to read more, but my hectic schedule leaves me tired. I have only read 15 books so far! 15! that is so low for me. But, beats last year’s pathetic total of I believe 12-14 books read. I need to get back in the reading game.

Well, without further ado, here is my list. I hope you find some good reads out of this. I am especially excited to read Christina Henry’s Alice. It’s a Sci-fi/Fantasy take on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. If you know me at all, you know I am a HUGE Alice in Wonderland fan. A little obsessed, one could say. This new take on Alice and crew sounds intriguing, entertaining, and a hell of a ride. Henry is coming out with the second book, The Red Queen, later this year.

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Land of Enchantment by Leigh Stein

Alice by Christina Henry (if I don’t finish it this week)

Father’s Day by Simon Van Booy

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan

Penny Dreadful by Will Christopher Baer

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

There She Goes: After Alice by Gregory Maguire

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After Alice

By: Gregory Maguire

Released: October, 2015 by William Morrow

Length: 273

Rating: Two Stars

Acquired: BEA 2015

 

“The day is wound up and begins even before the last haunted dreams, the last of the fog, those spectral and evanescent residues, have faded away.”

 After Alice takes place in an alternate universe where Alice was followed down the rabbit hole. Ada had hoped to find her only friend to play with. What Ada sees instead as she spots Alice, is her falling through this strange hole. Curious, and maybe even worried for Alice, little Ada jumps in to save her. What Ada soon discovers is a strange place called Wonderland where she meets talking flowers, a Mad Hatter, and the Red Queen as she seeks to find and save Alice. What ensues is a journey unlike Alice’s from the original text.

Ada’s journey, although a bit fanciful, is slightly dull. She mostly just questions everyone. Although not spineless, she doesn’t necessarily have a courageousness to her. While she is inquisitive, she tends to accept things and follow the leader. I wasn’t impressed with this narrative. But, to be fair, it was more exciting than the second narrative of that of her sister trying to find her with a new visitor by her side.

My, how bland! I passed certain parts as they were uninteresting. It was mostly just Ada’s sister bashing her for disappearing again. There wasn’t much to this narrative. There was a present day twist that was interesting, but it was towards the end. If you gave up on this book, the same way as I almost did a few times, you haven’t missed much. If you haven’t read this book yet, but want to, might I suggest the adult fantasy series by Christina Henry instead. Ada is not exactly featured, but the concept is certainly different and unique. I will be writing a review within the next couple of weeks.

Maguire fails to hit the proverbial mark. Although at times entertaining, or more so surprising, it didn’t capture this big fan of the original text. I had hoped for so much more from this book. Maybe because I had created hype for myself, but honestly it’s not worth a read. There are too many spots where one might want to give up. The first forty or so pages were hard to get through! If you make it past that, you are possibly in the clear to continue. But, it will drag. The twist at the end is the only redeeming part; and why I decided to give it two stars.

When You Travel into the Crooked Little Vein of America: Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis Book Review

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Hello all my indie readers, it’s finally here! My first review in over a year of many to come. Ain’t that exciting? Have you heard of this underground gem of a book, Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis? If not, you will now.

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Crooked Little Vein

By: Warren Ellis

Released: July, 2007 by William Morrow & Company

Length: 280 pages

Rating: Five Stars

Acquired: Lent to me

“This is the mainstream now, Mike. This is how life in America is. Moment by moment, our country has grown sicker. Our borders, Mike, have come to encompass the nine circles of Hell.”

What a journey through America, and the “nine circles of Hell”  Warren Ellis takes the reader on. Part crime/detective story, part mind fuck, Crooked Little Vein takes us through America as hard on his luck Private Investigator Michael McGill is sent on the case of a lifetime by The President’s Chief of Staff to retrieve the real US Constitution. With little to go on, McGill and Trix, his partner in crime, discover what America is really like ; and it isn’t pretty. From guys injecting saline into their nether regions in Cleveland, Ohio to  crazy rich men in Texas, and much more, this novel is a wild goose chase that I couldn’t put down.

If you know my reading tastes, I don’t normally read crime novels. When this was lent to me, I was immediately hooked; just by hearing the first couple pages being read to me. There is something refreshing and new in Ellis’s first novel. True underground classic. A complete mind fuck that gets darker, funnier, and intriguing as the story goes on. If you are looking for a light-hearted book, this is not it. Each page gives you pause; with a little What the– thrown in for good measure.

I absolutely loved it. I honestly wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. It’s just so original. Something that I haven’t read in a while. Sure, I’ve read other books this year, and in the past, but this–this book is the one that has blown my mind completely. I’m not even going to ask for the remaining pieces. It was that good. Warren Ellis, I am not sure what, if any, drugs you were on, but thank you!

If you like books that make you question reality, all that this country is, and that takes you on a crazy, explicit ride, then this book is for you. For fans of Will Christopher Baer, author of the Phineas Poe series. You will love it, I assure you! To the person who recommended the book to me, I’m hooked. Give me more!

I have a…” bout with books”– Bout of Books Readathon 2016

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It’s that time of year again! The birds are chirping. The weather is mostly nice. What better time than to participate in a week long readathon? Sponsored by Bout of Books, this week’s challenge starting tomorrow is read read read. Unlike Dewey’s 24 Hour that I just participated in a few weeks ago, Bout of Books is a week long event where there are mini challenges every day to compete for a prize.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 9th and runs through Sunday, May 15th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 16 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

Bout of books is one of my favorite events to participate in. It forces me to read more, and take time for leisure activities when I am so busy with work.

I know you probably want some reviews of all my recent books read–believe me, they are coming. I am trying to start a blog for my job, so that has taken time. I am no good at multi-tasking, I swear. Reviews, progress updates on Bout of Books, and more is coming. I still want to release a new surprise feature. It’s just finding the time right now.

*About that second blog!*

You can find my new, Stampin’ Up! related blog over at: theflourishingcrafter.wordpress.com

Please have a look, stop by, and tell me what you think!

Well, I’m off to start prepping for tomorrow’s readathon. Let me know if you are joining in on the fun!

Happy reading!

-Indie

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