30 Days of Books - Day 12

Favorite classic book

I've loved the classics since I was a child. I grew up reading Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, among others. I always preferred stories that featured children or teens as the main characters. One of My favorite authors is Louisa May Alcott. Of her novels, My favorite is Little Women.

If you're not familiar with the story, here's the movie trailer.

30 Days of Books - Day 11

A book that disappointed you

A few weeks ago, I posted about winning a copy of The Last Kiss Goodbye by Karen Robards in a giveaway. I wanted to like it. I love paranormal romance and it seemed promising.

Apparently, The Last Kiss Goodbye is the second book in a series of novels involving forensic psychiatrist Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone as the main character. I don't want to do a full review, but suffice it to say, the book did not live up to My expectations.

All of the problems with The Last Kiss Goodbye have already been established earlier in the series, so no need to worry about spoilers. Here's a quick run-down of why I, the die-hard paranormal romance fan, couldn't suspend My disbelief for this novel:

• Charlie is a forensic psychiatrist who studies serial killers - she's also psychic and sees dead people Sixth Sense style.
• Michael Garland was one of Charlie's subjects but he was killed in a prison riot - now he's a ghost and is haunting Charlie but can still materialize enough to take a knife for her and save her life.
• Even though Michael was a convicted serial killer, Charlie is not convinced of his guilt and is on a mission to uncover the truth.
• Tony Bartoli is an FBI agent who likes to call Charlie to consult with his team on their cases - he would also like to date her.
• Charlie wouldn't mind dating Tony but there's one small problem - she has the hots for Michael.
• Even though Charlie knows Michael should go to whatever afterlife awaits, she's working with a Voodoo practitioner and fellow psychic to keep Michael's ghost on Earth.
• Ghost sex - 'nuff said.

I tried really hard to like this book. I did. But no...just no.

30 Days of Books - Day 10

A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

As a general rule, I don't start reading books that I think I won't like. I experience varying levels of interest or possibly different types of interest, depending on the subject matter. As I've said before, I read some books for research and some for entertainment. The books I read for research are often dry or deal with a subject that I'm not passionate about, but I need to learn about for a specific reason.

However, there have been some books I enjoyed much more than I expected. I make a point of reading classic literature and banned or challenged books. One of My favorite books I read because I wanted to be able to say, "yes, I've read that," rather than because I had a burning desire to read it, was Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

I'm not a huge fan of absurdist fiction but I literally laughed out loud while I was reading Slaughterhouse-Five. I may not be a fan of absurdist literature as a whole, but I'm definitely a fan of Vonnegut.

30 Days of Books - Day 9

Most overrated book

Anything by Ernest Hemingway. Or James Joyce. Or Virginia Woolf. Can I just pick an overrated genre? If so, I choose literary modernism. My creative writing professors at university were in love with this movement as the basis for crafting the literary fiction we were taught to write. 

The entire genre is comprised of an endless series of non-events. Pick a modernist story, any story, and read it. Godot will arrive and New York will sleep before anything remotely resembling action takes place yet, somehow, academia has deluded itself into elevating this tripe to the status of high art.

The only thing modernist lit is good for is curing insomnia.

30 Days of Books - Day 8

Most underrated book

I've read a lot of books that haven't received the acclaim they deserve. I decided to highlight The Broken Crown by Michelle West who also writes under the name Michelle Sagara. While Ms. West certainly has a following, her books haven't broken out the way Harry Potter or Hunger Games did. The Sun Sword series is as complex and nuanced as anything by George R. R. Martin or C. J. Cherryh. It's well worth reading.

Kiriel's copy of "The Broken Crown"

Have you read a book you think should have a bigger fan base than it does? Comment and tell Me about it.

30 Days of Books - Day 7

A book that makes you sad

Kiriel's copy of "The Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader'"

The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader" by C. S. Lewis was the first book I ever read where a major character died. For those who haven't read it or seen the Chronicles of Narnia movies (have you been living under a rock?) I won't say which character in an effort to avoid spoilers. Let's just say I still get weepy when I get to that part.

Have you read a book that makes you sad? What was it?