David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion

Jenny, Pierce Brown is such a sweetheart! And he remembers me. Coolest thing ever! 😍

Set The Night Circus aside for now, will finish at some point. Started Sorcery of Thorns Friday.

Karen’s Library wrote: "Jenny, Pierce Brown is such a sweetheart! And he remembers me. Coolest thing ever! 😍"

That has to be one of the best feelings ever!!

Catherine wrote: "Set The Night Circus aside for now, will finish at some point. Started Sorcery of Thorns Friday."

Both books I would love to read sooner rather than later...

Karen’s Library wrote: "Jenny, Pierce Brown is such a sweetheart! And he remembers me. Coolest thing ever! 😍"

WOW! That's awesome he remembers you!

I finished my 71st book

Tiger Queens is still on the currently-reading pile but I haven't touched it for a few days in favor of the more pressing

Also listening to

Ashley, how’s Doctor Sleep? I have a copy but it’s still on my TBR.

I’m still working on Dark Age. Pierce Brown is killing me with this book! I wanted to throw my book at his head after chapter 31!!

Karen’s Library wrote: "Ashley, how’s Doctor Sleep? I have a copy but it’s still on my TBR."

It's got my interest. I liked the Shining when I read it last year and knowing that Oscar the therapy cat was another piece of inspiration really made me want to read this, to see what kind of twist he would put on it. I'm around 30% through and enjoying it :)

I finished my 72nd book

I finished and it was SO GOOD, a definite 5 star read! I will be reading more of his books now.

Next I'm reading which I picked up from the library. Also going to be starting soon for a buddy read.

Karen’s Library wrote: "I’m still working on Dark Age. Pierce Brown is killing me with this book! I wanted to throw my book at his head after chapter 31!!"

Oh no!!!

Jenny wrote: "Karen’s Library wrote: "I’m still working on Dark Age. Pierce Brown is killing me with this book! I wanted to throw my book at his head after chapter 31!!"

Oh no!!!"

And it just keeps getting worse! I had to stop reading late last night. He broke my heart once again. Don't get me wrong, is incredible! Just bloodydamn heartbreaking... Again and again and again!!!

Still reading Sorcery of Thorns, which just got more interesting. It was a very slow start with this one. I plan to start re-reading the Three Dark Crowns series, since the new one comes out next month, after I finish Sorcery.

Last week I read two books. Here are my reviews for them:

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
by Sue Townsend
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great addition to this series, which fans of the earlier books will love. The main character is relatable, and the events of the plot are often
entertaining - even when they aren't to him.

Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
by Sue Townsend
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For the most part this was another exceelent addition to this series. However, it was spoiled for me a little by the way a blind character was handled.
I appreciate that most people haven't had much contact with visually impaired people, so the main character's initial behaviour towards him is understandable.
I have to say though, speaking as a blind person who went through sight loss as an adult myself, if my friends continued to act that way to me - doing
things like leading me by the front of my t-shirt so I hit things all the time, just to use one example - I wouldn't stay their friend. It wouldn't have
been so bad if the author had used those experiences as learning experiences for the main character, and shown him improving in his interaction with the
blind character. But there was no improvement in the behaviour towards the blind character, or even evidence that the blind character was showing he was
more than just a disabled person who needed others to do things for him. Either the main character is even less observant than I thought, or the author
should have spoken to a few blind people before writing her blind character.

Karen’s Library wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Karen’s Library wrote: "I’m still working on Dark Age. Pierce Brown is killing me with this book! I wanted to throw my book at his head after chapter 31!!"

Oh no!!!"

And it just kee..."

Thanks for the warning, Karen. I'm planning to read that one soon.

I finished my 73rd book

I read two more of the "Adrian Mole" books this week. Here are my reviews:

The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001
by Sue Townsend
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There were parts of this that were highly entertaining, and which I loved. However, this was my least favourite of the series so far (bearing in mind,
since I'm reading in publication order, this is book 7 for me). I thought, considering the timeframe it covers, it would be a diary of the events hinted
at in the previous book (chronilogically, book 6 and 7 take place the other way around). The author seems to have totally forgotten about those plot points
though, since things happen quite differently to how the previous book led me to believe they had. Also, while we did get glimpses in to the main characters
thoughts and feelings about his personal life sometimes, there was more about the world events than his personal life, which doesn't seem right considering
how he lives in his own little bubble most of the time in the books set both before and after this one. So, while I liked this book, I didn't love it the
way I've loved the others in the series, and would even take the previous book, where the author's representation of a blind person irritated me, over
this one.

Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years
by Sue Townsend
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent addition to the series. I especially love the way the ending gives us hope that the rough times the main character has been facing
will be coming to an end... He certainly deserves it after the events of this book, that's for sure!

I finished my 74th book

I finished 4 stars. I enjoyed it. Things seemed a bit too easy at times, but it was a quick read, and I loved the concept and the world.

Also finished 4.5 stars. I LOVED this book! I need the sequel, like, NOW!

Next I'm reading

Jenny you love to read books lol

I really enjoyed Doctor Sleep - it wasn't as much of a horror novel as The Shining was (at least not to me) but it was still a fantastic story. As SK mentions, he's not the same writer he was when he first penned The Shining. It was great to see how the story evolved - can't wait for the film!

Currently listening to and looking to finish up this afternoon.

I finished my 75th book

Started reading Shout, which is okay. Some stories she tells I like, some I don’t. Her rape broke my heart. Also reading They Called Us Enemy, which is fantastic! Thoroughly enjoying it so far and can’t wait to use it in the classroom.

I finished 4.5 stars, my favorite of the series so far.

And I also finished 4.5 stars, and also my favorite book of the series so far!

Next I'm reading

Catherine wrote: "Started reading Shout, which is okay. Some stories she tells I like, some I don’t. Her rape broke my heart. Also reading They Called Us Enemy, which is fantastic! Thoroughly enjoying it so far and ..."

I assume you're talking about Laurie Halse Anderson? Her books always seem to break my heart, but they are so good! I have not read Shout yet.

I read three books this week:

UKD1
by Chris Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a really tough one for me to pick a rating for. On the one hand, I love the idea behind the plot, especially the fact it takes place in the UK,
which doesn't seem to happen much in these kinds of books. On the other hand, the plot dragged, especially in the early chapters. If it had some editing
to improve the pacing, and fix some of the issues where the author tells us things rather than showing them, this could be a fantastic read. As it is,
it's only a kind of good read. Such a shame, because it has so much potential.

UKD2
by Chris Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was better than the first one in the series. I've seen people among its reviewers saying it was an amazing read. Well, I wouldn't go that far.
I would, however, say this is a much more gripping read than the first in the series was, and that I enjoyed it more than I did the previous book.

UKD3
by Chris Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. Anyway, this was a pretty good ending to the trilogy, though it did suffer from a few deus ex machina
moments, where solutions seemed a bit too convenient. It also suffers as much as the previous two books with too much telling, and not enough showing.
So, a really good ending to the trilogy, but not the amazing ending some people are calling it.

Nice reading week Victoria!

Jenny wrote: "Nice reading week Victoria!"

Thanks, Jenny!

and

Karen’s Library wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Karen’s Library wrote: "I’m still working on Dark Age. Pierce Brown is killing me with this book! I wanted to throw my book at his head after chapter 31!!"

Oh no!!!"

And it just kee..."

I'm reading it right now... So hard to read sometimes... Going to give myself a break while I read a couple of books I need to review for someone. Like you said, Karen, it's incredible, but...

Finished both Shout and They Called Us Enemy and both were very good. Started Salt to the Sea yesterday and enjoying the different stories.