Now, for the books.
Hidden, by Paul Jaskunas
This is the book I found to be quite good. It's a pretty darned good mystery and well written. The author does a very solid job of keeping the reader interested without giving too much away. The book centers around an attack on a woman, Maggie Wilson, for which someone was been convicted and incarcerated. But, was it the right someone? To be honest, I've read the book and even I'm not sure it was the right someone. If you like very clear, very solid resolution at the end of your books, this is not the book for you. But, if you like a good story, I definitely recommend this book.
The Magician King and The Magician's Land, by Lev Grossman
I actually read the first book in this series, The Magicians, in January, but apparently forgot to include it, probably because I didn't love it. But, I didn't hate it either so I wanted to read the last two books. Which I did this month. They, like the first book, were only okay. The concept behind these books is very imaginative and I liked that. But, I didn't really like the writing that much. For example, I hated how the author kept name-dropping Harry Potter, saying things like, but of course, Hogwarts is only imaginary and Brakebills (the school of magic in this series) is real. Dude, you're both imaginary. Also, the author has one way and one way only to describe breasts. Heavy. That's it. That's the only descriptor he knows. And after the second or third time, it begins to grate. So, if you're not picky about writing, go ahead and read these. They aren't bad and they really are pretty creative.
The Sex Lives of Cannibals, by J. Maarten Troost
This is one of the books that I read that I hated. It's supposedly a memoir about the author's time living on a small atoll in the South Pacific called Kiribati. There is no sex and there are no cannibals, but that's not why I didn't like it. I mean, I understand giving books titles that will entice readers instead of a title that actually pertains to the book. I'll be calling my memoirs "The Life and Times of the Most Fascinating Woman in the World." Because, well, reader enticement. No, I didn't like this book because I didn't like the author. As I said in my Goodreads review, he strikes me as entitled and I, personally, don't care to read about the charmed life of an entitled, not funny man.
Love Monkey, by Kyle Smith
This is the other book that I hated. I'm willing to admit that I missed the point of this book and it is, in fact, satirical genius. But, I don't think so. The main character is just gross. I mean, he commends himself on not jumping on (his words) a women even though she has the audacity to be in his apartment in a tank top with her bra straps peeking out. And that's just within the first 25 pages. It gets even worse as the book goes on. Just because the author introduces his main character as a man-child doesn't mean his behavior is any more palatable. As I said in my Goodreads review, this character is effing terrible. And so is the book.
Given what I read this month, I'm pretty sure I'll be tapping Hidden for my outfit inspiration for next Tuesday. It really is an interesting book.
What about you, Reader Friends? Did you read anything good this month?
Happy Thursday, All!
Gracey
