YA

My Least Favourite Books of 2017

bad books, books, bullshit, did not finish, DNF, fucking awful, fucking obvious, fucking stupid, Harry Potter, hated it, list, YA

Yesterday I uploaded a top 10 list containing my favourite books out of the ones I’ve read this year. There were plenty of super obvious and unoriginal choices on the list but it’s hard to deny how great they are. Whilst I was writing it I couldn’t help but feel that my book choices have improved somewhat this year. I may not have made great strides in terms of the number of books I’ve read this year because, as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t feel that reading should be a competition. However, I haven’t read as many books that I’ve disliked this year. Normally I would have fallen into the trap of buying super cheap thrillers that are always half price following their super hyped release. I’m talking books like Girl on the Train and similar psychological crime thrillers. The kind of novel that always follows the same path as the previous psychological crime thriller but with a heroine with a slightly different emotional crutch. This year I made the bold move to stop myself being taken in by the hype marketing that surrounds certain books. I just can’t do it to myself any more. I’ve done quite well on the whole so, when I was reviewing the books I’ve read in the last 12 months, I was shocked to find so many books that I’d enjoyed reading. There were a few glaring errors though and I thought it only right to highlight these to prevent anyone else making the mistakes I did.

  1. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus : This is the book that I’m most annoyed at myself about this year. I have a long and complicated history with YA fiction anyway but this has the added dread of being a crime thriller. On paper it sounded perfect. It was being billed as something of a mix between The Breakfast Club and Murder on the Orient Express and I bloody love both of those things. However, this book is everything that I’ve come to hate about bad YA fiction. I’m sure there is some Young Adult literature out there that isn’t determined to dumb itself down for its audience but this book was so simplistic. It was painfully obvious from the first page who was responsible for the murder that the rest of the novel was just dragging out the inevitable. Then you have all the staple YA cliches and stereotypical characters. There was nothing original, exciting or worthwhile about this book. The writing was uninspiring and fairly insipid. The characters lacked development and the dialogue was so bad. This, more than any other YA fiction I’ve read, felt like a grown adult trying to remember what being a teenager was like but failing miserably. I, honestly, don’t think I could find one positive to say about this novel. I really don’t think I’ve ever hated a book as passionately as I hate this one. It wasn’t worth my previous time.
  2. Losing It by Emma Rathbone : This was the first book I finished this year and was one that had been part of my Most Anticipated Fiction of 2016 list. I had super high hopes for it being a triumphant work of feminist insight. Instead, it made me all ranty and horrible. The novel was supposed to open up a dialogue about our society’s obsession with sex but, instead, it just made virginity seem even more depressing and humiliating. This is a book intended to be read by young people. YOUNG PEOPLE. You know, those hormonal and already confused and anxious bunch who have enough trouble working out their attitude towards the opposite sex. They don’t need Emma fucking Rathbone coming along and writing a book telling them to have sex asap. I didn’t just hate Losing It because of it’s content, of course. Emma Rathbone is, without a doubt, one of the worst writers I’ve ever read. She has no idea how to utlitise the English language in an appealing and entertaining way. There were moments in this novel that were just awful. I highlight a few in my review which were super bad. This was so close to being my most hated read this year. Luckily for Rathbone, One of us is lying came in to steal the crown from under her nose.
  3. The Plague by Albert Camus : Now, strictly speaking I didn’t hate this book but, as this list so far consists of two YA novels, I felt the need to bulk out this post. The Plague was one of two books this year that I started but didn’t finish. I don’t know why but I just couldn’t get into this story. I’m going to blame the translation that I used for it being inaccessible but I just found this book to be very stiff. It’s a fantastic story and Camus is, obviously, a great writer. I just couldn’t get through it. Maybe it was bad timing? I don’t know. It’s not necessarily fair to include it considering how much I hated the previous two books but, again, I needed the numbers. 
  4. Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling : The other book that I failed to read this year? Yep, it was the second in the Harry Potter series. When it comes to this series I’ve always said that Prisoner of Azkaban is my number one book and film. I love it so much and think the series really took off from the third instalment. As I’ve grown older I’ve come to really struggle with the first 2 books. They are both so childish and badly written that I have never been able to fully reread them. I managed to push on through with The Philosopher’s Stone this year but genuinely couldn’t get through its successor. Chamber of Secrets is, by far, my least favourite book in the whole series. So little happens in it and there is so much preamble before we get back to Hogwarts. It is so slow and, again, it was during JK’s first experiences of writing. It’s so immature and simplistic. There was nothing pushing me on to finish because I kept remembering what I had to get through before anything interesting happens. I think, if I ever try to reread the entire series, I could happily skip past this one completely and not feel I was missing out.

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

book haul, books, currently reading, history, Penguin Books, poetry, recently watched, war, YA

Going back to work after having a few days off last week proved to be extremely difficult. So, it came as a major surprise that I managed to keep on top of reading. I’ve decided I finally need to sort my sleeping habits out. Usually, I stay up way too late before work. This is mainly because I want to take full advantage of the time I have before I go back the next day. Just one of the major struggles of working in a job that you have zero passion for. Anyway, to get myself in better shape I’ve been trying to turn my computer off early and read for an hour or so before I go to bed. What usually happens now is that I get so engrossed in my book that I lose track of time but it’s an improvement, right? Whilst it may not be doing wonders for the amount of sleep I’m getting, it does mean that I’m making progress with my books read this year. I’ve finished another book finally. It takes a bit of pressure off after the 3/4 months that I spent getting through 7th Function. Fingers crossed it’s a sign things are improving.
Just Finished

  • One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

So, as expected, I got through this book pretty quickly. I plan on writing my thoughts up for me Tuesday review so come back soon.


Currently Reading

  • The Answers by Catherine Lacey
This was the book I was supposed to read after I finished 7th Function so, after my brief detour, I decided to finally open it. This book has been top of my TBR pile for a while and I’m super intrigued about how it’s going to turn out. The premise sounds like something you’d seen in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror. A desperately ill and broke young woman signs up to take part in an actor’s girlfriend experience. Then, inevitably, the shit hits the fan. I’m hoping this is as good as it sounds.

Recently Purchased 
  • Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

I have seen this book of poetry all over Instagram in the past few months and have desperately wanted it. With Kaur’s second collection of poetry being released next month and finding myself in an emotional state, I decided it was the perfect time to buy it. I’ve already read snippets so I’ll be glad to finally get to grips with this collection.

  • The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich

On the same impromptu shopping trip that saw me buy Milk and Honey I also purchased this book. I’ll be honest, I only got this because I loved the cover. It’s a Penguin book and was so striking that I couldn’t not pick it up. Then I read the blurb and was hooked. This is the English language translation of the history of Soviet women in World War 2. Svetlana Alexievich wanted to tell the story of all of the strong women in her life who helped with the war effort but were deleted from official history. Now you all should know that I’m a lover of all things that show how great women are and this just sounds perfect. Combined with my love of history, I can’t think of a better book to get stuck into.

Recently Watched 
  • Netflix Binges: Modern Family, Travel Man
Took a slight break but I’m back on my Modern Family rewatch. It’s so awkward in the first few seasons but so funny. I had forgotten some of the great moments that happened early on. At the same time, I watched the Channel 4 series Travel Man in which Richard Ayoade, a man I love intensely, spend 48 hours in a city with a famous person. It’s funny, informative and really makes me want to get on a plane.

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

animation, binge watching, book haul, books, currently reading, Jane Austen, just read, recently watched, YA

I’ve just got back from a weekend spent at a music festival and, despite really wanting to sleep, I’m finishing off my rundown. Because I’m all about the schedule. It was a three day event that I went to with my sister and her husband. Instead of having to camp I was able to stay at their house near the festival ground. I’ve been to a few festivals over the years and, whilst I don’t hate camping per se, I’ve never been able to sleep in the din of the campsite. Plus, brushing my teeth in front of strangers is never a great thing. So being able to sleep in a proper bed and shower and stuff was a massive plus point. The festival itself was great. I can’t complain about the music, despite not knowing many bands that were playing. And it was one of the nicer grounds I’ve been to. There were plenty of people complaining about the portaloos but really I’m happy if there’s toilet roll, hand sanitiser and no naked strangers when I walk into a festival toilet. But I’ve always been fairly easy to please.

Currently Reading

  • One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
I had’t meant to start this yet but I wanted to have a book this weekend. So I figured this YA would be an easy one to get in and out of. So far I think it’s living up to all of its cliches and I can see me getting more annoyed as time goes on. Still, it is a super quick read and I should be done soon enough.

Just Finished

  • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
So my August Austen read along is over and I’m done with Sense and Sensibility. Rereading this was fine but I still find Austen frustrating in general. Here, more than ever, it all just seems to neat to be realistic. Everything has to tied up in a neat bow even if it doesn’t feel right. Marianne shouldn’t have settled for Brandon and Brandon, in turn, should have realised that Elinor was the woman for him. Nobody ends up with the right partner and it just sucks.
  • The 7th Function of Language by Laurent Binet
I was going to look back and work out how long I’d been reading this for but that would have made me too sad. Now I’ve reached the end I can see this for the great read it was. It’s a great book that deserved a better reader.

Recently Purchased 
  • How Not To Be a Boy by Robert Webb

I was doing really well this week and not buying books. Then I went on Facebook and somebody reminded me that comedian Robert Webb’s memoir, that also tackles the subject gender stereotyping, was out. I have loved Robert Webb since I first watched him and his comedy parnter, David Mitchell, in Peep Show. I think he’s a great man and have always loved his writing for The Guardian. So I was excited to read this anyway but the added bonus of exploring gender norms just pushed this over the edge. I can’t wait to get this.


Recently Watched 
  • Netflix Binges: Modern Family
I think I’m finally up-to-date with Modern Family now thanks to my latest short binge. I watched all of the remaining episodes of season 8 that I hadn’t watched so, when I was done, decided to go back to the beginning. They look so bloody young. I can’t cope.

  • Minions
I put myself through the arduous task of watching this for my last TBT review. Find out how bad I really found it here.

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

book haul, books, currently reading, Jane Austen, Kenneth Branagh, Kristen Wiig, Netflix, recently watched, Stephen King, Steve Carell, Steven Spielberg, YA

So, you may have noticed that last week I failed to upload my weekly rundown. That was because I was in Scotland this time last week with my family. Sunday 20th August was a very special day so we booked a few days in a cottage in South West Scotland. It’s the part of the country that my grandfather was originally from so we’ve been on more than a few holidays there. It’s safe to say it’s a special part of the world for us so it was the perfect place to celebrate. The Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of my parents’ marriage and a year since my older sister got married. Whilst it may still freak me out that my sister picked the same day to get married, it was a nice coincidence that both big occasions fell on the same day. So as you can imagine it was a busy weekend and, by the time I got back on Monday, I was far too exhausted to post anything. However, what I lacked in blog updates I had more than made up for in reading. I found my groove again on holiday and have been steadily making my through my books. I guess finding myself in a cottage with no internet access and no computer really forced me to get back to basics. I’m pleased to say that I’ve, kind of, kept up with it since I’ve been back but, I have to admit, the lure of TV and internet shopping have distracted me somewhat.

Currently Reading

  • Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
I did a bit of Jane Austen reading whilst I was in Scotland but, if I’m honest, I focused mainly on 7th Function because I’m so desperate to finish it. I think I’m enjoying rereading this but it’s possible that, in my head, Elinor is actually Emma Thompson. I love the film version so much that I think I retrospectively love the book more. It’s also not the worst Austen book out there I guess.
  • The 7th Function of Language by Laurent Binet
On the first real day of our Scotland trip my mother and I were left to our own devices when the rest of the fam abandoned us in favour of a stupid football match. When we were forced back inside due to averse weather conditions, I managed to get through 100 pages of this book. That’s probably more than I’ve read the rest of the month combined. I’m not obsessed with finishing and hope to do it either tonight or tomorrow if I’m lucky. Then I can finally read something new. It’ll be amazing.

Recently Purchased 
  • It by Stephen King

This was one of those books that I just bought on a whim when I was at the supermarket the other day and it was because of the cover. I normally hate film tie-in covers (as I’ve bitched about on Instagram earlier this month) but the cover that accompanies the new adaptation of this Stephen King classic is so well done. It’s very simple and there are just two great pops of colour. I couldn’t resist it.

  • The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
So, we all know that this is THE book of the moment but I was avoiding buying it until I had read a few more of my TBR books. That was until I saw it on offer at the supermarket. Two new books for £7? Who can walk away from that kind of deal? Not me. Anyway, I’m super excited to get into this one as I’ve literally only heard great things about it. It sounds tremendous and right up my street. Plus, any book with a quite from Barack Obama on the cover has got to be worth a look.

  • One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
I know I’m probably setting myself up for a disappointment here because my track record with popular YA fiction just isn’t great. Still, I’ve always liked the idea of this. It sounds like The Breakfast Club meets Agatha Christie or something. It’s probably going to be full of reference to the John Hughes film that will annoy me as well as the over reliance on nostalgia that YA is full of. However, I’m willing to give it a chance because, I imagine, it won’t take me long to read.

Recently Watched 
  • Netflix Binges: Veep, Black Books
Now TV is just my favourite thing right now. I do miss Netflix, especially when I realised that I never finished the first season of Designated Survivor and whenever I see a promo for The Defenders, but there is so much choice here. The amount of great British comedy and shity reality TV on offer is fantastic. I almost definitely will go back to Netflix soon but, for now at least, I’m sticking here. I mean I’ve finally finished Veep after thinking about it for years and with Westworld on there I can cross that off the list. Currently I’m revisiting Black Books for the millionth time and it’s still fabulous.

  • Dunkirk
Watched this to prove my sister’s boyfriend wrong about his criticism. Read more about my pettiness and Christopher Nolan’s film in my Tuesday review.
  • Saving Private Ryan
The war film to change all war films… apparently. I’ve never felt the love for this film that most people do. So I decided to rewatch it for my TBT review. And, to be honest, I’m always up for watching that D-Day landings sequence. It’s fucking exquisite.

  • Despicable Me 3
I needed something to watch for next weeks Tuesday review because, in all likelihood, I won’t be ready to review 7th Function yet. It’s always good to have a back-up.

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – THAT’S WHAT SHE READ

Buffy, comic book, currently reading, Marvel, meh, YA
Picking the right book has a massive impact on everything. Okay, that’s incredibly melodramatic but this weeks selection has left me in a bit of a reading slump because I’m just not inspired. In fact, it’s making me quite angry about how much lost potential there is. It makes me want to pick up a pen and write the book it should have been. As much as I don’t want to look down on YA fiction I find that I just can’t help it. It’s obviously an age thing or a literature student thing. I’ve been reading great works of fiction for a long time now and I just find YA so childish. I admire anything that gets young people (and older I guess) reading but I just wish they didn’t speaking down to their readers so much. Unless, YA now means anyone under the age of 10? Adding a few swears into a childish book does not making it more adult. It just changes it from a U certificate to a PG. Young people aren’t idiots so can YA writers please give them some fucking credit? Surely they want what all readers want. Well written/developed characters. YA ignores depth in favour of plot twists and it’s fucking stupid. But this is fast turning into a mini-rant so I’ll leave it there.
Currently Reading
  • The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Had this one on my shelf for a while and only started reading it because my twin threatened to steal it from me. It’s just the same old issue with me and YA. I don’t get it. The characters seems so unrealistic and the issues raised are just inconsequential. I mean, I get that young people worry about romance and stuff but when I was a 16 year old I’m certain I wasn’t anywhere near as whiny and ridiculous as the characters on the pages of these books. For The Rest of Us, Patrick Ness has decided to focus on the ‘normal’ people that are living on the outskirts of a major apocalypse. It’s like that Buffy episode “The Zeppo” that followed Xander on his coffee run instead of the battle to close the Hellmouth. It’s an interesting idea except for the fact that these supposedly “normal” people really aren’t. It sounds like a silly point to criticise but this feels very much like fiction. Plus, because it’s a parody, it’s sort of silly fiction. Everything is tongue-in-cheek and Ness is regularly stopping the narrative to give a massive wink to his audience that I can’t get to immersed with the story. It feels like a wasted opportunity to do something clever. I wish it had been done in a more serious manner and not in such a YA way.
Recently Purchased
  • The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
Another find thanks to Instagram. Saw a picture of this on Penguin Books page and fell in love with it. It’s so bright and beautiful that I almost didn’t care what it was about. Luckily, it sounds like a pretty good read. Two elderly widows, one white and one black, live next door to each other but don’t get along. One day the two women find themselves brought together and, amidst all the bickering, they soon find themselves softening towards the other. Can the octogenarians become friends or are they too long in the tooth? I can’t wait to find out. 

Recently Watched
  • Captain America: Civil War
Oh my god, I finally saw it and I’m still getting my head around it. Was the source of great debtate between me and a coworker yesterday. My thoughts on this will fill a Tuesday review and a Monday mini-rant. So that’s something to look forward to. 
  • Eurovision song contest
As a proud Eurovision fan I happily watched last night but, with every passing year, I find that the entries aren’t exciting me too much. I miss the old days when people weren’t afraid of having fun and being a bit camp and fun. Now, for some reason, the contest is seen as a way to make a genuine presence in the music industry. It just doesn’t do it for me I’m afraid. Plus, Australia? I mean it was getting to be a massive stretch of the Euro bit anyway but this is insane. 

SUNDAY RUNDOWN – That’s what she read

book haul, books, currently reading, women, YA
Happy Easter Sunday! I hope you’re all knee deep in chocolate eggs right now. I’ve just finished a gorgeous lamb lunch and am currently in a food coma. Normally this would be nap time but I’m heading to see Deadpool again tonight and I’m super excited about it. I’m in need of some fun right now. This has been a week of big decisions and even bigger emotions. I’m having to put up with a lot of shit at work and it’s really fucking depressing. Still, I’ve soldiered on and managed to finish two books this week. The second one I started yesterday evening and finished this morning so I’m feeling pretty damn smug right now. I just need to decide what I’m reading next. Thankfully, I haven’t bought too many new ones this week. Hopefully, I can cross another off my TBR soon.

Recently Finished

  • 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad
I liked this book but I felt it didn’t live up to the hype. I mean it’s a good narrative and portrays the struggles women face with their weight remarkably well. However, I just couldn’t connect with it completely. Maybe it was the structure or the multiple narrators but I just felt too much distance from the main character to really connect with her personal struggle. Still, it was a depressing read that adequately touches on an important subject. Maybe I just wish Awad had said something a little more meaningful or powerful at the same time?

  • This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
An incredibly quick and easy read. It centres around a mass shooting at a high school and is told from the perspective of four people involved. Two of whom are in the outside wanting to help and the others are in the thick of it. All four know the kid at the heart of the matter and, whilst also dealing with the emotional and scary situation at hand, must confront their relationship with the shooter. It’s a YA book so it’s not exactly hard-hitting or complex. The chapters are short and there is very little real psychology at play here. Doesn’t delve as deeply into the shooter’s thoughts or the real consequences of the event as I’d have liked. Still it was an emotional read but incredibly simple read. 

Recently Purchased
  • Glamorama by Brett Easton Ellis
The writer of Less Than Zero and American Psycho here tackles the seedy underbelly of the fashion world as a young man gets caught up in political plots. This is the novel that Ellis has suggested was the inspiration for the film Zoolander causing him to attempt to sue the film makers back in 2005. After the sequel came out I decided it was time to buy a copy.

THAT’S WHAT SHE READ – SUNDAY RUNDOWN

Batman, book haul, currently reading, Deadpool, Harry Potter, Ryan Reynolds, the sims, YA

You’ve caught me in an unusually joyful mood today. I’ve watched an amazing film, just started a weeks holiday and I’m feeling good about my chances of getting ahead blogging. I’ve already got my subject sorted for Monday and I can’t wait to start writing my Tuesday review. Sensibly, I’ve not arranged to do much besides sleep so I have time to read and watch things. I also, stupidly, decided to rebuy The Sims 2 for my laptop. I wasn’t sure The Sims 3 would play adequately and I was getting pissed of with the PS3 version. Despite having to get used to the shitty gameplay again, I’m loving this wave of nostalgia and can imagine losing hours to the game. At uni, I played it for so long one day that I wasn’t able to sleep that night. I was so fucking grumpy. Thankfully, adult life doesn’t really allow for these types of gaming binges so I’m able to approach the whole thing in moderation. I mostly spend hours creating my Sims and then decide it’s time for bed. Maybe one day I’ll actually get through an entire week. 

Recently Finished
  • What She Left by T.R. Richmond (Kindle edition)
This ended up being a pretty quick read but there were more than a few times that I felt it dragged. Some of the letters seemed to go on longer than they needed to for no reason whatsoever. It was an interesting idea for a novel but I felt the whole thing was just self-indulgent. There was no rush to get to the, again fairly obvious, ending and everything was dragged out to frustrating lengths in an attempt to create tension. I thought the first half of this book was alright but I cared less with every additional page. Could have edited out about a third and tightened up the plot to make this worthwhile. A misuse of a good concept. 

Currently Reading
  • The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North (Kindle Edition)
Very nearly gave up on this one immediately but, thanks to a shitty experience with public transport today I’ve kept going. I still have some issues with it, some of which I’ll possibly rant about tomorrow, but I’m going to push on. It’s an interesting concept and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. I so want to like this.

Recently Purchased
  • Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
I’ve seen this book on Instagram for fucking ages and wanted it for myself. I love books that really mess with form. This is written as documents and communication and it looks fucking awesome. When I was a kid I remember reading a series of novels written through the letters/e-mails that a set of pen-pals sent each other. Since then I’ve lapped up anything that’s not written in a  traditional form. We’ll see how this YA sci-fi goes though.
  • Harry Potter Books 5 and 7
I really wanted to buy something on Amazon that was an add on item. Of course, this meant I HAD to buy other things to get my order up to £20. Decided it was time to finish my collection. These books are so fucking adorable and I think the artwork is just amazing. It really captures what I thought the characters looked like on first reading. Since playing Lego Harry Potter recently I’ve felt really nostalgic about this series so may have to re-read or re-watch them all. We’ll see. I might make a thing out of it. 
  • Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis
Saw this in WH Smiths on the way home for about £4 and it sounded really interesting. A book full of essays about the human body by ex doctor, Gavin Francis. It sounds informative but also quite literary. A perfect blend for someone who never quite feels ready for non-fiction. 

Recently Watched
  • Love
I wasn’t sure what to think of Netflix’s new series but, at about halfway through, I think I really like it. It’s a bit weird but really good. Interesting characters, bit quirky, kind of realistic: what’t not to like?
  • Gotham
I decided to give Gotham another chance recently and I’m really glad I did. I love it. I mean it’s a bit weird and play fast and loose with the source material but I’m okay with that. The cast is pretty spot on and it’s an interesting idea to show where the villains of Batman’s world came from. There are some that don’t quite work but the majority is great. I also think I’m pretty firmly in love with Sean Pertwee’s Alfred. I never thought I could love a portrayal of Alfred Pennyworth more than Michael Caine but I can’t resist this one. 
  • Deadpool
Fucking Deadpool man. Fuuuuuuuck. Finally saw it and I’m so ready to review it. See you Tuesday. 

THAT’S WHAT SHE READ – SUNDAY RUNDOWN

book, books, currently reading, fucking awful, Harry Potter, Lego, thriller, YA

I had such great plans for today. I was going to write this early, get a head start on tomorrow’s post and watch something to review on Tuesday. By this point all I’ve done is tidy and rearrange my room. On the plus side, I’ve no longer got books stored on every inch of available floor space since I’ve taken over an unused bookcase. It does, however, mean I’ll be playing catch-up all week. We’re only in 2016’s second month and already my plan to sort my shit out is failing. I haven’t updated my blogging schedule in ages. At least I’m actually reading though. That makes shit easier. Although, I’m also still buying a fuck load so I still need to get quicker. Come on 2016. This is still THE year.

Recently Finished
  • The Widower by Fiona Barton
Finally finished this one and. have to say, it was as disappointing as I expected. To say that this was the new The Girl on the Train it a massive overstatement, and I say that as someone who really didn’t enjoy that book. The twist ending in Girl on the Train was shot but at least it existed. The Widower didn’t even try to be surprising. And the whole psychological thriller thing? The extent of the psychology on display was “women like kids y’all”. An dull and insipid novel that, at times, felt like it was written by a child. Not a fan.

Currently Reading
  • Things We Have In Common by Tasha Kavanagh (Kindle edition)
I swear this book has been following me around for months now. It’s fucking everywhere I turn. So I decided it was time to finally read it. Not sure how I feel about it so far but I’ve only read a tiny amount. I imagine it’ll be a slow burner.

Recently Purchased
  • This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (Kindle edition)
Saw this on my Instagram feed and was obsessed with the idea. Taking place inside a school during a mass shooting. It sounds dark and sad but an incredibly interesting prospect. We all know how I feel about YA though so I’ll probably moan it’s not deep enough. I worry I’m getting to predictable.
  • The Buried Giant by: Kazuo Ishiguro (Kindle edition)
Bought this in hardback but found myself unable to get into it. I decided that, as I’ve been finding Kindle reading so easy, it was worth the small price to buy a second copy. I really want to make it through this because I love Ishiguro so I hope this helps. 
  • The Martian by Andy Weir
I loved the film adaptation of this book and was desperate to read the novel before I saw it. That, obviously didn’t happen, so I’ve been putting off getting the book until now. My friends have told me its really good and I’m interested to see how the idea works on paper.

  • Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Another impulse buy because it was cheap. It keeps popping up in my recommended section and I’ve heard non-stop good things about it. Of course, this is mostly from YA fans so I’m holding out judgement until I’ve read it. It’ll probably take a while to get to it though.
  • The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Why did I get this book? It was free. Amazon have an ongoing deal that if you do something Kindle related before Feb 26th then you get a free Kindle book. This was the best one for me out of the 6. I know nothing about it so we’ll see. 

Recently Played
  • Lego Harry Potter
I had this for DS years ago but thought the use of touchscreen was clumsy and didn’t make for comfortable play. I gave up really early on despite my unbreakable love for all of these games. So I finally got it for PS3 and I’m loving it so far. Casting spells is so much easier and the whole thing is less of a mind-fuck. It’s also making really nostalgic for the whole franchise. I have a sudden urge to read the first book and watch the first film again, which is something I haven’t felt in years. Maybe the old Harry Potter fan is still in me somewhere. 

THAT’S WHAT SHE READ – SUNDAY RUNDOWN

book haul, meh, rundown, YA
In good news I’ve only indulged in one new book this week. On the other hand, I’ve hardly been a great reader. I’ve felt like shit and have had an awful week at work. The last thing I wanted to do when getting home was read something complicated. So I’ve turned to really simple books that require no real effort to read. Although this is making me feel super fucking guilty. I recently watched John Green’s guide to giving books for Christmas and I can’t help but think that I’ve missed out of so many of the greats this year. Being more prominent on Instagram means I see people with Booker Prize nominees whilst I’m chilling out with some trashy thriller or the latest YA garbage. I don’t think I’d recommend any of my last read books to anyone. So I’ve decided: 2016 will be the year of reading great books. 

Just Finished
  • Asking For It by Louise O’Neill (Kindle Version)
So I finally got round to reading this one despite the fact that I was not a fan of Louise O’Neill going in. I thought Only Ever Yours was a dismal example of YA fiction, which considering what I think about YA fiction is really saying something. However, I finished this one in a matter of days because it’s pretty simplistic. The story follows Emma, a beautiful young girl who is sexually assaulted whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The book follows her struggle to live in her small community where social media played a massive part in making her encounter public knowledge.

I can’t say that I was a massive fan of the novel but I preferred it to her previous offering. The narration was the biggest annoyance really. Emma’s thoughts are pretty simple and never really go too deep in history or context. I have read Goodread reviews that say people hated the book because Emma isn’t a nice person. She isn’t but let’s not be fucking babies about it. People aren’t always good people. Who gives a shit. This is a bleak but realistic portrayal of rape in our culture. It could have been harder hitting and written better but it’s a start.


Currently Reading

  • Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

So I haven’t really got much further on this one. It’s amazing how quickly I’ve grown to love my Kindle after years of stubbornly fighting against change. I probably buy things more regularly but they only cost a couple of pounds a time. That makes it okay right? It does mean that I’m ignoring my stack of IRL books at the same time. This one was a bit too intense for late night reading. Long sections that I could never get through before my eyes started drooping. Still, I’ll find time. Maybe on my current week off. 


Recently Purchased

  • Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz (Kindle Version)

My friend got me a free copy of Horowitz’s last Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, and I felt compelled to read it. I wasn’t a massive fan because it felt so fucking modern despite still being set in the Conan Doyle’s time. It wasn’t that it was badly written but Horowitz seemed so keen to show off all his Holmes knowledge that it felt kind of sad. Plus, the overall crime felt very out-of-place for the character. Yes, pedophilia would have existed back then but it definitely wouldn’t have been written about in novels. Still, this was another cheap find and I’ve been thinking about it for a while. We’ll see if the author’s a little less excited this time.

Recently Watched

  • The Batman vs Superman trailer
You’re probably getting sick of me flip-flopping about this film but, fuck me, was that trailer good. As a longtime supporter of Batfleck I’m glad he’s proved himself so much. He could very easily replace Michael Keaton as my all time favourite Bruce Wayne. The tension between the two is amazing and Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor is deliciously evil. I actually think I’m excited again. But biggest revelation? Wonder Woman is going to be fucking fantastic. Never really cared about her before but, if her small cameo here is anything to go by, she’ll be one of the best things about it. 

That’s What She Read – Sunday Rundown

books, currently reading, George RR Martin, Marvel, superhero, YA

This has been a tough week for me. I’ve been super busy and really stressed at work. It was my mother’s birthday on Thursday so I didn’t get a TBT post up. I intended to do it on Friday but was so fucking ill I couldn’t even move. It’s been a disaster of a week. The last thing I’ve wanted to do is read so, after finishing Leixcon a few hours after posting last weeks rundown, I’ve only read a minute section of my new book. Pretty slow week so pretty lame rundown. At least I’ve bought enough to fill the space.


Currently Reading

  • Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

I bought this book solely for the fucking gorgeous paperback cover. Never has something that garishly pink been so fucking beautiful. I could have bought a cheap hardback copy months before it came out in paperback. I didn’t. It’s sat on my shelf looking lovely but untouched for ages. Now I want to show it off the world. I’m not really sure what I’m making of it so far. I’m only 30 pages in and I can’t really tell if I’m getting on board with it completely. The mystery it’s trying to create seems a bit wishy-washy so far. I’m hoping it gets better but I imagine it’ll be a long slog.


Recently Purchased

  • The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Kindle version)

This book was first recommended to me by someone whose opinion I valued and listened to. I was all set to buy it when an absolute dick that I work with started reading it. Since then this book has been tainted by that association. That’s how fucking petty I am. I really wanted to read it but hated the idea of being tied to this person via literature. It’s a sacred bond that some people just don’t deserve. Of course, now it’s on my Kindle she’ll never have to know.

  • The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and Game of Thrones by George RR Martin, Elio M Garcia Jr. and Linda Antonsson (Kindle Version)

I love history. The only think better than reading about actual history is reading about fake history. George RR Martin is a fucking madman and a genius. His A Song of Ice and Fire world is huge and complex. It’s kind of insane. I can’t wait to delve into this book. Plus it’s only a fiver on the Kindle store.

  • Asking For It by Louise O’Neill (Kindle Version)

I’ve wanted to buy this for a while but I was put off because I really hated Only Ever Yours. It was trying to say something meaningful but it’s so shitty. The narrative is trying to tell people about society’s obsession with looks but it never really pulled any punches. It’s The Handmaid’s Tale for fucking idiots. However, since reading Missoula I’ve had the idea of rape on the brain. I have low hopes but it’ll be an easy read if nothing else.

  • My Education by Susan Choi (Kindle Version)

I honestly don’t remember buying this and I certainly don’t know why I did. It was probably just dirt cheap. I’ll wait and see how this goes.

Recently Watched

  • Not Spectre

Yep, I didn’t manage to make it to the cinema on Monday because my fellow manager was fucking sick. It meant I had to fucking work a double shift and someone else got my ticket. It was really fucking annoying and I’m never going to see this film until it’s out on DVD. Urgh responsibility sucks.

  • Captain America: Civil War trailer

Holy shit. I’ve been looking forward to this since Winter Soldier turned out to be so good. I never thought I’d get on board with the solo Captain America films because Steve has always been bit too much for me to cope with. Too American maybe. However, the second film was such a game changer in so many ways I changed my mind. Plus, Civil War is one of the story lines. We knew this was going to huge and the trailer just proves it. Argh this is going to be good.