It's been all quiet on the blogging front this week, but for good reason: I'm on vacation! In Africa! My extended family and I are in South Africa right now and head to Botswana today and to say this trip has been one of the best of my life would be an UNDERSTATEMENT. Anyway, I'm getting time for reading, but not much time for blogging. So let's do this the quick and dirty way, shall we?
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
Release date: June 10th, 2014
Publisher: Greenwillow (Harper)
Series: Yes, #1 in the The Murder Complex series
Source: ARC via Edelweiss
Length: 398 pages
I think this is a case of both "didn't read at the right time" and "not for me". The writing wasn't grabbing me, and while I wasn't having issues connecting to the main character, it just felt VERY MUCH like I'd read this book before. It didn't feel like anything new was being done with the severe dystopian elements at play, and I was even confused by some of the worldbuilding going on. Maybe I'll give this another stab (heh GET IT because people die in The Murder Complex) some other day.
Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes
Release date: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: No
Source: ARC from BEA
Length: 336 pages
This book is SOOOOO not for me. I read very little of it, but I could tell by only a few pages of the MC's narrative voice that this wasn't going to work. It was clearly going for a funny, provocative, tell-it-like-it-is thing, but mostly I wanted to stuff a sock in the narrator's mouth. Then I flipped to the end because I'm a terrible human and saw what the big ending plot development is and NOPE HARD PASS NOT FOR ME.
Girl in Reverse by Barbara Stuber
Release date: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. Elderberry (Simon & Schuster)
Series: No
Source: ARC via Edelweiss
Length: 336 pages
I want to get back to this book someday, but the writing just wasn't cutting it for me. It's a huge shame, because I love the concept and the diversity and the promise of a journey to find one's self and racism and etc. But the scenes felt rushed and muddled to me, so I had to stop.
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
Release date: June 3rd, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: No
Source: e-ARC via Edelweiss
Length: 352 pages
Definitely not for me. I wanted to love this book because I ADORE the concept, but I couldn't connect to our two narrators at all and found their voices so grating that I found myself making a face at my Kindle as I read. And just like with Anatomy of a Misfit, I took a peek at the end and ALSO NOPE not for me.
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Okay, well now I'm REALLY excited about reading Anatomy of a Misfit because when people put giant NOPE stamps on books I NEED TO KNOW. Of course, I'm sad these books didn't work for you, but still, excite.
ReplyDeleteI would leave The Murder Complex. It doesn't get any better. Shame you couldn't connect with Say what you will, it ended up being one of my favorite books from this year. Always interesting to see why some books doesn't work for others.
ReplyDeleteI actually really love DNF reviews ha ha. I think I actually have all of these on my TBR and will have to keep an open mind when I get to them. I actually am still looking forward to Anatomy Of A Misfit because I like that kind of narration.
ReplyDeleteI live in Africa! Glad you're enjoying your visit here :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard really good things about THe Murder Complex and Say What You Will, sorry that you didn't enjoy them!
See, this is what happens when I don't wait for my canaries. I DNF'd both The Murder Complex and Girl In Reverse. If I'd just waited for this post, I could have spared myself!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a blast in Africa right now! That is so awesome.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been hearing great things about The Murder Complex. :/ I may still try it out just to see. It was so hyped up.
on no.. that's disappointing about anatomy of a misfit and say what you will. I'm relieved i didn't request both. I understand what you mean about the murder complex. I mean i gave it 3 stars but it's not really a unique dystopian world. and AFRICA! WOHO! :D I am from Libya (but live in Canada) so that gets me excited :D
ReplyDelete- Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf
I didn't particularly enjoy Say What You Will either, though I know quite a few people who did! I suppose it really was just a matter of a narrative and story that didn't engage me as well as I would've wanted it to.
ReplyDelete*coughs* You might want to reread your Murder Complex commentary. *coughs* But also I'm glad this one wasn't good. And I suspected as much.
ReplyDeleteTHAT ENDING, WHY?
Nooo, Girl in Reverse should be the best thing. *sobs*
I'll say what I will, which is that Say What You Will did not work for me.
I DNF'd The Murder Complex, too. Very much a Seen This Before vibe, plus the most crazy of insta-love, and bad dialog, and no way was I going to be connect with the main character. =S
ReplyDeleteI had to DNF Talon and it made me really sad. Now I am worried about Anatomy of a Misfit. :(
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