to-read book list covers
So I didn't make it to 52 books last year but it's a new
year (and a half) right?
Book List 2013
This was like a YA adventure read - everything works out for
them all of the time (spoiler!) but it was fun following along.
Who lets Scott Schuman speak/write/communicate? Because he
always manages to make himself sound terribly pompous. The pictures though, as
always, are great.
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. The concept
is intriguing (how certain objects conjure up memories and meaning) and the
physical book is beautifully assembled, but the writing was so disjointed. I
found it hard to invest in the story and very difficult to connect with. Enjoyed the illustration in the book though.
It was good! It was HUGE and took a long time to get through
due to my inability to cart it around everywhere. Would recommend reading this
big old thing on an eBook though the 1Q84 is cover is a beauty.
Grace is incredible but she (I will give her credit for
admitting) is no writer. She drops off a lot of tidbits without getting into
detail ("oh and then we had a two year affair" - the end!) but then
spends a whole chapter talking about her cats (which are great, but still!) A
harmless, breezy weekend read about what you already knew - Grace is the best.
This is a book about people's favourite books (with
illustrations) and I loved it.
Definitely one of the most fun books that I read this
year. It was over the top but also really humorous. Don’t let the cover deter
you, it looks like a Shopaholic book but it's worth it.
I mean, it was fine but empty – I guess that was the
point?
A mixed bag of her short stories, but one that I liked
overall. I think she is at her best when it comes to short stories (see:
Swamplandia or don't)
Such a good concept (witch college!) and first half but
the second part was a letdown. I like her prose though.
Good but heads up there is A LOT of historical detail which
isn’t always my cup of tea, but I liked the YA girl power message of it all.
Parts were great but it didn't blow me away. Some of the
descriptions of the art were overly long and though I really like art fiction,
I just never felt that I got a solid sense of the art being made even though it was a
big part of this book.
Illustrated book about US government - I learned a lot!
Which I forget now! But I still recommend it.
Best love story award 2013! Greek mythology with a twist on
the Achilles + Patroclus relationship.
Short story collections are always a toss-up (see: above,
Karen Russell) but some of these stories are stunning and stay with you long
after finishing them.
More straightforward than her other works - not very
forgiving towards Warsaw though.
Some parts were funny but some were like just reading e-mails from a friend who is pretty good at e-mailing.
Really nice YA read about different kinds of love, YA
writers just nailing relationships in fiction these days.
Funny little cartoons about being a dad.
Incredible! So intricate. One of the most
poignant things that I read (/looked at) this year.
Reminded me of Leanne Shapton's approach – very much enjoyed
that in between story & art/picture book feel.
Very glamorous and cinematic. Some people complained that this was too
"tidy" but I loved the tidiness! Sometimes it is satisfying to find
out what happens to everyone.
Good book about the Brooklyn literary scene, could relate to
a lot in this about being a late 20s early 30s person but was also
repelled by/eyerolled a lot of it, which I think was on purpose and very well
executed. Protaganist is infuriating but also realistically drawn – everyone
knows a dude like this.
Short story collection, general theme of
university/learning.
Similar concept to Cloud Atlas but even more dense. There was always so much going on in Mitchell's books but I liked this one too.
A novella about the author's family life in Chelsea, London
- loved it. Very British.
Feel like this was the hyped book of the year. I wanted to
like it more than I did because the writing was great and there was some
incredible phrasing - but the plot (if there was one?) was all over the place. Still enjoyed reading it and am still enjoy
reading (the TONS of) articles about it as well.
Like a Singaporean version of US Weekly trying to pass
itself off as cultural commentary. So much talk about designer labels/food and
*drama*. Overall a goofy read that was a bit too long. Sold me on Singaporean
food though.
Great, as always - observations of people on the Tube. A bit
confusing at first but then really enjoyed it – probably because this is what I
do on public transportation too.
Written by "that voice on
***Flawless"- some parts were so good! The observations about race in America and the
descriptive writing were especially fantastic. My qualm was that the protagonist was such an unlikeable character that
it was hard for me to root for her, not that you always have to root for the
character, but the ending left me indifferent.
I enjoyed it, like a literary Groundhog Day pretty much - a
life lived over and over again in different ways, a downer at times (she seemed
to always be in every part of London that got hit by a bomb during The Blitz)
but then so fun in other parts.
Good but too short. Would’ve liked more from angry Mary.
Oh Alexa, I thought you were better than this. Pretty but
vacant. Tumblr in book form essentially and even then, there was barely
anything to it. Could have done with a lot more sass.
Fantastic and heartbreaking book about life during the war
in Chechnya.
I couldn't put this one down, (the
Gone Girl of 2013
perhaps?) there were so many twists! Overall very good follow up to
STiCP which
was also a very fun read.
I didn't read it so much as look at it because it is all
paintings but it is Shapton so obviously (ha) I really liked it.
Modern day updates on the gods of Olympus. Clever story but
the best part is the physical book - illustrated in stark black and white
silhouettes on an accordion style pull-out.
Reading Goals 2014
- Read a book a week (ha!)
- Finish all of the books & magazines in my house/on my library queue before I order/buy a bunch more that I can't wait to read this year including:
-
This bookmark forever and ever - could not justify the cost but it would probably be the first thing I bought if I won the lottery
Happy Reading! Any & all reading recommendations always appreciated.
