October Reads – 2017
I read 5 books in October including a few that are my favorite of the year.
Here are my reviews:
Finished October 4th, 2017: Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
First Sentence: The body lay naked and facedown, a deathly gray, spatters of blood staining the snow around it.
Ancillary Justice is a very complex, layered, and fascinating sci-fi book. The main premise is that One Esk (or Justice of Toren or Breq, they are all the same) is an AI. She is a space ship and has lots of ancillary bodies until an “event” causes her to lose everything except one human body. Now she plans revenge. The plot jumps back and forth between the before and after so you gradually find out what happened to One Esk and why she’s so angry. Since the book is technically written from the perspective of a computer One Esk was one of the most unique narrators I’ve ever experienced. The biggest problem I had was that a lot of information was front-loaded and I was confused until I figured out what was happening. Like the fact that the main character has several names…you’d think they’d explain that faster but nope. However, once I figured out what was happening, how many layers of love, deceit, loyalty, and betrayal were in play, I was totally hooked. This is definitely one of the most unique sci-fi books I have read. If you’re not already a sci-fi lover I think this book would be overwhelming but for anyone who loves the genre I think they’ll love this book.
Pages Read: 386
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Finished October 7th, 2017: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
First Sentence: I shouldn’t have come to this party.
It’s definitely not pleasant or comfortable to read about a white police officer killing an unarmed black man with a teenage girl witnessing the whole event. But, Angie Thomas has turned the subject of police racism and brutality into a thoughtful, moving, yes, even funny at times, tragic and uplifting story. It pays respect to black lives that end too early while also celebrating culture, family, standing together, and fighting back. I don’t know how she did it but she’s written a perfect book.
Pages Read: 453
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished October 9th, 2017: Yotsuba&!, Vol. 03
First Sentence:
This is the third manga in the Yotsuba&! series. The story of a little girl living in Tokyo as she learns about the world around her, has lots of misunderstandings, and wins lots of hearts. I loved the first in the series. It was my first manga. It was charming and hilarious. Unfortunately, the formula of this series has grown old to me. I’d love to pick up another manga but I don’t think I’ll be reading any more Yotsuba&!. If you have any recommendations let me know!
Pages Read: 192
My rating: 3/5 stars
Finished October 12th, 2017: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
First Sentence: At the time I first realized I might be fictional, my weekdays were spent at a publicly funded institution on the north side of Indianapolis called White River High School, where I was required to eat lunch at a particular time — between 12:37 p.m. and 1:14 p.m. — by forces so much larger than myself that I couldn’t even begin to identify them.
I don’t think I can explain using language how much I loved Turtles All the Way Down. Sometimes you find a book that is not only brilliantly written, engaging, unique, thought-provoking, funny and tear-jerking, but also you identify with it on a deeply personal level. That’s this book to me. 16-year old Aza suffers from OCD and anxiety, and is constantly battling the thought-spirals in her brain while also navigating high school, beautiful and scary social situations, first love, a captivating mystery, loss, and change. This book is heady because Aza is always in her mind thinking and re-thinking her identity, her choices, her perspectives, her life, and everything around her. I can’t tell you how much I loved this book and connected with Aza’s story. I wish I could give it 6 out of 5 stars. I didn’t know how John Green could top The Fault in Our Stars but he did it with this book. My favorite book of 2017 and one of my favorites of all time.
Pages Read: 304
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Finished October 26th 2017: Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
First Sentence: It starts when you pull the lamp chain and the light doesn’t come.
Pages Read: 336
My Rating:
