I feel like a terrible parent since I have failed to post about all the wonderful things my little monster has done this year, even though I have hundreds of pictures and stories. The truth is that it is hard to be a working mom and time seems to slip away even more quickly. I am in no way saying that the role of a working mom is harder than that of a SHAM. They're both very hard in very different ways. I will make an official family update post on the other blog. Maybe.
So today's post will be about books. I read a lot of books. Most of them are cheesy romances that entertain me while I read them, but are rather forgettable as soon as the book is closed. There were a few titles I read last year, though, that I feel are worth talking about and recommending. Here follows the little list in the order that I read them:
Yes, we're starting with a children's book! My mom bought this book for the monster and we absolutely adore it! Its kind of hard to write a description of this book without telling you the entire story, but believe me, its lovely. Warning, it is a little sad at the end. But a happy kind of sad. That will make sense, I swear. I highly recommend it for kids and adults alike. It's also a short film and there is an interactive app for it that the monster just can't get enough of.
2. Clockwork Princess
This was the final installment of The Infernal Devices series and also the prequel to The Mortal Instruments. Sigh. I really loved this book and it seriously makes my heart a little sweaty to think about it. If you want to know thoughts on it, see my last post. But don't bother reading the info on the other book in that post. It was terrible. And won Goodread's Romance award. Why? Because I honestly believe that the voters wouldn't know a good book if I hit them in the face with it. But I digress.
Read Clockwork Princess.... after reading the first two in the series, of course.
Finally! I got to read Miss Gwen's story! And finally the pairing I imagined became reality! **SPOILERS** From the moment I met Miss Gwen and her formidable parasol (first book), I began the anxious and looooong wait for her story. The moment that I met Colonel William Reid (6th book) and he announced that he was returning to England, I immediately started to imagine all the sass, and romance, and fighting that would occur between him and Miss Gwen. Never have I been more relieved to be right. Honestly, if Willig had paired them with anyone else, I might have stopped reading the series (I'm still upset that Jane won't be with the man I planned for her.) If you have not read the Pink Carnation series, here's a brief summary: female espionage in Napoleonic France (and other countries) filled with romance, humor, and all around awesomeness. Also, its two stories in one. You're welcome.
Oh Sherrilyn, why must you hurt me so? This book is the long awaited sequel to Kenyon's Archeron. Acheron and Styxx are twins who each have the most tragic and upsetting back stories ever. Archeron's was bad, thank-the-gods-its-only-fiction, soul-scarring bad. Styxx's was infinitely worse. This is the proverbial redemption story on steroids that has been armed with machetes, and pikes, and.... sadness... (I got bit lost on where that was going.) Styxx's story is so heartbreaking that you actually hate those you loved in Archeron, including Ash. In Ash's book I was crying almost immediately, but Styxx took a while to really get to me. I think part of that is due to the fact that I still hated him. I felt bad for him and I definitely hugged my monster more while reading about poor Styxx's childhood, but Ash still seemed to have had it worse. And then this book broke me. **SPOILERS** The one man who was nice to Styxx dies and I swear I felt my hear shatter. From there I was swallowed into this dark and horrible pit of dispair that nothing could bring me out of. I was in so much pain from the crying. I'm serious. This book physically hurt me and left me with a book hangover (i.e. depression fit) for three days. It wasn't as bad as The Bronze Horseman, but it was pretty close. I almost want to forget that I ever read it. Only it was amazing. And the happy ending almost made up for all the hurt. Almost. For those new to the DH books: you do not need to read all 21 Dark Hunter books (or any of them) before reading this one, but I do recommend reading Archeron first.
This is the first book of poetry I have read that wasn't assigned for a class and isn't from the Middle Ages. This poem confused me in the best way possible. There were times that it was slow, but the way that Greyon experiences everything with such meticulous care, is inspiring and thought provoking. I feel I must read it again in order to fully grasp it. And that makes it an absolute win.
Real poetry fans/writers/readers/etc. may have better/more coherent thoughts on this, so maybe you should read their reviews. Or just read the book.
6. Fangirl
I'm sorry, but anything written by a girl named Rainbow has to be full of awesome. Fangirl did not disappoint. This was definitely my favorite book from 2013. This is a fanfic writting college student who is trying to adjust to this new life while desperately trying to hang onto her old life that was centered around her fandom. This was a fantastic coming-of-age story that really hit me in the feels. Cath is the me I could be if I let my fandom obsession take over. I kid you not. (Just because I haven't written fanfic, doesn't mean that there isn't this alternate SuperWhoLock meets New Species world living in my head and heart.) I now must read everything else Rainbow Rowell has ever written. It was just that good.
Honorable Mentions: Cafenova by S. Jane Scheyder and Gnome on the Range by Jennifer Zane. Both were cheesy romances I bought because the titles are awesome and they both ended up being rather enjoyable. They also happened to be free on Amazon at the time.
What about resolutions? I only plan on reading more books of substance and less crap. And to actually start making Christmas present in July-- seriously, I can't do another December mad-dash. So what is in store of 2014? I have no clue, but I feel like I have started this year off with a positive feeling and I'm looking forward to all the happy things this year will have in store for me and my little family.
