February Reads Update

Time for another look at what I've been reading. I last shared my reads in October and you can see them here.

Let's start with the books I didn't like.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth: I really wanted to love this book but found it to be a complete and utter dissappointment. This series had so much potential and I felt like Roth squandered that. When I finally finished the book I was almost angry, with a side of "what the hell was that??". But perhaps it's my fault in getting so invested in a trilogy like this.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: So much hype for this book and it's even going to be made into a film. And another disappointing ending. I just did not like this book. None of the characters are like-able. I really can't say too much without giving away the story but there are far better books out there and this book kind of pushed me over the edge. I'm really sick of mediocre literature.

And now onto the books I actually enjoyed:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: I fell in love with this book. Such a heartbreakingly beautiful story. Zusak tells the story of Liesel Meminger a foster girl living in Nazi Germany. Things get interesting when her foster family decides they are going to hide a Jew in their basement. I think it's so important to continue to tell stories like these. To remember that there were people brave enough to defy the Nazis and protect innocent Jews. To remember that not every German was on Hitler's side. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Billy by Pamela Stephens: I took me a really long time finish this book but I'm so glad that I did. It was wonderful to learn more about my favourite Scotsman, even if there were many dark moments in his life. After finishing this book I had a new found respect for Billy Connolly. His childhood was darker than most as he suffered both physical and sexual abuse at the hands of his father and aunts. Consequently he struggled with drugs and alcohol later in life only to kick that to the curb to become clean and sober. I would love to sit down over a cuppa with Billy one day and just listen to him tell stories.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kalling: I loved this book and not surprisingly I love Mindy. A lot of people think that she's just like Kelly Kapor from The Office but few people know that she was also a writer for the show and eventually became one of the executive producers. Now she is an executive producer of The Mindy Project, which she also stars in and writes. Her book was funny and made me love Mindy even more.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry: I truly thought that I would love this book. It was beautifully written and happens to be my Gram's favourite book. But sadly it was far too depressing for me to love it. I'm sure I missed the point but after everything that can go wrong does go wrong I was left seriously depressed wanting to a freak out a la Bradley Cooper in The Silver Linings Playbook. Don't watch it if you don't want to know how A Farewell to Arms ends.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed: I read some reviews of this after I finished reading the book. A lot of people felt that Cheryl whined too much over the death of her mother. I imagine these reviews were written by people who haven't lost their mother. Of course it would have a profound affect on her and who are we to judge those who are grieving, because we all grieve differently. What some would call a stupid idea, I prefer to think of it as brave. Cheryl hiked the PCT from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State, by herself. I think that makes her one inspiring badass bitch. If you need a little courage boost I'd give this a read.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: This was a wonderful story. Perfectly eerie. I had no idea what I was getting myself into as I had never read anything by Gaiman previously but I was very pleasantly surprised. It was a nice vacation from what I normally read.

I read 17 books in 2013 and am hoping to surpass that by reading 25 books in 2014. What have you been reading lately?