I am falling further and further behind my business law studying, so I really should stay away from the computer today, but I couldn’t resist writing a little bit about The Book of Lost Things, which I finally finished reading mere minutes ago. Though I was initially unimpressed with it when I started, I was very affected by the book as I neared the end. Finally, after a rather annoying slump, I am inspired again to read and write (reviews, that is). The Book of Lost Things deals very lyrically with the very complicated emotions wrought by grief, jealousy, and the twin burdens of adulthood and responsibility. I am still processing my thoughts on the novel, so the actual review will be posted in the coming week (and if it’s not, well, don’t judge me, because things happen, you know?).
Though I have an increasingly insurmountable book pile to choose my next read from, I will next start on Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, based on the recommendation of my youngest sister, whom we shall call Little Chayenne (as she looks more like me than she does our own parents or anyone else in the family). Unlike my mother and me, Little Chayenne is an avowed non-reader; she had a passing interest in manga a few years ago, but her reading nowadays usually consists of the newest issue of Elle Girl or Seventeen. Her enthusiasm for The Uglies Series (she’s now on the third book, Specials) is both unexpected and infectious, and something that I want to encourage. As such, when she commanded (yes, she’s a sassy one, so she can be quite bossy haha) me to read the series, I was more than happy to comply.
I still fully intend to read all the books in the aforementioned book pile, however. But I think that, instead of setting deadlines for myself that I can’t possibly meet, I will be taking all the books with me when I go to the Philippines next month. Public libraries in the Philippines are rather scarce, so this time I will plan ahead, so that I have something to occupy my time (and my mind!) while I follow my boyfriend’s band around.
A few asides, before I recommence studying for business law (which is what I really should be doing):
- Check out the blogroll. This is a work in progress, obviously, as there is a wealth of reading bloggers and blogging readers out there that I want to link here.
- The old Categories page has been stuck under the main Reviews page. (I’m sure you don’t care, but writing it down helps me stay organized haha.)
- I’m looking to join some challenges, but, as I stated before, the thought of deadlines makes me want to weep. Has anyone got any challenges to recommend? No timed challenges, please and thank you. I know that I’ve stumbled on a blog before that kept track of all the reading challenges being offered out there, but I can’t find it now. If anyone could direct me, I would be most grateful.
Anyway, that ends this week’s reading update. I now have the distinct pleasure of cramming for a business law exam that I should have studied for yesterday. When will I ever catch up with all the reading (for school and for pleasure) that I have to do, I wonder?
11 Comments
May 04, 2008 | Sunday at 4:41 pm
I have Scott Westerfeld’s series in my TBR pile. Everyone I have chatted with raves about it!
May 04, 2008 | Sunday at 5:31 pm
@J. Kaye – My sister says that Uglies is movie-ready, so I’m definitely eager to start reading it.
Thanks for the visit, btw.
May 04, 2008 | Sunday at 8:23 pm
A Novel Challenge is the blog that keeps track of all the challenges. If you google it, it should come up. I have a link on my blog as well. I have Uglies on my TBR pile. I’l get to it too, someday…
May 04, 2008 | Sunday at 9:36 pm
@Juli – Thanks for the heads-up.
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 12:24 am
I was undecided about ‘The Book of Lost Things’. I liked the concept, but somehow it fell short in the execution. On the other hand I have friends who loved it. Thank goodness we don’t all think the same about such things.
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 2:05 am
I quite enjoyed Uglies and Pretties when I read them. Westerfield’s writing style didn’t always thrill me, but the concept and the characters were prettty good. Unfortunately the third in the series isn’t in our local library as yet
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 3:39 am
@Ann and Michelle – Now that I’ve read a few of the reviews, I’m gathering that Uglies wasn’t universally loved. I’m seeing a lot of reviews that says it seems disjointed, that the writing was inconsistent, etc. But I’m a sci-fi geek, so regardless of the mixed reviews, I’d still like very much to read the series.
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 6:50 am
Here’s the link to A Novel Challenge blog – which I own *smiles* There are many “perpetual” challenges (those without time lines)…and they are posted here. Have fun!!!
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 6:53 am
@Wendy – Thanks so much for the info! My next task will be to create reading lists for the challenges I sign up for. (I’m at work right now, otherwise I would do it right this second haha.)
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 9:00 am
I’m one of those who adored The Book of Lost Things. I loved the retelling of the tales and well, the boy who had to grow up
I don’t know much about Uglies except that National Bookstore lump those together with Gossip Girl books
Enjoy your trip back home here!
May 05, 2008 | Monday at 10:56 am
@Lightheaded – I thought the book was tedious at first, but it really began to build momentum about eighty pages in, and I found myself unable to put it down thereafter.
Hay, namiss ko din talaga ang Pilipinas! I can’t wait to come back! Only a few more weeks left!