Book Entry November
Once again, a little late. I´ve been thinking of these entries. Would you guys prefer to see each book separate as I finish it or keep them per month? It doesn't really matter to me. :)
Reaper Man (Discworld 11) by Terry Pratchett
Fantasy/Humor
Goodreads Link
DEATH IS MISSING - PRESUMED . . . ER . . . GONE.
Which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, on a little farm far, far away, a tall, dark stranger is turning out to be really good with a scythe. There's a harvest to be gathered in...
4 out of 5 stars
Reaper Man is the first book I had bought by Terry Pratchett. These lovely hardcover versions of the first twenty or so Discworld books draw you in quite nicely. Now I've always had an interest in Death as a character and after hearing that Death was a character in Discworld, I knew I had to read the Death Collection first.
Within this Death Collection Reaper man is the second book, and it marks my third read of a Discworld novel. The idea that Death is being send to retirement and his clock starts ticking again, is interesting. Of course this was already slightly hinted at with Mort where there was the idea that Mort would maybe one day take over as Death. In this there is a good tie in to the first one in the collection. Other than that there is a small reference to his daughter that we met in Mort, but that is where the connections end.
I had a bit of trouble getting into this book. I think this was because the first 100 pages or so of the book, deal mostly with Windle Spoons and the wizards. Now Windle Spoons as a character grew on me throughout the book. However the archanchelor and his band of wizards did not. I think for me, as characters, they were a bit too much. I guess it toys with my idea of wise wizards. After these 100 pages the story gets going better and the addition of Bill Door helps to break up the more 'nutty' bits from the wizards.
This book has made me grow fonder of Death as a character. It showed more of him. And the bits at the ending were truly sweet with Miss Flitworth and the Death of Rats.
I would have liked there to have been more feeling of resolve in the situation that developed because of Death's absence. The carts were defeated I suppose but there was more happening then that. It got lost in the ending.
The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms 4) by Cinda Williams Chima
Fantasy
Goodreads Link to Series
A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed-Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.
Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana'Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells' inner turmoil, Raisa's best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.
Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?
A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.
3,5 out of 5 stars
The Crimson Crown is the last book of the Seven Realms series and with about 600 pages quite a lengthy read. Overall I do like this book and I do think it is a good ending to the series. However I do not have the same feeling of contentedness after reading this book as I had with the other three. Especially the Demon King stands out to me. For me, I think this is because there is so much going on in these 600 pages. So many little political twists and events, that it makes me wonder how much of it was really needed.
Another small note of annoyment was the use of so many potential partners for Han but especially Raisa even though we knew they would end up together. I get it, Raisa as a single queen is quite appealing. But there was sometimes too much emphasis on it.
As for the characters, it is so easy to slip back into Raisa and Han when reading this book like it was with the others. They are so familiar to me. I did feel the urge to smack Han every now and again at the start of the book. For someone who wants to marry the Queen, he's not doing such a good job at courting her and he seemed to have shut down his sensitivity. I was glad to see that nearing the ending he regained that part of him.
Oh Dancer. My lovely Dancer. He has certainly grown to become my favorite character of this series despite being a side character. I was glad to see that he became even more in his own and started developing his skills. It evened out the playing field between Han and Dancer. Might I even say I think Dancer is the one they should be scared of power wise. Han has the plotting skills.
I was disappointed in Fiona and Micah. I saw some good things in Micah in the third book but instead of growing into that he remained selfish and did his fathers bidding. He didn't truly stand up to him. Fiona, ran to daddy like a spoiled kid who didn't get her way when Han shot her down. I would have loved to have seen more depth in those two. There was potential there.
Last but not least, ALger Waterlow is deep down a sap. Oh he is. I wish though that the feeling he showed to Han, being his descendant, he kind of had also paid attention to Raisa. When it comes down to it she is as much his descendant as Han is. That kind of tugged at me a little throughout the book but was given little attention.
The Seven Realms as a whole series is certainly a great read. I fell in love with the characters and some of the historic events of their world. Every time I read about them, it is like meeting up with old friends. It is a fantasy series that has magic, but also some political intrigues, marketed as a young adult.
The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy 1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Fantasy
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
2 out of 5 stars
This book...and I don't mean that in a positive way.
One of the first things that strikes you with this book is the title. The title does give away a part of the plot while in the book the revelation of the plan remains a big secret for 60 pages or so. I found that approach somewhat annoying. The rest of the start of this book is slow and up on to about page 200 I was still contemplating if this was even worth continuing reading. There was nothing that engaged me. I found the main character annoying and arrogant. It was written from an I point of view and I felt I was not getting to know who he was at all. It dragged on a little more. There was no deepening on what they were suppose to be learning and I learned very little about the world. I couldn't feel the threat of a possible impending war that was implied because I wasn't getting to know this country. How could I understand their relations with other countries? How could I feel the threat within their own country when they were constantly stuck in a house?
Up on to the point just before the choosing, when something more started happening, I became a little more engaged in this story. Of course the big reveal was no surprise (of course they found the title clever in that aspect). I suspected it and I found this supposed plot twist not that original. I think I would have appreciated it more if this twist hadn't been there but the real prince was still alive somewhere. After the reveal the main character became more bearable. The plot twist did explain why we learned so little of him despite this book being written in I point of view and we got a bit more of a glimpse in his mind. Not a whole lot more though.
As for the other characters. I liked Roden. Too bad what happened to him. Tobias feels flat. Mott I find interesting and I do want to learn more about him. Connor, well he clearly was the bad guy. The princess and Imogen are interesting girls and welcome additions to this further all male cast.
At the end of the book, a lot is resolved. I wonder where the next two books are heading towards, because I can't really see it right now. I guess war, his struggles in being king? I have not decided yet if I want to continue reading this series.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction
Goodreads Link
Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.
5 out of 5 stars
For years I’ve stayed away from books that were set during the second world war. When I was younger I read a lot of children´s books set during that time period, but as I grew older and the impact of the second world war became much more clearer to me, I strayed. Looking back this might seem odd as I even did my final project at high school about Hitler and translated it in German. Maybe it is because I never wanted to go back to those books that were emotionally so raw and the time period that still shows it’s marks on today´s society.
After reading The Book Thief, clearly I´ve been missing out by not reading books solely based on the time period. The Book Thief to me, is a gem. A book that can make me both laugh and shed a tear. The pace is pleasant yet punch after punch comes. The book tears you down, builds you back up only to tear you down again. This is what life back then felt like. The book is more than that though, than the war. It is about the relationships between the people. Liesel and her mama and papa. Liesel and Rudy. Liesel and Max. Liesel and her books. Liesel and words.
The narrator is Death. First fifty pages or so I did have to get used to how this Death was being written. I didn´t always find his thoughts that appealing to read. However once the story started going and we got to know Liesel better through him, it started working. It is a creative way to tell the story. Throughout the story we do have his thought interjections. That also took some getting used to. It pulled me out of the story at times which is a shame. As I read further I started getting used to these interjections and they didn´t bother me as much. Still I feel there are a bit too many.
The characters are interesting. Liesel grabbed me from the start. I loved following her journey into stealing books and her interest and struggles with learning how to read. It really works. Her new family, Hans and Rosa, developed with Liesel in their relationships. Rosa came across as a hard woman but throughout the book we get to see small soft sides and that she truly cares about Liesel and Max, in her own way. The relationship between Hans and Rosa is also interesting. It is certainly not an ideal relationship but at the same time you can feel that there is love between them.
Rudy. Damn it Death, those hints about his faith were not funny! I feel we get to know him quite well through Liesel. The build-up in their relationship was fun to follow. And of course there is Max. I felt he was a bit blander than the other characters, but then again that also had to do with his circumstances.
If you were, for any reasons, doubting on whether or not to read it, do it. It is worth it.
Goodreads Challenge 2014 67 out of 70 Books
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars - 512 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei volume 1 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
2. In Extremis (Crime Scene Investigation 9) by Ken Goddard - 3 stars - 288 pages
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson 3) by Rick Riordan - 3 stars - 294 pages
4. Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars 0,5) by Diana Peterfreund - 3 stars - 60 pages
5. Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle 2) by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars - 383 pages
6. Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires 1) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 348 pages
7. The Demon King (Seven Realms 1) by Cinda Williams Chima - 5 stars (reread) - 506 pages
8. The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0,5) by Leigh Bardugo - 4 stars - 43 pages
9. The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms 2) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 586 pages
10. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars - 485 pages
11. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins - 2,5 stars - 454 pages
12. First Day of the Rest of your Lives (The Morganville Vampires 0,5) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 25 pages
13. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 453 pages
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) by Marissa Meyer - 3,5 stars - 454 pages
15. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker - 3 stars - 644 pages
16. The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles 0,6) by Marissa Meyer - 3 stars - 35 pages
17. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin - 3,5 stars - 837 pages
18. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy 1) by Richelle Mead - 3 stars - 352 pages
- Death and what comes next (Discworld 10,5) by Terry Pratchett - 3,5 stars - 5 pages
19. Dracula by Bram Stroker - 3 stars - 334 pages - E Book
20. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini - 3 stars - 497 pages
- Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Volume 2 by Clamp - 5 stars - manga
21. Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth - 3 stars - 487 pages
22. Don’t Hex with Texas (Enchanted Inc. 4) by Shanna Swendson - 3 stars - 292 pages
23. The Iron King (Iron Fey 1) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 363 pages
- The First Kiss (Iron Fey 1,25) by Julie Kagawa - 2 stars - 8 pages
- Shutterbox volume 3 by Rikki Simmons - 2 stars - 192 pages
- Shutterbox volume 4 by Rikki Simmons - 3 stars - 176 pages
24. Cress (the Lunar Chronicles 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 stars - 550 pages
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympans 4) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 350 pages
26. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars -
27. The Cordelia Collection (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelization 12) by Nancy E. Krulik - 2 stars - 176 pages
28. The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 482 pages
- The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko’s story by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, Nina Matsumoto - 2 stars - 100 pages
29. So long and thanks for all the fish (Hitchhiker’s Guide 4) by Douglas Adams - 3 stars - 187 pages
30. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1) by Laini Taylor - 3 stars - 363 pages
- Air Gear Volume 7 by Oh!great - 3,5 stars - 198 pages
31. Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 327 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Haijme Isayama - 3,5 stars - 208 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 2 by Haijme Isayama - 4 stars -
32. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire 2) by George R.R. Martin - 3 stars - 1007 pages
33. Eon (Eona 1) by Alison Goodman -3,5 stars - 368 pages -
34. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins - 3 stars- 472 pages
35. The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett - 3 stars - 286 pages
36. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 435 pages
37. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee - 4,5 stars - 271 pages
38. Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 496 pages
39. Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker’s Guide 5) by Douglas Addams - 3,5 stars - 230 pages
40. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3 stars - 119 pages
41. Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth - 2 stars - 525 pages
42. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness - 2,5 stars - 651 pages
43. Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 251 pages
44. The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel 1) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 314 pages
45. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire 3) by George R.R. Martin - 4 stars - 1177 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei Volume 2 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
46. The Magician (The Secrets of the Immotal Nicholas Flamel 2) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 398 pages
47. The Gray Wolf Throne (The Seven Realms 3) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 517 pages
48. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds 1) by Alexandra Bracken - 4,5 stars - 488 pages
49. The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm - 3 stars - e book
50. The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey 2) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 359 pages
51. Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs - 3 stars - 462 pages
- Harry Potter: the Prequel (Harry Potter 0,5) by JK. Rowling - 4 stars - e book
52. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars - 248 pages
53. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas - 3,5 stars - 404 pages
54. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 443 pages
55. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead - 2,5 stars - 503 pages
56. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare - 2,5 stars - 535 pages
57. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 576 pages
58. Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee - 3,5 stars - 411 pages
59. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 361 pages
60. Love in the Time of Dragons (The Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister - 3 stars - 361 pages
61. The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey - 5 stars - 457 pages -
62. The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 161 pages
63. The Reaper Man (Discworld 11) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 298 pages
64. Incendio by Tess Gerritsen - 4 stars - 96 pages
65. The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms 4) by Cinda Williams Chima - 3,5 stars - 598 pages
66. The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy 1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen - 2 stars - 342 pages
67. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - 5 stars - 422 pages
Reaper Man (Discworld 11) by Terry Pratchett
Fantasy/Humor
Goodreads Link
DEATH IS MISSING - PRESUMED . . . ER . . . GONE.
Which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, on a little farm far, far away, a tall, dark stranger is turning out to be really good with a scythe. There's a harvest to be gathered in...
4 out of 5 stars
Reaper Man is the first book I had bought by Terry Pratchett. These lovely hardcover versions of the first twenty or so Discworld books draw you in quite nicely. Now I've always had an interest in Death as a character and after hearing that Death was a character in Discworld, I knew I had to read the Death Collection first.
Within this Death Collection Reaper man is the second book, and it marks my third read of a Discworld novel. The idea that Death is being send to retirement and his clock starts ticking again, is interesting. Of course this was already slightly hinted at with Mort where there was the idea that Mort would maybe one day take over as Death. In this there is a good tie in to the first one in the collection. Other than that there is a small reference to his daughter that we met in Mort, but that is where the connections end.
I had a bit of trouble getting into this book. I think this was because the first 100 pages or so of the book, deal mostly with Windle Spoons and the wizards. Now Windle Spoons as a character grew on me throughout the book. However the archanchelor and his band of wizards did not. I think for me, as characters, they were a bit too much. I guess it toys with my idea of wise wizards. After these 100 pages the story gets going better and the addition of Bill Door helps to break up the more 'nutty' bits from the wizards.
This book has made me grow fonder of Death as a character. It showed more of him. And the bits at the ending were truly sweet with Miss Flitworth and the Death of Rats.
I would have liked there to have been more feeling of resolve in the situation that developed because of Death's absence. The carts were defeated I suppose but there was more happening then that. It got lost in the ending.
The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms 4) by Cinda Williams Chima
Fantasy
Goodreads Link to Series
A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed-Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.
Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana'Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells' inner turmoil, Raisa's best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.
Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?
A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.
3,5 out of 5 stars
The Crimson Crown is the last book of the Seven Realms series and with about 600 pages quite a lengthy read. Overall I do like this book and I do think it is a good ending to the series. However I do not have the same feeling of contentedness after reading this book as I had with the other three. Especially the Demon King stands out to me. For me, I think this is because there is so much going on in these 600 pages. So many little political twists and events, that it makes me wonder how much of it was really needed.
Another small note of annoyment was the use of so many potential partners for Han but especially Raisa even though we knew they would end up together. I get it, Raisa as a single queen is quite appealing. But there was sometimes too much emphasis on it.
As for the characters, it is so easy to slip back into Raisa and Han when reading this book like it was with the others. They are so familiar to me. I did feel the urge to smack Han every now and again at the start of the book. For someone who wants to marry the Queen, he's not doing such a good job at courting her and he seemed to have shut down his sensitivity. I was glad to see that nearing the ending he regained that part of him.
Oh Dancer. My lovely Dancer. He has certainly grown to become my favorite character of this series despite being a side character. I was glad to see that he became even more in his own and started developing his skills. It evened out the playing field between Han and Dancer. Might I even say I think Dancer is the one they should be scared of power wise. Han has the plotting skills.
I was disappointed in Fiona and Micah. I saw some good things in Micah in the third book but instead of growing into that he remained selfish and did his fathers bidding. He didn't truly stand up to him. Fiona, ran to daddy like a spoiled kid who didn't get her way when Han shot her down. I would have loved to have seen more depth in those two. There was potential there.
Last but not least, ALger Waterlow is deep down a sap. Oh he is. I wish though that the feeling he showed to Han, being his descendant, he kind of had also paid attention to Raisa. When it comes down to it she is as much his descendant as Han is. That kind of tugged at me a little throughout the book but was given little attention.
The Seven Realms as a whole series is certainly a great read. I fell in love with the characters and some of the historic events of their world. Every time I read about them, it is like meeting up with old friends. It is a fantasy series that has magic, but also some political intrigues, marketed as a young adult.
The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy 1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Fantasy
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
2 out of 5 stars
This book...and I don't mean that in a positive way.
One of the first things that strikes you with this book is the title. The title does give away a part of the plot while in the book the revelation of the plan remains a big secret for 60 pages or so. I found that approach somewhat annoying. The rest of the start of this book is slow and up on to about page 200 I was still contemplating if this was even worth continuing reading. There was nothing that engaged me. I found the main character annoying and arrogant. It was written from an I point of view and I felt I was not getting to know who he was at all. It dragged on a little more. There was no deepening on what they were suppose to be learning and I learned very little about the world. I couldn't feel the threat of a possible impending war that was implied because I wasn't getting to know this country. How could I understand their relations with other countries? How could I feel the threat within their own country when they were constantly stuck in a house?
Up on to the point just before the choosing, when something more started happening, I became a little more engaged in this story. Of course the big reveal was no surprise (of course they found the title clever in that aspect). I suspected it and I found this supposed plot twist not that original. I think I would have appreciated it more if this twist hadn't been there but the real prince was still alive somewhere. After the reveal the main character became more bearable. The plot twist did explain why we learned so little of him despite this book being written in I point of view and we got a bit more of a glimpse in his mind. Not a whole lot more though.
As for the other characters. I liked Roden. Too bad what happened to him. Tobias feels flat. Mott I find interesting and I do want to learn more about him. Connor, well he clearly was the bad guy. The princess and Imogen are interesting girls and welcome additions to this further all male cast.
At the end of the book, a lot is resolved. I wonder where the next two books are heading towards, because I can't really see it right now. I guess war, his struggles in being king? I have not decided yet if I want to continue reading this series.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Historical Fiction
Goodreads Link
Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.
5 out of 5 stars
For years I’ve stayed away from books that were set during the second world war. When I was younger I read a lot of children´s books set during that time period, but as I grew older and the impact of the second world war became much more clearer to me, I strayed. Looking back this might seem odd as I even did my final project at high school about Hitler and translated it in German. Maybe it is because I never wanted to go back to those books that were emotionally so raw and the time period that still shows it’s marks on today´s society.
After reading The Book Thief, clearly I´ve been missing out by not reading books solely based on the time period. The Book Thief to me, is a gem. A book that can make me both laugh and shed a tear. The pace is pleasant yet punch after punch comes. The book tears you down, builds you back up only to tear you down again. This is what life back then felt like. The book is more than that though, than the war. It is about the relationships between the people. Liesel and her mama and papa. Liesel and Rudy. Liesel and Max. Liesel and her books. Liesel and words.
The narrator is Death. First fifty pages or so I did have to get used to how this Death was being written. I didn´t always find his thoughts that appealing to read. However once the story started going and we got to know Liesel better through him, it started working. It is a creative way to tell the story. Throughout the story we do have his thought interjections. That also took some getting used to. It pulled me out of the story at times which is a shame. As I read further I started getting used to these interjections and they didn´t bother me as much. Still I feel there are a bit too many.
The characters are interesting. Liesel grabbed me from the start. I loved following her journey into stealing books and her interest and struggles with learning how to read. It really works. Her new family, Hans and Rosa, developed with Liesel in their relationships. Rosa came across as a hard woman but throughout the book we get to see small soft sides and that she truly cares about Liesel and Max, in her own way. The relationship between Hans and Rosa is also interesting. It is certainly not an ideal relationship but at the same time you can feel that there is love between them.
Rudy. Damn it Death, those hints about his faith were not funny! I feel we get to know him quite well through Liesel. The build-up in their relationship was fun to follow. And of course there is Max. I felt he was a bit blander than the other characters, but then again that also had to do with his circumstances.
If you were, for any reasons, doubting on whether or not to read it, do it. It is worth it.
Goodreads Challenge 2014 67 out of 70 Books
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - 4 stars - 512 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei volume 1 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
2. In Extremis (Crime Scene Investigation 9) by Ken Goddard - 3 stars - 288 pages
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson 3) by Rick Riordan - 3 stars - 294 pages
4. Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars 0,5) by Diana Peterfreund - 3 stars - 60 pages
5. Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle 2) by Diana Wynne Jones - 4 stars - 383 pages
6. Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires 1) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 348 pages
7. The Demon King (Seven Realms 1) by Cinda Williams Chima - 5 stars (reread) - 506 pages
8. The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0,5) by Leigh Bardugo - 4 stars - 43 pages
9. The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms 2) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 586 pages
10. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars - 485 pages
11. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins - 2,5 stars - 454 pages
12. First Day of the Rest of your Lives (The Morganville Vampires 0,5) by Rachel Caine - 3 stars - 25 pages
13. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 453 pages
14. Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles 2) by Marissa Meyer - 3,5 stars - 454 pages
15. The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker - 3 stars - 644 pages
16. The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles 0,6) by Marissa Meyer - 3 stars - 35 pages
17. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin - 3,5 stars - 837 pages
18. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy 1) by Richelle Mead - 3 stars - 352 pages
- Death and what comes next (Discworld 10,5) by Terry Pratchett - 3,5 stars - 5 pages
19. Dracula by Bram Stroker - 3 stars - 334 pages - E Book
20. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini - 3 stars - 497 pages
- Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Volume 2 by Clamp - 5 stars - manga
21. Divergent (Divergent 1) by Veronica Roth - 3 stars - 487 pages
22. Don’t Hex with Texas (Enchanted Inc. 4) by Shanna Swendson - 3 stars - 292 pages
23. The Iron King (Iron Fey 1) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 363 pages
- The First Kiss (Iron Fey 1,25) by Julie Kagawa - 2 stars - 8 pages
- Shutterbox volume 3 by Rikki Simmons - 2 stars - 192 pages
- Shutterbox volume 4 by Rikki Simmons - 3 stars - 176 pages
24. Cress (the Lunar Chronicles 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 stars - 550 pages
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympans 4) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 350 pages
26. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3,5 stars -
27. The Cordelia Collection (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelization 12) by Nancy E. Krulik - 2 stars - 176 pages
28. The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 482 pages
- The Last Airbender: Prequel - Zuko’s story by Dave Roman, Alison Wilgus, Nina Matsumoto - 2 stars - 100 pages
29. So long and thanks for all the fish (Hitchhiker’s Guide 4) by Douglas Adams - 3 stars - 187 pages
30. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone 1) by Laini Taylor - 3 stars - 363 pages
- Air Gear Volume 7 by Oh!great - 3,5 stars - 198 pages
31. Frostbite (Vampire Academy 2) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 327 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Haijme Isayama - 3,5 stars - 208 pages
- Attack on Titan Volume 2 by Haijme Isayama - 4 stars -
32. A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire 2) by George R.R. Martin - 3 stars - 1007 pages
33. Eon (Eona 1) by Alison Goodman -3,5 stars - 368 pages -
34. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins - 3 stars- 472 pages
35. The Colour of Magic (Discworld 1) by Terry Pratchett - 3 stars - 286 pages
36. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments 4) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 435 pages
37. Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days 1) by Susan Ee - 4,5 stars - 271 pages
38. Clockwork Prince (the Infernal Devices 2) by Cassandra Clare - 4 stars - 496 pages
39. Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker’s Guide 5) by Douglas Addams - 3,5 stars - 230 pages
40. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 3 stars - 119 pages
41. Insurgent (Divergent 2) by Veronica Roth - 2 stars - 525 pages
42. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy 1) by Deborah Harkness - 2,5 stars - 651 pages
43. Mort (Discworld 4) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 251 pages
44. The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel 1) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 314 pages
45. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire 3) by George R.R. Martin - 4 stars - 1177 pages
- xxxHolic: Rei Volume 2 by Clamp - 4 stars - manga
46. The Magician (The Secrets of the Immotal Nicholas Flamel 2) by Michael Scott - 2,5 stars - 398 pages
47. The Gray Wolf Throne (The Seven Realms 3) by Cinda Williams Chima - 4 stars - 517 pages
48. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds 1) by Alexandra Bracken - 4,5 stars - 488 pages
49. The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm - 3 stars - e book
50. The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey 2) by Julie Kagawa - 2,5 stars - 359 pages
51. Bones of the Lost (Temperance Brennan 16) by Kathy Reichs - 3 stars - 462 pages
- Harry Potter: the Prequel (Harry Potter 0,5) by JK. Rowling - 4 stars - e book
52. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - 4 stars - 248 pages
53. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass 1) by Sarah J. Maas - 3,5 stars - 404 pages
54. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy 3) by Richelle Mead - 4 stars - 443 pages
55. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy 4) by Richelle Mead - 2,5 stars - 503 pages
56. City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments 5) by Cassandra Clare - 2,5 stars - 535 pages
57. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices 3) by Cassandra Clare - 3 stars - 576 pages
58. Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome. Edited by Stephen Jones. Illustrated by Alan Lee - 3,5 stars - 411 pages
59. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 361 pages
60. Love in the Time of Dragons (The Light Dragons 1) by Katie MacAlister - 3 stars - 361 pages
61. The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave 1) by Rick Yancey - 5 stars - 457 pages -
62. The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians companion) by Rick Riordan - 4 stars - 161 pages
63. The Reaper Man (Discworld 11) by Terry Pratchett - 4 stars - 298 pages
64. Incendio by Tess Gerritsen - 4 stars - 96 pages
65. The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms 4) by Cinda Williams Chima - 3,5 stars - 598 pages
66. The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy 1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen - 2 stars - 342 pages
67. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - 5 stars - 422 pages