Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.
This Week's Topic is: What was the best book you read in August?
I used this past month to get caught up on a variety of books I'd been meaning to get to. Here's what I read for the month:
If I Stay -- Gayle Forman (YA Contemporary, Audiobook). This book really impressed me. It's written beautifully as it examines a girl looking in on her life in the aftermath of a tragic car accident.
Mockingjay -- Suzanne Collins (YA Dystopian). I wish I could say I loved this. Part of why I held off on finishing the Hunger Games series was because I didn't want to zip through it so fast. It took a lot of effort to get through this one. I'll still see the movies though!
Rebels by Accident -- Patricia Dunn (YA Contemporary). Cool concept: American-born teen with Egyptian-born parents gets sent to Egypt to live with her grandmother to straighten her out. She arrives just in time for the uprising of 2011. My review here.
Mad, Bad and Blonde -- Cathie Linz (Contemporary Romance). I attended a book signing for Susan Elizabeth Phillips' latest (if you haven't read her and you like romance with some depth and humor, she's the gal for you!), and because she's so awesome, Susan asked that any published authors in the crowd stand up and share a line about their own books. After Susan finished her talk and started signing, a small crowd had gathered by Cathie's books in the romance section of the store. She happily chatted about her books and signed them for readers. I loved how much these women supported one another and had to pick up one of her books! It's got a Stephanie Plum vibe but less slapstick. A little mystery, a little romance, lighthearted.
The Book Thief -- Markus Zusak (YA Historical, Audiobook). This is a wonderful book but I had trouble focusing for the audio version. The audio production is great, I just think this would have been better to read in print. It feels like a modern classic, and I liked the richness of history brought together with fairy-tale like narration.
Which brings me to my favorite read from August:
Wanderlove -- Kirsten Hubbard (YA Contemporary). This is how YA is done! The voice leaped off the page, and I immediately identified with Bria, who decides to take a Guatemalen adventure trip after graduating high school. She's not sure if she's running from her past, or what she's running toward. The imagery of Central America is beautiful and feels very real. I'll post my review in the coming week.
Hop over to YA Highway to see the other linked posts! What was your favorite read from the past month?
Hop over to YA Highway to see the other linked posts! What was your favorite read from the past month?
Posts
I totally agree with you on Mockingjay. I absolutely loved the Hunger Games and really did want the whole series to be amazing. It was good...just not a patch on the first book in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED The Book Thief. I read it when I lived in a very tiny and very depressing dormroom in Belgium (I did a study abroad programme for a sememster) and I vividly remember breaking down several times throughout.I'm sure my sobs were heard the length of the corridor. Absolutely beautiful. His other book I am the Messanger is also worth a read
THE BOOK THIEF is one of my all-time favorites. Perfect and devastating. Definitely a modern classic, and I haven't heard the audio book but I can definitely see how it would be better to read the print version.
ReplyDeleteI also loved WANDERLOVE. Setting details are very obviously Hubbard's forte--she makes Central America come to life on the page.
I've been thinking of picking up Wanderlove. Guess I'll do it!
ReplyDeleteWANDERLOVE is on my "order ASAP" list. I've been wanting to read it forever!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on MJ. I was expecting to be completely blown away so it was really disconcerting when I wasn't. I still plan to see the movies, but CATCHING FIRE is still my favorite of the series.
As for THE BOOK THIEF, I've never listened to the audio version, but I have read the print one twice and I adore it. Such a haunting and gorgeously written book.
I had an ARC of this one and gave it away before I got a chance to read it. :( I've seen so many awesome reviews for Wanderlove...may just have to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you must read Where She Went. Most awesome sequel EVER
WANDERLOVE was a really great read! I liked Bria, and I also liked that the author didn't glamorize the backpacking life. If it was gross and buggy and dirty, that's how she represented it. Great book! :)
ReplyDeleteI had a baby recently, so I haven't been doing much reading this month...I agree with your thoughts on Mockingjay. When I first started reading the book, I did zip through it because I was so eager to get to the end. But after I finished it, I ended up reading it again, slowly this time, so I could better take in all the details.
ReplyDeleteMOCKINGJAY was my least favorite of the HUNGER GAMES trilogy. I understand why she went the direction she did with it, but I can't say I enjoyed it. As for WANDERLOVE--it's on my TBR list, and if it's as well-written as LIKE MANDERIN, I know I'll enjoy it. :)
ReplyDeleteAgree about Mockingjay as well. I've been meaning to read The Book Thief. I have it somewhere but when I tried to start reading it I wasn't in the right mood. Should try again. Great list, great post :)
ReplyDeleteI still didn't read the last one from the Hunger Games trilogy ... but I will before its movie comes out, I swear!
ReplyDeleteWANDERLOVE sounds like a "quiet" book, so I'm not sure it would do it for me. But you never know , right!?
Thanks for the recs!
Mockingjay was my least favorite of the three HG. I won Wanderlove in a giveaway from Alison Miller but haven't gotten to it yet! Might need to bump it up on the TBR!
ReplyDeleteLet's be friends on goodreads! :)
Wait a minute, I just saw Alison's comment. She gave it away before she read it?!?
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time to get through Mockingjay as well, although I am one of the few who enjoyed it more than Catching Fire. Second books in trilogies are generally not my favorite, I've found.
ReplyDeleteI loved If I Stay, but I loved Where She Went even more. I'd definitely recommend it if you have a chance! As soon as I finished it I was ready to reread it. :)
I've been looking at Wanderlust! I'll have to read it soon.
If I Sty was SUCH an emotional read for me!!!! I CRIED so much that I still haven't gotten the courage to read Where She Went!!!
ReplyDeleteDang typing on my phone!!!
ReplyDelete*If I STAY* ... You know what I meant! :)
I read Mockingjay last month. It was so-so. Not as good as the first book.
ReplyDeleteI need to read Wanderlove.
Book Thief is really a fantastic book. Right now I'm reading Something Like Normal and listening to Between Shades of Gray. Loving both so far.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks everyone! I didn't realize so many other people felt lukewarm about Mockingjay. I've avoided spoilers for so long I didn't even read reviews about the book.
ReplyDeleteWanderlove is definitely a keeper if you like contemporary YA; it's one of the stronger contemporaries I've read period. Her debut Like Mandarin was also great, I read that earlier this summer. It was totally different than I expected, and in a good way.
I've always wanted to go on a backpacking trip... I think I'll have to add 'Wanderlove' to my TBR until I can afford it :)
ReplyDelete