It is fascinating to see how slow and quick this year has been going by. What a paradox! The chill of fall has already arrived and so it is the perfect time for cocooning, which in a bookworm world means reading. I thought I would share my current reads to give you some ideas on what to read next. Here goes…
Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The famous series Hunger Games saw a recent addition to its trilogy with the release of a prequel set in the world of Panem. The main character is Coriolanus Snow, the future president when he was preparing for his college entrance examination. I really enjoyed the trilogy (though I could not say the same about the movies) and I was really looking forward to this release.
At the moment of writing this post, I am at the 50% mark. It is a rather long book considering its 439 pages. I am happy to read Suzanne Collins prose and artful descriptions while being able to spend some time with new characters from the Capitol. In Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, we get an insiders’ view of what life is among the wealthy, and it is not as easy as the people of the Districts might think. I like that this adds nuance to the overly black-and-white rendition of the world of Panem that we’ve been shown until now, filled with common tropes: the rich against the poor, teenager saves the world. Collins presents a protagonist slash future antagonist as a complex human being who struggles in ways we could’ve not imagined otherwise.
The book is rather slow unless you like lengthy descriptions and sporadic action. The beauty of it all lies in the details, and so the careful reader will enjoy this book most. It does contrast with the thrilling life-or-death trilogy although a sentiment of urgency is still present, just not the way you would expect it to be, especially for Snow. It seems to be a book written for the fans of the story lore, but not so much for those thrill-seekers among us. With that in mind, you can spend a good time book in hand while sipping tea, snuggled in your favorite warm blanket. Let me know if you end up reading it in one sitting.
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Mortal Engines – The Hungry City
Ever since I heard about the tv series, I wanted to read the book. It was written a few decades ago by Philip Reeve, but there has been a renewed interest. It is set in a neo steampunk world which is a welcome break from my regular sci-fi or fantasy read. I haven’t read many steampunks, but I have been getting more and more interested. Who knows? I might even write one myself one of these days!
I’ve only read the first couple of chapters and the concept surprised me. I mean, people living in floating cities that can fly around (cool) and that eats smaller towns (what?) because they are hungry (say that again?). It is probably too early for me to know how this is exactly going to unfold, but I am definitely going to continue to read this book. I just hope there are some relatable characters. The POV of the low-tiered boy we are introduced to in the first chapter did not hook me particularly.
It might be one of those novels that needs time to put all the pieces of the world into place before getting drawn into the story. There’s also a thing to consider: it is not a recent book. Writing styles evolve quickly over time and now we are in an era which puts extra emphasis on proximity i.e. use of the POV in the first person, in media res (starting right in the middle of the action) and fast-paced plots (lots of action!), almost movie-like. However, movies and books are two different mediums that tell a story in a different angle. With that in mind, I think I need to learn to appreciate a plot slowly building up to its climax which is way more rewarding than an explosive entrance which has the downside of setting the bar too high. A good story is all about pacing.
You can buy the book here:
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Night Circus
I saved the best for last. This book is addictive from the very first page! (Yay!) Erin Morgenstern is a talented author with a great style. I love her descriptions and witty dialogues. She can also create many interesting and unique characters which all bring a piece of the puzzle unexpectedly.
I think this is the right word unexpected.
I am the kind of reader who likes to make predictions about what is going to come next, but in the Night Circus I always challenge my ideas of what might and what should. It allows me to appreciate a distinct style from mine, and I make notes of different techniques Morgenstern uses so I can learn. It is very refreshing and motivating for a writer to read such a novel. I can enjoy it both as a reader and writer. For now though, I only want to immerse myself in this eerie and wondrous world that is the Night Circus and I cannot wait to see how the plot unravels. I highly recommend you read this book! Let me know if you share the hype.
You can buy the book here:
*As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission on sales and it helps me keep my blog running
Reading has always been my refuge though I’ve had my share of slumps which I think is ok. It is difficult to both read and write at the same time. It’s as if two different parts of my brains were in contradiction. Anyhow, I hope this post gave you some ideas on what to read next! If you can’t hear from me in the next few days, I’ll probably be busy finishing the Night Circus followed by the Hunger Games and finally the Mortal Engines.
Happy reading!
David M. Snow
