Ransom Riggs: Library of Souls (2015)

    A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom (Goodreads).

Better than the second, but still fails to recapture the magic of the first installment. At this point in the series, the photos do come off a bit gimmicky and some seem forced. It's not difficult to read; the prose is satisfying and the pacing is good, but I found myself just not caring about any of the characters. Our two protagonists have lost all charm and they don't really develop in any major way (Jacob's new ability is well-handled, though). Stuff just seems to happen to them, without their having too much involvement. The supporting cast does nothing to support them, either, at one point they just leave a character to die on a train and when that happens, I should be asking "oh, boy, what will they do about him" rather than, at the end of the book saying, "oh, yeah. I totally forgot he was in this. Huh." All that being said, when the intensity is ramped up in any scene with excitement, Riggs writes brilliantly and makes me forget all of that. I do wish the author leaned into the lovecraftian elements a bit more, because when there are hints, I am left wanting more. All things considered, yeah, I liked it. 7.6/10

 

Lincoln Pierce: Big Nate Blasts Off (2016)

    Nate has a crush on Ruby. But after his scrap with Randy Betancourt makes headlines in the Weekly Bugle, he's got a problem WAY worse than detention! Can Nate bounce back? And will the annual Mud Bowl be a blast . . . or a bust? (Goodreads.)

    It's always fun to come back to this series. It's fun, it's juvenile, and yeah, sometimes Nate is actually kind of an asshole, but I was pleasantly surprised here. He actually has to deal with some of his assholery. Not only that, but there's a really sweet plotline of conciliatory friendship between former enemies that took me by surprise. It probably doesn't go into depth as much as it could, but what more do you expect from this book? Relatively mature themes and emotional highs and lows really raise the Big Nate bar here. I loved it. 7.5/10

Rick Riordan: The Tower of Nero (2020)

    Now the former god and his demigod master Meg must follow a prophecy uncovered by Ella the harpy. Lester's final challenge will be at the Tower of Nero, back in New York (Goodreads).

    Writing a single middle-grade series over the span of fifteen years is a difficult task, since the author must retain his ageing fan and also bring in new ones. With only a few missteps along the way, Riordan has concluded this journey here with a lovely adventure. It is in this final installment that the choice of Apollo as narrator really stakes a claim. A maturity is evident that transcends age, while the overall writing remains as engaging as it was in 2005. Perhaps the fastest-paced of the five books, the action is very much non-stop, though impressively, Riordan finds space to deal with emotional issues. The singular viewpoint suffers a bit, since a few too many key events seem to take place off-screen, but other than that it flows well, is funny, and has good character development. The ending stays resonant more than your average novel, and most of the 'visitations' are satisfying and nostalgic. There might be a fair bit of fan service, but if that fan service is done well one can hardly complain. 8.1/10

Neal Shusterman: The Toll (2019)

    It looks like nothing else stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute power. Now that the Thunderhead is silent, the question remains: Is there anyone left who can stop him? (Goodreads).

    It is lucky for Shusterman that his writing is as good as it is, because this conclusion takes the more fast paced style of the first two and turns it on its head, leaving readers with a type of slow-burn political drama that only succeeds because of how well Shusterman writes. The poignancy of the trilogy increases by a mile while the action decreases disappointingly, but the entirety of it is dictated so well that one can hardly complain, or even get bogged down. The amount of plotlines just barely teeters on the edge of complexity without becoming too convoluted. New additions to the cast are lovely and the pre-existing mains stay developed and engaging, though one or two might have benefited from more air time. For all its buildup, though, the final climax is a bit of a letdown, and perhaps ends too quickly, but everything pays off nicely in the end. Overall, this conclusion is consistently satisfying and, while paced slow, remains engaging and has enough twists and turns to be a true thriller. It is also able to resonate somewhat with surprising political poignancy: "Only idiots build walls." 8.1/10

    

Neal Shusterman: Thunderhead (2018)

    The Thunderhead observes everything, and it does not like what it sees. Will it intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel? (Goodreads).

    The ending is so darn good that it is hard not to say this book is without fault, but I must acknowledge a slow start where the stakes are really not set. Classic middle-book-in-a-trilogy stuff. It's written well of course, but it is difficult to become invested again because of this. But around the time of the election in the plot, it picks up immensely. The villain is re-established menacingly and the urgency is palpable from then on, even if the physical action actually slows down. The suspense is fantastic and boy does that ending hit hard, even turning into an edge-of-the-seat disaster plot. A few other critiques: New characters are not anything special, and a couple plotlines don't pay off, but again, that's pretty common when it comes to middle books. Also the "quotes" from the Thunderhead are neat but they don't make much sense logistically. Make it past the start, and the ending is wholly worthwhile. 8.2/10

Victor Hugo: Les Misérables (1862) - Translated by Norman Denny (1976)

    Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him (Goodreads).

    With a book this size, each reader's experience will vary largely, so take everything here with a grain of salt: This book was a journey, to be sure. Victor Hugo (and the translator, by extension) writes with such prowess and magnitude throughout each and every chapter, that the novel, though vast, rarely - if ever - feels like a slog. Hugo can go from the heat of battle, with fast paced prose that gets the heart racing, to an essay on literal crap, somehow without missing a beat. Certainly, not every informative aside lands, but for each dry section on the hierarchy of convents, there are three more wholly masterful ones on Waterloo, urchin vernacular, or the history of Parisian sewers. An exquisite picture of a relatively small moment of history is dictated so poignantly that it can hardly fail to resonate for anyone, regardless of time or location. Admittedly, one might be lost in the confusion of French history, and a basic understanding of the nation's past might be necessary for full comprehension, but that's as much France's fault as Hugo's. Regardless, the tale is full to the brim with memorable, excruciatingly human characters that go through individual torments and struggles in the midst of a story that is greater than the sum of its parts. The novel suffers from several of the classic 'old book' problems, there being some over-explication and below-average female representation, and there are probably too many recurring minor characters that have to be looked up to be remembered, but really, for a novel of this magnitude, one that provides a simply beautiful and profound experience, Hugo performs admirably. 8.9/10

Other Things Consumed Since April

It's been a while since my last blog post, and that is not without reason: It's actually been a while since I read a book. Well, I should be more specific: It's been a while since I have actually read a full-length novel that would merit a full-length review. I have read a fair bit, certainly, but the books I have been reading are either compilations, non-fiction, or audiobooks. I've been trying to refrain from starting any new series or buying (or renting) any new books, instead focusing on cleaning out my own already stuffed shelves of books I haven't read. With the world shut down in recent months, this became pretty easy, but most of what I have consumed would not do to be compared alongside the other standard fiction novels I review here. So here are just some small anecdotes on what I have read and listened to in the recent months.


PHIL VISCHER: ME, MYSELF & BOB (2007)
The true story of Vischer and his animation sensation is as engaging as any fictional novel one could contrive, so as a story it wholeheartedly succeeds, and it's easy to see how the author achieved success in the storytelling world with writing like this.
Rating: Good







C.S. LEWIS: THE PROBLEM OF PAIN (1940)
Lewis is obviously an established icon of literature, and thank goodness for that, because anyone else writing about this subject would probably be drier than a desert. That being said, it's still pretty dry, from Lewis maybe delving into the realm of semi-arid shrub steppe. Then again, maybe it's just not my favourite subject.
Rating: Probably good if you're into that kind of thing






J.R.R. TOLKIEN: THE LEGEND OF SIGURD & GUDRÚN (2009)
For epic Norse prose, it's pretty darn good (I admit I haven't too much to compare it to). Tolkien's voice is prevalent and yet it still retains an unmistakable sense of mythic grandeur. The other 50% of the book, Christopher Tolkien's essays, I'm sure are also interesting to people who like whatever he was talking about (didn't absorb much from those parts).
Rating: Probably good if you like either epic tales or essays about the translation and explication of those tales





SPAWNED OUT OF THIN AIR WITH NO AUTHOR: FANTASTIC BEAST - THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD: THE ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (2018)
Hahahaha what was I even doing buying this. Full disclosure: I have not seen this movie. The screenplay was ok though.
Rating: Why would anyone read a screenplay before watching a movie actually I guess that's what everyone making the movie does so it's not that weird but still





J.R.R. TOLKIEN: TALES FROM THE PERILOUS REALM (1949)
Brilliant. It is wholly refreshing hearing Tolkien's voice in a range that is not fantasy epic, but rather children's bedtime story. It retains everything that people love about Tolkien and adds countless scrumptious bits of whimsy that are hinted at in tales like The Hobbit.
Rating: Perilously good




MICHELLE ALEXANDER: THE NEW JIM CROW (2010) - Narrated by Karen Chilton (2020)
The message is repeated, emphasized, and pounded into the listener's mind, and I'll be damned if it isn't an important message. Alexander's writing style is engaging and the information she dictates is, all at once, shocking, eye-opening, and wholly essential for everyone.
Rating: Yes. Read it.


AGATHA CHRISTIE: THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES (1920) - Narrated by Penelope Dellaporta (2006)
Having not read any other Christie, but obviously knowing of her acumen in the realm of mystery, I would assume I am not wrong in stating that this is not her best. It's well thought out to be sure, but it drags a little, especially towards the end.
Rating: 6 Little Gray Cells / 10



IJEOMA OLUO: SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE (2018) - Narrated by Bahni Turpin (2018)
A raw, personal account of racism in America combined with the sources to back it up. Simultaneously engaging and informative. An essential read that must be taken in if one wants to gain perspective.
Rating: Yes also read this




DOUGLAS ADAMS: DOCTOR WHO - THE PIRATE PLANET (Full Cast Audio Drama) - Narrated by John Leeson (2012)
Yeah it was good. Funny, unique, enjoyable. Not sure if this counts as a 'read' but whatever. Sorta weird and confusing, but I mean, that's classic 'Classic Who.'
Rating: Affirmative, Master




Okay so that's pretty much everything new that I've read and listened to since the world changed. It may be worth mentioning that I've also re-listened to a lot of books, from Percy Jackson to Lorien Legacies to Fahrenheit 451, and they all retain the same magic from when I first read them.

Thanks for sticking it out. I am currently reading an 'actual' full-length book, and so my regular reviews will be back hopefully soon - although my current read is actually the behemoth known as Les Miserables, so it might be a while yet.

Ransom Riggs: Hollow City (2014)

    Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world (Goodreads).

    For a book about children with superpowers, the second installment of this series is rather underwhelming. It is rather exciting and well paced, making for an easy and fun read, but the entire book feels an awful lot like one long midsection in an altogether longer book. I suppose this could be the case for many a second novel in a trilogy, but overall in this particular one, the action is repetitive, and while it is not a slog to get through all of the scenes, well written and engaging as they are, the plot does not really build up to anything until the last two chapters, where the book ends with a very good twist and intriguing conclusion. Again, the pictures are very neat and the characters are all likable enough, but this sequel feels more like a stretched out bridge between two better (though I obviously have yet to read the third) bookends of a series. 7.4/10

Eoin Colfer: Highfire (2020)

    The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator (Goodreads).

    For a novel that was hailed as a departure from his middle-grade fantasy, Highfire remains a story that is distinctly 'Colfer.' From the witty dialogue and detailing to the ever present Irish elements (despite taking place in backwoods Louisiana) and sometimes overly convenient plot points, Colfer's established and brilliant voice remains the linchpin for what becomes a very enjoyable story. The characters are not especially unique and the relationships between them are not entirely fleshed out, but the overall plot is highly entertaining, and once one gets past the crude language, the dialogue is hilarious and often surprisingly heartfelt. Overall, an entirely enjoyable tale that, while unique in spirit, is wholly and entertainingly the author's. 8.4/10

Volker Kutscher: Babylon Berlin (2007) - Translated by Niall Sellar (2016)

    When a car is hauled out of the Landwehr Canal with a mutilated corpse inside, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath claims the case. Soon his inquiries drag him ever deeper into the morass of Weimar Berlin's 'Roaring Twenties' underworld (Goodreads).

    For a moment, let's ignore the wholly unremarkable depictions of physical relationships that often blur the line between appropriate, historically accurate grunge and just plain discomfort; the underwhelming and often dry phrasing and sentence structure (perhaps the fault of the translator rather than the author), the result of which is a story that seems to drag on a little too much; and a protagonist who does not do a whole lot to endear himself to the reader. Instead, let's focus on the unique and captivating setting of 1920s Berlin, an area where the author's creativity flourishes. The mystery that unfolds in this setting is captivating (when not broken up by the aforementioned negatives), and Kutscher unveils several brilliant and engaging twists. After a few, the plot (and eventual climax) is slightly convoluted, but for the most part, as a political/noir/cop/detective novel, this book does quite well. That being said, of course, there are several glaring detractors that lower the quality of what would otherwise be an extremely enjoyable story. 6.7/10

Pittacus Lore: Return to Zero (2019)

    Facing capture or annihilation from all sides, the only hope the Human Garde have for survival is to stand together once and for all to fight back against their true enemies (Goodreads).

    Admittedly, it has been a fair bit of time since I have read the preceding novels in this series, so that may have detracted slightly from my appreciation of this concluding novel, but this seemed largely like a rehash of the previous two books. The stakes and conflicts seemed to not evolve or develop more depth, and the grand scope of the Lorien universe, while impressive, seemed to backfire slightly, with so many characters popping in and out of significance. That being said, the writing quality established and developed over the course of the series continues to shine in this well-paced and action-packed final installment. What relationships between characters that do stand out are developed equally well, and most of the consistent main characters maintain a good semblance of depth and uniqueness. The final climax is slightly convoluted and wrapped up a little too quickly, but for the most part, this series ends on a positive note. 7.7/10

Neal Shusterman: Scythe (2016)

    Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own (Goodreads).

    The premise is grim and unique, and there is not a lot that Shusterman leaves to be desired when it comes to the basic lore and setup of his simultaneously dystopian and utopian world. As far as the actual story goes, that is equally as well done: Both lead characters are intriguing and developed along their own separate paths while still maintaining a decent semblance of a promising relationship. Wonderfully paced and extremely engaging, the only thing that is really left to be desired from this first installment in what promises to be a great series is the predictable nature of some of the plot elements, although there remain some intriguing twists, and the almost unavoidable nature of the fact that having a male and female protagonist in a young adult science fiction novel comes with its fair share of cliches to try to avoid and comparisons to previously written novels that will inevitably arrive in the reader's brain. 8.4/10

Douglas Adams: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987)

    Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza (Goodreads).

    For the first ninety percent of the plot, Adams shines in a uproariously funny, eloquently dictated, and smartly constructed genre-bending novel full of dynamic characters, witty dialogue, and engaging mystery. Although it takes a while for the titular Gently to make an appearance, the buildup and payoff for his character and the subsequent detecting that unfolds is well worth the wait. As readers follow along with the strange detective and the exasperated Richard, there is also payoff in seeing the book's various strange elements come together in a very, well, holistic fashion. For the last ten percent, while it is about as enjoyable as the first portion, Adams crams in perhaps a bit too much, what with time travel and alien colonization threatening humanity all being introduced in the conclusion. This does little, however, to deter from the fact that Adams has crafted a masterful story here. 8.6/10

Scott Westerfeld: Goliath (2011)

    The crown, true love with a commoner, and the destruction of a great city all hang on Alek's next--and final--move (Goodreads).

    Westerfeld continues the relative consistency of his steampunk historical saga in this, the concluding novel. Again, his world continues to expand and grow in a detailed and intricate manner, while still maintaining a central plot and characters. The first two thirds of the novel are a bit slow moving and slightly muddled when it comes to the individual stakes of this particular book, but the whole trilogy is wrapped up very well in the final act, as the pace picks up again as the author handily executes a solid climax and resolution. The character conflict between the two protagonists is predictable and resolved a bit too slowly, but for the most part, Westerfeld ends his unique trilogy in a highly enjoyable and entertaining fashion. 7.9/10