August 2021 books
You Have a Match by Emma LordMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
2.5 stars. I just wanted everyone in this book to HAVE. A. CONVERSATION. There were too many conflicts that could have been so easily resolved if people just talked to each other, and it irritated me!
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The Diabolic by S.J. KincaidMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars. Well this was a blast! Lots of interesting things going on in this book - enough to keep it plenty original even if there are plot elements and character types we've seen before. My one complaint is that some of the most exciting parts were told to us either briefly as they happened (like in a single paragraph!) or in dialogue, after the fact. I'm thinking specifically of when (view spoiler) and when (view spoiler). Those are super cool parts of the story! Spend more time on them!
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The Court of Miracles by Kester GrantMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid four stars. This book reminded me of An Ember in the Ashes not in subject matter so much as in WOW factor - here's an author doing really interesting things in a book that doesn't really have a right to be this good...and she's totally pulling it off!
Now, did I follow every single plot twist and character motivation here? No. But hot dang, was I ever entertained! It felt really good to read a version of Les Mis that made Eponine into someone who no one could ignore - least of all Marius, since the author WENT AND DISINCLUDED HIM FROM THE STORY. You won't miss him! Not a bit!
So maybe the ending could have been tidied up (or I need to read it again without rushing), and maybe the author could have leaned in a little more to some of Eponine's swoony romantic prospects (there are SEVERAL), but this was such a fun read.
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Dead Until Dark by Charlaine HarrisMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
WHAT did I just read. Seriously, what. My friend who binged these books as a teenager told me how much she enjoyed reading them years ago back before the YA genre exploded, when there wasn't much between children's books and adult books. These hit a kind of sweet spot - they weren't terribly inappropriate and the plots were easy to follow. This same friend also told me NOT to read these books now because she was pretty sure they wouldn't stand the test of time and let me tell you, she was RIGHT. I think that is my biggest quibble with this book (and I suspect this series) - they haven't aged well, to the point that I couldn't even enjoy the campiness because I was cringing too much.
But rather than being sad or disappointed in not really liking this book, I feel glad that there are so many other good books out there for us to read now, including an incredibly rich field of YA books that teenagers these days can read instead of the borderline age-inappropriate stuff my friend had to sift through in the olden days! Huzzah!
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Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David GrannMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was really really good, even if (in my opinion) the case it covers is probably slightly less interesting than he makes it out to be, somehow. The author reveals facts in an order engineered to ramp up suspense and surprises and it works!
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What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey GordonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an OK read, but actually maybe the least interesting thing I've consumed from Aubrey Gordon? And I mean that as a compliment to her! But if you've never read or listened to anything Gordon has done, then by all means, pick up this book and have a read. I don't think it will change any deeply held opinions, but if you're open to hearing about how you, YES YOU, might have fat-phobic attitudes you're not aware of, this is a great read.
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