Let's Talk about Series

It is the last day of the month so I thought I would do another post on what I have been reading.

I started a new series that's been sitting on my shelf for quite some time: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I finished the first book last week. This book seems to have gotten mixed reviews: some find too many similarities with Twilight, others think there is too much emphasis on romance and not enough action. I personally liked this book. I liked the writing - it is very lyrical almost poetic at times. Sure, it is about werewolves, but it does not mean it could not be beautifully written. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I also inadvertently got sucked into reading Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. The first book was free on Amazon so I read it. I had never watched the TV show and did not know what the book was about. However, because it is a mystery, I felt I needed to keep reading just to find out who the bad guy was. What a mistake! You do not learn ANYTHING until book 4 and even then, it is not even close to the end of the story.  Book 4 was the only one in this series that I thought was half way decent. Books 1 through 3 read more like a soap opera with an undertone of a bad horror movie (lightning flashing, figures appearing out of nowhere, etc, etc). Book 4 was interesting, finally provided some closure and really pulled me in. I am now reading book 4.5 - a collection of holiday stories about the main characters, and these are also quite disappointing. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.

"The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander

The Book of Three was mentioned by one of my favorite authors as her childhood favorite. It was published in the 1960s and since then has won the hearts of many readers. This is the first book in a five-part series. I have only read the first one so far. The story is inspired by Welsh lore and mythology and is set in the land of Prydain, where fantastical creatures walk the earth, magic is real and valiant heroes get into sword fights with evil sorcerers. The book follows the adventures of Taran the assistant Pig-Keeper and an aspiring hero, who is thrown into the thick of war between good and evil and is able to overcome tough situations not so much through his swordsmanship, but through the greatness of his heart. If you enjoy high fantasy and want to read a well-written and original story, this book is for you. It is pretty short (around 200 pages), so you will breeze through it in no time. Happy reading! 

"The 5th Wave" by Rick Yancey

I read this book last month, but just have not gotten around to posting a review. Also, I was hoping to read the second book in the trilogy (The Infinite Sea) and do a joint review of both books. However, I am waiting for the sequel to become available at my local library and feel like I need to review the first book while it is still fresh in my mind. Overall, I would rate The 5th Wave four out of five stars. This book is very popular and a lot of people like it very much. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because it starts out really slow. Things start moving along only once you get past the first 150 pages or so. I also could not shake the feeling that the premise of the story was very similar to The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I am not sure if anyone else felt that way, but the whole concept of aliens taking over human bodies felt eerily familiar. This feeling did go away once I got past the slow start and the story picked up the pace. I thought the plot was very original and I liked how Yancey keeps you guessing about who the bad guys are throughout the book. If you like sci-fi and aliens, definitely check this one out. I personally do not read many books about alien invasions and I thought the plot was a bit darker than some other sci-fi novels. I am looking forward to reading the sequel and will post a review of it as well.

"That's None Of Your Business: And Other Things God Told Me" by Donna Davis

I must admit I knew nothing about the book when I first dove into it. It is a self-published Kindle edition and you can get it very inexpensively from Amazon. The author does not have any other published books that I know of. However, if this is her literary debut, what a way to start a writing career!

Davis begins her book by recounting an experience she had a few years ago. Once when witnessing a man dying on the street she felt moved to come up to him and share some spiritual truths she'd been learning at the time. The man who seemed to have passed on at one point, regained consciousness and got up. He did not thank her. In fact, he probably did not even notice her. However, that experience led her to uncovering many practical spiritual insights that help her live her life more fully every day. This book is her attempt to share those lessons with others.

Davis gives an honest account of her every day struggles and how her spiritual study and communion with the eternal help her overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges. Her story is written with humility, compassion and deep love for fellow men. The spiritual insights and practical lessons that she shares are not intrusive or pushy; nor does she claim to have all the answers. But the things she shares did have a practical impact on her life and she genuinely offers her experiences to others.

This book is a great inspirational read. I would highly recommend this to all who are searching for a higher meaning in life or simply trying to understand their place in this world.