YVO’S SHORTIES #35 – Misery & Kids Of Appetite

Time for another round of Yvo’s Shorties! Another round of backlist titles, and two completely different genres and age groups at that. I’ve been meaning to read Misery for years and I already had an idea what it was about… I’m definitely glad I finally did so. It’s not my all time favorite Stephen King, but without doubt a great read. Kids Of Appetite I picked up on a whim browsing my kindle, and I had high hopes because I adored David Arnold’s other book Mosquitoland. Sadly, this story just didn’t work for me.

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Title: Misery
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
First published: 1987
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Finished reading: July 27th 2018
Pages: 369

“He felt as he always did when he finished a book — queerly empty, let down, aware that for each little success he had paid a toll of absurdity.”

I’ve read quite a few Stephen King books over the years, but somehow I never actually picked up Misery until now. Of course I have heard lots of things about the plot, so I had a general idea what the story was about… And I have to say the actual story definitely lived up to expectations. It’s not my absolute favorite King, but there is no doubt that this is one of his better books I’ve read to this date. Misery is more psychological horror than bloody horror in general, although it has a few select scenes that won’t go well with those with a weak stomach. Strong writing… Check. Well developed, disturbing and creepy characters… Check. A healthy dose of suspense… Check. Plot twists… Check. A little torture and blood here and there… Check. I definitely had a great time reading Misery, although it doesn’t feel the right word for a story this creepy. I liked the Misery chapters in between the actual plot, as it added another level and more dept to the plot itself. And I wouldn’t wish Annie upon my worst enemy! Boy, she is a true nutter… Writers, beware. She is stuff nightmares are made of. If you enjoy reading his work, Misery should definitely be on your reading list as well.

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Title: Kids Of Appetite
Author: David Arnold
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
First published: September 20th 2016
Publisher: Viking Books For Young Readers
Finished reading: July 29th 2018
Pages: 352

“The kids were more than just a gaggle. They were puzzle pieces, a well-packed trunk, as improbably organized as the improbable shelves in their improbable habitat.”

I absolutely adored Mosquitoland last year, so I had high hopes for Kids Of Appetite as well. It took me longer than expected to finally get to it… And sadly it wasn’t the experience I was hoping for. I’m actually still surprised and I bit shocked by my reaction to be honest… Because I have to be sincere here and I’m not sure how I made it past the 20% without giving in to the urge to DNF. Do I feel sad? Yes. But unfortunately Kids Of Appetite just wasn’t for me. I have seen this story has pretty extreme reactions, people either loving or strongly disliking it, so definitely don’t give up on it yet if you enjoy stories with unique characters and writing style. Because that’s the main struggle here: the writing. While unique and original, it is something that either works for you and makes you want to sing out loud, OR makes you want to throw things at the wall in frustration. Not that my singing would actually make anyone happy in the first place, but sadly my walls might have taken a hit or two here. I personally really struggled with it all and this made it just really hard both to get a proper feel for things and understand what is exactly going on in the first place. David Arnold is a master in greating unique characters though. Kuddos to him for introducing us to Victor and giving Moebius a spotlight; the other characters definitely weren’t bland either. I’m not sure everything in the plot was actually credible though. In short, Kids Of Appetite is a book of extremes and therefore will provoke strong emotions… So even though this book didn’t work for me, you might just love it instead.

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WWW Wednesdays #181 – August 1st

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently buddy reading The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton with Nicki @ Secret Library and I definitely understand the love for this book now… WOW. This is definitely promising to be another full 5 star read to add to my short list of absolute favorites this year… Fingers crossed! I also picked up It’s Okay To Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort, a memoir that is being compared to Jenny Lawson’s memoirs, but I’m just not feeling the humor yet.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Run And Hide by Alan McDermott (2,5/5 stars) REVIEW 05/08
Run And Hide is fast, ruthless and lethal. I’m positive the right target group will absolutely love this action-packed spy thriller that reads like a blockbuster action movie. I myself had problems with both the credibility, male-focused comments and writing style in general, but like I said before that might just be me not being the right target group for this one. If you are able to connect to the writing style, you won’t find a boring minute in this story.

2. Misery by Stephen King (4/5 stars) REVIEW 04/08
I definitely had a great time reading Misery, although it doesn’t feel the right word for a story this creepy. I liked the Misery chapters in between the actual plot, as it added another level and more dept to the plot itself. And I wouldn’t wish Annie upon my worst enemy! Boy, she is a true nutter… Writers, beware. She is stuff nightmares are made of. If you enjoy reading his work, Misery should definitely be on your reading list as well.

3. Kids Of Appetite by David Arnold (2/5 stars) REVIEW 04/08
Unfortunately Kids Of Appetite just wasn’t for me. I have seen this story has pretty extreme reactions, people either loving or strongly disliking it, so definitely don’t give up on it yet if you enjoy stories with unique characters and writing style. Because that’s the main struggle here: the writing. While unique and original, it is something that either works for you and makes you want to sing out loud, OR makes you want to throw things at the wall in frustration. Not that my singing would actually make anyone happy in the first place, but sadly my walls might have taken a hit or two here.

4. Murder Map (now called Never Say Goodbye) by Richard Parker (4/5 stars) REVIEW 14/08
If you enjoy detective thrillers and solving whodunits, Murder Map is a very entertaining addition to your reading list. While for me it lacked the little something extra to really make it stand out from other detective series, there is no doubt that the writing is strong, the plot twists are there and the killer is well disguised. The idea behind the plot is an interesting one as well! And the ending is a killer. All in all not a bad start of a new detective series!

5. Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops by Jen Campbell (4/5 stars) REVIEW 10/08
This is the perfect book to use as a gift for anyone working in a bookshop or library, or any booklover in general for that matter! Fun, entertaining and full of weird situations that will make both your eyebrows raise and wonder what those customers were thinking when they opened the door to the bookshop that day… But at least it has given us this book to brighten up our day.

6. Click’d by Tamara Ireland Stone (3/5 stars) REVIEW 10/08
Click’d wasn’t a bad read and I really liked the idea behind this story, but overall I found the story to be rather bland. The plot has that geeky feel with two of the main characters creating an app/game and the whole progress of coding and dealing with bugs in the code plays a big role throughout the story. The other main theme is friendship, which could work really well, but there were just too many cliches for me involved. I don’t mind a cliche or two, but if there are just too many piling up it starts to get annoying and less interesting.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’m trying to make a dent into my NG ARCs, so I need to pick up both The Confession by Jo Spain and The Echo Room by Parker Peevyhouse some time soon. And since I seem to be in the mood for lighter reads, I’ve put Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman on the top of my TBR pile. He is easily one of my absolute favorite authors and I can’t wait to read more about Britt-Marie. My newest TBR jar pick is still An Officer And A Spy by Robert Harris.

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WWW Wednesdays #180 – July 25th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m still reading Run And Hide by Alan McDermott, which is proving to be a fast read so far. And since I was in the mood for some YA contemporary, I decided to start Kids Of Appetite by David Arnold. I adored Mosquitoland, so I’m having high hopes for this one! I’m also going to give Misery by Stephen King a second chance to see if I’m in the mood for it. And you might be surprised to no longer see Hunted by Meagan Spooner mentioned… I wasn’t in the mood for it and after picking it up and putting it down once too many I’m saving it for a different time.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Broken Dolls by Sarah Flint (3/5 stars) REVIEW
On its own, Broken Dolls has all the signs of a potentially explosive read. The disturbing plot, plot twists to spare, a lot of action, secrets and lies… It’s a tough case and world to dive into, but without doubt a recipe for an interesting story. Something stopped me from properly enjoying it though, and I don’t think it was the fact I haven’t been able to read the previous books. I’m having the feeling it has more to do with the writing style and tone, which just didn’t work for me and made it lot more difficult to keep reading. Is it simply another case of ‘not for me’ or is something more specific going on? I’m not sure, but the fact is that I wasn’t able to enjoy the story as I thought I would.

2. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (4/5 stars) REVIEW 29/07
While this story has a lot of tropes that might make me potentially hate a story (insta-love, love triangle, geek cliche, musician cliche etc etc), I somehow ended up having a blast reading Attachments. Sure, there were a lot of cliches to deal with. Sure, things did get cheesy at points. Sure, there was a love triangle vibe going on. But somehow, if you are just looking for a light, fluffy and entertaining read, this story really works.

3. My Real Name Is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 30/07
Some serious editing issues aside, which I will forgive since it’s an ARC and not a finished edition, this story set in WWII Ukraine is absolutely wonderful. Though not based on a specific true story, both descriptions of the setting and the different characters make the story really come alive and it feels as if you are living the horrific experiences along with them. If you are a fan of good WWII survivor stories, this one is a must read.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’m trying to make a dent into my NG ARCs, and it’s time to finally pick up my copy of The 7 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. I’m a bit afraid because of the hype, but I just can’t resist any longer! I’m also supposed to pick up The Echo Room by Parker Peevyhouse some time soon. And since I seem to be in the mood for lighter reads, I’ve put Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman on the top of my TBR pile. He is easily one of my absolute favorite authors and I can’t wait to read more about Britt-Marie. My newest TBR jar pick is still An Officer And A Spy by Robert Harris.

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BOOK REVIEW: Mosquitoland – by David Arnold

Title: Mosquitoland
Author: David Arnold
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
First published: March 3rd 2015
Publisher: Viking Children’s
Finished reading: January 8th 2017
Pages: 336

“I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange.”

Dear, dear Mosquitoland. I have been wanting to read you ever since you were published, but somehow I have managed to neglect you for almost two long years. I have no proper reasons, not like the ones you mentioned in your story, but I will try to explain why I was wrong to not read you sooner.

First of all, I loved LOVED the prose in Mosquitoland! David Arnold‘s writing is without doubt excellent and I enjoyed every single minute of the ride. This is not your average story and its uniqueness just radiates right off the page. The main characters are BRILLIANT, although my special love goes out to Mim. She is hands down one of my new favorite characters and I just loved the quirkiness and unique feel of her character and development. She is basically what makes Mosquitoland so special, along with the writing and switches in between the ‘letters’ and the ‘actual’ plot. Mim has to face a lot of unlikely situations during her roadtrip away from what she calls Mosquitoland, but instead of doubting the credibility I found myself drawn right into the story. The writing is truly enchanting, and along with the fast pace I found myself literally flying through the pages. If you like YA contemporary reads and haven’t tried Mosquitoland yet, please do! You won’t regret it.

Mim Malone used to call northern Ohio her home, but after something happened in her family she is dragged away to Mississippi. There she has to live with her dad and her new stepmom, with no ‘real’ contact with her mom whatsoever… Then she finds out her mother is sick back in Cleveland, and Mim decides to take fate into her own hands. She boards a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and real mother, and will meet quite a few quirky fellow travelers along the way… And her journey will not exactly go as planned either.

Now I’ve finally read Mosquitoland, I cannot stop asking myself why I haven’t read it sooner. Because boy, this story has literally blown me away. Mim has won over my heart with her quirkiness and strange habits and all, and I enjoyed reading ever single moment of her road trip and adventures. The writing is more than excellent and has an unique feel about it; the characters are what make this story stand out from the rest as well. More than recommended!

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WWW Wednesdays #119 – January 11th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently almost finished with The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon. I’ve heard a lot of people complain about this book and to be honest I was a bit afraid to pick it up, but the story has pleasantly surprised me so far. I like the main characters and the fact that they belong to different ethnicities rather than the typical stereotype ‘white-American’ main character. I guess as an immigrant in Argentina, I can really relate to some of the problems they have to face. As soon as I’ve finished it, I’m reading The Thankful by Jamie Campbell, an ARC set during WWII I’ve been meaning to read for a while now. I’m also still reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, but I haven’t been in the mood for classics so I’m not sure when I will actually finish it.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

* I first picked up The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, a title that has been recommended to me over and over again and wasn’t able to pick up before the end of 2016. And boy do I wish I would have read it sooner! I can understand why so many people seem to love this story, because I’m now one of them. I was a little worried about the amount of religious talk included when I first started about it, but that soon went to the background. The story is exceptionally well written and basically an emotional rollercoaster. What an excellent way to start 2017!
* I then read a pending short story ARC I have been meaning to for too long, Americosis Vol. 3 by Haydn Wilks. I had forgotten just how weird and messed up this story is! In one word MADNESS, although you have to be in the mood to absorb such an amount of crazy action and weirdness.
* Afterwards, I picked up one of my most-anticipated-2017 releases, The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda, and it turned out to be just as good as I thought it would be. Well written, fast-paced, plot twists, suspense… Without doubt an excellent psychological thriller and my first 5 star read this year.
* I then decided to pick up Mosquitoland by David Arnold on a whim; another title I have been wanting to read for a long time now. I literally flew through the pages, and enjoyed every single minute of the ride. Another well written story with interesting characters and (road trip) plot… Looks like I have been lucky with my reading choices so far!
* Next up was another pending ARC, That Burning Summer by Lydia Syson. I enjoy reading historical fiction, especially if they are set during or around WWII, but I wasn’t too convinced by this one. It took me a long time to get a proper feel for the story, although I cannot put my finger exactly on the why. It might have been the tone, it might have been the pace, but it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.
* The last book I picked up is You by Caroline Kepnes, a book that has been on my radar ever since I found out it had a serial killer element. I was so excited about this one, but to be honest I don’t understand why so many people seem to love this book. It might just be that this isn’t for me, but I had to make the tough decision to DNF it after only 5%. Between the annoying prose and constant swearing and sex talk/scenes, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I have to Netgalley ARCs pending I want to get to first: Those Who Lie by Diane Jeffrey and Missing by Monty Marsden. I’m also searching for my next fantasy read, which will probably end up being Splintered by A.G. Howard since I’m in the mood for an Alice In Wonderland retelling. My newest TBR jar pick is still The Five Stages Of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson.

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Teaser Tuesdays #122 – January 10th: Mosquitoland

TEASER TUESDAYS is a weekly book meme hosted at The Purple Booker. To participate, just open the book you are currently reading to a random page, and choose two ‘teaser’ sentences from somewhere on that page. (no spoilers!)

I’ve actually already finished Mosquitoland over the weekend, but I enjoyed it so much I couldn’t resist sharing a quote. This title has been on my TBR pile for way too long now, and the Beat The Backlist challenge was the perfect excuse to finally pick it up. I was more than pleasantly surprised by it and I will be picking up David Arnold‘s other novel ASAP.

My teaser (10%):

“No sooner was it gone than a mightly army of mosquitos took its place. Millions and millions of them, buzzing aimlessly, digesting hot blood, suspended in midair over the salty water.”

What are you reading right now?

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Friday Finds #101 – September 30th

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the most interesting books I’ve encountered during the last week and have added to my neverending TBR list on Goodreads. Below a selection of my newest additions; click on the book descriptions to go to its Goodreads page! 😀

My finds: