Things I've been reading
Jan. 5th, 2008 11:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aidenfireI plan on doing this every three books. Just writeups about what I like and don't like about things I've been reading.
Hero, by Perry Moore.
I think I must have higher standards than most people reading books these days, particularly teen books. I would have given this book maybe two stars; the amazon average was four and a half. Perhaps this is due to the exposure to good books when I was young, perhaps my taste is all off. All I know is, good books are out there and for me this was not it. I really really really wanted to like this book. The protagonist is a gay superhero. I mean, how much more awesome could exist? However, the initial hook of the premise kept getting weaker and weaker. It was hard to keep track of who was who--the author seemed to just assume that you'd know who all the superheros and supervillians were and what they could do and why they were doing it, with little to no help from him. None of the character's motives seemed to make sense and the events were over the top in an annoying way instead of a fun superhero-esque sort of way. Even in the conclusion when everything was supposedly revealed, nothing really fit together in a way that was satisfying to me. Admittedly, "Satisfying to me" means very tight plots and extremely realistic characters; however, I do not think that is too much to ask. This book had a lot of potential to be fantastic and a lot of fun. Instead, it was only a few steps ahead of dull and confusing. Not recommended.
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You, by Peter Cameron
The first fifty pages of this had me absolutely laughing out loud about every page and a half. Absolutely fantastic voice. The ending, however, didn't have the same charm. It felt quite abrupt to me, as if the author all of a sudden tired of writing and tried to tie it up as quickly as he could. Even with that weakness, this book was still worth reading. An anti-social depressed teen boy is coming to terms with his sexuality and honestly, with himself as well. I know, it doesn't sound very funny, does it? (also I swear I don't pick up books looking for gay characters. They just seem to find me all the time.) But the protagonist is so entertaining. He is full of witty comments and observations, and doesn't hold back for politeness's sake. He calls them like he sees them, and is so much smarter than people are giving him credit for. At the same time, he does have a lot of serious problems and things to confront within himself. This was where the rushed ending most disappointed me. But again, still worth reading. Recommended.
Assassin's Apprentice, by Robin Hobb
As you might remember from my other post, I loved Robin Hobb's Liveship series. I enjoyed this book as well but so far the other trilogy is the superior. One of the things I loved about the Liveship books was the way the point of view shifted, so you could see the world through the eyes of all different characters, all over the universe she crafted, and how the smallest of their decisions affected the other characters. It gave a real sense of character depth, as well as cleverly and effortlessly tying the plot together. I have no doubt that in her mind everything was as carefully woven. However, looking only through the eyes of one character the whole book, it wasn't as easy to see it. Me being me, I had a bit of trouble following the chain of events that led to the climax; however, I think a second reading would make it all very clear. There was a lot of heart here, a lot of complex events happening to complex people, and nothing was ever cut and dried. You figured things out as the character did, rarely before, and I was kept guessing all the way through. Her characters were very well developed as always, and if you enjoy sword and sorcery epic fantasy, you'll definitely want to pick this up. Recommended.
Hero, by Perry Moore.
I think I must have higher standards than most people reading books these days, particularly teen books. I would have given this book maybe two stars; the amazon average was four and a half. Perhaps this is due to the exposure to good books when I was young, perhaps my taste is all off. All I know is, good books are out there and for me this was not it. I really really really wanted to like this book. The protagonist is a gay superhero. I mean, how much more awesome could exist? However, the initial hook of the premise kept getting weaker and weaker. It was hard to keep track of who was who--the author seemed to just assume that you'd know who all the superheros and supervillians were and what they could do and why they were doing it, with little to no help from him. None of the character's motives seemed to make sense and the events were over the top in an annoying way instead of a fun superhero-esque sort of way. Even in the conclusion when everything was supposedly revealed, nothing really fit together in a way that was satisfying to me. Admittedly, "Satisfying to me" means very tight plots and extremely realistic characters; however, I do not think that is too much to ask. This book had a lot of potential to be fantastic and a lot of fun. Instead, it was only a few steps ahead of dull and confusing. Not recommended.
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You, by Peter Cameron
The first fifty pages of this had me absolutely laughing out loud about every page and a half. Absolutely fantastic voice. The ending, however, didn't have the same charm. It felt quite abrupt to me, as if the author all of a sudden tired of writing and tried to tie it up as quickly as he could. Even with that weakness, this book was still worth reading. An anti-social depressed teen boy is coming to terms with his sexuality and honestly, with himself as well. I know, it doesn't sound very funny, does it? (also I swear I don't pick up books looking for gay characters. They just seem to find me all the time.) But the protagonist is so entertaining. He is full of witty comments and observations, and doesn't hold back for politeness's sake. He calls them like he sees them, and is so much smarter than people are giving him credit for. At the same time, he does have a lot of serious problems and things to confront within himself. This was where the rushed ending most disappointed me. But again, still worth reading. Recommended.
Assassin's Apprentice, by Robin Hobb
As you might remember from my other post, I loved Robin Hobb's Liveship series. I enjoyed this book as well but so far the other trilogy is the superior. One of the things I loved about the Liveship books was the way the point of view shifted, so you could see the world through the eyes of all different characters, all over the universe she crafted, and how the smallest of their decisions affected the other characters. It gave a real sense of character depth, as well as cleverly and effortlessly tying the plot together. I have no doubt that in her mind everything was as carefully woven. However, looking only through the eyes of one character the whole book, it wasn't as easy to see it. Me being me, I had a bit of trouble following the chain of events that led to the climax; however, I think a second reading would make it all very clear. There was a lot of heart here, a lot of complex events happening to complex people, and nothing was ever cut and dried. You figured things out as the character did, rarely before, and I was kept guessing all the way through. Her characters were very well developed as always, and if you enjoy sword and sorcery epic fantasy, you'll definitely want to pick this up. Recommended.
