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She Made Me Do It: A Belated Recap of Our Challenge with Maja from The Nocturnal Library

5/14/2013

7 Comments

 
Readventurer She Made Me Do It Logo
In December, we started a She Made Me Do It challenge with Maja from The Nocturnal Library. Life got in the way for all three of us, as it does, but as of last week we were all able to read at least one of the challenge books. We are happy to finally close out the challenge and concentrate on the laundry list of other reading goals each of us has. We'll probably start another challenge in the next few weeks, and hopefully it won't take us over five months to complete it next time. Here's a recap of who read what and how we felt about the experience this time around...

Maja Challenged Flannery to Read...

Lucid cover
Discount Armageddon cover
Virtuosity cover
Flannery read: Lucid and Virtuosity, and tried Discount Armageddon.

Verdict: I was so sure I was going to love Lucid. At the onset of the book and through probably about the first third or so, I was insanely curious what was going on. If anyone is unfamiliar, the book switches back and forth between Maggie, a budding young actress in Manhattan and Sloane, a typical teenage girl in Mystic, Connecticut. Each night, when they go to sleep, they dream of each other's lives, but which one is real? Both? Neither? I think the book just dragged on too long before getting to its point, but I did like the narrative style, the sense of humor and random references, and the idea behind the book. It was a 3-3.5/5 for me. I attempted to read Discount Armageddon but could not get into it on my initial try. There was nothing specifically off-putting to me besides the cheesy outfit on the cover (which actually makes sense in the book), so I will definitely try it again. Virtuosity I read in one sitting. I loved reading about Carmen and her mad violin skillz. It was also a 3.5-star read for me. Thanks for the challenges, Maja! I definitely needed the shove to read these ones.

Flannery Challenged Maja to Read...

Holier Than Thou cover
Alanna The First Adventure cover
Never Let Me Go cover
Maja read: Holier Than Thou.

Verdict: I had a bit more difficulty with the books Flannery recommended, but not because she doesn’t know me well (trust me, she does, she even knows how to pronounce my name and doesn’t hesitate to spread that knowledge to unsuspecting mutual acquaintances), but due to a series of unfortunate events. My sudden love for fantasy made me decide to read Alanna first, so I went ahead and downloaded the audio, only to realize that I loathe the narrator. The poor book didn’t stand a chance. I then picked up Never Let Me Go from my library, but my sister was visiting at the time and she convinced me I wouldn’t like it. We rarely agree about books and I don’t usually take her advice or recommendations, but in this case, her lack of enthusiasm was contagious. In the end, Holier than Thou couldn’t be avoided any longer. I finished it just last night and liked it enough to give it 4.5 stars, although it accomplished exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid: it left me feeling melancholic, restless and a little bit sad. I will eventually read Alanna too because I’m certain I’ll like it, but I won’t be going back to that audio.

Thank you, Flann! Please don’t hit me anymore.

Maja Challenged Catie to Read...

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Catie read: The Stranger.

Verdict: I’ve had The Stranger on my shelf unread for an embarrassing number of years.  It’s one of those books that I have because I picked it up at some library book sale with every intention of reading it and then of course didn’t…possibly because of the intimidating “snooty intelligent book” waves which emanate from it or possibly because when it comes to books, I just get sidetracked easily, like a toddler at a petting zoo.  Regardless, I was thrilled when Maja finally gave me a real excuse to force myself to read this book.  Back when we started this challenge, I pulled it off my shelf and promptly started it, fully intending to finish within a week or two.  And then I chronically found an excuse not to read it for the next five months.  I’m sure you all know how that goes.  BUT, I am happy to report that I finally found my way back to good old Camus and finished this thing a couple of weeks ago.  And I loved it!  I mean, I always knew that I would.  Back in college I practically handed around my copy of The Plague to every friend I had (I was a really exciting person back then, obviously).  What got to me the most about The Stranger was that, despite its cool and disconnected tone, the simmering waves of grief and loneliness and rage were so palpable to me.  Actually, in that way it really reminds me a bit of Holier Than Thou (which I’m so happy that Maja enjoyed).  It’s also completely depressing to consider how quickly we humans will judge one of our own for acting in any way "abnormal", but you all know how I love depressing books.  So thank you, Maja for finally making me revisit Camus.  Now, which member of my playgroup wants to borrow it first?  Anyone?  Bueller?  

Catie Challenged Maja to Read...

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Maja read: Eon.

Verdict: I should start by saying that I fell madly in love with fantasy just a few months back. It started with Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, continued with Kristin Cashore’s books, and I haven’t been able to stop myself since. I should also say that, when it comes to fantasy recommendations, there is no one in this world I trust more than Catie. Out of the three books she chose for me, I picked up Eon first simply because I already owned a copy. To say that it wasn’t what I expected would be an understatement. For some reason, I assumed it would be more middle grade than young adult, and I assumed Eon(a) would be an admirable character, but neither was correct. While I didn’t adore the book like I adored Seraphina, I ordered the second one as soon as I finished reading, and it’s been taunting me from my shelf ever since. However, every time I look at it with its 600 intimidating pages, my reading schedule starts growling at me. I guess I’ll just have to wait for another challenge.

I will definitely read the other two books as well as soon as I find the time. Thanks, Catie!

Have you read any of these books? Did any of us pick the wrong ones to read?
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7 Comments
Keertana @ Ivy Book Bindings link
5/14/2013 06:26:46 am

I love this feature! Flann, I completely agree with you about Lucid - I just wasn't a fan. I know the end saved my rating, but I doubt I'll be picking up much more by those authors. I did REALLY like Virtuosity, though, so I'm glad you enjoyed that.

Catie, I've seen The Stranger around all the time but never pick it up. I'm going to have to give it a definite try, though, since you enjoyed it so much. The Beekeeper's Apprentice is also a solid read, so I'll be interested to see what you think of that one and Where Things Come Back which I've heard so much about.

Maja, I'm so glad you enjoyed Eon and Holier Than Thou! I love those two, although the latter left me melancholy as well. I picked up the audio book of Alanna recently but returned it since I didn't get time to listen to it - PHEW! I can't stand bad narrators, but I do plan to pick that one up soon. I'm itching for solid fantasy. The Lost Conspiracy is great, by the way, and I am dying to read Skin Hunger this summer. Also, YAY for your fantasy run! :D

Reply
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Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
5/14/2013 09:30:25 am

Flann: I can't think about Mystic without thinking about Mystic Pizza. What even is that cover of Discount Armageddon? More like Discount Clothing Rack, amirite? (I'll show myself out.)

Maja: HA! Flann gave me a verbal smackdown over pronouncing your name like Victoria Beckham. Me: I love May-jah. Flann: It's Maya, idiot. I just started the Alanna audiobook but I'm liking it. Maybe it's because I recognize the narrator from Little Women, but it's working for me so far.

Catie: Please tell me that you suggested a game of Camus pong instead of beer pong! Holier Than Thou, you say? Hmm...... Consider my interest piqued.

Maja: I want to Eon but it just seems so... very... long...

Reply
Jasprit link
5/14/2013 08:05:04 pm

I agree Flann Lucid did take a while to get into the nitty gritty, I think as I found myself invested with Sloane's character so early on I was able to enjoy it that little bit more than you did. Yay for enjoying Virtuoisity though, I remember reading it when it first came out and promising to read more of her books asap, which I have utterly failed at.

Maja I knew you would love Holier Than Thou, so happy you finally read it! :)

And Catie you had me at The Stranger reminding you of Holier Than Thou which I adored, I may just have to give this little beauty a try! Fab post ladies! :)

Reply
Cassi link
5/15/2013 08:35:21 am

I love this feature.

I read The Stranger in high school and was not a fan. I wonder if older me would like it more. The existentialists bugged me a lot for some reason in high school.

Reply
Katja @ YA's the Word link
6/1/2013 08:23:56 am

Flannery: I really enjoyed reading about Carmen too, a solid 3.5 sort of book. The romance was pretty well written and even though I found bits of it slow going, I was invested in the characters. Glad you enjoyed it.

Maja: I hate it when the narrator ruins the story. I downloaded a story the other day and the sample sounded great. Unfortunately, it turns out the narrator's great and animated during the dialogue, but for the narrative she sounded like the standard text to speech automated voice. Gar!
I fell in love with fantasy after reading Graceling, and Seraphina's one of my favourite books - when Rachel Hartman explains that she wrote this over several years I think it shows, the world building is wonderfully vivid. I enjoyed Eon, although there were a few niggles for me - including Eon taking an age (or an eon) to figure out why the dragon chose as it did. Eona's even niggly, but on the whole it's an admirable duology and I loved the world building in this one too.

Catie: I'm in awe, I've been meaning to read Albert Camus for the longest time, but don't think I have the patience these days. Perhaps, I need someone to challenge me.

Reply
Katja @ YA's the Word link
6/1/2013 08:25:20 am

Flannery: I really enjoyed reading about Carmen too, a solid 3.5 sort of book. The romance was pretty well written and even though I found bits of it slow going, I was invested in the characters. Glad you enjoyed it.

Maja: I hate it when the narrator ruins the story. I downloaded a story the other day and the sample sounded great. Unfortunately, it turns out the narrator's great and animated during the dialogue, but for the narrative she sounded like the standard text to speech automated voice. Gar!
I fell in love with fantasy after reading Graceling, and Seraphina's one of my favourite books - when Rachel Hartman explains that she wrote this over several years I think it shows, the world building is wonderfully vivid. I enjoyed Eon, although there were a few niggles for me - including Eon taking an age (or an eon) to figure out why the dragon chose as it did. Eona's even niggly, but on the whole it's an admirable duology and I loved the world building in this one too.

Catie: I'm in awe, I've been meaning to read Albert Camus for the longest time, but don't think I have the patience these days. Perhaps, I need someone to challenge me.

Reply



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