It's Monday, what are you reading? (15)

Hosted by The Book Journey

I'm back! This last week turned into a bit of an unintended hiatus- I was home in Montreal visiting family, plus I've been trying to do nanowrimo (argh, failing so hard!) and I didn't even finish reading any books the week before this past one so there was no point in doing one of these updates. Although I'm still majorly behind on reviews. Yikes, I know. But I think I needed a blog break anyway, just to make sure it doesn't start to feel like work. I suspect reading will be minimal for the rest of the month as well, especially if I want to get anywhere near "winning" with my novel but I am back home in Alberta and hopefully will have some time for updates and commenting again.

Two weeks ago I finished reading:
Nothing! I know, horrible eh?

Last week I finished reading:
Fracture by Megan Miranda

A 2012 debut, I'd seen this compared a lot to books like If I Stay but it actually has this paranormal element to it that I didn't expect. It was a good read, although not the kind of book I'd be likely to pick up a second time, I did enjoy and the author can definitely tell a riveting tale.

Tankborn by Karen Sandler

I'd seen such a rave review of this on The Lost Entwife that I decided to try it even though I am a little over-saturated with dystopia at the moment and I don't really like the cover. However, I LOVE the book. Wow, such a complex and incredible setting, plus it was nice to see the author use people of colour in her story since that seems to be quite rare in the genre.

The Wild Book by Margarita Engle

I actually really enjoy novels-in-verse when they are done well, but this one felt like not quite a book. I'm not sure if that's because it's middle-grade (I thought it was YA when I picked it up, but it's definitely not), but I wanted a lot more from the story, it felt more like an outline with a few places filled in than a complete and rich novel.

What I plan to read this week:
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Nearly done this one and loving it, so intense. The prequel, Unearthly was a surprise hit with me earlier this year so I was so excited to see this on Netgalley and am going to be incredibly impatient for the final book!

Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

I read almost half of this while waiting nearly 4 hours at the doctor's office last Monday but haven't really picked it up since. I love Gill's writing but I do find it goes off on tangents at times, there is a lot of history involved and so far there are definitely times where I wanted a little less of that, and a little more about what it is like being a tree-planter, and the unique communities tree planters have, etc. Like I said though, the writing is beautiful and I hope I get the chance to finish it this week.

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

One final book incase I have time, I started this two weeks ago but left it in Alberta when I went home so I definitely want to pick it up again soon. I love Levithan but I am finding there is too much of the strike-through technique used in the small portion (about 10%) that I've read so far. I understand its purpose and can appreciate it when it's used sparingly like in Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, but if it happens too much it does start to feel a little gimmicky. Hopefully that won't be the case once I really get into the book.

What are you reading this Monday?