KateKintail's January Reading Log

This is a recap of my January reading, for a swap-bot swap I signed up for. I chose to post it here so that I can format it the way I want. See below for a very brief recap of what I thought of the books along with a link to read more about my thoughts, if you so desire.

For a while there, I wasn't sure I'd have very many books to report this time around, then I ended up plowing through some graphic novels.

Here's a list of books I read during the month but didn't finish (or haven't finished yet):

• Star Wars Jedi Apprentice: The Ties That Bind by Jude Watson


• The Green Mile by Stephen King


• Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters


• 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass


• The Secret Hour (Midnighters, #1) by Scott Westerfeld

Here are the books I finished this month:

1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/160717.html
   I adored this book. The characters were rich and fantastic. The mystery was deep and layered. The tropes were both familiar and fresh. The themes were explored beautifully. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming, even though I suspected EVERYONE at one point or another. JK's last book left me cold, but this one rocked my world. I can't wait for book 2!


2. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/160190.html
   I'd read most of the Outlander series, but not this one. And reading this really made me want to start my re-read of the series :-) I loved seeing Jamie and Lord John together on an adventure. There was a little of everything that I love about the series all in one book. I wasn't so fond of the choice of two readers for the audiobook, but I have a copy in hardcover as well and I know I will be re-reading this many times over the years.


3. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 Vol 1 by Scott Tipton, David Tipton, others
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/161084.html
   Two of my favorite fandoms combine with great results. The cybermen and borg teaming up? Epic! I loved all the little details that rang true for both of the fandoms. It was even great to have some classic Doctor Who and original Star Trek series in the mix. Now I need to buy Volume 2 to find out how it all turns out.


4. Spider-Men by Brian Michael Bendis & others
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/161482.html
   Amazing story where Spider-Man (Peter) from one Marvel universe enters another Marvel universe and meets another Spider-Man (Miles) in a reality where Peter Parker was killed and is publicly known. It was great watching all the characters adjust to this wrinkle and stop the villain who caused this in the first place. Extremely clever writing (I'm such a Bendis fangirl)


5. Blue Bloods: the graphic novel by Melissa de la Cruz, Robert Venditti, others
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/161537.html
   I haven't read the YA book this graphic novel is based off of, but I absolutely loved the characters and the new twists on the vampire mythos here, so I think I will try out the series some time now. I'm glad this graphic novel opened my eyes to it.


6. Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography by Nelson Mandela
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/161981.html
   I knew very little about the details of Nelson Mandela's life, and to see photographs as well as hear his story in words was quite powerful. I also realized how little I actually knew about the political and cultural situation in South Africa. This book was a bit confusing at times, but mostly informative, revealing, interesting, and emotionally powerful. I don't read a whole lot of biographies and even fewer autobiographies, but I'm glad I grabbed this off the shelves at the library.


7. Uglies: Cutters by Scott Westerfeld
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/162056.html
   I didn't really love this book. I read it because I liked his Uglies series and I read the first graphic novel. The idea is to redo each of the books in the series in graphic novels, but through Shay's point of view instead of Tally's. I liked some of the overlap between the two, but I really wanted more things that are unique to Shay, things we don't get to see in the actual book. The cutters storyline was only a few pages in comparison with the rest of the book, which was sad given that it's the title and it's a huge thing I was hoping would be explored in more detail as it shows Shay's cleverness and independence and is the thing that attracts Special Circumstance's attention.


8. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/159800.html
   The second Penderwick novel was just as charming as the first. I adore the characters and seeing them at their home this time was a delight. I love all the little struggles they go through and how each one of them gets an adventure of their own--even Mr. Penderwick this time.


9. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
   http://katekintailbc.livejournal.com/162550.html
   The third Penderwick novel, and I wish I could think of another word apart from charming, but that's what these books are. I can't get enough of these wonderful characters and their adventures. I wanted to reach right in and hug them during this book especially. In it, three of the sisters vacation in Maine along with their friend Jeffery, and they meet someone they don't expect.

That's my January. I had a really good time with the books I read this month. I picked up two holds at the library today I can't wait to start reading :-)

Happy reading, everyone!