Having already listed the books for the first two weeks of January here, the remains of January slowed down a bit. There’ve also been a couple of books that didn’t fit in with any extant categories, in which case they’re listed, but no categories.
- The Three by Sarah Lotz (6, I’m pretty sure)
An interesting writing style, emulating interviews for a larger book based around three survivors of three simultaneous plane crashes in different parts of the world. It feels remote, and (for me) was quite hard to empathise with the characters because of that – but at the same time, maybe that’s the reason for doing it this way. - January Window, by Phillip Kerr (15-ish)
A couple of Phillip Kerr’s books are among my “regular re-reads” (hence why it’s qualifying in criteria 15) but his last couple have had traits that really annoy me, with lots of name-checking and pomposity. I’m glad I got this through Kindle Unlimited, and thus didn’t actually buy it. It’s an OK read, but nothing great, and not one I’d bother reading again - Golden Son, by Pierce Brown. (36, 31-ish (it’s book two of a trilogy, but the third hasn’t been written yet) and 50-ish (YA, not children’s))
I’m getting a bit tired of the current trend for dystopian Young Adult (YA) novels – the current trend initiated by things like Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent etc. etc. – but this is a slightly different consideration, built around a whole solar system of development, alongside “Colours” to define each person’s role within the system. The first book, Red Rising, was interesting and different, and the second one continues the ethos. I’m still interested in the whole thing, and looking forward to finding where it goes. - Dead Girl Walking, by Chris Brookmyre (15)
Now Brookmyre is definitely a favourite author. This was pre-ordered just on the face of being a Brookmyre book – and then on the resurrection of one of his early regular protagonists, Jack Parlabane – and it fully lived up to expectations. - Horns, by Joe Hill (3)
I’d tried this ages ago, didn’t like it, and gave up, but decided to give it another go. I’m still not massively keen on it, but at least it’s on the “done” list rather than “waiting”. Small wins, and all that.
And there we go, that’s it for now.
Ah, another vote for YA to fulfill number 50?