FF Friday: In Which I Answer The Wrong Question

Feature & Follow is a weekly blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

I answered this week’s question last week, so I’ll answer last week’s question this week.

Last week’s question: Name a book you hated.

Answer: I’m pretty good at picking books for myself, and hate is a strong word. There have been a few books that I disliked recently, but I definitely didn’t hate them.

Various schools have forced me to read books that I really disliked. I don’t like the works of James Joyce or Virginia Woolf. I’ve been forced to read a lot of their books. They’re so tedious that I hate fighting my way through them. I cringe every time I see these authors on a class syllabus.

The follow part: If you are a book blogger and you leave a link to your blog in the comments below, I will follow you on Bloglovin’. I’d love it if you also followed me. If you want to be friends on Goodreads, Twitter, BookLikes, or G+, that would be awesome, too. Click the links to go to my pages on those sites. I’m looking forward to “meeting” you.

Review: The Weight of Feathers – Anna-Marie McLemore

The Weight of Feathers – Anna-Marie McLemore

For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find. 

Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

Review: The Palomas and the Corbeaus are warring families of circus performers. The Palomas put on tails and perform underwater while the Corbeaus wear wings and dance in the trees. The families usually avoid one another, but one day, a disaster brings Lace Paloma and Cluck Corbeau together. They begin a forbidden romance that could tear their families apart.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are some elements that I absolutely love and some that I feel more “Meh” about. First, the book is beautifully written. There are some repetitive descriptions (everything tastes like salt for some reason), but overall the writing is strong. It’s my favorite part of the book. It’s atmospheric, and the imagery it creates is stunning.

I also really like the cultures of the characters. The Palomas are Spanish and the Corbeaus are French-Romani. The author incorporates Spanish and French words in to the narrative. The characters’ cultures and superstitions are a big part of their lives. It makes the magical realism elements of the book more believable. The reader always has to wonder if the curses could be real because the characters believe in them so strongly.

I’m not a huge romance lover, but the romance is handled well in this book. Cluck and Lace are both very sweet. They really do seem to care about each other. I like that the author shows how living with an overbearing family can damage a person, and I think the book ends perfectly. The ending is exactly what I wanted. I was so happy for Cluck and Lace. This book puts a unique spin on the classic Romeo and Juliet love story.

Even though I enjoyed this book, I did have a lot of issues with it. I never felt like I was fully immersed in the story. It didn’t capture my attention, and the book was very easy to put down. I think my problems came from a mixture of underdeveloped characters, slow pacing, and a lack of worldbuilding. I got confused fairly often because some of the scenes are hard to picture, and it’s difficult to keep all of the characters straight. Family trees would have been great. Knowing more about the world would have also helped with my confusion.

This isn’t my favorite book, but I still think it’s worth reading, especially if you love magical realism. I’m interested to see what the author writes next. She’s definitely a talented writer.  

The TBR Tag

This is the TBR (To Be Read) tag. I wasn’t tagged by anybody, but I’ve seen it on a lot of blogs and wanted to play along. If you’ve done this tag, leave a link in the comments so I can check out your answers. If you want to do this tag, then I tag you.

The TBR Tag

1. How do you keep track of your TBR?

I’m old school. I have a Word document and a notebook next to the computer. I also have a shelf that is only for unread books.

2. Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?

Print. I have a Kindle, but I still prefer reading physical books.

3. How do you determine which book to read next?

Randomly. The books on my TBR shelf are in a random order. I start at one end of the shelf and work my way down. Or, if I’m super excited for a book, I’ll read that one.

4. A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I think I’ve had those books since March. They’re big, and fantasy isn’t my favorite genre, so I’ve been avoiding them.

5. A book you recently added to your TBR?

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read this book when I was 13, but I’ve never owned a copy. I saw one at the grocery store for 25% off and had to get it.

6. A book on your TBR because of its cover?

Currently, there aren’t any. I’ve never bought a book for its cover alone. Most of the books on my TBR right now have boring covers.

7. A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

I don’t put books on my TBR if I don’t plan on reading them. I guess Lord of the Rings is technically on my TBR. I’ve been trying to read those books since I was a kid. I’ve never managed to get through them.

8. An unpublished book sequel on your TBR that you’re excited for?

The sequel to A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab.

9. A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you?

I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson. I’ll read it. I swear.

10. A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. I swear I’ll also read this one.

11. A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough. I’ve wanted to read this book since it came out. It’s just been sitting on my shelf . . .

12. How many books are on your Goodreads TBR?

Zero. I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t use Goodreads for my TBR.

Review: Vengeance Road – Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road – Erin Bowman

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: Some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Review: When I found out that young adult westerns were a thing, I knew I had to read this book. Immediately.

Eighteen-year-old Kate comes home to find her father hanged and her house burned to the ground. She knows that this is the work of a gang called the Rose Riders, and she sets out to murder every one of them. Along the way, she gathers a band of friends to help her. But, getting revenge turns out to be much more complicated than they expected.

This is going to sound super messed up, but I love it when YA protagonists seriously try to murder people. So many of them set out to get revenge, but they never even attempt to kill anyone. It’s disappointing. This book is different because Kate doesn’t play around. She’s shooting at people within the first few pages. It is a western, after all. Kate is one of those unpredictable, morally gray characters that I love.

The action starts right away and never slows down. If you like thrillers, you’ll probably enjoy this book. There is also a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

I’ve spent my entire life in the western US, so I really like the setting of this story. The author does a wonderful job of describing the desert and the mountains.

There is some romance in the book. I’m usually not a huge fan of that stuff, but I didn’t mind it in this story. It’s a slow-burn romance that doesn’t take over the whole plot. The story is definitely about vengeance, not love. I found the relationship realistic and believable. Some of the banter between Kate and her love interest made me laugh.

I don’t have much criticism of this book because it’s pretty solid. I found a few inconsistencies in the western dialect, but that didn’t really bother me. I do wish that there had been more character development. The characters are interesting to read about, but I don’t feel like I got to know them very well. A few of them—especially the Native American characters—are too stereotypical for my tastes. I think the ending would have been more impactful if I had felt more connection to the characters.

This is a quick, entertaining read that is different from the usual YA book. It didn’t blow my mind or anything, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, that cover is amazing. I think I spent as much time staring at the book as I did reading it.