Top 5 Wednesday: Largest Books on my TBR

~ megs14malloy

Happy Wednesday Geeks & Gals! This week’s ‘Top 5 Wednesday’ topic is ‘the largest books on your tbr’. For those of you who are unfamiliar with #T5W it is basically a social group on Goodreads where a different topic is selected for each Wednesday of the month and book bloggers, booktubers, reviewers, etc., can discuss the particular topic on their various bookish social media channels. I haven’t done one of these in a long, long time but am ready to get back into them. Without further ado, let’s get to the largest books on my current tbr:

  1. The Stand by Stephen King – (1,327 pages for the Hodder paperback edition, published 2007) Yes, I have read The Stand before. In fact, it is my favorite book of all time. The ultimate tale of good versus evil. I am planning to reread this monster in 2019 so recently added it back to my tbr. The Stand follows a ragtag group of survivors after a virus carried outside of a government laboratory wipes out 99% of the population. The cast of characters in this is well developed, some heroes, some villains and some in-between. I cannot wait to dive back into this as time has lost some of the finer plot points.
  2. It by Stephen King – (1,156 pages for the Scribner paperback edition, published 2016) I am petrified of clowns. I have been my whole life. I have never read It and until my 40th birthday this year, in September, I had never watched any of the adaptations. I finally got up the nerve, with my fiance’s help, and a couple glasses of whiskey (liquid courage) to watch the newest movie version of It. Although quite a few parts were watched through my fingers whilst exclaiming various expletives, I did thoroughly enjoy the characters and the story and am now looking forward to reading the book. Pennywise is still very scary but I need to read this story. Fear will not hold me back anymore!
  3. Under the Dome by Stephen King – (1,092 pages for the Kindle edition published in 2009) Most people may be familiar with the basic premise behind Under the Dome because of the Fox television series based off the book. I watched the first season and really enjoyed it. A small town inexplicably becomes trapped inside of a glass dome. What is behind it? The government? Alien forces? I don’t know, I haven’t read it, but I’m definitely looking forward to it!
  4. The Dark Tower (Book 7 of The Dark Tower series) by Stephen King – (1,072 pages in the Pocket Books edition published in 2016) This is the final book in King’s epic Dark Tower series which follows gunslinger, Roland of Gilead, and his ka-tet as they battle the forces of evil on their quest to find the Dark Tower. I am currently 85-pages from the end of Book 5, The Wolves of the Calla. This series is mind-boggling. Absolutely astounding in its scope. The connections between this series and King’s other works are so enjoyable and really an experience any of King’s ‘Constant Readers’ should undertake at least once in their lifetime. If you are a fan of King’s works, I cannot recommend this series enough.
  5. A Feast for Crows (Book 4 of The Song of Ice & Fire series) by George R.R. Martin – (1,061 pages in the Bantam Books paperback published in 2011) Many people are familiar with HBO’s hugely popular show, The Game of Thrones. I myself am obsessed with it. I did watch the show first and then began reading the books. I felt that helped with this series. It is so epic, I felt it was helpful when picturing it all in my head (and also, let’s be honest, with the pronunciation of names). I have thoroughly enjoyed the first 3 books in this series but have been putting this one off for a while. Because of the page count and the dense nature of some of the writing, they are an undertaking and definitely not for everyone. All fans of epic grimdark fantasy though MUST read!

That is a grand total of 5,708 pages just for those 5 books! Wow! That is an incredible page count and to have 4 of them come from the same author, unbelievable. King can certainly write some tomes. I look forward to reading all of these books and will most likely get to either my Stand reread or Book 7 of the Dark Tower first.

What is the longest book on your tbr? I want to know! Leave a comment below or contact me through my social media, links to the right>>>

Cheers & Happy Reading!

 

Review: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

~ megs14malloy

The WonderThe Wonder by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Last night I was discussing Emma Donoghue books with a friend. She had just finished Room and mentioned that although she liked the writing, she had to push herself to get through it. I mentioned that I had only read one of her books, The Wonder. I looked it up on Goodreads, as having finished it in March of this year, I couldn’t recall what I had given it for a star rating and discovered I had not written a review yet!

Since one of my 2018 book goals was to review every book I read, I am here to report a few of my thoughts on this one. The Wonder follows an English nurse, Lib, sent to a rural village in Ireland in the late 1850s to investigate a young girl reported to be living for months without intaking any food. Her family claims she is a living miracle, tourists are flocking to the village to witness this and journalists are covering the case. Lib, highly skeptical from the very beginning works closely with the girl, making sure she is never out from under supervision. What sort of fraud is this? Or is it indeed a miracle?

Some of the writing regarding the Irish people and village was a little off putting but I kept reminding myself this was from the perspective of this nurse, traveling to this location from London, in the 1850s and was probably an accurate portrayal of the ideas/prejudices that someone in her position may have had at this time. I don’t want to say too much more about this aspect of the story, it was just something that annoyed me a wee bit whilst reading.

Overall, I felt this was a compelling and enjoyable read. I would have preferred a bit more mystery and a little faster pace but I did definitely enjoy unraveling this tale.

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November TBR

~ megs14malloy

Happy November bookish friends! I’m a little late with this post as it is currently November 5th but better late than never. October was a phenomenal reading month for me. I completed 16 books which is a new personal record! ((proud moment))

For November, although I have been tempted by a couple of different readathons, readalongs, etc., I have decided not to take any on. I am just going to read what suits my mood at the time. This being said I do have three arcs I am planning to read this month, one of which I have started already, and a few other things high on my priority list which I am counting as my ‘November TBR’ (to be read).

First up is The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston. This is an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) that I received from Disney Hyperion, so thank you so much to them! This is one of my most anticipated books of the year as I am a fan of Elston’s writing. It is a YA Thriller and set to release on November 13th. This story follows Owen Foster who is disgraced after his father, a successful business owner, steals millions from his company and flees, leaving Owen and his mother behind. Owen has to leave his posh boarding school, as they can no longer afford tuition, and return to the public school in his hometown. His father’s theft affected many people in the town and Owen’s presence is not received well. So far I am really enjoying it and am anxious to see where it is all going. I call it a Thriller but thus far it reads more like a Contemporary. One interesting aspect is there are flashbacks to when Owen’s parents first meet and start dating; I like this as it is a unique take for a YA story. I think it will provide a lot of information as to his father’s motivations regarding the current scandal.

Next up for ARCs will be, My Sister, the Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite, described as “Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.” Thank you to Doubleday Books for providing me with early access to this one. This book is set to release on November 20th and should be good to keep those Spooktober vibes going! It is also fairly short, coming in at just 240-pages, so I anticipate being able to get through it quickly.

My last of the November ARCs is, Insane Mode: How Elon Musk’s Tesla Sparked an Electric Revolution to End the Age of Oil, by Hamish McKenzie. This is a nonfiction book and I think the subtitle sums up pretty well what this book is about. Elon Musk is a fascinating human being, someone I follow and look up to quite a bit. I am really looking forward to reading this and learning a bit more about the company and the disruption it has caused. This book is set to release on November 27th and is published by Dutton Books. ((Thank you, Dutton Books!))

So, these are the three November ARCs that I need to read this month. Some other books that I have on my radar that may get picked up this month, in no particular order, are: Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Senile Squad by Chris Legrow, Song of Susannah, Book VI of The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, Elevation by Stephen King, Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward and Furyborn by Claire Legrand.

What books are you most looking forward to reading this month? Are you participating in any challenges, readalongs or readathons? If so, I want to hear about it/them – leave a comment below or contact me through social media!

Cheers & Happy reading!

Review: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

~ megs14malloy

An Unwanted GuestAn Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lapena redeemed!!

An Unwanted Guest is the second book I have read from Shari Lapena. To say I was less than enthusiastic about the first I read, The Couple Next Door, would be to put it kindly. I was left scratching my head as to what people seemed to like so much about it. I have some really great book friends who love her books though so I said I would give her another shot and I am glad that I did. Go me!

I knew going in that this book would be more in my comfort zone being a ‘locked room’-style mystery. Basically, a cast of characters shut in a confined space, bodies start dropping, whodunit? This had the formula of a classic Christie tale: you meet the cast quickly, all in the beginning, none of them are particularly likable, they all check-in to a fabulous, secluded old hotel, interactions begin, someone gets killed and then another and then another…

The setting for this was a family-run hotel where our guests go to escape from the world, reconnect within their relationships and unwind. However, when a powerful ice storm hits and the power is knocked out…oh, and the MURDERS begin, these weekend warriors get much more from their holidays than they initially anticipated.

As I mentioned previously, none of the characters were particularly ‘likable’ in the traditional sense but they were definitely interesting. Everyone seemed to be hiding something and I had absolutely had no idea who the killer was. After ‘hidden information’ was finally revealed all fell into place. I liked it. I really liked it. There was a special little twist at the end that I felt was really fun and satisfying. Overall, I am super glad I gave Lapena another shot and I will definitely pick up more books from her in future!

Original: Alright, alright, alright. Let’s see if Ms. Lapena can redeem herself for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of The Couple Next Door ((to put it mildly)) but have heard good things about this one. ‘Locked room’ mysteries are some of my favorites so I think this could be right in my wheelhouse!

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Review: My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows & Brodi Ashton

~ megs14malloy

My Plain JaneMy Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rollicking, ‘spirited’ good time! ((see what I did there?))

My Plain Jane is the second novel released by the Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows). As with their first collaboration, My Plain Jane this book is full of good humor and replete with pop culture references. Dubbed as Jane Eyre meets the Ghostbusters, this story provides a wacky and fun retelling of the classic with lots of supernatural twists! In addition to this, I was picking up a strong Scooby-Doo vibe. There was something about the gang of characters that came together and the style of the antagonist that gave me those feelings. I adore Scooby-Doo so this worked really well for me!

As with the first book, this story follows the perspectives of three main characters: Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre and Alexander Blackwood. Although the characters were fun, I personally didn’t become as invested in them as I did with the characters in My Lady Jane. I am not really sure why. I sort of felt like I didn’t get a chance to know them and their feelings, motivations, etc., as well as in the first one. This may be because there is so much more going on in the action part of the plot in this one. A lot of ghosts and things to follow at Thornfield Hall, London, the Lowood School and everywhere in between!

Although at times it felt a little overdone, overall I think the humorous effect was there and that the varied perspectives of the story wrapped up in a nice, cohesive way. I think the authors are so creative to come up with these twists, it is amusing to think of these classics in a whole new light. Jane Eyre is such a beloved tale though ((one I haven’t read)) that I can see some readers perhaps being sensitive to it being altered in such a huge way. To me, it is all in good fun and to pay homage to such a cherished classic only serves to bring renewed energy towards the original source materials. This is actually the second Jane Eyre retelling I have read this year and I can honestly say, I am much closer to reading it now than ever before.

I had a fun time reading this and felt like it was a great book to read during October! I look forward to seeing what the Lady Janies come up with next!

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Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

~ megs14malloy

The Darkest Star (Origin, #1)The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4-happy shining stars**

“We were all dark stars, but Luc…he was the darkest.”

The Darkest Star is the first book in a new YA-series written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This is a companion/spin-off from her hugely popular Lux series. Hold on to your hats Ladies & Gents because I have a confession to make: I have not read the Lux series!!!

Yes, it’s true. I went into this having never read a Jennifer L. Armentrout book and having no idea what the Luxen were all about. I was most pleasantly surprised! I think it is a testament to Armentrout’s skill as a writer that I never for a moment felt lost or like I was missing anything. If I had not heard of the Lux series prior to starting this, I would have never guessed that there was a prior series. So, if you are like me and have never read the Lux series and you don’t really have time or space on your tbr to fit it in, please don’t let that dissuade you. If the synopsis of this one sounds interesting to you, pick it up, have no fear, you will understand everything. That’s a megs_bookrack guarantee!

This book follows teenager, Evie, as she navigates a lot of disturbing revelations about herself. Early on in the story she meets a handsome stranger, Luc, at the club ((you know how it is)) and one thing leads to another and before you know it they are running from the cops, hiding in a broom closet and then seemingly just a part of each others lives from there on out.

I had a lot of fun watching Evie and Luc’s relationship grow. It was heavy in the hate to love feels and I cherish that when the banter is super witty. Luc is a sexy and successful young man…well, actually he is an Origin ((Origin = the child of a Luxen + mutated human)), who is the baddest badass of all. Side Note: the Luxen are an alien race that cohabits Earth with us after they had to flee their own planet.

Through Evie’s new relationship with Luc a lot gets revealed to her about her own past and who she really is. Pretty much anything she thought was real, wasn’t. Poor Evie really gets through for a loop in this book but she handles it as well as could be expected and her growth is satisfying. I look forward to seeing where the next book goes. I have a few ideas of areas/plot lines that I am hoping will be explored but only time will tell!

I really enjoyed Armentrout’s writing style. I found it was relaxed and had a nice, even flow to it. The pace was good and there was a lot of great, natural humor that I found refreshing. I also picked up on some social commentary on issues such as race, immigration, minority communities, fear-mongering, etc. I was surprised by some of the connections I was able to make from what was happening in the book and what has happened in my own country in recent history. I always appreciate when an author throws in real social issues into a fantastical or magical narrative. It feels like finding Easter Eggs.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book. I was impressed with the writing, I found it very easy to read and follow and I appreciated the fact that Armentrout made the story approachable for both new and veteran readers of her material.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with an early copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to jump into this world created by Armentrout and am already excited for the next book in the series!

Original: My October just got more interesting – ARC received!

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Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

~ megs14malloy

The Wicked DeepThe Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Wicked Deep is by far the most eerily beautiful book I have read in a long, long time. I finished this over a week ago and I have been trying to come up with a way to express how this book made me feel. I still can’t quite put my finger on it but damn, whatever it is, I likey and I want more. This will probably be a story I revisit in October for years to come. I’m like…

This book has received a lot of buzz. In this case, I feel it is well deserved. Going in, I wanted one thing out of it =
ATMOSPHERE.

The author delivered that in spades. Her descriptions of the small seaside town of Sparrow, Oregon, of the island, the weather, the tourists, it was 100% relatable to me. I live on a small island myself, one that is a tourist destination and at times can feel exploited because of that, and I can tell you, I could feel the wind, the mist, the fog, the influx of outsiders – the weight of it – it is palatable and I thought that Ernshaw really brought that feeling to life in this book.

Her writing is enchanting and she uses breathtaking descriptions to weave her tale. It read like a modern day fairytale – full of witches, magic, curses, revenge, mystery, love – it checked all of the boxes for a whimsical narrative. I loved how she gave us insights into the times of the Swan sisters as well. That was a neat little twist I wasn’t expecting. The modern and historical were woven together seamlessly and it gave such depth to the story and the characters.

“Love is an enchantress – devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

When love stories are combined with ghost stories, I find them so haunting. One of my favorites for bringing these two elements together is Stephen King’s, Bag of Bones. While they are completely different animals, that one being heavily adult and this one very YA, I feel they both combined those two elements to create a spooky and memorable ghost story. Ones that truly get under your skin and sit there; that make you simultaneously warm and cold. I am actually glad this is going to be adapted as I feel it could translate well into more visual media.

Now, the characters…the characters were great! The present day story mainly follows local girl, Penny Talbot. She lives out on Lumiere Island tending the lighthouse with her mother, who isn’t well. Penny is likable, if a bit aloof, but definitely someone you can get behind and cheer for. When a new guy Bo arrives in town, she ends up giving him a job out on the island helping with the lighthouse and other tasks gone to pot since her father disappeared. I enjoyed her relationship with Bo; watching its evolution felt mysterious; that more was hidden right under the surface. The big reveal for me was bloody fantastic! I did not see it coming. I didn’t, maybe I am an idiot but regardless, I felt it was really well done.

My favorite character, of course, was Marguerite Swan. I got strong Slytherin vibes from her. Described as ‘ vengeful & clever…single-minded in her hatred for the town…’ Yep, I dig that. Getting the perspectives on the Swan sisters, as I mentioned above, was a real treat. This story could have been done without that historical element but I am glad that Ernshaw chose to write it this way. Reading and understanding the motivations for ghosts or spirits haunting a person, place or thing, is not something you see a lot of. I really, really enjoyed it.

Overall, I absolutely adored this story. I cannot praise it enough and will absolutely be reading it again! Cheers~

Original: Take my breath away. ((fans self))

I’m utterly heartsick over how beautiful this book is. The magical atmosphere has delved deep into my bones. I definitely need some time to gather my thoughts on this. An absolutely stunning read.

Full review to come…stay tuned!

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Review: Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

~ megs14malloy

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5-stars!!!

Ahhhh, young love. Isn’t it grand? You know the story, the tale as old as time: girl meets wolf, wolf and girl fall in love, angsty things happen…wait, is that not how the story usually goes?

This story follows two perspectives, Grace, a girl low-key obsessed with the wolves in the woods behind her house, and Sam, a werewolf. Sam has golden eyes and beautiful fur that Grace is instantly drawn too because…gold.

Seriously though, this is a love story between a girl and the werewolf who once saved her life. It was full of teenage drama and I must admit that had 14-to-20 year-old Meg read this book she would have been swooning from now till next year, honey! Needless to say, old Meg, not as thoroughly blown away by the plot.

The first half was difficult for me. More romance than an actual plot. Once I got towards the middle however I felt myself getting sucked into this bizarre storyline in an oddly addictive way…

Then finally, at the end, I’m like, Thank all that is holy that I have the entire series!!! Yep. You read that right, I am now officially a sucker for teenage werewolf love and I am not even upset about it. I am sure the fact that Maggie Stiefvater happens to be a truly good writer definitely aides along my new found addiction. So, thank you Ms. Stiefvater, for that!

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Review: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows & Brodi Ashton

~ megs14malloy

My Lady JaneMy Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Continuous fun the whole way through! I loved this. 💖🐎💖

My Lady Jane is a fantastical romance loosely based around the life of Lady Jane Grey. Who was Lady Jane Grey?

I mean, I really don’t know. All I can tell you is she was Queen of England for a shockingly short 9-days; hence her nickname the ‘the Nine Days Queen’. As to the circumstances surrounding that = a complete mystery to me. I am choosing from this day forward to believe this amazingly hysterical version of events put forth in these pages by the Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows & Brodi Ashton).

We get to follow multiple perspectives in this book: Jane, her cousin King Edward and Gifford (“call me G”). There is a really fun and unique ‘narrator directly addressing the reader’ format to this which I found absolutely charming. The fantastical elements were so far out there but again so much fun. That’s pretty much my largest take from this book – reading can be so much fun. I was transported by this story and could see the events playing out in my mind. I loved the different perspectives and felt the characters were well fleshed out with their own very distinct voices.

I always find collaborations like this so impressive. It is surprising to me that a group of three individuals could work so well together that they could create such a seamless narrative. I am excited to see what else these authors put out. I do have a copy of My Plain Jane but I haven’t gotten to it yet. In short, if you are looking for a fast-paced, heart-warming, ton-of-fun book, you should definitely give this one a shot!

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Recommendation: Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

~ megs14malloy

Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot #39)Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hello Reader Friends!! Are you still trying to find that perfect Halloween read?

Maybe you aren’t a fan of horror or don’t want to be afraid but still want the feeling of the Halloween season? If this is the case, than this may be the perfect book for you!

I read Hallowe’en Party last year on Halloween night and I had a lot of fun with it. This is one of the Hercule Poirot books and if you are a fan of him, his calm and efficient manner in solving mysteries, than what are you waiting for? Pick this one up!

The main plot revolves around a children’s Halloween Party and what one child claims to have witnessed during that party. A murder ((dun dun dun)) Is this kid full of it or what? The atmosphere is definitely Halloweenie but without being frightening and intimidating. Perfect for fans of Christie’s classic ‘whodunit’ formulaic (not meant as shade, I personally find them relaxing) mysteries!

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