June 2015: Required Reading

May 2015 Required Reading Report:

1. Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz - (4/5 Stars) A quiet coming of age story that speaks volumes on identity and sexuality, done in beautiful prose.


2. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri - (5/5 Stars) The stories have a clear eyed grace about them. Simple and eloquent but deeply affecting. 


3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - (3/5 Stars) I enjoy Rowell's writing, it is snappy and engaging and funny and she clearly knows her pop culture. But I had a hard time believing in Eleanor and Park, as real teens.


4. Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman - (5/5 Stars) So good! Haunting and detailed artwork, engaging story. This might just now be my number one favorite graphic novel. 


5. This is How by Augusten Burroughs - Unfinished at 26%. I am fine with Burroughs' humor. I think he does, in a way, lend something new to the self-help genre with this book. But I stumbled a bit on the writing, which seems padded. To convey an idea, he just puts in too many words than necessary. But I an willing to give this another shot, perhaps when I am in a better headspace.


June 2015: Required Reading

1. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - TFG book club book of the month. I am not big on whodunits but I do like the dark and gritty atmosphere of noir.

2. Number9Dream by David Mitchell -  And we're back on the Mitchell train! See ya reading buddies!


Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge Update: THIRTEEN tasks accomplished as of March, 2015


1. A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25 - It's Kind of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

2. A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people) - Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
3. Published by an indie press - Van Gogh by Pascal Bonafoux (published by independent press Konecky & Konecky,U.S.)
4. A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
5. A book by a person whose gender is different from your own - Ghostwritten by David Mitchell
6. A book that takes place in Asia - The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
7. A YA novel - I Don't Want To Be Crazy by Samantha Schutz
8. A romance novel - Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
9. An audiobook - Perdido Street Station by China Mievelle, as read by John Lee
10. A collection of poetry - You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense by Charles Bukowski
11. A book that was originally published in another language - The Whispering Muse by Sjon
12. A graphic novel - Mythology Class by Arnold Arre
13. A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over) - Sandman Vol 1 by Neil Gaiman

Comments

  1. On Number9dream, pasilip sa buddy-reading thread ninyo, ha? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mommy L! Oki doki. We start on June 10. We'll put up a GR thread next week, and will add you up as eavesdropper. :)

      Delete
  2. ^I was about to ask, where IS the thread? Exclusive ba ito? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Monique! A secret David Mitchell cult. LOL. See reply above ^. We put you in as eavesdropper as well? :)

      Delete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What did I tell you about This is How by Augusten Burroughs? Haha! :P Anyway, see you in our buddy reading thread. :)

    ReplyDelete

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