Friday August 7

[ufcasey]

Happy Friday! What have you been reading this week?

QOTW:
Do you like it when an author re-writes a book from the point of view of another character? (Obviously this question was inspired by Twilight/Midnight Sun, but the question doesn't have to be specific to that one - it could be hypothetical to any book)

[aurora]

I'm reading Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James. It's fantasy from an African perspective, and I've been really interested to realize just how little I know about African mythology/folklore compared to European.

I'm listening to The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee, which was a whim download from my library when I was on my way out of town and needed an audiobook available that day. I'm not that far in to it but so far finding it an easy and enjoyable read.

QOTW: I don't think I've ever read a book totally rewritten by the same author from a different POV, but in general I like multi-POV books.

[ssmjlm]

I'm reading the new Kate Stewart Duet, Flock and Exodus. Why I do this to myself, I thought from all the blurbs it would be a decent book, but I know she's not a great writer.

ANYWAY, the books feel like a rip-off of a few other authors I've read. She's trying a new adult and may/december thing, but it's not working so far. I'm only 30% into book 2. I mean, if I want to read dark may/december romance, I can pick up the latest Skye Warren book.

QOTW: I've only read the two Grey books. I thought the first book was a decent re-telling from his POV, but I wasn't as impressed with the second. I do like a multi-POV book personally.

I never read any of the Twilight Books (ducks!).

[minzy]

I read American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson. It’s about a black female spy who tries to get close to the president of Burkina Faso in the 1990s. It was kind of like Homeland in its smartness but also leaving the reader(/viewer) a bit in the dark. There is a close bond between the lead character and her sister. That connection, combined with a few deaths, reminded me a little of My Sister, The Serial Killer (the January book club pick).

QOTW: I’m trying to think of what, if anything, I’ve read with two perspectives in different books by the same author, and am coming up short...

[Vespasia]

I read a lot this week because I was on vacation. 

Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia This was really fantastic, highly recommend. It's a slow start to build up the atmosphere but the direction it ends up going in is pretty unique! 

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian I really enjoyed this but I feel like it was tailored made for my interests. Travel, cycling, and medicine all in one book! It's set partially in Vietnam and between this and the next book I spent some time yesterday researching flights to SE Asia. Stupid pandemic!

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan I thought this was the best of the three books, mostly because of the historical elements. It made me research Singapore in WWII. 

I also read the Hush Collection -  a series of short thrillers/mysteries from Amazon Prime. I don't think they were nearly as good as the science fiction collection from last year. Most of them were quite predictable. I have listed them below in a rough best to worst order. 
Buried by Jeffery Deaver
Slow Burner by Laura Lippman
The Gift by Alison Gaylin
Let Her Be by Lisa Unger (not quite done with this one yet)
Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Snowflakes by Ruth Ware


QOTW: I also do not think I have ever read a book like that. I am not sure that I would enjoy it because I prefer books where I don't know what is going to happen. I do generally like books with alternating perspectives though. 

[meowmaps]

Earlier in the week I finished Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce. Just an ok mystery/thriller. Then I read Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas. I really liked it because it was different and the most interesting book I’ve read recently.

I’m currently reading The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz. It’s holding my interest but I have a feeling by the end of it that I’ll have preferred her more recent book, The Herd.

QOTW: I cannot recall reading a book like that.

[minzy]

Aug 7, 2020 10:27:37 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

The Red Lotus

[/b]
This sounds interesting to me, too. I just put it on hold. Thanks for mentioning it! 😊

[ufcasey]

Finished reading:
The House of Special Purpose
 by John Boyne - historical fiction/3.5 stars/basically this is the story of the Romanov family, but it doesn't stick to the true story and the narrator is a new fictional character
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life
 by Alex Trebek - non-ficition/3 stars/on it's own merits the book is honestly not that particularly interesting, but I am a Jeopardy fan and Alex and Ken Jennings narrates the audiobook so I would still recommend it if you are also a fan
Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews - historical romance/4 stars/this is a clean romance focusing on mental health and I kind of loved it
Promise of Darkness by Bec McMaster - fantasy romance/3 stars/this was basically a rip-off of Sarah Maas' ACOTAR series, only not as good

Currently Reading:
Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer - YA paranormal fantasy/some parts of this book are more interesting than others. I will say it does stick very much to the exact conversations and actions that happened in the original book, for better or for worse.

QOTW:
The only other times I can think of when an author has re-written a book to be from a different viewpoint is:
- the 'Four' mini-stories for the Divergent series, only from the viewpoint of Four instead of Tris. This was decent.
- the 'Curran' mini-stories for the Kate Daniel series, only from the viewpoint of Curran instead of Kate. I really enjoyed this.
- the Midnight Sun book for Twilight from Edward's point of view instead of Bella. Some parts are better than others so far.

[rainbowchip]

I finished The Glass Hotel and Good Morning Monster. I actually hated both of them. I listened to Dark Lover to offset those two.

I'm currently reading Midnight Sun and Lover Eternal.

QOTW: I tend to like a retelling from a different POV. I have read several of them and it brings more to the story.
I am loving people on Twitter noting how dumb they are to be writing new books when she wrote the same book 3 times!

[mrspez07]

I’ve been reading The Secret Place by Tana French, listening to Bad Blood about the silicon startup, and dabbling a bit in Me and White Supremacy.

QOTW:
Interesting idea. Now that twilight has been done that way, I’m sure we’ll see more that follow. Trying to picture Outlander from Jamie’s perspective...hmmm

[travella]

I'm still reading But Lies in a Small Town and my son and I restarted Danny Champion of the World.

QOTW: I cannot think of any books at this moment that fit the criteria, but if well written I'd probably enjoy it. I agree that seeing the other perspectives would add to the story.

[krystee]

I just read The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes, and it was fine, but not great. Daisy Jones and the Six was a much more interesting book about a band and where they are now. I also just started Dark matter by Blake Crouch. I really liked Recursion, so I have high hopes.

QOTW: I don’t like retellings from another perspective. They feel like money grabs. If you want me to have another perspective, write the original story from multiple points of view (which I enjoy). Don’t get lazy and try to sell me the same book twice.

[tacokick]

I read like 20 Kindle singles

Also:


And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall

My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman

QOTW: I’ve never read anything like that.