And they were definitely 3 slow miles, but hey, I did a run on National Running Day!
So it's that time of the month again to talk about all the serious, page turning, or you can skip, books I read in May.
16. Thirteen Reason Why by Jay AsherFinished: May 4, 2013
"Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers."
I originally put this book on hold back in February when it appeared on some book club lists and received great reviews. When the book became available to me at the beginning of March, I let it pass on to the next person as I wasn't ready to read it. At the end of April I decided to get it out of the library again. Let me say that I thought it was beautifully written. Suicide is such a taboo topic to talk about, but I felt that this book really tastefully gave some insight into why a person, as in this case a young teenage girl, may do such a thing. Even though it's a book of fiction, it is really a fact.
17. The Kill Order (Maze Runner #0.5) by James DashnerFinished: May 13, 2013
"The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.
Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive."
After reading the last book in this trilogy, I thought it would be interesting to read this Prequel. Unfortunately, this book was a waste of my time. While it was a tad interesting to read how the flares happened, the book really didn't explore what I had hoped it would. I really wanted the author to elaborate on how Mark and Trina, as teenagers, created the Maze. What were they thinking? How did they decide the Maze was the way to go? It just didn't go there. So while I recommend the trilogy itself, this book could be left on the shelf.
Finished: May 15, 2013
"The first book in Alyson Noël's extraordinary new Immortals series. Enter an enchanting new world, where true love never dies...
After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact to suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school — but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.
Damen is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head - wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea just who he really is - or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him."
I checked this book out of the library on a whim, The cover and description intrigued me. It's another young adult book that I did really enjoy, as is demonstrated by me reading it in 2 days. You think this book is about vampires, but it's not. Will definitely be reading the next one in the series.
Finished: May 22, 2013
"Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior."
Can you imagine what it must feel like to have not been touched or even spoken to someone in almost 1 year? Well the main character Juliette does and I was drawn into this book from the very first chapter. I'm excited that this is part of a trilogy and really want to read the in between book before reading #2 as it comes from the perspective of the main character of the Reestablishment. Is he really as evil as the first book portrays him to be? Hmmm.
Finished: May 24, 2013
"Kate Winters has won immortality.
But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.
Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry's first wife, Persephone."
This trilogy isn't any earth shattering, must read books but it does provide me with some interesting and simple reading that I like every once in a while. This is technically the third book I read because there was an in between book, which you really don't have to read to understand this book.
Finished: May 31, 2013
"We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again."
This book was the highlight of my month! I have been recommending it to everyone who likes to read books similar to my tastes. I absolutely loved it! I read it based on my sister's recommendation and from the moment I started reading it, I could not put it down. I am so ready for the next book!
According to Goodreads, I am now 53% into completing my goal of reading 40 books by the end of the year and am ahead of schedule by 4 books.
So tell me, anyone else going to get outside for National Running Day? What has been your favorite book to read so far this year?
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