New Year Challenge

This year's challenge will be getting through Lord of the Rings. I know. I didn't really do the challenge for 2012 but I figure this one will require less effort. Wish me luck.

Melissa finally does Audiobooks

I was not for audiobooks at first. I found them intimidating and thought that I wouldn't be able to fully grasp the context. I could not figure out how people lived their lives while listening to a book. Nope. However, my logic was flawed. I have been listening to story podcasts for over a year. I only listen to them while doing something else and if I feel like I zoned out or missed something I (dramatic parenthesis) rewind. I am now currently enjoying Happy Accidents as one of 2 of my free audible trial books. I still doubt my ability to listen to a full fiction book on tape but I can listen to people tell me about their lives. I don't know if I'll keep audible but I'm a little more tempted than I was before. Also, I could listen to Jane Lynch tell me about her life for hours...apparently. 

Who Fears Death

Nnedi Okorafor is a really good storyteller. I love it when a fantasy novel can cover non fantasy social problems. Love it. Who Fears Death has humor within the dark and at times violent tale. The flow helps as well. While Onyesonwu can be a frustrating narrator, I still loved her. Her Eshu powers reminded me a bit of Wildseed which was a great feeling. The feeling looked like the following gif.

So happy I finally opened started this book and I regret nothing.

I can't quit you, Dresden

This is a series that annoys me but I keep coming back to read. I enjoy the adventure and the fast pace. For instance, this book opens with the action and then walks you back through the build up. I also a enjoy the rules, the White Council and the jokes. So then what annoys me about this series? Dresden. His 'weakness for a damsel in distress' is supposed to be charming (I guess) but comes across off putting. His police cop Murphy calls him on it frequently (well I'm on the 3rd book so frequently so far) but it feels like this book's version of "You so crazy." I believe this is why I am reading this series as slowly as possible.

Confession Time

I am slow to finish this series because I read a spoiler about a character death a while ago. It's a great series. I love it. I'm starting to think Brian K. Vaughn was invented to write graphic novel series that get next to my heart. However, I know this one character, whom I frakkin love, will die and I just can't. Well, I can but I can't do it in a timely manner. There are times I rue the day I met tumblr. 

Locke and Key 2nd Halloween Read

Thanks to a recommendation from Pop Culture Happy Hour, I started this also for Halloween. It is giving me the creeps but I like it.

Halloween Read

I don't usually do this but I thought I'd read this book now because Halloween is right around the corner. I'm not quite finish with it yet but I need to be done before Halloween.

In short, her life sucked and then she died but she sucked at dying and now she's learning how to be a ghost. Seriously, it's a fine combination of sad/funny. At first, you swear this is about to be a rom-com but I am almost halfway finished and nope. I'm good with that though because I don't need her to fall in love or whatnot. I mean, at this point, how would that work?

It's not exciting and it's not really that spooky. I guess I was hoping for fantasy with sarcasm and I got sarcasm with fantasy. I'm used to a bit more lore and just creepiness. I read Vertigo Comics. Just saying. I can feel someone about to 'son' me right now with a creepier independent company. But anyway, this does not take away from the book. It would be a quicker read if it weren't so depressing but Notaro's humor keeps the depression in check.

I definitely had flashbacks to Dead Like Me. Remember Dead Like Me? It was great. This book is not as great as Dead Like Me. I don't want to slam this book but I don't want to lie to you.

See:

I picked the Season 2 trailer for Roxy.