Fellow writers and readers and generally lovers of words:
This post has been overdue for...a long time.
So, you might remember that in the beginning of October, I released a post called My Top 5 October Reads (Part I). And now, on the third Tuesday in November, I am finally posting the second part.
In my defense, this month has been a lot:
School (in general, and the first quarter finished, plus we're right before Thanksgiving)
NaNo (which I will update below)
and...getting sick! (as in literally getting sick over my siblings' birthdays and the couple weeks before Thanksgiving)
But anyway. Here's a quick update on NaNo (check out the intro post here!), which, I have to be honest, has not been going as amazing as I thought it would be (and I will point to my same excuses).
Currently, my word count is 13500, which is about 7k behind where I'm supposed to be, but hey, on Saturday I was at 8k, so I think this is a win.
I'm loving my project, and there's so much I'm excited to share with you, but that's going to have to wait for the next two posts (next week, I'm sharing a snippet, and the week after is still a surprise...).
But now, without further ado, here it is: my top 5 October reads (part ii)!!
5. Liar and Spy
Rebecca Stead
This book was interesting, but I have to say that it sank down from #4 to #5, not because it was bad, but because its story, compared to the other books I read, was the least moving.
It follows the story of Safer and Georges (pronounced like "Geogre"—the S is silent), and it all starts when Georges and his parents move into an apartment because his mom is spending more time in the hospital. (Spoiler: the reader is led to believe this is because Georges' mom is a nurse, but near the end of the book we find that it is actually because she got sick.)
I won't spoil but overall, the book felt disappointing. All of the main plot lines that drew me in at first ended up being figments of the imagination or something like that, and I really hate that in a book. I hate learning about cool worlds or people or ideas, and then the author completely ruins that by saying it was made up.
Overall, this could have been better. I still would recommend Rebecca Stead's books Goodbye, Stranger and When You Reach Me (I reread these two in October, and they were a pleasant surprise when compared to this book).
4. The War Below
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
This book has moved up, because I felt it deserved fourth place. That said, there were two main thoughts this story left me with: one good, and one bad.
Let's start with the better thought: the actual story. Like the rest of Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's books, this story was interesting, full of lively characters, plot twists, and a deep story.
The story follows Luka, who, after barely escaping a Nazi work camp, fights again and again to see his country rid of both the Soviets and Nazis. And the story is needed. So many of these heroes were lost to time, and Skrypuch's aim to bring them to the light is noble, and her stories show that.
But there's a reason The War Below only achieved fourth place, and it's the writing. As much as I loved the story, there were too many times that I was told about a character's feelings rather than shown.
Overall, the bad writing gave a sloppy feel to the story. I wish that Skrypuch had written in a better style—it would have improved the story by helping the reader focus on the story, not the writing.
3. Chasing Redbird
Sharron Chreech
This book deserves its third place spot—it was a masterpiece. Not as good, of course, as Ruby Holler, but there are few books, in my humble opinion, that can top that masterpiece.
And this book came close. That's very high praise, if I do say so myself.
Unlike Ruby Holler, Chasing Redbird follows themes of grief, and what a wonderful job it did of making the reader feel Zinny's emotions. I, personally, loved Zinny, whose quiet, the middle child thoughts were so similar to my own that her thoughts pulled me in and had me nodding and thinking, Yes, that's exactly what it feels like!
I loved this book. I don't want to spoil, but I want to say that it deserves its hard-earned spot on my bookshelf. You should give it a try, too, when you have the time.
2. The Star that Always Stays
Anna Rose Johnson
First, I want to point out that the decision between first and second place were very hard for me, and I think both of these books were amazing. I loved reading them. They hooked me from the beginning, and everything about them makes me want to reach through the pages and give those poor characters a big hug. And so, without further ado, I present to you the second place winner: The Star that Always Stays!
This story was met all of my expectations, and more. I completely enjoyed reading this, and I recommend picking it up (if not in a bookstore, at least in a library) and reading it. The story, the characters, everything about it was amazing! And, of course, I loved the fact that there were a few French phrases and mannerisms sprinkled throughout the book.
Overall, I loved the book, and I wish there was room for two first place winners, because this story is *this close* to being first.
1. Ruby Holler
Sharron Chreech
What did I love so much about this book, you ask? Can I answer... everything? The characters, the plot, the setting, the writing...all of it was amazing.
First, meet Dallas and Florida. These "trouble twins" (as they have been labeled by the adults who have known nothing about how to care for children) are of the opinion that any couple that takes them in is abusive and unloving.
Until, of course, they meet the other duo that stars in this book: Tiller and Sairy Morey. Over the course of the story, they realize what true caring love is, and they realize they can give and receive it, too.
I love it. So much. If you have free time on your hands, please pick it up (it's not too long) and read it. I picked it up today and it drew me in again.
Oh, and Sharon Creech's writing (from what I've read) is amazing. I didn't get the chance to talk about her other book I read in October (Walk Two Moons) but it's very good and you should read it too.
But that about wraps up today's post. What do you think about these stories? Have you read them? Anything else? Comment below!
Until next time,
