September
Reads (actually on time)
To
be honest, I didn’t read these books in September, but they are the highlight
of my reading as of late. When I’m not ‘author’ Stephanie Greenhalgh, I’m ‘teacher’,
Mrs. Greenhalgh, and both tend to keep me pretty busy. I am so incredibly fortunate to have a great
job! This year, I get to teach writing to approximately 90+ kiddos. It’s is
FANTASTIC, but it is A LOT of work. So far, it’s left me with little time to
read or, even more importantly, write anything new. I’ve scrapped up around
1,000 words here and there, but nothing of any significance. HOWEVER, I have
been spending quite a bit of time editing my first novel with my publisher, so
yes, ‘The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby’ will be out next week on Sunday, October
6th! Obviously, I have a ton of things going on, so let’s get to the
matter at hand…September Reads!
*** (Here is the link for the
online release party, in case you’d like to join in the fun: https://www.facebook.com/events/402310936564577/?notif_t=plan_user_joined.
I’d love to see you there!)
Let me start this edition of 'Latest Reads' with: Gillian Flynn and
Veronica Roth are both WILDLY talented! I, very seriously, aspire to write with
a fraction of their talent one day! All three of the books were absolutely phenomenal!
Divergent
by Veronica Roth:
In this YA novel, we jump into a futuristic somewhat dystrophic society where
there are five factions of people. Each faction or group of people is responsible
for something in the grand scheme of life. The Dauntless are the fearless military.
Abnegation are the selfless faction, which runs the government. The Candor are
known for their truth and honesty. The Amity are the kind and gentle faction.
And the Erudite are known for their intelligence. Everyone is born into the
faction of their parents, but at 16 they have the choice to leave their
families behind to join a different faction, one more suited to their
personality. Then there are those that are ‘divergent’. The divergent are
sought out and must hide, sometimes in plain sight. In this first book, we met
the main character Beatrice, who soon becomes known as Tris. She is feisty and
independent…everything I LOVE in a female heroine! Quickly, she becomes an
object of interest to many others, including Four. Four is everything I love in
a male hero…strong and fearless (well, almost fearless). This book has
everything: mystery, murder, intrigue, and a truly unique plot! After the first
few pages, I was hooked and had to download the second book!
Final Thought: COME ON BOOK 3! I
CAN HARDLY WAIT!
Insurgent
by Veronica Roth:
In this much anticipated sequel of “Divergent”, the plot thickens, so to speak.
We learn more about our favorite characters, the factions, and how/why the
factions came to be. We learn more about
the Divergent and why they’re are so feared. The price of life, in this book,
increases tenfold. The connection between Tris and Four fluctuates as they both
learn more about themselves and the world in which they live. Roth writes with
amazing intensity. I was on the ‘edge of my sit’ so to speak while reading this
book. At the end, I groaned loudly for many reasons. First, there is a GREAT
cliffhanger at the end. Second, the third and final book doesn’t come out until
October…ARGH!
Final Thought: I’m eagerly
awaiting the Oct 22nd release date!
Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn:
Oh my goodness! Amy Elliot Dunne and Nick Dunne are a hot, yet highly
entertaining mess! In this story, Amy disappears
and Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect! That’s about all I can say without giving
anything away! This book keeps you guessing from the get go! My eyes were glued
to the pages. Sights and sounds around me seemed distant and barely noticeable while
I was completely engrossed in this dark and twisted love story. Although I thoroughly
enjoyed the book, I found the ending to be rather disappointing. Do NOT let
that deter you! It’s a great book, but after you read it, you’ll understand
what I mean!
Final thought: An edge of your
seat suspenseful read with some CRAZY characters!
What am I currently reading?
·
A Feast For Crows by
George R.R. Martin (yes, I’m still plowing through this)
·
Last Scene Alive by
Charlaine Harris
·
The Magician’s Assistant by
Ann Patchet
What comes after that?
I’m not sure, but I wish you all…
JHappy ReadingJ
