/ˌsərkəmˌləˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n/
noun
He shuddered at his own craven circumlocution, using so meaningless a word to obscure so hideous a truth.
– Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer
First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
First Lines:
Wren was silent.
She stood completely still next to me, staring straight ahead with that look she got sometimes, like she was either happy or plotting to kill someone.
This year I only have 3 resolutions:
So first things first: 2018 reading goals!
So I did mostly good on my goals in 2018, but can always do better. Feel free to check out my 2018 Year in Books.
As for non-reading things, 2018 was a big year for me. I started therapy again, got back on medications, started looking to work outside the home, made a new friend, and am just generally doing better. There’s still a long way to go and it hasn’t been easy, but I’m really proud of myself for the progress I’ve been making and I hope I keep it up going into the new year.
How was your 2018?
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
(Grisha Trilogy, book 1)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: November 29 – December 2
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: Alina’s power
Least Favorite Thing: They killed the poor stag…
It’s so weird because I’ve got a record of having read this book before, and now I’ve read it a second time through and I still can barely remember anything about it… Whatever, it was enjoyable to read regardless.
My Posts About Shadow and Bone
Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 4.5)
Rating: ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review: No
Format: eBook
Reading Dates: December 8 – 9
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: The way Opal describes things.
Least Favorite Thing: Sad Ronan 😦
I’m so glad my library finally got this novella, it was even better than I expected it to be. I love the names Opal gives to all the things and people she encounters.
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Raven Cycle, book 2)
Rating: ★★★★★ – loved it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: October 27 – December 9
Read Count: 3
Favorite Thing: Maura/Mr. Gray. They were so adorable.
Least Favorite Thing: I can’t think of anything.
I actually decided to up my rating from 4-stars to 5 because I love this series so much and I don’t know why I was holding back on rating it 5 stars.
My Posts About The Dream Thieves
The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories by Rae Carson
(The Girl of Fire and Thorns, book 0.5 – 0.7)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: December 2 – 14
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: Alodia’s point of view. I’d read a whole companion series from her perspective.
Least Favorite Thing: Lord Solvaño didn’t suffer enough.
I’m really glad I finally got around to reading these stories, even if it’s been years since I read the novels. But actually this has made me want to reread the novels so maybe that will happen soon.
My Posts About The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
(Girls of Paper and Fire, book 1)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: December 6 – 24
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: Gaaayyyyyy
Least Favorite Thing: She had to come back at us with that final page? Rude.
This book was so chock-full of good representation it was like a breath of fresh air. I recommend it to anyone looking for diverse fantasy.
My Posts About Girls of Paper and Fire
You by Caroline Kepnes
(You, book 1)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ – liked it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: December 15 – 26
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: Well written.
Least Favorite Thing: Made me need 10 showers.
This is one that I felt a little weird rating. It’s not a feel-good novel. It will definitely make you feel a little dirty being inside Joe’s mind.
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Rating: ★★★★☆ – really liked it
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: December 26 – 29
Read Count: 2
Favorite Thing: The little touches of history woven throughout the story.
Least Favorite Thing: People kept kicking the poor dogs!
I first read this back in elementary school with my class, and I remembered loving it. It’s been sitting on my shelves for a bit and the nostalgia just kept calling to me; I had to reread it. I’m so glad I did.
My Posts About Catherine, Called Birdy
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Rating: ★★★★★ – it was amazing
Review: No
Format: Print
Reading Dates: December 30
Read Count: 1
Favorite Thing: Descriptions of fairies.
Least Favorite Thing: Forgetting.
One of my all time favorite stories is Peter Pan, but I had always been afraid to read the book in case that soured my enjoyment somehow. This was profoundly stupid. The book only increased my love.
I watched the early morning light pass over and through the windows of colored glass, leaving streaks of red and green and yellow on the stone floor. When I was little, I used to try to capture the colored light. I thought I could hold it in my hand and carry it home. Now I know it is like happiness — it is there or it is not, you cannot hold it or keep it.
– Karen Cushman, Catherine, Called Birdy, page 108
Version:
Paperback, 212 pages
Published March 31st 1995 by HarperCollins
/pəˈlo͞osəd/
adjective
Her lashes, he recalled, were golden red, her eyes pellucid blue.
– Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer
First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
First Lines:
They always screamed.
My assignment wailed as she slipped in the mud, whipping her head around to see if I was gaining on her.
Darkestwings Reads