Geek Girl Obsess: geek girl witter

Showing posts with label geek girl witter. Show all posts

Geek Girl Witter: What's Up with More Series Set in the Same World?

This post idea came to me just now as I saw the new synopsis-slash-cover-slash-book trailer reveal of The Hair by Kiera Cass. If you haven't met the series yet, it's the story of America Singer, who is chosen to be one of the thirty-five candidates to be the prince's new wife a.k.a the princess. The girls have to go through a ton of tests and beauty hassle while being filmed and put out as a reality TV show. There are three books, all of which following America through the Selection. Now, in August, we got the news there would be one more book coming on May 5, 2014. It's about the winner (I won't tell who in case you have yet to read the One) and Maxon's child holding her own Selection twenty years later.

When I first read the article, I wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. Despite the hasty end The One got, it was still a kind of closure, the end of the series. It took some time to come to terms with it, but I eventually did. And then bum! To be continued.

Apart from my emotional outburst, my real problem is that I have serious doubts regarding the plot. The Elite and The One, but mainly The Elite was a tid bit lacking of it, but the unknown - or at least not very well known - world and down-going of the Selection kept me reading. However, those two ados became ruled out during the first three books and now we'll have to rely on the plot solely. Since we already know everything else, it has to be one heck of a story and characters, otherwise it will be unlikely to hold my attention for long. And based on my experiences so far, I wouldn't hold my breath over the prior (as rude as it sounds).

But of course, I am going to pick it up. My curiosity always gets the better of me and also, I love Kiare Cass's writing style to no end. *sigh*

On the bright side, I have a positive example too. Lady Midnight, the first book of The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare. I'm a huge fan of her writing and the Shadowhunter world, it's so complex and layered, exciting, and while there are certain returning schemes, her stories are always intricate and action-packed. What's more, I adored The Infernal Devices (her second series in the same world) even more than The Mortal Instruments; her writing is improving book by book.

Overall, what I need in order to enjoy more series set in the same world are 1. great story, 2. complex world-building and it won't hurt if it has relatable characters.

So what do you need to return to the same world with a different series? Are you anticipating any of the aforementioned books?

Geek Girl Witter: Is Every Longer Book Longer Than Shorter Books?

Okay, I admit the title might be a tad bit boggling. But that's just my state of mind after two big tests (History and Geography, right after one another lest we could regain our sanity). What I mean is that to me, some shorter books take longer to read and feel longer than certain longer books. Somewhat better but still not pefect, huh?

Last month, I read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It's a relatively short book, tiny on the outside, 228 pages on the inside. Yet, it took three days for me to read it even though I spent a respectable amount of time reading in those three days, I wasn't alone, other reviewers agreed that it felt longer than it actually was.

Then there is The Book of Ivy, a brilliant dytopian I just finished. Now, this one is - while not giant - a thicker piece of my collection. It has a total of 304 pages - 400 in Kindle Edition -, yet I plowed through it in one and a half day. Despite barely having time to read.

I, personally, put it down to the pacing whatsoever. If the pacing is fast, I'll read faster. It's like, instead of me taking up the words, the story drags me on. Then again, The Book of Ivy can't really be labeled fast paced. Not for the majority of the book. Here comes in the size and type of the font. I know, it might sound strange first, silly even, but there are some fonts my eyes process easier than other. And of course, with bigger fonts, I don't have to strain to be able to make out the letters.

There are other, more marginal aspects that have an impact on my reading pace, such as, my mood, how tired and/or sleepy I am, the nature of my surroundings, etc., but I find these two above the most influental. Anyway, I used regard it as a sort of "race". I felt I was less if I read slower than other bloggers. Dumb me. Now, I know it's about fun. It's not a competition. Same with the numbers. And since I realized this, I enjoy both blogging and reading so much more.

What influences your reading pace?

Geek Girl Witter: My Rocky Relationship with YA Paranormal

"May my heart be kind, my mind fierce and my spirit brave." - Kate Forsyth

Disclaimer: It's not in any way a generalization nor is it dishing. I don't mean to offend anybody or disparage Young Adult books. I love them and I do believe there are truly exceptional and unique reads in the Young Adult paranormal genre.

I have always considered YA paranormal my favorite genre. A teen girl in a world of beasts and monsters with supernatural powers and love and all the action...It has always appealed to me. But the more I read it, the less enthusiastic I became.

Wait what?

At least the last five YA paranormal books I read contained one or more of the followings:

insta-love and/or cheesy romance
childish/annoying/petty/whiny protagonist
Lot of tropes. I mean a LOT.
faulty, lacking world-building
spelling errors. Like, five per page.

Since I started reviewing books, I've become much more eclectic. My peripheral vision widened as to what a wide range of great books exist and I paid more attention to what I was reading. Also, I commenced reading professional reviews; I've learned a lot. However, I imagine it's something similar with most of the book bloggers out there or anybody who gets deeply engaged in a certain part of life. Due to becoming more eclectic, my read-enjoyed rate has decreased somewhat. It's not necessarily a negative phenomenon; developing a defined, refined taste that urges you in the direction of worthy, precious books is good. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself when I'm fussing whether I'm being picky, a snob or am in a reading slump.

Anyway, I'm a tad downhearted that I didn't like a big deal of the YA paranormals I've read recently. I've come to the point where I pick them up with caution and don't dare to get my hopes up for until I'm at least at half of the book.

Now, I know it's not present in YA paranormals exclusively, or in YA at all, however, this is where I've encountered the problems the most. And it saddens me and this kitty-kat.