What I Read in January

What I Read in January

So, I managed to read 6 books in January which is 15% of my 40 book target for the year. goodreads.com tells me this is 3 books ahead of schedule so hopefully I'll be able to change my challenge to 50 books before the end of 2016. 

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince on goodreads.com

I started the year with The Little Prince and initially rated it 3*. However after a fortnight I re-rated it as 4*. I did this because the book made a lasting impression on me that surpassed the normal length of thinking about a book after you've read it. I still think about it now after a month. This book is a story I will cherish and pass on to my children (when I have children). It is also great for adults and for those who take themselves too seriously. 

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies on goodreads.com

Once 2016 had started I decided to read a series I got for my 21st birthday in April 2015. I like to wait to read books until I know I'm 'in the mood' and it suddenly occurred to me that it was the right time to read Uglies. Once I started this series I found it hard to put the books down, I recommend this series! Uglies was my favourite book in the series and I rated it 4*. 

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties on goodreads.com

Pretties was the second book in the Uglies series and I loved this book too - giving it a 4* rating on goodreads.com. I was stuck to this book and read it relatively quickly. I loved the characters in Westerfeld's writing as they had great depth and development throughout the story line. The adventure was fun too. 

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials on goodreads.com

After reading Pretties, I ended the original trilogy with Specials. I'm not going to lie - I was disappointed with this one. It was an awful, impersonal ending to the trilogy, of which the first two books were amazing. I felt like this book was rushed and clumsy. I rated it 3* because I loved the other two books - however if this was the first in the series I doubt I would have finished the book - never-mind read the entire series in one month. 

Help Me! by Donna M Zadunjsky

Help Me! on goodreads.com

Before I read the final book in the Uglies series, I read 'Help Me!' to review for Netgalley.com. Initially, I didn't like the style of writing but I came to realise it was effective and helped to provide me with an in-depth look at the character's lives and stories they had to tell. I rated this book 3* and I don't think I would read it again - However I would definitely recommend this book to those suffering from self-harm, depression, suicidal thoughts and friends of those struggling. There were messages of hope and recovery in this book that would be helpful for those in the situation. This book isn't one to read otherwise though, and I believe Zadunjsky could have done more with her writing to help those in need. 

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Extras on goodreads.com

Finally, I ended January reading the last book in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. I was hoping for great things in this book and I am happy to conclude that it was better than Specials. The story takes place years after the original series, yet Westerfeld effectively links the two times with the reunion of the Cutters and Tally Youngblood. In this book, we have a new set of heroes and a different world. The City they live in is advanced and their currency is reputation. I enjoyed this book and rated it 4*. (Review coming soon) I was sad to finish this series and the ending was abrupt - I wasn't ready for it. 

Dolphin Song by Lauren St John 

Dolphin Song on goodreads.com

I am concluding January by reading a book that I started months ago and was lent to me by a good friend. Lauren St John writes children's books with inspiring messages in them. She teaches us the value of nature and an appreciation of wildlife that we should never forget. If you love adventure and animals, then these books are definitely for you!  

I hope you all had a wonderful January! Keep reading. 

I will post my February Top Picks tomorrow. Let me know what you read in January in the comments below. I'd love to see what you've been reading. 

Love Charlie, Xx

Specials by Scott Westerfeld Book Review

Specials by Scott Westerfeld 

Fisrt Published: 2006

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 350

Rating: 3*

Specials on goodreads.com

Specials is available in paperback for £7.99 or £4.99 in kindle edition on Amazon.co.uk

This edition of the 'Uglies' quartet is unfortunately my least favourite and I believe it lets down the whole series. Yes, I did enjoy these books, but if this was the first one, I doubt I would have carried on. Now all is left is 'Extras' - the last book in the series. The original trilogy had a final book added as an extra - pardon the pun. 

As with the other books, I love the covers to the series. The clean cut edges and perfection of the photography fits in very well with the content of the books.On this cover, it is the modified spine that has a bronze metallic sheen. This fits in with the 'Special' characters in the story as they have modified everything - their bones are made of super-ceramic, their hearing is extraordinary as is their sight, smell and touch. They are incomparable human beings, and Tally isn't only turned into a special. She is turned into a special special - a 'cutter'. 

I am still disappointed with Westerfeld's lack of sensitivity when it comes to mental health and grief. In this book Tally goes through the traumatic experience of getting a friend who is in a vegetative state, unplugged. But instead of going into detail, we don't feel any of Tally's grief - Westerfeld carries on with the story line as though it is the type of experience we have  to deal with everyday. The theme of self harm is carried way out of proportion, being glorified and idealized. Finally, towards the end of the book she stops cutting herself, yet there is still no advice for those affected by the content in the book. I feel it is irresponsible and unacceptable to take a real life issue and use it in a futuristic, fashion sense. The content becomes quite graphic at points and would be quite triggering to those affected with mental illnesses. I could go on about this forever, but I'm not going to. 

Excluding the theme of self-harm, and the way Westerfeld approaches it, I really like this series. It wasn't quite up to the same gripping level as 'The Hunger Games' or 'Divergent' but it was just as easy and exciting to read. I think it was the lack of depth in this book, and the fact that the book isn't in first person lets us [the readers] disconnect slightly with the characters. If this book was written first person, we could have had much more of an emotional insight. Yet, the characters emotions within this book were overlooked. As a final in the trilogy, Westerfeld had the opportunity to draw us in and let us go dramatically, which is what he did without the 'drawing you in' part. I was left disappointed and wanting more. I wanted to feel more of a passionate response to the events in the book, yet I felt it was rushed and fast-moving. Before one thing happened, the plot moved on without allowing me to catch up or appreciate each chapter.

Overall, I was discontent with this book. I felt let down by Westerfeld's attempt to draw the series to an end. I am really glad that this wasn't the first book in the series as I wouldn't have had the same reading experience. I really would recommend the first two books, 'Uglies' and 'Pretties' but I think 'Specials' is only one to read if you want to find out what happens in an unsatisfying end. Be prepared to be disappointed.

I really hope 'Extras' makes up for it and pulls the series together.

Love Charlie, Xx