I know that everything is going to hell in a handbasket right now, but I will not be commenting on those things through this blog. Books are my safe space, and this blog was created to share that. I will continue to be vocal on other platforms about certain things, but not here. I hope everyone can find time to lose themselves in a good book, whether it’s a favorite re-read or a new author, fantasy or romance, horror or comedy.
What I’ve Been Reading
I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman — 3.5/4 out of 5 stars
Novel. Author David Alvarez had a successful first novel, but his second was a total flop. He’s lost his boyfriend and is having trouble coming up with his next story. Things get even worse when he wakes up to find his latest one-night stand dead in his bed…. There was something about this book that I just couldn’t put it down. What starts out as a quirky comedy of errors turns into a heartwarming tale of a guy just trying to figure his life out. Yes, there were some outlandish moments, but that was part of the fun. By the end I just wanted to give David a big hug. A good choice if you’re looking for a lighter read with some memorable characters.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim — 3.5 out of 5 stars
Novel. If you’re looking for a body horror novel narrated by an unreliable character as she descends into madness, this may be one for you. Ji-won’s dad has abandoned the family, her mom has taken up with a jerk, and Ji-won has become obsessed with eyeballs. This was a strange tale, but overall not bad. Fair warning: if you are squeamish about eyes in any way, you may not want to put this high on your reading list.
Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven — 2.5/3 out of 5 stars
Novel. A powerful hurricane rips through Florida, and employees of Fantasticland, a large amusement park/resort, are left stranded. They quickly turn on each other and fight to survive the next two months. First of all, I am soooo glad I did not buy this book when it first came out (and I was really tempted). A modern-day Lord of the Flies intrigued me, especially being set in an amusement park. But the whole concept of 18-25 year-olds losing their minds within the first five minutes of a power outage and starting to kill each other?? All because they couldn’t get on social media??? JFC. That got old really fast for me. There were some good chapters (each chapter is an interview with a different survivor), but wound up being a big disappointment for me.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — 4 out of 5 stars
Novel. Earth is a wasteland. The last remaining humans have set off across the universe to find a new home to inhabit. Meanwhile, an earlier space pioneer and scientist has transformed a habitable planet into a new Eden, but not necessarily the one she had envisioned. What will happen when these two groups meet? I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The pacing was good (it didn’t feel like 600 pages), and the tech-speak was just enough to explain and not so much to make my eyes glaze over. I would have liked a bit more character background or development with a couple of the mains. This is the first in a series, and one that I would highly recommend for sci-fi fans.
Stay safe and Happy Reading!
All Dragons Read 