- “Heretics of Dune” by Frank Herbert ©1984
- “The Last Story of Mina Lee” by Nancy Jooyoun Kim ©2020
- “Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard ©2015
- “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen ©1811
- “Birds of a Feather” by Jacqueline Winspear ©2004
- “The House on Hope Street” by Danielle Steel ©2000
- “The Lives of a Cell” by Lewis Thomas ©1974
- “Gull Number 737” by Jean Craighead George ©1964
- “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman ©1996
I love seeing these books! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE talking about books we’ve read, but for some reason, seeing them really sparks a different kind of interest! It makes them more concrete and I’m sure triggers a different part of my brain. Anyway, I’m intrigued! The titles that sound best to me are: (of course) the Red Queen, and Birds of a Feather…after that, Neverwhere and Gull Number 737. For some reason a book I think I’d probably like “The Last Story of Mina Lee” didn’t pique much interest! It’s so fun to think about–What makes us choose a certain title? Book cover? Thank you!!
Sometimes there is no real reason I’ll choose a book. It just feels right at the moment, I suppose. As for the books I read in February, ‘The Last Story of Mina Lee” was a gift. It was a disappointing read as I felt the main character was too repetitively whinny without resolution to her angst. An acquaintance insisted I read “Red Queen” and also lent me the whole 5 book series. It is a young adult book that needs a lot of editing and I really did not like the “hero”. She was a know it all who refused to listen, which caused all sorts of unnecessary issues. I returned the set after the first book. I hate when they sell these high adventure, glossy looking, badly written books to young people. It seems so money grabbing or something, and they are always in huge series too. As you can see after two rather disappointing reads, I purposely read a book I knew was well written and chose “Sense and Sensibility”! “Birds of a Feather” is part of the “Maise Dobbs” series and was really enjoyable historical fiction/mystery set right after WWI. Jacqueline Winspear is a very able writer. “Neverwhere” is the first book I’ve read by Neil Gaiman and I will read more of him. It was an engaging and intriguing story. “Gull Number 737” was another young adult story, about a family whose father is a scientist studying seagulls and how his son helps him and is inspired to start his own investigations. It is a little dated – a few cringe worthy “she throws like a girl” statements and the like, but Jean Craighead George’s writing and stories about young people are always top notch.