Stories I Recently Consumed #Throwback

Omg, it has been a while, hasn't it? I always try to be good about my blog but then a new semester comes round and before I know it I don't post anything at all anymore (not quite but almost). This semester is especially bad because of many reasons such as 1. I've got particularly many things going on in my private life (for example: I'm going to see my first climbing worldcup in real life next weekend - I'm so hyped you don't even understand), 2. I've got particularly many things going on in my student life (not many courses but, oh boy, most of them sure are important!), 3. Connected with that: I've got particularly many books to read for my courses and I dislike writing actual reviews for those books, etc.

So, I've basically thrown overboard the "monthly reading throwback" thing and I am instead making this a "recent stories" throwback. A lot more convenient. Also, I won't even be writing full reviews for all of the non-uni books I'm reading (at least not necessarily). I will still be around I will just be writing less posts until I've got more time on my hand.

That being said here are all of the books & audiobooks I've consumed recently!

Books

• The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork (5 stars)
  This is a fantastic book about depression and suicide and how to deal with the struggles of having both hanging over your head. I can only recommend it (or, alternatively, read my full review and then decide you want to read the actual book).

• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (4 stars)
  Within the last months I've had so many opportunities to, somehow, casually insert knowledge I've gained from this book into conversations, which is a reason I think it might have been one of the books I've read recently that have stuck most with me. In related news: Into Thin Air is a really amazing book about ascending Everest and the dangers and temptations that come with it. But be aware that it isn't a "light" read (The Memory of Light for that matter isn't, either).

• Hunger by Roxane Gay (4 stars)
  I really enjoyed this but it also wasn't quite my cup of tea (there were some parts which I felt were pretty repetitive). Obviously, the book was still, objectively, good enough for me to give it 4 stars so make of that what you will.

• The Empty Grave (Lockwood & Co. #5) by Jonathan Stroud (4 stars)
  A really fun ending to an amazingly fun series. I'm sad that I had to say good-bye to Lucy and Lockwood (and not to mention Skull!) but it has been a great ride and a very satisfying ending. Hopefully, I'll get round to reading the whole series in English sometime.

• Railhead by Philip Reeve (3 stars)
  This one was pretty disappointing. The premise was interesting, the world Reeve built was interesting but I felt totally disconnected from everything and everyone. 

• The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld (4 stars)
  Denfeld has a way with words that is just absolutely enchanting and engrossing. Reading this story I kinda felt like I was both moving forward and like no real progress was made (due to the theme of the book) which is such a strange and wonderful feeling that I can't quite describe it. (Thus, you should read the book and see/feel for yourself.)

• Under the Skin by Michel Faber (4 stars)
  (This is one of the books I've read for uni) Really interesting and weird! I would totally recommend going into this book now knowing anything at all about it, I think that'll make the beginning a little more interesting than it was for me and you can pretty much continually try figuring out what is going on.

• Bull by David Elliott (4.5 stars)
  I would have written a full and proper review for this but, the truth is: this book is super short. Therefore, here goes: Bull is incredibly funny. Since I've read it I've been telling everyone I know how funny this book is and it always goes the same way: "It's about the myth of the minotaur but it's written in poetry form and it's amazing. Basically, Poseidon is the omniscient narrator and he's just such an asshole..." and then I'll continue running through all of the quotes I've memorized, such as Poseidon's first words:
  Waddup bitches?
  Or one of his later quotes as he explains himself:
  Sometimes gods are gods,
  Sometimes they are pimps.
  If I have time I then continue to explain how great it is that you're able to infer the mental capability of the current narrator on first glance because it's portrayed by the layout of their stanzas (the crazier the person gets the crazier the poetry looks). But what I usually don't mention is how heartfelt this book is (at times). Because if Greek mythology is one thing it is tragic and that aspect certainly isn't ignored. Even Poseidon himself will eventually (almost?) feels sorry for the people affected.
  In conclusion, this is a great & delightful & tragic book that is super easy to read and you should totally get on to that.

• Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf (4 stars)
  (Also, one of those uni-books) Interesting and funny at times but also kind of a pain to read, at least a little bit. I really liked the fourth-wall-breaking "biographer" (who reminded me of My Lady Jane) and how weirdly this book treated some of the most prominent aspects of the story. But I can only stress that this book is quite a journey and while I want to read more books by Woolf I don't want to do it under time pressure anymore.

• The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West (3.5 stars)
  I actually really want to write a full, proper review for this one but I'll have to start on that after I've finished this here blog post. Maybe I'll eventually link my review to the title above? Who knows? Until then, here's what I have to say: Kasie West's books always have this weirdly addictive quality to them that really affect me. I can't read her books and then just stop in the middle because I'm so invested in the story and the angst and the romance even if I don't even particularly like the characters in the story. It's Kasie West magic and this book was no different in that manner. But I do have to say that, compared to the books I previously read by Kasie West, I really didn't like the characters, not even the protagonists. And I was quite dissatisfied with some aspects of the ending. Still, it made me feel all the things I wanted to fell and that was great.

Comic

• Catboy by Benji Nate (4 stars)
  This one is just a very sweet comic about a girl whose cat becomes a catboy (surprise!). The art-style is absolutely adorable, which is (pretty much) all I expected from this. I actually got it for my little sisters because I thought they would probably appreciate it most but it was way more adult than I expected (which isn't to say that they can't appreciate it anymore or anything).

Audiobook

• The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (3 stars)
  This was also rather disappointing. The premise itself is interesting – the execution not so much. To quote my own review: "The concept is fine ("in a world where kids with supernatural abilities live and supernatural things happen let us instead look at all of these normal kids and their normal problems dun-dun-dun") the problem I had was that it didn't really serve a purpose? I mean, why couldn't they have just been normal kids in a normal world? Why did the parents have to chose to ignore all the supernatural things happening? Was there really a point to the immortals invasion and the chapters beginning with an exaggerated, sometimes condescending, stereotypical plot-summary of the "indie-kids story"?" Plus, I sometimes felt like Ness was kind of condescending which I didn't like.

• One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (4.5 stars)
  Oh my. I loved this one so much that I listened to the audiobook two times back to back which really isn't something I normally do (unless it's The Little Prince). I've reduced 0.5 stars because I am very aware that it's far from a perfect story and there are a lot of aspects that are kinda stupid but also: I just really, really, really enjoyed everything about this. I would recommend not thinking to much about the story and how everything adds up should you decide to consume this book/audiobook too (which I would definitely and totally recommend).

• A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir (4 stars)
  I didn't love it as much as the first book but I also didn't expect I would. The first book was a special experience for me, this one was "just" a good book. Which is why I don't really have much to say about it. Sorry. But if you want to read more I'd recommend checking out my review of the first book here.

• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (4 stars)
  I've been waiting to listen to this audiobook for a long time but luckily it didn't disappoint because not only was I absolutely clueless as to what had happened but also the ending was just surprisingly satisfying and (again) not what I had expected. I really need to get on all the Agatha Christie books or, you know, at least some of them.

• Warcross by Marie Lu (4 stars)
  With One of Us Is Lying I am aware that the story isn't flawless but with Warcross I'm very aware of a few problems in plot, characters, story etc. Still, that didn't really matter because I had a great time listening to the audiobook. What happened was, basically, I randomly started listening to this, got totally hooked and didn't stop until it was the morning of the next day and I had listened to the whole audiobook. Thus, over the course of one day I fell head over heels for Hideo, realized that I didn't actually fall head over heels for him but was simply projecting Emika's feelings onto myself; which is to say that I felt young and excited and giddy all because of Warcross. I'd suggest you give it a shot.

And, yep, that's it. I'm really sorry that I have this much trouble posting regularly but there truly is a lot of stuff happening in my life at the moment. I'm always hoping that things will slow down and I'll have more time but this hasn't happened yet. I'll try to get better, nevertheless, and write my the Fill-In Boyfriend review quickly!

Have a nice day/night and happy reading!

Music tipp of the evening (it's actually past midnight for me): Fil Bo Riva - Franzis as well as Giant Rooks - Bright Lies.