Wednesday, February 1, 2012

RTW: Best Book in January

Well, for once, I have an answer to the usual end-of-the-month Road Trip Wednesday question: 


What was the best book you read in January?

I called this one back when I finished the book, on New Year's Day.  In fact, I called that it would be the best thing I'd read all year, but one thing at a time.  I read two books this month that I gave five stars on Goodreads (check back for Sunday Sunshine this week to see what the second one is) but The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater, takes the prize.  I keep having to stop myself from just going back and re-reading it instead of attending to my lengthy, lengthy TBR list.  I've already waxed poetic about it, here, so I'll keep today short.   But if you are the kind of kid who read a lot of horse books as a child, or if you're looking for a slow-burning, rich, lyrical read--you may want to consider reading The Scorpio Races like, immediately.

16 comments:

  1. You know, this book has been sitting on my shelf for way too long. I may need to pick it up soon. I've heard great things about it.

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  2. I've been hearing a lot about The Scorpio Races as well, and may just have to add it to my to-read list!

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  3. The writing is so, so beautiful in that book. Good pick!

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    1. Oh man, I just want to swim in the language. And visit Thisby.

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  4. Hey Mrs. Silverstein, not sure how to message you privately, but I just gave you a blog award! The prestigious Liebster Award! Stop by my blog http://writeroutine.blogspot.com and check it out! And congrats! Your blog rocks.

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    1. Thanks so much! I love the idea of that award--fun! My post will go up in a day or two.

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  5. I felt the same with my pick for January. I read it near the beginning of the month, and while I did read other things, I did so with trepidation. I feared after that book, every other book I read would pale in comparison. I think I'm over that now, but my pick of the month is pretty awesome. :)

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    1. Yeah, I feel like I owe Legend a re-read because it was my "rebound book". Nothing could have held up very well immediately after TSR for me. Luckily, I read some great books this month, so I'm past the stage of just being sad that I'm not reading TSR anymore.

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  6. I got halfway through THE SCORPIO RACES and then wandered off to other reads. I really need to get back to it before I forget everything I've read thus far. :-)

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    1. I'm really curious if I would have had this reaction to the book if I didn't read it over a break, mostly curled up with cups of tea. I think you have to be in the right frame of mind, because for all its urgency and racing and monsters it's quite slow-burning. It might be a good candidate for a listen, if your library has audiobooks. I've heard some sample bits that Maggie Stiefvater posted on her website--it's really well done. She keeps raving about it, and I think it actually won an award the other day as well.

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  7. And now TSR has been Printz-honored! Must check it out :)

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    1. I was probably too excited about that when it was announced. I definitely felt proud, which is an inappropriate emotion for the circumstances, since all I did was like a book other people also liked...but it just felt so /mine/ when I was reading it. (I think that's why I've also had reservations about reserving it. I have no idea how someone who's not me would react to that book because it feels like Maggie Stiefvater hung out in my brain and then wrote a book I would love.)

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  8. I've been hesitant to read this one because I tried out SHIVER and it didn't appeal to me. I couldn't even finish it. But I do hear a lot of good stuff about THE SCORPIO RACES, so maybe I'll have to give it a shot :) Especially if it's a Printz honor book...

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    1. As much as I loved TSR, I still haven't picked up any of her other stuff. It just...it feels like TSR was written FOR ME, and even though I have a hunch I will like other books by Maggie Stiefvater, I am like, afraid to try because I don't want to be disappointed.

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  9. I just started The Scorpio Races this week, and I can tell it's going to keep me up late. Beautiful writing.

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