A glance at my Goodreads widget informs me that I am 9 books behind on the reading challenge I set for myself this year (150 books, or about three books per week.) This is no surprise to me, as I present you with yet another two-book Sunday Sunshine. (But I am about halfway through Miss Peregrine...so hopefully next week will tick back up to three!
What I Read This Week:
Behemoth by Scott WesterfeldMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is, I have to say, definitely a second book. But I think Westerfeld did a pretty good job of extending and developing the story. I did miss the setting of the Leviathan, as our protagonists spend much of the story in Istanbul (not Constantinople!) But the action there was compelling enough that I didn't mind too much.
There was one part of this book that is going to stick with me forever and ever and ever, though. Friends, if you have not yet met the perspicacious loris, you need to put these books on your TBR list ASAP. The perspicacious loris--and Bovril, in particular--is the funniest, most lovable, jealousy-inducing creature creation in literature since Pantalaimon. I mean, even the name! Just say it: "perspicacious loris". It's a furry wee beastie with a knack for learning what it sees and hears, and mimicking everything back, but in new patterns that reveal its...well, its perspicacity. Anyway, a little part of me will always be dissatisfied with the world we live in because I cannot have a perspicacious loris imprint on me and hang out on my shoulder.
Also: continued stakes-raising, more development of the Darwinist and Clanker sides of the war, lousy diplomats, great new characters, secrets revealed, rebellion, and even an American. Huzzah!
Goliath by Scott WesterfeldMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dear Scott Westerfeld,
Have you ever thought about getting into picture books? Because I want a sequel that is a picture book tracing the lives of the perspicacious lorises. Deryn and Alek are great, and I'm sure they will go on to have many more great adventures. But you've distracted me with an animal that can make fun of people and say words and I miss it.
Sincerely,
Mrs. S
Anyway, this was a satisfying conclusion to Deryn and Alek's story. I love the world Westerfeld created, and I am finding myself thinking in Deryn's voice from time to time. I liked the inclusion of Nikola Tesla--he really shook things up nicely without feeling like a bolt from the blue (pun regrettable but acknowledged.) Westerfeld has done it again! I'm hoping that steampunk continues to...er, pick up steam...but only if it is cleverly done as this.
View all my reviews
In Progress:
Waiting In The Wings:
You just need to find some nice thin books to get back on track with the Reading Challenge :) EVE is a pretty slim book, so that should help. I really enjoyed UNDER THE NEVER SKY, and if you like it as much as I did, you'll probably plough through it pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hope this will be a quick read. A glance over at my shelf reveals more thick than thin but a handful of those seem like fast-paced reads, at least. What's going to really trip me up is whenever (probably this summer) I switch over to some of the books written for adults I've accumulated. Oh well--it gets just disgusting here in the summer, so perhaps I'll spend a lot of time indoors (or out at the park along the river) reading.
DeleteHah! The little moustache is so cute. :D I will have to look into those books.
ReplyDeleteDooooo it :) The lorises will thank you!
DeleteLoved Beauty Queens. I don't know if you are into audiobooks but I totally recommend the audiobook version. Libba Bray reads it and she does accents for the characters and it is seriously awesome. I'm going to have to check out the Leviathan trilogy.
ReplyDeleteHoly crow, that sounds amazing. I will have to look into that. Thanks!
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