TSS: How much do you read

Hello everybody!, wow, it's been a while since I've actually done one of this. I've been blogging, and as I mentioned in the last TSS I did the the 24-hour-Read-a-Thon, so I have a couple of reviews ready to be posted. Is just that for a while I didn't have a particular discusion in mind.

So what is it that I want to discuss with you guys today? Well, this week in Book Riot, Kit from Books are  my Boyfriends, wrote a very nice piece titled: How many pages do you read a day?, and that got me thinking.

First of all I was unable to give a straight answer. Until this year when I joined Goodreads, I only new the amount of books I read in a year, thanks to my spreadsheet on Excel. I knew what books and in which order did I read them through the year, that's it that's all. Now I "know" how many pages I've read so far, how long it took me to finish a book, etc...well the information is there, I don't actually know, sorry.

But then, I mentioned it, and someone else, far more eloquent than me pointed out the same point: There is pages and there is pages. You see, when I was a kid I read the whole Goosebumps collection, and that added to a nice amount of books and hence pages. But reading such books was not as demanding as when I tried (and failed) to read Don Quixote, the unabridged version (in my defense I was barely 15, it was a hard read people!). 

I'm not saying that one is better than the other, because I do not believe so. I've read very "simple" books (no in content, but as how easy it was to read) that were very good books, and I've read dense-like-a-brick books that although interesting made me want to hide in a corner because I wasn't enjoying myself anymore.

And then you have audiobooks. I personally haven't fall for them, although I think they are a really good option for a lot of people. But I feel that we cannot  put in the same platter the books (paper or e-reader) that we read and the books we listen too, unles you actually sit down, doing nothing else than reading the book; I mean that your whole attention is on the story, not something else. Why do I say that? I am a fan of podcasts, and sometimes at the lab I have the Science podcast or the Naked Scientists podcast in the background while doing my experiments, so I pick up some of the stories, and once in a while I will hear a "keyword" that will shift my attention to the broadcast. But I cannot said that I listened to the whole thing, except when we are in the car, and I think the same applies to people with an audiobook while, for example, doing an experiment.

So what do you think? Do you know how many pages you read during the day? do you think is fair just say a number, independent on what you are reading?

Thanks for stopping by. If you have the time, I invite you to see some of my latest reviews, and as always, have a wonderful week.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Book Summary (from Goodreads)

A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation—the narrators of Cloud Atlas hear each other’s echoes down the corridor of history, and their destinies are changed in ways great and small.

In his captivating third novel, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of language, genre and time to offer a meditation on humanity’s dangerous will to power, and where it may lead us

My Review

I read this book in part because I recently joined the Sword and Laser "book club" and in part because I knew the movie was coming out, and I was really looking forward watching the new movie from the Wachowski brothers.

I know that everyone has said this, but this book starts really slow. This is not a bad thing, but at first I was having a lot of trouble getting into the book; I would leave it to the side, because the first chapter, about Adam Edwig was so slow paced that I had absolutely no hurry to advance on his story.

Again, you probably already know this, but each chapter presents a fragment in the life of a main character. The characters, although separated in space and time, are somehow connected to one another. There is a hint of reincarnation, but I have to be honest with you, for me it was not so much about a mystical explanation, but mostly about how everything we do in live affects the lives of other, even though we might never meet them in person.

My favorite character was by far Sonmi~451 (An Orison of Sonmi-451). Of all, this is the chapter that finally made it science fiction for me, but also, she is a dream in terms of evolution and science. Within her chapter there are so many questions related to what makes us human? What is intelligence. And the way she talks is so vivid...well, it was for me.

Now that I'm in this subject...I know there is a lot of controversy about who they used Caucasian actors to represetnt Asian characters for this chapter...I believe there was absolutely no need to "re-use" actors, not only for this part of the story but in general. I mentioned the subject of reincarnation, but I think that if they wanted to show that side in the movie, it should've been done with actions, attitudes and subtle physical hints as it is in the book, and I do understand why people feel offended that they didn't use actual Asian actors to portray this part of the story. 

That said, this was also the chapter that got me wanting to quote her (Sonmi) every time, I'm giving you my 2 favorite sentences:

         if losers can xploit what their adversaries teach them, yes, losers can become winners in the long term

         [...] ignorance of the Other engenders fear; fear engenders hatred; hatred engenders violence; violence engenders further violence until the only "rights", the only law, are whatever is willed by the most powerful.

Something I want to mention also, is how impressive I found that the writing style changed from character to character. I almost felt like it was written by more than one author, and I think that is because the author manages to give a deep background and voice to each of the characters, not only main but also secondary.

The middle chapter...that one was a hard read! I really wanted to know what was going to happen next, buy my oh my it was hard to read. Mitchell doesn't only changes the voices through the book, but also changes the vocabulary along time. I'm not sure if it was harder for me since English is not my first language, but sometimes I would have to put the book down, and take a minute to understand the whole sentence.

By now, you have noticed that I liked the book...then why only 4 mushrooms you ask? Well, you see, after I arrived to the middle of the book, I was expecting a big conclusion for each story, some closure in certain cases. I didn't find that. Don't get me wrong, you see a conclusion but there is a lot that is left unanswered. Possibly the intention was to let everyone draw their own conclusions, but at the end of the book I kept having the feeling that there was something missing and that it was something important.

I did suggest this book to some people, including someone that very adamantly told me that there is no way she will read this book. I actually felt sad that someone wouldn't give the book an opportunity, so I know that the book did strike a chord inside of me. However, this was not enough to erase the missing feeling.

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bawman

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Book Summary (from the book)

Sometimes I wouls see his look in his eye and think  ”Here it begins”, which is what I always think when I first get together with a guy”

It’s summer on the Jersey Shore, and free-spirited Angel Cassonetti knows adventure awaits her on the beaches and the boardwalk.

As the long, hot nights pass and Angel’s senior year approaches, things begin to change. Her adorable sometime-boyfriend, Joey, doesn’t want to fool around anymore. He’s ready to get serious while Angel wants to stay open to possibilities. Her best friend, Inggy, who has it all –looks , a steady boyfriend, straight As, and college prospects—disappears on college tours, leaving Angel to wonder where her own life will lead after high school/ Feeling at loose ends, she finds herself getting closer to Inggy’s boyfriend, Cork. Much closer. But it won’t count.

Sexy, confident Angel is absolutely unforgettable. In Jersey Angel, acclaimed author Beth Ann Bauman has created a story about secrets, friendship, and lust that’s sure to make waves.

My Review

I received this book through a give away from Naiche at The Book Girl Reads. She has pretty good reviews, mostly about YA fiction. Anyway, she gave this book a good review, but I’m afraid I just can’t concur.

This was not a good book for me. I had a problem with almost everything happening in the story. First of all, the main character, Angel. Sure, she is not supposed to be a role model, but just so we are clear, several characters are not role model, or even good models. But they have something going on for them!. I mean, this girl apparently is only good looking and into sex, apparently not matter with whom. Do I mind that someone is sexually active? No. Do I know that teenagers alike having sex, yes. But what I find ridiculous is how this girl has NOTHING else going on for herself!. And for that matter, all of the other characters are just so one dimensional!.

I kept telling myself, hang in there, sure, is a bit annoying the way they talked, but it happens that sometimes authors want to sound young and “hip” and end up using too many words that make no sense anymore. But no,  my problem was not with the way they talked, is the fact that they talked about nothing!. Oh but Caro, teenagers are like that, they ramble a lot…yes that is true in some cases, and during the fifth book of Harry Potter I was almost going to strangle him if he complained one more time about how nobody understood him and how everyone left him abandoned (not big on whinnies) but there was something going on at the same time, and at the end, something going on for him too.

The best friend is an oblivious nerd, that, although pretty, is just that, committed to her studies, blind about the fact that her boyfriend is a big jerk. Is she  better character? No, she is not, I’m afraid. You pass through all the almost 200 pages of the book, and I swear to you, nothing really happens. Angel sleeps with this guy, and then with this other, but then is jealous that the first one (who has a girlfriend) kisses someone else. Oh and there is a pregnant girl, who is in every party the summer, drinking soda and when she have the baby will be now at the parties drinking beer…that’s about it with the story.

No I don’t want another book where everyone is a good kid. I realize that that’s not “the real teenager” behaviour either. But in a world taken by assault by teenage stories where everyone is supernatural, I was expecting  that a book with real life kids and real life problems wouldn’t be an MTV show on paper.

Am I too old for this book? Is this why I didn’t like it? Maybe…but I’m sincerely afraid that my cousin who is 16 right now would read this book and actually feel like this characters are a behavioural option.

Cleanup by Norah McClintock

Book Summary (from the book)

“Connie, you have to help me”, a breathless voice said in Spanish. “They think I killed Mr. Richard. You have to tell them I would never do such thing.” 

“But, Maria—“ 

She begged me to hurry. Then the phone went dead.

Connie Suarez, downsized from her job as a legal secretary, is working as a maid. She’s getting used to picking up after people. But she is not prepared for the mess that awaits her when she arrives to work one morning to find her employer dead. Connie’s co-worker Maria, an illegal alien from Colombia, quickly becomes the prime suspect in this murder.

Connie soon realizes that she is also a potential target for violence. The question now is, will she be able to clean up the mess that Maria is in without getting killed herself?

My Review

I received this book from the Early Reviewers program from LybraryThing, and here is my review.

Why did I ask for this book? When I read the synopsis I just wanted to read it, I like a book with a strong female character and if it happens to be a Latina with whom I can identify even more, why not?.

Turns out I didn’t feel identified with the 2 main characters, but simply because our lives are very different (luckily for me I have to say). However, the problems surrounding them are so current that is easy to understand their actions. (I wont get any political here, but if you haven’t watched Rosie Perez video on how is “easier to be Latino” you are in for a treat). Off course I am not saying that this is only a Latino reality, or that just because you are part of a certain ethnicity you are necessarily doomed, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

So, the book. It makes part of the Rapid Reads series, and it was indeed a fast read, so it was perfect during the Read-a-Thon. But it wasn’t fast just because it was a short book; it was fast passed and well written and there were not dead moments in the story. 

Connie has to help her friend, even though she keeps finding out that Maria has been keeping a lot of secrets from her. Not that they were best friends, but there were the type of things that you share, at least without too many details.

I haven’t read anything else from the author, but I liked her style in this book. The characters are presented with enough details so you understand their actions, but you are not swarmed with details that then pop up by surprise.

In all it was a fun read, a different read. I would recommend this book when you need something between books; I wouldn't call it a "sherbet" because it has a little bit more content than the books I usually classify in that category, but since the whole plot passes by really fast it works perfectly to open your head for a new coming story.

The Passage by Justin Cronin (RIP #7)

Book Summary (from the book)

An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy –abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape –but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only her has the power to save the ruined world.

My Review

This is my last addition to the R.I.P challenge this year. I had fun, but I went through all the books that I wanted to read that fell into the category and I want to change genres a bit…at least for a while.

So, how did I get to this book? Bookrageous off course! Josh from Brews and Books actually talked about the book on episode 39 this year, and then I read Rebecca's (The Book Lady)review on it. Long story short...I put it down on my TBR list, reserved it at the library and waited, and waited.

Now, I really tried to finish this one before entering the Read-A-Thon…but a cold got in the way and so, my two book “challenges” this year (2 and only mind you, I’m new at this) merged. Luckily they did so beautifully.

Let’s get to the book shall we? The book is written from a third person’s point of view, we are just the observers. However, it keeps jumping from character to character so we are not necessarily following the same person, but just the same story.

The author places the story as B.V or A.V (before or after the virus, which allows him to play with how far in the future are we, although there are a couple of references to 2014. Why is this important? Because the world has collapsed and a lot of things are lost, just part of the memories of survivors and that makes it tangible as future but then again far away. I’m not sure if I’m being clear with this but is the best I can put it in words.

What is the virus? Well, I’m not ruining anything by telling you that is kind off a vampiric virus. It starts as a scientific study (this part I totally loved, even though I’m not a virologist, that’s my BF domain actually) and then the government gets his hands on it, more specifically, the Army wants it.

Because you see, is not the glittery vampires we are talking about, is regeneration, not getting old, etc…sort of Resident Evil with a similar outcome (is bad, just in case)

Needless to say, the virus, or better the patients treated with the virus get out of control, and is chaos. That’s when the world collapses, panic arises, and we shift in time. Colonies have been established, hiding from the virals, trying to survive. And this is what makes it so different from Resident Evil (well, there is more, but for me this is the main point): we see the people, how things have changed and how they haven’t, the struggle to survive, without endless action scenes and monsters everywhere.

Oh don’t get me wrong, the monsters (virals, smokes, etc) are there, is just that they are not the main point of the story, is what pivots around their apparition, how society changes and how humans react to such cataclysm.

I won’t give away more details, because there are some nuances that I think are better discovered little by little. Is a big book and I will admit that sometimes the pace was a bit slow (or maybe was the cold medicine?) but it picks up. For me the rhythm was more like a roller coaster, in a good sense, you get comfortable and the BOOM something happens and you keep shooting glances to the other side of the page to make sure everyone is ok. 

I don’t have a favorite character, but I like them all. They are well constructed, not perfect by any means, but complicated enough that you want to know a little bit more of their background so things might make sense.

I really enjoyed the book and I want to read The Twelve soon.