A few more books I couldn’t finish. Read part one here.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
I started listening to the audio and got to disc seven before I gave up. I found the writing to be very sloppy – repetitive with unnecessary dialogue. There were a lot of moments where the characters recapped what just happened (in a super! excited! voice!) and it made the story drag. I remembered, I didn’t need the refresher. Katherine Kellgren’s normally excellent narration actually made it worse for me, since it heightened the repetitive nature of the text.
Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
I think the only reason I brought this book home from the library was because of its pretty green cover. Turns out paranormal stories about goblins aren’t really my thing. I never thought they were, but hey. It was worth a shot.
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
This is a dystopia about a future where water is scarce and strictly regulated. It practically had my name written all over it, but I found it boring. I gave it 50 pages or so and then gave up.
Dark Mirror by M. J. Putney
This is a historical fantasy (set in two time periods!) that sounds really cool and like it would be right up my alley. Alas, it never grabbed me. Perhaps things didn’t move quickly enough for me.
Above by Leah Bobet
This is a weird book, and weird books are very hit and miss for me. Ultimately, I didn’t have the patience to learn the jargon and the specifics of the world-building, despite the intriguing premise (a group of humans with special powers/mutations live underground, survivors of some sort of apocalyptic event above).
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
I had strong, very negative feelings about this book, which many of my acquaintances rather enjoyed. There was a lot wrong with it, to the point where I wasn’t just bored, I was kind of upset by it. Ultimately, I didn’t believe in the characters’ actions and most of the good stuff happened off the page.
The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham
This is a crossover with Fables and Jack of Fables. It’s also where I learned I loathed Jack of Fables.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The problem with this wasn’t that it wasn’t any good – it was actually too good. Flynn did such a great job of portraying a toxic marriage that it left a bad taste in my mouth and I couldn’t continue after I read the first big twist.
Two of these are titles I read and finished. The Putney title I remembered liking when I read it (and I think I may have reviewed it) but I never found myself compelled enough to pick up the second book.
Gone Girl I finished and while I thought it was well-done, I can't say I LIKED it. Dark, sure, usually my kryptonite, but it was almost TOO good, like you said.
I've read Impossible and Gone Girl and can totally see your logic on both. Impossible was just so disappointing and Gone Girl was so painfully on point.
I love Tyger, Tyger so much. I think Kersten Hamilton is a great read-alike to recommend for fans of Diana Wynne Jones. Not bashing your taste of course–to each her own–but I wanted to give a thumbs up for this great fantasy trilogy.
I keep trying Fables graphic novels because they *seem* like something I should totally dig.