September 04, 2019

Taste the Books: Review Morsels #14 Rin Chupeco, Charles Yu, 'Nathan Burgoine


Intro


Hello beauties!

Welcome again to my own brand of mini reviews! I never thought I'd do minis, until I recapped a few of my long reviews in some digest post in 2014, and then guest-posted some shorties for a blogging event in 2015. And Karen from For What It's Worth started praising my short recs/recaps 😊. Just to be clear,  I'm NOT taking a break from writing long reviews - no such luck LOL. But while I'm making up my mind about a new book I've read, I might as well give you the short version 😉. Just be warned - this feature will be VERY random! So, here goes...

The Suffering by Rin Chupeco
(The Girl from the Well #2)

★★★★

The second part of the Okiku (ghost girl) and Tark (teenage boy) duo's story is told from Tark's POV, and the teenage voice is spot on. This could easily have been a 4.5 or even a 5 star one, had not the paranormal romance reared its ugly head (though I'll admit it's not a romance in any conventional sense). Also, as well-written and strong as it is, I'm not a fan of the ending, but I'm sure I'm in the minority here (am I not usually? 🙄 😉). The highlights: top-notch horror/mythology, compelling action, vibrant characters, tug-at-your-heartstrings situations, writing that maintains an inner poetic quality even in the midst of such horrors without getting in the way.

Full review to come. (Goodreads pre-review)


★★★★★

Like a Doctor Who in reverse, a time-machine repairman spends his life in a unit not much bigger than a telephone booth (one that isn't bigger on the inside) trying to escape the flux of time - or to live his life untethered from it. It sounds sad and static and it sort of is (though peppered with humour and short visits to the science-fictional universe), except it makes for a series of poignant meditations on life, and of course, time. And then it becomes a window to another time, and it BECOMES the story of a life (or two) folded on itself (themselves), and a plea to write your own fiction/life story, or embrace it at least.

Full review to come. (Goodreads pre-review)


Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by 'Nathan Burgoine

★★★

Rated 3.5 really.

More paranormal than sci-fi light (also because, apparently, teleporting is an innate ability), with a strong contemporary/diverse bone. Despite my rating (since I have books that I love more dearly), this one was a fun, sweet, engaging read with an endearing main character and a great ensemble cast - though I wish they had been given more screen time and developed better (or all equally). ALL the queer rep, and gay/ace/pan boys who are "just" spectacularly FRIENDS with each other; a deaf parent who features a lot (along with sign language); a nerd protagonist who owns it and yet is a bit awkward, but not socially impaired; a fast romance that actually doesn't feel forced. Oh, and a lot of doors, and a few bad guys, and an everyday hero.

Full review to come. (Goodreads pre-review)

So, have you read/are you planning to read any of the above? And if you have, what do you think of them? Do you post mini reviews? Do you like to read them?

22 comments:

  1. I really loved Burgoine's book In Memoriam (despite it not being a *me* book lol) and I liked this one, for a lot of reasons that you mentioned, but thought it fell short on the actual premise.

    The Suffering sounds interesting too.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I know how you feel about Exit Plans - also, as I said, one would expect a sci-fi light books and it isn't...but I chalk it up to bad marketing.

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  2. Ooh The Suffering looks interesting! Glad it was good in spite of a disappointing ending. Love hoe spooky it looks.

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    1. Both books in The Girl from the Well duology are very strong (and yes, spooky!). I could have done without the romantic angle, but that's how I'm wired LOL.

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  3. This is an interesting mix of books. I giggled, when I saw that the romance sort of ruined a book for you (you know I love that stuff), but I get that some people want a story without that.

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    1. In this case it's more like - a (murderous) ghost and a human falling in love has nowhere to go LOL.

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  4. You read Tark and Kiku as a paranormal romance? Wow, I got totally different vibes. I enjoyed that it was a loving, nuanced, and deeply felt friendship without any of the romance. I never got the sense that Tark was "in love with" her, just that he loved her. But I liked the ending too, so agree to disagree. Even when we rate things the same, it's not for the same reasons. 😂

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    1. I don't know...the ending gave me pretty strong PN romance vibes. Book 1 sure felt different to me (and part of the very second installment too). But I'll have to reread this series at some point.

      LOL, it more often than not isn't...unless it's the Thirst series!

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  5. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe sounds really intriguing, though I rarely read sci-fi. I am happy you enjoyed it, though, and that it was like a reversed Doctor Who, because I know you love it. :) Great reviews, Roberta!

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    1. Thanks! If you want to try some sci-fi that doesn't get too overwhelming, I'd recommend Singing the Dogstar Blues (even if it's a tad old). It's funny and heartwarming, with a strong female teen/non-binary alien friendship at its core.

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  6. That's great the teenage voice was so well done, it does seem a lot of teens in books just sound like adults lol. The second book here sounds unique. Although the third is the one that sounds most like something I'd like!

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    1. It's not easy to nail the teen voice, and sometimes - reading from an adult's perspective - it's not easy to tell if it's done well or not either LOL. I do try...

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  7. I had completely forgotten about How to Live Safely... it was one I had wanted to read!

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    1. If you get to it, let me know! It's rare that my friends read the same books as me LOL. We can compare notes!

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  8. I really need to check out that Rin Chupeco series! I'm always on the hunt for good YA horror!

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    1. As horror goes, that duology is highly recommended!

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  9. Good that suffering is a top notch story, even if paranormal romance reared its ugly head ;)
    And how to live safely sounds great fun!
    Awesome reviews!

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    1. I absolutely recommend HTLS if you are into sci-fi (which I know you are!), but you also love something on the philosophical side.

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  10. I love mini reviews! I never read The Suffering and I'm not surprised that paranormal romance was a letdown. It's hard to get that right, especially in YA.

    (Amber Elise @ Du Livre)

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    1. I know! You write them too!

      I'm never a fan of romance, but my real problem with its PN brand is...I don't buy it. You could say I refuse to LOL. How can you handle a dead sweetheart?

      Delete
  11. The Suffering... isn't that the cover for The Ring? The creepy movie I will never, EVER watch? They look similar!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. LOL, I heard that this duology has been inspired by the legend behind the movie, but I've never seen it, so I don't know how similar they can be.

      Delete

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