Good morning! I’ll admit that I am a tad disappointed that there isn’t any snow on the ground just yet. I expected to awake to a world of white, but instead I woke to a world of brown. Oh well. I guess the gloomy weather outside will just encourage me to stay inside and study where it’s warm. Well played, winter. Well played.
Well, November has come and passed, and now that I’m not writing 5,000 words a day, I have some time to read again. Yippee! So here are a few of the books that I’ve read/am reading this month.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
“Sean rides bareback, the most dangerous way of all. Skin to skin, pulse to pulse.”
Oh my goodness. Let me just say that this is a book after my own heart. Why it took me so long to discover and read this book, I have no idea, but I am so glad that I finally did.
This book follows the stories of Puck Connolly and Sean Kendrick, both competitors in the upcoming Scorpio Races. The Scorpio Races happen every November, and they are as exhilarating as they are deadly. You see, the races aren’t run on your typical Thoroughbred youngsters. Instead, riders climb onto the backs of their capall uisce, or water horses. These horses are born of the sea, with a thirst for blood and power unmatched by any land dwelling horse.
As a horsewoman myself, I was sucked into this story and held there by the beauty of Stiefvater’s writing and her mythological horses of the sea. You don’t need to love horses to love this book, I assure you. The characters are loveable, the setting is magical, and the ending will leave you satisfied but wanting more. I absolutely recommend this book!
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
“Imagine there was a cure, but finding it would cost you everything. It would completely ruin your life. What would you do?”
Cinder is another book that I spent months hearing about but never actually went out and picked it up. Well, I found it at the Poudre Public Library a couple weeks ago, and I’m so glad I did.
Cinder is a twisted fairytale about a girl who is actually a cyborg. The futuristic world is believable and complex, and the characters will demand you give them the attention they deserve. The main character, Cinder, defies all fairytale princess norms. She has mechanical body parts, is a talented mechanic, and wears a tool belt wherever she goes.
This book is humorous, unique, and a pretty easy read. And it is also the first book of a series! Woohoo!
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
“You should never be surprised when someone treats you with respect, you should expect it.”
Sarah Dessen is one of my very favorite authors. I’ve read all but one or two of her books, and I am so looking forward to her new book that will be out soon.
Keeping the Moon was a quick and easy read (I read it all in one sitting). What I love so much about Dessen’s characters are how real they are. They fight and they throw things and they dance like idiots. But they are all so beautiful and vivid and full of life. She writes about quirky characters with ordinary lives and problems that most of us can relate to.
If you’re looking for a quick, feel-good book, this one is for you.
So there you have it. I’ve read three books so far this month and am currently working on reading Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston. Be expecting a Christmas List of books from me soon.
Good luck on finals!
Natalie can be reached at blogs@collegian.com
