What Are You Reading? May 2014

I'm in between YA books and reading Monstrous Regiment, which could cross over well. Anyway, what is everyone else reading?

It's more middle grade, but I'm currently reading The Phantom Tollbooth, so I can write questions for the Battle of the Books tournament our library is hosting. I haven't read this book since I was in sixth grade (I won't say how long ago that was) and I'd forgotten how odd it is.

I have a few ARCs that I'd forgotten I'd downloaded to my computer, so I think I'll read them next. I believe one of them is The Eye of Zoltar, the third book in Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer trilogy and the other is the newest by A.S. King.

I'm still making my way through Thud! also by Terry Pratchett and the next YAs on the pile are Allegiant (the final part of the Divergent trilogy) and Grass for his pillow (the second part of the Otori Trilogy).

>2 Cailiosa: I've got The Phantom Tollbooth on the TBR pile (but it's still quite a way down!) Is it one to look forward to/move up the pile?

Peace2: I wouldn't say it's my favorite book now, though I remember quite liking it when I was younger. If you're a word nerd, you might enjoy it.

I love The Phantom Tollbooth! I even have a poster signed by the author! (There's a documentary out now about Norman Juster and it's pretty good.)

I've just enjoyed Curtsies & Conspiracies and I'm considering what to take away on an short trip interstate. Nothing like a book to fill in those flights and airport waits. I think its a toss up between Ruby Red, Enchanted and Dark Triumph. Anyone got anything good to say about any of them? (Don't tell me if you didn't like them, I'd rather find that out on my own...)

spaceofflowers: I can personally Ruby Red and Dark Triumph. Read the first if you are looking for something fun and kind of fluffy, but extremely enjoyable, and the latter if you want a story and characters that will rip your heart out in the best way possible. Dark Triumph is absolutely one of my favorite new books.

Cailiosa: I'm not sure that makes my decision any easier, but thank you! Looking forward to reading them both. Actually ended up taking Enchanted, which is a very clever weaving of many fairy tales.

Just started Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. New sort-of fantasy, first of a trilogy, with themes of love, war and enslavement. I like it!
First sentence - "She shouldn't have been tempted."

Other YA favorites read this spring -

I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman. True story of a teen surviving during the Holocaust.
Rebel Heart by Moira Young. 2nd in the dystopian Dust Lands series. First one is Blood Red Road
Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome. Action/mystery/adventure about young teen who inherits billions of pounds from his unknown great aunt.
First of a series.

Eleanor & Park and Fangirl both by Rainbow Rowell. Contemporary love, social and family issues.
ESPECIALLY LOVED the wonderful characters in Eleanor & Park!
Chains by Laurie Anderson. Slaves in NYC during Revolutionary War times.

nrmay: I loved The Winner's Curse, though are you referring to the book by Marie Rutkoski? It sounds like it to me with that description. I've read it several times and now own a copy so I can enjoy it whenever I want.

I'm in a bit of a reading rut right now, as it seems that all the books I want to read aren't being released until the fall. Good thing Leigh Bardugo's Ruin and Rising comes out in just a couple of weeks.

You're right; it's The Winner's Curse by Rutkoski. Thanks for catching that! Touchstone did not bring up the right book, maybe 'cause it's newish.

I've just finished In My Hands : Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke which I hadn't realised was a young adult biography, but for anyone interested in the actions of a young woman in Poland during WW2 who was incredibly brave in her attempts to save a number of Jewish people, then I would definitely recommend this story.

I'm now reading Need by Carrie Jones and Grass for his Pillow both of which I think are YA.

Just finished City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Was getting a bit tired of the series around book four and definitely book five, so was pleasantly surprised by most of this book. One part was very predictable, but other than that, I really enjoyed it. Definitely a series that I liked.

Finished Kin : Suth's Story by Peter Dickinson and Need by Carrie Jones, next up are continuing with Grass for his Pillow and starting Kin : Noli's Story. Once I'm through with Grass, I'll probably allow myself to be tempted by Captivate the next in the Need Pixies series.

Just finished Steve Augarde's X Isle, a dystopian survival novel set in Britain after the oceans rise and flood the world. Hope he does a sequel.
Also really liked his fantasy trilogy for young readers that begins with The Various

Started Wonder by R. J. Palacio.