I slacked on the book front in February. I finished two, and started a few more that I didn't finish. It was a busy month, but I also found I just couldn't get into most of the books I picked up so there's a lot of books sitting by my bed that I've started and put down again. I think getting through Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is going to take me a while!
1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
This book was a bit of a chore at times. I didn't dislike it, but it wasn't my favourite and if I didn't already have the third book I probably wouldn't bother reading any more of the series (yes I have the third but not the second, blame second-hand book stores). I watched the TV show before I read this book, and it pains me to say that the TV show was better. Sometimes adaptations of an older novel are better because they're able to revise somewhat problematic themes or attitudes. This book was written in 2011, but standards have changed a lot in the past few years. I found some of the dialogue and characters' attitudes in the novel annoyingly sexist, and though they were pointed out as problematic by the main character I didn't find that made it any less grating to read. While it's actually very good in my opinion to show problematic behaviour and call it out as such, it's less effective when your main character only calls it out in her head and proceeds to date the guy anyway. Honestly, I'd recommend the TV show.
2. Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus
This is a very new release that I picked up at the book store without realising it was semi-hyped. To be honest, I found it a bit bland. The twist at the end felt like the writer was trying a bit too hard. I prefer when a twist is obviously a surprise, but in hindsight you can see the evidence of it. With this book, it felt like they could have set that up better. Some of the choices the writer made with the plot felt a little contrived as well, and I honestly almost rolled my eyes at times. I wouldn't say this is a bad novel, it's just definitely not one of my favourites.
3. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
I didn't finish this book, but I might still pick it up again. I thought I'd mention it because I didn't just put this book down because it bored me, like others I tried to pick up throughout the month. I wasn't prepared for one of the characters, Hector, and how much I'd hate him. He's, um, a bit of a douche. I know the book changes perspective, though, so there's still hope. That being said, this book is on the backburner for now. If you're thinking about reading it, just be prepared to not love some of the characters and have to read their perspective anyway.
xo Dominique