Books I Read Before Blogging #1

I have read numerous books since I started blogging over two years ago, and because of that, I feel like I neglect talking about the books I loved before I even considered starting Kristin Kraves Books. I wanted to do something to change that, so I have decided to start this series where every once in awhile I talk about three or fours books I read before May 2017 and give you some of my thoughts on them. It will be a mix of books I loved, liked, or that didn’t work for me. Now, hopefully I can remember my opinions on all of them- thank goodness for Goodreads! Who knows how long this series will last- I guess until I run out of books to talk about!

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Well, I guess we are starting off with an unpopular opinion! I do not think I have ever talked about The Night Circus on my blog, and that is because I did not fall in love with it like I know so many other readers have. Part of me thinks that it was just so hyped that it was impossible for it to reach my expectations- which isn’t really the fault of the book. I also was not expecting romance to be such a big element and I did not connect to the characters. I was not invested in them, so I did not care what happened to them. There were elements that I really loved and the circus setting was fascinating. I vividly remember how beautifully descriptive the book was and I felt like I was there. That said, I was hoping that it would be more whimsical! I am very much looking forward to Morgenstern’s next novel, The Starless Sea, because she is an incredible writer and the synopsis definitely intrigues me.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Even though it has been a couple years since I read An Ember in the Ashes, I still vividly remember so many details. That is such a credit to the story and Tahir’s writing, because I often find that I forget a lot about a story as time passes. Typical me though, I have yet to continue on with the series. Maybe one day?! I remember thinking that the plot was original and I was invested in the main character, Laia. I also loved that there was a hint at a romance, but it was such a minor part of the story. There was also a military academy involved, and any story that has any sort of school or academy is right in my wheelhouse. Also, it must have been quite fast-paced and gripping because, according to Goodreads, I read it over the course of a day! It is interesting though, that once I started blogging and came to have an understanding of my personal reading taste, I began to read YA fantasy less and less.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahnuik

I know that I have talked about Fight Club a few times on this blog because it has one of my favourite endings of all time. Can you believe that it was never spoiled for me? This is one of the books that made me realize that in the right hands, a short book can be absolutely brilliant. I have since fallen in love with novels that are under 300 pages and I am constantly in awe of what authors can accomplish in so few words. Fight Club had so many twists and turns while also presenting questions about love and life. This is one of the few books that I would love to revisit one day in the future. I am ashamed to admite that I have yet to see the movie? Is it worth watching?

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

I will admit that I was a fan of Twilight, at least the first novel. Looking back now, I recognize that it definitely has its issues, but I thought it was a lot of fun. It was one of the few books that I managed to make time for during my University years. In 2017, when I saw that Stephenie Meyer was releasing a new novel, I was curious and decided to give it a chance. It was interesting at first, but quickly went downhill. By the middle, I was so bored that I ending up skimming most of the story. I could not tell you a single thing that happened, but I know enough to confidently say that, in my opinion, The Chemist is not worth your time!

It is interesting because looking at these four books now, I can confidently say that the Kristin of 2019 would never pick up An Ember in the Ashes or The Chemist. I adored An Ember in the Ashes, so it would be a shame to have never read it. This is a good reminder that even though my reading tastes are quite varied, it is still important to branch out more.

Have you read any of these books? I would especially be curious to know if anyone had similar feelings about The Night Circus!