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PAPER TOWNS by John Green (Audiobook)

7/31/2025

Read by John Green and Dan John Miller.

This is my second? John Green book and I enjoyed it. I like Green's writing and it's easy to ride along on the adventure. This one, of course, has a rather unusual heroine (if you can call her that). While not the protagonist, she's certainly the catalyst. The protagonist, Quentin, is such a likable, everyman character that I fell into his world with no problems. His friends are interesting and the mystery that unfolds had me eager to see what would happen next. I flew through this novel. It reminded me that there are other Green books I haven't yet read so I'll have to pick one of those up soon.

Quotes:

"If I had a nervous breakdown every time something awful happened in the world, I'd be crazier than a shit-house rat."
"If I am ever told that I have one day to live, I will head straight for the hallowed halls of Winter Park High School where a day has been known to last a thousand years."
"I'm not saying that everything is survivable; just everything except the last thing is."

4.25/5

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MISTBORN: THE FINAL EMPIRE by Brandon Sanderson (Audiobook)

7/30/2025

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Read by Michael Kramer
#1 - Mistborn Saga

I liked it. I didn't love it. I wanted to love it. I really enjoyed the mechanics of the magical system - utilizing different types of metals. I wanted more from Kelsier; he was the most interesting character to me. I do like Vin and I am curious to see what happens to her. Oddly, I feel like it went on a little too long but I don't know that there was anything I would deem as "fluff." Everyone says this is a great series so maybe I went in with my high expectations. That all being said, I will definitely continue with the series once the next book becomes available on Libby.

4/5

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PYRAMIDS by Terry Pratchett (Paperback)

7/24/2025

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#7 - Discworld

I love a bit of Egyptian mythology and a dash of timey-wimeyness; Pratchett delivers beautifully on this. This was a recipe made for my interests and I had a wonderful time diving into the twists and turns of this novel. It's a delightful romp through the "Old Kingdom" and it opens a new facet of the Discworld. Plus, one of my old favorites, Death, makes an appearance. I can't actually think of a novel where Death hasn't shown up yet and I'm fine with that. Pratchett takes the familiar and makes it his own, truly. His way of writing tickles the fancy in ways that can also be found in the likes of Adams and Fforde.

Quotes:

"It's a mistake trying to cheer up camels. You may as well drop meringues into a black hole." (353)

4.5/5

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LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn (Audiobook)

7/21/2025

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Read by Janiece Abbott-Pratt
#1 - The Legendborn Cycle

I had heard really good things about this book, this series. I was excited to dive in. It captured my attention from the beginning, then plateaued, and then grabbed me once more by the throat and held me until the concluding moment. The writer has a way of mixing legend (as one might imagine) with modern times. I very much enjoy the perspective of Bree and the way she opines about the goings-on around her. Her perspective is unique amongst her contemporaries and, while it's understandable, the ending provides yet more support for that. I am quite curious to see where this is going. I can't help but compare it somewhat to the others of similar ilk - the Empyrean, Red Rising, the Zodiac Academy - and wonder if there will be another twist in Bree's personal life. Well, we shall see.

4.75/5

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FRIENDS OF DOROTHY by Sandi Toksvig (Hardback)

7/20/2025

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I absolutely loved it. It took longer than I wanted to because I interrupted it with other books and I had to start again (I was only about three chapters in at that point) and it was worth it. It's funny and sweet and poignant and delightful. I actually laughed out loud and teared up a bit. I've read Toksvig before but that was a memoir and while I enjoyed her writing about her own life, this captured me in a different way. The characters are so fun and fleshed and it is a little contrived at times but I was here for it. You want to be a friend of Dorothy in every sense of the word. I had no idea where we were headed at the beginning and, to be fair, I couldn't have predicted the ending at all. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun and delicious read.

Quote:

"'Sorry, Agnes, I don't think I've been very nice to you. I didn't know,' he finished lamely. It was only then that he saw that Agnes had tears in her eyes.
You shouldn't need to,' she said evenly. 'It shouldn't make any difference. You of all people. Be nice anyway.'" (202)

5/5

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ROLL FOR LOVE by M. K. England (Audiobook)

7/9/2025

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Read by Mary Helen Gallucci, Natalie Naudus, and André Santana.

I really enjoy M. K. England. I stumbled across them on Libby when I read THE DISASTERS and I love their work. Plus, a sapphic romance with Dungeons and Dragons? Sign me up! This was adorable. It starts with almost all of the problems solved and then things go off the rails. The secondary characters are fun as well; they have their own problems. It wraps up a LITTLE too quickly for me. We don't actually get to see how certain characters resolve their feelings in order to make everything a happy ending but it didn't bother me enough to take me out of the story. Strangely enough, the parts I enjoyed the least were the inserts of Dungeons and Dragons. I really wanted to focus on Harper and Ollie's relationship and working through their personal issues in general even though I know many of us D&D nerds can work through our issues in game. England does a nice job with that; it just didn't grab me the way that I wanted. Overall, a delightful book with a fun coming-of-age identity story and just the right amount of romance. (Side note? I absolutely love the cover art as well.)

Quote:

"I have been stereotyping my own town; writing myself out of a story that I have full control over."

4.5/5

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WYRD SISTERS by Terry Pratchett (Paperback)

7/5/2025

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#6 - Discworld

Practhett clearly knows his theatre. Especially his Shakespeare. I mean, one could have guessed from the title that this would wander vaguely through the general plot of the Scottish play and one would have been correct. I really enjoyed the three witches - each with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. It was a bit of a slow start for me, though. I didn't really fall into it until about midway through. I believe (I could be wrong) this is the first book without Rincewind and we only get a cameo from Death. Pratchett is still genius in his descriptions. I find myself heartily amused by many of his sentences. I'm curious to see how this whole world is really going to come together to affect each other. Lancre is a new setting, though we've seen the Ramtops before. It's taking me longer to get through this series but I am determined to go through them all.

Quotes:

"'In - In the Guild,' said thee Fool, 'we learned that words can be more powerful even than magic.'" (91)
"Ninety percent of true love is acute, ear-burning embarrassment." (171)

4.75/5

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PAPER TOWNS by John Green (Audiobook)

MISTBORN: THE FINAL EMPIRE by Brandon Sanderson (Audiobook)

PYRAMIDS by Terry Pratchett (Paperback)

LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn (Audiobook)

FRIENDS OF DOROTHY by Sandi Toksvig (Hardback)

ROLL FOR LOVE by M. K. England (Audiobook)

WYRD SISTERS by Terry Pratchett (Paperback)

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