Blog Posts - JARED R. LOPATIN

THE FACULTY LOUNGE by Jennifer Mathieu (Audiobook)

2/25/2025

Read by Lisa Flanagan.

I know I've said this a few times now but I really loved this book. When an elderly teacher is discovered dead in the faculty lounge of a school, it sets off a series of reactions and a deep dive into the different faculty members that interact with each other on a regular basis. As a teacher myself, it was so true to life in so many ways. I laughed. I cried. I raged. The issues of education are always prevalent but especially nowadays. I know most people prefer not to read about their profession, choosing literature as an escape (and I am always looking for a great escape) but this book contains such loves for the profession that it felt like a bit of an escape anyway. I definitely recommend it and I hope there will be more adult novels coming from Mathieu.

5/5

THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED by Rebecca Yarros (Audiobook)

2/24/2025

Read by Tim Paige and Carly Robbins.

I enjoy Yarros' Empyrean series but this...I really loved this book. Yarros takes what I thought would be just a classic romance trope and both heightens and deepens it. I was in for a lighthearted romp and came out with a really lovely experience. It starts with a classic pair of lovers who hate each other. Georgia Stanton, dealing with a divorce, meets Noah Harrison who has been surreptitiously hired to write her grandmother's unfinished romance based on her own life. Georgia, who has had her trust broken, is resistant but relents and that's the catalyst for him coming into her life. While there are the stupid moments that force them apart (there have to be, otherwise there's no book), the letters that take us back to wartime compared with modern times are powerful and tell a story beyond the simple romance happening in the 21st century. Definitely worth the read.

5/5

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC by Terry Pratchett (Print)

2/24/2025

#2 - Discworld

I really enjoyed thee second of the Discworld series. It didn't end anywhere I expected but, with Pratchett, one can hardly rely on one's own expectations. A delight to see the return of Rincewind and team and yay for new characters. I especially liked learning more about the Unseen University. Strangely enough, every time I see this title, "I Sing the Body Electric" plays in my head. Specifically the version by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. I don't know why.

4.5/5

OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon (Audiobook)

2/20/2025

Read by Davina Porter.
#1 - Outlander

I have been prompted to get Into Outlander for years and I finally picked it up. I have to say, it started the way I expected but where it went...well, that was a journey! Claire is great, of course, and so is James, and there's such a villain in Jack Randall. Gabaldon's writing is captivating and I don't really find myself losing focus...until she starts diving into the politics of the region. That's when my mind tends to wander. There's also a whole storyline with Jack that I was not prepared for. I have not yet watched the series. A friend suggested that I go ahead and watch the first season as it follows the books. Same with the second. Then I can just watch with impunity - she said the series deviates heavily from the books.

4.5/5

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins (Audiobook)

2/13/2025

Read by Santino Fontana.
#0 - The Hunger Games

So It's been some time since I last visited Panem and It was an interesting return. Took me a chapter or two to get back into this world. Collins certainly has a talent for writing the Games themselves. When outside of that, I'm not as invested but maybe that's just me. Very curious to give a backstory for Snow. It seemed originally intended to garner sympathy for the character; though, having finished it, I'm not sure that was the intent after wall. Snow seemed a little inconsistent throughout the tale. I'm glad I read it but I don't think I needed it. You can be sure I will pick up the new one when it comes out though!

4.25/5

CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE by Tomi Adeyemi (Audiobook)

2/9/2025

Read by Bahni Turpin.
#2 - Legacy of Orïsha

The way these characters are both protagonist and antagonist just shows the brilliance of Adeyemi's writing. The worldbuild on top of that is just chef's kiss and the ending...good gods, I'm going to need the next installment to justify that ending. I am not okay. Be careful what you wish for.

5/5

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi (Audiobook)

2/6/2025

Read by Bahni Turpin.
#1 - Legacy of Orïsha

I really loved this book. I love that the protagonists are flawed. I love the passion infused into every word of the narrative by Adeyemi. It made me think on a deeper level even while enjoying the surface story. This is clearly a tale from Adeyemi's heart and I am so curious to see where it is going. Protagonists that I can understand even while disagreeing with them will always grab me. Zélie is trying to handle the oppression of her people - the maji - and fight to bring back magic. The enemy - the royal family - is fighting against her but she has an unlikely ally in Amari, the daughter of the king. Allies don't always see eye to eye, though. For that matter, neither do friends and family.

5/5

THE COLOUR OF MAGIC by Terry Pratchett (Print)

2/4/2025

#1 - Discworld

I have been wanting to get Into the Discworld series for quite some time now. This year, I plan to work my way through it. I have to say, I expected the whimsy of Pratchett's tone but that's about all that can be expected with Pratchett. It is an adventure from start to finish with twists at every turn. I enjoy Rincewind, though Twoflower can get on my nerves with his naïveté, and I adore Luggage (a strange statement if you haven't read the series). I'm excited that I get to revisit this world and hopefully see many of these characters again.

4.5/5

ONYX STORM by Rebecca Yarros (Audiobook)

2/3/2025

Read by Justis Bolding, Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton, and Jasmin Walker.
#3 - The Empyrean

Good gods! It was all I could do to avoid spoilers of this novel as people kept posting about it. Finally, it was available on Libby and I snatched it up. Just when you think Yarros can't write anything darker, twistier, or more epic, she does. I am concerned for Violet, fearing that we're going to have an ACOTAR situation. However, I trust Yarros enough to know that if that happens, she will handle it with brilliance. I want to know more of the dragon lore and the rules governing magic in this world. I know some people were disappointed, but I wasn't. I'm eager for the next installment of this series.

5/5

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (Audiobook)

1/30/2025

Read by Michael Urie and Marin Ireland.

I loved this book. It seems I'm late to the game but I'm so glad I found it. The relationships that are built here, the unique perspective of the octopus...it's just so well-written. Van Pelt does such a good job of telling the story through multiple perspectives that seem disparate but are actually all one tale. It really emphasizes the interconnectedness of the world, which I feel is a great theme throughout the novel. It's sad and poignant and reflective. If you're looking for a quietly powerful read, this is one to pick up.

5/5