meg reads and reads

Title: A Lion Among Men Author: Gregory Maguire Wicked was a masterful reinvention, a brilliantly imagined and intricate take on a familiar world. It wove together elements of L. Frank Baum's original Oz books with sharp social commentary, creating a wholly new and enthralling narrative. It was a complete story with a perfect ending, leaving it open for readers to draw their own satisfying conclusions. But where Wicked was a genius work of fiction, A Lion Among Men feels like a tired and unnecessary extension. This book, like the previous one, Son of a Witch , feels like part of a different story altogether, one that strays far from the magic and intrigue that made the first book so captivating. The plot centers on Brr (the Cowardly Lion), but his tale is long, depressing, and all too similar in theme to the previous installment. While the pacing has improved, the story itself is a convoluted mess of flashbacks and unfulfilling revelations. It's an easy read, but mostly because...

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses Author: Sarah J. Maas Hey readers! Buckle up, because it's time for my much-delayed take on the "iconic" A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Honestly, the hype left me scratching my head. Growling? Purring? Is this a romance novel or a cat convention? First impressions? Not great. As the opening salvo in a series, this book felt like a damp firework. The world-building was, well, meh, and the characters seemed to function on the shared processing power of a toaster oven. (And that's being generous!) Then came the "riddle." Now, I consider myself a champion of strong female leads, but Feyre seriously tested my patience. I was this close to launching the book across the room when she couldn't decipher the riddle. Seriously, Feyre? I'm pretty sure I solved it before she even finished reading it. Rhysand? More like Sighsand. This dude's entire thought process seemed to reside south of the border, and every...

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Author: J.K. Rowling I first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone about 20 years ago, when I was in the eighth grade at Dobbins Middle School in Powder Springs, GA. I liked it, but for whatever reason, I was never motivated to continue reading the series. Here I am, a grown woman, finally continuing with Book 2. Even though I find J.K. Rowling problematic as a person, I'm not disappointed in reading this book. I've heard a lot of people say that this is their least favorite book in the series. I had seen the movie before, so I knew basically what was going to happen, but I really enjoyed reading this far more than I remember enjoying the first book. It was a really quick, easy read, and the shenanigans Harry and Ron got into were delightful. I also enjoyed reading about Ginny, who has a much larger presence in the book than in the movie. I'm not normally a YA reader, but this was fun. I also liked thinking about how m...