Reading Wrap Up August 2024

[@reginad91]

you perfectly nailed my problems with the wheel of time series! The plot is great but I hate practically every relationship a female character has with anyone else, be it with the men around them or even with other women because they also always seem to complain about or argue with each other

[@libraryunbounded]

Yes, there's pretty much nobody to empathise with and, being a character driven reader, this is very uncomfortable for me 😅

[@chokog2446]

Wheel of Time and Malazan are my favorite series of all time, despite their many, many failings... The overall Stories are so engrossing, and as annoying as the characters could get, you remember them for ever ... I travel a whole a lot, but I still feel like I know these worlds better than anywhere i have visited 😊.

[@justynajusty]

❤ yay for good books. I had a good reading month, 23 books! 😮 manga helped 😂 I adore your videos. You are so funny! 😂❤ Wishing you well. 🎉❤

[@libraryunbounded]

Oh, wow! 23!! You did amazing, Justyna! ❤️ Doesn't matter that there was manga - still so impressive! Thank you so much! You made my day! ❤️❤️❤️

[@justynajusty]

@@libraryunbounded Thank you! I was surprised! 😄 Awww. ❤️ yay!!!!!

[@Jonathan-B_]

August seems to have come for all the readers. I know I was in a brutal slump. Hope the new job is going well.

[@libraryunbounded]

Thank you so much, Jonathan! I am sorry to hear you had to deal with August too... But the good news is that it's all over now and we are nearing the cooler and cosier reading months 🍁🍂

[@gabbylikestoread]

The love-hate relationship with Wheel of Time is real! lol

[@libraryunbounded]

It is... I'm kinda mad I ever started it 😂 (not at you, I started it a long time ago)

[@aBowStar]

Alright, alright......so many mentions of Jane, I'm rereading it in October 😂 (and so very happy about it 🥰) It is interesting, I've never really disliked their age gap - perhaps because Jane had to take care of herself for so long and seemed so independent already at 18 that she felt much more mature...... an uncomfortable age gap irritated me a little bit in Emma so I understand the point, though 🙂 Anyway, 4 books are wonderful result in such month 🤩 I'm sending you all the great energy vibes for the new beginning at work 🏋‍♀ And I cannot forget: Happy fall 😃 🍂🍂🍂

[@libraryunbounded]

Hahaha I do believe you should definitely read it - the universe has spoken! You know, I can see what you mean. I just think had they met when she was in her 20s, it would be a bit better. Thank you so much! That's so sweet of you! ❤️ Happy autumn to you too!!! 🍁🍁🍁🍂🍂🍂🥮🧡

[@AlvrodBooks]

August was definitely a slump! I finished a book I had been dragging for a while, I finished two others but didn't really like them and lastly, I DNF a heinous book. Also I think I'm getting into a romance slump, bad luck for my favorite genre. On a brighter side, I also started a new job on August. Best of lucks✨

[@ABookForest]

The Wheel of Time has a lot of flaws, it could have benefited from an editor that is not the author's wife but I just love it to bits. Rand and Nynaeve are my favorites, they grow and change so much over the course of the series. I was a Nynaeve fan even when she was getting on everyone's nerves. I would look closely at the friendships in those books instead of the love interests because the friendship between those five villagers and the others are really well done. Each of the characters have relationships with each of the others and they are all different and nuanced and really beautiful. I also view the ladies biting the men's heads off as a cultural thing. This world is a matriarchy, the women are in charge and they are used to behave a certain way with nobody challenging them. It does evolve also over the course of the series. For all it's flaws, this series is worth sticking with in my opinion, even through the slog!

[@libraryunbounded]

Ah, you said it so well, Kim - an editor that isn't the wife of the author :)) And I do see why you love it - the fact that I am continuing with it, even though it pisses me off on every page is a testament to the value of the plot. But I can't agree with you on the beauty of the friendships. I can see what he was going for - a true bond that can't be broken and people who would do everything and fight any battle for each other. But he didn't execute it well. In order for the angry outbursts caused by love to be powerful and justified, they have to be few and far between. We also should be able to follow the development of the relationships properly on page - to see what causes the love and what caused the anger. Instead, we see girls who hug each other and giggle (out of the blue) one moment and then snap at each other (again, out of the blue) in the next. We see people yelling at their friends for being fools one moment, then in the next we see those same people yelling at others about manipulating said friends and how they would not allow it. Just a whole lot of yelling. What I'm saying is not that I don't want people to argue. But that I want to be able to follow the reasons for the arguments and that I want there to also be understanding, restraint, tenderness, humility. And about the matriarchy, I understand what you're saying but I don't like the execution either way. Because it's one thing to snap at men when they mess with women's business (which we see in the books and I don't mind) but it's another to have that be THE ENTIRE mode of communication, regardless of the situation. Treating men like children even when you're the one who's throwing the tantrum... I mean, reverse the roles and tell me this isn't massively frustrating. The fact that the author intentionally created a world where this is the norm is the whole reason why I hate it. Might be just personal taste, I don't discard that possibility, but it is my opinion that Jordan doesn't write character development and relationships well. And I know I just wrote a whole self-important dissertation here justifying my frustration but I don't want you not to love the series. I think it's awesome that there is this huge amazing story that brings you joy. You are right to love it this way and whatever I say is irrelevant. I know my tastes are not universally applicable (I mean some of the books I love will for sure be hated by a lot of people). I'm sorry for the long sanctimonious comment :) 🌸 ❤️

[@ABookForest]

@@libraryunbounded I get it! I see the flaws and I love it in spite of those. I feel like these kids are behaving badly but I think you can love people even though they have a short fuse. I understand the Nynaeve and Egwene shifting of power dynamics and the annoyance with Matt's behavior for example. I like to see other opinions and this particular series is a case of love it or can't stand it I would say:)

[@chokog2446]

Swan and Moraine are my favorite characters! I also really appreciate the growth of Egwene by the end, and Mat's arc is really awesome by the end. And, of course, LOIAL❤

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚❤️ I love Jane Eyre, each reread more. I look forward to reading Roadside Picnic! I added to my Goodreads "want to read." I hope the new job is going well. 😊

[@libraryunbounded]

Oh, I do hope you like it Starla. ❤️❤️❤️

[@starlasell5698]

@@libraryunbounded Thank you! 🤗

[@heidi6281]

Sylvia, I just read a historical fiction book that has the same tone as The Blacktongue Thief, the author narrates it himself too! Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, 5 Stars! Whimsical & crude, funny & moving!!

[@libraryunbounded]

Oh, thank you so much for the heads up, Heidi! ❤️ Added it to my TBR (the cover looks insane, I'm into it 😂) 📚

[@BrianBell7]

I'm glad you are continuing with Wheel of Time. 100%, the romances were easily the worst part of the series - both in believability and in torturous dialogue... Fun video!

[@libraryunbounded]

Thank you for the kind words, Brian! ✨

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

I didn't love Jane Eyre when i read it. Some parts of it i found interesting, but others i found very boring and tedious to get through. Rochester gave me the ick and really disliked the sudden supernatural element that brought them back together at the end that seemed to come out of nowhere. Granted, i was also 16 when i read it, so maybe if i reread it now, i would be more patient with some things, but i don't think it could ever become a favorite

[@libraryunbounded]

I can understand, a few years back I'd probably feel similarly. And in all honesty, Rochester seemed like a lot and the supernatural elements was a bit too much. But I think it all went well with the dramatic mood of the book. And I do like a tragic love interest, and second chance in life narrative.. It suited my mood, i suppose, and I liked it but again, I can understand why people might not.

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

@@libraryunbounded I can see why people like it too. I just personally didn't. I'm glad you had a better experience than i did! 😊

[@georgitrichkov1640]

Със съжаление трябва да изразя мнението, че нещата, които ви дразнят в Колелото на Времето няма да се подобрят значително, а в определени томове от поредицата дори се влошават. Аз се опитвах да го оправдавам половинчато пред себе си с това, че повечето герои върху които пада фокусът са основно тинейджъри и такава е културата на времето, но това помага само донякъде. Поредицата има доста слабости, но въпреки това си струва. Все пак, не бих се учудил ако негативите при вас вземат превес и не я довършите.

[@libraryunbounded]

О, толкова ме радва да видя коментар на български! ✨ Не съм изненадана да го чуя, за съжаление и мисля, че съм подготвена, но кой знае. Надявам се да издържа и ще се постарая. Но най-вероятно ще помрънкам доста :)) На вас коя книга от серията ви е любима? (Може и на "ти" всъщност :))

[@georgitrichkov1640]

Бих казал Lord of Chaos, макар че бе трудно да избера измежду нея, Knife of Dreams, The Shadow Rising, The Great Hunt. Каналът ти е страхотен, аз много се зарадвах да намеря booktube съдържание на сънародничка, която чете доста от нещата, които привличат и моето внимание.

[@georgitrichkov1640]

@@libraryunbounded А мен много ме радва, че намерих booktube съдържание на сънародничка, което толкова да ми допада. Доста от книгите, които чета / проявявам интерес към ги намирам във видеата Ти :). Gun to my head, Lord of Chaos. Макар, че определено тези 4 са фаворитите ми, с много малки разлики в оценките за тях: Lord of Chaos Knife of Dreams The Shadow Rising The Great Hunt