Review: Good Morning, Midnight

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Very disappointed in this book. The characters were oddly unlikeable, and I hated the ending. 2 stars because it was well-written. It could be the mood I am in, but probably not based on the mixed reviews.

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The Martian

The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Astronauts. Space. Survival. This book hits all of the right notes for me. There was very little chance I wasn't going to enjoy it.

I liked it. I liked it a lot. Mark Watney was a fun character. He's smart, he's courageous, and he's funny. I have a little bit of a book crush on him right now. Smart-asses who are intelligent, resourceful, and brave make my heart go pitter-pat. If you have ever met my husband, he's a lot like Mark Watney. Sigh.

However...I wish I had read this sooner. I kept picturing Matt Damon as I read, and this might have slightly influenced my crush. Now I'll never know if I love Mark Watney for who he is or for who is portraying him. Either way, it was fun ride.

Good book--really good. It's a fairly quick read and I'm really looking forward to the movie now. Don't let me down, Matt Damon! (Who am I kidding? He never does. Matt, don't be mad. I love you!)



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As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Great book about the making of one of my favorite movies. I loved reading the anecdotes and the perspectives added by the other actors along the way.

A must read for fans of The Princess Bride. Now go read the book and watch the movie!



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Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3)

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A mostly satisfying conclusion to the Across the Universe series. The ending was cheesy, but I liked it. Don't judge me for liking a happy ending the best.

Amy, Elder, and half of the population have left Godspeed to form a new colony on Centauri-Earth. The new planet is dangerous and isn't the world Amy hoped it would be, even with her parents unthawed along with the rest of the team from Earth. And quickly find they aren't alone and must pull together, shipbornes and earthbornes, to survive.

The dynamics of the series change with the new setting. We get far less of Elder and more about Amy, her relationship with her parents, and her survival on the planet. Even Elder's thoughts were mostly about her. I felt book 2 was more of a focus on Elder, and this book evens things out by having more of a focus on Amy. The one thing I would have liked was a epilogue set in the future to let us know how the colony survived, because I like to tie a bow on things.

I'm glad I checked out this series from the library without knowing anything about it. It is a good addition to the ever-growing young adult dystopian fiction world with the added bonus of being set in space. 3 stars.



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A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2)

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We pick up where we left off at the end of Across the Universe. Elder is now running things on Godspeed, and Amy is struggling to accept her life onboard now that she has been unfrozen a few months. Elder and Amy stumble upon a big, big secret, and it changes the lives of everyone aboard. Decisions must be made, but at what cost?

Part sci-fi, part teen angst, part political exploration, book 2 is action-packed. The people on board now have free will, and many struggle with it after a lifetime of control. Rebellions, deceptions, and deaths are happening throughout. And you are left at the end waiting to see how it all will conclude in the final book.

I am definitely enjoying the storyline in this series, but I don't feel emotionally connected to any of the characters. I want to better understand the motivations and feelings in both Amy and Elder. The chapters are from their first-person POV, and we could go so much deeper. We could have better insights into the inner struggles of both main characters, but we don't. Still, it's an entertaining story, just lacking in character depth, keeping it in solid 3-star territory.



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Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I came across this book while browsing my local library's site, and it just happened to be available. I went into it knowing nothing about the book at all, and ended up pleasantly surprised.

We open with Amy, a 17-year-old daughter of a scientist and a top military official who are all being cryogenically frozen to be transported to a new planet 300 light years away. Despite her hesitations, she chooses to go with her parents, and they are all placed on Godspeed for launch to the new world. The Earth is dying, and the essential personnel aboard are to help populate and develop life on the new planet.

Elder is next in line to lead the people of Godspeed. Unaware of the cryo people being transported in the bottom levels of the ship, he only becomes aware when someone thaws Amy's pod years before it was time. Amy and Elder are thrown together to find the answers they are both searching for, and being the only two of the same age group, also fall in love.

There was a little left to be desired on the world building aspects, but overall it was an entertaining start to the series. I will be reading book 2.

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The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story

The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, although I wanted to love this book. It was almost like gossiping with someone at a party; the stories were short and lacking in detail, but interesting if you love reading about the space race. I only recommend it if you already know a lot about the astronaut corps and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, otherwise I think it would be hard to keep all of the wives straight.

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