What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila of One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. It's supposed to be a Monday meme, but this is close enough, especially since Sheila's about 10 hours behind me.

In the last couple of weeks I read more of a variety of genres than usual, which was fun.


I have just finished:

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Genre:
Length: Novel
Format: Print
Did this guy get paid by the plot twist or what?! The atmosphere was chilling and I didn't see the ending coming at all.


Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
Genre: Young adult, thriller
Length: Novel
Format: Print

A brief excerpt from the publisher:

"'Truth or dare?' she asks.

I hesitate. I have so many secrets, so many things I don't want to reveal, but this is only a game, only a bit of fun. 'Truth,' I say finally. 'I can imagine one of your dares, and I don't fancy running down Oxford Street naked tonight.'

'Truth,' Alice says slowly, drawing out the vowel sound as if she's savouring the word. 'Are you sure? Are you sure you can be completely honest?'

'I think so. Try me.'

'Okay.' And then she looks at me curiously. 'So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?'

Katherine has moved away from her shattered once-perfect family to start a new life in Sydney. There she keeps her head down until she is befriended by the charismatic Alice, and her life takes her in new directions. But there is a dark side to Alice, and as we learn the truth of Katherine's sister's death and Alice's background their story spirals to an explosive finale."

This one was the kind of book that you keep thinking about for a while after you finish it. I got sucked in to the character's world and (much to the amusement of my boyfriend) kept muttering to myself as I read about what an evil bitch Alice was, though ultimately I felt sorry for her (but not too much). I can relate to the moral dilemma of whether it is ever acceptable to 'drop' someone because they bring too much negativity into your life, or whether you just stick by your friends no matter what. I was impressed by the way the reflections on the grieving process and parenthood seem so authentic and the dialogue so natural. It's the best book I've read so far this year.


Underneath by Alison Tyler
Genre: Erotica
Length: Short story
Format: eBook

It's unusual to read an erotic story that is both sexy and also kind of sweet. There seems to be an underlying message in it about learning to be comfortable in your own skin. At least that's what I took from it.