Tuesday 31 May 2016

MONTHLY READS - MAY

Hello, my fellow bookworms!

I know I'm saying it all the time, but it's unbelievable that it's time for this again. It really feels like just yesterday when I posted April's reads, and we have the end of May already.

My May was awesome. I spent a week in England, on a Harry Potter themed trip, where I, of course, bought some new gems for my library. And then I spent three weeks being an assistant at a vet's instead of going to school, which meant more free time for me. More time to read.

Last month, in April, I've read five amazing books. This month, I tried to read as many good books as I could find. Well, let's have a look at it! (I'll just say that I had a pretty classical month!)

In May I've read seven books.


To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Genre: novel
First published: 1960
Pages: 287
Language: English
Type: hardback

Rating: 3/5

This is a classic. I've heard so much praise about this novel. It's been only a few months since Harper Lee died, so I felt like it was the time I finally read the book as well. Unfortunately, I didn't see the book as the epitome of perfection just like everyone else seemed to do. I'm by no means saying it was bad, but I found myself reading in for weeks, and I still didn't seem to finish it. The book's got lots of amazing things about it; it's funny, it's wise, I even found myself enjoying certain parts a lot. But I simply couldn't get into the story for the first half of the book. Then, the second part, it was way better and I actually enjoyed it. I'm not sure how to feel about this book, though, so I might give it another shot in the future. 


The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ans Six Other Stories
Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Genre: a collection short stories
First published: 1920-1932
Pages: 202
Language: English
Type: paperback

Rating: 5/5

I cannot believe how long I went without reading Fitzgerald. It's been months since I read the Great Gatsby, and I definitely regret not reading anything else by Francis Scott way sooner. I missed his writing so much. You can read more in my review!


Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen
Genre: novel
First published: 1818
Pages: 180
Language: English
Type: paperback

Rating: 5/5

Once again, I found myself in love with Jane's writing. I love her, I love her, I love her. I love her sweet heroines and her charming heroes. I love the developing romance and the period she's describing. I love the reverent manners of the good people, and the slyness and wickedness of the bad ones. 

This novel assured me that my love and adoration for Jane and her novels is absolutely justified. Catherine, who reminds me of myself in many, many ways, is just the ultimate sweetheart, and Mr Tilney is, right next to Mr Darcy, one of the best things that have ever happened to me. This books just has it all. It's fun, it's witty, it's deep, and it's got the feels. I'd been in love since page one and I'm definitely considering this one of the best reads of 2016.


The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
Genre: philosophical fiction
First published: 1890
Pages: 224
Language: English
Type: e-book

Ratings: 5/5

Guys. I cannot believe I originally, majorly started reading this book only to fill the time between finishing the Northanger Abbey and going to pick up the new books I had been waiting for, only to have something to read while being in the bus, because I didn't feel like starting a book I knew I wouldn't manage to finish before the arrival of the new ones. Oh, if only I knew.

I finished the book in two days (and it only took me so long because I have to sleep and "work" for four hours a day now). I loved it desperately. I definitely consider it to be one of the best books I have read in all my life. Definitely a top 5. It's just perfect. There's not a single thing I would dislike about it. I actually felt like re-reading it immediately after I finished it. Unfortunately, I don't own a physical copy of this brilliant piece of art—and I need to change that ASAP. (I actually felt like buying at least 15 copies of the book, reading them all in a row, and then doing so again. And again. And maybe a few times more.)


The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde
Genre: comedy
First published: 1895
Pages: 76
Language: English
Type: e-book

Rating: 3/5

I've said it before and I'll say it again — I'm not exactly fond of plays. And as much as I adore Oscar Wilde with his witty sense of humour and undeniable talent, I simply didn't enjoy the book as much as the previous book, The Picture of Dorian Gray.


Too Late
Colleen Hoover
Genre: romance
First published: 2016
Pages: 247
Language: English
Type: e-book (this story is published for free on Wattpad)

Rating: 4/5

Guys. From the very first page, the only thing on my mind was 'This is not the Colleen Hoover I know from November 9.' Some of the scenes were really explicit, and the F-word was used so excessively that I even forgot it's a swear word (don't get me wrong, I didn't mind that). But as soon as Carter aka Luke aka Carter made appearance, I immediately felt the CoHo pattern, and fell in love with him. And then came the feels. The hatred for Asa and his 'friends'. The Carter-Sloan feels. And the tragic backgrounds. And then it was exactly the Colleen I know. "And that's where love finds you... in the tragedies."

From what I know, I started reading this story at just the right time so I didn't have to wait for Colleen to update the story—it was already published. Thank god, I wouldn't have survived having to wait. This was an incredible read. (And you should go, make an account on wattpad, and read it as well.)


One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ken Kesey
Genre: novel
First published: 1962
Pages: 281
Language: English
Type: paperback

Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this novel. As I mentioned when I first talked about this book in #fridayreads, I genuinely enjoyed the topic, the raw reality of a 60's asylum, the numbing pills, the EST and lobotomy. I enjoyed all the characters as well; McMurphy is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read about. I cannot really express all the feels in just one paragraph of text,  so just go and read the review!



And what about your May in books? Have you read any brilliant/awful books? Have you bought any of this month's new releases? How do you feel about this month and your reading progress? Share your month with me in the comments!

4 comments:

  1. Káťo, úžasná čtenářská bilance a navíc naprosto nádherný výběr :) Jak sama víš, některé z Tebou přečtených budu dohánět, úplně mě straší Opatství Northanger, to jsem nakousla už nespočetněkrát, ale prostě s tou Austenovou válčím... Tak snad se brzy překonám. Přeji ti krásný červen a spoustu dobrého čtení :) Měj se hezky :)

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    1. Děkuju, Kristýnko!

      Jó, každý takhle s někým válčíme. Musím ale říct, že Northanger opravdu doporučuju, protože (následuje můj unpopular opinion, takže mě neukamenuj) se mi snad líbilo ještě víc, než Pýcha a předsudek.

      Taky se měj krásně a těším se na tvé měsíční shrnutí!

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  2. Ty jsi měla prostě epic měsíc - ten výběr!!!!!!!! Jako zabít ptáčka, Obraz a Přelet - jedny z mých nej knih so far. Ptáčka jsem tedy taky četla tento měsíc, takže se víc dozvíš v mém měsíčním shrnutí. :) Dále Fitzgerald, Austenová..no zkrátka jízda! Na Hooverovou se taky chystám, co bys mi doporučila na začátek? :)
    Měj se krásně a ať se červen vydaří zrovna tak :)

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    1. Jó, Haničko, květen se mi prostě vydařil (nějakým omylem dokonce nejen knižně) a já jsem spokojená. Musím souhlasit s tím, že Obraz a Přelet patří i mezi moje favority; z těch knih, co jsem zatim letos přečetla, rozhodně TOP 5.

      Od Hooverové zatím nemůžu doporučit moc, protože ještě nejsme uplně "kámošky". Rozhodně doporučuju to Too Late, ale vedle toho stoprocentně November 9. Já jsem z toho četla pár kapitol, protože mi to doporučila moje drahá spolužačka, a tak jsem se zamilovala, že jsem se donutila počkat, než mi přijde moje kopie knihy, abych si do ní mohla čmárat a objímat jí. (Je to fakt dle mýho plakací kniha, protože já jsem řvala u první kapitoly a to se tam vůbec nic ještě nedělo.) Ale Hooverová je prý proslulá tím, že zvládne člověku vyrvat srdce a rozdrtit ho na miliony kousíčků. Takže jo, November 9, ať netrpím sama. :)

      A na tvoje shrnutí se jako každý měsíc nesmírně těším!

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