Since there’s no such thing as a perfect book, of course, we had some criticisms, but in general, these titles were well received. No books got thrown against the wall, and that counts for something. Let’s recap a little.
The Immortalists
Out of both books, seems like this one was the book less read. A lot of people struggled to get this book from their library* (130 on the wait list?! RIdiculous), but those who read it had a variety of opinions.
The consensus was that while maybe this wasn’t our favorite book, it did get you thinking about the idea of fate and what you would do if you knew when you would die. Kind of morbid, but definitely creates a thought-provoking discussion. I think Boozy Book Clubber Elizabeth said it best:
I think I enjoyed The Immortalists more, just for the fact that it had me thinking about what I would do if given a death prophecy that I believed. Would my life be different, would I have made different choices, etc.?
Teresa also had an interesting point about believing your destiny is preordained:
One can’t live as a hedonist without knowing there will be some pretty heavy consequences.
In the end, it averaged out at 2.5 wine bottles…ouch.
*we’ll try not to let this happen again!
The Cruel Prince
People had a lot to say about The Cruel Prince. We agreed that Jude is a badass, but she has some growing to do. The biggest complaint was on her lack of development throughout the book. She went from bullied, out of place human to a poison-immune woman with a plan. This was one instance where a training montage was needed. Cue Eye of the Tiger.
Whether this book was your first introduction to the land of Faery or your fifteenth, it’s worth reading. It explores how family dynamics shape you, and what happens when you decide to follow your own path.
The most interesting discussion was around Cardan’s tail. Briefly mentioned in the book, but widely discussed by a book club fueled with wine.
Click the image for the entire thread. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Tails aside, this book was darkly fun and we can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It averaged out at 3.5 wine bottles.
Check out the entire thread for both books in the Facebook group. And if you’re still chugging away on either of this books, feel free to comment!
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
Since we’ve changed the format of Boozy Book Club a little bit, we’d love to get your feedback. Did you like the more interactive Facebook chat? Or do you miss the live Hangout aspect? Too many questions? Not enough? Let us know – we live to please (sometimes).
Don’t hold back – unless you really hated it, then maybe hold back just a tiny bit.
Next Best
And now we read on. Our March books are…
Crazy Rich Asians
This was my top choice, so thanks, voters! I’m not sure how I haven’t read this yet, but it’s perfectly timed as the movie adaptation is coming out this year. Someone commented on our poll to say that it’s one of those rare series where the sequels get better, so we have more to look forward to after we finish this book. It has a Goodreads rating of 3.73 which isn’t too shabby. But we all know it’s Boozy Book Club wine bottles that really matter, so we’ll see how we rate it!
If you’re participating in our #TNReads Challenge, this book can fall into a bunch of categories, most importantly, the book that’s being turned into a movie/tv show in 2018. Crazy Rich Asians will be out in August so even if you don’t read this for Boozy Book Club, you have time to read it before it comes out. Buy it!
Flame in the Mist
Like Angela, The Wrath and the Dawn is one of my favorite series, so I’m pretty excited that we’re reading the latest from Renee Ahdieh. I have a feeling I’ll be adding this book to my “badass lady books” shelf on Goodreads. Sure, this book has a little bit of a Mulan vibe – feudal Asian setting, girl dressing as a boy – but I think that’s where the similarities end. Mariko, our main character, isn’t going to war, but taking revenge on those who have hunted her. And of course, she finds love on the way. I can’t wait for this one. Buy it!
This book falls into the first book in a YA fantasy series category for the #TNReads Challenge much like The Cruel Prince did. It also falls under YA but not set in a dystopian future, and a few more, so you’ve got options.
Feel free to read both of these, one of these, but please don’t read none of these. The next Boozy Book Club will be on March 26th, and we’ll be asking questions about both books, but if one of them just isn’t for you don’t force yourself to keep reading. There are too many books in this world to waste time on one you’re not feeling. It will always be there for you later. Make sure to check in with the Facebook group while you read. We’re always up for talking books with you!
Remember to use the hashtag #TNBookClub on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram while you’re reading too. We’ll track those mentions and if you say something funny or insightful we’ll give you a shoutout in our recaps. You can live in #TNBookClub infamy forever.
