February
wasn’t the greatest month for reading. Also, some of the time I was so grumpy
and annoyed that reading felt like a chore, not because the reading in
particular annoyed me, other things annoyed me and I transferred that to my
poor, lovely innocent books. Do I have a weird relationship with my books? Yes
is the answer to that. Anyway, there were good things, like more Scott Lynch,
he’s amazing. Like, really. And Patrick Ness, can we just agree across the
world that Patrick Ness is Lovely? Yes we can.
Er, yes.
Sometimes you read something about someone who you intensely hate and sort of
love at the same time. Sebastian Horsley was an artist, who died in 2010, and
some deep-seeded part of me tells me I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. I
obviously will try to not be a bitch, but considering how he speaks about
himself, and other people I’ll still be honest. Yes. He was an artist, who came
from a rich, dysfunctional family. His parents were a crippled alcoholic (dad)
and a drug addict (mother) who tried to abort Sebastian, but obviously failed.
He always wanted to be something bigger, and more extraordinary than his
parents. He also wants to be a dandy. He sadly doesn’t really have the talent
or the work ethic. He has led a very interesting life, full of drugs and sex
and art. He goes to the Philippines to get crucified, because why not? He is
sort of weirdly charming, and he is completely unapologetic for what he is. He
is rude and sometimes cruel, he has a very inflated sense of self, he is
arrogant and comes off as an asshole, but his honesty is so refreshing and
weird. So for some reason I liked it. He also knows how to turn a phrase,
although sometimes it gets a bit much, so a bit annoying. And to sort of explain
how weird and fucked up his family is there is a scene from where he is in
hospital, cleaning up from drugs and his mother asks; “Have I failed you as a
mother, Sylvester?” And he answers; “it’s Sebastian, mother.” So, I’m
conflicted people.
I didn’t
finish this, because although I really like non-fiction I just wanted to read
fiction. I will finish it, but I just need to drag it out. I really like it.
It’s interesting to see how we sort of split the world into two depending on
how they behave. It’s interesting to read how introverts are seen like people
who have some sort of problem because they aren’t as outgoing and exciting as
extroverts. Extroversion is seen as the ideal and introversion as being
antisocial and wrong and it is interesting to read about. Especially since I
feel like an introvert and that has sort of affected me. So it’s cool. And I’ll
finish it.
ALL THE
FEELS! Got that out of the way. I wrote a full review of this and I’ll link
that here. It was amazing though. There is no sophomore slump here, the story
moves along fast and there is action all the time. The characters are
delightful, I love Todd, I love Viola, I love/hate Mayor Prentiss. The story is
really friggin’ amazing. The horrible belief system is really creepy.
This is
the second book in the Gentleman Bastards series. I found it randomly in a
store and then I had to have it. It’s almost as good as the first one. It’s
amazing. I wrote a review, so check that out. But there is more conning,
including gambling and drinking. There is piracy and sailing, and I have liked
sailing and pirates since I was very young, because I was a very weird child.
There is great world building, this new city they go to is amazing, the piracy
world they live in is amazing. There is great character development for both
Locke and Jean. The new villains are creepy and awesome. The other new
characters, especially the pirates, are outstanding characters. I loved it so
much. I loved the reveal at the end, I love that Jean stands up to Locke and
calls him out on his self-entitled bullshit. There is so much goodness. I need
the next book now!
I wrote a
review of this, and essentially: I didn’t love it. It’s about a girl named Kami
Glass who has an imaginary friend even though she is 17. Also he isn’t
imaginary. When the Lynburns, the creepy lords of the Vale, come back to town
one turns out to be Jared, her imaginary friend. Then weird shit starts going
down.
I want to
read more graphic novels, and I heard about this one, and it sounded awesome.
It’s about a ne’er-do-well gun slinging, sword-fighting badassador. She travels
around the world stealing stuff and being awesome. She is sort of balanced out
by Selim, who is a more balanced person. He is a lieutenant in the Turkish
army. It’s set in the early 1800s in the Middle East. They get up to troubles,
run around hanging out with pirates. It’s awesome.
My reading resolutions
I’ve read
11 books, so I’m on track for 70 books, and I am on 7 books in total for the
Mount TBR, so I’m on track there. I didn’t read any Norwegian books this month,
but I read two last month, so I’m on track there. Also I am reading two in
March, so good. I read non-fiction
books, so that’s good. I also read a graphic novel, which was fun.
Dandy in the Underworld by Sebastian
Horsley 
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan