November's Novel List

It's that time of the month again, folks.  Yep, my monthly reading list is now up for your entertainment.  Hope you find something interesting :)

• SPECIALS by Scott Westerfeld ... YA Dystopian (audiobook)  I have to admit that at first, I wasn't too thrilled with this book.  I liked the action, the superiority complex that Tally and the other Specials had over the "randoms" and "bubbleheads" but I found myself more than a little horrified and sickened by the way Westerfeld portrayed cutting.  At times, it felt like he was glorifying it to the point of unease (for me, anyway).  But, once, I forced my way past that and Tally was helping Zane and the other crims runaway to the New Smoke, I was as enthralled with SPECIALS as I was with UGLIES and PRETTIES.  All in all, a good read, but I'm not all that sure I'm going to move forward with reading EXTRAS.  I feel like SPECIALS closed out the story quite well.  I'm not sure what more there is to add to it.
• VIRALS by Kathy Reichs ... YA suspense/paranormal/genetics mutation drama  I've read many a Kathy Reichs book in my day, especially her BONES books.  So, when I saw this on the YA bookshelf, I nabbed it right up.  I have to say that I like her adult books better, but this was a fast read that kept me intrigued.
• THE WAY WE FALL by Megan Crewe ... YA Dystopian (ARC)  an okay read.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. 
• SHELTER by Harlen Coben ... YA mystery/suspense  Yet another adult novelist jumping into the YA pool.  Coben does it much, much, much better than James Patterson did in his foray.  If you love the Myron Bolitar novels, you will fall head over feet for Mickey Bolitar. 
• HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle ... Mystery/suspense  This month's Book Hungry selection.
• EVE by Iris Johansen ... Mystery/suspense  In this installment of the Eve Duncan series, we get a look into where it all began, before Eve was EVE and how she met the man who would later give her the love of her life: her daughter Bonnie.
• QUINN by Iris Johansen ... Mystery/suspense  When a standoff between John Gallo and Paul Black lands Eve's lover Joe Quinn at death's door, she's even closer than ever before to finding out what happened to Bonnie all those years ago, but at what cost?
• BONNIE by Iris Johansen ... Mystery/suspense  After so many years (and so many books in which the reader continually asks, "What happened to Bonnie?"), Eve, Quinn, and John Gallo finally find out all the circumstances surrounding seven year old Bonnie's disappearance and death.  And, let me tell you, I never once guessed who it was.  Even after I found out, I just couldn't believe it.  Well played, Iris Johansen.  Well played.
• ASH by Malinda Lo ... YA fairy tale   The age old tale of Cinderella retold in a new and intriguing way. 
• LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer ... YA Post-apocalyptic/this could so happen and that's uber-scary/dystopian  An asteroid crashes into the moon, knocking it much closer to Earth and causing a cataclysmic shift in global climate.  I love, love, LOVED this book just as much I unloved it.  It impacted me that much.  But, more on this later as this is our Book Hungry pick for December :)

So, what about you, minions? Read anything good lately?  I'd love to hear all about it in the comments!