SOTR1989 Book Blog

Fight Club Chuck Palahniuk   Released: August 17th, 1996 My 23nd book for 2024 was Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club”. Most people are familiar with Fight Club from the movie adaptation that was based on this book.  They remember Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter.  The novel is a bit darker, and a lot more chaotic. I had heard about Fight Club for years but never read the book nor saw the movie until decades later. My first exposure to Fight Club dates back to 2016.  I was managing a Walmart store just outside Seattle.  The job was stressful, but the other managers and I used humor to get us through.  One day, the store manager asked me "What's the first rule of Fight Club?"  I responded, "I don't know, I've never seen it."   The store manager was stunned.  "Get out of here, you're leaving early.  You need to go watch Fight Club tonight and then tell me about it tomorrow." I went back to my apartment at the Angeline Apa...

  Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros   Released: November 7th, 2023 My 22nd book for 2024 was Rebecca Yarros’ “Iron Flame”. Holy Hell!  This 623-page behemoth was a challenge!  Especially so late in the year and trying to get my goal of 30 books read in time.  But I made it through and am fully caught up on the series. I enjoyed this book more than the first one.  It's a good book but doesn't grab me the way ACOTAR or Hunger Games did.  I'm not out to say the series is overhyped, but if I had one criticism of this book, it's the length.  There is a lot going on, and while the subtitles at the beginning of each chapter give a vague foreshadow of something occurring in the chapter, it feels hard to keep track of the different characters, which wing they are from, what year they are, what their signets are, which dragon they've bonded with, and other things.  I'm excited for the 3rd book, but also nervous about just how long it will be, let alone getting...

  The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith   Released: October 1st, 1992 My 21st book for 2024 was Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales”. My best friend Tim is a huge fan of this book.  It's a fun-filled children's book.  I’ve read it several times over the years and always enjoyed its goofy humor.  I decided to make it a quick read in-between the Fourth Wing novels (Empyrean Series). Picture all the classic fairy tales you’ve heard over time.  This book does ridiculous renditions of each one.  Everything from Cinderella, the Little Red Hen, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Gingerbread Man are accounted for in addition to other classics. It’s a nice way to introduce children to humor. Here is what I learned: ————— Little Red Hen thinks the cat, dog, and mouse are lazy. The narrator’s name is Jack The dedication page is upside down The table of contents is worthless. Gol...