It might take several attempts to read a book...

so I think that means it's not always the author, but what head space I'm in at the time.  I'm reading "The Better Part of Darkness" by Kelly Gay and loving it... but this might be the 4th attempt I've made at trying to get into this series.  I suppose in my defence at least I haven't given up but it does give me food for thought on what other books I've picked up and discarded because they haven't grabbed me.  As readers we have very high expectations for a book.  For me it starts visually.  If I like the cover, I will pick up the book.  Then the title has to interest me.  Sometimes a comment from someone newsworthy helps and obviously the blurb has a lot to do with my choice as well.  Then I will want to check out other people's reviews both good and bad, then I will open to the front page.  It could be a wonderful mutual relationship or it could be dead in the water right there.  Anyway, I'm so glad I persevered.  I'm loving this book and luckily enough, on the off chance that I liked it this time, I've also got the 2nd in the series on standby.  Nothing worse when you have to wait for the next one :)

Going through a YA phase at the moment

Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Gone by Michael Grant, these are the books slipping through my fingers at the moment.  While waiting for my copy of Insurgent By Veronica Roth I've been looking at the dystopian novels... and there is so much out there.  I picked up 'Gone' from my local library and noticed on the spine a sticker stating that it was part of the Premier's Reading Challenge aimed at 9-10 yo readers.  I am all for getting kids to read but the idea of 9-10 year olds reading Gone seems a bit disturbing.  I'm only up to pg 133 and so far, all people aged 15 and over have disappeared... just gone 'poof' and the young kids are separating into gangs and there are some kids with special powers that can kill... and with a sneak peek at the last few pages (yes!!!! sometimes I do that, don't lie and say you don't) there are also killer worms, a nuclear plant and a mysterious barrier cutting them off from the outside world.  I'd be scared if I was a 10 year old, I'm a little scared and my youngest is 17 (you can work out how old I might be...).  But I have such an admiration for writers that create this worlds and come up with such fantastic ideas and can put pen to paper and keep little old ladies like me turning the pages.