May 2021 Wrap Up!

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Hello, lovely readers! It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post. I’ve been working a lot on revising my novel, which felt more important, but I am back now, and I hope to write more blog posts this summer.

Today, I wanted to talk about the three books I read in May. Make sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss out on future posts, especially my June TBR list, which will be coming out shortly! Let’s get right into this post.

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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I read The Alchemist during the first week of May and…this book was not for me. I’m quite generous when it comes to rating books (maybe that’s because I know what I like, so I don’t read a book unless I have a strong feeling I’m going to like it), but I ended up giving this book two-stars on Goodreads.

I had a few reasons for not liking this book:

• The plot was slow: When it comes to fiction a captivating plotline is a must for me (unless the characters are incredible and there is enough internal conflict to keep things interesting). This plot was simple, which isn’t a bad thing, but it was repetitive and predictable.

• It was very “spiritual”: I often enjoy when authors weave religious questions/subplots into their books, but the way this story approached religion was not for me. The main character, Santiago, believed the universe was conspiring to help him achieve his quest. This theme—the universe helping Santiago to discover and achieve his Personal Legend—was not one I enjoyed, and was a common complaint I saw from religious and non-religious people alike who’ve read this book.

The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink

I’ve been in the mood to read non-fiction recently, and this e-book was ninety-nine cents on iTunes, so I picked it up. I read the majority of this book on a camping trip, which was an enjoyable environment to be in and added a lot to the reading experience.

Some of the aspects I enjoyed most about this book were:

• It highlighted (and gave what I thought to be a well-rounded and biblically supported look) at the attributes of God.

• Not only did the book discuss the attributes Christians most often associate with God (mercy, grace, love, etc.), but it brought forth convincing arguments, backed by biblical evidence, for God’s solitariness, His will and decrees, and His wrath, which are often misrepresented and misunderstood by Christians and the church alike.

• Finally, A.W. Pink’s writing was phenomenal and eloquent. I can’t tell you how many passages I highlighted in this book. Pink’s passion for the subject at hand, his understanding of Scripture, and the tenderness and patience he shows the reader throughout the text allows the reader to come away with a marvelous, overarching view of the character of God.

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (minor spoilers below)

I started this book at the end of April and finally finished it last weekend. Iron Gold is the fourth book in the Red Rising Saga. This novel differs from the first three books in that it is set ten years after the conclusion of Morning Star. It is also told from the perspective of four different characters, instead of the singular POV from Darrow found in the previous books.

Like all of the books in this series, the plot is absolutely incredible. Brown does a fantastic job of weaving all four storylines together and creating conflict every step of the way. Nothing seems forced and each scene leads seamlessly into the next.

Iron Gold expands on Darrow’s character, and many of the veteran characters of the saga, in a way the previous books only hinted at. With each installment, a new layer of Darrow’s character is revealed. We get to see how this foreign world, one crafted by his generation, is not the utopia so many of the characters dreamed of, and how the fears Darrow had for the newly-liberated Republic toward the end of book three are quickly becoming a reality.

Brown reveals more about the Red Rising Universe in this novel—the world-building is complex, intriguing, and everything one could wish for in a futuristic galaxy. Iron Gold incorporates the politics of the world into the storyline with the Senate, the Syndicate, and the Rim, all of which are parts of the story I greatly enjoyed.

Overall, this story was everything I anticipated, and I look forward to reading Dark Age once I stop being intimidated by the fact that it is 800 pages.

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Thank you so much for reading this post. Make sure to leave a comment telling me some of your May reads.

It’s been a pleasure writing for you, and until next time—stay weird and stay writing. - Lexi