A to Z ~ War of the Worlds, the (+ Cephalopod & Goals)

This year my A to Z theme harks back to 2012's theme, in which I listed an A-to-Z of books from my GoodReads "TBR" shelf. This year I want to revisit that list and report on which ones I've read, and what rating I gave them. Where the book hasn't been read, I'll mention other books starting with that letter I have read since 2012. ;)

"W" ... THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Status: Read

Brief Review: It took me a long time to read this, but I loved the book. I saw the Tom Cruise movie when it came out, and remember enjoying it (though can't really remember much of it now), but I remember someone commenting that they'd like to see a new version that is set in the era the book was written in, rather than a modern-day take. This thought occurred to me as well while reading the book. In the book, there aren't many cars around, and most people ride bicycles. There aren't modern-era weapons of war that humans can bring to bear on the invading aliens, so there are a lot of slaughters. I think a movie set in the era of the book could have such great potential to be awesome. Anyway, this was the first and is still the only H.G. Wells work I've read, and I definitely want to read more. >> Full review

Some of my favourite "W" books read:

Witches of Santa Anna, the (#1-7) - Lauren Barnholdt. 4 stars.

Wicked Games (#1) - Jessica Clare. 4 stars.

What a Boy Wants (#1) - Nyrae Dawn. 4 stars.

Some "W" books still on my TBR:

World After - Susan Ee.
World According to Garp, the - John Irving.
White Oleander - Janet Fitch.
Watership Down - Richard Adams.

As it's the last Friday of the month, I'm here to post for the Do You Have Goals? hop (hosted by Misha and Beth), as well as the Cephalopod Coffeehouse Book Club (hosted by the Armchair Squid).

This month my favourite read was definitely The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

These days it seems to take a lot for me to give a book 5 stars, and it also takes a lot for a book to bring tears to my eyes. This book achieved both feats! I have not one complaint about this book, no little thing to criticise, so I guess that says a lot. I also found it pretty amazing that I could be reading about the finer details of a teenaged cancer patient dying one minute and then bursting into stunned laughter the next - this book is FUNNY.

I just loved both Hazel and Augustus - they are my kind of people! Their senses of humour were brilliant, and I loved their banter. Of course, their story is heartbreaking, but they sure did live life to the fullest when with each other. I also love their interactions with Isaac, like the Hazel-Isaac scene where they're playing the video game. That part had me laughing out loud.

Isaac's eulogy for Augustus, read out in the "literal heart of Jesus", was brilliant. And I love that Hazel spouted all that "bullshit" at the funeral, knowing the funeral was really for the living and not the dead.

Last month, I reported that I was making progress, but that it was very slow going. The same can be said this month, and I have to admit I've made very little progress. Last month I was up to chapter 8, or rather I was stuck on chapter 8. This month I'm up to chapter 13, which I guess is progress ... but there are more nights when I do nothing than nights when I do anything. It's a much harder slog than I ever anticipated. As usual, I blame this "edit the chapter until I'm happy with it" method. ;)

Next month is May, and my last month before BuNoWriMo starts. During BuNo this year, I want to work on finishing off some unfinished novels that are lingering. I really hope to make better progress with this novel revision by May's end. Even though I was meant to be moving on to editing SMALL TOWN by now. Oh well, I guess I'll see how I go during May!

I hope you're all doing well with your goals. :)