CBR 13 # 17 In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

It's one of those books where the "mysterious events of the past" are mysterious only because the narrator isn't telling you about it.  

Leonora, 26 years old is a crime author and lives a solitary and lonely life.  Then, she receives an email from a woman she does not know, inviting her to a "hen party" for a friend she has not spoken to for a long time.  But she goes.  This hen party is for the wedding of Leonora's childhood friend Clare.  A wedding which she was not invited to.  It's held in a modern glass house in the middle on the woods with four other of the bride-to-be's friends.  Of course, there are mysterious happenings, secrets unravelled, and maybe a little murder?  Okay, you know there's a murder since the book opens in the present time then Leonora is in the hospital with injuries and the police have told her that somebody has died.  But she does not remember what happened.  So it goes back and forth between the present time and flashbacks to the hen party events.

You have to suspend a lot of disbelief with these random thrillers/ psychological mysteries with big twists.  But the way the characters act are so far from how a normal person would act that I just can't.  The heroine is, to put it bluntly, a bit pathetic.  She is hung up on the first and only boyfriend that she had when she was 16.  And the main incident that led to her sad life could have been avoided by a single text.  And that's also the incident that led to the whole series of events years later.  And the motivations are so questionable.  She's just not a very compelling lead character to me.

Par for course in these kinds of books, it is thankfully short and quick.  Of course you want to hurry up and find then end to the mystery.  But you know what?  I didn't even care enough to take guesses and try to figure stuff out like I usually do when reading these kinds of books.  It was a bit boring.  I didn't like it.  Oh, and contrary to marketing, it was not scary at all and the woods weren't really a huge part of the story.  Just for a little bit of atmosphere.  It could have happened at a remote farmhouse or something like that.

CBR 13 # 16 Dune by Frank Herbert

Gun to head, if I had to choose a genre of books, it would be epic fantasy or science fiction.  I love the detailed mythologies and extensive worldbuilding that these genres provide.  I also like that most grapple with philosophical and sweeping questions about humanity and good and evil. I guess I've read a lot of the classics of both genres but somehow, I had neglected to read Dune.  Maybe because nobody really introduced me to the genre.  My Aunt and my Dad instilled a love of reading, but these were not the kinds of books they read.  I guess I just started to read sci-fi/fantasy when I somehow picked up Foundation (Asimov) at the used book store.  I finally decided to read the book because of the upcoming adaptation that I am desperate to see on the first day, but will never watch until I've read the book.

In the far off future(?), mankind has spread out to different planets and there is feudalist society where noble families control various fiefdoms under the rule of the Emperor.  There is no advanced calculating technology (computers, A.I.), instead, humans are especially trained to fulfill those functions, in a sort of mystical way.  In this backdrop, Duke Leto Atreides, together with his son Paul and companion Jessica, are assigned by the Emperor to rule of over the planet Arrakis.  Arrakis is a hard and barren place with nothing but endless desert.  But it is also the sole producer of the spice melange --- which seems to be more than a yummy additive to food.  There is of course, a rival House Harkonnen led by the Baron and a mysterious tribe native to Arrakis, the Fremen, who have somehow adapted to the hostile climate of the planet.  There are visions and prophecies, betrayals and death as the story of how Paul Atreides comes to lead the Fremen is told throughout the book.

On a pure appreciation for epic sci fi and/or fantasy level, I was spellbound by the lore and the world that was created by the author.  I wanted to know more about every corner of the world, especially since some features are alluded to and, in fact are pretty important parts of the plot (like the Bene Gesserit) but are not thoroughly explained .  I mean, there are no chapter long digression explaining the history of this place or organization or whatever.  Which, I don't know, is it nerdy of me to want?  But I heard that some parts get more fleshed out on the succeeding books so I'm looking forward to that.

As to the plot, it doesn't take a genius to see there there are some parallels to Arrakis and the Spice to the Middle East and oil.  There are pretty obvious Islamic references.  To my modern sensibilities there is a little bit of discomfort on seeing the white Paul ultimately being elevated to God like status by a Middle Eastern tribe analogue.  I'm not sure I can articulate my discomfort any further than that or if it is warranted or not.  Maybe I'll read more on it to help me crystallize my opinion but that is just my initial reading and unfiltered feeling. Also, it was a bit disturbing how God-like he was and how fanatical his followers were in the end.  I WAS a glad to know that this is precisely the main theme of the next book so I will go on reading.

All in all, this is precisely the kind of book that is catnip to me.  I love the specificity of the world, not just Arrakis, but the culture, society and universe and I am excited to read more.  Also, I am so exited for Timotheeee Chalameeet!  And Zendayaaaa (is Chani)!