Is it halfway through the month already? Good time to wrap up last month’s reading then!

I read quite a few different things this month. 2 YA, 3 plays and 1 graphic novel/comic bind up!

Getssss toooo wrappinnnn.

The Ruling Class by Peter Barnes.

This is a play that is very hard to describe! It follows Jack whose father passes away and he inherits the title of the 14th Earl of Gurney. And his family aren’t happy about this because Jack is a paranoid schizophrenic with a Messiah complex.No, seriously.

I saw this play on stage with James McAvoy playing Jack and I had the same experience reading it on page as I did seeing it on stage. The first act is brilliant. It’s hysterical. Some of the lines are really clever puns that work on the page as well on stage.  But the second act takes a really dark turn that I don’t understand why the author did it. I’d say what it is but, spoilers!

It’s not the most amazing play I’ve read but if you like cult ‘comedies’ then have a go!

Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky.

This is the first volume of issues 1-5 of the popular comic Sex Criminals! In this wonderful start to the series, we are introduced to Suzie and Jon and when they have sex they stop time. So they decide to pair up and use their abilities to rob banks.

It’s a really great start to the series. I was intrigued by the bizarre plot and I think it’s such an original idea. As this is the start of the series, the main focus is on Suzie and Jon with the writers developing their characterizations. I also thought the art style was done really well! I definitely look forward to picking up the second volume as soon as I can! Be warned though, there is A LOT of adult content so I’d suggest reading this if you apply to the Mature rating!

The Madman’s Daughter  – Megan Shepherd

This is a first book in a YA scientific – historical fiction trilogy! The Madman’s Daughter is inspired by the classic The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G Wells. In TMD, we follow Juliet who is the estranged daughter of Doctor Moreau and when she goes to her father’s island she discovers why he is in fact labelled a madman…

Now this book certainly has it’s flaws. For me, at times, Juliet was such an annoying character I just wanted to knock her head against a wall. This was mostly due to the love triangle that dragged and felt like a space filler. And also, for a first book in a series, I wish there was more world building involved, I don’t feel the setting was descriptive enough and I had to push on to the end.

HOWEVER.

Megan Shepherd can do plot twists and, in my opinion, do them WELL! They kept me engaged in the story and tied the story up really well. And also, for the first time in a very long while, this felt like a complete story! It ties up but still has the foot in the door to let you know there’s more to come. Not like Moriarty popping up in Piccadilly Circus.

I’m glad I read this as historical/sci-fi isn’t what I would normally pick up. If it sounds like your thing then do pick it up, but I won’t be continuing with the series.

The Seagull – Anton Chekov

A wonderful classic play! It’s a short play but it doesn’t stop moving. The play starts off with the first performance written by the son of a famous actress. She starts to slate it so much during the first ten minutes that her son stops the play and a series of events happen from there.

I really liked this! There was a fantastic cast of characters, they all had their own voices that jumped off the page. One of the characters talks about writing and the expectation of writing that I predict was inspired by Chekov’s own experience as a writer. If you’re looking to start reading plays or you’re just looking for something short, then I definitely recommend The Seagull!

Afterworlds – Scott Westerfeld

I actually put up a review of this if you want to know my thoughts!
Link is hereeee!
Spoilers: I loved it.

Our Boys – Jonathan Lewis

And the last thing I read this month was this play Our Boys. I really didn’t like it, I couldn’t get into it. I saw it on stage a few years ago and I still think it was as meh on page as it was on stage. It’s set in a hospital and the characters are soldiers and it’s mostly how they get by in the hospital in their day to day life. That’s it. Not much happens.

Thanks for reading!

Hayley