Now Listening: Ghost Story -- Jim Butcher

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher is part of the Harry Dresden series.

If you haven't read any of the other Dresden books, then there are a lot of spoilers for you if you skip and read/listen to this one.

So far, I'm enjoying the audio production. I think Dresden's a character that you'll either love or hate. He's sarcastic, mouths- off to things that are bigger and scarier than him and he's one tough Wizard. A lot of backstory for Dresden gets filled in and I'm enjoying the details (since I've read allll the other books.)

Overall, it's not a bad way to spend my commute to work... it's a good escape. But really, don't pick it up if you haven't read the others: it won't make a lick of sense to you unless you know the characters already.

Currently reading: What's Left of Me

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

This story seems to be set in an alternate universe where people are born with two selves or personalities and at around five or so, one personality has become dominant and drives the other out. They call this "settling" and it's considered normal. However, Addie, the main character never settled... her second soul sister, Eva, is inside of them, watching, unable to move or speak except to Addie.

Addie and Eva work together to try to live a "normal" one-souled life. If anyone found out that they hadn't settled, they would be revealed as "hybrids" and taken away to a mental institution or worse. Addie and Eva's life is turned upside-down when they meet Hallie and her brother Devon. There's something unusual about the two of them, too...

What's Left of Me is a very interesting story that explores a lot of cool ideas. Many of the characters wonder what happens to the other soul that "goes away" when a person settles. Some of them miss the recessive soul. We learn about how America is a closed society in this alternate universe and the rest of the world live their lives as hybrids. Americans are horrified by these hybrids outside their borders and see a life lived split between souls as something terrifying and disruptive.

Addie and Eva embark on a scary journey... I'm about half-way through so far, but I'm enjoying it. The story is narrated by Eva, who the "recessive" soul. She can't control her and Addie's body on her own and she watches the world through Addie's eyes. Addie is the only person who can hear Eva's voice. They work together, Eva reminding Addie to remember things through the day or studying when Addie can't concentrate.

I'm looking forward to reading more!