2015 seems to be the year of weird books, because I keep repeating myself but this was also a very weird read for me.

A middle grade book filled with lots of references to Lovecraft, I'm sure (but I didn't get them as I never read anything by him). Perhaps it was that I wasn't the intended audience for the book but I never felt that click, although the story it self had a lot of potential and was quite nice. Unfortunately I lost my notes for this read (thanks again, Kobo!) so I'm not completely sure any more what I wanted to say about the book. So, I'll just keep it short.

It was a nice read, but I do think it probably best enjoyed by a middle grade audience.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)

It's kind of difficult forme to rate this book higher, though I hoped (and wanted) to. In general, it was a light, fun read, and I did enjoy it. The style was a bit too juvenile to my liking, but for a middle-grade audience, this would be quite all right. And, anyway, Lovecraftian mythos for the win. Especially if you have played the Call of Cthulhu pen and paper RPG, you just can't help remember those sanity rolls, those poor Investigators ending up mad, dead, digested into some eldritch ceature's stomach, not necessarily in that order, mind you. There's something deeply enjoyable in such a setting for me. Also, eldritch cuteness factor as far as Cthulittle was concerned: talk about a weird combination.

This novel has an inherent flaw, though, in that its protagonists and tone seem at odds with its potential target audience. The characters were between 10 and 12, basically either at the end of elementary school or at the very beginning of middle school (depending on one's perception of the schooling system in their own country, that is). Their actions and reactions are often those of kids, yet at times they display features that I'd expect to crop up in older teenagers, not in pre-teens.

The other problem is the very mythos the story is based on. I remember discovering and reading Lovecraft's works when I was 15-17, not before (and I used to read horror stories before that). I'm really not sure a 12-year-old reader would be familiar with all the references, and unfortunately, once you remove those, the story remains nice, but... nothing extraordinary either.

I think it would be more interesting, and reach a wider audience, if the tone had been more YA and the protagonists a wee bit older. (But maybe that's just me.)

Moonlight Reader started the TBR Thursday, and I think it's a good way to a) show what new books I've got and b) confront myself with my inability to lower my TBR. In fact, since I started recording it, it has risen significantly. I get the feeling I'm doing something wrong here...

I could just copy last weeks' post as it is still so true. If there's one thing I already knew deep down but I've definitely learned these past weeks is that it's so comforting to look for books, request books and get books. Even when it's still more than 2 weeks before you'll have time again to binge-read them. Which will be necessary, as I added once again a lot of books.

I therefore change my goal: the TBR has to stay below 300 (and down from there). I hope I'll manage it.

But you wouldn't argue over her book obtain obsession with someone who's completely stressed out for her exams, would you?

It's one of the only things keeping me sane at the moment...

(Okay, I'll try not to do it next week)

TBR pile currently stands at 293. (+18)

(Netgalley ARCs at 120 (+11))