1st Avenue

Like a lot of people around the world, I read this book when it was first released. Unlike all those who fell in love with it right away, I thought the story was just OK. I didn't understand what all the hype was about; I still don't. It's great that this series inspired younger reads to take on big books and long series, but it just didn't do it for me. There was something about the writing that made the story seem like it was trying to hard to capture the hearts and imagination of everyone who read it. I didn't and still don't like books that I think are emotionally manipulative.

But now that Stephen Fry has finished recording for the audiobooks, I think it's about time I give this hyped-up series another try.