Huh??

1) While I Was Gone by Sue Miller / A / **
Well written story but bleh for me. I just didn’t “get” the main character. She may have been written this way… as a person who seems so steady but inherently has a selfishness that leads her to destroy the lives of those around her… over and over and over again.

2) City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare / YA / **
Favorite quotes:
“As far as I’m concerned, this is the worst thing that’s happened since I found out why Magnus was banned from Peru.”  
and
Jace was looking at her incredulously. "Let me get this straight," he said. "You came  here to apologize to me?"
She was taken aback. "Of course I did".
"Clary," he said. "You saved my life".
"I stabbed you. With a massive sword.  You caught on fire".
His lips twitched, almost imperceptibly.  "Okay," he said. "So maybe our problems aren't like other couples".
 
 I so wanted to love this book. I’ve had it pre-ordered for months. I love the first three books of what was going to be a trilogy. They were well crafted and the characters and dialogue were amazing. These last two books feel like a sell-out. The arc of the story is gone. The character interactions feel forced and put in to appease the teenage audience. You can hear the author thinking “KA-CHING“ as she types in each little romantic interlude. Disappointing.