I tend to check the reviews and if they're overwhelmingly bad and I'm not that interested in the book, I'll pass. If I'm still interested, I'll check it out anyways. I'll usually want to read a book if it has mixed reviews and I'm interested in it. But with Cassandra Clare I just don't feel that interest and the reviews are either bad or meh and judging just by the worldbuilding and plot I can tell it's really a whole different story from mine (again, I wanted to read it because I wanted to make sure I don't copy any ideas or anything) and there would be no comparison and I'd probably just be frustrated with the main character.

Forgive my double posting but I finished readng Rithmatist yesterday (geezus effin' crisp, gimme more). Today began reading Yerofeyev's Pnk Mouse and I have no clue what's going on xD The narrative is so messed up and mingled, even for a "fairytale" (although it's more so for adults). I'm only a few pages in. I love the voices of the characters but he just jumps from one point of view and narrative to another in one scene and it's hella confusing. One piece is first person present tense, then it's third person past tense, then it's first person past tense, then back to first person present and it's all in one fragment xD
Oh, those Russians...

I'm almost done with Mystery of the Dead Police. I don't care for it, so I'm eager to finish it!

I'm almost halfway through my book, Dawn of Wonder (if I ever mentioned the title yet), and geez, why must the author go into such detail of something that will never be visited again. 10 pages here of useless info, 10 pages there of useless info. I'm probably nitpicking it as well since I'm just so annoyed at the useless descriptors and useless random info that adds nothing to the story. The pacing is also all over the place. I have not nitpicked a book so bad since I read the Waking Land last year.

Unnecessary details are annoying, indeed.

I never read reviews intentionally. When I buy a book at the book store they sometimes have reviews in the newest and best selling books, I might read one or two. But that's it.

I am not really progressing as I am concentrating on my master thesis. I don't count the books I read for the thesis, just the ones in my "free time", but there is no news to report. I think I read a few pages here and there though.

I needed something extra light, so I am reading George's Marvelous Medicine.

"extra light" xD

jacob, maybe you should also go for a light read? :D