March Books (8)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Goodreads’ synopsis:

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski’s ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out – orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive ‘ship of fools’. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn’t have an act – in fact, she couldn’t even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Water for Elephants starts out a little slow, but quickly builds into a great story. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to seeing the movie later this month!

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Movie news: The movie will be out in theaters 4.22.11 and stars Robert Pattinson as Jacob and Reese Witherspoon as Marlena.

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The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Goodreads’ synopsis:

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps.  The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

See my review here.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Goodreads’ synopsis:

Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is navigating through the strange worlds of love, drugs, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, and dealing with the loss of a good friend and his favorite aunt.

To those that say The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern adaptation of The Catcher in the Rye (including Stephen Chbosky), I ask why, then, did I enjoy it so much? I felt so cheated after reading The Catcher in the Rye–I just didn’t get it. Not so with Perks. I loved it & I highly recommend reading it to just about everyone! It has all the makings of a classic piece of literature.

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Movie news: According to IMDB, the movie is expected to be released in 2012.  Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay and will be directing the movie.  Emma Watson (as Sam) and Logan Lerman (as Charlie) will star.

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Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Goodreads’ synopsis:

In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

 Unearthly is a captivating, well-written story featuring intriguing angel mythology, strong heroines, a healthy romantic relationship, and a natural mother-daughter bond. The next book in the series, Hallowed, is due out Jan. ’12 and it’s already on my TBR list!

Regarding the angel mythology, I won’t discuss it enough to give spoilers, but I love glory, I found the wing color aspect unique, and I think the Black Wings are fascinating.

One of my favorite quotes from the book comes after a less than stellar prom night: “I won’t be that girl who lets the guy treat her like crap and still fawns all over him.”

I highly recommend Unearthly–you won’t be able to put it down!

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Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Goodreads’ synopsis:

Jay Asher’s brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative — alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening — this honest, poignant story reveals how other people’s actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual’s faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind!

A wonderfully eye-opening novel, Thirteen Reasons Why is all about how our actions–and inactions–affect others. The prose is often poetic, the messages are clear without coming off as “preachy”, and the characters will draw you in. I highly recommend this book!  That said, it is an emotionally draining read.

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Movie news: Universal bought the rights to the movie (expected out in 2012), and Selena Gomez has been cast as Hannah Baker.

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Fallen by Lauren Kate

Goodreads’ synopsis:

  There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Meh. I have to admit, Fallen wasn’t that great for me. It reminded me a lot of Marked (House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast). Same “mildly-popular-and-pretty-high-school-chick-goes-to-boarding-school-and-meets-lots-of-supernatural-hotties” theme. That said, there were enough mildly intriguing loose ends at the end of the book that I might pick up the sequel (Torment) someday, just to find out what happens.

~

Movie news: According to Reelz, Disney has optioned the rights to a Fallen movie.

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The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Goodreads’ synopsis:

In Mary’s world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Truth #1: I don’t do zombies. NO zombie books, no zombie movies.

Truth #2: As a general rule, I stear clear of the horror genre.

Truth #3: I read the majority of this book late at night while home alone. Bad idea.

Truth #4: In spite of truths 1-3, LOVED IT!

Carrie Ryan is amazing. She’s written a book that’s a mash-up of YA fantasy, horror, futuristic dystopia, romance, and adventure. I’ve read a few reviews that criticize Ryan for genre jumping, but for me it just worked. The writing is simple and elegant, the characters are relatable, and the story is just plain gripping. I love the main character, Mary. Love her curiosity, her tenaciousness, her drive, her ability to love. Yes, she is a flawed character, and she goes a little insane toward the end of the book, but in my mind that makes her that much more likeable.

My one complaint with FoHaT is that the end is a bit abrupt. Not even really a cliffhanger. I mean, it is a clifhanger of sorts, but that wasn’t my gripe with it. I feel like the end only answered 1 of the story’s major questions. There are SO many more that went unanswered.

Questions like:
What kind of secret knowledge did the Sisters possess?
What was in the other rooms in the wine cellar?
Where did the zombies originally come from?
Why was Gabrielle the fast one?
Who were the past fast ones?
Did Mary consummate her relationship with either Harry or Travis?

BTW, I think the hardback cover (a downcast Mary in front of a misty, gray forest) is genuis. Not a huge fan of the paperback cover, which is a photo of “Mary” (NOT the way I had imagined her–what’s with the makeup?) behind a “fence” of tree branches. And the UK/Australian cover (red flower on black background) is just WAAAY too Twilight-esq for my taste. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is not Twilight, and that’s a good thing.

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Movie news: Seven Star Pictures has picked up the movie rights and there is a rumor flying around that an un-named star has been cast as Mary. 

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TMI #3: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Goodreads’ synopsis:

To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

It’s a rare thing when I find a series that makes me fall more in love with the characters and story with each consecutive book. City of Glass accomplished it…I am offically head over heals for CC (who is a genius story-teller) and TMI! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, what are you waiting for? Seriously, go get a copy of City of Bones today!

[**Spoiler Alert**]

I particularly loved the messages of this final book. Standing up for what you believe in? Check. Knowing that one person (you) can make a difference? Check. Falling in love with the boy who makes you feel like a strong woman? Check. The RIGHT kind of love makes you stronger rather than weaker? Check. It’s OK for boys to cry? Check. Your real parent(s) can be whoever loves you the most, not necessarily whoever’s genes you carry? Check. And so on…

As much as I love a certain YA novel/series that shall not be named (because I’m NOT comparing it to TMI), there are some disturbing themes and relationships in that particular story. TMI, on the other hand, is a series I could hand my daughter or son without reservations.

~

Movie news: A movie adaptation of City of Bones (TMI #1) is on its way and we can look for it sometime next year.  Lily Collins has been cast as Clary and casting for Jace just closed, though no one has been named to play his character yet.  Cassandra Clare posts updates on her website as she gets them.

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March Book Review: The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Goodreads’ synopsis:

Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she’s already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it’s tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he’s God’s gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing’s for sure – if she doesn’t keep her wits about her there’ll be hell to pay…

So maybe this is a sign that I’m getting indecisive in my old age, but I’m having a hard time making up my mind about The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. Don’t get me wrong, I was enough of a fan that I’ll definitely pick up book #2 when it comes out in the fall.  And I’ll pick it up with high hopes for its awesomeness.

This first book has a lot going for it–namely a spunky yet relatable heroine (Riley) with clear goals in life (voila, instant plot), as well as lots of drama and a good dose of bad luck. There are plenty of interesting guys, including a caring father, a long-time best-friend-who-might-want-to-be-more (Peter), and 3 (yes, three) good-looking guys who think she’s hot stuff. Hunky hero #1 (Beck) comes with a dark and secretive past and a parent complex, hunky hero #2 (Simon) supplies the goody-two-shoes persona and golden boy charisma, and hunky hero #3 (Ori*) is our tall dark & handsome Mr. Mysterious. The demons she hunts provide both adventure and a bit of humor here and there.

DTD truly is a good story, with a well-built world, so why wasn’t I in love after finishing it? Well, for one I wasn’t a big fan of Riley’s internal monologue. Here she is, this strong young woman who is (trying to be) mature beyond her years, both because that’s just who she is and because of the hard knocks life’s dealt her. And yet her internal monologue sounds like a 12-year-old’s.

Example:

What is it with these people? Do they, like, give them happy pills or something?”

I don’t know, but I get this feeling that YA authors think they have to use young and hip language in order for their teenage characters to feel authentic. I obviously shouldn’t be commenting on the topic (did you note my opening comment?), but I can assure you that EVEN at that age I NEVER thought or talked like that. Sure, some girls did, but they weren’t the kind of girls I hung out with…or want to read books about.

Second, Ms. Oliver needs to hire a new editor. OK, I’m overly anal, but the missing commas, lost periods, and incorrect pronouns (Riley became a “him” at least once) really detracted from the story.

That said, I will still recommend DTD to my YA paranormal/urban fantasy-loving friends 🙂

*I was amused by the use of the name “Ori”, as I very briefly dated an “Orie” in college.

~

4.5.11: So I felt the need to update my DTD review.  After I read the book, I wasn’t convinced that the book was wonderfully awesome.  Good?  Yes.  Awesome?  Hmm, maybe.  But now?  Time to upgrade to “awesome!”.  Why the change of heart?  Well, since I read a lot, I have a tendency to forget details of previous books after I start a new one.  (Dude, I can only have so many characters in my head at the same time!)  I’ve read 6 books (8 if you count the two I’m currently reading) since finishing DTD and I STILL can’t get Riley out of my head.  Nuff said.

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February Books

I have to say, February was the month for fantastic books!

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Vanishing and Other Stories by Deborah Willis

Vanishing is a very good book, not in that “I can’t put it down” way, but rather as an emotional exploration of loss over the course of 14 short stories.  Kind of depressing, really, but Deborah Willis is an amazing up and coming new author.  I will definitely look for her books in the future.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I’d seen Beautiful Creatures billed as the next Twilight, so perhaps I had higher than average expectations when I picked it up to read. That said, it didn’t meet the hype, if you ask me. I did, however, enjoy it and will definitely pick up the next book in the series, Beautiful Darkness. It just didn’t grab me in that “can’t put it down until I finish it” sort of way. That said, I found the male main character/narrator refreshing and the southern history back story intriguing.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I really enjoyed Hush, Hush and pretty much read it start to finish in one sitting. A couple of the reviews I saw before I read this book pointed out that the character’s interaction goes from one extreme to the other over the course of a very short period of time, making things a bit unrealistic. I have to agree with this and, while it didn’t ruin the story overall for me, it still made the story less believable.

Matched by Ally Condie

 Awesome, thought-provoking, romantic…I loved it!  Anyone who loved the Hunger Games trilogy (which I highly recommend!!) will enjoy Matched, which is also supposed to be part of a trilogy.  I can’t wait ’til 11.1.11 when the second book, Crossed, will be released.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I’m always thrilled to death when I discover a fantastic book and it happens to be part of a series, giving me more fantastic-ness to look forward to.  Clare’s City of Bones definitely fit into this category.  I can’t wait to go back to visit Clary’s world again in City of Ashes, the next book in the Mortal Instruments series.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is my new favorite YA Fantasy series. I love, love, love them!  Clary is terrific, Jace is badass, their adventures are fascinating, and the love triangle is utterly agonizing.

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

In the world of YA fantasy fiction, P.C. and Kristin Cast (a mother-daughter team) are like royalty.  They can do no wrong, they have a huge following, and–surmising from the many forwards I’ve read that include their names–they often act as mentors for other, less experienced YA fantasy writers.  Writers whose books I’ve loved, I should add.  So, I figured Marked (and the whole House of Night series) as a shoo-in for YA fantasy lovable-ness.  Unfortunately, I just didn’t get the magical attraction.  I finished Marked, but I won’t be reading the rest of the series. It’s just not my cup of tea, and I felt like the targeted reading level was about 3rd grade.  Sorry guys, I really wanted to like it, honest!

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Great book! It made me feel all warm & fuzzy that Athens, Ohio–the town I grew up near–is featured in a chapter or two, but I would have enjoyed the first of the Lorien Legecies anyway. The next in the series comes out this August and I can’t wait!  Meanwhile, at least I can go see the movie.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Obviously a classic, but NOT an easy read (at least for me).  How difficult was it for me to finish?  I’m almost embarrassed to say!  I checked Lord of the Flies out of the library months ago…and only got about three or four chapters into it.  Then I decided it might be easier for me to listen to it on CD, so I returned the book and borrowed the book on CD.  Unfortunately, that put me right to sleep (literally) every time I tried to listen to it.  (Not a great idea when you’re driving.)  I crawled a few more chapters into the book, until I was about half-way finished.  Still determined to finish, I returned the CD and re-borrowed the book, which I finally knocked out last weekend.  I will say, the last half of the book was much more attention-grabbing than the first half.

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January Books

Night Huntress #4: Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Considering Jeaniene Frost is one of my favorite PNR authors, Destined for an Early Grave wasn’t my favorite Kat/Bones story.  There’s an important plot twist in this book (I won’t ruin it!) that made reading this story very frustrating and, I have to admit, I got a little annoyed with Miss Kat.  None-the-less, I heart me some Kat action and overall I enjoyed the book.  I can’t wait for the next book in the series, This Side of the Grave, which comes out TODAY!

You Lost Me There by Rosecrans Baldwin

Eh, You Lost Me There just didn’t do much for me.  It was neither entertaining nor educational, and the title pretty much summed (sums) up my overall impression of it.  This was another book recommended on the NPR blog post Weird and Wonderful Books, and it was my least favorite of the three books recommended there that I chose to read.

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January Book of the Month: ‘The Orange Eats Creeps’ by Grace Krilanovich

In addition to–or, rather, in conjunction with–my decision to give up on books if they don’t catch my interest by page 50, I also vowed to take more reading gambles in 2011.  The Orange Eats Creeps was just such a gamble when I found it recommended on an NPR book blogger’s “Weird and Wonderful Books: 2010’s Hidden Gems” list. 

Other reviews were interesting, to say the least.

Like something you read on the underside of a freeway overpass in a fever dream. The Orange Eats Creeps is visionary, pervy, unhinged. It will mess you up.” -Shelley Jackson

And so I began the adventure of the twisted poetry.  While reading, I occasionally wondered at the constant vulgarity of the prose, frequently felt metaphors sailing over my head, and was always delighted when a phrase jumped out at me.  While I hated certain aspects–the metaphors I couldn’t decipher!–I loved the parts that spoke to me, and to me only.

My traumas are individual and specific and private…”

The parts that made sense…

Walking; walking all night on the roadkill tour of Oregon.  Flattened hawks every few miles on the freeway.  How do you run over a bird of prey?”

And the parts that didn’t…

At dawn I dug up my dream cat, collapsed dead in the snow.  I held up the damp hide as snow fell silently around us.  I kept digging away and found more and more signs of a past race of modified creatures—a mass grave of psychic cat-rats.”

I tugged at my raw throat and coughed forth an owl pellet.  My eyes pounding out of my head, fighting passing out I tore at it, breaking it open with my hands I discovered the fine white bones of my dream cat. I had eaten him!”

But even for those words that didn’t exactly make sense, I loved the way they sounded in my head.

The wild blackberry bush consumed it all, lapped up its death, this gift that stained its own blossoms and caught like whiskers in my throat.  I swallowed a wild pulpy mass of blood and tiny white whiskers gathered in the palm of my hand.  My hand devours wild blackberries.  We are all voracious for wild blackberries.  We eat without care until the bushes are reduced to piles of whiskers and bramble.  We eat all the blossoms, they plump in my mouth and I spit out half-formed blackberry babies.”

And, rather than annoying me as I thought they would, the repeated phrases and themes gave the book a sense of familiarity toward the end.

Cats rats snakes

            Roadside diners

                        Chamomile vagrants vomit

                                    Orange

                                                Men bones blood

                                                            Rape

                                                                        Insects calico poison

                                                                                    Convenience stores

                                                                                                Sugar hippies teens

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February Book Reviews…In October

I read these books – and wrote their reviews – back when there was still snow on the ground.  Somehow this never got posted.  Better late than never, I say!

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

I cannot recommend Michael Pollan’s writing–books, newspaper articles, and his website–enough.  He’s absolutely brilliant!  Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma first introduced me to his thought-provoking, yet easy to read, work.  Whereas The Omnivore’s Dilemma took us on a journey through various types of food industry, In Defense of Food is more of an eater’s guide. 

Pollan begins with a simple mantra:

Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.” 

From this simple yet profound statement Pollan expands his philosophy into an entire book full of revolutionary food thought.  I normally find non-fiction works difficult to read, but Pollan’s fresh, absorbing writing keeps you glued to his books all the way to the end.

A Three Dog Life: A Memoir by Abigail Thomas

If you thought the timeless marital love depicted in “The Notebook” was the ultimate tear-jerker, then you haven’t read this book.  It’s proof positive that love can conquer ALL and still leave room for happiness to find a way in. 

In her book, Abigail shows us that, while it may be impossible to find meaning in a life-changing disaster, it’s possible to build a new, happy life filled with love and companionship.  At 182 pages, this book is a short, yet deep read.  I highly recommend it!   

TThe Lost Symbol: A Novel by Dan Brown

Typical Dan Brown style, The Lost Symbol will not disappoint if you liked Angels & Demons or The Da Vinci Code.  Brown is obviously a master at creating fast paced thrillers, including plenty of plot twists, that require him to do a massive amount of research.  That said, this wasn’t my favorite Dan Brown book–Deception Point still holds that honor–probably because science will capture my fancy faster than religion any day.  While his other works have represented Christianity and the Catholic Church as institutions highly susceptible to corruption, The Lost Symbol casts religion in a slightly more redemptive light.

The Return & Nightfall by L.J. Smith

No offense to L.J. Smith, but I’m not even sure why I keep reading The Vampire Diaries books.  They’re just not worth it, in my opinion.  That said, if you enjoyed the first books, there is a major plot twist in these that you won’t want to miss.

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October Books

Gone to the Dogs by Emily Carmichael

Chic lit, way girly, only finished it ’cause the main character is a Corgi and I’m a sucker for stubby, fox-faced canines.  Nothing wrong with the book, it’s just not my style.

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Best Sookie Stackhouse book yet.  Loved it!  Sookie’s character has never been boring, but I find it difficult to identify with her.  (Blond, busty,  promiscuous, and usually ditzy–not too much in common.)  In Dead and Gone, she jumped off the page a bit more for me.  Now I really can’t wait for book #10 (due out May ’10).

Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas

Urban fantasy filled with buku amounts of old-timey/classic film and lit references.  This book was littered with crassness which–in my opinion–was unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with vulgarity when well placed, but I felt the book was cheapened rather than enhanced by the language.  Very unique writing style–which I admire–but ultimately the book wasn’t my favorite.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Another urban fantasy novel, this one featuring Kate Daniels, who by the way just might be my new favorite heroine.  Kate is a mercenary whose specialty is killing supernatural monsters.  She’s kick ass, has a big mouth, and pretty much takes care of herself.  She also has a proper appreciation for good horse, which makes her just about perfect in my book.  In Kate’s world, there’s been a magical apocalypse leaving a conflict between magic and tech (technology).  Sometimes electricity, cars, and such work, but, during magic influxes, the world changes drastically.  I’ll definitely read Andrews’ next Kate Daniels book, Magic Burns.

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Recent Reads

Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

Light without being fluffy, fun, and full of canine humor.

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Classic Dan Brown.  A similar read to Digital Fortress, another of his books.

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Anyone who liked The DaVinci Code will enjoy Angels & Demons.  I can’t wait to see the Angels & Demons movie!  (I know I’m a little late to see it in the theater, so at this point I’m just going to wait until it comes out on DVD.)

Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce 

Tamora Pierce is obviously one of my favorite YA authors.  That said, Melting Stones was not one of my favorite of her books.  (However, I just re-read her book Wild Magic because I like it so much.)

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris 

The 5th Sookie Stackhouse novel–better than the last two 🙂  I really think it’s my mood that changes, not Ms. Harris’s writing; I have to be in the “right” mood to really get into her books.

A Case of Need by Michael Crichton (under the pseudonym Jeffery Hudson)

This was Crichton’s first novel, written while he was still in medical school and published in 1968 (a year before The Andromeda Strain was published).  It’s probably not quite as good as his subsequent work, but it’s Crichton-like none-the-less.  Be aware that abortion rights discussion & arguements are woven into the plot and the book was written during a time when race & segregation were omnipresent social issues.

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Odds N Ends

Since today is a list sorta day…

~I hate Ohio weather.  No wonder all the retirees who have the funds move to Florida for the winter.  It’s in the single digits (with windchill) here today, but we’re supposed to gain an extra 10 degrees every day this week.  So, by Friday it’ll be 60 degrees out.  Grrr, no wonder I’m STILL sick.

~I’m going to come out and admit that I’ve now seen Twilight not once, but twice.  I feel so bad because I cheated on my friend–we had agreed to wait to see it (together) until it comes out on DVD.  Oops, sorry A!  (She knows–and has forgiven me readily–but I still feel guilty.)  I’m now totally, amazingly, pathetically hooked, and I can’t wait to see it again!  Now I desperately want the soundtrack, too.  It’s awesome 🙂  (As a side note, hubby took me to see the movie the first time I saw it and he thought it was OK–which is a compliment.)

~God bless my mother.  I received no fewer than four emails from her last night.  They were timestamped 1:11am, 1:47am, 1:47am, and 3:20am.  (The middle two were duplicates.)  The one from 1:47am read (in part),

here is quiet.  and middle of the night.  I had a very long spell with very little sleep  2 births back to back.  now my day/night is mixed up.”

As I learned well by a very young age, such is the life of a dedicated midwife.

~Hubby and I watched The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on TV last night.  We had two totally random conversations based on the end of the movie, one about “gay hobbit love” (forgive my hubby’s lack of tact) and the other about “elf-mutts”.  The GHL conversation began during the scene when Pippin, Sam, Frodo, and Merry are back in the shire, sharing a drink together.  Hubby claims they’re making eyes at each other.  (It is, admittedly, a sappy scene.)  I explained to him that they’re just happy to be home and alive after their adventure, but no, he’s certain they all madly want to jump each other.  I explained that Sam was going to marry Rosie, his hobbit lass.  Just a cover up, says hubby.  (Yes, I know this topic has been debated previously elsewhere.  Don’t tell hubs, it’ll just fuel his side of the debate!)  The E-M story centered around Aragorn & Arwen’s kiss at the end of the movie.  My dear hubby is convinced that elf parts & human parts don’t line up, and, even if they did, Aragorn & Arwen would produce weird, mutant elf-mutts.  I contend that it doesn’t matter how many chromosomes they have, their babies would be GORGEOUS!

 ~I just finished reading Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce, one of my favorite YA authors.  I might feel a little guilty reading her books–I’m probably a bit old for them (??)–but nonetheless I love them and I love her.  One of my favorite Tamora Pierce quotes is this:

I am deeply unhappy that college education standards, as evidenced by all those online lists, is still that of white men who died over a century ago and fear for the best and brightest minds educated on a standard that does not address the fact that we live in a global culture that does not recognize the primacy of the values of dead, white, European men.”

Also:

Books are still the main yardstick by which I measure true wealth.”

And finally (in reference to her early years as a very young writer):

I tried to write the kind of thing I was reading, with one difference: the books I loved were missing teenaged girl warriors. I couldn’t understand this lapse of attention on the part of the writers I loved, so until I could talk them into correcting this small problem, I wrote about those girls, the fearless, bold, athletic creatures that I was not, but wanted so badly to be.”

~I also recently read Ironside by Holly Black, The Parting & The Forbidden by Beverly Lewis, Club Dead & Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris, and Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce (prequel to Trickster’s Queen).  They are all very different books, but all of them good in their own way and definitely worth reading.

~I usually give up something for Lent, so this year I decided to do something instead.  I chose to pray twice a day (morning and night).  I did really well Ash Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Not so much this weekend.  Routine helps me, so hopefully I’ll get back on track by tomorrow.

~We found out Saturday that friends of ours here in Dayton are expecting!  We have out-of-town friends with kids, but this will be our first friend-baby close enough to visit on a regular basis.  I’m very excited!  Congrats A and T!

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4 Book Reviews in Twenty Minutes

My mother always admonished us for using the word ‘hate’.  “Hate is a very strong word,” she would tell us.  That said–and no offense to my mom–I hate winter. 

Oh, I like snow.  But, the cold and the ice and the lack of sunlight make me gloomy.  So, I try to keep myself occupied by reading a lot during the winter months.  A good book can transport me away from the snow and ice and gloomy skies here in Ohio to make winter more bearable, at least for a short time.

So, here’s what I’ve been reading lately…

The Twilight Series (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) by Stephenie Meyer 

To be honest, I hadn’t heard about the books until the Twilight movie was released.  All the hype (including the swarms of crazed teenage girls swooning over Robert Pattinson) and the fact that it was a vampire story initially turned me off from reading Twilight.  I kept hearing it was a good story, however, so I eventually borrowed a copy from a friend (who had urged me to read it) and started reading.  I started Twilight around 11pm and couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it around 5am the same night.  The other three books were the same–I loved them!  Stephenie Meyer has a wonderful writing style with very vivid characters.  The Twilight books are better described as an intimate, epic romance story (without being raunchy) that happens to include vampire characters.  I can’t recommend them enough! 

I have Meyer’s book The Host reserved at the library and I can’t wait until it comes in so I can read more of her work.

Dead Until Dark & Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris 

I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but after reading the Twilight books I was a little fascinated with vampires/vampire books/vampire culture.  (To be honest, I think I was hoping for another Twilight to come along because I was so disappointed the books were over.)  Charlaine Harris’s writing is about as different from Stephenie Meyer’s writing as you can get.  Regardless, I enjoyed the first two Sookie Stackhouse novels.  Harris’s writing style is very light…almost flippant.  Even so, she craftily tackles such social issues as homophobia, racism, and ‘vampire-ism’ in her books.  The main character in the books is Sookie Stackhouse, a bartender in the rural south who happens to be able to read people’s thoughts.  In Dead Until Dark, she meets Bill, the town’s first vampire inhabitant, and they fall in love.  Together, they solve a string of murders that occur shortly after Bill moves into town.  In Living Dead in Dallas, Bill & Sookie go to Dallas, TX to solve a mystery involving the vampires living there. 

As a side note, HBO’s new series True Blood is based on these books.  The series was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best TV Series Drama and Anna Paquin (who plays Sookie Stackhouse) won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series.  I haven’t seen the show (we don’t get HBO), but I’ve heard that it’s good…and also that there’s a lot of sex on it (one of the characters is a bit of a womanizer).   

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale & Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black 

I picked up Tithe on a whim as I was browsing in the library and the cover caught my attention.  I’d never heard of the author, Holly Black, nor read any of her books.  Tithe is about a 16 year-old girl, Kaye, who travels the country with her mom’s rock band.  Kaye has been visited by faeries in her childhood, and–when she and her mother are forced to move back to her childhood home–she meets an injured faerie knight.  This meeting begins the process of Kaye being catapulted into the faerie’s world.  I enjoyed Tithe enough to check out another of Black’s books, Valiant, the next time I was at the library.  That said, I have to admit that Black’s books are a little edgy for my taste.  The thing I do like about her is that she creates a new social structure and brings together a faerie vocabulary in her stories, which I find refreshing.  Tithe & Valiant aren’t necessarily intertwined stories (you can read one without reading the other), but I recently found out that Black wrote a sequel to Tithe, called Ironside.  Yep, I’ll be reading that one, too.

   Baby Proof by Emily Giffin 

First off, I have to say that I’ve read, and liked, Emily Giffin‘s books Something Borrowed and Something Blue.  However, I didn’t care for Baby Proof.  Giffin’s stories are very…well, girly.  If you’re me (a tom-boy), you have to be in the right mood to read them.  I think I could have enjoyed Baby Proof, but it just wasn’t what I was looking for at the time I sat down to read it.  The story is about a woman, Claudia, who doesn’t want to have children.  After much searching, she meets a man, Ben, who doesn’t wish to procreate, either.  They fall in love and get married.  Fast forward a few years and–boom!–Ben decides that he wants a baby.  He tells Claudia that having a baby is now a deal-breaker for him and he will leave her if she doesn’t change her mind.  The majority of the book is about Claudia’s inner struggle between the man she loves and the child-free marriage she wants to have. 

I also have a Stephen King novel–I just haven’t started it yet.  I’ve never read anything by King–I always assumed that his kind of writing isn’t my kind of reading.  But, I figured I should read one of his books just so I can say that I have!  And I found a Black Stallion book that I must have missed when I was younger.  Yes, I know I’m “too old” for those books, but I really don’t care.  They were my favorites back in the day!

I’m pretty sure that I didn’t read 25 books in 2008 , so I’m trying to get a head start on 2009. 🙂

 

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