Little Squeed

WINNER!!!

2011-12-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

A winner for the Midwinter Hop has been selected!

Congratulations Theresa J!

I have sent an email requesting your address so the publishing company can ship out your prize!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop and Author Interview!

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

What are we giving away this Midwinter's Eve?

A Brand New Copy of Death Watch by Ari Berk!
Sent to you directly from the publisher!

To enjoy excerpts from this book, please visit:
http://www.ariberk.com/deathwatch.html
Where you will be able to read two different chapters from Death Watch

The following is an interview with Ari Berk:

1.Could you start out by telling us a little bit about Death Watch?

DeathWatch is my first novel, a ghost storyabout a town (a necropolis, actually) where the dead tend to congregate. Butit's also a story about parents and children, and about people who have a hardtime letting go. In that regard, it's really about relationships between theliving and dead. Without giving too much away, here are some things you'll findin the book: Ghosts. Purgatorial Hangouts. Curious Relics. GraveRobbing. Family Reunions. Wakes. Things Under Water. Night Visiting. Stufftrapped in Tins. Overgrown Cemeteries. Crumbling Houses. Jarred peaches.

2.What was your inspiration for making the main character, Silas Umber, such asolitary character when it comes to the world of the living?

I like outsiders. I was one myself through much of highschool. I think, very often, people who are on the outside see the world alittle differently. They may also see more of it, because they tend to be keenobservers of other people. This is an important part of Silas. He is interestedin parts of the world that other people tend to overlook: lore, magic, ruins,the truth behind the stories he hears, the nature of loss, and anything withdust on it.

Partof his story is about bridging the world of the living and the worlds of thedead, but it's that work that helps him enter more fully into the lives of theliving people around him.

3.Is Lichport, the town where Death Watchtakes place, based on the history of a real town? (Or, What was yourinspiration for the town of Lichport?).

Lichport is not a real town, though atthis point, it feels pretty real to me. My inspiration comes from the ancient,little seaport towns I've visited in the West of England, and the fictionaltowns I've read about in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. I always wished I couldvisit the towns in his books. One of the larger coastal towns mentioned in Death Watch (Kingsport) is a little nodto H.P. Lovecraft. As strange as Lichport is, it's the kind of place I've alwaysaspired to live in; a town with a weird past within earshot of the sea. I alsowondered what a town might be like if it was founded as a Necropolis, as aharbor for funereal practice. What kind of people would populate a town likethat? Lichport is my version of what such a place might look like. For me,place is vitally important. Before very much of the plot had been worked out, Ihad already made a complete map of Lichport. I need to have a sense of placefirst, then I can drop the characters in and see what happens.

4.Where did the idea for Death Watch comefrom?

The idea for the book came from seeinga small, sixteenth century, skull-shaped pocket watch in the Ashmolean Museumin Oxford, UK. The moment I saw that watch, the idea for the book began to formin my mind. I talk a little about that watch here on my website:

http://www.ariberk.com/cabinet.html

5.I see on your website (www.ariberk.com) that you're a Professor ofMythology and Folklore. Is Death Watchsteeped in any particular culture's mythology or folklore?

There is a great deal of lore in thebook and it comes from, or was inspired by, a variety of cultures, includingBritish, American, Japanese, Norse, Egyptian and others. In many cases, the folklorehas been adapted to make it more Lichportian. I've also invented quite a fewthings, but my hope is that most readers wouldn't be able to discern the reallore from the invented. It all needed to be believable.

6.Throughout your career you have traveled extensively to places consideredhaunted. Are any of Silas' supernatural experiences in the book ones thatyou've had in real life? What was your most terrifying ghostly experience?

I haven't had any encounters with theotherworldly that I would call terrifying, but deeply unsettling, yes. I've hadsome strange nights in very old houses. And once, at a ruin of a great housein, Devon, England, called Berry Pomeroy, my son (3 at the time) refused toenter an underground chamber and began crying and sobbing, saying "No, thelady. No, the lady." We later learned that part of the ruin is haunted byThe Blue Lady, the ghost of a young woman who had been imprisoned and left todie there by her sister.

7.You've written quite a few other books, including a personal favorite of mine, Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters.What made you choose the YA Novel format for Death Watch, and how much harder or easier was that than creatingillustrated literary works?

To be honest, I don't really considerthat a book is "YA" or "Teen" or any other label. Thedivision of the publisher that I work with publishes YA books, so that is whatthis book has been called. I don't think about such things when I write. Whywould I? My concern is that a story should be unique and engaging, andwell-written. When I was younger, and would explore the shelves at my locallibrary and book store, I would never bother to see what section I was in. Ijust choose books that looked interesting to me. Growing up, I was allowed toread anything I could read, so a book's genre or age-level was never reallysomething I thought about. In fact, many of the readers of Death Watch are adults. I think anyone who likes, say, StephenKing, for example, might like this book too.

Asfor whether a novel or an illustrated book is harder to write, that's a toughcall. Each presents its challenges and delights. At the end of the day, I guessI'd have to say that the novel is more challenging because it's just me, just along line of words stretching out to the horizon…and if anything goes wrong, ina novel, I can't blame it on the artist!

8.Silas' life is filled with real ghost stories, but as a child, were there anyparticular ghost stories that kept you up at night? Are there any that keep youup now?

There are so many I love and thatstill give me chills. But perhaps my favorite, which you can even read online,is by E.F. Benson and is titled "How Fear Departed The Long Gallery."

http://www.horrormasters.com/Text/a0206.pdf

Moreoften than not, however, most of my favorites tend to be "real," orfolkloric, ghost stories, not literary ones. I love the immediacy of a talethat's told as chronicle, particularly if the account has been recorded fromsomeone who has lived to tell the tale!

9.Who was your favorite character to write and why? Were any characters based onreal life people?

That's a tough question, too. I thinkmy favorites to write were some of the secondary characters. Silas's greatgrandfather was a pleasure to write and he's become one of my favoritecharacters. He has a very different perspective on the world and on the realmeaning of family in the full historicaland spiritual sense. I also REALLY love writing the dialogue of the threeladies of the sewing circle. I could write in their three back and forth voicesall day long. I am actually toying with the idea of a little collection called Tales From Old Lichport that would bestories the three sisters tell each other while they're working on theirtapestry.

Asfor characters being based on real-life people, the answer is yes and no. Mymother is already telling all of her friends that Dolores Umber is NOT based onher, and she's right. Dolores is not based on her (for the record). But that'snot to say I haven't borrowed moments from my life and the lives of thosepeople unlucky enough to get within range of my pen. Silas's school experiencesdefinitely mirror some of my own, and his life in Saltsbridge is invested witha lot of resonance from my own teen years. I will say this: when I read overthe first complete draft of the book, I panicked that I had started out towrite fiction but had instead written a bizarre Borgesian memoir.

10.Is there any word on when we can expect book 2 in The Undertaken Series?

MistleChild, the name of book two, will be outeither late, late 2012 or first of 2013.

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REVIEW: Death Watch by Ari Berk

2011-11-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Death Watch

The Undertaken Trilogy

by Ari Berk

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 5/5

Synopsis:
(fromGoodreads): Theysay the dead should rest in peace. Not all the dead agree.

One night, Silas Umber's fatherAmos doesn’t come home from work. Devastated, Silas learns that his father wasno mere mortician but an Undertaker, charged with bringing The Peace to thedead trapped in the Shadowlands, the states of limbo binding spirits to earth.With Amos gone, Silas and his mother have no choice but to return to Lichport,the crumbling seaside town where Silas was born, and move in with Amos’sbrother, Charles.

Even as Silas eagerly exploreshis father’s town and its many abandoned streets and overgrown cemeteries, hegrows increasingly wary of his uncle. There is something not quite right goingon in Charles Umber’s ornate, museum-like house—something, Silas is sure, thatis connected to his father’s disappearance. When Silas’s search leads him tohis father’s old office, he comes across a powerful artifact: the Death Watch,a four hundred year old Hadean clock that allows the owner to see the dead.

Death Watch in hand, Silas beginsto unearth Lichport’s secret history—and discovers that he has taken on hisfather’s mantle as Lichport’s Undertaker. Now, Silas must embark on a dangerouspath into the Shadowlands to embrace his destiny and discover the truth abouthis father—no matter the cost.

Characters:
Silas Umber: Coulda name be more poetic? Silas, which is quickly pointed out, sounds much likesolace, and Umber, the color of rich, brown earth… the Solace of the Grave, thecomfort of being laid to rest peacefully beneath the earth. Is there a moreperfect name for an Undertaker? I think not.

Silas isthe child of Amos and Dolores Umber, and he is a boy lost. His fatherdisappears in the first chapter of the book, and through the rest of the storywe witness Silas coming of age as he moves back to Lichport with his mother,and seeks to find the truth of what happened to his dad.
Bea: A mysterious girl who is infatuated with Silas and, likealmost everyone in Lichport, obviously has secrets of her own.
Mother Peale: An elderly woman,and one of the Narrows Folk (the Narrows being the part of town filled withpeople of the sea) Mother Peale is an old friend of Silace’s father and wise inthe ways of those who have remained to wander the streets of this haunted town.

Mrs. Bowe:A close friend of Amos Umber, Mrs. Bowe is a source of knowledge and supportfor Silas as he tries to walk in his father’s footsteps. Often infuriatinglyvague, to the point where you just want to scream, “JUST TELL THE BOYALREADY!”, she has her reasons for being so, and is always worried about Silas’well being. She has a special role to play in the town, and is an aide andassociate to the work of the Undertaker, as well as someone with invaluableinsight into the motives of Uncle. She also has quite the mysteriousrelationship with bees, and I often wondered, as I read, if we would find outmore about this.
Amos Umber: Silas’s father, and the Undertaker of Lichport, hedisappears in the beginning of the book, but his presence haunts the pagesthroughout. Obviously well loved by his son, as well as the town of Lichport,he is a well formed and delicately constructed character whose portrait ispainted for the reader through his own items left behind, as well as theabundant stories of the townsfolk.

Dolores Umber:Silas’s neglectful mother, she spends most of her time at the bottom of abottle and is a character that one finds it very hard to have sympathy for. Shehas traits in her, though, that can be seen in Silas, and that the readerspends the book praying he will overcome.

Uncle:Overly kind in the most creepy of ways, it’s obvious something is amiss withUncle the minute you read his letter. He is set on one mission, and nothingwill stop him from carrying it out. As with some of histories best villians, heis scary because he truly believes that what he is doing is right.

Writing:
If you dislike books like The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien orThe Foundling Series by D.M. Cornish, then don’t read this book. Death Watch isfilled with eloquent prose rich with world building. The town of Lichportstands out, a character on its own, and invites the reader to walk its streetsright along with Silas.

It is not often thatI force myself to slow down while reading a book, but I had to with DeathWatch, for fear that it would be over too soon. I couldn’t help but take the time to savoreach page. The book begged to be read aloud, the rich detail of each paragraphpouring from the page and painting a vivid picture of the world through whichSilas walked.

Drawn in from theopening pages, this rich, dark story gripped me in the same way that books suchas Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Coraline or Ray Bradbury’s TheHalloween Tree and Something Wicked This Way Comes have. It was haunting andfilled with a potent atmosphere of the macabre. Each chapter offered insightinto a new mystery from Lichport’s past, and not a word was wasted. The ghosts that haunted the pages of this bookcontinued to haunt my imagination long after I put the book down and turned outthe lights. They followed me like shadows throughout the day, enticing me frommy responsibilities so they could have the chance to further tell their tales,and like Silas, I quickly learned to shut up and listen.

Truly, it was hard todeny this book… and as rich as the world building was, the characters themselveswere just as layered and mysterious. Silas spent the book learning mostlythrough experience, rarely making the exact same mistake twice. He grew as hewent, changing from boy to man, letting go of childish behaviors that preventedhim from truly seeing the world around him.

Ending:
I don’t think I can rightly express how happy the end of this book made me.When I read the cover and saw that this was a trilogy, I dreaded reaching theend, because frankly, I’m getting tired of how every YA book these days tends tobe a trilogy, and often, most of them could easily have been wrapped up in onebook (or just weren’t worth three+ books to begin with). Death Watch had a complete and satisfyingending, and with it, I was left wondering if this would be more along the linesof The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, where each book wasdedicated to different characters. Regardless of whether each book followsSilas, or simply other Undertakers in the town of Lichport, I am now adedicated reader. I cannot wait to see what book two brings.

Plot:
This is not a book of sappy, sparkly, meaningless romances that seem to developwithout any true rhyme or reason.

Thank God.

This is a coming ofage story, under the most dire circumstances. It’s a book that causes thereader to sit back and wonder how, and if, they could handle what Silas isfaced with. As much about the world of the living as it is about the world ofthe dead, the book balances on a knife’s edge between the two, and the readeroften finds themselves wondering if Silas will be lost to one or the other.

Death Watch is woventogether from multiple story threads that span the history of Lichport, addingto the rich background that serves as the stage for Silas’s own adventure. Eachone is just as intriguing as the next, and kept me reading avidly until theend, wanting to know what had happened in each circumstance.

Believability of World:
Lichport is so rich, so detailed, so steeped in nostalgia that it feels as ifI’ve already been there, even though I know I have not. Lichport itself is areal town, and I wonder how much of this book draws from its history.Regardless, the version in this story, even with its paranormal patrons, readsas a town that just might be found if one looked.

Overall Grade: A+ ~ A book forthose who love stories with rich, deep histories, with detailed descriptionsthat make you feel like you were there. Not for readers looking for a gushylove story, or driveling characters that need a significant other to make uptheir minds for them. Death Watch is for lovers of literature, those readerswho revel in the velvety texture of words as they roll off the tongue. It isfor those who read aloud at night to empty rooms, just to hear each line sing.This will go on my shelf of favorites, thank you, Mr. Berk, for such a richtale.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

To take part in Waiting on Wednesday, click the image above!

To visit Ari Berk's website, click the image above!

Death Watch

by Ari Berk

Release Date: November 15th

They say the dead should rest in peace. Not all the dead agree.
One night, Silas Umber's father Amos doesn't come home from work. Devastated, Silas learns that his father was no mere mortician but an Undertaker, charged with bringing The Peace to the dead trapped in the Shadowlands, the states of limbo binding spirits to earth. With Amos gone, Silas and his mother have no choice but to return to Lichport, the crumbling seaside town where Silas was born, and move in with Amos's brother, Charles.

Even as Silas eagerly explores his father's town and its many abandoned streets and overgrown cemeteries, he grows increasingly wary of his uncle. There is something not quite right going on in Charles Umber's ornate, museum-like house--something, Silas is sure, that is connected to his father's disappearance. When Silas's search leads him to his father's old office, he comes across a powerful artifact: the Death Watch, a four hundred year old Hadean clock that allows the owner to see the dead.

Death Watch in hand, Silas begins to unearth Lichport's secret history--and discovers that he has taken on his father's mantle as Lichport's Undertaker. Now, Silas must embark on a dangerous path into the Shadowlands to embrace his destiny and discover the truth about his father--no matter the cost.
Critically acclaimed folklorist Ari Berk explores the worlds of the living and the dead, and the relationships between parents and children in a novel steeped in lore, mystery and magic.

~ Description from Amazon

This book looks spooky and delightful.

I can't wait!

REVIEW: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

2011-10-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Cryer’s Cross

by Lisa McMann

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Ending: 3/5

Synopsis:
(fromGoodreads): The community ofCryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshmanTiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD,16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-roomschool house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico alsodisappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in herdepression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something thatconnects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it'scrazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico andwondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad.Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who canonly be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how canKendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy shefinds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendalldigs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon someugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far thetownspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Character Likability:
Kendall: Kendallis the main character, and she suffers from OCD. Before I read this book, Ilistened to Lisa McMann speak, and I learned that her daughter has OCD, and shewrote this book because she wanted a heroine who had OCD, but that wasn’t thepoint of the story, simply an aspect of it. I did not question that Mrs. McMannknew what she was talking about when it came to the behaviors of an OCDsufferer, since she had her daughter there to consult at ever step, but Idisagree that this book isn’t about a character with OCD. Quite a lot of thestory revolved around Kendall’s struggles with the disorder, and the endinghinged on it. Regardless, I found Kendall very likable. I enjoyed a strongfemale lead, especially when it was clear that being strong was one of thehardest things for her to do.
Nico: Kendell’s best friend since childhood, it’s obvious headores Kendall… but then he starts to change, becoming distracted. Finally hedisappears altogether, and the rest of the book is spent hunting for him.
Jacian: A boy of Hispanic decent who moved in right around the timeof the first disappearance. He and his sister become huge supporting factorsfor Kendall. Jacian spends a lot of the beginning of the book being a realjerk, but for me, this didn’t make him unlikable, since it was obvious he wassuffering from being ripped from the life he knew to being thrown into thistiny town with about 5 kids in his graduating class.

Writing:
This book was written in third person, and I’ve read tons of reviews where thishas really bothered people, but I’m not sure why. I read the entire book inabout 4 hours. I couldn’t put it down. It flowed beautifully. It was written ina way that I’ve not seen much of. Many of the sentences were short, notcomplete, choppy bits that worked well to give us a feel for how Kendall’s OCDthought process worked. It was jarring, but not so much that it pulled me outof the story, since its frantic nature fit right in with Kendall’s constantlyactive thoughts.

Ending:
This book had a decent end. There was some really wonderfully creepy imagery inthe final “showdown” and I could visualize it all perfectly. The only thing I’mnot sure of is the role of the main character’s OCD in the end. I’ve heard theauthor speak, and she said she wanted this to be a book about a girl whohappened to have OCD, not about OCD… but considering the ending, OCD was prettyimportant to the story, more-so than just being a side note.

Plot:
It was an interesting plot. I enjoyed how the story started right out withsomeone missing, the action kicking in from sentence one. I read the book in 4hours, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end. Every couple ofchapters, there was a brief, italicized couple of lines that were cryptic andhaunting. I really enjoyed pondering the puzzle of what they meant. My onlycomplaint would be that the ending felt rushed. I wish there had been more setup for the final bit of the story. I wish we had learned more about the town’shistory. For me, this was a book about the inner workings of a charactersuffering from some intense personal struggles, and not so much about the townitself, when, for this kind of story, setting is just as important as characterdevelopment. I never really got a feel for the town, or the town’s past. Itwould seem to me that, for the secret this place was keeping, the atmospherecould have been heavier with the weight of it. I would have liked to have seenthat rich tapestry built up a bit more. There didn’t need to be detailed descriptionsof the place itself, but the stain on the town could have been built up withstories and echoes of the past. I guess I wanted more motivation and backgroundon the “big bad” in the story.

Believability of World:
Fun, haunting, and believable. I really enjoyed Kendall’s small town life, andif anything, would have liked to have heard even more about it.

Overall Grade: B ~ Anexciting, quick read, perfect for Halloween. Pick it up and enjoy it,immediately!! The only thing I wish? That it had been longer!!!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday

2011-10-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Click the image above to join in the hop :)

“What is your favorite type of candy?”

Oh man... this is a loaded question for me. I love candy, how could I choose just one?! If I really truly do, though, there are two types of candy I HAVE to, though, I'm going to have to go with Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares, any and all flavors :)

To join in Follow Friday, click the image above!

Q: What superhero is your alter-ego?

Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean my Superhero alter ego has to be one. Honestly, Tick, with his slightly moronic ways, his obliviousness to so many things, his crazy catch phrases and total lack of awareness at his own special level of insanity, is probably who I'd end up being... plus I'd spend a LOT of time looking in the mirror and laughing at my own costume's antenna!!

REVIEW: Un Lun Dun by China Mieville

2011-10-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Un Lun Dun

by China Mieville

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Strange things keep happening in London when Zanna is around, and the only one who notices (or will admit to noticing) is her best friend, Deeba. When the two of them follow a living umbrella and Zanna transports them to the strange world of UnLondon, they are hardly shocked to find that Zanna is the mythical Shwazzy, sent to save UnLondon from the wicked Smog.

Character Likability:
Deeba: “The Funny One”: as categorized by The Book, under Shwazzy sidekicks. A label she finds most insulting. However, it’s quickly apparent that Deeba is, in fact, the main character of this story, having much more depth and personality than the rather bland Zanna. Deeba takes over and pulls us through a danger filled adventure filled with the strangest of creatures.
Zanna: The Shwazzy, revered as the savior of UnLondon, and Deeba’s best friend.
Hemi: Half boy, half ghost, Hemi is misunderstood and bitter. He knows how society sees him, even if it’s wrong, but there’s little a semi-transparent boy can do about it… except team up with Deeba to save the world.
Smog: The big bad in this book, it is what is sounds like, one big, nasty, black cloud of evil.
Curdle: Deeba’s pet milk carton, Curdle shows amazing courage when you would least expect it from something that smells like spoiled milk.
Obaday: An interesting take on a tailor, Obaday has a pincushion head and makes clothing items out of book pages. I kind of wish he really existed.

Skool: Obaday’s sidekick, and an amusing take on the idea… but I won’t say more.

Book: The Book of prophecy, looked to by all for the answers on what is to come, but quickly it is discovered that what is written in the book isn’t exactly how things will be. The Book speaks, and is often heard lamenting its own new-found worthlessness.

Conductor Jones: A Conductor who came through from London when Conductors were gotten rid, he has found new life in UnLondon with his friend, the bus driver, Rita.

Brokkenbroll: Lord of the Unbrellas (read that carefully) he is working with a man named Unstible to create Unbrellas that can withstand the onslaught of the Smog… but one can’t help think that something sinister might just be up.

Writing:
This book pulled me right in, starting with the two girls, Zanna and Deeba, standing in London staring at a fox who was most certainly watching Zanna in a sort of awe. I was sucked in, and kept interested by the strange things that kept happening. Mieville’s style is smooth and never once pulled me out of the story, which is the number one thing I ask for from any book. As the story progresses, things start happening faster and faster, and while I enjoyed the action, I wish there had been a bit more time to develop certain characters they met along the way. There was a real opportunity here to create some deep, rich, strange, interesting people, but I think it was somewhat lost, since the story was more plot driven than character driven. The plot, though, was fascinating and rich in ideas and action.

Ending:
While the beginning of this book was a little slow moving, it quickly picks up speed and races along, straight to the end. I really enjoyed the end of this book, it was one of those endings that you can be satisfied with, even if another book in this world is never written… and really, with the end to this book, one doesn’t need to be.

Plot:
This particular book has a rich, bursting at the seams plot line. There is so much going on that it almost seems as if the book isn’t quite long enough for everything that is happening. This is one instance where I really wouldn’t have minded this story being broken into a series of more books. The world was amazing, interesting and bewildering, and I would have loved to slow down and see more of it. ESPECIALLY the land of the dead.

Believability of World:
The author did a wonderful job making a rich world for these characters to play in. UnLondon is supposed to be a bit unbelievable, in so far as all of the insanity that takes place there, and the magic of it all, but it is written in such a way that one can easily buy into it.

Overall Grade: B+ ~ An exciting romp in a magical world, and a very likeable heroine.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Please Click the Waiting on Wednesday Icon to go to Breaking the Spine and join in the fun!

Crossed

by Ally Condie

Publication Date: November 1st, 2011

This week I'm choosing Crossed by Ally Condie

I have to admit, I had a bit of a lukewarm reaction to Matched. For as much hype as it got, I was really expecting a lot more from it... but it was still an interesting enough read that I will give the second book a chance, and see if it's going to branch off into something fascinating and original.

Plus I have to admit, I'm absolutely sucked in by the covers. HUGE kudos to the designer of these.

REVIEW: The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica

2011-10-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

This is book one in the series

The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica

by James A. Owen

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 5/5

Synopsis:
John, Jack and Charles, three young men from Oxford, find themselves called to duty to care for what is possibly the most well protected book ever, the Imaginarium Geographica.

Character Likability:
John: The Principal Caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica, John is logical, wise and patient. He’s not only likeable, he endears himself to the reader with his compassion and at the same time, with his mistakes. He owns them, and does his best to live by a moral code he deems worthy. As the series goes on, John becomes more and more of an adult, and it’s evident in the disregard he pays to the children in the story. He is in no way unlikable, but he is no longer quite in touch with youth. It’s not that he disrespects children, not in the least, more like, he overlooks them.
Jack: Younger, brash, fighting against the powers that be, in the first novel, Jack comes close to being downright annoying. He is the second caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica. He’s the one chosen to make the stupid mistakes, the one who has to rebel against his own youth and desire to do the right thing. As the series progresses, Jack grows, and it’s easy to see why he was chosen as a caretaker.
Charles: Possibly my favorite caretaker, due to his great affinity for the animals of the Archipelago, Charles is a bit of a third wheel once you discover who the first two caretakers are. Historically, he’s not as recognized, but in this story, he’s quite the standout character. If not him, then some alternate dimension version of him. He believes in travel through both time and space, and studies that intently. Possibly the most down to earth of them all, and certainly the one most prone to mistakes without meaning to (for Jack, it always seems to be a choice, to pick good or evil, for Charles, well… let’s just say, accidents happen).
Mordred: The big bad in practically all of the books except The Dragon’s Apprentice, Mordred (yes, the Arthurian Mordred) keeps showing up in one form or another to ruin the caretakers’ day. This may sound dull, or contrived, but let me assure you, Mordred becomes one complex character who I truly enjoyed reading about.
Merlin: Another character who pops up through the books, the story of Mordred and Merlin is captivating (and takes place largely in The Indigo King), setting up quite a bit of what occurs in both previous and future books.
Tummler: A character pulled from The Chronicles of Narnia, Tummler is a badger who is also a printer, making a mock Imaginarium for distribution, as well as guides to the histories of the world, as well as practical things, like how to get out of a binding, in a book called The Little Whatsit.

Samaranth: The greatest of the dragons we know, he’s often a source of knowledge when the characters don’t know where else to go. Unfortunately, he’s fond of not speaking clearly, so they spend a lot of time trying to figure out what he means.

Fred: The Grandson of Tummler, he is a constant companion from The Indigo King onwards, and becomes the first animal to become Caretaker to the Imaginarium Geographica. He’s another of my favorites, with his animal loyalty and ability to sniff out danger or quell it with a well placed blob of tapioca.

Bert: In it from the beginning, he is mentor and guide to the three new caretakers, Jack, John and Charles.

Aven: Daughter of Bert, future queen of the Archipelago.

Arthur: The “Arthur” character, be he the original, or a descendant (In this series, “Arthur” is the title of the kingship, not an actual name) shows up often. Their noble bloodline allows them to do things others can’t, such as summon dragons.

EVERYONE ELSE: Honestly, these books are packed tight with historical figures, be they real or mythical… everyone from Lovecraft’s Ancient Ones to Benjamin Franklin show up… and always with good reason.

Writing:
The books actually started out catering a bit more to children than I preferred. There were “big reveals” at the end of almost every chapter, and it started to wear on me as a reader. I understand that these books are, in fact, for children, but the “reveals” were starting to get out of hand… especially since the characters being revealed wouldn’t really mean anything except to adults or children who had learned about them. They weren’t often explained historically, and without the background, for kids not in the know, the reveal was meaningless. There was also one point, in particular, where a specific historical figure was eluded to… but one of the characters in the book said the equivalent of “Ah, never mind about them,” which… was actually really annoying… to introduce and then just as quickly dismiss a historical icon.

Other than those brief complaints (and the “big reveal” issue lessens as the series goes on, either that, or Owen has gotten better at making them less blatant), the writing is entertaining, the words flow and action is constant.

Ending:
I have to admit, at the end of the first book, when I reached the “BIG REVEAL”… I chucked the book across the room in disgust, and refused to pick up the next one… it took me a year to pick the next one up. I had no desire to read the series after finding out who the characters were at the end of the first book. For whatever reason it just annoyed the hell out of me. Perhaps because it seemed like such a gimmick… at the end of the first book, there seemed, at least to me, little point in having the main characters be who they are (I’m being vague on purpose, so as not to ruin the surprise), but as the series went on, it became evident that there was in fact a reason, and that the story was an interesting, well thought out one. I’m glad I picked the series back up… and the ends to the future books in it have been much more satisfying.

Plot:
The stories follow the adventures of the Caretakers as they try to keep balance between two very different worlds. I really don’t want to elaborate too much, for fear of giving away something important.

Believability of World:
The way this series ties in to real world events makes it a believable bit of story telling. It is a wonderful flight into a million “What if”s concerning bringing some of the greatest literary minds together… and you get swept up in the energy of it.

Overall Grade: A- Stick with this series. I did, and it’s become complex and twisted.

Rotters by Daniel Kraus

2011-07-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Rotters

by Daniel Kraus

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 5/5

Synopsis (from Daniel Kraus’ Rotters website):
Grave robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It’s true that Leonardo da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen-year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey’s life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.
Everything changes when Joey’s mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey’s father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey’s life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.
Daniel Kraus’s masterful plotting and unforgettable characters make ROTTERS a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about fathers and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of mortality.

Writing:
This book pulls you in, holds you tight and buries you deep within its pages. From the grabbing opening, right until the very end, this story keeps you wondering just what the future of Joey Crouch holds. Devious, wicked, sick, twisted, horrifying, sentimental, emotional, heart-wrenching and tear-jerking, this book runs the gamut of emotion, and certainly introduces the reader to the broad array of occurances, some terrifying, some heartwarming. This is all done artfully through Kraus’ prose, which lead you as easily into the macabre as they do into the scenes of everyday life.

Ending:
A satisfying end to what was truly a rollercoaster ride of a story. It might not be something that pleases everyone, but it seemed fitting.

Plot:
This is one of the most twisted, bent, interesting coming-of-age stories I have ever read. Throughout the story, Joey Crouch has to learn to be a man, fending for himself, defending what he cares for, and keeping himself alive in the most basic of senses. His father is inept at childcare, he has enemies he didn’t even know existed… enemies that are bordering on the supernatural, they are so gruesome and twisted, as well as enemies of the everyday, high school bully sort. We go through the learning process with Joey, watch him as he makes bad choices, cheer him on as he makes good ones. Every step of the way, we’re there as he discovers the secret world his father lives in, the world of grave robbers, and every step Joey takes into that world, we take with him… and I could not put this book down until that journey was over.

Believability of World:
As fantastical as this is, it is based in a certain bit of reality, and I found that anchor to true world events to make this world very believable.

Overall Grade: A+ I’ve never read a story quite like this before.

REVIEW: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

2011-04-05T04:55:00.000-07:00

The Magicians

by Lev Grossman

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Ending: 3/5

Synopsis (from back of book):
Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a sweries of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams may have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined…

Character Likability:
Quentin Coldwater: When the story first begins, I really like Quentin. He’s a brilliant boy who is obsessed with the fictional books of a land called Fillory… and has a pension for slight of hand tricks. Then suddenly he’s whisked off to a place called Brakebills, which he discovers is a school for the magically gifted… but from here on out, my like for Quentin diminishes. He represents the hopeless pursuit of happiness… he is always looking for the greener grass. Nothing is ever good enough, and the last half of the book, before he discovers Fillory is real, degrades into a hedonistic sunnoffabiotch and generally becomes someone unworthy of the trip to Fillory, if (and it’s hard not to) we are considering Fillory to be a thinly veiled version of Narnia. He doesn’t really appreciate what he has until it’s gone, and frankly, he’s kind of a whiner. I think Alice sums it up best when she says something along the lines of “Do you want to be the kid who is remembered for coming to Fillory and moping about it?” She’s right. He’s a downer.
Alice: A talented, hard working, dedicated and devoted witch… she is one of my favorites. She’s shy, brilliant and at Brakebills by her own doing. She begins a relationship with Quentin, has aimless magical parents whom she resents, and has a personal history with the magical school, and her own reasons for being there.
Eliot: A bit of an enigma… there are certain things introduced concerning this character that make him complex and confusing at the same time. He’s one of the first characters Quentin befriends at Brakebills, but also one of the most aloof. He spends most of his time drunk but functional… always keeping the group well stocked in spirits. Eliot has a bit of an about-face when they find Fillory, suddenly finding direction, motivation and sobriety. I think it might be possible that he is an example of what Quentin hoped to be. A miserable kid who was looking for his magical escape… but, unlike Quentin, when he found it, he also found his sense of purpose.
Josh: Comic relief, really. He’s a cute character, kind of roly poly, not really in control of his magic… it feels like he’s mostly there to round out the group, have someone actually likable. He also seems a bit more childish than the rest of them.
Janet: Bossy, whorish, meddling, troublesome… she’s a bit of a nemesis to Alice while putting on the mask of being a friend. She’d probably be an unlikable character if she didn’t motivate the group into action. I get the feeling that if she weren’t around, though, this book would have been truly dull, seeing as the rest of the characters might have done little more than drink themselves into stupors every day.
Penny: I really enjoyed this character. Another boy to test in the same year as Quentin, his motivations are mysterious, and I was sad to see him disappear until almost the end of the book. When he does come back though, he’s filled with a child-like enthusiasm and belief that I find absolutely refreshing after reading page after page about a bunch of bored kids who have had the world handed to them but are to self-involved to realize it. He’s the vehicle that takes them to Fillory, and a bit of a nemesis to Quentin, which makes me like him even more.

Dean Fogg: Kind of a vague Dumbledore-esque character, his motivations aren’t entirely clear, and I’m wondering if more will be revealed about him in the next book.

The Chatwins: A darker version of the Pevensies. Seriously. They’re kind of the “what would have happened to the kids in Narnia had they lived in the worst of the real world” scenario.

Julia: A friend of Quentin's before he learned that magic was real, and the girl he was obsessed with. She has the potential to be a really interesting character... and it looks like she'll show up a lot more in the second book.

Writing:
The book was actually a really easy read from this standpoint. The text flowed smoothly, moving along a story that, often, wasn’t going anywhere at all.

One thing I absolutely did not like, however, was how many times Harry Potter was mentioned. Fillory is already a very thinly veiled copy of Narnia… so to mention real world fantasy novels just isn’t working for me… because that means Narnia still exists, and that means that Fillory is nothing more than a sad rip-off of the real thing. Would people have been pissed to see Narnia mucked around with this way? Yes… but for all intents and purposes, that’s what the author did anyhow… so why pussyfoot around it by sticking them in a world with Narnia. Why not just give them their own world? It’s not like the reference is going to be lost on the reader.

Ending:
Truthfully, I was pretty pissed off to get to the end of this book and find it’s part of a series. Granted, based on the books it references, I should have seen it coming… but I really felt this was something that could have ended in one book… and had the characters not spent so much time drinking and pondering their own self worth, that might have been achievable.

Plot:
Take a super smart kid prone to bouts of self pity, let him find out that not only is magic real, but so is the magical world of Fillory (aka, Narnia) that he has obsessed about his entire life, then let him go there… and be disappointed.

There was something that I find really interesting attempted in this book, and that is to write a fantasy novel where the main character has actually read fantasy novels and has expectations of how things should be.

Considering that fact, though, when it got to the end of the book and some of the kids started actually doing magic, I was pretty shocked, considering how much time we actually saw them learning magic (and not just drinking and laying around).

The novel also attempted to take the “big bad” (such as Voldemort or the White Witch) out of the book, the author stating that in real life things aren’t so black and white. Unfortunately, for me, the most interesting parts of the book were when its equivalent of “the big bad” showed up. Until then, it was really a bunch of kids mucking about aimlessly, for the most part. Sure, some of them were self motivated and there for interesting reasons (such as Alice)… but at best we get snippets of her story, and what she’s learned/discovered while there.

Believability of World:
This is supposedly set in our world, referencing things like Harry Potter and Narnia… which for me, only makes Fillory less believable. The world itself is fine, though, and Brakebills is nicely set up for believability thanks to the fantasy novel history it draws from in Harry Potter.

Overall Grade: C+ (Despite the fact that I have gripes about this book, there were many elements in it that were interesting and have potential to make an interesting story. I think my biggest disappointment was the book’s focus on Quentin and how dull he was. There were exciting elements, like the plot involving Alice’s brother and the cover up, that really stirred up some excitement and made me want to learn more… and I’m hoping it’s these kinds of things that are explored in the second book, and not more of Quentin and friends drinking and doing not much of anything.)

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday

2011-03-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Now for another round of:

Follow Friday (click the pic to join in)

This week's question:

Give us five BOOK RELATED silly facts about you:

1.I need dead silence to read and really get into the story
2. I feel like bookstore clerks look down on me if I go to the register with only Manga
and it makes me nervous
3. If a book has illustrations by Edward Gorey, I will buy it...
even if I have no desire to ever read the book
4. I buy children's books for children I don't even have.
5. I have Ron and Harry Tonner dolls without faces o_O
I was in the process of repainting them and my sealing spray got to the end of the bottle and blew
a bunch of junk all over Harry's face... so I put them in the box and forgot about them... but now that the last movies are coming out and I'm rereading the books...
I want to pull them out and paint them again.

And

Book Blogger Hop (click the pic to join in)

"If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?"

How can I be sure I'm not already living in the Harry Potter series? What if I'm just a muggle?!?!
Seriously though, I would want to live in the Harry Potter world... just... you know... as a witch.

Author Spotlight: Steven Kellogg

2011-03-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

Steven Kellogg

There are few authors from my early childhood reading adventures who have inspired me as much as Steven Kellogg. Both entertaining author and amazing illustrator, I would, and still do, spend hours pouring over his works, drinking in the details of his illustrations, the hilarity of his storylines.
From following the adventures of Pinkerton and Rose, to Jimmy's Boa to American Tall Tale Legends, the work of Kellogg has never failed to entertain, inspire and awe me.

I could go on and on about the wonder of his work... or I could simply let him tell you. Watch the following video for a hilarious, helpful look into his creative process.

Waiting On Wednesday

2011-03-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting seven years for this book:

Please, please, please Clive Barker... no more delays!

Supposedly it's coming out September of this year.

It's an amazingly rich YA fantasy, enhanced by the beautiful illustrations and paintings done by Barker himself. I'm really looking forward to this series being furthered.

What am I reading? and Top Ten Tuesday

2011-03-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce

I am only 2.5 stories in, but so far I'm enjoying it.

The Foundling by D.M. Cornish

been reading this one for a while. I've read it before and love it... but I'm taking my time because I'm waiting to borrow the third book in the series from friends, and they aren't done with it yet.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Just finished this one this morning... still processing my opinions on what I've read. Review to come shortly.

Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves

(to join in, go to THIS BLOG)

1. Series, there... I said it. I am so sick of reading a book, getting to the end, and finding out it's part of a series. Whatever happened to books that could wrap it up in one go? Not to mention that half the series out there are YA books that *really* should have had their story wrapped up in the first book, but that are being dragged out... often painfully... so as to make more profit in book sales.

2. Bad Editing. I swear, I am finding more and more spelling errors, grammar errors and just plain typos in books these days. Is it because I'm reading more? Am I more sensitive to these things now? Or are publishers just trying to push out too much too fast? I have no idea, but they detract from the story... because they pull me out of the story and remind me I'm reading a book.

3. Crowd Mentality: I read so many blogs that hype books that are coming out, all of them proclaiming, "OMG BEST BOOK EVER!"... and then I read the book and think, best case, it's mediocre. Worst case, it's pure drivel. I have a hard time believing so many people really think it's so awesome... I am more prone to believe that they are afraid to go against the grain and say they thought it sucked... because I've seen what happens to people who do that. They get flamed for disliking something. I read a review of a reader who hated The Hunger Games... and while I disagreed, I thought their review made some really valid points and could absolutely see where they came from, and thanked them for their thoughts, because they forced me to look at the book from a new perspective. Sometimes it's ok to be a hater. :P

4. Mary Sue: I hate characters that can do everything, have everything and it's obvious ten pages into the book that they're going to win, because they're pretty much Superman without Kryptonite.

5. Weak Endings: I hate reading a good, action packed book, getting to the end and having it be a let down. Two examples? Jaws (I much prefer the movie ending over the book ending) and Wicked (I really felt like, after building such an interesting, deep character, the author shoved the Wicked Witch into her movie role... kind of like cramming your foot into a too small shoe, based on the character he built, I really thought he needed to work harder to turn her into the Wicked Witch Dorothy fought)

6. Authors who insist on writing series, and then don't work on them: George R. R. Martin and Clive Barker... I'm looking at YOU.

7. Love Triangles: Do I need to say more? Ok, I'm really sick of book plots being usurped by love triangles. Yes, teenagers are horny... but no, when the world is ending, or monsters are trying to eat you... I don't think even teenagers would only think about how dreamy one boy is is... but how warm and reliable another boy is.

8. Plot Holes: Sometimes, things really DO need to be explained.

9. Introducing a major plot device/character at the end of a book or series: Ok, Rowling, I'm looking at you. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Harry Potter... but it really irks me that Rowling waits until the last book to mention the Deathly Hallows... I mean... that's a major series plot issue... you would have thought something like that could have been mentioned before hand. Heck, in the first book it's said that Invisibility cloaks are rare... what isn't mentioned is that there's only one, ever. That's beyond rare. It's one of a kind... you'd think that would have been something that wizarding born and raised kids would have picked up on. I also hate it when the character that saves the day shows up at the end of a book and hasn't been at all hinted to earlier in the book/series. Convenient, anyone?

10. Discrediting Graphic Novels because they're Graphic Novels: Often times people think that because it's a comic, it's not literature. All a graphic novel really does is cut down on the telling by involving more showing. There's no need to describe a setting when you can see it. That does not make what is written there worthy of less recognition than a novel. Case in point? Maus.

REVIEW: Jaws by Peter Benchley

2011-03-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Jaws

by Peter Benchley

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 3/5

NOTE I fully and openly admit to being a child of the movie version of this book. I’d always been interested in reading the novel, because it’s one of those novels that changed the world, creating hysteria towards sharks and causing people to think of them specifically as man-eaters.

Synopsis:
A small, summer town is set upon by a man eater... a Great White Shark with a taste for human flesh.

Character Likability:
Martin Brody: I have to admit, I’ve always loved the Schneider version of Martin Brody and I was happy to see that the movie followed closely to Benchley’s vision of Brody… and that Schneider was, in fact, the perfect man to play him. For me, Brody has always been a strong male character. My affection for him is close to the affection I feel for Atticus Finch. Brody is clear on what he considers right and wrong and does what he can to live by “right”. Unlike in the movie, the book actually gives better reasons as to why Brody would allow the beach to be reopened, as opposed to JUST political pressure. He stands up for what he believes in, and unlike in the book, he IS a local and has clout with the locals because of this. He also doesn’t have the fear of water that has been given to the character in the movie… but this is really neither here nor there, and is a curious addition to the movie itself, and proves to give Brody one of his few weaknesses that, in the book, simply isn’t an issue.
Hooper: There is a dramatic difference between the movie Hooper and the book Hooper. Where the Richard Dreyfus version is likable, joking and generally a friendly presence… smartly scientific when he needs to be… the Hooper of the book comes in more to represent the life that Mrs. Brody used to live… a connection to her past that she has been so struggling to regain. Hooper is more of a vehicle to cause Mrs. Brody to examine her marriage, her life and what she really wants in the world. At the same time, he still acts as the scientific advisor, and while seeming at least slightly capable, there’s something disturbing about Quint seeming to know more about sharks than Hooper does… Hooper, the man who has dedicated his life to studying them. Hooper is a “summer kid”, the rich, spoiled kids who come to summer in Amity because they have rich mommies and daddies, and frankly, despite his grown up profession, Hooper hasn’t shaken this “rich kid” feel, which, for me, discredits him a bit as a scientist. I much preferred the movie Hooper who was strictly business and seemed to come from a more down-to-earth background.
Quint: Other than physical description (the book Quint was bald and fit), this character stayed pretty much the same from book to movie. In the book, Quint is forced to watch several dramatic moments between Hooper and Brody play out, but he does it stoically. He’s all business as a fisherman, but willing to tease and joke when the mood grabs him. The book Quint has fewer interesting stories and focuses more on the fishing aspect of the trip. He uses more gruesome bait such as baby porpoises and sheep, and talks more about the science of fishing than the movie Quint did. His fate is the same as it is in the movie, to be taken down by the shark… but in the book he has a much more Ahab ending.
The Shark: Often we, as readers, were able to see an attack from the perspective of the shark, much like the underwater scenes in the movie… except Benchley uses these moments of shark perspective to introduce the reader to the detached science of a shark attack… from the sensors in the snout to the scent of blood in the water to the fact that humans sound like distressed fish… we get to see the unemotional science behind a shark attack… which only makes it all the more frightening.
Mrs. Brody: Unlike the loving wife of the movie, Mrs. Brody in the book is selfish, annoying and so wrapped up in herself and her longing for her old life that she’s unlikable. Sure there might be a shark attacking the coast and making her husband’s life a living hell… but to her, none of that is as important as feeling sexy and attractive and being accepted by the upper crust of Amity society. She does terrible things, and frankly, I didn’t get the sense, by the end of the book, that in several years she wouldn’t just revisit her depression and do the whole thing all over again. I pity Brody for his married life in the book, where in the movie they were a cute, loving couple.
Meadows: A character that is absent in the movie, Meadows runs the local newspaper and publishes articles that, for the most part, help Brody… thanks to Brody and Meadow’s friendship. He is instrumental in dropping information to Brody throughout the story that Brody wouldn’t have had otherwise and that was cut from the movie all together.

Quality of Writing:
Benchley told an interesting, fast paced story that made it difficult to put the book down. Despite having seen the movie, the book was incredibly interesting and different enough to keep you wondering what would happen next. In comparison to the movie, I think there was a bit more of the ‘fantastical’ in the book, where things seemed very conveniently timed… but it had you on the edge of your seat the entire time, and it’s easy to see how this story began a wave of shark slaying. The fish in this story is relentless and endlessly hungry.

Ending:
To be completely honest, I prefer the ending in the movie. Sure, Mythbusters has proven that Brody couldn’t have exploded the fish in such a manner… but I don’t care. The Captain Ahab, convenient timing ending of the book was a bit anti-climatic. I got to the end and found myself very much missing the “Smile you sonnoffa…*KABOOM!*”

Plot:
This book had a fast paced plot that kept me, as a reader, interested in finding out what happens next, despite having seen the movie. The book took the opportunity to explore more of the science behind shark attacks, as well as more of the social interaction that occurs in a summer town than the movie did. It focused very much on the terror not just of unpredictable shark attacks but also of the looming threat that closing down the beach imposed on the townsfolk who needed to stay there year round. It discussed the small town politics and the “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality of many of the year round folk. It also explored social status and one’s contentment with their lot, as well as the possibly unforeseen positive effects that can be caused by negative press. There was a lot of social commentary going on, and it kept the book interesting and moving inbetween the gruesome shark attacks.

Not to mention that this book was loosely based on real shark attacks that happened along the Jersey Shore and in a small river in 1916 … the real life attacks almost as fantastical as the ones in the book, and adding to the hysteria that caused this book to be a ‘world changer’ and incite the mass hunting of sharks.

Believability of World:
While a lot of this book is believable, there are some instances that are just a tad too convenient for my liking… most notably, the end. However, the small town politics and the vast majority of shark attacks, and the publics reaction to them was entirely believable.

Overall Grade: A-

Currently Reading...

2011-03-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

What am I reading right now you might ask? (Or perhaps you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyways :) )

1. The Foundling by D.M. Cornish

Yes, it might seem like it's taking me a long time to read this... but in fact, it's not. I'm reading it slowly because this is actually my second time reading it, and I am rereading it because Cornish has created a very detailed world... and the third book in this series has just come out, so I wanted to brush up on it before reading the last one. However, I'm going to borrow it from a friend to read, and she's still in the middle of the third book XD

2. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

So far, LOVING this book. It's, at the moment, a strange mix of Narnia and Harry Potter... but this is an adult novel, and I can see how it's going to reflect more adult situations/attitudes as the book goes on. I'm very excited to read this one.

3. Jaws by Peter Benchley

I've been meaning to read this book for years... now I am. I love how it begins with the description of the shark swimming.

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday

2011-03-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

Time to get back into the swing of things!

Clicking on either of the graphics should take you to the hosting blog so you can sign up for Follow Friday or Book Blogger Hop yourself :)

First up is Follow Friday... this weeks question:What embarrassing thing have you done on cold medicine? I was given some really strong cold medicine by my doctor when I was younger... and in the middle of the night I became convinced that the light in the hallway was, in fact, an alien that had come to abduct me. I started screaming and wouldn't stop... my Mom came running and all she could do was laugh and feel sorry for me. She didn't even get mad. LOL.

Now for Book Blogger Hop!

This week's question: "Who's your all-time favorite book villain?"The Morrigan from Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea

REVIEW: Kat, Incorrigible

2011-03-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Kat, Incorrigible

by Stephanie Burgis

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis (from back of book):
Katherine Ann Stephenson has just discovered that she’s inherited her mother’s magical talents, and despite Stepmama’s stern objections, she’s determined to learn how to use them. But with her eldest sister Elissa’s intended fiancé, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat’s magical potential; her other sister, Angeline, wreaking romantic havoc with her own witchcraft; and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat’s reckless heroism will be tested to the utmost. If she can learn to control her new powers, will Kat be able to rescue her family and win her sisters their true loves?

Character Likability:
Kat: As a 12 year old, she was very convincing. Head strong, often not as clever as her adult counterparts… Kat, importantly, acted like a child. I am so tired of books that have a child protagonist that is, for all intents and purposes, an adult in kids clothing. This is NOT the case here. Kat comes across as being her age. Impulsive, inexperienced, eager to get herself into trouble and not always seeing the trap. She bickers with her older sisters and steps on the nerves of Stepmama all the time, but she means well and loves her family, and is a truly likable little girl… and she’s incredibly clever in that way that only a 12 year old tomboy can be… there is a lot of scheming, the exact kind I’ve heard in whispered tones from children who were up to something.
Elissa: Kat’s eldest sister, and an avid reader of Gothic Romances, after which she patterns her own behaviors. Ready to sacrifice her future and happiness to save her family from financial ruin, she spends most of the book being painfully proper.
Angeline: The middle child, and, like Kat, a user of magic. She gets herself into quite a bind practicing it, actually, and is also secreting away their Mama’s magic book. She’s feisty and full of attitude and I quite liked her.
Stepmama: Obsessed with cleaning up the family name and keeping them all from financial ruin, Stepmama comes across as a bit of a harsh character at first. It’s quickly apparent though… just from the sheer volume of time she spends with the children, and her willingness to bring them along, that she really is worried mostly about the family’s appearance to Society, and not a ‘wicked stepmother’.
Mr. Carlyle: The victim of Angeline’s spell to find her true love, he leaves college to come study under Kat’s father… upon first arrival, he’s bland and has a one track mind… to marry Angeline. This is due to the spell, and when it is later broken, Mr. Carlyle becomes quite the interesting character… and quite the ladies man J
Sir Neville: Possibly the most typical of characters in this story, he is the Villian. There really isn’t much question of this for most of the book. There was one point when I was reading where I distinctly remember thinking that the author could have taken the story in the direction of Pride and Prejudice and made Sir Neville not what he appeared. This wasn’t the case, however, and Sir Neville is exactly what he appears to be. I’m perfectly ok with that though, he is a very effective, menacing villain, capable of some surprises himself.

Mr. Gregson: Kat’s would-be magical mentor, he keeps tabs on her magical mischiefs and generally tries to make sure magic is, if nothing else, not abused. He’s a mysterious character and quite honestly, through most of the book, I wasn’t sure if he was a good or bad guy…
Mr. Collingwood: Sir Neville’s younger brother… and completely devoid of the evil encased in Sir Neville. Obviously another fancier of Gothic Romances, the interactions between Elissa and Mr. Collingwood are hilarious at the end of the book… and so is the disgust exhibited by Kat and Angeline.

Quality of Writing:
This was a fast flowing book that, once I picked up, I couldn’t put down, and once I reached the end, I wished there was more. Kat’s voice was energetic and entertaining, and the characters were always in motion… never a dull moment from the very start.

Ending:
Please, please, PLEASE tell me there will be more of these? It ended by concluding the major points of this books plot, but it left it wide open for more books to be written.

Plot:
The overall plot was a device seen before by readers of fantasy… but it wasn’t at all cliché. There were so many wonderful side stories, and quite frankly, the whole history of Kat’s mother, which remained elusive and mysterious, added quite a lot of depth to the plot. Even the Stepmother, usually a rather flat character in these types of stories (in so far as motivation and such), was given depth. The story never slowed pace and never got boring, there was constant action coming at you from all sides, but it never felt like too much, nor did it ever become confusing. It was a well mapped out, well thought out, well constructed plot that kept the reader interested and excited to see what would happen next. As I mentioned earlier… please tell me there will be more to this series. I’m incredibly interested in finding out more about Kat’s family, and in reading more by this author.

Believability of World:
Honestly, I know very little about this time period, so any historical inaccuracies were lost on me… but as for the incorporation of magic into a world where being proper is very important, I truly enjoyed it, and never felt as if anything was out of place.

Overall Grade: A

REVIEW: Tagami Bachi Volume 1

2011-03-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

Tegami Bachi Volume 1

by Hiroyuki Asada

In Amberground, it is the job of the Letter Bee to deliver the letters of the people... whatever those letters may be.

The story opens with us meeting a diligent Letter Bee by the name of Guache Suede. He and his dingo (the name given to the Letter Bee's helper companion... which can be anything from a dog to a man... in Guache's case, it's a dog named Roda)are on their way to pick up a letter, which turns out to be Lag Seeing, a small boy who has been left handcuffed to a post with a mailing slip stuck to him.

We quickly learn that this is not an unexpected letter... and that Guache is dedicated to his job. Lag is distraught, having recently been separated from his mother, and is upset over the fact that Guache will not be his friend, since a Letter Bee never befriends a letter.

Plot: This first volume is primarily about Guache Suede delivering Lag Seeing to his destination. Along the way, Lag is witness to heroic feats and true class in the form of Guache, and decides that when he grows up, he too will be a Letter Bee... both because he sees it as highly honorable to deliver the heart felt messages of the people, and because Letter Bees are allowed into Akatsuki, the capital, the place where he believes his mother was taken.
However, by the end of the volume, we see Lag off to begin his journey to take the test to become a Letter Bee. Inspired by the bravery and dedication of Guache Suede, Lag has stayed true to his word and hopes to cross paths with the man who inspired him, once he reaches the capital. On his journey to take the test, he picks up his dingo, a strange girl with amazing powers.

Truthfully, I was hooked from the get go... I love the concept that these Letter Bees are out there delivering anything and everything... and Guache is such a wonderful opening character. He's likable, heroic, and motivated by the purest of intents. Definitely someone I would want my main character patterning himself after.

Characters:
Lag Seeing: The main character, he starts the story as a young child and we see him grow to the point of going to test to become a Letter Bee himself. He's still incredibly young (12? I think?) and he's quite the cry baby, but I find his sniveling endearing. He's not a hard, manly character at all, he's obviously an emotional child who cares a lot about everyone.

Guache Suede: A valient, heroic, likable character who becomes Guache's model for how a Letter Bee should behave, and rightfully so. Guache is motivated to become the top Letter Bee to save his sister and move her into the big city.

Niche: A 'Package' that Lag finds on his way to taking his test... her shipping label had been damaged, which results in her remaining chained up for several days until someone comes and lets her free. Lag, having been a chained up letter himself, hates this and releases her. She is small, precocious and lacking in underpants (something that horrifies and is then remedied by Lag). She also has powerful abilities, because she is the daughter of a mythical creature... thus making her Lag's perfect dingo... and pretty much saving his butt in almost any fight they encounter.

Roda: Guache's dingo, a dog who takes a liking to Lag immediately and shares his hatred of the food Guache prepares.

Sylvette: Guache's younger sister whom he is trying to help.

Sabrina Mary: Lag's aunt, and the person Guache is to deliver Lag to.

Conner and Gus: The Letter Bee and his dingo who are to accompany Lag to take his test.

Art Style:
The illustration in this manga is beautiful. It is detailed, well crafted with beautiful line weight, color (where applicable) and excellent proportions. The expressions are quite lovely too.

Believability of World:
This is a well constructed, interesting world that I'm very excited to find out more about.

Overall: A

Sorry!

2011-01-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

An update is coming... but last week monday I got some rather bad medical news and it threw me off!

Things are finally getting back to normal though... but I'm on a diet that is Gluten and Dairy free.

If anyone has any awesome resources for recipes or anything, I'd really appreciate it.

Top Ten Tuesday

2011-01-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Inspirational Characters

Ok, here goes:

~1~

Atticus Finch

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

For me, he's the most Inspiration Fictional Character out there. To this very day, I use him as a moral compass... and often wonder... "Would Atticus disapprove?" Atticus inspires me to be a better person, always.

~2~

Miki

Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi

Ok... so this may seem silly to a lot of people... but I was absolutely inspired by this character to work harder and stop complaining. I know it's dumb... but... the dogged perseverance that is shown by quite a few shojo manga girls actually has made me stop and think, "What the heck AM I complaining about?"

~3~

Boxer

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Hmm, maybe this wasn't what was meant by Inspirational... but... Boxer has always inspired me to look out for those who, for whatever reason, cannot look out for themselves. The world is full of hard-working, just people who get trampled and discarded for reasons that are unbelievable. Boxer inspires me to pay attention.

~4~

The Lorax

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

No character has ever struck the fear of global destruction at the hands of man into me the same way that the Lorax did. I was a child, I was petrified, and after reading this book, I took The Lorax's words to heart.

~5~

Horton

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Suess

Ok... listen... we're talking about Inspirational characters, and I'm not picking ones that I *think* other people will go, "Oh yeah... Soooooo inspirational"... I'm picking ones that have influenced me personally to a degree where it actually changed my thinking, or my way of life.... so... on to another Dr. Suess character. Horton changed my way of thinking with one little sentence.

A person's a person, no matter how small.

~6~

Big Brother

1984 by George Orwell

No other character has inspired me to spend more time looking over my shoulder, checking behind paintings and being suspicious of television. Seriously. I spent weeks being paranoid after reading this book... Big Brother struck a fear into my heart like no other character ever has.

~7~

Naruto

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto

I know. Trust me, I know... but hear me out. He's a ninja... a good ninja... in an orange jumpsuit. ORANGE! It's not so much that he profoundly changed my world... but he made me realize that a lot of the time, things are mostly about perspective. Sometimes, it really is effort and will that carry you through. Not everything is going to be easy. Not every ninja gets a camouflage jumpsuit to work with.

~8~

Ebenezer Scrooge

A Chirstmas Carol by Charles Dickens

He's a fascinating character... spending most of the book as the villian... he teaches us all that redemption is possible... no matter how cold and cruel one might be.

~9~

Gollum

Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

He inspires me, every day, to not become obsessed with possessions and material things. Yikes.

~10~

The Nac Mac Feegle

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

These small, goofy characters have been the inspiration for many of my mad, hair-brained schemes that I pull off without apologies. They have taught me never to apologize for doing what needs to be done, that it's ok to steal from those who deserve stealing from (ok, maybe that's not such a great lesson... but it is applicable, sometimes, really it is) and that sometimes you just have to shout 'ACH CRIVENS' before everything will seem ok again.

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a Giveaway

2011-01-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Follow Friday

This weeks question:

What makes up your non-human family?

Two cats:

William the Bloody and

Domo: "Oh Hai!"

Will: "WTF is this thing?"

The Salacious Crumb

Crumb: "I like to read a good novel... so what?"

Crumb: "Ooooh, Zombies are interesting..."

And Book Blogger Hop!

This week's question:

"Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?"

I mainly read fantasy because I read to escape.

I do read non-fantasy all the time... but I like fantasy best. There are usually epic journeys involved... and while I have found stories of women living in Walmart very interesting... it just didn't hold the same appeal to me that fantasy did.

Now, I'm not saying that if it's well done, I'll still poo-poo it... that's not the case at all. If it's well written and holds my interest, I'll love it... but generally, I find real life is sad enough, I don't need to read some fictional character's epic struggle with real world sadness to add onto that.

Also, Don't forget my current giveaway,

part of a giveaway hop with lots of awesome prizes!

Click the picture above to be taken to the giveaway!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway

2011-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time again!

Another Giveaway, from January 14th until January 17th

The Prize:

ONE book worth up to $15 from the Book Depository.

The book will be the winner's choice.

How to Enter:

To enter:
1. Be a follower
2. leave a comment with your email address below

Waiting On Wednesday

2011-01-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have been waiting for this book since 2004!!!

Finally, it has a September 2011 release date!

What is it?

Why, it's...

Abarat: Absolute Midnight

by Clive Barker

No, of course they haven't given us cover art yet (what you see above are the covers to book 1 and 2)... why would they do a silly thing like that. :(

I've heard it's going to be a very black cover, though.

Back to the point though, I've been waiting for this book, which is number 3 in the series, since 2004! I was beginning to think it would never be made... although sadly, there are still 2 more in the series after that, but hopefully those ones will have 2 year printing gaps (like the first two did) and not 7 year gaps.

The series is really amazing... and don't be turned off by the main character's name (and it's truly stupid... her name is Candy Quackenbush)... keep reading. It gets to be elaborate, amazing and very dark, ala Clive Barker's usual style. PLUS the books are peppered with amazing paintings by Barker himself, representing the characters and events that take place in the book.

Check them out, they're worth the read, and worth the wait.

As aggravating as that wait may be.

Top Ten Tuesday

2011-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

This week I have decided to participate in

Click the Picture to join in

and the topic for this week is:

Top Ten Bookish Resolutions

Review more manga: I read manga ALL the time... and do I usually review it? No. Why not? Because I read so much of it, and so fast... that often I forget about it because I'm already trying to work on my next book review... so I am going to try to be better about sharing the manga I do read with the rest of you.
Check out more Library books: My boyfriend WORKS at a library for goodness sake... all I have to do is ask him to pick me something up. I *have* been asking him to check me out Terry Pratchett audio books (how many times have I listened to the Wee Free Men now?!) but I need to utilize this option more.
Work hard to keep to my "daily theme": This is something new that I've just implemented this year, in an effort to try to keep my blog posts on track. Often I feel like I'm just flailing about, trying to remember to do this or that. Well... now I have a schedule. :)
Buy Bookshelves: Oh yeah, it's time. I have too many books, not enough bookshelves.
Buy a Kindle: I have all these awesome downloads waiting for me at NetGalley... but I can't... CAN'T (thanks to migraines) read pdfs on my computer... and I'm certainly not going to print them all out! So... it's time to bite the bullet and buy a Kindle.
Work on my review style: Right now I'm ok with my review style, but I'm not loving it. I've set it up in an 'answer the question' sort of style, mostly so people reading my reviews can just skip to the parts they're interested in. I HATE when I'm reading a review and can't ever actually find the person's opinion on the book... I'm going for ease for the reader here. At the same time though, I want a more informed review. I've read some really wonderfully intelligent reviews and I feel mine are still just sort of namby-pamby and stupid sounding. I need to work harder.
Really *think* about why do I or don't like a book: A lot of times, when I finish a book, I just have this gut feeling about my overall attitude towards it. "It was boring" "The characters were lame" "I really loved this" "It was action packed"... but responses like that really aren't any better than reviews that say "OMGZ I LUV THIS!"... and that bothers me. I've read reviews by bloggers who have HATED books I love... and after reading their reviews, I sat there thinking, "Oh, yeah, I absolutely see where they're coming from..." and can agree with them... while still loving the book. So I'd really like to spend more time focusing on the whys, and what informs those whys, and where they come from... and how I can write my reviews so as to get the right person to the right book... and not just direct everyone to a book that I love because I love it for reasons I can't even explain to myself.
Work on the style of my book blog: I think it could be a little cooler. I've seen quite a lot of blogs with some pretty neat features. I don't want it to be confusing though. I've also stumbled across A LOT of really confusing to navigate book blogs, and to be honest, when I can't find something after about 30 seconds, I give up.
Research and participation: The book blogging world requires quite a lot of research and participation. I need to sit down and schedule time to work on this book blogging stuff... not just throw it in when I can fit it.
Read Faster: I average about a book a week... but, I want to read more. I've set my goal for this year at 55 books. I want to surpass that. At the same time though, I don't want to miss out on aspects of the story because I was reading too fast. GAH.

Now on to "Currently Reading Tuesday"

Right now I'm reading Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. It's a steampunk novel, and I've never read one of those before, and so far, I'm loving it. There are interesting little mechanical gadgets everywhere, and I can just imagine the outfits, with the worn leather and faded colors.

The story itself is pretty interesting. It's set back in Civil War period Seattle, and the city has been destroyed, divided, and in some parts, overrun with zombies.

Last night I just finished up The Walking Dead: Compendium 1... and I have to say, Compendium 1 went out with a bang. A terrifying, terrifying bang. This one is a good read, but not for the weak stomached. There is blood, gore, violence of all kinds, sex, and murder. Not to mention sadistic acts, insanity and overall wickedness of the human spirit.

I also am reading Bakuman!... which is the next Manga by the creators of Deathnote. So far, it's pretty entertaining, although I am suspicious of it taking a darker turn. I'm not sure it will... but considering the source of its creation (Deathnote was pretty dark) and the fact that there are already obviously insane characters in it... I'm a bit worried that I'm going to see these main boys spiral into insanity... then again... a friend of mine read the same series in Shonen Jump and said to me, "Is it wrong I just thought it was an uplifting story of two boys trying really hard?" and I told her, "No, no it is not. I hope that's what it is" :)

REVIEW: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-01-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

Across the Universe

by Beth Revis

Story Title: 2/5 (I give it such a low rating because this title has been way over-used... and when trying to describe this book to people who don't know anything about YA novels, I got a lot of... "ah... The Beatles...?" Honestly, if I were titling the book, I might have called it Godspeed)
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Supposedly accidentally awoken 50 years too soon, Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next. Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets.

Character Likability:
Amy: One of two alternating voices that told this story for us, the beginning of the book, where Amy is frozen and realizing that she'll be 'awake' the whole time, slipping in and out of nightmares and dreams... was the most terrifying part of her story for me. She was a nice enough, likable character... but once she woke up, she ceased to increase my interest in her. I still liked her... she was still an interesting voice... but I kind of wish her panic had been played up a bit more, especially in the sense of the claustrophobia of the place... and the 'recycled' stale feeling of everything.
Elder: The other main voice of the story, Elder's half, for me, was much more intresting than Amy's. He had lived there his entire life, so everything he was finding out was shattering his existing world, ripping apart what he felt was safe... not only that, but he was filled with a lust and longing for Amy that was far more powerful than anything she seemed to have felt for him. Overall, Elder just felt more real.
Eldest: The current leader of Godspeed... he was a bit terrifying in how he retold Earth's history to Elder, and a bit terrifying in how he expected to be obeyed... he also was keeping secrets, acting devious and trying to control everything.
The Doctor: I'm not really sure how I felt about this character, he was a bit wishy-washy. He was neck deep in the machinations of Eldest... and yet at the same time, he kept doing things to defy Eldest and ruin their setup... even though he seemingly agreed with them. He was a bizarre character, and for me, not too likable, despite his help.
Harley: Possibly my favorite character in this book. He is Elder's best friend, and a "mental patient" living in the hospital. What he truly is, though, is an artist and a kind soul. He helps Amy adapt and is possibly the most compassionate voice in this entire story.
Victria: Another "mental patient", she's a story teller, a bit bitter about life, and an avid reader.
Orion: A record keeper... the only one we ever meet, in fact, despite the fact that it seems like there should be more of them. Orion is mysteriously helpful in pointing out things for Elder to question
Luthe: Another "mental patient" and possibly the only one who really deserves to be locked up in a psych ward, Luthe is a predator... he gives off a creepy vibe the entire story.

Quality of Writing:
I read this book really quickly. The alternating view points from chapter to chapter help both to speed up reading and shorten chapters... I really love this style of storytelling.

Ending:
Sad, terrifying, believable enough... but left me questioning how it would all play out. The most unbelievable part was the "mystery" aspect of the story.

Plot:
Amy is frozen for a 300 year trip... and the book starts out with a bang when Amy overhears, as she's being frozen, that the trip has been delayed a year, so she'll be frozen for 301... the book begins with Amy trying to cry out to get her life back... then realizing she would have a certain level of consciousness for the entire 301 years.
Skip ahead in time and we begin to see things from Elder's point of view. He's a defiant youth who is destined to be the next leader of Godspeed, the ship that carries Amy and her family and the other frozen passengers to their new planet.
As he's finding out new things about his life on the ship, Amy is awoken and starts to confuse him even more with stories of Earth that he'd never heard before. On top of that, she is telling him things like "The mental patients aren't the crazy ones..." despite the fact that Elder has always been told he is, and had actually spent time living in the Hospital Ward.
She also points out how things like "The Season" are absolutely not normal... and begins Elder questioning whether or not the way the people around him act is natural or not.
At the same time, Orion, a record keeper, is pointing out things like hidden ship levels to Elder... and making him realize that Eldest is truly holding back the truth.

This story really has quite a lot of levels to it. It's complexity was, frankly, shocking and very warmly received. When I first heard about this book, I saw it described as "Avatar meets Titanic" and was immediately turned off to the idea of reading it. I was afraid this was going to be another sappy, stupid romance masquerading under the title Science Fiction. A Twilight of the future, if you will.
It was not that at all. Really, the only one I really felt romance from was Elder. He was obviously infatuated... but as far as relationship development went, I think Amy and Harley had more potential.

The "mystery" part of this story wasn't really very mysterious... and it wasn't entirely believable either. Especially since it was such a small environment, and certain characters (like Eldest) were such controlling busy-bodies.

That being said, this book was TRULY Science Fiction... not some namby-pamby romanced down version of it. I was actually shocked... no... blown-away by the fact that it really was a Science Fiction novel and not something vaguely resembling one. This is what made it amazing... because you can tell Revis really worked on, and considered the world she was putting these characters into. It made the book an enjoyable, fast read, and insured I'd be willing to pick up other books by Revis in the future. Not only that, but I was able to pass it on to my SciFi loving friends without feeling any shame, lol!

Believability of World:
The ship environment was both interesting and believable. The Feeders were terrifying... and the belief systems that people operated under were equally so. The only thing that fell apart for me in this world, believability-wise, was the 'mystery'. Otherwise it held together really well.

Overall Grade: A-

It's Monday!

2011-01-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

This week I'm reading:

and

I hope to have the Graphic Novels done by the end of the week (ok, I'm CONSUMING Yotsuba... so it will be done as soon as I buy the next one!)

As for In My Mailbox Monday

This Week I have gotten...

and...

and I hope to be reading them shortly :)

REVIEW: Yotsuba Volume 1

2011-01-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

Yotsuba & !

by Kiyohiko Azuma

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Illustration: 4/5

Synopsis:
Yotsuba is moving to a new house... this means new neighbors, new experiences, new everything!

She lives alone with her father, who is often called Koi for short. She quickly meets the adorable girls who live next door and her adventures truly being.

Character Likability:

Yotsuba: This kid is adorable. She's really quite weird, totally clueless, and yet, cute as heck. I found myself laughing several times while reading this first volume, because she IS so childlike and adorable. The author has really captured the wonder and awe that children experience when discovering new things... and the gullibility and ability of adults to amuse themselves by misleading children. At the same time, I would blame the neighbors if they found Yotsuba totally annoying... but they seem to be good natured... although inexplicably tolerant of how negligent Yotsuba's father is... perhaps this is something more to do with Japanese culture?

Yotsuba's Father: He seems a bit lazy, and doesn't really have any idea how to care for a small child... but everything seems to work out fine in the end... because this doesn't seem like the kind of story where bad things exist in the world to hurt Yotsuba.

Jumbo (Takashi Takeda): A friend of the family, Jumbo keeps showing up to help them move in, or to do other random things. He's a wee bit girl obsessed though, and falls for Ayase's older sister, Asagi.

Ayase: Yotsuba's neighbor and the middle daughter. She is in High School, incredibly polite and helpful, and often left to take care of Yotsuba in some way or another.

Asagi: Ayase's older sister, in College and very pretty. She's a bit more twisted and prone to teasing Yotsuba without Yotsuba understanding that she's being teased. However, you can tell she has a true affection for the girl and is overall very kind to Yotsuba.

Ena: Ayase's youngest sister, she often plays with Yotsuba and is very kind and tolerant as well.

Quality of Writing:
The writing really works wonders on making Yotsuba both really likable and really childlike. These are quick, entertaining reads... and I want more of them!

Ending:
This is the first in a series of I am not sure how many... and due to the nature of the way these are written, there isn't really an 'end' or a 'cliffhanger' or anything. Each chapter is Yotsuba discovering a new thing... such as, the first is Yotsuba & Moving!, the next is Yotsuba & Greetings! This continues through the entire book, each chapter not directly connected to the chapter before it. I think this helps to make it more childlike and cute... since Yotsuba has a fairly short attention span herself... it would be hard to follow a continuous story of her... since she probably doesn't actually do to much during a day if she's not discovering something exciting and new.

Plot:
It's a simple plot revolving around each chapter having us follow Yotsuba discovering something new. Her story is progressed just in so far as she is slowly learning about the world around her... where the characters around her have some story progression, but it is not as important as Yotsuba having fun.

Truthfully, I picked this series up because I saw so many people on the internet raving about it, and wanted to know what the deal was. What I didn't realize, until after I'd finished this first volume, was that it is by the creator of Azumanga Daioh... which I saw as an anime and, at first, hated. Nothing happened, it was just a bunch of girls running around being dumb... but as I watched the series more, their antics grew on me, until it was possibly my favorite anime of the season (when I went to our college anime club). These characters have an endearing, honest quality, and are genuinely funny.

However, if you're looking for an intensely deep plot with layers and layers of meaning... this isn't for you. It truly is VERY light-hearted.

Illustration Quality:
I LOVE the illustrations in this book. The characters are adorable, and the artist really has expressions down well... Niko goes through such a constantly changing array of facial expressions that it is endlessly entertaining. Proportions are well done, line quality is lovely, and detail is amazing.

Believability of World:
Very believable, and truly enjoyable in a fun, simple kind of way.

Overall Grade: A

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday

2011-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

This week's Follow Friday question is:

What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone's book blog?

Across the Universe, A Slice of Cherry, The Hunger Games series, The Familiars

The Blogger Hop is running a little late this morning, but as soon as she updates, so will I :)

Author Spotlight: Tamora Pierce

2011-01-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

I have decided, to help me keep on track with what I want to talk about, to "theme" my days... Thursday will now be dedicated to directing readers towards authors that I think should have their praises sung!

First up?

Tamora Pierce

Born in Pennsylvania in 1954, Tamora was initially supposed to be named Tamara, but due to a nurses spelling error, she became Tamora (pronounced like camera) and much prefers it.

That's barely the tip of the iceburg, though, and there is a very full bio written by Tamora Pierce here:

http://www.tamora-pierce.com/bio.html

which notes some of her early reading influences, as well as pop culture influences... and how she found her way to the science fiction/ fantasy genre.

If you go here: http://www.tamora-pierce.com/schedule.html you can find her 2011 touring schedule. I am *really* hoping at some point this year to find her on tour and get her to sign my Beka Cooper series... Beka being one of my favorite heroines ever. Strong, brave and worth the admiration and adoration of every little girl.

Her entire website can be found here:

http://www.tamora-pierce.com/index.html

and is just overflowing with both information on Tamora, as well as information on other books and things she loves. You can also find her on Goodreads here:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596.Tamora_Pierce

What can you expect from a Tamora Pierce book?

A strong, likable female character that you WANT your daughter to emulate.

If I had a daughter, and I hope that someday I do, I will read her these books... and hope that when she can, she will reread them again on her own.

REVIEW: Flotsam & Jetsam by Carrie Ryan

2011-01-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Flotsam & Jetsam

by Carrie Ryan

From the Anthology:

You can read the story for free HERE

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Their Cruise Ship overrun, Jeremy and the main character (who I believe remains unnamed throughout the story) are adrift on a life raft, waiting for rescue.

Character Likability:
Narrator: A seemingly typical teenage boy, he spends his time being annoyed by his companion, thinking about sex and wondering what's going on in the rest of the world. As the story progresses, he breaks down, becoming more childlike.
Jeremy: The main character's only companion, he wants to go back to the boat, spends the nights tossing and screaming from terrible nightmares, does an excellent job of getting on the Narrator's nerves and he's hiding a terrible secret.

Quality of Writing:
Easy, quick flow. I find Carrie Ryan's works very quick reads, the action is constant, even when nothing is going on... she keeps it mentally engaging.

Ending:
Just a wee bit terrifying.

Plot:
This is a short story about two boys on a life raft... and admittedly, while their story is engaging, I would *REALLY* like to read what happened before the infection spread... and I would have liked to have skipped around between what was happening on several of the other life rafts as well.

That is NOT saying that this story was dull... but I just wanted to see more.

This is pretty much following one boy's decent into madness...and given the circumstances, you can hardly blame him. The ending is both tragic and terrifying...

Believability of World:
Carrie Ryan's world of zombies has always been believable, that's what makes it so frightening.

Overall Grade: B

Midwinter's Eve WINNER and a new giveaway coming soon!

2010-12-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to:

Lexie

for winning their choice of book from the Book Depository!

Now for my next giveaway!

It's another hop... and if you want to join in, there is still time... just go here:

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/p/giveaway-hop-page.html

And enter your information!

REVIEW: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-12-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

NOTE! If you have not read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire, this will reveal spoilers for the first books!

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
With her home destroyed and Peeta missing, Katniss wakes up to find herself a resident of the fabled District 13. Unfortunately, the district isn't all its cracked up to be, and Katniss finds herself feeling more trapped than ever. Not to mention that those who escaped with her seem to be slowly losing their minds while she's being forced into the role of Mockingjay.

Character Likability:
Katniss: Have I mentioned my love for the character, Katniss? I love this girl. She's strong, she marches to her own drum, she learns from her mistakes, she fights for what she believes in, she gets broken, as any real person would in her situation... but she allows herself to be mended. In this book, Katniss grows and learns yet again. She's beginning to see the bigger plan, she's beginning to understand that some things never end, no matter how hard you fight... she's pushed to, and past, the point of breaking, and yet, she persists in trying to reach her goal. She is an amazing character... and what makes her so amazing is that she does all of these amazing things... and remains believable. She is filled with just as much questioning and doubt as any of us.
Peeta: Absent for a good portion of the book... and then returned... Peeta breaks my heart in this book... and then in pure Peeta fashion, he mends it again.
Haymitch: During this book, you're left wondering what, exactly, Haymitch's motives are.
Cinna: Despite not physically being in the book, Cinna is still a very motivating character. His Mockingjay outfit is a major reason Katniss takes up the mantle.
Prim and her Mother: Used, once again, mainly as motivators for Katniss... Prim is given slightly more voice, and acts more as a support for her sister, while the mother still remains mainly out of the picture.
President Snow: Pulling out all the stops in his wicked handbook, President Snow outdoes himself in the evil department.
Finnick: Watching Finnick with Annie is almost heartbreaking, and hearing his story IS heartbreaking. I was glad I got to hear what he had to say. It really drove home the need for this system to be destroyed.
Briggs: The quiet military man from District 13... he turns out to be possibly one of the truest friends Katniss ever has.
President Coin: The president of District 13, she's cold, calculating and not to be trusted.

Quality of Writing:
Easy, quick flow. Engaging and un-put-downable. (oh yeah, I'm making up words now)

Ending:
Bittersweet, believable.

Plot:
District 12 has been destroyed, most of the people Katniss knew, dead. She, along with a few others, including her family and Gale, have been whisked off to District 13 to live underground. At this point, Katniss is starting to lose it. People she loved dearly are dead, most notably, Cinna, her designer from the Hunger Games. Peeta is in the hands of the Capitol and all Katniss can do is imagine the worst. Then, the video interviews with Peeta begin, and he's telling people to stop the rebellion... and Katniss knows she still has to save him... now from District 13 as well, who sees him as a traitor... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
This plot really delves into the political motivations and the extent to which those in power will try to retain it. It's harsh, cruel and believable... which makes it all the more terrifying. The plot of this book is deep, twisted and worthy of more than just a casual read. The ideas being presented here really beg for, and deserve some deep thought on the part of the reader.

Believability of World:
The most believable yet. It really points out that it's often hard to tell the difference between good and evil.

Overall Grade: A+

A little off topic... but...

2010-12-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a Toy Review blog here:

(click the picture to go to the blog)

So if you're interested, go check it out.

Also, if you notice something I'm missing, please let me know, or if you have something to add... please do!

I have one review up already.

GIVEAWAY MidWinter's Eve Blog Hop!

2010-12-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay! I set it to go at a certain time... and evidently did it wrong!

I will be giving away one book from The Book Depository! (up to a $15 limit)

TO ENTER:

Just become a follower and leave a comment with an email for me to contact you!

REVIEW: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2010-12-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

NOTE! If you have not read The Hunger Games, this will reveal spoilers for the first book!

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Katniss and Peeta, against all odds, have survived The Hunger Games, thanks to a bit of cleverness on Katniss' part. Unfortunately, the Capitol viewed her actions as an outright act of defiance, sparking political and social unrest among the districts. Then, to top it all off, it's time for the Quarter Quell, a special Hunger Game held every 25 years... and this years is set to be a doozy.

Character Likability:
Katniss: Still amazingly dense when it comes to the boys in her life, Katniss has bigger things to worry about. I appreciate that the love stories that, in so many YA novels take over, are back-burner material in these books thanks to the fact that Katniss is able to recognize that some things are just bigger than her. This time around she's faced with more tough choices, more having to deal with pretending to love Peeta while he truly loves her, and more worrying about the future. She's finding out that there are repercussions to defying the powers that be.
Peeta: Still in love. Still hopelessly in love... and yet, when he disagrees with Katniss, he will make his voice heard. Always the voice of compassion, logic and reason... Peeta remains both true to himself and true to those he loves the most.
Haymitch: Less active in this novel during certain points, but more potent as a character... and as a father-type figure for Katniss.
Cinna: Still working as Katniss' stylist, he creates more beautiful works for her to parade around in... unfortunately, this time he might have gone one step too far.
Prim and her Mother: Living in the Victor's Village with Katniss, these two remain to be her main motivators. To protect her family is the most important thing to Katniss... and her family, in return, offers her the support she needs, when they can.
President Snow: Made even more villianous this time around... he exposes himself as a truly frightening human being and does things that are beyond unforgivable... as if the Games weren't enough.
Finnick: A District 4 Tribute winner... sexy, smooth, absolutely hilarious. He quickly became possibly my favorite character in the books along with Haymitch, Cinna and Katniss.

Quality of Writing:
I couldn't put it down... and part of that has to do with the ease with which the words flowed.

Ending:
Horrible, terrible, awful cliffhanger ending that had me running, scrambling, racing to find the last book. You CANNOT put this book down and not NEED to pick up the next one. If you can, well... my brain just doesn't compute that.

Plot:
This book takes the tragedies of the first game, and Katniss and Peeta's act of defiance at the end of it, and starts to expand on the political unrest they've caused.
As they make their Victory tour, they are greeted with blatant, public signs of rebellion by the people, especially in District 11, where little Rue was from.
Katniss is haunted mostly by Rue, but also by the gruesome, slow death of Caro... as well as the others. She can barely sleep and feels like the puppet the Capitol has made her into.
Not only that, but she has been threatened by President Snow. She must make him believe that she and Peeta are in love, otherwise, those dear to her will pay.

Believability of World:
Not only believable, but building on the world introduced in the first book. This one really starts to introduce the political motivations behind things, and makes them all the more real. It also really brings home the fact that Katniss has realized that the situation is out of her control, and that the question of who to trust is an almost impossible one to answer.

Overall Grade: A

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a movie review

2010-12-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

Click the picture to join in

"What do you consider the
most important in a story:

the plot or the characters?"

Hmm, an interesting question... and I'm going to have to go with plot.

I have read stories where I HATE the main character, but because the plot was so interesting to me I kept reading (the first few books in the Anita Blake series) but I have never continued with a story whose plot I just couldn't get into.

Click the picture to join in!

What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

In college I studied both Photography and Graphic Design. I got my BFA, focusing in photography, and am now a full time graphic designer/photographer for a major corporation. :)

Ok, I haven't done a movie review in quite a while!

Last night... at midnight... I went to see Tron Legacy (why can I only find foreign movie posters for this movie?!)... and honestly, I was shocked by how many people were there. The theater was pretty much packed.

Now, I don't really have a great system for reviewing movies... so for now I'll just say this.

If you enjoyed the first Tron, this one is that, rehashed, enhanced and with way better graphics (watch for somewhat creepy CG versions of Jeff Bridges... all I could think of when I saw them was Advent Children... I'll be waiting for Mr. Bridges to make his debut alongside Cloud).
The original is still the original... but at no point during this new Tron was I at all bored or tired (and seeing as how I'd only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before, that's saying something).

If you haven't seen the first Tron, though, it might not all make sense, this movie is a true sequel and builds heavily on the plot of the first movie. I would recommend getting your hands on the original and watching... for plot's sake.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-12-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Every year at the reaping, two children from each district, one boy, one girl, are chosen to play in The Hunger Games. Forced to battle to the death, only one victor can remain... which is a real problem for Katniss since she owes her fellow District 12 pick, Peeta, an impossible debt.

Character Likability:
Katniss: First off, love her name! Ok, much like Clary in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, Katniss is another girl surrounded by hot guys who seem to love her... and yet, she just doesn't have time for them. I LOVE THIS. Often repulsed at the idea of even having children (because then they'd be forced to play in The Hunger Games too), Katniss often rebukes any claim of love as something she doesn't have time for, and doesn't understand. She's not a cold character though, she's just not a Mary Sue. She, of course, has worthwhile talents, but when it comes to jumping on board the "What's going on" train, Katniss is often the last to figure it out. She figures out her own things in her own time, but she's usually last in figuring out the more complicated stuff... which, for a girl who's only ever had to worry about keeping herself and her family alive, makes perfect sense.
Peeta: A lovely, wonderful baker's son, Peeta is stuck in the middle of his own love story... unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the leading lady isn't falling for it. Doesn't matter though, Peeta knows what he wants and will do anything to protect that.
Haymitch:A former District 12 Hunger Games winner, Haymitch is a perpetual drunk... and Katniss and Peeta's mentor. As soon as he realizes he has a pair of kids who might make it, he puts in a smooth, calculating effort to keep them alive, and even though he's repulsive and spends a good portion of the novel in a puddle of
Cinna: Katniss and Peeta's stylist for the game, he's cool, collected and not nearly as flamboyant as most of the Capitol. He's a major source of support for Katniss, and one of my favorite characters.
Prim and her Mother: Prim is Katniss' little sister and the reason Katniss ended up in the games... and the reason she fights so hard. Katniss' mother was worthless after her husband's death, but brought back by Katniss' strength.
President Snow: Supreme overlord! He's the big baddy in the Capitol, and the one calling all the shots when it comes to quelling rebel uprisings and dictating how things should be run in the districts.
Rue: A small, bird-like child from District 11 that reminds Katniss of Prim.

Quality of Writing:
I found these books easy to read and quick as well. I've heard people complain that there were misplaced commas, but honestly, I remember at one point specifically noting how well placed the commas were.

Ending:
Cliffhanger of doooooom. If you liked the first book, you'll be so thankful you're reading the series now that it's all out... because honestly, if I had to wait... I might go insane.

Plot:
Katniss is living in an evil society where every year 24 children are forced to play The Hunger Games until only one is left living.
Truthfully, the plot of the first book seems to have taken heavy notes from a little Japanese thriller called Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. They are the same exact premise... as punishment for bad behavior, and to keep the peasants in-line, the ruling government forces kids to play in a game where they must battle to the death... leaving one victor who then becomes a national hero... and in both books, the main character, of course, is looking desperately for a way out of it, and a way to save someone they love at the same time. The plots really are eerily similar... and while I prefer Koushun Takami's method of announcing the dead in chapter titles, I prefer Collins' extension of this story, where there is the promise of further battle against the powers that be.

Now, I've read quite a few reviews where people have found this plot unbelievable... but, you know what, this doesn't bother me. It's not a book about how the people allowed such a game to begin, it's a book where the game already exists. I found everything that happened within the context of the game to be entirely believable.

And just so no one is confused, this IS a book about children killing children... in the most basic of terms. Beyond that, it's a very interesting, deep, questioning series that makes you really sit back and wonder about the level of betrayal and manipulation and calculation that must be going on around us all the time. It's a book that makes you question and then keeps you questioning.

Believability of World:
I find this world believable. There have been many terrible things that have happened through history... instances where people where sheparded to death, knew it, and did nothing. It's not unbelievable that Katniss' world could exist.

Overall Grade: A

Guest Review: Daughter of Darkness by V.C. Andrews

2010-12-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

Daughter of Darkness
by V.C. Andrews

This will not be my typical review, because I passed this book along to a friend of mine who was an avid V.C. Andrews fan... back when V.C. Andrews was still writing her own books.

She has read everything written by Andrews, as well as through the Logan series, which supposedly, until then the books were still plotted out by notes from Andrews found after she died.

After the Logan series, my friend lost interest, and she only found today that after the Logan series, that's when the ghost writer, Andrew Neiderman, took over completely. Coincidence? I think not.

From the very beginning, she found herself bored with the storyline of Daughter of Darkness. About 1/3 of the way into the book, nothing of any great significance had occurred and she was questioning whether it was even worth it to continue on.

She described the writing style as a long, drawn out monologue of inner-angst from the main character... where as the old V.C. Andrews books (you know, the ones actually written by Andrews), while still being from the main girl's perspective, would focus more on other characters as well, and not have so much self centered internalizing.

When she got to the end of the book, she literally flung it back at me and exclaimed, "What kind of ending was that?! What a letdown!" Needless to say, I don't think she liked it much. I could go into detail on what she said, but that would be spoilerific.

She did wonder at the lack of thinking on the other characters parts... feeling they were unintelligent and had no thoughts of their own. That was one thing she appreciated about the main character, who at least seemed to be smarter than the rest of them.

However, as an avid Andrews fan, she neither liked this book, nor felt it lived up to the quality of the books Andrews actually wrote or plotted herself.

Do you enjoy Edward Gorey?

2010-12-14T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, if you do, check out the work of Don Kenn... these are little doodles he does on post-it notes... and for me... well, I can't help but think of Edward Gorey.
You can check out his work HERE!

REVIEW: Book One of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2010-12-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Clary Fray considers herself a normal girl... that is, until she starts seeing some really strange things. People who aren't there, boys with claws for fingers, evil monsters in her own home. Suddenly confronted with a world she'd never known was there... and a boy she never would have imagined could exist... Clary finds herself tripping blindly through situations totally alien to her.

Character Likability:
Clary: I enjoyed Clary... she's a female character who, despite being attracted to Jace, isn't consumed by it, and this is so refreshing it's unbelievable. She has a mission... to save her Mother, and everything else is just kind of bonus for the reader, but not the main focus. Clary is on a set path to do what she feels she needs to do, and she absolutely gains my respect for that. There is no sniveling over dreamy boys... oh sure, there are dreamy boys, but Clary is smart enough to know what matters in life, and to chase after that first.
Honestly, Clary is what Bella from Twilight SHOULD have been... a strong, independent girl who thinks for herself, and thinks about what is important first, and not just how HAWT the guy she's with now is.
Jace: Snarky, good at what he does, and placed in the story to be the obvious love interest, he remains an interesting character. His past is tragic, his upbringing questionable, and his views on what good parenting is are horribly skewed... but, thanks to said tragedy, he was saved from a totally barbaric upbringing and manages to be a somewhat caring, thoughtful guy.
Simon: Clary's "Mundie" friend from school, Simon is obviously in love with her, and has been for years. Honestly, if Clary and Simon don't end up together, I might actually be mad. Thankfully though, while Simon is wrapped up in his own little love triangle angst, Clary just doesn't have time for it... so the love story isn't sickening and overwhelming, but is actually useful to the story... and despite Simon being part of the "love triangle"... he's a useful, interesting, developed character who I want to see more of.
Alec: A newer twist on the love triangle thing, Alec is in love with Jace, but has never told him. Clary realizes this pretty much from the start. Alec is Jace's partner in hunting demons. I appreciate that Alec is not in the running as a potential mate for Clary, because frankly, I find him more interesting than Jace early on and would have chosen him.

Also, just a note... I've noticed a real upswing in homosexual male characters in YA literature... but not an upswing of homosexual female characters. I find that odd.

(In fact, the only one I can think of recently was in the Anthology Zombies vs. Unicorns)

Now, I'm not talking about books specifically about the trials of being homosexual, I'm talking about extra characters. It seems I've run across quite a few of the gay male friends, but rarely any lesbian ones. It feels like there is a subtle undercurrent saying that male homosexuality is permissible since they can make such good buddies... but female homosexuality is still taboo.
Isabelle: Possibly the least fleshed out main-ish character in this book. I hope she gets more depth later on.
Luke: The obvious "Not what he seems" father-figure... Luke is a character that I was a little disappointed in, just in so far as he wasn't really mysterious. You could see what was happening, and it didn't shock you.
Valentine: A FANTASTIC villian. This man is wicked and evil. He's not cut back or toned down for the kiddies... he's all out there, waving his evil flag around like he's claiming a new world... and he kind of is. He's done terrible things, has a well thought out, elaborate evil plan, and is just wickedly cruel to everyone, even those he should love. I'm very interested to see *why* he became so evil.

Quality of Writing:
This was a fairly fast read for me, so the style wasn't choppy or distracting. There wasn't anything particularly beautiful or poetic about it, it was straight to the point, telling the story as it needed to be told.

Ending:
Since this is part of a trilogy, it wasn't concluded as far as the BIG story goes... but the ending of this one was satisfying and set you up to want to read more. There was a twist that, while I saw it coming, I was incredibly glad it existed... and there is still a LOT for the main characters to accomplish.

Plot:
Girl realizes the world isn't what she thinks it is.
Girl gets sucked into new world.
Girl realizes only she can get herself out of this mess.
Girl kicks some arse while still fumbling around and not knowing what she's doing (I really appreciated this, actually).
Girl realizes this is just the tip of the iceburg.

Ok, honestly there's so much more going on than just that. This is a fun, rich story full of layers and magic and we get to discover this new world right along with Clary, and I think knowing what she knows is a wonderful way to do that. I enjoy it, as a reader, when things aren't revealed to me too quickly.

Believability of World:
It's a pretty well thought out alternate version of our world.

Overall Grade: A-

Fear not!

2010-12-09T12:03:00.001-08:00

I am still around... I have chosen a winner for my giveaway... but... I'm in the middle of a move and can't find anything!!!!!

I think I'm losing my mind. XD

Book review soon though :)

REVIEW: The Poison Diaries

2010-11-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Poison Diaries

by The Duchess of Northumberland

Illustrations by Colin Stimpson

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 3/5

Synopsis:
Weed is an orphan, taken in by the local Apothocary and taught the ways of medicine. One day, a world of poison plants is revealed to him... but... what's this? The plants can talk... and boy-oh-boy do they have things to say.

Character Likability:
Weed: Weed is... a bit... er, touched in the head. He's not quite right, and as the book progresses, you see as much. He's an interesting, dark character.
The Plants: Wicked, evil and with one track minds... and yet, not wicked and evil because all they are truly doing is utilizing their own defense mechanisms. Truly they are hellbent against humans though... and truly revel in the demise of them.
The Apothocary: Awful man. He's meant to be, though, so he's a good character.
Marigold: An Innocent, and pretty vague... she shows up in passing and is what roots Weed to a life of non-evil.

Quality of Writing:
Very interesting story... at times, I felt the story was a little jumpy... the main character waffling between good and bad without any really good reason... but overall it was cohesive and fast flowing.

Ending:
A very dark, disturbing ending. I enjoy dark and disturbing, so I liked it, but I'm not sure this ending, or this book would be something everyone can handle. If you are disturbed by gore, horrible deaths, and them being both described and illustrated... I would recommend you pass on this book all together.

Plot:
Essentially, this is the story of a young boy slowly going mad. It's dark, disturbing, filled with awful deaths, horrible murders and the worst side of humanity. *I* found it fascinating... I especially found it fascinating that I found this book in the Children's section. It has detailed diagrams of VERY poisonous plants... diagrams that proceed to point out which parts are the poisonous ones, and how to use them to kill people. It also has vivid descriptions of how the poisons act on the body, and in what horrible ways they will make you die. Interestingly, it also tells you how they are used medicinally.

In this story, Weed (the boy) talks to the plants, and the book itself is broken down into short stories based on which plant he's talking to. Each plant is hilarious, and has it's own distinct personality... and tells Weed some terrible story of how it helped kill someone. Often it is accompanied by very graphic illustrations (I bought the book because I opened up to this page randomly:

and wondering just what kind of kids book this was!!) Turns out, its a book I'm not sure I'd ever give to an actual child... and a book that might possibly be rather dangerous in the hands of most adults. I personally think this book is dark, twisted, and fantastic... but it most certainly isn't for those with weak stomachs or low tolerance for *really* horrible things happening.

Believability of World:
It seems to be set in 'olden days' ... and I'm not sure how hard it is today to track some of these poisons.

Illustrations:
This book is beautiful. Hands down one of the prettiest books I've seen in a while, despite its content. The illustrator is a Disney artist who has worked on things like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Emperor's New Groove and Tinkerbell. The illustrations are top-notch and seriously beautiful, even when they're absolutely disturbing.

Overall Grade: A (SERIOUSLY, if you don't like graphic violence, don't read this book. It depicts, as you can see, vomiting and horrible death, and describes them vividly in the text)

Gratitude Giveaway... November 17th through November 28th

2010-11-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Join me for November's Gratitude Giveaway!

There are over 175 blogs participating!

Here is what I'm giving away!

A hardcover copy of...

And here are the RULES:

1. You MUST be a follower

2. You MUST Fill out this FORM

Please take time to stop by the other wonderful giveaways!

Eeep!

2010-11-16T06:11:00.000-08:00

This little happy gnome is here to let you know that I'm still around... still reading, albeit slower than usual... due to moving!

In about a week... expect things to resume as per usual :) OH! But there will be a giveaway starting on November 17th (That's tomorrow!)

REVIEW: The Clarence Principle by Fehed Said, art by Shari Chankhamma

2010-11-11T04:42:00.000-08:00

The Clarence Principle

by Fehed Said, art by Shari Chankhamma

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5

Synopsis:
Clarence is a suicide, and finds himself in a strange, Wonderland-like afterlife where he's still seeking answers and looking for closure to the events that caused him to end his real life.

Character Likability:
Some of the characters in this story were downright cute in a very goofy, stupid sort of way. The main character was ok, but not my favorite... and most of the women in this story just annoyed me.

Quality of Writing:
It flowed easily, but because of the nature of the story, and the fact that the afterlife is supposed to appear strange and perhaps a bit disjointed, the story itself didn't always flow together easily... and you found yourself jumping from one scene to another, often rather abruptly.

Ending:
I'm not sure how I feel, or what I think of the ending. In the end, essentially, he ends up following someone else's heart... and I'm not sure how I feel about the treatment of the afterlife... I mean, the kid is surrounded by demons, I can only assume he's in some sort of version of Hell... and yet, it seems like he's passing through, not about to be a resident. The story ends up leaving almost all of its questions unanswered, except for the one, "Can the dead die?".

Plot:
The story asks questions like "Can the dead die?" and makes me think that the author spends a lot of time dwelling on being forgotten, and being able to forget. This is essentially the aftermath of a tragic love story that we really get to see no part of. Things obviously didn't go well for Clarence... and yet he gets a chance, in this demonic afterlife, to redeem himself to a degree. He helps those he comes across, and in the end, helps himself. There is a reoccurring theme of pink water flowing throughout this world, and I think at one point it's tied in to Clarence realizing what he'd done to himself... but seeing as how its a black and white comic... the pink water was perhaps not quite as prevalent as it could have been. I think it would have been something much better seen and not always spoken about.

Illustration Quality:
I actually really liked the dark, gritty, smudged illustrations in here. They reminded me of the old Nightmares and Fairytales comics... which I miss dearly... and admittedly, it was the art style that made me pick this one up. My only complaint would be the strange, ram horn style ears that the characters have.

Believability of World:
I struggled constantly trying to balance this afterlife with what I know of Dante's Inferno. The story hinted just enough at Dante's for me to be annoyed by the inconsistencies. That, and you don't really get a good feel for how the world works. Things seem to happen solely to benefit the character without really adhering to any over-arcing plan for the world itself.

Overall Grade: C

REVIEW: St. Lunatic High School, Volume 1

2010-11-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

St. Lunatic High School

by Majiko!

Story Title: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Synopsis:
Niko's brother, Atchan, gets a real job teaching a night class at a school called St. Lunatic (why doesn't that raise suspicion?!) They are promised a home with a bathroom and garden... only to find out that what was meant was the house (if you can call it that) is on school grounds, and they are allowed to use the restroom in the school.
Sadly, though, after fleeing their last abode without paying, this is the best these siblings have got. However, what Niko didn't realize... what her brother might have forgotten to mention, was that the night class at St. Lunatic was filled with monsters.

Character Likability:
The characters in this manga are goofy, quirky, cute and endearing. At times, I suspect if I were watching the anime version (if there even is one) they might be terribly annoying... but being written on paper, their over-reactions and disbelief are really quite endearing.

Quality of Writing:
There is nothing in the manga that seems strange or out of place, the translator did an excellent job.

Ending:
This is a 2 manga series that, in and of itself, is a bit episodic even within the short volume of one manga. The manga did end on a humorous note, dealing with the poor situation of Niko and Atchan... and how they can never quite catch a break. It was a closed enough ending that the series could have stopped there without anyone feeling too dissatisfied, but thankfully there is another volume... and I truly wish this quirky manga was more than just two volumes long.

Plot:
The main plot here is that Niko has to adapt to her new life at St. Lunatic. She makes the effort, despite being constantly razzed by her rather bizarre classmates, for the sake of her brother, who has never held a job longer than a week (thus their issue with having no money). Oh sure, she still thinks her fellow classmates are weird as heck, but she finds ways to relate and cope with their bad behavior.
There are other things going on here as well, such as a strained father/son relationship between one of Niko's classmates and his dad, the reoccuring issue of hunger, starvation, and this interesting, Boxeresque notion that if you just work harder then everything will be ok.

Illustration Quality:
I LOVE the illustrations in this book. The characters are adorable, and the artist really has expressions down well... Niko goes through such a constantly changing array of facial expressions that it is endlessly entertaining. Proportions are well done, line quality is lovely, and detail is amazing.

Believability of World:
Despite the fantastic nature of the creatures and things going on around Niko, her world is believable because it remains consistently against her and her brother, lol!

Overall Grade: B+

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-11-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Go on over to Breaking The Spine to add yourself to Waiting on Wednesday!

This week I am waiting on:

Slice of Cherry

by Dia Reeves

This book looks devious, delicious and all around interesting!

Blurb:
Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.
It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

REVIEW: Matched

2010-11-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Matched
by Ally Condie

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 3/5

Synopsis:
Cassia is happy and content with her life in the Society... and she's ready to be Matched to the man she will marry... and when her best friend Xander shows up as her match, she thinks everything has fallen into place... but really, that's just when everything starts to fall apart. Everyone who is Matched gets a media card with information about their match to take home... but when Cassia tries to read hers, another face appears, one that isn't Xander's... one of another boy she knows... and then, on top of that, Cassia's Grandfather leaves her with more questions than she's ever had before when he passes... and he leaves her with another gift too... a forbidden one. Now Cassia needs to figure out what she wants from life... does she want to let the Society dictate everything, or will she listen to her Grandfather and her heart?

Character Likability:
Cassia: She's a strong, willful, intelligent girl who knows what she wants. I enjoyed her character because following her was akin to watching someone wake up from a deep sleep... there were things around her that she'd turned a blind eye to without thinking about it... because that's what everyone did... but when her eyes are opened by her Grandfather... she realizes how strong she is, and how much there is to be done.
Xander: Cassia's best friend and official Match, Xander seems like he would be a very one-dimensional character, but he's not. The boy has secrets and strong feelings, he knows things and as the story progresses, you get more and more of a sense of that. I feel like as this story continues in the other two books, we will see Xander become quite complex.
Ky: A quiet, guarded boy... Ky offers the most telling, interesting bits about himself while still remaining silent, through drawings. He's obviously brilliant... but I still want to hear more of Ky... I felt like he was the love interest... but for the time being, not much else was expected of him. He was there to reveal to Cassia a world she didn't know existed... but as for him on his own, he hasn't existed much outside of supporting Cassia's discoveries. I'm very interested in seeing more of his story, and learning more about his motives.
Grandfather: Pretty much the catalyst for everything else that happens, he makes Cassia start to question.
Cassia's Parents: Interesting characters in themselves, it seems Cassia's entire family is prone to sticking out in one way or another... I can see her parents playing a bigger role in future books as well... and there is great potential in them for deeper, well constructed characters.

Quality of Writing:
I had two problems with the writing in this book. One was the repetition of the word "I"... they jumped out at you, assaulting you from almost every sentence. The repeated over-use of the word "I" actually began pulling me out of the story it appeared so often. My second problem was with sentence structure. I know that Cassia comes from a society where they were supposed to cut out the frillery and stick to what was needed... and with that concept the short sentences would have worked well, had that been what they actually did. They didn't though, instead you just ended up with all that frillery broken down into really short little sentences. It too pulled me out of the story, as I sat there wondering why it was necessary. Other than those two things, the story was well paced and the plot flowed easily, making this a quick read.

Ending:
Nothing really shocking or unexpected happened at the end of this book. It was still dramatic and made me want to read the next book, but it wasn't mind blowing. That's not at all a bad thing... especially since this is a trilogy and I suspect that the biggest punch will come in the last book in the series.

Plot:
While this book was fun and interesting to read, it was a plot any avid reader will have seen before. If you've read The Giver by Lois Lowry or 1984 by George Orwell or Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, then you've read Matched. It is the story of a world where decisions are made for the people, and the people are encouraged not to think about them. It is a world of mindless following and strict control.
Now, while the prose aren't quite as skillful as the books I compared it to, I think that another telling of this type of story, in this format, is a wonderful idea.
Putting such powerful concepts in the hands of today's youth, making them think about the world around them, and hopefully getting them interested in books like 1984... and why those books were written, I think is a really important thing, and Matched may be able to generate such a spark.
Now, I've heard this book also compared, a lot, to another recently released series, The Hunger Games... which I have not yet read... but now hearing that it is, in fact, a dystopian series much like Matched, I think it's time to pick The Hunger Games up... and then I can make a more informed comparison between those and Matched.

Believability of World:
It's not just a believable world, it's a world that, to a degree has already happened over and over here on this planet... and it's the sort of story that warns "This could be happening to you right now"

Overall Grade: B+

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a Giveaway

2010-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

This week's question for the Hop:

"What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?"

A reading room that's all tricked out!

I want it to have a full coffee bar, and the comfiest chairs ever and bookshelves everywhere and a big screen tv (sometimes I need background noise), and giant beautiful windows and comfy blankets and pillows and ... and... and.... XD There's so much!

This week's question for Follow Friday:

If you have, or would have a daughter, what book
would you want your daughter to read?

Well... let's consider this? What age are we talking about here?

Young: Stephen Kellogg, David Weisner, Magic Treehouse, to name a few
Mid-Grade: I would like to encourage books like Cornelia Funke's stuff for slightly younger kids
YA: I can tell you what I will try to keep my daughter from reading... and that is anything Twilight-esque... anything where the girl thinks life isn't worth living unless she's in a relationship, anything where the relationship is unhealthy and abusive and yet still touted as an amazing love story.
As for what I would hope she would read? Things like Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, The Hounds of the Morrigan, Percy Jackson...

ALSO! GIVEAWAY!!!

Don't forget to enter my Spooktacular giveaway! All you need to do is leave a comment with your email address to enter!

Go HERE to enter!

REVIEW: Nation by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

2010-10-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Nation

By Terry Pratchett

(Audiobook)

Read by Stephen Briggs

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Mau had been getting ready to trade his boy soul in for his man soul when a tsunami destroyed his home. Coming back to carnage instead of a warm greeting from his village, he finds death and destruction... and Daphne.
Daphne had been on a Schooner at sea when the tsunami hit, breaking her ship upon the island. Alone and afraid, she discovers Mau burying his dead, and, after one attempt at foolishness, decides he's not so bad, and that they must communicate.
Together, they forge a friendship that will take them from childhood to adulthood, and surpass prejudice to form a Nation.

Character Likability:
Mau: Possibly the most conflicted character in this story, Mau has to deal with having no soul, having no gods, drowning out the voices of the past, dealing with the voices of the present and figuring out how to make a future. By having his people washed away, he finds out more about them than he ever would have had life continued on as it always had. He's a pretty heavy character, and often has to take on serious endeavors.
Daphne: An incredibly likable girl, Daphne had been sick and tired of her role in society... so while at first she makes a hasty choice, she quickly realizes how wrong she was, and that now all the rules have changed.
Ataba: Foolishly holding on to the ways of the past, even though greater things are being uncovered all around him... rushing to keep those things hidden, even if it results in his death... he is an excellent example of what can happen when one closes ones eyes to the evidence around them and instead chooses to blindly follow what they have been told is right.
Other Characters: There are a plethora of interesting supporting characters in this story, all of whom are appropriately wicked, or appropriately pleasant. All of them are enjoyable.

Quality of Writing:
This work has been touted as some of Pratchett's finest... and while the topics are serious, often dark and much heavier than your normal Pratchett novel (honestly, Pratchett often plays with some heavy topics, but he manages to do it so humorously that you're able to laugh at the subject matter without being weighed down entirely by it... he often makes us laugh at ourselves before we know what we're doing) they are still interesting and the story flows smoothly.

Ending:
This one had a bittersweet but realistic ending.

Plot:
This plot deals with a lot of heavy issues. Religion, Individual vs. Society, Civilized vs. Barbaric, the transformation from Child to Adult and where exactly those boundaries lie... and who defines them. It plays with the concept of what actually makes a Nation, and with the ambiguity of defining things like that in the first place. The gods and adulthood are all very similar to the concept of 'Nation' in this novel, all of them being difficult to define. Daphne, herself, goes a long way to debunk a lot of the mysticism behind Mau's culture... when she works out that while there are traditions, like spitting in the beer and then singing the "beer song"... that really, the spit defuses the poison (the beer is poisonous unless it's spit in and sung to) and the song... well, it doesn't really matter which song you sing, so long as it's a specific length, ie, the length of time needed for the spit to react and de-poison the beer... there is a lot of that sort of thing in this book, and at the same time, there are magical elements that cannot be explained away through science. I don't think Pratchett was out to say religion is hokum and science can explain it all away, I think he was just pointing out that it's a wavering line and sometimes things that should be solvable with religion actually require science, and sometimes things that should require science really require some belief. Really, there is a lot to think about in this book, for those who care to really dive into what an author is trying to say... and for those who don't? It's still a really good, touching story about two people who have lost everything, only to find so much more.

Believability of World:
This is Pratchett's first non-Discworld novel since 1996... so a knowledge of his other works is not necessary. You can pick this one up and dive in, it is a stand-alone... and the world it exists in is an alternate version of ours, around the 1860's (It is mentioned that the Origin of Species was recently published)

Audio Quality:

Stephen Briggs does another fantastic job. This is the 3rd Pratchett book I've listened to as read by him, and they have all been amazing.

Overall Grade: B+

REVIEW: A Hat Full of Sky Audiobook

2010-10-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

A Hat Full of Sky

By Terry Pratchett

(Audiobook)

Read by Stephen Briggs

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

Synopsis:
Tiffany has begun her journey as a witch, starting out as an apprentice to Miss Level, a rather odd witch who usually drives her apprentices off through no fault of her own. Unfortunately, Tiffany's apprenticeship is disrupted by the arrival of a hiver, a parasitic creature that takes over a person's being and causes them to behave VERY badly. With the help of Miss Level, Granny Weatherwax and the unforgettable Nac Mac Feegle, Tiffany begins the battle of her life, to win her body back from the hiver.

Character Likability:
Tiffany: Tiffany is a determined, logical young girl who is 100% Pratchett Witch material. While Tiffany herself is not one of my favorite Pratchett witches (that would be Weatherwax and Ogg to name a few), she is likable, and the fact that she's supplemented by the Nac Mac Feegle helps to offset her seriousness.
Nac Mac Feegle: ACH CRIVENS! The Nac Mac Feegle are hilarious, and in each book in this series (especially in the audio versions) I found myself laughing out loud at them.

Miss Level: She's a very interesting witch and I am quite amused that so many young witches were frightened by her. I like her quite a lot.
Granny Weatherwax: Probably my favorite Pratchett witch... she is dead serious, but kind of nutty-goofy in her own way, and prone to kindness when it least suits her.

Quality of Writing:
I find that all of the Tiffany Aching series is fast flowing and entertaining... mostly because you can't wait to see what the Feegle do next!

Ending:
I love the solutions that Pratchett comes up with for his books. Sometimes I see them coming, and sometimes I don't... mainly because he often wraps them up in the lore of discworld, which is something I don't know!
This ending was no exception. It was clever, and allowed for another of my all-time favorite Pratchett characters to show up. Won't name any names though ;)

Plot:
First off, I LOVE Pratchett's ability to name his books. He'll probably always get a 5/5 from me on that. I've yet to see him miss the mark on the name. Hat full of sky refers back to Tiffany's beloved Grandma Aching... and actually, at one point in this audio... she says the line "When I am old, I shall wear midnight"... and I Shall Wear Midnight is the last of the Tiffany Aching stories, so I was quite impressed by the set-up.
Anyhow, this story begins with Tiffany getting ready to leave home so she can train to be a witch. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to her more experienced witch mentors, she has learned the trick of stepping out of her body... and at one point, when she does, something called a hiver comes in and takes her over. She is left to struggle with it internally, while everyone else is trying to figure out what is going on externally. It showcases some of Tiffany's power that even she has no idea how to use, and it plays on the themes of fairytales (as do all the Aching books) and making assumptions.

Believability of World:
If you're familiar with other works in the discworld series, then this is a very well founded world... same as if you've already read the other Tiffany Aching book before this... but if you're coming into this one without reading anything else, I recommend you put it down and pick up the beginning of the Aching series first. Pratchett has built himself a very complete and complex world, and you need a little background!

Audio Quality:

Stephen Briggs does such a wonderful job reading Pratchett stories! These stories have a girl as the main character, but having a man read them isn't off-putting at all. He does it wonderfully, and his representation of the Nac Mac Feegle is phenomenal. I had read this book before listening to the audio, and I think he does it 100% justice.

Overall Grade: A (The Nac Mac Feegle always make me laugh out loud reading these books, I think they're some of my favorite literary characters of all time. Even if you tried to read the discworld series and didn't like it... pick up the Tiffany Aching series. They're hilarious... and Stephen Briggs makes the Feegle sound so amusing!)

In My Mailbox

2010-10-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox Monday

Go HERE to check out the linky list for In My Mailbox Monday

Bought:

Nothing! (haha! I did it!)

Won:

A signed copy of Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

Matched by Ally Condie

The Hunted of 2060 by Ami Blackwelder

Given:

The Water of Kane and other legends of the Hawaiian Islands by Mary Kawena Puku'i

Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!!

2010-10-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the...

I will be giving away the ever creepy, ever enjoyable retelling of a classic favorite...

You will have until October 31st to enter, and this giveaway IS International!

How To Enter:

All you have to do is post a comment with an email address so I can contact you if you win!

(sorry for making it so crazy large, but I've gotten several entries with no emails already!)

And, of course, don't miss out on the fun, there are 86 other blogs having awesome giveaways!

Just follow this linky list to go to the other giveaways!

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a Review!

2010-10-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

"Where is your favorite place to read? Curled up on the sofa, in bed, in the garden?"

I have a little love seat in my home, on this love seat, I have one of those pillows with the little arms that shoot out the side to prop you up. I lay on the love seat, my back against the pillow, my feet against the armrest on the far side... and end up in a slightly reclined, mostly sitting position, perfect for propping the book on my legs, perfect for hours of reading, perfect for sipping a nice warm drink as I flip pages, and perfectly spaced if a fluffy little kitty wants to come and curl up on my lap :)

What are you currently reading? Basically, what book is that?

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

This is the last in the Tiffany Aching series featuring what are possiblly my favorite discworld characters, The Wee Free Men. Otherwise known as Nac Mac Feegle, known for shouting things such as "Ach, Crivens!" and "wailywailywaily"... they make me laugh out loud when I'm reading, and they issue complaints such as "Ach, I kicked meself in me own heed!" How can you not like such feisty little fighters?

Sir Terry Pratchett (the little blue man is a Nac Mac Feegle)

REVIEW!!!

REVIEW:

The Strangers Outside

by Vanessa Morgan

Story Title: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Ending: 3/5

Synopsis:
Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take ashockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival
will begin.

Character Likability:
Jennifer is an almost wholly unlikable character. She's down on herself, she's down on life, she's just down. She's also whiny and worthless in a pinch. You find out later she has more reason for that than you suspect, but still, she is a passive character, even in her own life.
Louise, the older sister, is much more likable. She's stronger, determined, and trying to make a better life for both her and her sister. She refuses to let negativity bring her down and is appropriately in shocked disbelief at the attitude of her sister.

Quality of Writing:
This was a fast flowing, action packed story. There were no lulls, there were no parts where I was just wishing the story would get on with it... it was constant action from start to finish.

Ending:
It was an interesting ending, but I would have liked to have seen either more back story on the events leading up to this (the bit about the psychics contacting people) or more alarm from the characters at the very end. I know these are the determined, decisive characters, but still, I wouldn't be willing to split up with the people I found after what had happened... and I certainly wouldn't want to go back to my house by myself!! I think the thing that threw me the most in the whole story was Louise saying she was just going to go home at the end. If you had really just escaped something so terrifying, could you really just decide to go right back again... alone?

Plot:
A very interesting idea, and something that could definitely be a longer story. The motivation of the Strangers is left unexplored and that isn't a bad thing. It leaves the reader wondering "Why?!" and admittedly, reflecting a bit on their own lifestyles and wondering if they'd be chosen too. I mean, I know I'm not as helpless and somewhat pathetic as Jennifer... but still... creeeeepy!
Setting the girls on vacation in an unfamiliar setting helped too, because it threw them off, they were unable to do exactly what needed to be done when it needed to be done, and it made sense as to why... it wasn't just one of those "Oh gee, I'm a lame scared girl" situations you see so often in scary settings. The description of the Strangers, also, was incredibly creepy. There is a line about them seeming to have faces that were too big... and it's imagery like that that just creeps me out in stories... when you take a human feature and describe it as "wrong" somehow.

Believability of World:
Believable. It was set in this world, and it felt like it. I could imagine looking out my own window and seeing the Strangers, and that's creepy.

Overall Grade: B (This was a really fun, creepy read PERFECT for Halloween!)

Cast Your Villain Entry

2010-10-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

For mine:

The Villain: Porphyrion from The Lost Hero

My casting: The Jolly Green Giant

Go HERE to join in the fun!

Waiting On Wednesday

2010-10-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

This week's Waiting on Wednesday?

The Warlock
by Michael Scott

As far as I can find, this book doesn't have a cover yet, so I posted the cover from the first book in the series!

Release Date: May 24, 2011

Before I first started reading this series I thought, "Oh great, something else profiting off the success of Harry Potter... blah"

I quickly realized this book offers something totally different from the Harry Potter series, and to think of it like that was wholly unfair. Michael Scott is an expert in faerie tales and mythologies, and you can tell that his background is rich in these topics when you read these books.

They play with being immortal, and with being at historical events and possible even being the cause of them.

REVIEW: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

2010-10-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan

Story Title: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5

**NOTE: I WOULD NOT recommend reading this series without having read the Percy Jackson series first... 1. You just won't care as much about certain characters as you should (such as Rachel) and 2. The fact that Percy Jackson is missing won't be quite as big a deal to you as it should be... not to mention you'll be missing out on so much backstory that it will really detract from the experience**

Synopsis:
Jason wakes up on a bus, not remembering who he is or how he got there, but he's surrounded by people claiming to be his girlfriend and his best friend. He suspects that isn't right, though... he suspects he doesn't actually know these people at all. Then, when the bus arrives at its destination, a class trip to the Grand Canyon, Jason finds out that his suspicions were right, and that he is destined to partake in a deadly prophecy.

Character Likability:
Jason: The victim of severe memory loss, you travel through this story watching odd bits of information come to him without him knowing why. Based on his knowledge, the things he says and how he acts, it's not to hard to figure out things about his parents and his circumstances... but you still like Jason and feel a bit sorry for him. He wasn't my favorite of the main characters, but seeing as how he doesn't know himself, it's a little hard for the reader to really know him either. I honestly find myself wondering how much I will like him when he gets his full memory back.

Piper: Piper is a half Cherokee/ half God... which has real potential to make for interesting stories later on... in fact, I think she could have her own spin off series involving Native American gods, since, with the background you do get concerning her and her father, you learn there are a lot of issues there with being a Native American. She starts the story off kind of weak, and really evolves as a character, finding her own strength and learning to believe in herself. By the end of the story I'm quite fond of her... although I do think it will be interesting to see how the author handles her and Jason. Piper is the girl on the bus who thinks she's Jason's girlfriend, and thoughts like that just don't go away, for her and for Jason... but as Jason remembers more, he remembers that there might be a girl where he came from who meant something to him. It will be interesting to see if the author makes this other girl likable, and to see what happens for Piper.
Another thing I found interesting about Piper was her issue with going to a camp called Camp Half Blood... and it makes me wonder if someone pointed out to Rick Riordan that this was used as a negative term by some peoples, or if he knew it all along.
Leo: My favorite of the main characters, Leo, felt the most real. Possibly because he doesn't have such a fantastical family history. He's just a kid who got the short end of the stick... even if the short end has gods attached to it. He's got a tragic past, and when he gets to Camp Half Blood, he really questions his future... seeing as how he believes he's bad luck for his cabin mates. He has a fun little sense of humor though, quirky without being over the top or forced, and the way he's always creating things is really entertaining. He's bright without being unbelievably brilliant... he still feels like the kid he is... and he appropriately is upset when bad things happen. I enjoyed his honesty with himself as well. There's one point where he's forced to tell Jason the worst things he thinks about him, and Leo is able to admit to himself that those were his thoughts, not ones he was forced to think (think "Harry/Ron" syndrome)... and I was really glad to see that one of the "side" characters (because it's obvious that Jason is the Percy character from the last series) is given a lot of really cool powers and personality.

Other Characters: You see a return of beloved characters from the Percy Jackson series here... Annabelle, Thalia, the kids from the houses, Chiron... notably missing... Grover and Percy. A new character that was introduced was their teacher, Gleeson Hedge from the school they met at (another faun) who is a funny little guy, and is refrained from being annoying by not being involved TOO much in the story. He was a nice, cute little touch. Also added was Piper's father, Tristan, who is haunted by both his heritage and Piper's mother leaving him. One final character I adored from this series was Festus, the Bronze Dragon (as seen on the cover of the book). I truly enjoyed Festus and thought he was the cutest dragon ever. Of course there were the gods... but they stuck pretty much to how you'd expect them to be. There were some villians that were interesting as well, but half the fun of a Rick Riordan book is trying to figure out what nasty you're about to meet, so no names mentioned for fear of spoiling the fun!

Quality of Writing:
Riordan dives right in with mystery and action. Jason wakes up not knowing who he is, and pages later, they're fighting for their lives. The action and adventure keep up, with practically no lulls... and I was a bit appreciative of the fact that Riordan wrote in them catching sleep whenever they could... because you seriously wondered how these characters had the energy to keep going! Ahh, the benefits of being half god. Seriously though, a dynamic, engaging read.

Ending:
You saw the end of this one coming, but that didn't make it any less interesting. I LOVE Riordan's explanation of things, and I can't wait to hear more of it. I think it's creative and downright believable. I'd love to go into detail about it... but that would be serious spoiler territory.
I also really enjoy the wrap-up on Piper's Dad... using characters from earlier in the story, you can't help but feel satisfied with the outcome. It also really pulls together the title of the book, and promises a lot more fun adventure to come.

Plot:
The plot in this one, as far as I'm concerned, is amazing. I absolutely LOVE Riordan's ability to bring all of these ancient myths into a book for kids and make them 100% intense and exciting. It's really paying tribute to all of these old, classic, amazing stories that are often presented so dryly that children take no interest. In this particular book, the way Riordan is dealing with the different aspects of the gods is ingenious. It calls into question things you took for granted in the former books (The Percy Jackson Series) and it also makes you seriously think about the gods themselves, and how different cultures viewed the same thing from different angles. Honestly, the plot in this series has me even more interested than the plot in the Percy Jackson books ever did. I think Riordan is doing something really creative and fun here.

Believability of World:
Believable. This is a book that's like the Harry Potter ones... it's set in our own world, just with this amazing, mysterious world existing along side it. And I still am amused that this is Riordan's explanation of ADD and ADHD. I think that's a wonderfully imaginative solution to what I think is an over-diagnosed problem.

Overall Grade: A+ (Seriously. This books ability to be both interesting and educational is phenomenal. Would I have my children read this? YES. Would I tout this book and try to get as many other people to read it as possible? YES. Will I sing its praises far and wide? YES. I *really* love these books... and if you're avoiding the Riordan books for any of the following reasons:
1. You avoid books that are over-hyped, on principal
2. You saw the movie and it was silly (which it was, ESPECIALLY the end, grr)
3. Mythology is boring... *yawn*
Then CUT IT OUT. These books deserve to be read. They are wonderful stories... all of what I've read by Riordan so far, which includes the entire Percy Jackson series, The Red Pyramid and The Lost Hero. Read them, or, if you have no interest, then at least let your kids read them. They'll learn something.

And check out Rick Riordan's blog here: http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/

Little Squeed

WINNER!!!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop and Author Interview!

REVIEW: Death Watch by Ari Berk

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REVIEW: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

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REVIEW: Un Lun Dun by China Mieville

Waiting on Wednesday

REVIEW: The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica

Rotters by Daniel Kraus

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REVIEW: Jaws by Peter Benchley

Currently Reading...

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REVIEW: Kat, Incorrigible

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Sorry!

Top Ten Tuesday

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Top Ten Tuesday

REVIEW: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

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REVIEW: Yotsuba Volume 1

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What book(s) have you discovered lately from someone's book blog?

Across the Universe, A Slice of Cherry, The Hunger Games series, The Familiars

The Blogger Hop is running a little late this morning, but as soon as she updates, so will I :)

Author Spotlight: Tamora Pierce

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A little off topic... but...

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REVIEW: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a movie review

What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

In college I studied both Photography and Graphic Design. I got my BFA, focusing in photography, and am now a full time graphic designer/photographer for a major corporation. :)

Ok, I haven't done a movie review in quite a while!

Last night... at midnight... I went to see Tron Legacy (why can I only find foreign movie posters for this movie?!)... and honestly, I was shocked by how many people were there. The theater was pretty much packed.

Now, I don't really have a great system for reviewing movies... so for now I'll just say this.

If you haven't seen the first Tron, though, it might not all make sense, this movie is a true sequel and builds heavily on the plot of the first movie. I would recommend getting your hands on the original and watching... for plot's sake.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Guest Review: Daughter of Darkness by V.C. Andrews

Do you enjoy Edward Gorey?

REVIEW: Book One of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Fear not!

REVIEW: The Poison Diaries

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REVIEW: The Clarence Principle by Fehed Said, art by Shari Chankhamma

REVIEW: St. Lunatic High School, Volume 1

Waiting on Wednesday

REVIEW: Matched

Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and a Giveaway

If you have, or would have a daughter, what book would you want your daughter to read?

Well... let's consider this? What age are we talking about here?

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REVIEW: Nation by Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

REVIEW: A Hat Full of Sky Audiobook

In My Mailbox

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!!

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What are you currently reading? Basically, what book is that?

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Cast Your Villain Entry

Waiting On Wednesday

REVIEW: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

If you have, or would have a daughter, what book
would you want your daughter to read?