The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing and The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars - Two for one book review

Since it was hotter than hades this weekend I stayed in the air conditioned confines of my living room. And I read. A Lot.

I picked up The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank at the used book store down the street. I started it Sunday morning and finished it Sunday afternoon. It was a good read. Totally not what I expected, it went a little deeper than I thought it would. I think every women can see some point in her life within this book. The main character, Jane, describes in each chapter a moment out of her life. Her loves, her family, her loss, devastation, and triumph. This story proves that "The Rules" of love and dating don't really exist. Each relationship, each person is unique and nothing works according to a given set of rules.



The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars by Steven Brust. This was an interesting book. It told two stories, one was about a group of artists that had a studio together. The other story was a mythical tale about how the sun, the moon, and the stars got to be up in the sky. I didn't mind the story but I wouldn't say it was a must read. I like folk tales so I stuck with it to see how that story came out. But the artist parts were not necessarily gripping. I enjoy his Vlad Taltos series a great deal more.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest - I've given up the mysteries and the vampires for a while and decided to read a good old fashioned ghost story. I saw this book at a local shop and found the story idea intriguing. So I picked it up and put it away on my shelf for a while. Well, seeing as I am having bizarre vampire nightmares I decided a change would be good.

This is the story of Eden. A woman who was raised by her Aunt and Uncle after the death of her mother. She never knew her father. Eden is protected by three ghosts. They watch over her and warn her of any danger. And danger she is in. A distant family member has taken it upon himself to rid the world of an accursed ancestor that he believes has come back to life in Eden. Both Sinister and hopeful, this is a wonderful story. A reflection of family that is for better or for worse all too true.

The Bookman's Wake

I loved #2 in the Cliff Janeway series by author John Dunning. It's called The Bookman's Wake and it was wonderful. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I just love it when books become so engrossing that you forget where you are. Give John Dunning a try. You'll be glad you did.

The interesting part of this story, aside from the mystery was the education you get in little artistic publishing companies. In this case a family business that would take classic stories and turn them into a work of art. The story revolves around Poe's The Raven. And one man's quest to make the perfect publication.

Jhereg

Jhereg is #4 of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series. He recommends reading them in chronological order rather than publication order. Which I am doing. #4 also happens to be the first published. He explains things in there that I have had to figure out on my own. It's not rocket science so I am pretty clear on it all but this did help clarify things. So, I am enjoying reading them in chronological order, I wouldn't change that. But a glossery or summary of terms/people/places would be helpful for those of us that are doing it this way.

I can summarize his books best with the word: Fun!

Booked to Die and Vampire Hunter D #2 - two book reviews

Dad told me I had to read Booked to Die by John Dunning. And so I did. And I loved it. The main character is a cop. And a book collector. I never knew much about the book collecting business. These stories are changing that. It's actually a very interesting business.

I have mentioned before that I read voraciously and that is due to my parents. They have had me reading since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. In fact I remember sitting in my dad's lap reading his novels to him. In my little girl sing song voice I would read to him slowly stumbling over the big words and getting excited as I read sentence after sentence without mistakes. We have been reading together ever since. Now several thousand miles separate us but we are closer than ever. He called me a few times every day to see what page I was on. I hope he knows how much I cherish this.

Vampire Hunter D #2 - great story. Again, I bless Jay's little heart. This is a fun read. The character D has to battle a new monster in this story. One that he didn't believe exhisted. Vampires that can walk in the sun.

Thief of Lives and Yendi - two for one review

Thief of Lives by Barb and J.C. Hendee. This is the second book in their vampire series. I liked Dhampir, the first book, and this one was even better. Great character development and a great story. This time the dhampir and her half-elf partner head to the capital city to solve it's vampire problem. If they do so they will get a reward large enough to help save their home town from financial ruin. As this story ends the plot thickens, motives remain puzzling, and I am even more anxious to read the next installment.






Yendi is book two in the Vlad Taltos Series by Steven Brust. In this Vlad tells how he got involved in a war and how the women that was to become his wife killed him.