Summer Knight

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher is the fourth installment of the Dresden Files. This was a fun book to read. The Summer and Winter courts of Faerie are going to war and Harry is right in the middle.

These books are fun reads from cover to cover. This series is dangerous for me in that I almost daily risk missing a bus stop. I become so absorbed in these books that the rest of the world disappears.

And that can be a wonderful thing!

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco was on the clearance shelf at Barnes and Noble. The idea behind the story was fascinating so I picked it up.

The main character in the book suffers from a stroke and looses his memory of who he is. He doesn't know anything about his past, his wife, or his children.

But he does remember every book he ever read with precise clarity.

This is the story of his journey into remembering and piecing together his past.

I found this book fascinating, and very informative. A great deal of the story focuses on life in Italy during WWII. Overall I liked this book. At times I was getting a little distracted but for the most part I was so fascinated by the politics and culture of Italian life. This is not edge of your seat reading. But it is interesting and I might even have learned a few things.

A while back I picked up Baudilino by Eco but I wasn't able to get into the story and gave up on it. Or I should say that I shelved it for another time. I enjoyed this one so much for the sheer cortical stimulation that I picked up The Name of the Rose which is probably his most famous work. And I will give Baudilino a second try....................

84 Charring Cross Road

84, Charring Cross Road by Helene Hunff was a book I noticed on a friends blog. I told my dad about it and he bought it and read it that same day. He even let dinner get cold because he wanted to finish it. Then Mom read it that night. He called me to tell me I had to get it.

So of course I did. And I read it in one sitting. Grant you the book is just about 97 pages so it's not all that much to read, no super impressive feat here.

But this is a wonderful story covering the correspondence between a book lover in New York and a book dealer in London. Bitter sweet, full of laughter and fondness this is undoubtedly a fantastic read.

I went to get it at Barnes and Noble but I had forgotten my book list so I wasn't sure of the author. I went up to the customer service desk for assistance and I barely got out the "84 Charr................." when the guy interrupted me and said "OH, fantastic book, I hope we have a copy in stock because you simply MUST read it." They didn't but he found one at a store on my way home and he had them put it on hold for me. He also let me know that they made a movie out of it that was equally fantastic.

Pick it up at your local library. It's a hefty $13.00 for the 90 pages, I intend to pass it on, in fact if you read this, Kell, it's on the way......................

War for the Oaks

War For the Oaks by Emma Bull was a book I was very excited to read. It was a good story but it wasn't a great read. I never felt a connection to the characters in the story. I found it a little lacking in character development and because of that I didn't get really into it.

The only reason I stuck it out was the fact that it takes place in the Twin Cities so I was familiar with all the places in the story.

I really had high hopes for this book. The author is friends and maybe even band mates with one of my favorite authors, Steven Brust. But overall I just didn't LOVE this story.

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones was recommended to us years ago when Harry Potter first came out. The series dates back to the pre-Potter years so this isn't a copy cat. The chronicles consist of two books from the Chrestomanci series, Charmed Life, and the Lives of Christopher Chant.

This is a fun and entertaining series. If you liked Harry you really will enjoy this series.

Deathstalker Honor

Deathstalker Honor by Simon R. Green is #4 in the Deathstalker series. To put it simply I love this series. Ok, so I love every single book he ever wrote. And I'm not sure he is capable of writing a bad one.

The series is fun, entertaining, and intriguing. The characters are fabulous. Even the villains are wonderful in their own evil way.