Saturday, November 22, 2008

The City of Dreaming Books


The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers was a random book store browsing find. I was at the airport and had time to kill. I couldn't leave without this book.
This book reads like the style of Harry Potter. Fast, fanciful, and fun. With fantastic illustrations throughout the book.
I adored this book.
If you want something fun, a fanciful adventure with marvelous characters this is the book for you!

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Man with the Golden Torc


This is the first book in Simon Green's newest series "Secret Histories". I love anything this man writes.
I have been saving this book for a special occasion. And I decided that my trip to Florida for Tink's wedding didn't get any more special.
Did I mention that I love this man's writing style?
Funny, easy to read, creative as hell. Mr. Green is king when it comes to fun Sci Fi reading.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle


Oh, where to begin.
My buddy Mike told my dad to read this one. WAY before Oprah by the way.
I had seen this, heard about it, and wanted to read it until.............
It made that damn Oprah list.
And well, stubborn mule that I am, as soon as Oprah tells people to read it, I avoid it like the plague.
But, Dad kept nagging me. Read it, read it. Did you get it yet? You have to go get it. READ IT!
Alright, alright, so I ordered it. I had to hunt around to find a copy that wasn't tainted by the Oprah sticker.
Ok, well, what can I say. I described it to a friend as One of THE BEST books I have ever read and one of THE WORST books I have ever read.
Does that even remotely make sense?
Given the wild swing in reviews if you check out Barnes and Nobles site, I'm not surprised I feel the way I do. It gets 1 star or 5 from people. Loved it or hated it.
I can admit that I felt both.
I saw a lot of my own dogs in this story. Not the well trained and obedient part. But the companion part.
I have given to calling Sophie my Lil Almondine.
The story in and of itself was disturbing and infuriating. But very well told.
The sign of a good author and a well written book is one that can put your emotions all over the map. Laughter, tears, sadness, anger, etc. This story runs the full spectrum.
It is beautifully written. It really is. And it made me fall deeper in love with my dogs.
I think this is one of those books that you have to experience and decide for yourself.
I am glad I read it. And I marvel at the range of emotions this book provokes.
I think each reader will have their very own, very individual, experience. And you can't say that about many books.

The Little Book


Dad read this one and told me it was a must read.
And, as usual, he was right. This was a good one.
I think, in all honesty, he liked this more than I did. But, I really did enjoy it. And I'm glad I read it. No regrets.

He would put this on his top 5 list. I would put this in my top 50. Which, given how many books I have read is not a bad placing.............

Proven Guilty


#8 in the Harry Dresden series.
See what I mean? I can't stop....................
Another good one.
Ok, I have to admit, this one, I got a bit emotional. In fact, I actually got mad enough that the book almost went flying.
But we are ok now. I'm still in love.

The Lies of Locke Lamora


I picked this book up while wandering around Borders. They had a section in their SciFi shelves for "If you Liked this: You'll like these:"
And, this was one of them. I had actually flagged this as a possible series to read so I figured why not give it a try.
What a great story.
Rather than the usual hero adventure this is the story of a band of thieves.
It's fun, exciting, a page turner, and the characters are well developed.
And nothing expected happens. Who lives and dies keeps you guessing from start to finish.
And that makes for a fun read.
I look forward to continuing this series.

Dead Beat


Dead Beat by Jim Butcher is #7 in the Harry Dresden series.
All I can say is this series is brain candy for me. I love it.
I'm addicted.
I can't stop.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Blood Rites


Blood Rites by Jim Butcher is book 6 in the Dresden series.
I fell in love with the Sci fi series The Dresden Files. When I found out the show was based on the books I had to read them.
It's always interesting to watch an author grow into his style, his characters, and into his own voice. Blood Rites is certainly the book in which Mr. Butcher found his voice.
I loved all the stories. Basically even though the series is canceled I can still enjoy the characters and the wonderful adventures. And this book was his best and most eloquent. I'm not sure what it was about this story but I felt like we had taken a literary leap. A little bit more poetic. A little bit deeper.
I guess I have to confess. I'm in love with a wizard. He's tall, dark, and very very handsome.
And these books give me a little bit of romance every day.

Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grill


Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grill by Steven Brust is a wild ride. I wouldn't say this was a book for everyone. It has it's slow moments. But I love the author and had this one on my list to read.
Basically Cowboy Feng's bar can hop time and space. And it tends to do it at the very moment nuclear weapons go off.
It's not until the 4th occurrence though that the regulars in Feng's start to wonder why this happens.
Like I said, it's an interesting story. But it is true Brust. Reads almost like a comic book, light on the brain. And just basically beach blanket entertainment.

The Gargoyle


The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson was an impulse buy after seeing So many reviews and write ups of it. Costco had it for a really good price and I was planning to spend the weekend up at the cabin relaxing and reading, so, it all seemed to come together perfectly.
First I want to say that the first 50 pages of this book are VERY hard to read. If anyone you have ever loved has ever been burned or in a bad accident I am not sure this is the book for you.
I was burned when I was young. I really struggled with the first part of the book. But at the same time it was a little bit healing and a lot bit educational for me. A lot of things I went through made more sense after I read this book. I can't even compare what happened to me with what the character in this book experienced. Not even close. But still.........
Anywhoodle. It's a beautiful story. Very well written. And when those last sentences passed by my eyes I was sad, lonely, and I suffered literary withdrawal.
That's the best kind of book.
It is also unique, creative, and imaginative.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox



The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell was another book I picked up at the B&N clearance sale.

This one I grabbed because I am a fan of Maggie O'Farrell. I have read two other novels by her and I liked them both.

She writes about female characters that I can relate to in some way. They are more human, more real, and more tangible than a lot of female characters in "chick" literature. Usually the women are fat and or ugly but by some miracle they get skinny and beautiful, they get fabulous jobs, a ridiculous bank account, and they marry the latest Bill Gates. Please, that just isn't real life. Bless her heart, Maggie O'Farrell makes characters more like the rest of us. In the case of Vanishing Act I found myself relating to Esme. In a time when girls were raised to be proper wall flowers that married at 16 and spent their lives being Mrs. David Smith, Esme danced to her own drum. She was wild, different, and fearless. She couldn't stand the girliness of her class mates. There were moments the Esme described that I found myself instantly transported back in time. And contrary to Esme's world, I have to be thankful that I grew up in an age when women were encouraged to get an education, live your own life, experience the world before you worry so much about settling down. Esme was ahead of her time. She was me. Wild, independent, and free.

The first book I read by Ms. O'Farrell was After You'd Gone. I loved this story. So I followed it up with My Lover's Lover. Another good story.

The Devil You Know


The Devil You Know by Mike Carey was an impulse buy when I was shopping Barnes and Nobles 1.99 and up clearance sale.
It had an interesting plot. Ghosts on the loose and the main character helps send them on to the next place.
A fun and fast read. I found myself invested in the ghost he was hired to make go away. I wanted to know her story. And then there was the succubus. She also became a character I looked forward to seeing again. And those are all words I never thought I would write in a single paragraph. So there you have it. A good story with a few characters you really get to care about. Oh, and the landlord. LOVED HER! And I can't tell you why. I just did.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Leonardo's Swans



Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex is a marvelous historical novel. I love books written about the Renaissance. And when the main characters include the artists of that time I love the book even more.

The characters in the story all lived. And from what I could see this story was researched to the finest details.

If you love art, the renaissance, and stories of court intrigue, you will love this book.

I am the Messenger


Just read it!
That's all I have to say.
Ok, one more thing: I'm very happy that Mr. Zusak is a young guy. I can only hope that means many many more years of wonderful novels from him. He's simply amazing. He also wrote the heartwrenchingly beautiful novel "The Book Thief" which is on the short list of my favorite books of all time.

Soon I will be Invincible



Soon I will be Invincible by Austin Grossman has been on my reading list since it first came out.

It's one of those books I had a feeling I would enjoy so I saved it as one of those "Special treat" books.

This summer I decided it was the perfect time to read it.

And it was as enjoyable and entertaining as I hoped it would be.

Light, fun reading. It's a super hero/ super villain story that lets you escape from the world for a few hundred pages.

Twilight and New Moon




Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer are the first two books in her 4 book Twilight Saga.

For anyone that has read the Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton, this is a must read.

It's an entertaining vampire/werewolves story without the constant porn.

Much more innocent. Much more focused on the story and the characters. This is young adult so the reading is fast and easy. But no so easy and young that any age can't enjoy them.

I look forward to the other two books.

The Portrait



The Portrait by Iain Pears was a very interesting tale.

It was unique in that the narration was entirely a one sided conversation between an artist and his subject.

A fast read.

An unforgettable ending.

Life of Pi



Life of Pi by Yann Martel has been on my list to read since it came out. It has been one of those literary marvels that everyone was talking about.

I had high expectations because of all the hype. And I gotta say, this is a good book.

It's not life changing.

It's just a good read.

Borderkind

Borderkind by Christopher Golden is book 2 in his Veil Series.

I loved the first one. Was enthralled by the second one. And look forward to number three.

Great characters, story, and scenery.

Simply put: I love this series.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Myth Hunters (take 2)



Myth Hunters by Christopher Golden was a re-read in order to be prepared to read the second book in the series, Borderkind.

Second time around I loved it just as much. This is a creative and fun story. And a pretty fast read.

Oliver Bascombe is sitting in his living room contemplating his pending wedding that is to take place the next morning. When a snow storm kicks up into high gear. And through a window comes an ice man in desperate need of help. So Oliver throws on a coat and helps Frost to the edge of the ocean cliffs. Much to Olivers surprise the ice man plunges over the cliff taking Oliver with him. And as Oliver prepares for his death he is shocked to find himself falling into a lake, the sky is blue, the trees are green, and Oliver isn't in Kansas anymore..................

The Rule of Four


The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell was a very fast read. I enjoyed this story. I added this book to my list after reading a review of it somewhere. It had received a great write up. When I looked at B&N it was interesting how the reviewers either gave it one star or 4/5. Sort of that loved it or hated it thing.
I enjoyed it. And I don't feel that I wasted my time at all with this book. It was an interesting read that kept my attention from start to finish. Considering I read it in just over 2 days, how can it loose ones attention?
The story takes place at Princeton University. Basically the narrator tells the story of a rare and unusual manuscript. His father made it his lifes work to uncover the secrets behind the book, but he died before he could solve the mystery. One of narrators friends has made the book the subject of his thesis. And thus begins the adventure. Jealousy, murder, revenge. It's all here.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Yellow Dog


Yellow Dog by Martin Amis is one of those books in which I have to stop at page 30 and say "Life is too short to waste on a bad book"
I was looking SO forward to this one too.
Oh well. Life goes on and this one goes back on the shelf. Maybe someday I'll pick it back up and give it a second try. But for now we have moved on.

The Shadows of God


The Shadows of God by J Gregory Keyes is the 4th and final book in his Age of Unreason Series. Fast paced and easy to read this was a satisfying end to a terrific series.
But, you do have to be a Sci Fi geek to enjoy this series. It's a bit out there. And delves into trying to discover the true nature of god and the angels.
Overall I loved these books. I thought reading them back to back was going to be a good idea but in all honesty I got to the point where I was ready to be done. Not because it was bad. But I like variety in my reading so four in a row just made me itch to move on to another type of story. And honestly, it wasn't the books, it truly was me. I get the itch to move on sometimes while reading the best books I have ever read. I'm restless like that.

Empire of Unreason


Empire of Unreason by J. Gregory Keyes is book 3 in the Age of Unreason series. Where book two lagged a bit, book three was far more of a page turner. Due mostly to the author ending every chapter with a climactic moment. And because he switches between characters you had to keep reading to find out what happens. It was a vicious cycle since I do have to function as a responsible adult and can't spend ALL my time reading.
But book three was satisfying and fun.

Monday, June 02, 2008

A Calculus of Angels



A Calculus of Angels by J. Gregory Keyes is book 2 in his Age of Unreason series.

Still love it.

The continuing adventures of Ben Franklin, Isaac Newton, and many other characters.

The author does get maddeningly worse at ending every chapter with a cliff hanger. So be prepared to not want to put these books down. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Newton's Cannon


Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes is book 1 in the Age of Unreason series.
I had heard about this series I don't know where but I have had a hard time finding the books. Then Amazon started selling the whole series. And I jumped at the chance to at least try it.
Needless to say about twenty pages into the book I was ordering the rest of the series. It really is fantastic.
The main characters in the first book are Newton and a youthful Ben Franklin. The world is full of magic and wonder and something else they can't quite identify.
This is a fun series and I love the adventure. So much so that I am actually reading this series straight through. I normally will skip around and read several other books in between any given series. This time around I'm going right on through.
That's not because this is better than any series ever, it's simply that this series doesn't neatly end at each book. It begs to be read as a group. And I would hate to put so much time in between each book that I feel like I should go back and read them again.

The Name of the Wind



The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss was a VERY pleasant surprise. Only in that I bought the book on a whim while shopping on Amazon. It came up as a recommendation while I was ordering other books. It sounded good so I figured, why not?

Well, let me tell you. If you love Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, or any of those big Sci/Fi fantasy series writers you will LOVE this book. It is a fantastic debut novel that is also the beginning of a planned series called the Kingkiller Chronicles.

To say I LOVED this book is putting it mildly. I adored every word, sentence and paragraph. It's poetic, visually lush, and sometimes I found myself chewing on sentences just to savor the idea in the words. Yeah, it's that good.

The Nature of Monsters



The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark was a book I grabbed at Barnes and Noble because it was on clearance and sounded appealing.

I won't say this was a great book. I hesitate to say it was even a good book. But I did enjoy reading it. I found it intriguing. And I wanted to finish it.

But I also felt like it was a great book that didn't reach it's potential. That it could have bumped itself up a notch but missed. And I don't know why.

Like I said, I enjoyed reading it. And I wanted to finish it. But maybe I just didn't relate to any of the characters. I just never found myself caring about them or their lives. And because of that distance I didn't fall in love with anything about it.

And this review is just as non-committal as the book. Not bad, but not a must read.

Monday, April 07, 2008

The Count of Monte Cristo



The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas has been sitting by my bed for months. And I have been reading it off and on. It's 1488 pages. Give me some slack.

But this was the second go around for me. I think I might have originally read the abridged version. So I picked up the unabridged and decided to give it a second read.

And even the second time around I loved this book.

I had one of the guys at work stop in mid sentence when he noticed it sitting on my desk. And he said I was reading his all time favorite book.

My dad LOVED it as well. He decided to read it because I had mentioned it was my favorite classical piece of literature and so had his friend at the coffee shop.

It's an amazing story. Even the second time around.

To Reign in Hell



To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust - well, let's just say I shelved it about half way through. It's not a bad story. But I was getting so pissed off at one of the characters that I wasn't enjoying myself.

This is the story of the great war in heaven between god and satan. All the archangels are there as well as a host of other greater and lesser beings.

I might pick it up again but who knows. It had some very interesting moments. And a few characterizations that I really liked and wanted to know more about. However, like I said, I was so annoyed at the character instigating all the trouble that I had to stop. Probably stupid, but when you find yourself gritting your teeth while you read, well, it's time to stop.

Monday, March 10, 2008



Hell to Pay by Simon R Green is #7 in his Nightside series.

I have had this sitting on my bookshelf for over a year because I was saving it for a very special occasion. Mainly the release of the next Nightside book. I don't know what I would do if he stopped writing these.

Fun, creative, and a wild ride. I LOVE this author. I love his humor, his style, and his amazingly creative mind.

Putting it simply, his books to me are perfect escapism.


The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier was a fast and fascinating read.
Basically there are three states of existence, living, dead but remembered, and then, well, something after that but we don't know what.
The story goes back and forth between the living and a city of the dead. Because for as long as someone remembers you, as long as you are in their thoughts then you exist in the city of the dead.
This thought provoking story really does talk about how people might die but they live on in our memories.
Strange but beautiful, I enjoyed this story very much.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

People of the Book


People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks was a story my parents picked up and really enjoyed. So when we got together a few weeks back they gave it to me to read. And I'm glad they did.
The story is really cool. It takes place in modern times and in the distant past.
A Hebrew prayer book has been found and is lovingly preserved by Hannah. With each sample she takes from the book of stains, hair, and even a butterfly wing she tried to put together where the book has been in it's long life. And with each piece of evidence we are taken back in time to find out how those bits of evidence got to be a part of the book. As well as how the book in and of itself came to be.
It's a wonderful story. Fun to read, and beautifully written.

The Witch of Portobello


The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho was one of those grabs at the airport book store. I loved The Alchemist and this sounded irresistible. I was intrigued from the first page.
Ultimately, I'm not sure I loved this book. It was beautifully written and had some fantastic moments. And beautiful passages. But I feel a little empty. I didn't grow to care about the main character as much as I probably should have. She remained a little distant to me.
But, I'm not sad I read it. And I don't feel like it was a waste of time. It was a good story, just not a life changing great story.

The Shadow of the Wind



The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron was simply wonderful. Fantastic, couldn't be better. My dad read this book at the same time I did and we would call each other and talk about the quotes we liked from the book. There were many.

We had read "The Book Thief" and both thought that there was no way a book could compare. And that for a while it would seem that all other books were just not anywhere as good in comparison. But I picked this one up and as soon as I started it I called him and told him to grab it. That he would love it just as much.

And we certainly did. This was a really good story.

The Amber Spyglass


The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman is the third book in his trilogy. And equally as marvelou as the first two. Normally I would have been very sad to see this series end. It was a fun ride. But, there is an additional book called Lyra's Oxford. So I can still get my fix.
Overall, I'm glad I read this series. I really enjoyed it. And I will save Lyra's Oxford for one of those literary treats I savor and save for special reading occasions.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The Subtle Knife


The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman is book two in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
Much like the Golden Compass this series is turning out to be a very enjoyable read.
I had this series on my list of books to read but it was bumped up in priority due to the controversy about the meaning behind the books.
I'm glad the movie and books caused such an uproar because the stories are really enjoyable. I'm only a few pages into book three but I like it just as much.
Easy to read but not childish. The characters are fascinating. And I can't wait to find out who turns out to be what - there is a very ambiguous line between right and wrong, good and evil. And who can you trust.

The Book Thief


The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was picked up on a whim at Barnes and Noble one afternoon. I was browsing a section of the store where they highlight new, recommended, and featured authors. I walked up and down the row multiple times and on the third pass I noticed this book down on the bottom hidden in shadow. And it literally called to me. As I picked it up and started to read the description it seemed to vibrate in my hands. (And no, I hadn't had my coffee yet) I read the opening lines and I knew I had to get this book.
And several good cry's later, I am SO glad I did. This book is now one of my all time favorite books. I have been shouting from the roof tops that it must be read. My dad and a friend of his both went and got copies. And Dad said that from page one he was intrigued and hooked.
The writing is beautiful and mesmerizing.
This book will change you. I guarantee you will walk away a different person when you finish. The characters will have moved into your heart and they will become a part of your soul.
I can't tell you enough what an amazing book this was.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The Golden Compass



The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman has been on my reading list for ages. I thought about reading it when the movie was coming out but of course there were other books that I just HAD to read. But then a friend said to me that she wasn't going to let her kids see the movie because it is about a couple of kids that set out to kill god. Well, hell, of course I had to read the book now. I need to find out for myself just what this series is about.

And though I still don't know what Mr. Pullman's message (if any) is, I do know that this is a fantastic series. I am about 100 pages into book two (The Subtle Knife) and at least thus far there is no mention, nor any quest to kill god. God really doesn't come into it yet. There is some hints and references to great beings, but nothing obvious or harped on.

All I know is, when I pick up the book and start to read the entire world around me disappears. And if I have to stop reading i have to pull myself out of the beautiful and fascinating worlds Mr. Pullman has created.

I can't wait to finish this series. It is marvelous. I'm thankful for the controversy or I might never have put this at the top of my oh so long reading list.