Newt's Literary Musings

The Geogrpher's Library

2009-01-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman was a random impulse buy at Barnes and Noble. I found it in the bargain fiction section and was intrigued by the dust jacket synopsis.

Once again, I was delighted to have found a diamond in the rough so to speak. Or maybe it is needle in the haystack.

A pleasant surprise, I LOVED this book. The characters were wonderful. The story was fascinating. The plot twists were unexpected and fantastic.

Way of the Wolf

2009-01-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

Way of the Wolf by E. E. Knight was given to me by a co-worker. He likes the author and really enjoys the fact that the two series that the author writes are completely different in story and style.

Way of the Wolf if book one in his Vampire Earth series.

Set in the near future it tells the tale of a post apocalyptic earth.

This book has it all, monsters, aliens, war, famine, slavery and of course, every day people with a will to survive.

From the first page I fell in love with the author's writing style. I also enjoyed the fact that the books are set in the Midwest. Minnesota is where the stories hero is from.

I read this book in only a few days and I can't begin to tell you what a fun ride it was. This is not the typical vampire story. Not even close. These characters are more liken to the Wraith from Stargate Atlantis. Alien beings that survive not by feeding on human blood but rather by taking in their victim's life essence.

Simply put, the characters are lovable or hateable depending on what side they fall. The action is intense and fun. And the story telling is superb.

Brisingr

2009-01-03T06:05:00.001-08:00

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini is book three in the Inheritance Cyle.

This young man is really coming into his own. His own voice, his own style. And what a treat!

If this young man will only get better at writing with age we are in for many years of exceptional books.

The City of Dreaming Books

2008-11-22T11:29:00.001-08:00

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!

The Man with the Golden Torc

2008-11-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

The Man with the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green

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

2008-11-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

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

2008-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Little Book by Selden Edwards

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

2008-11-17T09:35:00.001-08:00

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

#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

2008-11-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

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

2008-11-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

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.

Blood Rites

2008-09-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T19:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

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.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

2008-08-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-13T18:44:00.001-07:00

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.

Leonardo's Swans

2008-08-12T10:46:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-12T10:42:00.001-07:00

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak -

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

2008-08-12T10:33:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-12T10:28:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-12T10:26:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Myth Hunters (take 2)

2008-06-24T05:52:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-24T05:46:00.001-07:00

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.

Yellow Dog

2008-06-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-12T18:51:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-12T18:48:00.001-07:00

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.

A Calculus of Angels

2008-06-02T14:03:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-02T13:47:00.001-07:00

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.

The Count of Monte Cristo

2008-04-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

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.

People of the Book

2008-03-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-06T19:50:00.001-08:00

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

2008-03-06T19:44:00.001-08:00

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

2008-03-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

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.

The Subtle Knife

2008-01-12T07:34:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

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.

The Golden Compass

2008-01-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

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.

The Accidental

2007-12-28T13:53:00.001-08:00

The Accidental by Ali Smith was a fast read. Just a couple of days to get through. It started out great but I think it fell apart at the end. Or maybe I missed something. But I thought the ideas in the story were good. The character development was good. But then it seemed as if she wasn't sure what to do with the story.

I liked it, but was a little disappointed in the end. The story starts with a family on vacation and a stranger comes to live with them. Each family member assuming that another member invited her. Only, none of them actually did. The story is about how this stranger interacts with each member of the family along with private moments with each family member. But suddenly vacation is over, they are home and the story seems to loose its intriguing magic.

I was sad in a way about the way it ended.

The Rape of Oc

2007-12-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Rape of Oc by Michael Baldwin I found on the shelf at work. We have several bookcases around the buildings filled with books and this one caught my eye. What really intrigued me was the "This book not for sale in the US" stamped on the back.

Why? Don't know. But it was an interesting tale. Basically the story of a virgin and her fight against the crusaders that pillage town after town.

An interesting collection of characters make this a somewhat entertaining story. But it is long. One of those stories that could probably have been told in a few less pages. But still, I read it all the way through and I enjoyed it. It was different. It was imaginative, and it was a story I wanted to know the end of.

The Solitaire Mystery

2007-11-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder - I picked this book up on a whim at Barnes and Noble. I had read Sophie's World a few years ago. And I loved his style and his story. So I decided to give myself a treat.

And what a treat this was. A wonderful tale within a tale. A young boy on a journey with his father to find their mother is given a magnifying glass along his journey. Then, in another town he is given a bag of sticky buns. The baker tells the boy to keep the biggest stickey bun for himself and not to tell anyone about it. Later that night, hungry, the boy decides to devour the last stickey bun. He is surprised to find a book baked inside. The book has the tiniest writing he has ever seen. So tiny it would require a magnifying glass. Which, he just happened to have been given days earlier by a strange little man.

So begins the adventure................you'll have to read it for yourself to find out what happens.

A mix of life, mystery, adventure, and philosophy. This is a wonderful wonderful story.

Sophie's World

2007-11-28T04:40:00.000-08:00

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder - I read this book a few years back. I picked it up because I had always enjoyed the idea of Philosophy and the great philosophers but found the reading material about them very dry. And the classes I took in college seemed to always put me in a coma.

This book should be required reading in Philosophy 101. It is fantastic. The story of a young girl, Sophie, who is taught philosophy by Albert. I enjoyed this book as a fictional novel in and of itself. But it was the philosophy lessons interwoven amongst the story that really made this an enjoyable book. I felt like I got more bang for the proverbial buck. A great story and an education.

Curious about understanding philosophy - this is a great place to start.

World War Z

2007-10-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

World War Z by Max Brooks is a survivor account of the zombie war. Told in a very straight forward and serious manner the impartial author interviews and records the stories told by the survivors.

My over imaginative brain filled in a lot of the scenery for this film as will the mind of any other lover of the zombie movie. Moaning walking dead with their arms outstretched saying something close to "Brains......"

My mind made this story a comedy. But at the same time, it was a very serious and interesting story to think about and mentally chew on. What would we do if a virus erupted that turned people into the living dead? How would we handle a problem on this sort of scale?

I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated by the politics, the humanness of it all, and by how close to an imagined reality this story gets. As you read survivor accounts you can believe whole heatedly that a real life reaction would be dead on similar. No pun intended.

2007-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman - Typically I wouldn't read a book on the subject of marriage, children, loss and the struggles of step motherhood. But this story got a great write up when it was first published. And I'm a sucker for great write-ups.

Basically this story is about Emilia and her struggles with the loss of her new born child, trying to deal with an over privileged, spoiled, and incredibly intelligent young stepson, the ex-wife, and coming to terms with what her marriage is really about.

Had I just read the book description it would have been back on the shelf. But because of the write up I read it. And I really enjoyed the story. I can't relate to the character but I can empathise and understand where she is coming from. And were I in her shoes I don't think I would have acted much differently. I guess I saw a lot of myself in the story and the type of person I might have been if I had made different choices in my life.

I think the New York Times review says it all:

The New York Times - Chelsea Cain
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits is clearly out to irritate some Mommy groups. It may also be the first chick-lit novel (it features, after all, a young career woman who falls in love with her boss, shops and worries about her relationships) that in addition to being a romantic, shocking and sometimes painful page-turner does the unthinkable: it actually says something new and interesting about women, families and love.

You Remind Me of Me

2007-10-18T06:59:00.001-07:00

You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon - Ok, I can boil this book down to one word. "Eh"

A Million Little Pieces

2007-10-13T06:46:00.001-07:00

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey was a very good read. Raw, harsh, and beautiful. Full of lyrical prose that made me stop, think, and read them for a second time. I don't care what the truth is behind this story. Nor do I care about how much or how little of the story was embellished. It was simply a wonderful read. And I loved it. So very human, full of the best and the worst in mankind.

I also think the book can be and has been an inspiration for addicts. From what I was able to find on the internet about the controversy there were many people whose lives were changed for the better because of this book. If that is the case it doesn't matter how true it was. I have not found anything that said that Frey wasn't an addict. And if he has stayed clean and changed his life than that is all that matters. If one person is saved by this book than that is all that matters. And regardless of all of that the bottom line is, this is a wonderfully written book and I loved it.

Blue Moon Rising

2007-10-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green is the first in a series of three stories about Prince Rupert and Princess Julia. However these two characters are the same two that are in the Hawke and Fisher series. This is their story before the time of Hawke and Fisher.

Simon Green has yet to let me down. I loved this story. How can you not love a story whose central characters include a Dragon and a Unicorn? There are two more books in this series, unfortunately they are out of print so I will have to hunt around for them.

But as always, Mr. Green has written a fantastic adventure. From start to finish I am always fully entertained by his stories.

The Vampire Papers

2007-10-13T06:32:00.001-07:00

The Vampire Papers by Michael Romkey is book two in the Vampire series. This story focuses on two serial killers that have come together to destroy the families of a small southern town. And it is up to David and Mozart to stop them.

The second book is just as good as the first. I am enjoying this series and I look forward to the rest of the books. Most of them are out of print but I found the collection at a used book store and had them shipped to me.

I, Vampire

2007-09-16T07:13:00.001-07:00

I, Vampire by Michael Romkey is a re-read. I wanted to read the second book Vampire Papers but felt that it had been too long since I read the first one. So I have quickly read through the story again.

This is one of the better vampire series. Unfortunately only the first two books in the series are still in print. I have the remainder on route to me. I found the collection at a used bookstore in Indiana.

The basic premise of the series is that there are two factions of vampires. Good and Evil. The good ones belong to the Illuminati. The bad ones are lead by Caesar Borgia and include Nazi's and Jack the Ripper.

One of the main characters is Mozart. Yes, THE Mozart.

A mixture of beauty, the arts, and horror. In other words, it is a perfect read.

Corelli's Mandolin

2007-09-16T07:07:00.001-07:00

Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres is a fantastic story about a small Greek island during World War 2.

The book is a bit long. Though I read it quickly I occasionally felt I would never finish. But that is more due to the language than anything. This is a translated work but there are still smatterings of Greek, Italian, German, and French throughout the story.

I found the story captivating and assuming that it is historically accurate I found it educational as well. The brutalities of war mixed with the humanity and kindness. This was simply a wonderful story.

Summer Knight

2007-08-31T05:59:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-27T11:46:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-11T06:28:00.001-07:00

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.

Drinking Midnight Wine

2007-07-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green is one of his few stand alone novels. I am not sure how much I LOVED this book but now that it is over I miss the characters. So I guess that means it was pretty good.

This is the tale of two worlds colliding. The world of magic and the ordinary world of humans. Powerful forces, godlings, lycanthropes, you name it, they make an appearance.

To sum it up here is a few lines from the story:

What value can one ordinary man have in a magical world?

What can a mortal bring to the affairs of immortals?

Insight. Honor. Morality. Perspective.

Because nothing makes love and life matter more than the knowledge that some day it must end.

Winkie

2007-07-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

Winkie by Clifford Chase has been on my list for a while. It came out last summer and it sounded very intriguing. But due to the enormity of my overwhelming book list it sort of got lost in the bookshelf shuffle. But it called to me and so I listened.

This was a fascinating book. It's a very quick read but an utterly maddening one. Towards the end of the book my blood was boiling. Who'd have thunk a story about a teddy bear could rile me up so much. But rile it did.

Basically in a nut shell this story is about the extreme illogical paranoia we have with terrorism and how some people are so desperate to blame anyone and anything for our fears that we blindly stop at nothing to find someone to accuse. And we turn a blind eye to the atrocities our government has been committing all in the name of national security.

But this book is not just about terrorism. It is also about love, kindness, and the discovery of what it means to be alive. So check out Winkie. I think you will like this little bear.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-07-24T06:06:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling was a satisfying end to a wonderful series. No spoilers, I promise. I will simply say that it was a really good read and I am sad that the series is over. But I hope that if Rowling continues her writing career her direction changes. I feel that the story is complete and perfect as it stands. Don't mess with perfection.

She achieved something greater than just a good series with Harry Potter. She caused generations of children and adults alike to discover the joy of reading. People who would normally never pick up a book did so to read Harry.

I would nominate this book for the Pulitzer this year. NOT because of the book itself but rather everything that went along with it. The entire planet was reading Harry Potter July 21st. No one has ever achieved a feat on that scale. No one in the history of writing has gotten so many people together with one goal. And I admire that. I don't know if we will ever see such an achievement ever duplicated again. But I thank Ms. Rowling for helping millions discover the joy of reading.

A Kiss from Maddalena

2007-07-18T13:42:00.001-07:00

A Kiss from Maddalena by Christopher Castellani tells the story of life in a small Italian village toward the end of World War II. The central characters are the beautiful Maddalena and the love of her life, the young Vito.

The war tears their lives apart as Maddalena's family finds itself fleeing their small village for safer parts of Italy. Vito must stay behind and care for his ailing mother.

Once the war is finished Maddalena and her family return. And life is never the same for either of them.

A wonderful story, beautiful, eloquent, and absorbing.

***I can't ruin the story for you so I'll just say this: this is not a "hollywood" story.

Shoot the Moon

2007-07-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts was a really great read. I picked this up because I really enjoyed Where the Heart Is. Both the book and the movie. I started the book on Friday. And finished it Saturday afternoon. It's a wonderful story about the return of a young man that had disapeared and was thought dead over 20 years before.

I giggled, I got angry, and I cried. The characters in this story are simply fabulous. From almost the first page you feel like you know the characters personally. They are so vivid and so alive.

The Cabinet of Curiosities

2007-07-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is the third in the Pendergast Series. I haven't read the previous two novels but they are on my list now.

I was chatting with a guy on the bus yesterday, he was reading a different Douglas Preston novel, and he said that this was the weaskest in the series. If that is truly the case than I am in for a treat.

The only thing I was having trouble with was that I couldn't read as fast as my curiosity. So I found myself looking through pages in the book to see if certain characters survived or not. Yep, that's cheating. But there is so much detail in the story that I did find myself wanting to get through it and skip the details just so I can find out who done it and why and who survived.

The story is about a serial killer in the turn of the 19th century. His crimes are unearthed at a construction site in New York. After breaking the story in the Times the city is suddenly faced with a copy cat serial killer. Will Agent Pendergast be able to solve the crime before another murder takes place? Will the NYPD? And what do all these murders have to do with the Museum of Natural History?

The museum is the next evolutionary step in what used to be Cabinet of Curiosities. People started private collections of nature and natural phenomenon. Those collections would sometimes go on view to the public. But as the world moved forward the Cabinets became less popular. And the Museum of Natural History inherited many of these collections. Strange skeletons, mason jars filled with unusual creatures, gem stones, dinosaur fossils, shrunken heads, elephant feet. You name it, the Cabinets had them.

Overall this was a well written and fun read. And I look forward to more of their books.

The Master

2007-07-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Master by Colm Toibin was a very beautifully written book. This book has been on my list of must reads for a few years. It was recognized by both the NY Times and the LA Times as one of the best works of fiction. I can see why.

However, as beautifully written as this book was it was, for lack of a better description, tedious reading. As much as I enjoyed it I also kept looking to see how much more I had left to read.

It covers 4 years in he life of Henry James. Through memories and flashbacks it covers a greater span of the author's life, but the basic story covers from 1895 to 1899. I found it interesting, enlightening, and educational. But again, at the price of being a little slow going. Grant you I read this book in just a few days but still, it became more of a "get it done" sort of task. The book was so well written that I wanted to finish it, it deserved to be read. However it didn't grasp and hold my undivided attention. I found there to be many instances in which my mind had wandered though I kept reading the words and a page or two later had to stop and go back because I had no idea what I had been reading.

Don't let my thoughts dissuade you from reading this book. Like I said, it's beautifully written. And I knew nothing about Henry James so I found this very interesting. The scenery and descriptions of London, Venice, Florence, Rome, English countryside were worth it alone.

Shoe Addicts Anonymous

2007-07-08T07:54:00.001-07:00

Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison was given to me by Girl J. She saw it before it was released and had to pre-order it for us. She only told me that I was not to buy a book for the next couple of weeks. And that I would know exactly what book she meant if I saw it on a shelf.

Finally the book arrived and she surprised me with my copy. And I cracked up. She was right. I would have known exactly what book she was talking about. I read it in a day.

This is a chick book at it's finest. I actually loved this book because it is all about women. Completely and totally about being a woman. About love, life, friendship, and yes, about shoes. This was a charming and fun story. I think one of the things I most liked about this story is that it truly revolves around the women. Typically chick books always lead to something that revolves around children, and myself, being childless, always think that there has to be more to life than making everything about kids. And this book does just that. And I loved it the more for it. I could relate to every single one of the characters. There was a little of me in each of them.

This is the perfect, perfect, perfect beach blanket book. Or the perfect long plane ride book, or the perfect vacation book. Just make sure you have more than one book with you if you take it on vacation. I plowed through this book in less than 5 hours. It was just that fun, that light, and that entertaining.

I do have to admit that the shoes themselves were way out of my league. I have never even tried on a shoe that costs more than $250.00 let alone had a closet full of them. But the general addiction I could totally relate to. I just do it on a smaller $$ scale. Though they do mention DSW so I guess even the high end shoe addicts will "slum" once in a while.

So if you want to bring out your inner girly girl pick this book up. It's fun.

My Lover's Lover

2007-07-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

My Lover's Lover by Maggie O'Farrell is the second book that I have read by this author. She also wrote After You'd Gone.

I loved both stories. She has a writing style that is warm and comfortable. Dealing with real human emotions in a way that we can easily relate.

The thing I love about her books is they aren't quite "Lifetime" channel material. In once sense they are stories of love and loss told from a woman's perspective - so it's perfect lifetime material. But I never get the feeling in her stories that they are written "for a good cry". They are deeper than that, they hit a little harder and make you think a little bit more. There is courage, depth, and honesty in her books without turning them into "Chick"
books.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense what so ever. But it's the best way I can describe her books. They are simply beautifully written stories.

Twilight of the Empire

2007-07-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Twilight of the Empire by Simon R. Green consists of three stories that all take place just before his Deathstalker series.

Like every Simon Green book this is a fast and fun read. You don't have to read it before the Deathstalker series. It basically is some back story for characters that appear in the rest of the series.

As fast as I want to read his books I have to force myself to slow down and savor them. He is a remarkable writer. Maybe not in that "Classic literature" Nobel Prize winning way, but rather in a "Damn good read" sort of way. From cover to cover I just love his books. Every single one of them.

Captain Alatriste

2007-06-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte - This was a fun book - it took a little over a day to read. I can't say that I loved it, it was so short and so fast that it felt more like a chapter in a serial novel than an actual story. There are however 2 sequels to this book so that might be why it feels that way. I felt that just as I was getting into the character and into his life the story was over. Sort of a long climb on a roller coaster only to have the actual free fall so short and so fast that you end the ride wondering what the heck just happened. I will be reading the novels about Captain Alatriste that follow this one. It was a very good read. It was just too fast for me. I want more. A lot more.

The Darwin Conspiracy

2007-06-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton was a most excellent read. I read this in two days. It was very entertaining.

The story is told from three different perspectives, one is through the eyes of a modern day student, one is through Darwin himself, and one is through the letters and journals of people alive in Darwin's time.

Bottom line: Great read.

The Historian

2007-06-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova was simply a great read. Part mystery, part suspense, part horror, and even part love story. It's just an all out entertaining read. At times I was so spooked that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. This isn't Stephen King spooky, this is more subtle. More believable. More possible. It's well written, and a very fast read. Don't let the size of the book worry you. This really was one fun adventure!

Basically it is about a search for Dracula. Could it be possible that the historical figure Vlad the Impaler was in truth a vampire? That is the premise of the story and what a wild ride from there. Lush country side all over Europe make this book an extra special treat. Cultural and political differences between borders is fascinating and educational. Learn a little, get spooked a little, enjoy a lot!

Grave Peril

2007-05-23T15:12:00.001-07:00

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is book three of the Harry Dresden Wizard series. And like the two before it I LOVED it. I was sucked in. And once again found myself almost missing my bus stop because I was sucked into the stories.

This story is about ghosts and vampires. A fast and completely pleasurable read.

The Pillars of the Earth

2007-05-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett was a phenomenal read. Don't let the size of the book scare you away. Trust me, as you approach the last few pages you wish it would keep going.

This is a beautiful story that I loved from cover to cover. The characters are wonderful.

Simply put, this is on my all time favorites list.

Deathstalker War

2007-05-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

Deathstalker War by Simon R. Green is the third installment in the Deathstalker series. As with the first two it's a wonderful adventure. Fast reading and fast paced. With non-stop action. An all around fun read.

As the books progress the war between the Empress and the rebellion escalates. This book ultimately finishes with the battle on the homeworld with the Empress.

One treat in this book was the appearance of two wonderful characters that are also seen in Simon's book Shadowsfall. I was so stunned and excited I called my friend Ellie early on a Sunday morning to tell her. They were her favorite characters from Shadowsfall so I had to share with her. I figured she was at breakfast with her folks, which she was, and she kindly humored me.

Anyway, if you like well written sci fi adventures you'll love this series.

The Nautical Chart

2007-04-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

The Nautical Chart by Aruro Perez-Reverte was described as a swashbuckling adventure. And to a certain point it was. One of the "problems" I had when I read this was that it takes place in modern day Spain. And I think I am so "Pirates of the Carib." obsessed that I had to keep bringing my mind through time to the present. The word cell phone just tripped me up. And that is TOTALLY my problem, not the authors. I love this guys writing style. This is the third book I have read by him and he has me hooked and loyal.

The story is about a sailor that currently finds himself without a ship. He, Coy, has been suspended from his career for two years due to an accident. It wasn't his fault but he was the navigator on duty at the time of the collision. So while in his land wanderings he meets a beautiful woman named Tanger. She has become obsessed with finding a boat that sunk off the coast near Cartegena. So the story revolves around Tanger's quest and Coy's willingness to help her. Love, intrigue, murder. It's all there.

It's a fun story. But if you are looking for spell binding page turners this isn't quite it. Mr. Perez-Reverte likes to build his stories with beautiful prose and "deep thoughts and reflections". That does not mean this story is boring, not by any means. It's a beautiful and interesting tale told by a master of prose.

Fool Moon

2007-04-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher is the 2nd in the Harry Dresden Wizard series. I guess it's easiest to simply say "I'm in Love" these books are marvelous. Easy ready escapes from the world. I have officially now missed my bus stop twice I was so engrossed in the story.

Storm Front

2007-04-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Storm Front by Jim Butcher is the first book in the Harry Dresden Wizard series. These are the books that the Sci Fi. series is based on. I LOVE them both. I am especially enjoying this because I adore the man that plays Harry Dresden on the show. So having him running around in my head is a good thing. The voice in the story is exactly like the television series. So far the characters are all the same. Murphy the cop, her skeptical partner, and Bob the skull. There are slight changes in the television series that actually work. Such as Bob gets a body in the series but so far not in the book. It just works better for the tv show. Murphy in the books is more believeing in the magic. And Harry can be more forthcoming about it in the books. But still, the similarities are enough to allow me to easily play the show in my head while I read. I am REALLY enjoying this series. Fast, easy and entertaining. A beach blanket book that has intelligence and fun all rolled into one nice package. Seriously a great read.

Flesh and Blood

2007-04-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Flesh and Blood my Michael Cunningham tells the story of three generations of a family that came from the "old world" to the United States. It's a beautiful tale of all the things that keep a family together but also the things that tear them apart. Of what makes the various people of a family love and hate each other. I am not sure what else to say except that I enjoyed reading this. I can't say I fell in love with any character or that I cared deeply for any of them, but I enjoyed reading about each of their lives. This was just simply a well written story about a family.

The Wooden Sea

2007-03-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll was an interesting story. I really liked the idea behind it. The main character is chief of police in a small town in New York. One day a three legged dog is found in a grocery store parking lot. No one knows what to do with the dog so they bring it to the police station. Frannie, the police chief brings the dog into his office. Goes and buys him food, dishes, and a blanket and let's the dog hang out with him while he tries to figure out what to do. But as he is talking about the dog with his family the dog dies.

And Frannie's life will never be the same.

I liked this story up until the end. It wasn't a bad end. It was just not a really satisfying end. The author gets you thinking about all sorts of things, time, love, aging, the universe, god, you name it, he gives you something to think long and hard about. But the end just sort of ends. Maybe he intended it to be that way. After all, we don't have answers to the great questions so why would he provide one? So maybe, as I think about it, it wasn't so bad after all.

In the Company of the Courtesan

2007-03-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant is a wonderful tale about 16th Century Venice. After Rome is sacked by Spanish and German invaders a dwarf and his partner a beautiful Venetian Courtesan return to her home in Venice to start anew.

This is a beautiful story. I fell in love with the author's previous book The Birth of Venus so I was anxious to read her next novel. And this one did not disappoint.

Deathstalker Rebellion

2007-03-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Deathstalker Rebellion by Simon R. Green is book 2 in his massive Deathstalker series. I absolutely and completely LOVE anything written by this man. And the Deathstalker series has been no exception. They are fun and interesting reads. Comical yet bloody good adventures. And even if not all that much happens in 400 pages, it is still a most excellent 400 pages. I plowed through this book with gusto. I couldn't read enough. Simon Green continues to leave me in awe with everything I read from him. I just simply love his style, his characters, and his incredibly creative mind. Picking up a Simon Green book is always a gift to myself. The man is a literary god.

Myth Hunters

2007-03-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Myth Hunters by Christopner Golden is a marvelous read. The main character Oliver Bascombe is sitting quietly in his mother's parlor when a very wounded Jack Frost enters his life. And Jack is being hunted. So Oliver helps Jack escape only to find himself in The Veil. The Veil was created as a place for those of magic and mystery to go because mankind had lost its sense of wonder and belief. Man had become fixated on schedules and work. There was no place in the world for things of wonder and beauty.

But in helping Jack, Oliver becomes one of the hunted. And now they both must flee for their lives.

I can't begin to tell you how much I loved this story. The second book, Borderkind comes out at the end of the month. I can't wait.

The God of Small Things

2007-02-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy has been re-shelved about 142 pages into the story. I just can't seem to get into it. And there are so many books to read. Maybe I'll pick it back up and finish it one of these days but for now it will get dusty.

The Dark Water

2007-02-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

The Dark Water by David Pirie tells the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle and his friend Joseph Bell. Doyle is stalked and hunted by a man known as Cream. Much like Holmes Moriarty this man figures profoundly in Doyles life.

I picked this book up at the library on a whim. And it is a very fast and easy read. I found myself immersed in the story and enjoying it. But I also found myself distracted and my mind would wander. I don't know if it was the book or my mood but I even put it down about 120 pages into it and thought to return it unfinished. But I picked it back up and finished it in no time. I'm glad I at least found out the end to the mystery.

Teckla

2007-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

Teckla by Steven Brust is the 5th book chronologically in the Vlad Taltos series. I love these books. Fast reads with enough action and mystery to keep me hooked.

Please Don't Come Back from the Moon

2007-02-16T14:58:00.001-08:00

Please don't Come Back from the Moon by Dean Bakopoulos tells the story of a small midwestern town. One day almost all the father's up and leave. The explanation: they went to the moon. How else could they disapear so completely.

This is the story of how the abandoned sons grew up and what their lives became. Would they join their father's? What would they all become as they grew older?

It's a fascinating story. An easy read. Nothing incredibly deep or life changing. But I read a review when this book first came out and they said it was marvelous. I enjoyed this story and I"m glad I read it.

In the Hand of Dante

2007-02-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches is quite a read. I enjoyed this book. The author is raw and graphic. But also heartbreakingly beautiful in his writing style. The story is fascinating. And this is the second book in a row in which I feel that the author is truly a deeply knowledgeable person with more brains in their pinky than the a roomful of average people. Damn is this man smart.

But much like Club Dumas this is not a book that makes you feel stupid. On the contrary. It's entertaining and educational. It is also a great adventure into the seedier sides of life.

2007-02-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte is a stunning book. Very intriguing, highly intellectual, yet all the time remaining on solid ground with a writing style that flows easily, isn't pretentious, and allows any reader to enjoy the story. I could have felt a bit out of my league reading this but the author does an excellent job of "keeping it real" for lack of a better way to describe it. It is the story of a manuscript, a chapter from Dumas' Three Musketeers. Is it authentic? And if so why are there two different handwriting's on the pages? Why is one set white and the other blue?

While trying to find out the authenticity of the manuscript the main character is plunged into another mystery. That of a book of which there are only three known copies in the world. Believed to have been destroyed for it's satanic content could any of the three be the actual original? Or are they all copies? Do they differ in anyway that might be telling?

The main character suddenly finds himself in trouble. Someone wants him dead. And the two mysteries are somehow tied together.

You'll have to read the story to find out more. It's a fast paced read. A fascinating look into the world of book collecting. As well as a little bit of history. You learn a lot in this book but find yourself enjoying the education.

2007-02-02T10:47:00.000-08:00

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad is a very good read. I learned a great deal about the Afghan culture as well as enjoyed a good story. The author lived with a family for several months and this is their story. She tells us a little about each family member. Telling us their story from each of their own perspectives. It's a fascinating tale.

If you ever wanted to know more about this region of the country this is an excellent and fast read.

Dead Run

2007-01-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

Dead Run by P.J. Tracy is book three in the Monkeewrench series. I started the book late Saturday night and finished it early in the afternoon Sunday. I couldn't stop. I couldn't read fast enough. What a wild ride. It was just fabulous. I can't even begin to tell you how much I have fallen in love with the characters. The story is fast paced and exciting. You won't be able to put it down. My mother in law tells me that #4 - Snow Blind is even better. How can it get even better? I'm almost afraid to find out. I had promised myself that I would space these books out, that I didn't want to run out of them so quickly. But dang it, like a heroin addict I couldn't' stay away. I just couldn't. The book called to me. It called...................

The Memory Keepers Daughter

2007-01-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards was a really good read. It is beautifully written and has wonderful character development. I think I most enjoyed the twins - the two children the story focuses around. For me their story was the most interesting and important. I almost wish the story had focused more on them and less on the parents.

I also found some plot changes to be a bit abrupt. Momentous things happened to main characters and it is just sort of thrown at you. I'm not sure how the author could have done any better but I just felt a little cheated for lack of a better way to describe it.

Kind of like coming home one day and haing our mom yell from the laundry room that the dog died. Just a little too abrupt and matter of fact. You would think you would get a little more "feed in" before the actual news is dropped into your lap.

But aside from some abrupt plot turns I really did enjoy this story. Part of me hopes that she writes a follow-up novel. I would love to spend more time with the twins.

Electric Michelangelo

2007-01-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall tells the story of Cy from his youth and through the rest of his life. Cy is a talented artist who is befriended by a tattoo artist. The artist takes Cy on as an apprentice and this story follows Cy's career. From the shores of England to Coney Island and back. This story spans from the turn of the century through 2 world wars. It's a good read. I don't regret it, but it was slow and some what repetitive. The author has some beautiful prose in this book. And that made it well worth the read.

Live Bait

2007-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

Live Bait by PJ Tracy is book two in their Monkeewrench mysteries. PJ Tracy is a mother and daughter writing team. I loved this book as much as the first. And I was on the edge of my seat till the very last page. This was a stupendous story. And it poses the most interesting moral questions.

I loved it. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It REALLY made me cry. I wasn't expecting to get so emotionally involved in the characters. But I'm in it for the long run. I can't wait to read the next one.

Monkeewrench

2007-01-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

Monkeewrench by PJ Tracy is mystery writing at it's best. This was absolutely a wonderful read. I fell in love with the characters, the story, everything. It was just marvelous. And it was everything we hope for when we read a mystery. Actually it was everything we hope for in a book period. I recommend this to everyone!

You are Not a Stranger Here

2007-01-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

You are not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett is a marvelous collection of short stories. I loved every single story in this book and found myself wishing to hear more about each character.

I thought I could pick a favorite story or two in the book but I can't. I found each and every one of them fascinating.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2007-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:00

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See is a remarkable book set in 19th century China. Told through the eyes of Lily we learn what life was like for women in the remote villages. From foot binding, to 10 day wedding fasts, mother-in-laws, to sacred friendships, this is an amazing and very educational story.

I loved every word in this book. The story is beautifully told. And I was enthralled by the characters and their lives.

Shadows Fall

2007-01-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

Shadows Fall by Simon R. Green is another fabulous story from a wonderfully creative author. I loved this story. Absolutely loved it. But I have loved everything he has written. The ONLY thing that surprised me a tad in this book is how much more graphic his violence was. Normally he leaves a great deal to your imagination. But in this book he spells it out for you in black and white. There was no guessing how gruesome a scene was.

This story is about the town where legends and hero's go once people stop believing in them. The town is magical and amazing. Green mentions Shadow's Fall several times in his Nightside series and this story goes into detail about life within it's ever changing boundaries.

I, Mona Lisa

2006-12-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis was simply a wonderful read. The story tells the tale of the woman behind the famous painting. And it does so in a rich and captivating way. If I could go back in time I would want to go to Florence in the time of DaVinci, Michelangelo, and the Medici. So when I saw this book on the store shelf I had to get it. It was a chance to live, if even for 500 pages, in the world I so admire.

Now, I know this is fiction based on historical fact. So I realize that what takes place in the story is far from an accurate historical count but if there is a story behind the Mona Lisa it might as well be this one.

I passed this story on to my father to read. It's the kind of tale that you don't want to keep to yourself. It paints too beautiful a story to keep to oneself.