Summary:
The next book in the True Blood series. Bill gets kidnapped, and Sookie has to help by going to Mississippi to hunt him down. She spends time with Alcide, a werewolf with a good heart. And when Sookie finds out that Bill's been hanging around with the vampire that he used to be completely enamored of for a great many years, she gets angry and hurt. Who can blame her when she takes second looks at both Alcide, and Bill's boss, Eric.
Thoughts:
It's good. Honestly, though, it's not really my favorite series. I liked the show, and the books are good, but something about them isn't quite doing it for me anymore. I probably will keep up with them, to be honest, because I'm really bad at giving up midstream. I really liked how this one ended up. It felt like the end brought Sookie to a much more independent place in her life, and I liked that. I really hope to see Alcide again, because I loved his character. And I hope when we do see him again, Sookie's in a place to welcome him into her life a little more. Apparently, I'm more fond of werewolves than vampires when it's down to one or the other.
Book 25 of 30
Pages: 292
Genre: Mystery, vampires, romance
Grade: B-
Would I Recommend?: Sure, if you're a vampire mystery type.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Club Dead (Charlaine Harris)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Owls Well that Ends Well (Donna Andrews)
Summary:
Meg Langslow is at it again. As usual, she finds a dead body, this time in an old trunk someone is trying to sell at the huge yard sale at her house. In previous books, Meg and her boyfriend, Michael, bought themselves a house full of crap, and in this book, they're getting rid of the crap they don't want in a giant yard sale. Meg's family all brought their own crap over to sell too, so the yard sale takes up most of Meg's back yard, and draws the entire town out to see what they have to offer. The biggest ass of the bunch, an antiques buyer and seller, gets on everyone's last nerves, and winds up dead. Of course, Meg gets in on the investigation and once again winds up in trouble.
Thoughts:
It's another testament to the crazies with this book. You know the old saying, "write what you know?" Well, if that's what Ms. Andrews goes by, it's clear that she has all kinds of ridiculous relatives and friends in her life. After each installment of the Meg Langslow series, you don't think there could be more ludicrous circumstances, but then you crack the next cover and though you can't fathom it, but it's happened again. And yet, with Meg's nutty family, you actually believe it.
Book 24 of 30
Pages: 352
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure. The series is fun. I've passed the books along already, and everyone that's had them thinks they're fun.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Info Post!
I've gotten very behind on posting here, and I apologize! I'm going to start being far more regular. My plan for right now is to start posting once a week, this way it'll be easier to know when things will be showing up here on the blog. With Blogger's new set-up, too, it's making it far easier to set up regular postings. I'll be posting on Sundays at noon from now on, unless I get so back-logged that I decide to change it to be more frequent.
If anyone has suggestions for what they'd like to see more often, or if they have book suggestions, please feel free to comment and let me know!
Thanks! Keep reading!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
We'll Always Have Parrots (Donna Andrews)
Summary:
Meg Langslow's boyfriend is a part time actor, and has a growing part on a semi-popular TV show that's a little Harry Potter, a little Star Trek, and a whole lot campy. Thanks to Michael's part in the show, Meg gets to delve into the convention world, seeing just how crazy people can get. The con organizers had animals brought to the hotel the con's being held in, in order to make it look more like Amblyopia, the setting of the TV show. But on the first day, the parrots and monkeys get loose, and hijinks ensue. Not to mention the dead body...
Thoughts:
Andrews does it again, bringing a yet another aspect of modern life into hilarious view. She has a way of bringing even the most outlandish situations into Meg's life, and pushing it straight past "feasible" into "outrageous" whilst still making all kinds of sense. How often do you find a single person that's found murder victims at a wedding, in a software company, during a reenactment of the Battle at Yorktown, on a weekend getaway, and now at a TV show convention. And in her next novel, Meg finds the body at a yard sale in her backyard. And there are perfectly good explanations for each and every one of these situations, and for the murders that take place. Few authors can do that without giving the reader a large pill to swallow in the form of the newest situation.
These books are fun, silly things, and completely addictive. (Case in point, I've already finished the next in the series, too!) To read one book of the Meg series is to sign yourself up for the long haul. They're great beach reading type books, too, though it'll take a lot for you to put it down, even just to roll over and even the tan!
Book 23 of 30
Pages: 331
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure, it's fun!
Meg Langslow's boyfriend is a part time actor, and has a growing part on a semi-popular TV show that's a little Harry Potter, a little Star Trek, and a whole lot campy. Thanks to Michael's part in the show, Meg gets to delve into the convention world, seeing just how crazy people can get. The con organizers had animals brought to the hotel the con's being held in, in order to make it look more like Amblyopia, the setting of the TV show. But on the first day, the parrots and monkeys get loose, and hijinks ensue. Not to mention the dead body...
Thoughts:
Andrews does it again, bringing a yet another aspect of modern life into hilarious view. She has a way of bringing even the most outlandish situations into Meg's life, and pushing it straight past "feasible" into "outrageous" whilst still making all kinds of sense. How often do you find a single person that's found murder victims at a wedding, in a software company, during a reenactment of the Battle at Yorktown, on a weekend getaway, and now at a TV show convention. And in her next novel, Meg finds the body at a yard sale in her backyard. And there are perfectly good explanations for each and every one of these situations, and for the murders that take place. Few authors can do that without giving the reader a large pill to swallow in the form of the newest situation.
These books are fun, silly things, and completely addictive. (Case in point, I've already finished the next in the series, too!) To read one book of the Meg series is to sign yourself up for the long haul. They're great beach reading type books, too, though it'll take a lot for you to put it down, even just to roll over and even the tan!
Book 23 of 30
Pages: 331
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure, it's fun!
Monday, July 25, 2011
If Books Could Kill (Kate Carlisle)
Summary:
Brooklyn is a bookbinder and restorer. In the first book in the series, she finds her mentor and friend killed, and herself stuck as the prime suspect. In this second installment, she travels to Ireland for a bookbinding conference. On a tour through the city, she finds her ex dead, and she's determined to figure out who killed him. Her English pretty-boy cop buddy shows up in Ireland too, and helps Brooklyn get her out of trouble and hunt the killer down.
Thoughts:
This woman's love for books warms my heart. She's a strong character, and the cop guy is a smooth guy for sure. I like the series, and will probably keep up with it, whenever I get a chance to get my hands on the next book. It's a good summer read. Light and quick.
Book 22 of 30
Pages: 280
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure, if you're a mystery kind of person, this is right up your alley.
Brooklyn is a bookbinder and restorer. In the first book in the series, she finds her mentor and friend killed, and herself stuck as the prime suspect. In this second installment, she travels to Ireland for a bookbinding conference. On a tour through the city, she finds her ex dead, and she's determined to figure out who killed him. Her English pretty-boy cop buddy shows up in Ireland too, and helps Brooklyn get her out of trouble and hunt the killer down.
Thoughts:
This woman's love for books warms my heart. She's a strong character, and the cop guy is a smooth guy for sure. I like the series, and will probably keep up with it, whenever I get a chance to get my hands on the next book. It's a good summer read. Light and quick.
Book 22 of 30
Pages: 280
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure, if you're a mystery kind of person, this is right up your alley.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox (Eoin Colfer)
Summary:
Artemis Fowl is a reformed evil genius who's got a lot of friends in low places. And by low, I mean both figuratively and physically. He's got connections with the criminal underworld as well as the Fairy world under the ground. His mother turns up ill with a fairy illness that had been eradicated decades before by the fairies. and Artemis killed the last lemur that carried the cure. He gets the idea to go back in time. Thank goodness he knows some magical creatures! The book follows the paradoxical greatness of time travel.
Thoughts:
I love this series. It's so inventive, and no matter what Artemis thinks of to do next, it turns wrong quick, then right, and wrong again so fast your head could spin. I have yet to read one of these that I haven't loved. Colfer has a way of spinning a yarn that will make your head spin until the very last page, when everything comes together.
Just a note. Like many of the previous Fowl books, this one has a decoded message along the bottoms of each page. If you don't wait until you've finished the book, you might get a little bit spoiled. Just in case you're anti-spoilers.
Book 21 of 30
Pages: 391
Genre: Teen lit, fantasy
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. When do I not recommend Colfer's work? never.
Artemis Fowl is a reformed evil genius who's got a lot of friends in low places. And by low, I mean both figuratively and physically. He's got connections with the criminal underworld as well as the Fairy world under the ground. His mother turns up ill with a fairy illness that had been eradicated decades before by the fairies. and Artemis killed the last lemur that carried the cure. He gets the idea to go back in time. Thank goodness he knows some magical creatures! The book follows the paradoxical greatness of time travel.
Thoughts:
I love this series. It's so inventive, and no matter what Artemis thinks of to do next, it turns wrong quick, then right, and wrong again so fast your head could spin. I have yet to read one of these that I haven't loved. Colfer has a way of spinning a yarn that will make your head spin until the very last page, when everything comes together.
Just a note. Like many of the previous Fowl books, this one has a decoded message along the bottoms of each page. If you don't wait until you've finished the book, you might get a little bit spoiled. Just in case you're anti-spoilers.
Book 21 of 30
Pages: 391
Genre: Teen lit, fantasy
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. When do I not recommend Colfer's work? never.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
Summary:
Yossarian is a bombardier in World War II, flying over Italy, France, and wherever else the US Air Force says he should fly. He's crazy. His friends in his unit are crazy. In the Air Force, you can go home if you're crazy, but you have to ask to go home. If you ask to go home, you obviously care about your safety, which means you're not crazy, so you can't go home. It's called Catch-22.
Thoughts:
Honestly, it's hysterical. It's heavy subject matter, to be sure. It was so heavy sometimes, I needed to take a break and read something else for a while. Because of that, it took me quite a long time to power through. But it's funny. Every single character has some kind of crazy going on. The men go to Rome so regularly, one of the men has a prostitute he's in love with. Her only name in the book, in fact, is "Nately's whore." The men drive each other to insanity on a regular basis. I laughed on a regular basis through the whole book. There were also those moments when I got reminded that it was a book about a war.
It's certainly not linear, especially in the beginning few chapters. It is a brilliant novel, though, and I understand exactly why it's always on all those Top 100 book lists. It makes complete sense. I'm sure that if I read this when I was in high school, I wouldn't have appreciated it nearly as much as I did now. I'm glad I picked it up. If you managed to get out of it like I did when I was in school, I recommend picking it up now. It's a great read.
Book 20 of 30. Might have to raise this number...
Pages: 453, if you don't count the 50 pages of criticism, history and commentary included at the end of my edition.
Genre: General fiction, historical fiction, Top 100 book list
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. Long read, yes. But worth it, for sure.
Yossarian is a bombardier in World War II, flying over Italy, France, and wherever else the US Air Force says he should fly. He's crazy. His friends in his unit are crazy. In the Air Force, you can go home if you're crazy, but you have to ask to go home. If you ask to go home, you obviously care about your safety, which means you're not crazy, so you can't go home. It's called Catch-22.
Thoughts:
Honestly, it's hysterical. It's heavy subject matter, to be sure. It was so heavy sometimes, I needed to take a break and read something else for a while. Because of that, it took me quite a long time to power through. But it's funny. Every single character has some kind of crazy going on. The men go to Rome so regularly, one of the men has a prostitute he's in love with. Her only name in the book, in fact, is "Nately's whore." The men drive each other to insanity on a regular basis. I laughed on a regular basis through the whole book. There were also those moments when I got reminded that it was a book about a war.
It's certainly not linear, especially in the beginning few chapters. It is a brilliant novel, though, and I understand exactly why it's always on all those Top 100 book lists. It makes complete sense. I'm sure that if I read this when I was in high school, I wouldn't have appreciated it nearly as much as I did now. I'm glad I picked it up. If you managed to get out of it like I did when I was in school, I recommend picking it up now. It's a great read.
Book 20 of 30. Might have to raise this number...
Pages: 453, if you don't count the 50 pages of criticism, history and commentary included at the end of my edition.
Genre: General fiction, historical fiction, Top 100 book list
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. Long read, yes. But worth it, for sure.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Mr. Popper's Penguins (Richard & Florence Atwater)
Summary:
Mr. Popper is a house painter who loves reading. He reads everything he can about all kinds of travel, most especially about the Arctic and Antarctic. He wrote a letter to Admiral Drake at the South Pole, and when Admiral Drake starts his radio broadcast from the South Pole, he mentions that he's sent a gift to Mr. Popper. A few days later, the gift of a penguin arrives on Mr. Popper's doorstep. The story follows the Popper family as their family expands to four people and twelve penguins, and they try to decide just what to do with all those penguins.
Thoughts:
So much fun. I finished it in a few hours, as it's a children's book with big type and short pages. But it was a lovely little story that did teach a little about the poles, and about penguins. (Not much, just a little.) Mr. Popper is a wee bit bonkers, but who could resist the adorable Captain Cook, Greta, and all the rest? It's silly, light, and just exactly what I needed to take a break from Catch-22. It does suffer a little bit from being written so long ago, (It was published in 1938.) but it's still a happy little story about a guy who's got a thing for the arctic worlds. The end's a little funny (as in weird, not ha-ha) and I don't think I'd have ended it quite like that myself. It works, though, and shows off just a little more of Mr. Popper's crazy.
Is it childish? Yes. Would adults enjoy it anyway? If they're into a little bit of whimsy, absolutely. Now to see what Jim Carrey and company did to the story....
Book 19 of 30
Pages: 120ish?
Genre: Children's Lit
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: For kids, mostly, but grown-ups with a Peter Pan complex like myself would probably enjoy it for what it is.
Mr. Popper is a house painter who loves reading. He reads everything he can about all kinds of travel, most especially about the Arctic and Antarctic. He wrote a letter to Admiral Drake at the South Pole, and when Admiral Drake starts his radio broadcast from the South Pole, he mentions that he's sent a gift to Mr. Popper. A few days later, the gift of a penguin arrives on Mr. Popper's doorstep. The story follows the Popper family as their family expands to four people and twelve penguins, and they try to decide just what to do with all those penguins.
Thoughts:
So much fun. I finished it in a few hours, as it's a children's book with big type and short pages. But it was a lovely little story that did teach a little about the poles, and about penguins. (Not much, just a little.) Mr. Popper is a wee bit bonkers, but who could resist the adorable Captain Cook, Greta, and all the rest? It's silly, light, and just exactly what I needed to take a break from Catch-22. It does suffer a little bit from being written so long ago, (It was published in 1938.) but it's still a happy little story about a guy who's got a thing for the arctic worlds. The end's a little funny (as in weird, not ha-ha) and I don't think I'd have ended it quite like that myself. It works, though, and shows off just a little more of Mr. Popper's crazy.
Is it childish? Yes. Would adults enjoy it anyway? If they're into a little bit of whimsy, absolutely. Now to see what Jim Carrey and company did to the story....
Book 19 of 30
Pages: 120ish?
Genre: Children's Lit
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: For kids, mostly, but grown-ups with a Peter Pan complex like myself would probably enjoy it for what it is.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Donna Andrews)
Summary:
Another Meg Langslow mystery. This one centers around Meg helping out at her brother, Rob's gaming company while they're going a transition. The jokester jerk of the office gets offed on the motorized mail cart he loved abusing. Shocker, shocker, Meg's the one that finds his body. Shocker, shocker, the first person they suspect is closely related to Meg. (This time it's her brother, which is a rehash of the first book, I think.) Shocker, shocker, Meg solves the mystery.
Thoughts:
The main plot of Meg getting involved in the murders never changes. She's got crappy luck, always discovering all those dead bodies. But these books are fun. You can't help but enjoy the crazy that comes with a Meg Langslow book. Her family's crazy. Her boyfriend's useless. Her friends're suspicious. It's just the way it is in Caerphilly, VA, and their surrounding areas. It's another fun turn with Meg, for sure, and I haven't gotten sick of her yet. I'll keep going through this series.
Book 18 of 30
Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Yup! I love this series!
Another Meg Langslow mystery. This one centers around Meg helping out at her brother, Rob's gaming company while they're going a transition. The jokester jerk of the office gets offed on the motorized mail cart he loved abusing. Shocker, shocker, Meg's the one that finds his body. Shocker, shocker, the first person they suspect is closely related to Meg. (This time it's her brother, which is a rehash of the first book, I think.) Shocker, shocker, Meg solves the mystery.
Thoughts:
The main plot of Meg getting involved in the murders never changes. She's got crappy luck, always discovering all those dead bodies. But these books are fun. You can't help but enjoy the crazy that comes with a Meg Langslow book. Her family's crazy. Her boyfriend's useless. Her friends're suspicious. It's just the way it is in Caerphilly, VA, and their surrounding areas. It's another fun turn with Meg, for sure, and I haven't gotten sick of her yet. I'll keep going through this series.
Book 18 of 30
Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Yup! I love this series!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos (Donna Andrews)
Summary:
Meg Langslow is a blacksmith in the Virginia area who has a very cute actor boyfriend, Michael. In this third book in her series, Meg's stuck at a craft fair to commemorate the Battle of Yorktown where her boyfriend's overbearing mother is running the show and demanding a lot from the crafters. They're forced to wear period costumes the entire week, and Meg gets to play go-between for the crafters to Michael's mom. In the midst of the craft fair, there's a murder to solve.
Thoughts:
It's more zany adventures with Meg and her family. Her parents are bonkers, Michael's mother is a tyrant, Spike the dog is a loveable terror (only because the reader has never met the little bugger in person), and the huge extended family is far too far-reaching. But it was fun, and a neat little break between chapters of Catch-22, which I'm still working on. I was honestly surprised, though, that the murder didn't get discovered until the last page of chapter 14, on page 112! I was honestly wondering when the death was going to happen, and then I was surprised when it finally did. I definitely called the victim from the moment we met him, but I wasn't sure on the murderer until the very end. Well played, Ms Andrews. Well played. Though the relationship business was pretty rushed when we finally got to it. That I would have been happier to have spread across more of the book. You can't have it all, can you?
Book 17 of 30
Pages: 293
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Perfect for summer reading!
Meg Langslow is a blacksmith in the Virginia area who has a very cute actor boyfriend, Michael. In this third book in her series, Meg's stuck at a craft fair to commemorate the Battle of Yorktown where her boyfriend's overbearing mother is running the show and demanding a lot from the crafters. They're forced to wear period costumes the entire week, and Meg gets to play go-between for the crafters to Michael's mom. In the midst of the craft fair, there's a murder to solve.
Thoughts:
It's more zany adventures with Meg and her family. Her parents are bonkers, Michael's mother is a tyrant, Spike the dog is a loveable terror (only because the reader has never met the little bugger in person), and the huge extended family is far too far-reaching. But it was fun, and a neat little break between chapters of Catch-22, which I'm still working on. I was honestly surprised, though, that the murder didn't get discovered until the last page of chapter 14, on page 112! I was honestly wondering when the death was going to happen, and then I was surprised when it finally did. I definitely called the victim from the moment we met him, but I wasn't sure on the murderer until the very end. Well played, Ms Andrews. Well played. Though the relationship business was pretty rushed when we finally got to it. That I would have been happier to have spread across more of the book. You can't have it all, can you?
Book 17 of 30
Pages: 293
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Perfect for summer reading!
Breakfast at Tiffany's (Truman Capote)
Summary:
Narrator guy lives in NYC and meets Holly Golightly, an eccentric and alluring woman that lives just upstairs. The story follows our guy as he experiences life with Ms. Golightly.
Also included in the book are three short stories, House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar, and A Christmas Memory.
Thoughts:
It's weird, like the movie. I saw the movie a few years ago, and couldn't understand what the hell was going on. I read the book, and still didn't quite catch anything either. What I did get was that Holly's nuts, the narrator's in love, and that's about all you're supposed to get.
The three short stories weren't much to write home about... I honestly don't remember much about the House of Flowers and A Christmas Memory ones except that they were depressing. A Diamond Guitar was pretty good, though also really sad.
Book 16 of 30
Pages:161
Genre:Short stories/General Fiction
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Sure, it's pretty much a classic. Plus, the whole thing was pretty fast reading!
Narrator guy lives in NYC and meets Holly Golightly, an eccentric and alluring woman that lives just upstairs. The story follows our guy as he experiences life with Ms. Golightly.
Also included in the book are three short stories, House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar, and A Christmas Memory.
Thoughts:
It's weird, like the movie. I saw the movie a few years ago, and couldn't understand what the hell was going on. I read the book, and still didn't quite catch anything either. What I did get was that Holly's nuts, the narrator's in love, and that's about all you're supposed to get.
The three short stories weren't much to write home about... I honestly don't remember much about the House of Flowers and A Christmas Memory ones except that they were depressing. A Diamond Guitar was pretty good, though also really sad.
Book 16 of 30
Pages:161
Genre:Short stories/General Fiction
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Sure, it's pretty much a classic. Plus, the whole thing was pretty fast reading!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (Max Brooks)
Summary:
The "writer" opens with a forward saying that he's going to stay out of sight as much as possible in the writing of the book. He goes on to say that he did a fact finding for the US government on what exactly happened during the zombie war and the clean-up afterward. In his original report, he told all the stories of the survivors, but the government rejected it, saying that they only wanted the cold, hard facts. So he went ahead and published this book with all of those stories that the government didn't care about.
The book goes on to tell the stories of the "survivors" of a zombie invasion, and outlines all of the political, social, and economical ramifications of what a full-scale zombie invasion would look like.
Thoughts:
Honestly, it was really interesting. I was completely engaged in this book the whole way through. It actually reads like a hundred testimonials from war heros and survivors. This is exactly what I would expect from someone like Tom Brokaw, about WWII or the Vietnam War or something. It was mind blowing to think about what could happen if our planet was overrun with a fictional brain-eating menace. It's a study in hypotheticals, for sure, but truly a fascinating read.
Book 15 of 30 (Halfway there!)
Pages: 342
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Grade: A-/B+
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. If you're into the zombie thing, you'll love this, and even if you're not, it was interesting at the very least.
The "writer" opens with a forward saying that he's going to stay out of sight as much as possible in the writing of the book. He goes on to say that he did a fact finding for the US government on what exactly happened during the zombie war and the clean-up afterward. In his original report, he told all the stories of the survivors, but the government rejected it, saying that they only wanted the cold, hard facts. So he went ahead and published this book with all of those stories that the government didn't care about.
The book goes on to tell the stories of the "survivors" of a zombie invasion, and outlines all of the political, social, and economical ramifications of what a full-scale zombie invasion would look like.
Thoughts:
Honestly, it was really interesting. I was completely engaged in this book the whole way through. It actually reads like a hundred testimonials from war heros and survivors. This is exactly what I would expect from someone like Tom Brokaw, about WWII or the Vietnam War or something. It was mind blowing to think about what could happen if our planet was overrun with a fictional brain-eating menace. It's a study in hypotheticals, for sure, but truly a fascinating read.
Book 15 of 30 (Halfway there!)
Pages: 342
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Grade: A-/B+
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. If you're into the zombie thing, you'll love this, and even if you're not, it was interesting at the very least.
Vampyres of Hollywood (Adrienne Barbeau & Michael Scott)
Summary:
Ovsanna Moore is a Hollywood scream queen who runs a very successful horror movie studio. She's also a 500-year-old vampyre. Peter King is LAPD officer investigating multiple murders that keep leading him back to Ovsanna. What he doesn't know is that Ovsanna's vampyre clan is getting attacked, and she's determined to find out why.
Thoughts:
This is another book that is written alternatively between the two main characters, though not as evenly alternating as Will Grayson, Will Grayson. This vampire book, like most others written in the last five years or so, tries to turn all the old vampire stories on their heads. The murder mystery part was good, but the "vampires really do THIS" stuff is getting old to me. I guess I should probably stop reading vampire novels. There's another of the Sookie Stackhouse novels in the wings, but that series doesn't turn everything completely around. Other than, we'll see.
Book 14 of 30
Pages: 325
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Kinda interesting for the writing style, but Will Grayson, Will Grayson was the same style done better. If you're into vampires and don't mind changing up their background, go for it.
Ovsanna Moore is a Hollywood scream queen who runs a very successful horror movie studio. She's also a 500-year-old vampyre. Peter King is LAPD officer investigating multiple murders that keep leading him back to Ovsanna. What he doesn't know is that Ovsanna's vampyre clan is getting attacked, and she's determined to find out why.
Thoughts:
This is another book that is written alternatively between the two main characters, though not as evenly alternating as Will Grayson, Will Grayson. This vampire book, like most others written in the last five years or so, tries to turn all the old vampire stories on their heads. The murder mystery part was good, but the "vampires really do THIS" stuff is getting old to me. I guess I should probably stop reading vampire novels. There's another of the Sookie Stackhouse novels in the wings, but that series doesn't turn everything completely around. Other than, we'll see.
Book 14 of 30
Pages: 325
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Kinda interesting for the writing style, but Will Grayson, Will Grayson was the same style done better. If you're into vampires and don't mind changing up their background, go for it.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson (John Green & David Levithan)
Summary:
Will Grayson is a regular kid from a Chicago suburb that just tries to stay out of the way and keep his mouth shut. But his gigantic best friend, Tiny, is the most fabulous (*snap!*) linebacker in school. Will makes the mistake of writing a letter to the school newspaper in defense of Tiny, and actually signed it. From there, Will's world gets rocked a little more every day, as Tiny brings him deeper into Tiny's circle of friends, who are all in the Gay-Straight Alliance (including a cute girl, Jane, who may or may not be straight). Tiny decides to put on a play of his life, co-starring Will. This is wholly against Will's policy of shutting up and staying out of the public eye.
Will Grayson is a regular kid from a different Chicago suburb that is in love with an online friend, Isaac, who he messages any chance he gets. He's gay, but he tells no one, not even his only friend at school, Maura. He and Maura have a love-hate relationship that only exists because neither of them are close to anyone else.
One fateful day, Will Grayson goes with Tiny and Jane to a concert in Chicago, but it's at a 21+ only club, and Will's fake ID makes him only 20. Tiny and Jane go to the show, and an annoyed Will has time to burn before they go home again. He's determined to make use of his fake ID, so he decides to visit a porn shop across the street. On the very same day, Will Grayson and Isaac agree to meet in the city. Isaac sends Will to meet him at a porn shop in the city. And this is how Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. The story follows the Wills as they both become important parts in Tiny's life.
Thoughts:
The book is really quite incredible. It's written in alternating chapters, one following Will the First, one following Will the Second. They are two very different boys, who happened to have the same name, and who happen to both care about Tiny Cooper very much. The writing is good, and the story is so engaging, that I couldn't put it down. It's a really enjoyable read, although the ending feels a little abrupt for how the story had been playing out. But truly, it was a joy to read this book. I highly suggest it.
Book 13 of 30
Pages: 310
Genre: General fiction, teen lit
Grade: A+
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. This book is awesome. Everyone should read it.
Will Grayson is a regular kid from a Chicago suburb that just tries to stay out of the way and keep his mouth shut. But his gigantic best friend, Tiny, is the most fabulous (*snap!*) linebacker in school. Will makes the mistake of writing a letter to the school newspaper in defense of Tiny, and actually signed it. From there, Will's world gets rocked a little more every day, as Tiny brings him deeper into Tiny's circle of friends, who are all in the Gay-Straight Alliance (including a cute girl, Jane, who may or may not be straight). Tiny decides to put on a play of his life, co-starring Will. This is wholly against Will's policy of shutting up and staying out of the public eye.
Will Grayson is a regular kid from a different Chicago suburb that is in love with an online friend, Isaac, who he messages any chance he gets. He's gay, but he tells no one, not even his only friend at school, Maura. He and Maura have a love-hate relationship that only exists because neither of them are close to anyone else.
One fateful day, Will Grayson goes with Tiny and Jane to a concert in Chicago, but it's at a 21+ only club, and Will's fake ID makes him only 20. Tiny and Jane go to the show, and an annoyed Will has time to burn before they go home again. He's determined to make use of his fake ID, so he decides to visit a porn shop across the street. On the very same day, Will Grayson and Isaac agree to meet in the city. Isaac sends Will to meet him at a porn shop in the city. And this is how Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. The story follows the Wills as they both become important parts in Tiny's life.
Thoughts:
The book is really quite incredible. It's written in alternating chapters, one following Will the First, one following Will the Second. They are two very different boys, who happened to have the same name, and who happen to both care about Tiny Cooper very much. The writing is good, and the story is so engaging, that I couldn't put it down. It's a really enjoyable read, although the ending feels a little abrupt for how the story had been playing out. But truly, it was a joy to read this book. I highly suggest it.
Book 13 of 30
Pages: 310
Genre: General fiction, teen lit
Grade: A+
Would I Recommend?: Absolutely. This book is awesome. Everyone should read it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Witch & Wizard (James Patterson)
Summary:
Whit and Wisty are swept away from their home in the middle of the night by government soldiers. Before they're taken away, their parents give them a drumstick and a blank book, which baffles the kids. They get thrown into prison, accused of being a wizard and a witch, and they are told that they will be put to death as soon as they hit eighteen. The book follows them as they fight to escape the prison, and learn all the ins and outs of the new political regime, which hates children.
Thoughts:
I liked it. Patterson weaves a good yarn here, while the kids learn what they really are, and learn how to deal with their magic. I obviously go for fantasy stuff more often than not, and this was a new and different twist on the witch/wizard plot line. And unlike Twilight, it doesn't turn everything on its head. Instead, it just expands on the worlds that have already been created. Plus, I liked the characters in this one.
Book 12 of 30
Pages: 312
Genre: Fantasy
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Yup. Interesting story, and a good start to the series. I'll definitely be going further in this series.
Whit and Wisty are swept away from their home in the middle of the night by government soldiers. Before they're taken away, their parents give them a drumstick and a blank book, which baffles the kids. They get thrown into prison, accused of being a wizard and a witch, and they are told that they will be put to death as soon as they hit eighteen. The book follows them as they fight to escape the prison, and learn all the ins and outs of the new political regime, which hates children.
Thoughts:
I liked it. Patterson weaves a good yarn here, while the kids learn what they really are, and learn how to deal with their magic. I obviously go for fantasy stuff more often than not, and this was a new and different twist on the witch/wizard plot line. And unlike Twilight, it doesn't turn everything on its head. Instead, it just expands on the worlds that have already been created. Plus, I liked the characters in this one.
Book 12 of 30
Pages: 312
Genre: Fantasy
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Yup. Interesting story, and a good start to the series. I'll definitely be going further in this series.
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