October Books
I went to a friend's place on Saturday night for Halloween - the three of us watched a couple of horror movies: A Nightmare on Elm Street (Johnny Depp looks SOOO young!!) and Final Destination. Got home late after waiting 40 mins for a bus and then taking the wrong subway train!! Yeah I know. On the up side, it's daylight savings now so we got an extra hour. A bit of an illusion since it took me so long to get to bed and fall asleep, so I probably got less than 7 hours of sleep and that could explain the slight hangover feeling. (Couldn't possibly be all the wine, noooooo!)
October wasn't a bad reading month, all told - and I have lots of 5 star books this month! - but in terms of keeping up with book club selections it was atrocious. I only managed one! Shame on me.
Books Read in October
# books read: 16
# books read to date: 149
Most enjoyed: Sister Wife; The Thirteenth Tale; The Society of S; Doubleblind; To Seek a Master; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Least enjoyed: How I Live Now and Seduced by Shadows
Links go to full reviews on giraffedays.
The List:
Something Reckless by Jess Michaels
(Historical erotic romance: 264 pages) 4/5 stars
The sequel to Everything Forbidden, this one has a rather outlandish plot - okay, the first book did too but this one is even more "HUH?" - but once you just stop fretting about it and go along with it, it's quite enjoyable. You don't necessarily have to have read Everything Forbidden - I read Taboo first, which is like a companion book, and the more cohesive and dare I say plausible of the three.
Joe Speedboat by Tommy Wieringa
(Fiction: 319 pages) 3/5 stars
A boy wakes up after a 200+ day coma to find that all his small Dutch town can talk about is the arrival of a boy who calls himself Joe Speedboat and who likes to blow things up. Unable to speak and confined to a wheelchair, he documents their lives growing up into young men and lets Joe talk him into becoming an arm wrestler. After a strong start this was a disappointing book and turned into a bit of a slog.
Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade
(Paranormal romance: 378 pages) 2/5 stars
Somewhat along the lines of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood but nowhere near as well written or plotted, this story of people at their lowest points being possessed by repenting demons who fight lesser demons while humans hosting angels fight djinn revolved around a hero and heroine who were rather boring. I'm also so incredibly tired of Romance books where the male lead (can't even really bring myself to say "hero") is so repressed and self-righteous and is determined to "resist" the woman he's into - what is wrong with these men? It's become such a huge cliché that it's lost all meaning and never sounds plausible.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of the book
Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre
(Science fiction: 302 pages) 5/5 stars
I'm a HUGE fan of this space opera series, and this third instalment was yet another excellent story. Jax has finally made it to the alien world of Ithiss Tor as the first human ambassador in a long time, but her lover March has reverted to his mercenary ways and the insect-like Ithtorians' politics could see them all dead. Jax's Ithtorian friend, Vel, becomes a central character and Jax continues to grow - she began the series as completely self-centred and flippant and irreverent, but she's really gone through some shit and the side-story of her and March can actually reduce me to tears. Love that guy.
To Seek a Master by Monica Belle
(Erotica: 242 pages) 5/5 stars
A highly charged sensual suspense in the first 100 pages leads into something exciting and exploratory. I was greatly surprised by this book and tore through it. It's understated nuances and build-up of sensual tension was quite remarkable.
The Child Thief by Brom
(Fantasy: 481 pages) 4/5 stars
A dark, modern re-telling of Peter Pan, fans of the original have complained about Brom's version but I thought he did a remarkable job. His prose is very descriptive and this can make things slow, but the story itself is a beautiful blend of the dark, gritty, painful, cruel side of humanity and the wonders of magic - and the dark side of magic as well. He brings a complex Peter to life, a tormented and lonely child who grows up into an older child who is at turns playful and merciless. Brom's illustrations and the luscious layout make this hardcover worth the price.
Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery
(Erotic romance: 326 pages) 3/5 stars
I'm a big fan of Beth Kery - she sent me an unbound manuscript of Daring Time months before publication because she valued my opinion and that was so wonderful, I love that book and it was fantastic getting to read it so early - but I was a little disappointed with this one. The premise was solid and the female lead was a strong woman (though she fell into some clichéd traps at the end), but the hero was too perfect and some of their scenes together didn't work for me.
Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer
(Science fiction: 319 pages) 4/5 stars
Canada's science fiction king created a scenario in Flashforward that's hugely thought-provoking: the entire human race, because of a scientific experiment with unforeseen consequences, passes out while their consciences flash forward in time twenty years. Many die because not everyone was sitting down or in bed at the time, and there are many good and bad consequences of the event. The main characters are the scientists involved in the experiment who, sadly, weren't as well drawn as I'd have liked. Still, an interesting book.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
(Fiction: 408 pages) 5/5 stars
Recommended by kiwiria and a lot of other people!
An amateur biographer who reads only classics is invited by one of the greatest novelists of the century to hear the true story of her life - a story of twins, ghosts, mystery and an orphaned baby. It's a gripping tale full of atmosphere and a love of books and reading - ideal for any bibliophile, or any lover of gothic mystery along the lines of Jane Eyre.
Witch Blood by Anya Bast
(Paranormal romance: 275 pages) 4/5 stars
A fun series about elemental witches battling those that break with the coven to use blood sacrifices of witches to call forth demons from another realm. The demons usually return as soon as the job they were called for is done, but one is still here and still killing witches. This is a very short paranormal romance and focuses quite a bit on the developing relationship of the two main characters - they're often jumping each other's skin, so be warned! But it also has some good chemistry and I liked that the hero, Thomas, wasn't afraid of a relationship.
Seriously, these romance heroes who pussy-foot around commitment and think they're being all strong and manly by "resisting" are just cowards, and annoying. I always feel like my time is being completely wasted by them.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
(Children's: 155 pages) 5/5 stars
Finally read one of Dahl's most famous books! Yes can you believe it was the first time I'd read this one? It's not my favourite - I'd be hard pressed to say a fave - but it was delightful and I was happy that the magic was still there. Plus Dahl is so clever and funny!
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
(YA fiction: 194 pages) 2/5 stars
Oh what a disappointing book! So many people loved this but it was seriously lacking. The story of a girl sent to England to stay with her cousins while the present-day world erupts into terrorism and war. Her cousins are strange - one is telepathic and two others can somehow communicate with animals - and she and her cousin Edmond fall in love - which I just didn't buy because it was all tell and no show - which reminds me, it's written in a kind of stream-of-consciousness first-person narration by the main character and even though I guess she grows and matures she's still so self-centred that we don't know what's really going on. True, I guess it did capture a typical teenager but it also totally slid into mediocrity and dullness. England has for a long time been the setting of wonderful, magical war-time stories especially revolving around children, but this one just couldn't get its feet off the ground.
Soulless by Gail Carriger
(Fantasy/Horror: 357 pages) 4/5 stars
Lots of fun here! Set in the 1870s it features a spinster with a sharp tongue and an even sharper parasol, Alexia, who was born soulless - enabling her to neutralise vampires, werewolves and ghosts (the supernatural community, which has been integrated into society since the time of Henry VIII). Soulless is a rollicking good time, a wild mix of genres including alternate history, steampunk and romance, and has a nice dark mystery for its plot.
The Society of S by Susan Hubbard
(Fiction: 304 pages) 5/5 stars
What joy! I can't remember who recommended this to me sorry but whoever you are, thank you! This is the coming-of-age story of Ariella, raised by her father who's some kind of scientist and very unusual to boot, over-protected and isolated who, at age 9, finally makes some friends and starts thinking about the true state of affairs at home. The discovery that her father is a vampire and she's half-vampire isn't a big surprise, but hearing her father's story about her mother who disappearing as soon as Ariella was born, leads her to seek out her mother, who has a very different story. This was beautifully told, and would appeal to people who are tired of flashy, overly-romantic vampire stories.
The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines
(Fantasy: 344 pages) 3/5 stars
A humorous adventure story that sees Danielle (Cinderella), Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (White) journey to hazardous Fairy Town to rescue Danielle's husband, Prince Armand, from her crazy, murderous stepsisters - who now have magic on their side. There's some great banter here and a wide variety of magical and weird creatures. I needed to see the strength of Danielle and Armand's love in order to really invest my time and emotions in her struggle to rescue him, but other than that it was a great story.
Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka
(YA fiction: 269 pages) 5/5 stars
A gripping story about three girls growing up in a polygamous (fictional) community in BC, and their very different reactions and repressed desires. This is a very beautifully told story that switches between the perspectives of the three girls, Celeste, her sister Nanette, and Taviana who was rescued from a life of prostitution and given the first stable home in her life, only to be cast out when the police come looking for her. Celeste struggles the most with living in Unity because she doesn't want to marry an older man at fifteen and be a sister wife, while Nanette whole-heartedly believes in her place in the world. This may not be in wide release but if you can find it wherever you live, it's worth reading.
October wasn't a bad reading month, all told - and I have lots of 5 star books this month! - but in terms of keeping up with book club selections it was atrocious. I only managed one! Shame on me.
Books Read in October
# books read: 16
# books read to date: 149
Most enjoyed: Sister Wife; The Thirteenth Tale; The Society of S; Doubleblind; To Seek a Master; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Least enjoyed: How I Live Now and Seduced by Shadows
Links go to full reviews on giraffedays.
The List:
Something Reckless by Jess Michaels
(Historical erotic romance: 264 pages) 4/5 stars
The sequel to Everything Forbidden, this one has a rather outlandish plot - okay, the first book did too but this one is even more "HUH?" - but once you just stop fretting about it and go along with it, it's quite enjoyable. You don't necessarily have to have read Everything Forbidden - I read Taboo first, which is like a companion book, and the more cohesive and dare I say plausible of the three.
Joe Speedboat by Tommy Wieringa
(Fiction: 319 pages) 3/5 stars
A boy wakes up after a 200+ day coma to find that all his small Dutch town can talk about is the arrival of a boy who calls himself Joe Speedboat and who likes to blow things up. Unable to speak and confined to a wheelchair, he documents their lives growing up into young men and lets Joe talk him into becoming an arm wrestler. After a strong start this was a disappointing book and turned into a bit of a slog.
Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade
(Paranormal romance: 378 pages) 2/5 stars
Somewhat along the lines of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood but nowhere near as well written or plotted, this story of people at their lowest points being possessed by repenting demons who fight lesser demons while humans hosting angels fight djinn revolved around a hero and heroine who were rather boring. I'm also so incredibly tired of Romance books where the male lead (can't even really bring myself to say "hero") is so repressed and self-righteous and is determined to "resist" the woman he's into - what is wrong with these men? It's become such a huge cliché that it's lost all meaning and never sounds plausible.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of the book
Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre
(Science fiction: 302 pages) 5/5 stars
I'm a HUGE fan of this space opera series, and this third instalment was yet another excellent story. Jax has finally made it to the alien world of Ithiss Tor as the first human ambassador in a long time, but her lover March has reverted to his mercenary ways and the insect-like Ithtorians' politics could see them all dead. Jax's Ithtorian friend, Vel, becomes a central character and Jax continues to grow - she began the series as completely self-centred and flippant and irreverent, but she's really gone through some shit and the side-story of her and March can actually reduce me to tears. Love that guy.
To Seek a Master by Monica Belle
(Erotica: 242 pages) 5/5 stars
A highly charged sensual suspense in the first 100 pages leads into something exciting and exploratory. I was greatly surprised by this book and tore through it. It's understated nuances and build-up of sensual tension was quite remarkable.
The Child Thief by Brom
(Fantasy: 481 pages) 4/5 stars
A dark, modern re-telling of Peter Pan, fans of the original have complained about Brom's version but I thought he did a remarkable job. His prose is very descriptive and this can make things slow, but the story itself is a beautiful blend of the dark, gritty, painful, cruel side of humanity and the wonders of magic - and the dark side of magic as well. He brings a complex Peter to life, a tormented and lonely child who grows up into an older child who is at turns playful and merciless. Brom's illustrations and the luscious layout make this hardcover worth the price.
Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery
(Erotic romance: 326 pages) 3/5 stars
I'm a big fan of Beth Kery - she sent me an unbound manuscript of Daring Time months before publication because she valued my opinion and that was so wonderful, I love that book and it was fantastic getting to read it so early - but I was a little disappointed with this one. The premise was solid and the female lead was a strong woman (though she fell into some clichéd traps at the end), but the hero was too perfect and some of their scenes together didn't work for me.
Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer
(Science fiction: 319 pages) 4/5 stars
Canada's science fiction king created a scenario in Flashforward that's hugely thought-provoking: the entire human race, because of a scientific experiment with unforeseen consequences, passes out while their consciences flash forward in time twenty years. Many die because not everyone was sitting down or in bed at the time, and there are many good and bad consequences of the event. The main characters are the scientists involved in the experiment who, sadly, weren't as well drawn as I'd have liked. Still, an interesting book.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
(Fiction: 408 pages) 5/5 stars
Recommended by kiwiria and a lot of other people!
An amateur biographer who reads only classics is invited by one of the greatest novelists of the century to hear the true story of her life - a story of twins, ghosts, mystery and an orphaned baby. It's a gripping tale full of atmosphere and a love of books and reading - ideal for any bibliophile, or any lover of gothic mystery along the lines of Jane Eyre.
Witch Blood by Anya Bast
(Paranormal romance: 275 pages) 4/5 stars
A fun series about elemental witches battling those that break with the coven to use blood sacrifices of witches to call forth demons from another realm. The demons usually return as soon as the job they were called for is done, but one is still here and still killing witches. This is a very short paranormal romance and focuses quite a bit on the developing relationship of the two main characters - they're often jumping each other's skin, so be warned! But it also has some good chemistry and I liked that the hero, Thomas, wasn't afraid of a relationship.
Seriously, these romance heroes who pussy-foot around commitment and think they're being all strong and manly by "resisting" are just cowards, and annoying. I always feel like my time is being completely wasted by them.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
(Children's: 155 pages) 5/5 stars
Finally read one of Dahl's most famous books! Yes can you believe it was the first time I'd read this one? It's not my favourite - I'd be hard pressed to say a fave - but it was delightful and I was happy that the magic was still there. Plus Dahl is so clever and funny!
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
(YA fiction: 194 pages) 2/5 stars
Oh what a disappointing book! So many people loved this but it was seriously lacking. The story of a girl sent to England to stay with her cousins while the present-day world erupts into terrorism and war. Her cousins are strange - one is telepathic and two others can somehow communicate with animals - and she and her cousin Edmond fall in love - which I just didn't buy because it was all tell and no show - which reminds me, it's written in a kind of stream-of-consciousness first-person narration by the main character and even though I guess she grows and matures she's still so self-centred that we don't know what's really going on. True, I guess it did capture a typical teenager but it also totally slid into mediocrity and dullness. England has for a long time been the setting of wonderful, magical war-time stories especially revolving around children, but this one just couldn't get its feet off the ground.
Soulless by Gail Carriger
(Fantasy/Horror: 357 pages) 4/5 stars
Lots of fun here! Set in the 1870s it features a spinster with a sharp tongue and an even sharper parasol, Alexia, who was born soulless - enabling her to neutralise vampires, werewolves and ghosts (the supernatural community, which has been integrated into society since the time of Henry VIII). Soulless is a rollicking good time, a wild mix of genres including alternate history, steampunk and romance, and has a nice dark mystery for its plot.
The Society of S by Susan Hubbard
(Fiction: 304 pages) 5/5 stars
What joy! I can't remember who recommended this to me sorry but whoever you are, thank you! This is the coming-of-age story of Ariella, raised by her father who's some kind of scientist and very unusual to boot, over-protected and isolated who, at age 9, finally makes some friends and starts thinking about the true state of affairs at home. The discovery that her father is a vampire and she's half-vampire isn't a big surprise, but hearing her father's story about her mother who disappearing as soon as Ariella was born, leads her to seek out her mother, who has a very different story. This was beautifully told, and would appeal to people who are tired of flashy, overly-romantic vampire stories.
The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines
(Fantasy: 344 pages) 3/5 stars
A humorous adventure story that sees Danielle (Cinderella), Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (White) journey to hazardous Fairy Town to rescue Danielle's husband, Prince Armand, from her crazy, murderous stepsisters - who now have magic on their side. There's some great banter here and a wide variety of magical and weird creatures. I needed to see the strength of Danielle and Armand's love in order to really invest my time and emotions in her struggle to rescue him, but other than that it was a great story.
Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka
(YA fiction: 269 pages) 5/5 stars
A gripping story about three girls growing up in a polygamous (fictional) community in BC, and their very different reactions and repressed desires. This is a very beautifully told story that switches between the perspectives of the three girls, Celeste, her sister Nanette, and Taviana who was rescued from a life of prostitution and given the first stable home in her life, only to be cast out when the police come looking for her. Celeste struggles the most with living in Unity because she doesn't want to marry an older man at fifteen and be a sister wife, while Nanette whole-heartedly believes in her place in the world. This may not be in wide release but if you can find it wherever you live, it's worth reading.