Book Reviews!!!
...Because I am so totally qualified to place my opinion of books out on the internet and speak with a voice of authority!!!
Yeah... Sarcasm fun! But as it's 4:30 AM and I can't sleep, why the heck not? Let's do it!
So waiting for a job to start gives one a lot of Free Time-- something I had quite forgotten existed during the insanely busy Education Years. And I live literally five minutes walk from a delightful 2 story Barnes and Noble. It's become somewhat of my own personal Library. The folks who work there don't seem to mind. Actually, some of them now greet me by name, ask for my opinions on the book I'm reading, and offer me recommendations. Tom is my favorite (more on that later)>
As a result, I end of reading 2 kinds of books: those written by Political Pundits, and Young Adult Fiction.
"Grace," you might say, "That is a very bizarre coupling."
And indeed it is. But here's the thing: They both read FAST. For the sake of not putting anyone to sleep, I will review quickly the things I have learned from the political books:
--in 1923, the Green Bay Packers opened up ownership of the team to fans, allowing them to buy 1 or more (but never more than 200,000) shares in the team. I am intrigued, and am more inclined to catch a Packers game this season.
-- Sarah Palin writes surprisingly well, and (although I only read up through her college years) comes across as a person that I actually like. Granted, some of her political positions are not mine...then again, I have yet to meet someone who thinks exactly the same as I do on every issue. All I'm saying is, I like her book more than i expected to so far.
-- Finally, President Obama is I'm sure a lovely man. But that Broadway Date Night awhile back? It cost taxpayers more than $1,000,000.00 (that's right- 1 million plus for dinner and a show). It's not the biggest waste of money, sure-- but heck-- I can think of a lot more beneficial things to do with a million bucks than see a play-- and I'm a theatre person! And don't get me started on that Vegetable garden... Little things of course, but still worth a shake of the head.
Now Moving On!
Remember that old adage about how one shouldn't speak of Politics or Religion in polite company? Well I'm going for Broke!
I've noticed a THEME in YA fiction these days:
Angels. It seems like everyone, from Supernatural to YA authors has gone, "Well, this Vampire thing's gotten a bit old... Werewolves have been done (and we're still trying to get over the creepiness factor of every woman between 9 and 90 drooling over an ickle baby body-builder)... Zombies aren't vary sexy (although Daniel Waters is working to counteract that notion, and Laurell K Hamilton has got the whole "Anita Blake, Necromancer" thing going on.)... Ghosts are hard to have romantic smoochies with (although again, Stacey Kade breaking that rule, and doing it pretty well at that!) I know! they all seem to say, we can do Angels!"
And so all at once, Angels. The books that sparked the Fallen miniseries on ABC Family back in '06 are back on the shelves (which, come to think of it, makes Paul Wesley the only person I can think of who is famous for playing both an Angel AND a Vampire....) But beyond that, and this is just off the top of my head, But there's The Fallen (which is actually a 6 book series) Fallen, Halo, Torment, Hush Hush, Heavenly, Angelfire, Unearthly, Crescendo And even Cassie Clare plays into the theme with titles like Clockwork Angel and the upcoming City of Fallen Angels
That said, it's fascinating lore to explore. And some do it better than others.
Sitting in B&N, I read both Halo and Fallen
Now, those covers couldn't be more different:
That said, they're both very evocative, and both are completely in keeping with the feel of the books themselves. Halo takes places on a beautiful, sunny (Australian?) Sea-coast, and Fallen takes place in dismal grey reform school built just before the Civil War.
Halo was very nice-- especially considering that the author, Alexandra Adornetto is only 18-- not something I would have guessed. The main character is a bit naive, and frustrating at times, but I feel that that's appropriate given said character is an angel experiencing earth for the first time, and who is young compared to her counterparts (she's been a part of creation for 17 years, her 'brother' is the Archangel Gabriel). The guy (for we must touch on him, since I, like Sarah Rees Brennan) have to approve of the characters before I can want them to fall for each other) is Xavier Woods, All-Star Athlete with a Tragic Past who has no desire to so much as look at any girl aside from Bethany (the angel). Their relationship gets a plus for making them each more fulfilled by being in it, and by him having an Awesome family who make a cameo appearance. But aside from that, they bounce back and forth between being little mini-adults, and complete idiots. Granted, teens do, so it's not unexpected in YA fiction-- but seriously, some of it seemed so dramatic and OOC that I rolled my eyes.
Also, the Antagonist shows up about 2/3 of the way into the book, is WAY too obvious (although to the characters it's more like oblivious). And his take down is totally lackluster.
All in all, it's good, but a little empty-- if the cover get's a 4 star rating, the content only gets a 3-3.5. Still, I liked it, and found it an enjoyable read.
Final Gripe: I find it to be a ridiculous concept that Angels walking the earth would be placed in bodies that could have functional sexual organs, but not bellybuttons.
Fallen, by Lauren Kate, on the other hand was excellent where I was not expecting it to be. Plot: based on the idea found in Genesis of some Angels being cast out of Heaven for loving mortals, with a dash in reincarnation thrown in for good measure, so it can be set in modern times with seventeen-year-olds-- but to me it works!
Luce (Lucinda) is sent to reform school after an Unexplainable Accident results in the boy she has a crush on dying in a fire that starts before her eyes. Under suspicion in his death, she's sent to the Sword and Cross reform school near Savannah, where she makes a few wacky friends and suddenly has 2 guys interested in her. One of them seems strangely familiar...
The boy in this one-- Daniel-- reminds me a bit of Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy-- austere, stand-offish, but concealing an amazing heart. He has good intentions, but is kind of an ass about it, which makes you want to yell at him for being so rude, until you realize that he has a damn good reason for it...
All in all, it feels very gothic, and suspenseful, with a great journey for the characters, and alot of stuff packed in there for them to handle-- Definitely would recommend-- 4 stars.
To continue the Angles theme... I recently bought a new copy of Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, as my copy has again gone AWOL (this will be my fourth copy. This is not at all unusual. Don't believe me? Read the Forward!)
In the largest sense, it's a book about the Apocalypse, and trying to avert it. There's a Demon (Crowley) and an Angel (Aziraphale), and the Antichrist, and all sorts of delicious characters, but beyond all of that, the book is deliciously, cleverly, hysterically FUNNY. Seriously. Laugh-out-loud hysterical. The footnotes... of, the footnotes. And the Bentley, that turns every tape inserted into the tape deck into the Hits of Queen. And.... oh Goodness. If you haven't read it yet, you must. Contact me. I will find it for you for a dollar. But you MUST read it!
And finally... Back to Tom. Tom is my new friend at Barnes and Noble. And considering that he recommended to me my new favorite book, a book so wonderful that when I envision it in my mind, it's rotating lazily in midair, supported by magic and a glowing cloud of pixie lights and fairy dust, I am glad we met. We talked books for awhile. I recced my favs, he recced his, we toured tier 2 of B&N pulling books off the shelves and extolling their virtues. And then he pulled out The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The concept is so simple, it's beautiful. It took him 14 years to write, so its phenomenally crafted. reading it makes me giddy. He's a Wisconsin author. There should be nothing amazing about this book, but somehow...there is.
The Plot: A man called Kote runs a quiet inn, in a peaceful, out of the way town. He's been there two years, but he's still a stranger. And then a Chronicler comes to town. He recognizes him. Begs the man to tell his story. Kote says it will take three days. And so it begins-- the tale of an epic hero, in his own words. A story begun near the end and told from the beginning.
He begins,
"My Name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me."
I'm 160 pages into it, and already it's one of the best novels I've ever read. I urge you to check it out. I cannot urge you strongly enough.
Yeah... Sarcasm fun! But as it's 4:30 AM and I can't sleep, why the heck not? Let's do it!
So waiting for a job to start gives one a lot of Free Time-- something I had quite forgotten existed during the insanely busy Education Years. And I live literally five minutes walk from a delightful 2 story Barnes and Noble. It's become somewhat of my own personal Library. The folks who work there don't seem to mind. Actually, some of them now greet me by name, ask for my opinions on the book I'm reading, and offer me recommendations. Tom is my favorite (more on that later)>
As a result, I end of reading 2 kinds of books: those written by Political Pundits, and Young Adult Fiction.
"Grace," you might say, "That is a very bizarre coupling."
And indeed it is. But here's the thing: They both read FAST. For the sake of not putting anyone to sleep, I will review quickly the things I have learned from the political books:
--in 1923, the Green Bay Packers opened up ownership of the team to fans, allowing them to buy 1 or more (but never more than 200,000) shares in the team. I am intrigued, and am more inclined to catch a Packers game this season.
-- Sarah Palin writes surprisingly well, and (although I only read up through her college years) comes across as a person that I actually like. Granted, some of her political positions are not mine...then again, I have yet to meet someone who thinks exactly the same as I do on every issue. All I'm saying is, I like her book more than i expected to so far.
-- Finally, President Obama is I'm sure a lovely man. But that Broadway Date Night awhile back? It cost taxpayers more than $1,000,000.00 (that's right- 1 million plus for dinner and a show). It's not the biggest waste of money, sure-- but heck-- I can think of a lot more beneficial things to do with a million bucks than see a play-- and I'm a theatre person! And don't get me started on that Vegetable garden... Little things of course, but still worth a shake of the head.
Now Moving On!
Remember that old adage about how one shouldn't speak of Politics or Religion in polite company? Well I'm going for Broke!
I've noticed a THEME in YA fiction these days:
Angels. It seems like everyone, from Supernatural to YA authors has gone, "Well, this Vampire thing's gotten a bit old... Werewolves have been done (and we're still trying to get over the creepiness factor of every woman between 9 and 90 drooling over an ickle baby body-builder)... Zombies aren't vary sexy (although Daniel Waters is working to counteract that notion, and Laurell K Hamilton has got the whole "Anita Blake, Necromancer" thing going on.)... Ghosts are hard to have romantic smoochies with (although again, Stacey Kade breaking that rule, and doing it pretty well at that!) I know! they all seem to say, we can do Angels!"
And so all at once, Angels. The books that sparked the Fallen miniseries on ABC Family back in '06 are back on the shelves (which, come to think of it, makes Paul Wesley the only person I can think of who is famous for playing both an Angel AND a Vampire....) But beyond that, and this is just off the top of my head, But there's The Fallen (which is actually a 6 book series) Fallen, Halo, Torment, Hush Hush, Heavenly, Angelfire, Unearthly, Crescendo And even Cassie Clare plays into the theme with titles like Clockwork Angel and the upcoming City of Fallen Angels
That said, it's fascinating lore to explore. And some do it better than others.
Sitting in B&N, I read both Halo and Fallen
Now, those covers couldn't be more different:
That said, they're both very evocative, and both are completely in keeping with the feel of the books themselves. Halo takes places on a beautiful, sunny (Australian?) Sea-coast, and Fallen takes place in dismal grey reform school built just before the Civil War.
Halo was very nice-- especially considering that the author, Alexandra Adornetto is only 18-- not something I would have guessed. The main character is a bit naive, and frustrating at times, but I feel that that's appropriate given said character is an angel experiencing earth for the first time, and who is young compared to her counterparts (she's been a part of creation for 17 years, her 'brother' is the Archangel Gabriel). The guy (for we must touch on him, since I, like Sarah Rees Brennan) have to approve of the characters before I can want them to fall for each other) is Xavier Woods, All-Star Athlete with a Tragic Past who has no desire to so much as look at any girl aside from Bethany (the angel). Their relationship gets a plus for making them each more fulfilled by being in it, and by him having an Awesome family who make a cameo appearance. But aside from that, they bounce back and forth between being little mini-adults, and complete idiots. Granted, teens do, so it's not unexpected in YA fiction-- but seriously, some of it seemed so dramatic and OOC that I rolled my eyes.
Also, the Antagonist shows up about 2/3 of the way into the book, is WAY too obvious (although to the characters it's more like oblivious). And his take down is totally lackluster.
All in all, it's good, but a little empty-- if the cover get's a 4 star rating, the content only gets a 3-3.5. Still, I liked it, and found it an enjoyable read.
Final Gripe: I find it to be a ridiculous concept that Angels walking the earth would be placed in bodies that could have functional sexual organs, but not bellybuttons.
Fallen, by Lauren Kate, on the other hand was excellent where I was not expecting it to be. Plot: based on the idea found in Genesis of some Angels being cast out of Heaven for loving mortals, with a dash in reincarnation thrown in for good measure, so it can be set in modern times with seventeen-year-olds-- but to me it works!
Luce (Lucinda) is sent to reform school after an Unexplainable Accident results in the boy she has a crush on dying in a fire that starts before her eyes. Under suspicion in his death, she's sent to the Sword and Cross reform school near Savannah, where she makes a few wacky friends and suddenly has 2 guys interested in her. One of them seems strangely familiar...
The boy in this one-- Daniel-- reminds me a bit of Mr. Rochester and Mr. Darcy-- austere, stand-offish, but concealing an amazing heart. He has good intentions, but is kind of an ass about it, which makes you want to yell at him for being so rude, until you realize that he has a damn good reason for it...
All in all, it feels very gothic, and suspenseful, with a great journey for the characters, and alot of stuff packed in there for them to handle-- Definitely would recommend-- 4 stars.
To continue the Angles theme... I recently bought a new copy of Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, as my copy has again gone AWOL (this will be my fourth copy. This is not at all unusual. Don't believe me? Read the Forward!)
In the largest sense, it's a book about the Apocalypse, and trying to avert it. There's a Demon (Crowley) and an Angel (Aziraphale), and the Antichrist, and all sorts of delicious characters, but beyond all of that, the book is deliciously, cleverly, hysterically FUNNY. Seriously. Laugh-out-loud hysterical. The footnotes... of, the footnotes. And the Bentley, that turns every tape inserted into the tape deck into the Hits of Queen. And.... oh Goodness. If you haven't read it yet, you must. Contact me. I will find it for you for a dollar. But you MUST read it!
And finally... Back to Tom. Tom is my new friend at Barnes and Noble. And considering that he recommended to me my new favorite book, a book so wonderful that when I envision it in my mind, it's rotating lazily in midair, supported by magic and a glowing cloud of pixie lights and fairy dust, I am glad we met. We talked books for awhile. I recced my favs, he recced his, we toured tier 2 of B&N pulling books off the shelves and extolling their virtues. And then he pulled out The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The concept is so simple, it's beautiful. It took him 14 years to write, so its phenomenally crafted. reading it makes me giddy. He's a Wisconsin author. There should be nothing amazing about this book, but somehow...there is.
The Plot: A man called Kote runs a quiet inn, in a peaceful, out of the way town. He's been there two years, but he's still a stranger. And then a Chronicler comes to town. He recognizes him. Begs the man to tell his story. Kote says it will take three days. And so it begins-- the tale of an epic hero, in his own words. A story begun near the end and told from the beginning.
He begins,
"My Name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me."
I'm 160 pages into it, and already it's one of the best novels I've ever read. I urge you to check it out. I cannot urge you strongly enough.